FRANK, WILLIAM
Letter from William Frank written in and translated from old German:
Bowling Green, November the 2nd 1862
Once again it is time to send you a few words about my condition, for you might like to know how the current situation bears upon my own health and the welfare of a thousand others. After many days of chasing about, we arrived here again two days ago. You will probably recall this place. It is the same place where I was in the hospital for some time last winter. I had written you from here then. And so in many ways this place is not merely familiar, but really welcome. I have found several persons who had at that time been swift to help me by word and by deed. For this reason you can easily imagine what it was like to see these people once more. I find much to remind me of the time last spring. I was standing between hope and fear then, peering into the dark future. When I recall those days now, I feel moved to utter the words of the Children of Israel: “Thus far has the Lord brought us.” I have come through illness, pestilence, and battles, and I have emerged untouched. Today I have good health, a wealth of experience, and steadfast faith that God will act again as he did during the exodus of the Jews. The Lord has taken me into his hand and brought me straight through the many perils of war. Even where thousands were felled by cannon fire and breathed out their final breath the Lord’s hand protected me. Thus I stand here as witness to the omnipotent Father’s hand and to his sheltering mercy, which is ever new from day to day. Indeed, I render all praise to his Name. Out of severe testing my faith has come forth triumphant, drawing me away from the wicked, evil inclinations of wicked, wretched men. Thank God these did not succeed. On the contrary, God’s power, which is made strong in my weakness, was successful, for I had full trust in God. And so I await whatever is yet to come with assured confidence in the Lord. We shall not stay here long, but probably shall leave tomorrow. We no longer have any resting places. Instead, constant change seems to be our lot. Where we shall go next is still unknown, though we seem to be headed toward Nashville. We have obtained a new General over us, a German named Rosenkranz. By dint of many brave deeds he has at last risen to Major General, and the army that had been under General Buell is now under him. We feel fortunate in this change, for we have needed a valiant man at the helm, and Buell sometimes showed the white flag.
Monday evening, 3 November. Nothing especially new happened today. We are still billeted at rest and have no marching orders at this time. According to the current rumor, the Rebels that we drove out of this state took the road to Richmond, Virginia. Should this be confirmed, the road to Chattenooga, Tenn., will stand open to us, and we perhaps shall wend our way thither. Our army in Virginia, however, will have much to do to keep a tight rein on the Rebels’ combined forces there. Those in command should keep a close eye on this story. This is the same measure the Rebels adopted last spring as they cleared out of Corinth, Miss. At that time McClellan found the enemy army doubled and therefore gave up the protracted siege of Richmond. On the other hand, we have the advantage here and can cut the Rebels off from nearly all supplies and communication near Chattenooga. This plan, moreover, can be carried out swiftly since we are very familiar with the area that brings us to this end. This was our intention last summer, but then our plan was discovered. Of course, I am speaking now out of my own mind and do not know what will actually happen, or what our new General intends to plan and carry out. Nevertheless, it would not be unusual for this to be discussed on the other side and standards adopted. Of course, the way things stand in the west might also affect our plans. Gen. Grant and his army are in the vicinity of Corinth, where he must be on his guard. And perhaps we likewise need to keep an eye on this area lest evil befall us on or from that side. I think the former, however, needs to be done and the latter left undone. But since better heads than mine are looking into these matters, and my conjectures are of little help in the situation, I had better not anticipate, but rather follow along wherever things go. Michael is under Gen. Grant’s command. Some days ago I received from him a letter dated Sept. the 2nd in Bolivar, not far from Corinth. He was well then. Indeed, they had had to retreat again from the enemy, which had set to work too cleverly for them, but things went better the next day. So everything goes this way, then the other way. People at home must have been at each others’ throats since the las telection, with much talk and rivalry coming out in the newspapers, as well as in general circles. The soldiers also look at the papers even though they have no voice in affairs, of course, whether for good or ill. Nevertheless, they eagerly stop and pay their twopence. When messages from home come in a variety of tints, depending on the circumstances, with topics that stick in the writers’ craw and sometimes even attack the cherished opinions of the poor scribes, the soldiers put on long faces. And they also may give their replies a harsh impetus that can spoil the appetites of many at home for a time. Generally, in my opinion, many revel in a delusion that is preparing them for a rude awakening, for the soldiers, of course, still have fundamental biases of their own. Moreover, they know only too well how many dangers they are subject to and how many hot drops of sweat must fall to the ground before they finish off the Rebels and save every flag from insult, mockery, and destruction. We cannot believe that all our efforts, labors, bloodshed, and the like should be scattered to the winds. Woe be unto him or them who someday would conclude this war, only to give the Rebels more than what rightfully belongs to them.
Let us return to actuality and look at other things. Perhaps you would like to know how the weather is. A week ago we had about three inches of snow, followed by rather cold weather. On some days we have had fairly nice weather again, but it is cold at night. Thus far we are indeed equipped to meet the winter, and we probably shall be more to the south when the winter in the westerly and northerly states is freezing noses blue. It is rather cold this evening, and you can tell from my writing my fingers are being frozen. That is the way it goes. I now shall close for this time, put on my cap, and go outside. My health is excellent and, praise God, I can find nothing else to complain about. I hope that you are enjoying the best of well-being. I commend you once more to the protection of the Triune God as ai close, amid many greetings, and remain
Your Faithful brother
William Frank
My address is:
William Frank
Chief Bugler 15th Regiment, O.N.I.
Gen. Rosencrans Army Second Division
Sixth Brigade
Kentucky(crossed out) Tennessee
My greetings to all who work for you. ….We arrived here today, November the 9th, about a mile from Nashville, Tenn. So far all is well.
Wm Frank
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Letter from William Frank, in English
White Rock, Republic Co., Kan: July 14, 1874
Dear Brother and Sister.
After a long interval of silence on my part I will today improve some of the spare moments in writing to you. And first of all I am thankful to God: that I can say to you: that we are all well. Since our last correspondence, we have past nearly the entire round of a year. But while in older States a certain sameness pervades nearly every year – it is vastly different here. For you will remember: that we are here right in the midst of the great American dessert, and to see a country spring up from naught, its barriness yielding to the magic touch of husbandry. Savages and wild animals, supplanted by the anglo saxon and domestic animals – the Wigwam giving place to the neatly build schoolhouses & churches and the war whoop of the Indian to the shout of triumph of the husbandsman all this and more must be seen and heard and felt in Order to understand the existing difference between your country and ours. Yet it is but a repetition here of what has been there. The time may not come, that, when these things shall no more be repeated until time shall be no more. Many shall run to and fro – is being litterly fulfilled, at this latter day and age.
But what is this west? What is Kansas? It is to America what America has been for years to all the world. All the poor and landless have here spread out before them a life of conquest – 0f acquisition, of possession and ultimatley comfort followed by a green ripe old age. This is what it holds out, this is what it promises, this is what it is able to give. But will all find it so? Will all realize comfort by coming here? Not at all. Like it was with the children of Israel that left Egypt so it has been and so it is here. Many a man comes here and again leaves with disgust again to return lamenting their former foolishness. While others remain contented pressing forward and overcoming every obstacle in their way.
Thus although a year may not bring a change in any great degree upon the face of your country, it does here change things in that space of time in a very remarkable and vissible measure; so that the thinking mind is often led to repeat the old prophesy: that truly here the wilderness does blossom as the rose. This year will perhaps not yield any greater crops here than former years have done per acre but taking into consideration the encreased amount of land under cultivation to former years the yield as a whole in proportion will be far greater then in any former years. So while men at the east mistrust the ability of our soil to produce and support a population – we here know that we have enough and to spare.
The winter has been pretty fair. Spring rather wet, Summer since last month pretty dry. The wheat crop is getting harvested and it is not as heavy as was anticipated. Wheat will average only about 15 bushels per acre. Corn has been suffering for rain, but may yet make a pretty fair crop if rain comes soon. Rye oats and barley are pretty good, potatoes look good yes but need rain in order to make a good crop. A great deal of land here is yet new and the soil too shallow to stand a lengthy dry spell, whereas upon old ground, crops show a marked difference in appearance. Yet upon the whole we will fare very well here this year, unless the latter rain shall be withheld.
Emigration has been pretty brisk again this season which is now directed to the present far west. At the rate of the last five years, it can not be long until the whole of Kansas shall be settled, But what of me in all this time you may ask? Well I have been here nearly 5 years and when a person looks five years ahead it realy seems a long time. The last 5 years however have been the shortest in my remembrance that I have past. I have come to the following conclusions as a result of nearly five years experience. 1st It is as healthy a country as there is in America and 2nd as well calculated to give reward for the rightly applied effort as any other. These twp points I maintain. Failures take place anywhere, also here. But better advantages are here offered to the poor or unfortunate honest man than anywhere else that I know of. Kansas today stands upon her own merit. She owes no thanks to any pretty inflation schemes from outsiders, they all would misrepresent her if they could. Like every tub she stands upon her own bottom. Thus we have hope for the future. My own affairs are prospering. I have a deed for my land of Uncle Sam. The farm is rented and is my own. My business here is in a pretty fair condition and prospering. My health is very good. And also the health of my wife and children. Have you heard anything from father lately? Please inform me in your next letter where he is and how he likes it. We all send our love to you, and wishing that this may find you all well. I remain as ever
Yours
/s/ William Frank
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BROWN, MARY ETTA (ROOT) (Mrs. Cortez Brown)
Letter to Mrs. Effie (Frank) Thinnes (1)
Oklahoma City, Ok
July 14, 1926
My Dear Mrs. Thinnes,
The enclosed record which I am also sending your sister Lettie, will admit you and your “womenfolks” descendants to the D.A.R., (and let me say right here we know of no finer organization) and also will admit your “menfolks” descendants to the Sons of the Rev. With the world in so unstable a condition it would seem that we need to encourage patriotism and patriotic organizations to the utmost.
In your applications which you fill out when you get your blanks you will need to supply the dates concerning your immediate antecedents and run back to Benjamin Hull only- but I am sending information concerning the early Higbees which may be of interest to you. If you do not understand any thing about these records, write me and I will be very glad to explain.
Am sorry I could not have them typewritten.
Hoping you will be a D.A.R.
I remain
Cordially
Mrs. Cortez Brown
1128 W. 14th St.
Oklahoma City,
Okla
By writing to the Adj. Gen. at Trenton, N. J. and enclosing one dollar, you will receive a certified record of the services of Obadiah Higbee.
Letter to Mrs. Effie (Frank) Thinnes (2)
Oklahoma City, Ok
June 27, 1926
Mrs. Effie Thinness
Greenleaf, Kansas
My Dear Mrs. Thinnes,
Your sister Lettie’s daughter wrote us some time ago, asking if we could give her information concerning any Revolutionary services of any of her ancestors that would admit her to the “Daughters of the Rev.” organization.
At that time we had not the information but have since learned that Obediah Higbee, who was Aunt Cordelia Phillips Great Grandfather was a soldier in the Revolution.
Can you give me your niece Effie’s address, as I have mislaid the letter, and do not even remember her married name, and we will send her the lone of ancestry she will need to fill in the blanks for her application to the D.A.R.
If you would care for this information we will be glad to send it to you, too.
Willis Brown’s daughter Letty entered her Chapter recently on this line, which our daughter Edna Merle sent to her.
Altho there may be no Chapter where you live, your daughter may wish to use this list of your ancestors, and if you have sons (I have forgotten whether you have) they are eligible to the “Sons of the Rev.”
My daughter and I have been members of the D.A.R. for something over ten years and consider it one the finest of organizations, and that it exerts a wonderful influence for patriotism in our country.—something that is and will be sorely needed in the future.
Hoping you are well and will write us soon,
Your cousin
Mrs. Cortez Brown
1128 W. 14th St.
Oklahoma City,
Okla
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