1853 letter from Philipp ROSSMANN, Ripley, OH, USA to Johannes RIEBEL, Lindenfels, Hessen, Germany
A Fragment of the Letter
Black image?
Here is my translation (still in progress) of the letter. Please note: I do not speak German, but with the help of some friends and a dictionary this is what I came up with. If you know better please contact me. The letter consists of at least five distinct hands written by at least three distinct persons. It is imposssible to convey all the information on a web page, but the lines below give a good idea of what the letter intended. See this quote from Blackbourn if you are interested in the general context of this and letters like it.
Key (set your browser to display all page fonts for best display—sorry, I could not think of a better way to display this information):
Purple = Best guess at original German.
Blue = Best guess at a literal, word by word translation.
Dark Brown = Best guess at the regular sense of the letter in English.H~ H~ Johannes Riebel John Riebel John Riebel Lindenfels Lindenfels Lindenfels Grosshertzogthum Hessen Grand Dutchy of Hessen Grand Dutchy of Hessen Deutschland Germany Germany Lavena den 4 Juli 1853 Levanna the 4 July 1853 Levanna, July 4, 1853 Liebe Schwager u. Schwägerin Dear brother-in-law and sister-in-law Dear brother-in-law and sister-in-law Enhren brief haben wier vom 26 Februar richtig und Your letter | we've | from 26 February correctly and We got your letter of February 26 in good order and Gesundt erhalten welges uns auch von herzen freut daß well receive us also from heart pleased that it finds us in good health. We are pleased that Ihr noch alle Gesundt Sein, wier haben nicht gelehsen oder you still all well being, we have not read or you also are all still well. We coulldn't tell from your letter vom wem Ier den brief erhalten haben vom meiner from whom you the letter receive have from my whether you recieved the letter from my Mutter oder vom begier~ bote Nehmen es und nicht so über Mother or from eager messenager take it and not so above mother or from the messenger. Don't hold it against me auf daß wier Eich auf Eucherr brief nicht gleich ontwor at that we you an answer letter not like that we haven't answered your letter as I have not wanted to Geschrieben haben, Ich wol[l]te es abwarten wie es Sich written have I wanted it to wait as it each other to write until mit meine verhältniße zichgreet wie Eusern brief with my circumstances as your letter my circumstances settled. erhalten haben, haben wir schon in der hoffung galebt receive have | we've | already in the hope lived we had hoped Eich etwas neuest von uns zu schreiben, Meine Frau fort you something new from us to write, my wife gone to be able to give you news, but as my wife is away mir viel verursacht daß ich nicht geschrieben haben Sie hat s to me much caused that I not written have she has I have not written. She has had eine inerlige krankheit gehabt und bis sich das entshieden an inner complaint before and |by the time that it had decided itself| an internal complaint in the past and I had to wait hat mußte ich 3 vietel Jahr abwarten, dann hat sich auf has must I 3 quarter year to wait then has itself | at 3 quarters of a year before she got better, einmal die krankheit gebrochen und der Lieben Gott once | the disease broken and the dear God but since the disease has gone dear God hat mier vor meinen schaden eine Junge Tochter Liethert has to me for my damage a young daughter has compensated us with a young daughter. Liebe Wan ich hätte der etwas Gelt geschikt aber Dear I would have to you some money sent but Dear Wan, I would have sent you some money but geraden ist Jetzt die zeit wo ich kein Gelt einnehme just is now the time where I no money take in this is my slack season. I won't have any money bis dies spätiahr, dann will ich tun was ich kann und until this late year, then want I to do what I can and until the fall of this year, then I will do what I can and meine versprechen erfillen, wenn Ihr aber nur so viel my promise fulfill, if you but only as much fulfill my promise [to send money?]. If you can get zusamen bringt daß Ihr die Reise bis nach Neuiork together bring taht you the trip | as far as | New York together the money to come to New York, kommen könnt dann Schreibt uns gleich einen brief come can then write us right away a letter then write to us right away und wier werden Euch gleich behilflich Sein daß ihr zu and we will you right away helpful be that you to and we will help you uns reisen könt, Mein Lirut machtte die Reiß das we travel can, my [?] made the trip that travel to us. vorige Jahr bis nach Neüork vor 44 Gulden wenn previous year by after to New York for 44 florins if Last year the trip to New York cost 44 florins. If Ihr thun ~ Jahr ~ bis you to do year by Ihr also unsere brief erhalten thun So berete Eich was you so our letter receive to do as discuss each other what you get this letter, talk it over with each other Ihr thun wann Ihr also bis Neiiork komen könnt und you to do when you so by New York come can and and if you can come to New York, then the additional dann zu mier zu Reisen koß Euch noch bei 25 Dollar then to me to travel cost you another by 25 dollars cost to come to me [to Levana Ohio] is 25 dollars wenn Ihr aber das Sein so kent Ihr Euchern kaste bald if you but the being as can you your cost soon which you can earn easily. vendienen denn ein vechter Erbeiter hat Im Monatt 10 bis earn since a real worker has in a month 10 to a worker earns between 10 to 15 dollars a month, 15 Dola eine Magt 6 bis 8 Dola den Monet und ich Glaube 15 dollars a maid 6 to 8 dollars the month and I believe a scrub-woman earns between 6 to 8 dollars a month, and I don't believe nicht daß Ihr Reutß werden haben von Ihr dahienke not that you will have from you that you will regret it. Schwager Johannes wenn du kanst und wullst den heinrich Brother-in-law John | if you can and will | the Heinrich Brother-in-law John, if you want to send Heinrich Zu mier Sahuken wehre mier sehr lieb und thät mich freuen at to me | I would like it a lot | and I would look forward to to me, I would like it and appreciate it much. ven zu inier wiell komen so will ich dier fir sein at well coming as will I being He is welcomed. Don't worry as we will send his Reise gelt Sorgen und ich werde thun was mier s~ zusticht travel money worry and | I'll | to do what to me travel money and I'll come through for you also Schwager und freind. as brother-in-law and friend. as a brother-in-law and a friend. Lieber freind ich Schreibe nicht wiel denn ein mander First friend I write not well because a My dear friend, I do not write well denkt es ist nicht so wieder Schreibt nur ein kleines will thinks it is not as | respells | only a small will as I have no desire to re-write/edit ich Eich Schreibeng ich als Schumacher in Amerka haben dieses I you writting I as shoemaker in America have this I write to you as a shoemaker in America who has this Jahr 21 stück Schwein werkauft und habe noch vor mein Riedar year 21 pieces hogs sold and have still ahead my cattle year sold 21 pigs and still have 7 cattle left for my use 7 Stück als Schumacher 7 pieces as a shoemaker. as a shoemaker. Lieber zer Schwager und Schwägerin und Eine kinter first brother-in-law and sister-in-law and a children My dear brother-in-law and sister-in-law and kids Ich griese Eich viel tausen mal tausen I greet you many thousand time thousand a thousand greetings to you, Grieset Auch Meinen guten frei~t Neister und Seine frau greetings also my good friend Neister and his wife and also to my good friend Neister and his wife. Philipp Rossmann Philipp Rossmann Philipp Rossmann Liebe Lauder und Schwager ich Griese nich Dear and brother-in-law I greet no Dear L and brother-in-law vieldause d~al und eire lieben bieder und and love worthy and griese auch meine Liebe Schwester Agnes und greet also my dear sister Agnes and also say hello to my dear sister Agnes and to meine liebe Schwester Gordrunt und meinen Schwa my dear sibling Gordrunt and my brother-in my dear sibling Gordrunt and to my dear brother-in-law ger Liebe Adam und Katarina von ir die law dear Adam and Katarina from the Adam and his wife Katarina when you see them. kreften allen falt jetz habt nach neiork zu strength all by now have after New York at strong all kom~ ~t nich micht viel bleider mit und nu come no many with and no time einen kasten o meine lieben geschwester wernd ir one suitcase my dear brothers and sisters nur alle bei mir da~hätte ich k~ sargen mer only all by for me would have I I wish you all lived close mir leben fer werking mit eimad~r Philipp ist niet for me life for working with Philipp is to me. Philipp is a gut und ffleisig wir haben 3 lieben kinder gorg ist ein gut good and industrious we have 3 dear children George is a good good and industrious boy. We have 3 good children, George is a good bu~~d kann fer wiel englichtor gr~s~d feinn ~ffleg mut can well englisher spunk boy and speaks English well. Sigfried handles the plow well. herzlich nun wil ich mein Schreiben beschlissen und affectionate now will I my writting finnish and I close my letter with affection and [cut off on the photocopy] Er grüßet Kir olle dir Familie Zambact He greets missus you/the Family Zambact The Zambach family sends greetings to all their friends. ~ich bitte ich Sir mir alle Lebonten zu gerßend. please I for me all at Unhern Addresse ist address is Our address is An Philipp Rossmann to Philipp Rossmann to Philipp Rossmann in in in Levanna Levanna Levanna bei by by Ripley Ripley Ripley Brown County, Ohio Brown County, Ohio Brown County, Ohio Nordamericka North America North America ---------- ---------- ---------- zum Go~stwirt ~ 161 to the Washington ~ Washington Gerr Ekedt er~rd nust h~süße gebet~in prayer/wish uintß~ ~ ~her~ Z~ Oer Ersann i~ ~ W~g~ erah Levanna za Beig~ Levanna ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ zu ~ at ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Jackob Reinhard Jackob Reinhard Jackob ReinhardI don't know why the image is not showing in some browsers. 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rev: 2007