Dear
Jacob,
We read your two letters and were surprised that you are in Cincinnati
and that you sold(?) everything and beside for so little. I cannot quite
understand it. You wrote to me that you had started so well and that you were
working with a Journeyman and an apprentice and not even then did you make
anything. I believe you had to pay dearly for you partnership. It would be
better if you should start a small business by yourself. You can earn more for
one first must learn to crawl before one can walk.
If you want to come to us this spring then come first to me and don’t
stop at Captina for if you come in April or the beginning of May I shall go with
you. This spring I want to visit once more all my children and friends. It is
perhaps the last time that I shall take the trip down. That means if the Good
Lord will keep me well when you come to me we can talk together about
everything. Only come to me before you go on or to Tennessee. You can perhaps
settle at another place for I do not hear or read much good about the State of
Tennessee.
Now I want to write you how things are here, so far I have been well, but
my heart is nolonger as good as it was. I have a very heavy cold in my chest but
perhaps it will be better again when it gets warmer. Otherwise we are all still
well only our litte Louisa is still lame. She cannot walk except crawl on the
ground but we hope the Good Lord will strengthen her again when it gets warmer.
David has always a lot of work here. I cannot tell you how things are in the
city for I have not been in the city since New Year but I hear that times were
very dull, goods are very expensive.
Now dear Jacob continue what you have started so that no one can take
your crown from you which the dear Savior has preserved for each one that loves
him and walks in his ways for we are living in a wicked world for Satan goes
around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Those whom he finds that
are not watching out. You know what you have received, therefore our savior
says, “Wait!” Oh dear Jacob do not forget prayer. If you do that the dear
savior will help you then in all your requests, cares, and troubles for he knows
how to keep his people wherever they may be if only they rely upon him.
Well I want to close. Write to me when you are coming. Our mail arrives
every Friday – once a week. When you get to Allegheny City go to Ohio St #190
to Henry Anshutz. He can tell you where Elizabeth Breining lives. Now we all
send many regards and recommend you to the protection of the Lord. Give also my
regards to Jacob my brother and Will Anshutz and send me their addresses so that
I can write to them too.
Your
father Peter Anshutz
(on
back in English)
I
received your letter the 5th and 12th Inst.
Envelope addressed to:
Jacob Anshutz, c/o John Reid, No 190 Main St., Cincinnati Ohio
Dorseyville Sept the first 1869
Dear
Jacob,
I received your letter on August 27 and I see that, thank goodness, you
are still well which pleases us all and that you have in mind visiting us. Time
will go slowly till the 3 months or past that you mention. Try to be with us the
beginning of Oct. We are all well so far as long as the Good Lord wills. On Aug
22nd the Methodists had a camp meeting about 12 miles from here and
on the 24th the United Brethren also had a camp meeting about 13
miles from here and five miles from Allegheny city. David, Rebecca, & little
Louisa went down then. They also had a very good time. I would also have liked
to go but I had to stay at home with our dear little Johnny. He is a very good
child. Wherever I go I have to have him with me. Otherwise he looks for me all
over the house and shouts “grand pop!” I have great fun with him. David is
always at work. He intends to sell here and to go on.
Well dear Jacob I am always pleased when I hear from you and also what
you do for your Dear Lord. He can help you in all distress and whenever
something bothers you, pray to him. He most certainly will help you. Those who
trust in him will have no want. I believe you have experienced that. For the
saying is: sing, pray and walk the path of God. Do faithfully your duties then
the richest blessing will pour anew on you every day for he who trusts in God
will not be forsaken. Your brothers and sisters are all well so far as I know.
Elizabeth’s two daughters were at my home.
We send many regards to you and recommend you to the protection of the
Lord. Write me when you are going, farewell.
Your
Father
Peter
Anshutz
Dorseyville March 15, 1870
Dear Jacob,
I received your letter of Feb 25 and I see that you are still well which
pleases us all very much. As far as we are concerned we are still all well as
long as the dear Lord wills it. Last week we moved to our new home by sled.
There was a lot of snow here and there still is some. However it is still very
cold and the ground still frozen hard. We are having a very long winter. We had
much to arrange this week and it was a hard week for all of us. Rebecca is not
very well – she had to work too hard, but we like it very much. It is a nice
place but now we have much work to put it in order.
Well Jacob you wrote about a Templar’s organization. Is its name
Independent Order of Good Templars, I don’t understand what it is except a
temperance organization. Such an organization is very fine if one remains
faithful to it, and I am pleased to learn that you occupy such a great position
which is Honorable Marshall, that is a great name. Now try to carry the name to
the honor of God otherwise it will harm you, and what else the meaning of the
name may be for you will find in the Bible for it is said no drunkard will enter
the Kingdom of Heaven. There are temperance people here too we can’t complain
about drunkards here, the people attend church regularly.
Well you write about money. I cannot tell you yet until I have seen John
Bergendthal. He told me in his letter that he will come to me this month then I
shall write you how much I can give you, not less than $100 perhaps more.
However, you say you want to take a partner. Well you once had a partnership…
you know what you did. I should think if you would work alone or would take a
helper you would be better off. You wrote me you wanted to take an apprentice
last New Year. I should think that an apprentice and a journeyman would be
better for you than to take a partner. However, you ought to know better than I.
For its better to have the profit alone that to divide it. I have seen a good
many partnerships but they never were any good. You know the world is bad. The
German proverb says, “Look out whom you trust.”
Well we all wish the good lord will keep you well and will keep you on
the path of life to your last day. This is our wish and prayer. Rebecca did not
forget you but because I always write she does not have to write too. We send
many regards and recommend you to the protection of God. Your brothers and
sisters are all well so far as I know. If I stay well I intend to visit all of
you this Spring. Tell me also how I can send you the money. Write me soon again
about what you intend doing about a partner. Fare well.
Your
old father
Peter Anshutz
Rev John Anshutz – Springfield MO Jan 4 1871
Buckhill
Bottom
Dear Jacob,
We received your letter which you wrote to Elizabeth and have seen that
your are still healthy and well. I am also still well thank goodness and
Margarethe and Elizabeth’s family too.
I would have wrote you a long time ago however I believe I wrote you that
Rebecca has died on the last day of Nov. and we buried her in the Captina
Methodist Cemetery. Now David has sold his land and furniture. I was at
Elizabeth’s but she has no room for me for she has Rebecca’s three children
therefore she has no room for me. Now I have all my things at Godfried and
Mary’s, now I am here. However I shall go back to Liza for I have a lawsuit
with David. I lent him $1500 and because I want to have my money back now he
denies that I lent him the money and he went to the court in Pittsburgh.
Therefore I must wait untill the court is in session. My lawyer told me it could
last until March. Perhaps also earlier. Oh Joseph I have great trouble
with him. Well he is a wicked person – we can be glad that the good Lord has
called home Rebecca. We are only sad for their children for they are to go to
the orphanage now although it is the best place for them for he does not care
much for them. He behaves very badly, his credit is gone. When he has lived in
the country all the people sympathize with me that he acts so mean toward me.
However, the good Lord is with me. He will help me through for the saying goes,
“He who wants to enter heaven without suffering and sorrow, he will see that
he is deceived when he come to die for sorrow and suffering keep the Christians
on the narrow path which would lead to life. For the door of the grave is the
entrance to eternal life.” That the beloved savior Jesus Christ has said and
that road I soon may walk for I am 72 years old. Then I can also be glad for
those who have arrived before me.
Now I shall finish for the rest you know. Next time I shall write you
more. The good Lord will keep youwell. Include me in your prayers. We all greet
you many times.
Your
father,
Peter
Anshutz
P.S.
Next time write to me care of Liza in Allegheny City.
(on back: Write to me soon again)
Manchester June 5 1871
Dear Jacob,
I can no longer wait to write you again. I wrote to you once before how
we are and particularly I. However I have not yet received an answer. I wonder
whether you are still well. As far as I and the rest of us are concerned we are
still all well as long as the good Lord wills. I am still at Liza’s. I have
been unable to get away from here until D. Dunlop has sold. I have been waiting
for six months but I am now tired of waiting for him. If he does not sell it
this month I shall sell it through the sheriff. Then he has to take what he can
get. We are only sorry for the dear children, for two of them are in the
orphanage where we or he are to pay $3.00 each week and the youngest child is
with Elizabeth which she wants to keep or else he will have to pay her and he
cannot do that. He hasn’t given her any money yet for the other five months
and he hasn’t paid anything to the Orphanage either. I believe Liza and I will
have to pay for them. If we have to pay we shall keep the children too for if he
is unable to pay for them they are ours.
Well Dear Jacob write me how things are with you, whether you are still
well and also how your business is and what you intend to do with your young
horse and your 7 or 8 pigs. I should think your trade would be better for you
than a farm because you are not married. However I know in what kind of a
position you are. Well dear Jacob you know best what is good for you.
However if you want to get married I cannot give you any better advice
than to turn to our Savior. He shall help you to find a mate who will be best to
walk with you on the path of life. You must ask young Tobias, he had a good mate
who told him what to do. Therefore go and do the same.
I have in mind going to Captina in one or two weeks. My things are still
at Gottfreids. I must bring them here to Liza’s. I do not like to do it but I
cannot do otherwise because my home is here now.
I shall close for the time. I recommend you to the protection of God.
Remain what you are so that no one can take your crown away from you. We all
send many regards and hope these lines will find you in good health. Farewell
Peter
Anshutz
On
end:
My
Address
Manchester,
Franklin St #221 Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania
Your
old father the 73 1/2 year
Peter
Anshutz
On
Envelope Jacob Anshutz, Simpsonville, Shelby CO. Ky
(Note) I wrote you my last letter on April 10 but I have not yet received an answer as yet. Don’t wait that long this time for I long to hear from you.
(In English)
April
14th 187
Manchester, Franklin Street, No 221
Dear Son Jacob and
Anna
I have to write you a few lines, again, I received your letter and it
seems as you are all well which I was glad to see in your last letter. And on
our side we are all well yet so long as our God will spare us our health. You
say you are going in brick speculation. I should think it is very good business,
it is here very good. They are building very fast here in this town! But how is
it with your sadler business, are you going to give them up or keep the shop up
the same time. Don’t venture too much at once but I expect you to know all
about it! You say I should come down to see you, but that is impossible because
we have Rebecca her (DEC: I assume this means “Rebecca’s”… his English
is not as strong as his German) 2 girls here and I have to take care of them.
They are all the time with me, whenever they don’t see me they call for me
Grand Pape. It would be very hard with me and them so I can’t leve this
country. I have to stay here. I have to go in Ohio, last May. I am going to stay
down there about 2 months over the harvest time. I rather be in the country than
in the City! It is too much noise here for me and the I have no Company here! So
I have to stay at home and read my books, that is the way I have to past my
time. (The following is in German and English mixed) I have my ____
______ and Saints Rest and Doctor Luther(?) ______ _____
and Christian Retirement from Uncle Christ. But he is dead and ________
_______ so in this books I past my time away. I have many happy times here by
myself – now you see how I past my time away! Well Jacob I am still on the
road home. When will I get there the time feels long. I wrote to my sister
Charlot the last week. I told her that I am home sick and I want her to go long
with me. I look for a letter from her. I am going to see her about this. Maria
and Margaret are all well. I got a letter from Maria last week. They have a
Senery in their place. They have got 9 cows for to make cheese. That is all I
know about them. We had a very long winter the river has been very high. Last
week there has been many coal boats lost in the ice. I hear the ice has been 5
feet thick up the Allegheny. We have good weather now – the times getting dull
here the money getting scarce.
I have to finish this for the time.
Excuse
my bad writing I road fast unto me soon again.
(MCA:
The rest of this letter is in German & has been translated)
We
all send many regards to you and recommend you to the protection of God. Don’t
forget prayers that keep up your faith as among the patriarchs, as is written in
11th Chapter of Elias, “What these did through faith … “
Farewell
to both of you
Your
father
PA
Your
bed at Elizabeth’s is not worth much any more to be shipped so far and to pay
the freight it would cost her only 1.50 and till you had it it would be an
expensive bed. I therefore told her she should pay you for it. She says she
wants to pay you rather what it is worth. Now when I get to Manchester I shall
deduct your bill for Schiebach then margaret will be satisfied. When you write ,
write to Hanibal or Bennsville Monroe Co Ohio.
Now
farewell to both of you, my wish and prayer is that the good Lord will bless
you.
P
Anshutz
(on back) The bed is only a light bed and a light pillow. It is very light.
Abstract of Peter Anshutz, Jr. Will Prepared by Marcellin C. Adams. 1/16/1939
Will Book 21, 472 Dated July 30 1878
Probated Feb 27 1879
1. Beloved Son Jacob $200
2. Beloved Daughter Margareth wife of JG Muhlman $200
3. Beloved Daughter Maria wife of Peter Rothlisberger $200
4. Beloved 2 grandchildren Lizzie and Louise $100 each
daughters of David and Rebecca Dunlop
on arrival at age of 16 years
Residing Legatee – Elizabeth Breining
Executor – “my friend” C. W. Anshutz of Allegheny City
Witness – L. M. Hamilton and W. K. Walton
a/c book Vol 32 p 113
Inventory and Appraisment 1893.00
Bequests #1 $200
#2 $200
#3 $200
(#4)
C. W. Anshutz Executor got $94.65
Mrs Breining, Res Legatee got $848.35
Several other items
Funeral $51.00 fees, notices, etc. etc.
Inv. And appraisment papers not seen 1/16/39