| A portion of the Letter to the Sonntagsblatt. by Loehe, 1841 1. Thousands, even hundreds of thousands have left Germany, crossing the ocean, hoping to find new homes. German fathers, children of German mothers, brothers and sisters of Germans, relatives of Germans, childhood friends of Germans, are now under foreign skies, in another part of the world. As they left, did love leave also? Has the memory of far away loved ones died? Fathers, are you not concerned about your children? Mothers, do you no longer care for those whom you have suckled? Is it so cold in Germany that love, implanted in everyone's heart, can no longer thrive? Is this love for parents and children, is love between blood-relations no longer alive? Have our people forgotten the German way? Has the Fatherland of family love changed? 2. Most of the German emigrants are members of the evangelical church. In 1834 there were already 627 German-Lutheran congregations in the central and southern states of North America and Ohio. By 1838 there were 800, which does not include the countless families and small settlements who are not formally members of a congregation. Is the German evangelical church not concerned about so many of its children? The Pope has divided North America into dioceses and sends his messengers to his sheep. Should the church--which reveals God's love ever more completely and recognizes a myriad of mercy from which the Catholic church distances itself--not extend its care for its own across the ocean? Should it sever the ties which connect it in love to its distant children? Children of the church, brothers and sisters, far from it! We believe in a holy, Christian church which encompasses all worlds! Our love extends across the oceans, into the American forests, to the mountains, the far away rivers, to wherever people are who are adhering to the true value, the unaltered authority of the sacraments. 3. Alas, many are forsaken, extremely forsaken, so very many of our brothers-in-faith, our race, our people, our children, our siblings. Troubles and tribulations have befallen them, grief and sorrow of this world are upon them. Who knows how much? Should we not suffer with them, pray with them? In addition, our distant brothers-in-the-faith are surrounded by much spiritual trouble as well. There are only 300 preachers available to serve these 800 congregations located in the Eastern states and Ohio. There are many settlements and families scattered about in both Ohio and Pennsylvania, which are not included in the count of 800. They are not being served by these 300 preachers. What conditions are there in the Western states? How can we expect the Eastern states, which themselves are extremely needy, to serve those in the West? And yet, how forsaken they are there in the West. German farmers are attracted to these states, people from our fatherland are moving westward in huge numbers. In those areas churches and congregations have not yet been established. There it is possible to found 10 or 15 new congregations without a preacher ever coming even near. There are cases where young girls of 18 years, even mothers with several children, demand to be baptized by traveling preachers, some of which have been sent by the Eastern states. Should we not suffer with them? Translated by Erika Bullmann Flores |
| Portions of Letters from Ferdinand Sievers to Wilhelm Loehe in 1848 and 1849, from the "German settlement by Saginaw city" describing some of the events in the new settlement of Frankenlust: The departure from Saginaw was made July 4th, “Independence Day,” the only holiday of the United States. The citizens of Saginaw celebrated with boisterous merrymaking. All day the woods re-echoed from the sound of cannon shot in Saginaw. A steamship came from Detroit to offer rides on the beautiful Saginaw River for the pleasure-seeking and cheering Saginaw citizens, whilst our scow was steered down river with much effort and labor.The second group that traveled by foot through the wilderness from Saginaw arrived in the evening very tired and weary and settled on the bridge of the north arm of the Squaquanning, a little stream approximately two rods wide and about seven feet deep. There were no coveniences whatsoever, and we were completely out of food. We had hoped that the members of our colony that came by boat would meet us here at the bridge that same evening, but they only came as far as Stone Island. All of our group were hungry, and with nothing to eat, they witnessed a most unusual scene. Mr. Hachtel had bought one of the best cows available, but being there was no bucket into which to milk, he laid himself under the cow and milked directly into his mouth! In haste we built a little fence for the calves that we brought along and gathered some wood to build a fire for the cool of the night. For me they took an old board from the bridge to sleep on, which I shared with Mrs. Helmreich. I slept on one end of the board and she on the other. The following morning we met the members of our party that came by boat at Stone Island. We thanked the Lord that He brought us together again. As we were all close to fainting, Mr. Stone, our English neighbor, satisfied our hunger with a good meal. In the afternoon we all moved on to our new home. This time we stayed at the first bridge of the south arm. This was as far as our boat could go. The raft loaded with 8,500 board feet of lumber, which was tied on the back of our boat, we had to leave further upstream because in spots the river was too overgrown with wild rice, which made it very difficult to get through with our big load. However, we were happy that all our other belongings arrived at our destination without any great cost. The following day we started surveying, but towards evening unusual and windy, rainy weather started so that this work could not be completed for days. You can hardly imagine how burdensome and difficult it is to survey in a wilderness where all land is overgrown with trees and brush. Mine would be the first one, and it was required that all surveying would start in the middle of the stream. On both sides of the river there is quite a large swamp area with marsh grass growing up to six feet tall. By highwater level, this marsh area is completely flooded so that one has to wade waist deep in water. Two English men and Andrew Goetz are my faithful helpers. Several times we had to cross the river so that we were in water shoulder deep. Good weather for surveying was very much desired. However, the good Lord did not bless us with nice weather the first eight days. Instead, it was constantly raining day and night on our narrow and lightly-constructed shanty. Because our shanty was not waterproof, many of our belongings spoiled by the rain. We regretted having stayed by Tuerker in Saginaw to plant potatoes, where we could have used the time more advantageously to get organized here. Finally, by the end of the second week, it stopped raining. The surveyor, Mecamic by name, surveyed the parcels that were divided by casting lots. Sunday night we left our common shanty . Only once did we have Sunday worship services in it. The second worship service was held in Andrews’ and Hachtel’s joint shanty on the boundary of the two joining plots. The joint shanty for the 17 colonists had only one room. In the middle, where a big coffer was placed, were my quarters. The two English surveyors were next to me. All other colonists were laying around in a circle. Despite the inclement weather, all remained in good spirits. All were convinced that the Lord led them to a beautiful and fruitful area where by honest labor and God’s blessing there would be no lack of daily bread. The plan for the settlement was now made. We decided to start on the south side of the river. I recommended that the church, parsonage and school be built where the north and south arm flow together, from where a bridge from Hachtel’s land to the church property would have to be built. The land between the two streams should not be sold as farmsteads but for small garden and house plots. In this way more houses would be built close to the church. Likewise, the land along the road from Saginaw to Lower Saginaw should be reserved for house and garden plots as far as is indicated by pints on my map. Outside of the state road that I wish to have occupied by house and garden plots, according to my plan, I would like a roadway further inland, as the homesteads are all bordering each other next to the river. So, you see, dear Pastor, the plan for Frankenlust is made to the best of my knowledge. Please write and give me your opinion if this plan is practical. |
| You desired information about the drinking water, which is exceptionally good in Saginaw County, but also about many other items. First of all, most of the streams have a sand bottom, although only alongside the shores. Most of the land off shore is clay mixed with a little sand. Maple, oak and beech are the predominate species of trees. The Saginaw River contains many species of fish, especially in the spring of the year. There are no stone for foundations. Lime and sandstones can be transported by ship from islands off the Saginaw Bay without excessive cost. For hand laborers like blacksmiths, cabinet makers, carpenters, shoemakers, tailors, beer brewers, bakers, lathe operators, and especially masons, Lower Saginaw or Saginaw city would be good locations to start a business. Merchants with some $750 to $1000 starting capital would have good opportunities to go into business also. Around Saginaw land is for sale anywhere from $10 to $12 per acre. Some cleared farms are for sale or rent. If someone rents a farm the landlord furnishes all the equipment, he gets ½ of the proceeds. If the tenant uses his equipment, the landlord gets 1/3 of the proceeds. In the Saginaw and Tittabawassee valley area, as well as the Cass River area, farms are comparatively cheap. Seventy to eight acres cleared farmland with frame houses and barns are for sale in this area. The going price is $12 to $15 per acre for the land. Houses on this property could be bought for a low price. In regards to hand labor, I would have to warn the emigrant workers that a pitiful livelihood would lie ahead for them if they do not immediately adjust to the American cuare way ahead of the German people. I would advise the hand laborers to learn their skill as an apprentice for the first half year. In Saginaw a lot for a house 120 feet long, 60 feet wide will usually cost around $100. Concerning the climate over here, the following can be submitted: The summers are sultry and hot, and the winters much longer than in Germany. The cattle are mostly outdoors in the winter, except for a shanty with a roof, and the west, north and east sides are boarded up for protection against wind and weather. The south side is left open. The cattle live mostly on tree branches and buds, as there is very little hay available. The duration of winter is usually from the beginning of November to the end of April, but clear, sunshiny days are more prevalent than the dark and snow days. No one dares to plant vegetables or potatoes before the end of April. It is not necessary to plant early, for when the hot and sunshiny days come, everything grows exceedingly fast. Over here, to work early in the morning and late in the evening is not advantageous for your health. When working outside, it is better to wear cotton shirts. Working in the hot sun causes one to perspire. This would make wearing linen shirts very disagreeable, as one would get chilled easier. As a rule, woolen undershirts are worn underneath the cotton ones, which doctors declare is absolutely necessary for this climate. I hope these last paragraphs will give you all the information you expected. (end) |