Heinrich F. Reimer Letter of 1875

Mennonite Genealogy with Michael Penner

Heinrich F. Reimer: Letter of 1875

Letter written by Heinrich F. Reimer (1818-1876). Printed in Blumenort, 2nd edition, by Royden Loewen, pp53-54.The letter is addressed to his married children, the Heinrich F. Reimers, Jr. (Rev.) and the Abraham R. Reimers (Deacon). Mrs. Abraham Reimer was a daughter to the writer.

January 21, 1875
Blumenhof, [Borosenko]

Dear Children Heinrich and Abraham Reimer,

We have long wished for a letter from you to find how you are and if you are all still living. We went to Hochfeld yesterday and found several letters there. There was also one from you, dear Abraham Reimers, for which we are happy. From it we could see how you all were; it is good to have been able to bury your dear son Heinrich [b, 1869] who had been sick for so long and now all his suffering has ended. This can encourage us when we suffer sickness or have other troubles. And you, dear Heinrich Reimer; what are you still doing? We hope that there will be a letter from you in Nikopol. It has been so long since we have heard from you that we often talk about the length of time it takes for a letter.

But we also know how long the letters are underway, and so we can better excuse you. We received a letter from Duluth, after which we have received none. But we have not done that which we would have wished others to have done. In the future we want to be more diligent to write. But what should we write except that we are quite healthy with the exception of myself. I can hardly keep myself from constantly catching a cold.

We are now living in your former house, H. Reimers, and things are good overall. We still have two cows and two horses; the rest we have all sold. We are taking care of everything ourselves with the help of the children and do not need strange people to help us, which works out very well. If we could only discuss this more frequently with you; but it is too distant.

Now, dear children, I would like to tell or ask you many things but who knows if I will see you again. Are you also preparing lumber for us? What I can say; you will have enough to do for yourselves! If you find someone there who would like to earn something, then go ahead. But, on the other hand, I do not even know if I will ever get there, as I am still very weak and sickly; although from summer till fall I was quite well. How are the Thiessens; are they well and alive? Henry and Klaas Brandts, are they also well? Report to us! I could say a whole lot more, but it is time to go to Nikopol; … I have written only a little, but I went to Friesens this evening and came home at midnight and Mother had begun to write, and so I finished writing in the morning. The dear grandfather and brother-in-law Toews have written more which will be more constructive. Accept our poor writing from us as it has been done very quickly, but it is meant well. With a hearty greeting to your children and all friends who remember us.

From your parents who love you,

Heinrich Reimers

P.S. Also, greetings from the children.

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