Letter #2 of Heinrich D. Friesen

Mennonite Genealogy with Michael Penner

Letter of October 18, 1875

Letter written by Heinrich D. Friesen from the city of Simferopol, located in south central Crimea. His greeting in the letter is to the families of his second and third oldest children (the Gerhard S. Friesens and the Isaac E. Loewens). The translation was graciously done by Mr. Henry Fast of Steinbach, Manitoba, a local historian and author.

Simferopol, Oct. 18, 1875.

Dear children; Loewens and Friesens.

May the peace of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. This is the wish of your father, who is weak in spirit, writing from the far away land. We have been waiting for a letter from you but have not received any since April which we received from J. Dueck and Loewens. Otherwise little news except the little that Ohm Toews has written. I have been gone from home for 3 weeks and had to travel from Trakmark and Berdyansk and from there by rail to Simferopol. I have now spent 5 days in the city waiting for the pass which has been promised for tomorrow. So then, love prompts me to write. It is doubtful if we will see you before winter. Our plan is to stay with brethren in Berlin over winter. However, when I receive the pass we will leave Russia as soon as possible. And so, the Lord willing and we are alive ----. ( End of page 1. There seems to be a disconnect between page 1 and 2. Either a page is missing or page 2 is part of another letter--Henry Fast)

Has it been to our disadvantage that we listened to man’s advice and vacillated in our decision? We could have emigrated last spring. We are still sorry that you did not wait until we too had made a decision. Now it is possible that we may not meet each other. I believe that we will stay with the brethren in Berlin. As J. Cornelsen wrote, they are in agreement with us. I have now briefly indicated my thinking on this matter.

We sincerely hope that you are well in body and soul. Since I left my family I have been waiting for a letter. God be praised we are all well. I was at J. Balau. He had just received a receipt from Ohm Toews. He also wants to come

A sincere greeting to those who are dear to us. Your humble brother in the Lord. -------H Friesen

Signed: Respectfully your friend,

Heinrich Friesen.

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