Letter #3 of Heinrich D. Friesen

Mennonite Genealogy with Michael Penner

Letter of May 31, 1876

Heinrich D. Friesen and his family clan (aside from the families of his son Gerhard and daughter Katharina), immigrated to Canada in the fall of 1875. The family chose to stay in Ontario for what appears to be several months before relocating to the East Reserve of Manitoba. Heinrich wrote this letter from Berlin, Ontario (the city changed its name to Kitchener during WWI). The letter is addressed to the Commissioner of Immigration and Agriculture in Winnipeg, Mr. William Hespeler. The translation is courtesy of Mr. Henry Fast. The date of the letter at the top, May 31, is strangely out of sequence with the May 7 future date mentioned in the letter’s body.

Berlin, Ontario, May 31, 1876.

Worthy Mr. Hespeler.

With a sincere greeting, I ask a favor of you to inform my son, Gerhard Friesen, in Blumenfeld that we, with about 50 immigrant families, expect to leave Berlin on May 7 (if the Lord wills and if we are still alive). And will accordingly expect to arrive at the immigration houses. I believe notification will be forthcoming from Moorhead.

Signed: Respectfully your friend,

Heinrich Friesen.

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