Historic Note

Between 1860 and 1899 more than five million Prussians sailed to America, the largest group of immigrants to this country before 1900. They left because of economic hardship and political unrest, hoping for better lives in America.

When August was young, Germany was not a unified country as it is today. It was made up of many small kingdoms, of which Prussia was one. Today the kingdom of Prussia no longer exists. People of the German Empire included Austrians, Belgians, Czechs, Danes, Dutch, French, Hungarians, Lithuanians, Luxembourgers, Poles, Russians, Slavs, Swiss and, of course, Germans.

Kaiser Wilhelm ruled the Empire but Otto von Bismarck was chancellor. He tried to unify these diverse groups into a single German nation. He declared Protestantism the state religion and closed Catholic churches. He persecuted anyone who spoke a language other than German.

Like most rural Prussians, August’s father was a day-laborer. He received meager wages for odd jobs performed for wealthy landlords. He managed to save enough to send Berta to America as a mail-order bride, a practice common among Prussians wishing to relocate their large families to the States. However, it would be four long years before the family was reunited in Michigan. During that time, Berta and August wrote to one another. And mail took ten to twelve weeks to cross the Atlantic.

 When August’s family left, the government forced Johann to remain in Prussia to complete his army duty. However, once August reached Parisville he mailed his emigration papers back to Johann who fled using August’s identity. Once reunited in Michigan, August’s mother, Franziska, changed her name to Frances, Johann changed his to John, and Karl changed his to Charles. Berta became known as Bertha and August simply went by Gus. He and his siblings learned English quickly; however, his mother never mastered the new language. Strangely, August and Berta continued speaking German while Johann, Karl and Anna spoke Polish. The German-Polish split in their family mirrored the German-Polish split in Parisville. Interestingly, a similar division occurred later in their village of Kniewon-Samosten: when a new border between Germany and Poland was established after World War I, the village was cut in two — Kniewon became part of Germany while Samosten became part of Poland.

Parisville is believed to be the oldest Polish settlement in the United States, established around 1852. And Parisville is where my grandmother, Martha Abraham, was born. Grandma was August’s daughter. August my great-grandfather. Following her father’s example, Grandma spoke to me in German as well as English. “Was ist mit Dir los?” she asked if I were upset — “What’s the matter?” “Ach, Du Lieber!” she exclaimed — “Oh, dear!” At Christmas she baked Lebkuchen — spicy gingerbread men. She taught me prayers in German — Gelobet seist Du, Jesu Christ. And whenever she saw me, she gave me große Umarmungen und Küßchen — big hugs and kisses — which are exactly the same in German or in English!

Letter Dated 3 May 1882, Bremerhaven, Bremen

Dear Bertha,

Mama had me sell the cow! All we own we carry in bundles and bags. But Johann is not with us! He had to remain in Prussia to finish his army service. He said we had to go to Michigan without him and that he will join us as soon as he can.

In the morning we board the S.S. Ohio for Baltimore. We will arrive in Parisville by mid-June! I cannot wait!

Aside from learning a few words of English (did you notice?), I have learned some Beethoven duets for us. But am hoping you will teach me some Stephen Foster songs instead. What do you think?

Your soon-to-be-American brother,
Gus

Letter Dated 8 September 1881, Parisville, Michigan

Lieber August,

Tuesday morning the nuns were here collecting for the poor. The sky looked shadowy and opaque. Our chickens had vanished. The horses were skittish. Then we smelled smoke.

August, it happened so fast! The forest to our west was burning! Wind carried sparks through the treetops, setting everything around us ablaze. Flames surrounded our hotel. There was no escape.

We fixed an icon of Our Lady to the front porch and raced back inside. We prayed.

Four hours the fire roared! Timbers creaked. Windows cracked. Heat blasted.

An unsettling silence followed. We opened the door and crept out past Our Lady. There was not a blister or burn on her. Yet the fire had consumed everything. Charred bodies of man and beast littered the landscape. The air reeked of soot and singed hide.

Miraculously the hotel was spared. It was the single structure left standing in the vast wasteland that was once Parisville.

We are grateful to be alive and to have lost nothing. But at times like this I wonder why I ever left home. First Papa. Now this. I need you more than ever. August, come to us!

We have been setting aside money for an emergency such as this. I have enclosed a draft on the American Exchange Bank for $350. At last you all can sail to America. Let me know when to expect you. Until then, I bless you all with the Holy Cross.

Deine Schwester, 
Berta 

Letter Dated 15 October 1880, Kniewon-Samosten, Prussia

Liebe Berta,

I cannot believe that I am an uncle! But Mama says she feels like a grandma.

Since spring the rain has not stopped. Standing water fills the fields. Rye rots on the stalks. We harvest what we can. With Papa gone Johann has returned from the army, but his strong arms and sturdy back are not enough. Mama takes in laundry. Anna cooks for day-workers. And it rains.

We had so little money that Mama was forced to sell my violin to pay the rent. I asked if she could sell the cow instead. Things are so bleak that I fear I may never meet my new niece. Berta, what if we never see one another again?

Dein Bruder, 
August