Original text

Fincastle, Va, August 8ten 1869

Liebe theure Eltern und l. Schwestern!

Euer Werthes vom 12. July habe erhalten aus welchem ich GsDank Euer beßtes Wohl entnehme + kann ich G sDank auch Gleiches von mir sagen, ich hoffe, daß Ihr mein Vorhergehendes mit Inlage von 10 Dollar Papiergeld erhalten habet.

Die Geschäfte wie ich aus dem Schreiben der l. Mutter entnehme sind ziemlich gut in Deutschland nur ist die Frage was für einen Provit gemacht wird. ich kann mich nicht mehr erinern. Hier sind die Geschäfte immer noch nicht lebhaft man verkauft immer etwas jedoch nicht genug. Ich bin noch in Unterhandlung mit Kronenberg ob ich mit ihm anfangen will oder nicht erwarte Briefe von ihm, man hat sich schnell angebunden muß aber wißen wie man durchkommt. Deshalb kann ich l. Vater nicht genau versprechen wann ich das Geld schicken kann, es ist möglich daß ich es Anfangs October vielleicht aber auch nicht vor Anfangs November schicken kann, ich will mein mögliches thun in der kürzesten Bälde Dir das Geld zu senden, kann jedoch nicht genau sagen welche Woche.

Du schreibst l. Vater daß Hertkorn sein Haus verkauft, wenn solches für einen billigen Preis & unter anehmbaren Conditionen verkauft wird so würde ich Dir rathen solches zu kaufen, es wäre möglich daß ich wenn Du denkst daß ich nächstes Jahr ohne in Gefahr zu sein nach Deutschland zurück gehe, daß ich denke daß es eine gute Lage ist für einen Store + wenn man weis wie man es anzugehen hat so kann ich in Mühringen auch Geld verdienen da wenn man die Amerikanische Schule durch gemacht hat es sehr behülflich ist. Wir könnten einen Kleiderhandel, Schuhe, Ellen= waaren + alles mögliche halten, welches ich genau verstehe, beßer wie Berthold, ich kann sagen + weis daß Geld gemacht muß werden, schreibet mir sobald wie möglich Eure Ansicht hierüber + ob daß Haus ver- kauft ist oder nicht. da ich mich danach zu richten muß wißen was ich hier thun werde, ob ich im Herbst waare kaufen werde im Fall daß ich mich nicht ver ständigen kann mit Kronenberg oder ob ich Onkel kaufen laßen werde

L. Mutter ich will auch froh sein wenn ich mit Onkel abgetheilt habe da das eine nicht so kleine Aufgabe ist. was anbetrifft wegen den Briefen die nach Oberndorf kommen, so bekümmer Dich nur nicht darum, Du solltest bald Sophia + Onkel Salomon kennen, es sind beide Prahler; Simon ist kein Geschäftsman + die zwei Madchen gehen nicht in die Schule. Sophia ist in Harrisburg bei Tante Dorchen + naht + Franzis macht die Köchin + alles was zu thun ist.

Berthe Schwarz ist seit einigen Wochen unwohl, so ist Franzis sie essen zu viel Obst, obschon ich auch sorge es nicht zu thun, hören aber nichts im allgemeinen halten Tante ein unordentliches, unvreun[d]liches Haus, ich komme nicht sehr oft zu ihnen ins Haus da ich nicht dort esse, sondern bei Guggenheimer esse + schlafe, Mr. Guggenheimer + Frau beauftragen mich Euch ganz herzlich zu grüßen.

Ich erhielt Briefe von Hirsch wird nächsten Monat Hochzeit machen, er ladet mich ein ihn zu besuchen. Onkel Joseph ist wie Du weist ein fauler Schreiber, laßt Euch alle grüßen wird in kurzer Zeit selbst schreiben, heute Babett Henry + 3 Kinder waren hier auf Besuch laßen Euch alle grüßen werden bald selbst schreiben

Daß Samson Schweizer Bürger geworden ist, freut mich da ich nicht dachte er könnte sich leicht gewöhnen an das hiesige Leben. Wie viel Badgäste sind [in] Imnau? Es ist ein Bad 17 Stunden von hier wo jedes Jahr 2000 Gäste hinkommen es sind nichtweniger als 12 Bäder in der Umgegend größer + kleiner wenn Amerikaner in Imnau sind frage einmal l. Ernestine ob sie etwas wißen von der White Sulphur Spring das heißt „(weiße Sulphur Bader) W. Virginia ist

L. Mutter ich nehme deinen advise + trinke regelmäßig Lemonade ich weis diesesmal nicht viel zu schreiben, schreibt bald Antwort seit alle recht herzlich gegrüßet
von Eurem Sohn + Bruder
Isaac Schweitzer

L. Louisa sage zu Feigenheimer er soll mir schreiben
Grüße an die l. Berthe, Isak + alle ander Verwandte sowie Kunden
was macht Joseph + Philipp
Wo ist Hertkorn hingezogen?
Wo ist Jakob [?] Eppstein + wenn returned er to America

Transcribed by Renate Evers

English text

Fincastle, Va., August 8th, 1869

Dear esteemed parents and dear sisters!

I received your dear [letter] from July 12 from which I can see your best wellbeing; thank God and thank God I can say the same of me. I hope that you received my previous [letter] with an insert of 10 Dollars in banknotes.

I gathered from dear mother’s letter that business is rather good in Germany, the question is only which profit can be achieved, I don’t remember any longer. Business is still not lively here, there is always some selling going on but not enough. I am still in negotiation with Kronenberg if I want to start [a business] with him or not. I expect letters from him, one is quickly connected, but one has to know how to succeed. Therefore, dear father, I cannot exactly promise when I can send the money. It is possible that I might send it at the beginning of October but maybe I cannot send it before the beginning of November. I will do all I can to send you the money in the shortest time but I cannot say exactly in which week.

You write, dear father, that Hertkorn is selling his house. If it is sold for a reasonable price and under agreeable conditions I would advise you to buy it. It would be possible that I return to Germany if you think that I would not be in danger next year. I think that it is a good location for a store and if you know how to do it I can also earn money in Mühringen especially since it is very helpful having gone through the American school. We could trade with dresses, shoes, fabrics, and could keep all kinds of things which I understand completely, better than Berthold. I can say and know that money has to be made. Write me your opinion about it as soon as possible, likewise if the house was sold or not since I have to take into account what I am going to do here, if I should buy commodities in the fall just in case that I cannot come to an agreement with Kronenberg or if I am going to let Uncle buy.

Dear Mother, I will be glad if I will have been separated from Uncle since it is not a small task. Concerning the letters which come to Oberndorf, don’t worry about them. You should by now know Sophia + Uncle Salomon, both are braggards, Simon is not a businessman and the two girls do not go to school. Sophia is in Harrisburg at Aunt Dorchen’s and is sewing and Francis is the cook and does everything that has to be done.

Berthe Schwarz has not been well for a few weeks, likewise Francis. They eat too many fruits, although I see to it that they don’t do it, but they usually don’t listen. They keep a messy, unfriendly house for Aunt, I do not go to them to their house very often because I do not eat there, since I eat and sleep at Guggenheimer’s. Mr. Guggenheimer and his wife ask me to send you their best regards.

I received a letter from Hirsch, he is going to get married next month. He invited me to visit him. Uncle Joseph is a lazy writer as you know, he sends his best regards to you all, he will write shortly. Today Babett, Henry and three children were here for a visit. They send their best regards and will write soon.

I am pleased that Samson became a Swiss citizen, because I did not think that he could have easily gotten used to the life here. How many spa visitors are in Imnau? There is a spa 17 hours from here where 2000 guests go to every year. There are no less than 12 spas in the area, bigger ones and smaller ones. If Americans come to Imnau, just ask them, dear Ernestine, if they know anything about the White Sulphur Spring that means “(White Sulphur spa), W. Virginia.

Dear mother, I take your advice and drink lemonade regularly. I don’t know much to write about this time. Write an answer soon, best regards to all from your son and brother

Isaac Schweitzer

Dear Louisa, tell Feigenheimer that he should write to me.
Best regards to dear Berthe, Isak, and all other relatives as well as customers.

What are Joseph and Philipp doing?
Where did Hertkorn move to?
Where is Jacob [?] Eppstein + when is he going to return to America?

thank God and thank God I can say the same of me. I hope that you received my previous [letter] with an insert of 10 Dollars in banknotes.

I gathered from dear mother’s letter that business is rather good in Germany, the question is only which profit can be achieved, I don’t remember any longer. Business is still not lively here, there is always some selling going on but not enough. I am still in negotiation with Kronenberg if I want to start [a business] with him or not. I expect letters from him, one is quickly connected, but one has to know how to succeed. Therefore, dear father, I cannot exactly promise when I can send the money. It is possible that I might send it at the beginning of October but maybe I cannot send it before the beginning of November. I will do all I can to send you the money in the shortest time but I cannot say exactly in which week.

You write, dear father, that Hertkorn is selling his house. If it is sold for a reasonable price and under agreeable conditions I would advise you to buy it. It would be possible that I return to Germany if you think that I would not be in danger next year. I think that it is a good location for a store and if you know how to do it I can also earn money in Mühringen especially since it is very helpful having gone through the American school. We could trade with dresses, shoes, fabrics, and could keep all kinds of things which I understand completely, better than Berthold. I can say and know that money has to be made. Write me your opinion about it as soon as possible, likewise if the house was sold or not since I have to take into account what I am going to do here, if I should buy commodities in the fall just in case that I cannot come to an agreement with Kronenberg or if I am going to let Uncle buy.

Dear Mother, I will be glad if I will have been separated from Uncle since it is not a small task. Concerning the letters which come to Oberndorf, don’t worry about them. You should by now know Sophia + Uncle Salomon, both are braggards, Simon is not a businessman and the two girls do not go to school. Sophia is in Harrisburg at Aunt Dorchen’s and is sewing and Francis is the cook and does everything that has to be done.

Berthe Schwarz has not been well for a few weeks, likewise Francis. They eat too many fruits, although I see to it that they don’t do it, but they usually don’t listen. They keep a messy, unfriendly house for Aunt, I do not go to them to their house very often because I do not eat there, since I eat and sleep at Guggenheimer’s. Mr. Guggenheimer and his wife ask me to send you their best regards.

I received a letter from Hirsch, he is going to get married next month. He invited me to visit him. Uncle Joseph is a lazy writer as you know, he sends his best regards to you all, he will write shortly. Today Babett, Henry and three children were here for a visit. They send their best regards and will write soon.

I am pleased that Samson became a Swiss citizen, because I did not think that he could have easily gotten used to the life here. How many spa visitors are in Imnau? There is a spa 17 hours from here where 2000 guests go to every year. There are no less than 12 spas in the area, bigger ones and smaller ones. If Americans come to Imnau, just ask them, dear Ernestine, if they know anything about the White Sulphur Spring that means “(White Sulphur spa), W. Virginia.

Dear mother, I take your advice and drink lemonade regularly. I don’t know much to write about this time. Write an answer soon, best regards to all from your son and brother
Isaac Schweitzer

Dear Louisa, tell Feigenheimer that he should write to me.
Best regards to dear Berthe, Isak, and all other relatives as well as customers.
What are Joseph and Philipp doing?
Where did Hertkorn move to?
Where is Jacob [?] Eppstein + when is he going to return to America?

Translated by Renate Evers