Dorothea Haug: Her Legacy of Letters

Dorothea Haug: Her Legacy of Letters Nancy K. jentsch* D OROTHEA (WEGST) HAUG LEFT A LEGACY of letters for her descendants. After immigrating to the United States, she corresponded with her family in Germany, and her niece Anna Wegst, who never knew her personally, carefully saved virtually all the letters the family received from Dorothea between 1889 and 1938. These forty-odd letters are evidence of her own experience as an immigrant woman and may also serve as an insight into the lives and tribulations of other immigrant women in the late 1800s. The original letters are in the possession of Anna Wegst of Dottingen, West Germany. Dorothea Wegst was born on 9 December 1856 in Dottingen, in the present state of Baden-Wiirttemberg, West Germany. She was the only child of six born to Johann Georg and Catharina (Gerstenmaier) Wegst to survive. Her mother died in childbirth in 1858. Two children survived from her father's second marriage, making a total of three children to reach adulthood out of eleven births.' Dorothea, or Doric, as her family called her, married Georg Friedrich Haug of Riederich, a town some 15 miles from Dottingen. They were married in the Lutheran church in Riederich on 19 December 1876, Between 1877 and 1884 they had five children. 2 Since Georg earned very little as a day-laborer, they never owned property and lived as tenants in other people's houses. 3 Georg could have been employed sporadically by the city or by the mills in nearby Metzingen. Georg's sister Maria (Mari) and her husband Christian *Editor's Note: The author is co-ordinator of language resources and services and lecturer in German at Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, Kentucky. She has studied in Austria and taught in West Germany as a Fulbright/PAD teaching assistant. Her scholarly interests include translation, and she was the assistant editor and a contributing translator for In Her Mother's Tongue (Emerson Press, 1983), a bilingual collection of literature by German women who live in the United States. 2 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Scholler immigrated to the United States after their marriage in 1886.4 In October of 1889 Georg, Donle, and their five children, Johann Georg, Maria Katharina, Maria Luisa, Maria Rosina, and Johann Jakob, set out to join them in the New World. They were among the 338,784 arrivals who passed through the immigration facilities at Castle Garden, New York, in 1889 on their way to a new life in America. 5 In a letter to her relatives in Dottingen, Doric described her family's journey and their arrival in New York: Scheridan7 8 December 1889 Dear Parents and Aunt,8 Since we've been in America for three weeks now, I want to tell you how we're doing. Thanks be to God we're now all healthy again: but first I want to describe our trip. thanks be to God we arrived here safely. we were on the ship for only 12 days but even so it was no small matter that we had a good trip, on the first day it was quite nice on the ship on the second day we had bad weather so that before long we were all sick. Georg was sick for only a couple of days but the children and I felt bad up to the last 3 days. My dear parents Schorsch9 was in a bad way. he had to be in bed until three hours before we got off the boat. he was taking 2 medications. you can imagine how worried I was. Jakob was in good spirits the whole time. The train trip was very unpleasant. we spent the first night in Manheim and we sure saw where the money goes. from there we got to the Rhine. There was thick fog, so the ship couldn't leave till 10 o'clock and we had to spend two days on the Rhine. the ship ran head on into a sandbank and almost turned over. then we couldn't go any farther and it was the next day till we got to Cologne. in Cologne we stayed overnight again. Then the next day we got on the train again and went to Antwerp. we were already all very tired and exhausted. we didn't get anything decent to eat and had to pay 14 Marks for the night. We only stayed there one night and we were quite happy: then the next day we were boarded at 8 o'clock. There were only 250 people on the ship. we had a nice big ship so we weren't afraid. we did have stormy weather for a few days but with God's help we reached New York safe and sound on Thursday, November 13. then we had to stay overnight and it wasn't until the next evening at 5 o'clock that we got on the train. on the train I was anxious. you can all imagine how we were longing for our new home: so with God's help we reached our Dorothea Haug Letters 3 destination Scheridan at 11 o'clock at night. We were met by Mari and her husband as well as his brother and daughter and some other relatives who were very happy to see us. praise and thanks be to God for the good trip. [The following section of the letter is illegible.] we have a house to ourselves. we had 4 nice rooms 2 downstairs and 2 upstairs. we have a garden with a cherry tree by the house. we can plant potatoes and vegetables what we need. have behind the house a pig pen and can have chickens next spring. we want two pigs to butcher for ourselves. [The remainder of the letter is illegible.] Georg learned the cigar-making trade, and the family had their own house. Thus their life quickly changed from what it had been in Germany; in Sheridan they were materially much better off. But much sadness also awaited the Haug family in their new home. Donle was to survive all her children (three of whom died young) and her husband, making her loneliness seem unbearable at times. Since the death of a child was more common in the last century than it is today, one might assume that such a death was also easier to cope with, but Dories letters informing her relatives in Dottingen of the deaths of her children do not bear this out. Losing a child was just as tragic then as it is today. First Dorle lost her youngest son, Johann Jakob, to meningitis. In a letter written home shortly after his death in 1894 she expressed her sorrow: Scheridan, 3 March 1894 Dear Parents and Brother!1° Since it was God's will to take our dear little son Johann Jakob to be with him in heaven at the tender age of 10 years and 16 days. even though This is hard for a mother I want to share it with you. You know that he was quite ill in Germany Once. he always had a cough, but the cough wasn't bad anymore, about 2 years ago though he had problems with his ears and that was the beginning of his illness and on top of it he got meningitis. There was no lack of doctor's care. the doctor often came twice a day and I nursed him as only a mother can. I had someone come in to help me for 3 nights. The pain in his head was so severe and so great. on February 13th he lay down and on February 23rd he breathed his tender last. 0 my Dear child In the true meaning of the word he was still a child. he always clung to me and to his dear father. everyone loved the child for he was friendly to everyone. And so people had great sympathy. he had a big 4 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine funeral. The Sunday Schoolers sang him 3 English songs. he was one of them too. and we had the song sung even though they don't have it in their hymnal 625 Go forth my child God himself calls you from this troubled world although I suffer etc. The pastor chose the text Psalm 16, verse 6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea I have a goodly heritage.11 he gave a beautiful funeral sermon. we fed about 50 people. we bought a family plot in the new cemetery. no one had lain in it and it may not be dug up. there are 8 graves and we paid 14 dollars for it. the child was buried very nicely. the cemetery is not far from us and we can look after it every day. My Dear child. Whether in life or death may the Lord be praised eternally. on February 27 his brother Georg's I 7th birthday he was buried. We've already written to you that we would have liked to have moved west. because of the bad times here at the present time we've stayed here. it's very bad in America. here too they're paying lower wages and only a third has work.12 Because of this death we won't move from here. Dear parents write to me right away how things look at home. I had influenza too. Father's was Sick for 8 days. Rose had a Sore throat. Aunt Mari' was Sick chest fever and influenza. a friend who is at Mari's was Sick. It was a hard winter. Warmest regards to all of you from us. Your dear daughter Dorothea and Georg with our remaining dear children. Done and Georg did move, though, together with Mari and Christian Schaller. They settled on Buttonwood Street in Reading, Pennsylvania. In 1902 their oldest child, Johann Georg, died at the age of 25. They purchased a family plot in the Charles Evans Cemetery and had the remains of their son Jakob transferred there in 1903.16 Maria Rosina ("Rose"), their youngest daughter, had two young children when she died in 1912. Still another source of sadness for Done was the outbreak of World War I in 1914 and the ensuing uncertainty regarding the fate of her family. Across the country, German immigrants were subject to this same uncertainty as well as to the anti-German sentiments so widespread during and after World War I. Dories next existing letter to follow one written in 1915 is a letter written in 1919: Dorothea Haug Letters Reading, 1 August 1919 Dear Brother and Family! How long we have yearned to have news from you! 0 my loved ones write to me right away how you are doing. are the sons still gone? are they still alive? o this terrible war. cannot say how badly it affected us to hear all the terrible things and not even know how you are doing, we suffered and endured with you in silence? cannot write a lot this time. the sons of German parents had to go too. o that was the even more terrible part of it, those who came back even those born here praise The good treatment they got from the Germans after the armistice. I only want to mention a few things. I was sick this spring. had erysipelas.17 am now quite healthy again and thanks to God my family too. My husband is working every day. In spring they earned very little, now it's a little better again but here Too everything is 2 to 3 times as high as before this terrible war, now Fit close for this time. hope to God that I don't get any bad news from you and write to me about Dorle's18 family too and how things are in general in Dottingen. I just read about Wurttemberg in The newspaper. that cheers One up A little bit So I want to close arid hope for a quick answer Warmest regards to all of you from us, your sister Dorothea and family I want to enclose the newspaper clipping. now we're hearing more. Dories family survived World War I, but her nephew Ludwig spent the greater part of the war as a prisoner in France. During the years of inflation in Germany following World War I, Donle and her family sent money, clothing, and food to their German relatives. In her letters she often speaks of the efforts of German-American clergy and churches to provide the needy in Germany with food and clothing. Fortunately, "Mari" (Maria Luisa), Dories daughter, was able to keep her job during the Great Depression, though Georg was unable to work after 1920 because of his health. Mari supported the family with the wages she earned as a worker and later a forewoman for the E. Richard Meinig Co., a Reading glove manufacturer.19 Dories grandchildren, Mari's daughter Dorothea and Rose's sons Carl and Lester, married in the 1920s. In 1929 Dories oldest The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine daughter, Maria Katharina ("Katharina"), died, and in 1931 she lost her beloved husband Georg. The last existing letter written by Done shows the joy her family brought her in her old age: Reding, 8 January 1938 Dear Brother and family! I wish you all a happy new year. We got your letters with the photographs. That is a dear and charming child. what is its name? I'm very glad that you sent me the picture of your pretty house. flowers in the windows make home so beautiful. I see all of you at the windows and you dear brother and sister-in-law. but I can't talk to you. are the linden trees still there? is your house pretty far out? I've often thought about it, it was being built up pretty far out even when I was still there. do you have to fetch your water from down there. thanks for the nice Christmas card that you sent. I'm sorry that Elise" still isn't better, I hope she recovers soon. is that Rosemari" that's on the picture. I'm glad the boys are well say hello to them from me. So you were home for Christmas, dear Ana.22 Mari and I celebrated Christmas in Brooklyn with WernerM Dorothea and children." on Christmas Eve we took the train at 6 o'clock and then we got there at 10:30. were there till Monday evening. then had to come home again. Dorothea[,] Werner and children are well. We had quite a joyful Christmas visit. the children and their Sunday School had their Christmas service on Sunday evening. Teodor24 sang a solo. he'll be 2 years old next summer. David25 recited something. Even little Richart26 recited something, it was very good. Now I want to tell you how we spent the summer. Werner had vacation again and so the family went to Pardis Voh127 for a month to the good mountain and forest air to a summer home. Karl28 and his family and we go there every two weeks, go Saturday and come back home Sunday evening. it takes 4 1/2-5 [hours]. Karl lets Deonald29 stay with Teodor for two weeks. he is also 12 years old. And so the boys have a lot of fun. Thanks be to God we are well. Mari works every day. Karl often takes us out in the automobile on Saturday afternoon. we go pretty far and see many nice things. Lester has 3 children 2 boys and a girl. they live in Poladelfa" and are well. dear Brother give my best to Derle51 and my friends from school. Enclosed we're sending you a dollar. Dorothea Haug Letters Now I want to close this letter with many warm regards from all of us. Maria and your sister Dorothea The Wegst family did not fare well in World War IL Dories nephew Friedrich was killed after the peace was signed in 1945, and Ludwig never returned from the Russian front. In Reading, Mari died in 1946 at the age of 65. Dank lived to see her three grandchildren grow up, and she knew all seven of her greatgrandchildren. After Mari died, Rose's son Carl and his wife moved in with Donle. Thus Done was still surrounded by her family, though her granddaughter, Marl's daughter Dorothea (Krebs) Jentsch (1904-1985), was the only grandchild able to speak and write German. Na letters exist for the period 1939-1947, by which time Done was probably no longer able to write to her beloved relatives in Germany. In 1947 her granddaughter Dorothea took up the task of writing German letters to people she'd never met. On 20 June 1948 she wrote the following letter to her cousins in Germany, Anna, Elise, and Georg Wegst. Anna Wegst has always kept the letter in its original envelope. Written on the outside of the envelope are the words: "On 20 May 1948 in her 92nd year our beloved aunt was called away." 20 June 1948 Dear Anna and Everyone, This letter brings sad news exactly a month ago on May 20, our grandmother was called home. She fell asleep peacefully after several weeks in the hospital. One morning, as she went into the kitchen, she tripped on the carpet and broke her hip. She was taken to the hospital immediately and lived another six weeks. During that time she underwent still another operation on her hip. The doctor thought he could get her walking again, but she was too advanced in age-91 years to endure all that. I visited her often in those 6 weeks although it's over 135 miles away from our house. The last time she said to me, "I am satisfied," and fell asleep in the Lord. All of her loved ones went ahead of her, her husband and 5 children. We buried her in the cemetery beside Grandfather and 3 of her children. Now there's no reason to go to Reading anymore. [. 8 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Please let us hear from you more often. How you are, etc. Warmest regards to all of you from us yourDorothea[.] Ancestors and Descendants of Dorothea (Wegst) Haug, 1722-1985 The Wegst family lived in Biihringen from 172232 until Johann Georg Wegst married Catharina Gerstenmaier of Dottingen (20 May 1851), and they settled in Dottingen." After their marriage in 1876, Dorothea (Wegst) and Georg Friedrich Haug lived in Riederich until they set out for the United States in the fall of 1889.34 1. Johann Georg Wegst, b. 20 July 1722, d. 25 Dec. 1779; schoolmaster; son of Johann Georg Wegst, schoolmaster, and Sibylla Brandner. He m. (1) 20 June 1747, Anna Rosina Kachelen, b. 11 March 1726, d. 10 Aug. 1769, daughter of Johann Ulrich. Kachelen, peasant proprietor in Strohweiler, and Anna Maria Schmidt. He m. (2) 20 Nov. 1770, Anna Katharina Rauscher, b. 11 March 1726, d. 1781, daughter of Daniel Rauscher, schoolmaster in Dapfen.35 Issue of Johann Georg Wegst and his two wives, Anna Rosina Kathelen and Anna Katharina Rauscher:36 i. Johann Georg, b. 28 Nov. 1747, d. ?; confirmed 1762. Dorothea, b. 4 May 1749, d. 11 June 1752. ii. iii. iv. 2. v. vi. vii. viii. jeremias, b. 31 Aug. 1750, d. 8 April 1788; confirmed 1765." Anna Maria, b. 6 April 1753, d. 30 March 1837; confirmed 1767. Johann Ulrich, b. 27 Nov. 1756, d. 1 July 1816; confirmed 1771; weaver. He m. fi Feb. 1781 Johanna Katharina Friederika Uz, b. 7 Feb. 1759, d. 23 Feb. 1811, daughter of Jacob Uz, grenadier en cheval, and Anna Esther Bosch.38 The issue of Johann Ulrich and Johanna Katharina Friederika (Uz) Wegst follows as 2. Rosina, b. 8 Aug. 1759, d. ?; confirmed 1774; m. Bernhard Hiller in Schopfloch." Anna Regina, b. 12 Jan. 1762, d. ?; confirmed 1776; in Gutenberg. m. Johannes Anonymous, b. 6 Sept. 1765, d. Sept. 1765. Dorothea Haug Letters ix. x. Anna Judithe, b. 13 Dec. 1767, d. 10. Aug 1768. Johannes, b. 1 Aug. 1769, d. 16 Aug. 1769. xi. Johanna Friederika, b. 3 Sept. 1771, d. ?; confirmed 1785.4° xii. Christina juditha, b. 3 Feb. 1776, d. 3 June 1776. 2. Issue of Johann Ulrich and Johanna Katharina Friederika (Uz) Wegst.:41 1. 3. ii. 3. Anna Rosina, b. 23 Feb. 1782, d. 11 June 1783. Johann Georg, b. 19 Oct. 1784, d. 5. Sept. 1838; confirmed 1798; weaver. He m. 8 Feb. 1815 Anna Judithe Rauscher, b. 7 Sept. 1790, d. ?, daughter of Johann Georg Rauscher, schoolmaster, and Rosine Maier. The issue of Johann Georg and Anna Judithe (Rauscher) Wegst follows as 3. iii. Rosina, b. 30 Sept. 1787, d. 1844; confirmed 1801.42 iv. Johanna Friederika, b. 2 July 1790, d. ?; confirmed 1804. v. Jeremias, b. 15 Feb. 1793, d. 18 May 1830; confirmed 1807; m. 1820. vi. Maria, b. 6 May 1796, d. ?; confirmed 1810; m. 4 June 1822 removed to Urach. vii. Johann Jacob, b. 5 Jan. 1800, d. ?; confirmed 1814.43 viii. Anna Regina, b. 20 April 1803, d. 18 April 1804. Issue of Johann Georg and Anna Judithe (Rauscher) Wegst:" 4. i. ii. iii. Johann Georg, b. 15 Oct. 1815, d. 29 July 1895; confirmed 1829; weaver. He m. (1) 20 May 1851 in Dottingen Catharina Gerstenmaier, b. 3 Oct. 1820 in Dottingen, d. 26 July 1858 in childbirth, daughter of Joseph Gerstenmaier, weaver, and his first wife Catharina Ostertag. He m. (2) 1860 Elisabeth Bauder, b. 27 Aug. 1827 in Gachingen, d. 10 May 1908 in Dottingen. Issue of Johann Georg Wegst and his two wives, Catharina Gerstenmaier and Elisabeth Bauder, follows as 4. Johannes, b. 17 April 1817, d. 21 Aug. 1817. Friederike, b. 18 July 1818, d. 18 July 1819. 10 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine iv. Rosina, b. 23 June 1820, d. ?; confirmed 1834. Jeremias, b. 29 Sept. 1821, d. 30 Jan. 1823. v. Juditha, b. 2 Oct. 1822, d. ?; confirmed 1836. vi. vii. Catharina, b. 24 Feb. 1824, d. 21 Jan. 1825. viii. Friederica, b. 4 Sept. 1825, d. 1 1 Sept. 1825. x. Catharina, b. 13 May 1827, d. 25 Feb. 1845; confirmed 1841. Anna Maria, b. 14 Aug. 1828, d. 25 Oct. 1834. x. Johann Jacob, b. 28 Sept 1830, d. ?; confirmed 1844 xi. in Weingarten. xii. Johann Adam, b. 1 Nov. 1833, d. ?; confirmed 1847. 45 xiii. Johannes, b. 4 June 1835, d. 6 June 1835. 46 i 4. Issue of Johann Georg Wegst and his two wives, Catharina Gerstenmaier and Elisabeth Bauder:47 i. Anonymous, b. 9 Sept. 1851, d. 9 Sept. 1851. ii. Jacob, b. 9 Sept. 1851, d. 12 Sept. 1851; twin brother of i. Maria Agnes, b. 27 Jan. 1853, d. 6. April 1855. iii. iv. Joseph, b. 2 July 1855, d. 20 July 1855. 5. v. Dorothea, b. 9 Dec. 1856,48 d. 20 May 1948 in Reading, Pa.49; bur. Charles Evans Cemetery.5° She m. 19 Dec. 1876 in Dottingen Georg Friedrich Haug, b. 4 June 1852 in Riederich," d. 18 March 1931 in Reading, Pa.; bur. Charles Evans Cemetery52; wage-bearner55 and later cigar maker,54 member of the Improved Order of Red Men and Knights of Friendship55; son of Johann Friedrich Haug, wage-eamer,56 whose family name can be traced to ca. 1570 through church records in Pliezenhausen,57 and Anna Maria Veit. The couple immigrated to Sheridan, Lebanon Co., Pa, in 1889, and later settled in Reading, Pa. Issue of Dorothea (Wegst) and Georg Friedrich Haug follows as 5. vi. Anonymous, b. 26 July 1858, d. 26 July 1858. vii. Maria Agnes, b. 25 June 1860, d. 23 July 1861. viii. Katherina, b. 11 July 1862, d. ?58 Dorothea Haug Letters 5. 11 ix. Rosina, b. 3 July 1865, d. 30 Dec. 1866. x. Rosina, b. 20 March 1868, d. 19 June 1868. xi. Jakob Friedrich, b. 7 July 1869, d. 2 April 1951; rn. 24 March 1896 Anna Damp!, b. 10 Jan. 1869, d. 18 April 1949.59 Issue of Dorothea (Wegst) and Georg Friedrich Haug: i. ii. 6. iii. Johann Georg, b. 27 Feb. 1877 in Riederich, d. 1902 60 in Reading, Pa.; bur. Charles Evans Cemetery. Maria Katharina ("Katharina"), b. 1 Sept. 1878 in Riederich, d. 12 Sept. 1928 in Reading, Pa.; bur. Charles Evans Cemetery.61 She m. 9 July 1903 at St. John's Lutheran Church, Reading, Pa., Lester Staley, b. 10 Sept. 1874 in Montgomery Co., Pa., d. 22 Feb. 1923 in Reading, Pa.; bur. Charles Evans Cemetery; steelworker.62 Maria Luisa ("Mari"), b. 10 Feb. 1881 in Riederich; d. 23 Aug. 1946 in Reading, Pa.; bur. Charles Evans Cemetery; employed for 41 years by the E. Richard Meinig Co., being a forewoman for many years.° She m. 1 Oct. 1903 at St. John's Lutheran Church, Reading, Pa., Edward Krebs, b. 7 July 1883 in Reading, Pa.; d. 17 Dec. 1939 in Reading, Pa.; bur. Laureldale Cemetery, Reading, Pa.; employed at the time of marriage at Reading Hardware Co., later hotel proprie tor,64 Issue of Maria Luisa (Haug) and Edward Krebs follows as 6. 7. iv. 6. Maria Rosina ("Rose"), b. 19 July 1882 in Riederich; d. 16 Feb. 1912 in Reading, Pa.; bur. Charles Evans Cemetery.65 She m. 2 Feb. 1905 at St. John's Lutheran Church, Reading, Pa., Walter Borkert, b. 17 Feb. 1882; d. 9 March 1952; bur. Laureldale Cemetery; employed at time of marriage as a bricklayer.66 Issue of Maria Rosina (Haug) and Walter Borkert follows as 7. v. Johann Jakob, b. 7 Feb. 1884 in Riederich, d. 23 Feb. 1894 in Sheridan, Pa.; remains transferred from Sheridan to Charles Evans Cemetery, Reading, Pa., 1903.67 Issue of Maria Luisa (Haug) and Edward Krebs: 8. 1. Dorothea Henrietta, b. 30 March 1904, Reading, Pa., 12 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine d. 26 June 1985, South Whitehall Twp., Lehigh Co., Pa.; bur. Charles Evans Cemetery, Reading, Pa. She m. 10 June 1925 at St. John's Lutheran Church, Reading, Pa., the Rev. Werner Jentsch, b. 27 Aug. 1897, d. 10 March 1975; bur. Charles Evans Cemetery.68 Issue of Dorothea Henrietta (Krebs) and the Rev. Werner jentsch follows as 8. 7. Issue of Maria Rosina (Haug) and Walter Borkert: Carl Augustus, b. 18 July 1905, Reading, Pa., d. 1 9. i. Aug. 1984, Palatka, Fla.; bur. Vista Memorial Park, Hialeah, Fla. He m. 24 Oct. 1924, at Trinity (Episcopal) Parish, Elkton, Md., Erma M. Livinghouse.' Issue of Carl Augustus and Erma M. (Livinghouse) Borkert follows as 9. ii. Lester." 8. Issue of Dorothea Henrietta (Krebs) and the Rev. Werner jentsch: i. Theodore Werner, b. 17 June 1926, Camden, N.J.71 David Paul, b. 22 Oct. 1930, New York, N.Y. 72 ii. Richard Carl, b. 24 July 1934, New York, N.Y." iii. 9. Issue of Carl Augustus and Erma M. (Livinghouse) Borkert: i. Donald.74 Notes 1. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Dottingen-Rietheim, BadenWarttemburg, West Germany, 2:114. 2. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Riederich, Baden-Wiirttemburg, West Germany, 2:186. 3. Municipal Records, Bargermeisteramt, Riederich. 4. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Riederich, 2:184. 5. Robert W. DeForest and Laurence Veiller, eds., The Tenement House Problem (reprint, New York: Arno Press, 1903), 1:82. 6. Translation by the author. The translations were made from photocopies of the originals made in December 1985. Dorothea's misspellings of English words have been retained. Her capitalization of adjectives or her failure to capitalize the first word in a sentence has also been retained. However, her capitalization of nouns, the practice in German, has not been followed. Periods have been supplied by the translator for easier reading. Other added punctuation and any editorial notes appear in square brackets. 7. Sheridan, Lebanon Co., Pa., on the Reading Railroad in Mill Creek Twp., Dorothea Haug Letters 13 near the Berks Co. line. In 1883 it had two iron furnaces employing 80 workers. W. H. Egle, History of the Counties of Dauphin and Lebanon (Philadelphia, 1883), History of Lebanon Co., 215. 8. "Aunt" has not been identified. 9. A regional nickname for Georg, it refers here to Dories son Johann Georg. 10. "Brother" is Dorothea's half-brotherjakob Friedrich Wegst, with whom she corresponded after her father's death. 11. Translation taken from the King James Version of the Bible. 12. The United States was still in the midst of the economic depression that had begun the year before with the financial crisis known as the Panic of 1893. 13. Dorothea's husband Georg. 14. Dorothea's fourth child and youngest daughter, Maria Rosina. 15. Presumably Georg Haug's sister, Maria (Haug) Schaller. 16. Records of Charles Evans Cemetery, Reading, Pa., 2:169. 17. A local febrile disease accompanied by diffused inflammation of the skin, often called St. Anthony's fire. Oxford English Dictionary, 18. She has not been identified. 19. Obituary, Reading Eagle, 24 Aug. 1946. 20. Dorothea's niece, a daughter of her half-brother Jakob Friedrich Wegst. 21. Dorothea's great-niece, a granddaughter of Jakob Friederich Wegst. 22. Dorothea's niece Anna Wegst. 23. Dorothea's granddaughter (Marl's daughter) Dorothea and her husband, the Rev. Werner Jentsch, and their children (mentioned below), Theodore Werner, David Paul, and Richard Carl jentsch. 24. Dorothea's great-grandson, Theodore Werner jentsch. 25. Dorothea's great-grandson, David Paul jentsch. 26. Dorothea's great-grandson, Richard Carl jentsch. 27. A misspelling for Paradise Falls, a Lutheran retreat community in the Pocono Mountains. 28. Dorothea's grandson (Rose's son) Carl Borkert. 29. Donald Borkert, Dorothea's great-grandson, son of Carl Borkert. 30. A misspelling for Philadelphia. 31. Presumably a misspelling for Dorle. She has not been identified but probably is the same individual as above, n. 18. 32. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Bohringen, Baden-WCirttemberg, West Germany. 33. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Dottingen. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Riederich. 35. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Bohringen, Ia:6. 36. Ibid., Ia:6. 37. Ibid.; further information on jeremias is available in Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Bohringen, 77. 38. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Bohringen, Ia: 1 02. 39. Ibid., Ia:6. The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 40. Ibid., Ia:6; further information on Johanna Friederika is available in Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Baringen, 122. 41. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Beihringen, Ia:102. 42. Ibid., la:102; further information on Rosina is available in Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Borhingen, 206. 43. Ibid., Ia:102; further information on Johann Jacob is available in Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, BOhringen, 287. 44. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, P•Ohringen, Ia:22. 45. According to Dorothea Haug's letters, he immigrated to Saginaw, Mich., and had an adopted son who could not be located when an inheritance was being allotted. Dorothea Haug to Jakob Friedrich, Anna (Dampl), and Elisabeth (Bauder) Wegst, 10 Feb. 1902. 46. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Bohringen, Ia:220. 47. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Dottingen, 11:114. 48. Ibid. 49. Dorothea jentsch to Anna, Elise, and Georg Wegst, 20 June 1948. 50. Records of Charles Evans Cemetery, Reading, Pa., Bk. 2:169. 51. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Riederich, 2:186. 52. Records of Charles Evans Cemetery, Reading, Pa., Bk. 2:169. 53. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Riederich, 2:186. 54. Dorothea Haug to Johann Georg, Elisabeth (Bauder), and Jakob Friedrich Wegst, 5 Oct. 1893. 55. Obituary, Reading Eagle, 19 March 1931. 56. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Riederich, 2:5. 57. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Pliezenhausen-Dornach, 192, 194, 195, 197, 211. 58. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Dottingen, 11:114. She is said to have immigrated to the U.S. and to have died in an insane asylum in Saginaw, Mich. Dorothea Haug to Johann Georg Wegst, 4 Aug. 1895. 59. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Dottingen, II:114. 60. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Riederich, 2:186; Dorothea Haug to Jakob Friedrich, Elisabeth (Bauder) Wegst, and family, 3 Jan. 1903. 61. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Riederich, 2:186; Dorothea Haug to Jakob Friedrich Wegst and family, 17 Feb. 1931; Records of Charles Evans Cemetery, Bk. 4:21. 62. Marriage Register, Si. John's Lutheran Church, Reading, Pa.; Dorothea Haug to Jakob Friedrich Wegst and family, 28 Oct. 1923; Records of Charles Evans Cemetery, Bk. 4:21. 63. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Riederich, 2:186; Obituary, Reading Eagle, 24 Aug. 1946; Records of Charles Evans Cemetery, Bk. 2:169. 64. Marriage Register, St. John's Lutheran Church; Burial Register, St. John's Lutheran Church; Obituary, Reading Eagle, 18 Dec. 1939. 65. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Riederich, 2:186; Records of Charles Evans Cemetery, Bk. 2:390. 66. Marriage Register, St. John's Lutheran Church. Dorothea Haug Letters 15 67. Familienregister, Evangelisches Pfarramt, Riederich, 2:186; Dorothea Haug to Johann Georg, Elisabeth (Bauder), and Jakob Friedrich Wegst, 3 March 1894; Records of Charles Evans Cemetery, Bk. 2:169. 68. Birth Record, Bureau of Health, City of Reading, Pa.; Death Certificate, Pa. Dept. of Vital Records; Records of Charles Evans Cemetery, Bk. 4:21. 69. Birth Record, Bureau of Health, City of Reading, Pa.; Marriage Certificate, Trinity Parish, Elkton, Md.; Death Certificate, Putnam Co. (Fla.) Health Dept.; Obituary, Reading Eagle, 2 Aug. 1984. 70. At the time of his brother's death, Lester resided in Philadelphia. Obituary [Carl Borkert], Reading Eagle, 2 Aug. 1984. 71. Birth Certificate, Registrar of Vital Statistics, City of Camden, N.J. 72. Baptismal Certificate, St. John's Lutheran Church, Union City, NJ. 73. Birth Certificate, Dept. of Health, City of New York. 74. At the time of his father's death, Donald resided in Bostwick, Fla., and was himself a father of two children and a grandfather of one. Obituary [Carl Borkert], Reading Eagle, 2 Aug. 1984.