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TÖWS, Jakob: Letter Published 26 Feb 1908

By Marvin Rempel

Letter to the Mennonitische Rundschau
written 4 Jan 1908 by Jakob Töws #1116327 

Published 26 Feb 1908


GERMAN TRANSCRIPTION


Tschorne, Osero, den 4 Jan 1908.  Lieber Freund Fast!  Bitte, vielleicht können Sie durch die werte “Rundschau” ausfinden, wo unsere Freunde wohnen.  Erstens, meiner Frau Onkel Heinrich Görzen, früher Prangenau.  Meine Frau ist Maria Görzen, Fürstenwerder, ihre Eltern hiessen Kornelius Görzen.  Ich bin Jakob Töws von Fürstenwerder, meine Eltern hiessen Isaak Töwsen.  Lebt Onkel H. Görzen noch?  Franz und Peter Görzen zogen mit den Alexanderwohlern nach America; sie wohnten auch in Fürstenwerder.  Ich habe dort zwei Vetter, Peter und Heinrich Adrian.


Wir sind von Fürstenwerder nach Ohrenburg übergesiedelt. Der Herr hat uns mit Missernten hart heimgesucht, dass wir nicht unser Brot haben.  Uns sind hier schon drei Kinder gestorben.  Meine liebe Frau ist oft krank, sie leidet an der Lunge; sie muss im Winter immer eine zeitlang im Bett liegen.  Arbeiten kann sie nicht mehr.  Wir haben acht Kinder am Leben und sechs sind gestorben.  Villeicht sinden sich dort noch mitleidige herzen.  Es fehlt uns an Nahrung, Kleidung und Brennmaterial.  Wir bitten um hilfe.  Gott segne Euch und uns.


Grüssend,

Jakob u. Maria Töws



ENGLISH TRANSLATION


www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)  -  25 OCT  2019 - Modified translation by Marvin Rempel


Chornoye Osero, the 4 Jan 1908. Dear friend Fast!  Please, perhaps you can find out where our friends live through the "Rundschau".  First, my wife’s uncle Heinrich Görzen, formerly of Prangenau.  My wife is Maria Görzen, Fürstenwerder, her parents were called Kornelius Görzen.  I am Jakob Töws from Fürstenwerder, my parents were the Isaak Töws.  Is Uncle H. Görzen still alive?  Franz and Peter Görzen moved to America with the Alexanderwohlers; they also lived in Fürstenwerder.  I have two cousins there, Peter and Heinrich Adrian.


We moved from Fürstenwerder to Orenburg. The Lord has haunted us with bad harvests, so that we do not have our bread.  We've already had three children die here. My dear wife is often ill, she suffers from the lungs; she always has to lie in bed for a while in winter.  She can no longer work.  We have eight children alive and six have died.  Maybe they will find a compassionate heart there now.  We lack food, clothing and fuel.  We ask for help.  God bless you and us.


Greetings, 


Jakob and Maria Toews



DOCUMENT SUMMARY:  


INFORMANT: Jakob Töws  #1116327, husband of Maria Görzen Töws #1116328.

CLAIMS

  1. Jakob Töws  #1116327 and Maria Görzen Töws #1116328

    1. Living in Chornoye Osero, Orenburg in 1908.

    2. Originally from Fürstenwerder.

    3. Maria is suffering from a lung illness and can no longer work. [1]

  2. PARENTS

    1. The father of Jakob Töws #1116327 is Isaak Töws.

    2. Maria Töws #1116328, formerly of Fürstenwerder, is the daughter of Kornelius Görzen.

  3. CHILDREN of Jakob Töws  #1116327 and Maria Görzen Töws #1116328

    1. Jakob and Maria have had 14 children.

      1. As of 1908, 8 are still alive.

      2. As of 1908, 6 have died.  

      3. 3 children died in Chornoye Osero, Orenburg.

 

  1. AUNTS, UNCLES and COUSINS

    1. Maria Töws’ #1116328 uncle is Heinrich Görzen, formerly of Pragenau. 

    2. Franz and Peter Görzen moved to America with the Alexanderwohlers. [2]

      1. Franz and Peter Görzen were formerly of Fürstenwerder.

    3. Jakob Töws  #1116327 has cousins Peter and Heinrich Adrian living in America.


  1. If we assume that Maria is at least the same age as her brother Kornelius #988803, Maria would be in her late 40’s or early 50’s in 1908. 

  2. The Alexanderwohl village from Molotschna moved to North America in 1873. 

 

SOURCES:

Töws, Jakob, ‘Chornoye Osero, Orenburg - Letter’, Mennonitische Rundschau (Elkhart, IN: Mennonite Publishing House, 26 February 1908), Volume 31 No. 9 edition, section Russland, p. 13:c3, Repository: archive.org / Mennonite Historical Society of BC - Abbotsford, BC <https://archive.org/details/sim_die-mennonitische-rundschau_1908-02-26_31_9/page/13/mode/1up>


 

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