Mason City, June 24 1952 Dear Elis! I received your letter with great joy, I must apologize that I didn’t answer right away.  How I now heard that you are very homesick — I believe you think back on Austria too much. It’s beautiful here too  and certainly much better. […]

Peoria June 10, 1952  Dear Elis! I received your letter with great joy as well as the card. Now let’s forget what happened, but in the future I would like to have it, and that my letters I have written to you also stay with you. I also want to […]

Peoria June 3, 1952 Dear Elis! I’ve received your dear letter which I learned you will probably go to Mansfield. Last week I received a letter from the post office from Leni H. She wrote that she already had purchased a car, and complained to me that she hasn’t received […]

Elisabeth & Otto May 28, 1952 Dear Elis, I received your dear letter and heard everything, yes Elis you’re right when you meant that when we are together it will be quite beautiful, and your plan suits me as well, you painted a beautiful picture and your household plan is […]

The above photo is of Elisabeth’s family, covered in the papers as the first immigrants to arrive in their village. Peoria May 14 ,1952 My dearest Elis, I have received your letter with the picture, and thank you especially for the photo. It’s lovely, warm — and of course you […]

This feature photo depicts my grandfather Otto (left) and granduncle Hermann (right). Mason City April 26, 1952 My dear Elis! I received your letter with great joy, but since I came home first today I couldn’t answer you right away. But now it has come to the point where my […]