This letter was written 15 December 1876 by Anton and Eva Kress, my great-great-great-grandparents, to their daughter and son-in-law, Frederick August and Marianne Schoen. Fred and Marianne had been married about three weeks previously on 23 November. Anton and Eva lived near Fulda, Noble County, Ohio and Fred and Marianne lived in Ludlow Township, Washington County, Ohio. The translation was done for me by a former work colleague.

5. Translation into English
[Notes in brackets „[]“ added by me]
1
Dear Daughter Marianna,
We received your two letters rather quickly each time. You complained
that I didn’t answer the first letter. You know that I am not always so fit with
writing because my eyes are weak and my hand is shaky. I also wanted to wait
on what was going on with you and yesterday on the 13th we received the mail
and found out that everything was fine. We got the nice picture from Kaspar
[Kress, eldest son of Anton and Eva Kress]. My loved ones pointed their fingers
at you, Marianna, and your friend. The rest was still fresh and also the sugar
cookies. We can see that you had a nice wedding and we wish you happiness
and blessings, a long life and good fortune for your marriage.
Dear child Marianna, you write us that you are all well. Mother is well
and I still have a cold. Your sisters and husbands are all well. Last week Kaspar
was at Gutsellen(?). He was here on Tuesday and said they had a bad winter.
Mari Mueller is again with them. Dear Marianna, you have not forgotten us yet.
We have not forgotten you. Mother speaks often about you, usually about eating
– what is Marianna going to eat? Then I said, what she has she will eat. The
Spoffader Johanning(?) was buried yesterday. Your Lisso(?) is still here. Mari
Mueller had asked for it but did not pick it up.
2
Dear Friedrich,
The people here say you bought the wetland at the Harz for 12 hundred
Thaler but to me it is unbelievable because you didn’t mention it in your last
letter. If the land has not been sold yet, it will be sold soon. So you can think
about whether you want to start a business and the place from me – it is
Dadfire(?) for 1800 Thaler, starting at 1200 Thaler.
John Dimmerling [brother-in-law of Marianne, married to Elizabeth Kress]
for a letter from me inviting him to your wedding. But the letter came too late,
the evening of the wedding. John Dimmerling and Ernst Hildebrand were at our
house and the two send greetings.
Dear Marianna, I know you are waiting for a visit from us but I think it
will not happen this winter. In winter old people like to sit next to the warm
oven, that is their place. If I am still alive and healthy next spring I will visit you.
So if you buy the land or something else please let me know so that I can plan for
it. Last Saturday and Sunday it was so cold here that nobody could stand it.
Now I will end my letter. Eva and I send many greetings to you and also
to your father and mother. We remain your dear parents until death.
Fulda, December 15, 1876 Anton and Eva Kress