St. Louis, April 1st, 1856
Dear parents, brothers and sisters. I can't stop me from writing you some lines about how I make it here in this country.
I hope that this letter finds you in best health. Thanks to the Lord, I'm in good shape again.
It's two years now that I haven't heard anything from you and I would be very happy to get a letter from you and to hear if everybody is still living. Tell me about Fritz [presumable Friedrich Diestelhorst, his half-brother, born about 1826] - is he still at home or is he married. Doesn't he like to come to America? Tell me about Lotchen [his sister, born 1829] and Catharina [his sister, born 1833] and how are their things and if there're any news. And write about Ludwig [his brother, born 1837] - has he learned the bakery business? I read in one letter that the uncle in Lingen died which will happen to all of us. Write about Franz [his brother, born 1839] and August [his brother, born 1841] - do they learn a handicraft? It's good to know a craft in this country but farming is a better job for everything is so expensive. I'm planning to buy or rent some land on my own this summer but I've not enough money. Please, beloved parents, sent me some hundred Thaler [old German currency] for that I can start a business on my own. I had a lengthy illness last summer what set me back.
As you maybe recall, I travelled from Cincinnati to St. Louis and met Louise Wilhelmine and Catharina Schäferkötter. I'm their guest at the moment. Normally, I live in Quincy, Illinois, which is a healthy place to live. A good friend of mine is living there, too. His name is Grothaus and he came from Borgloh [Germany]. He told me that he will travel to Germany on April 15th. He will visit his brother-in-law Colon Eichholz [Colon = farmer] in Glane. That's not far from you. I think he will visiting you and tell you about everything for that's easier than writing it in a letter. He said he will come back to Quincy where I live now. I will stay here for it's the best place in America to live. It's about 200 English miles from St. Louis. I write this letter while beeing in St. Louis. I wanted to know if there are any news from you for I haven't heard anything from you.
After leaving Cincinnati, I went to Louisville. I had to wait there for the river was frozen. I met quite a few people from Remsede, like the two Strothmann brothers, Melter and Edward Gildehaus. We talk a lot. After the river was open again I went on a steam boot to St. Louis and arrived at Louise Wilhelmine and Catharine Schäferkötters, who are all married and very happy. From St. Louis, I made my way to New Orleans driving on a steam boot again. It was very hot there for it's in the South. The heat is unbearable during the summer so I left very soon after and traveled back to St. Louis. When I arrive there, I was very ill and didn't recover all summer until fall. I'm fine now, thanks to our Lord. We had a very long winter which stayed for three month. It was the coldest winter I ever experienced and my feet got frostbite so that I couldn't leave the House. Now I knew what traveling and illness costs. Beloved parents, please, if it is possible for you sent me some money so that I can start something for it's a good time for it now.
I close my letter now - please write back as soon as possible for that would be a big pleasure for me. The address is: To Friedrich Damschröder in St. Louis, Missouri
Your obeydient son
