Extractions of a letter of Johannes Christoph Dünnebacke (*1.1.1813 in Niedermarpe, Westfalen, Preußen), who had emigrated to Michigan in 1836. He belonged to the group of catholic Sauerlanders, who came with Pfarrer Kopp to America. In the beginning he could not afford to buy land in or near the newly found settlement of Westphalia. After 2 years of hard work in Lyons and in Detroit, he bought a lot of land in Lyons or Westphalia

He later settled in Westphalia, MI and these translated lines of his letter are dedicated to the Westphalia Historical Society in Westphalia, MI. Their chronicle of 1986 was a pleasure to work with!



Lyons, 31st May 1837

....So I went on the journey together with Joseph Platte from Helden 200 miles further [from Detroit] to the Grand River, where they are building a new town. By now I have been working at a sawmill for 3 months, where I had to go into the forest and cut trees for the sawmill: I have cut trees of which I cut out 6-foot woods....
One tree I have measured was 31 feet in circumference. You have to shudder when you see them. My earnings were 18 Taler [=Dollar] plus board, but they will double it soon. And now I help to saw in the sawmill itself, where I have to saw from midnight till noon, which I learned in the evenings and in the mornings, and I get 30 Taler plus board a month. I`m doing very fine here, because here it is a good healthy area, good soil, and healthy water, just like you can find it at yours. Bread of pure wheat flour and meat in abundance.

This is why I find myself compelled to write to you. Dear brother, that you send me those 300 Taler with my brother Joseph, because here land close to the city is still obtainable, and when I buy land now, namely a lot for 100 Taler, each Taler will bring an interest of 4-5 % for several years, I want to sell it again. And for those 30 Taler I`ll have them make me a new suit, just as fine as you can get, for dressing is very fine here and you don`t get it under 40 Taler.

Dear Brother Joseph, I hope to see you here soon. It would be a bad brother`s trick to persuade you to come here, if I wasn`t convinced that it is much better here for you than at home. I promise, here you will earn more in a month than you earn at home in a whole year for you are still young and you can get on in the world. So, come and bring my portion of inheritance and leave your portion there, because to pay both of us will be to much for Wilhelm [the oldest brother and Hoferbe]......

..........
[addressed to his uncle and his family, who was thinking about going to America as well]
By the way, the earnings of all craftsmen....are very well, especially for grown up girls, as their work is little and the income is very high. That`s why I would like to wish you came overhere soon. The income is high here, but also the food is expensive. You can imagine, where there is a city being built in the woods there can`t be cultivated any fruits of the earth, food is bought herefrom several hundred miles away, thus it is more expensive than where it is grown. One barrel of meat costs up to 34 Taler, one barrel of flour 12 Taler.....