When I started my search for my family, I visited the Luteran Cemetery in Queens, New York City. The cemetery is known today as All Saints Cemetery. The Knatz family has a large plot there. For more information about who is buried there, see the Knatz Family Cemetery page. Although the plot was large there were not any large stones but a small flat plaque that said “Mother Father” I noticed fresh flowers on this stone. Later my Aunt Evelyn MacCormack visited the cemetery. We were trying to find out who put flowers there. The office worker at the cemetery would not give out that information but when she walked away from the counter, my Aunt saw the name Laura Malloy and memorized the address. She sent it to me. I wrote a letter and got no answer. At the time, I never thought to look in my family database because I knew there were no Malloy’s in the database. Had I looked, I would have found a Laura Knatz born in 1896, daughter of Conrad Knatz and Anna Eberhardt. A year later I wrote again. Shortly after mailing that letter, I got a call one Sunday afternoon. This was probably about 1985. The voice sounded like my Aunt Georgianna but it was Laura Knatz Malloy, the daughter if Conrad Knatz and Anna Eberhardt. I told her I was doing research on the Knatz family and she told me she would send me some letters she had in German that no one could read. I waited by the mailbox….. In the package were three letters written from Niedenstein Germany to August Knatz, my immigrant ancestor in New York city. These letters are probably the most precious things I posses. In addition to the letters from Niedenstein, there were letters from the town of Forst, because August’s wife Anna Trillich was from Forst. (Someday there will be another website on the Trillich branch of the family). The three Niedenstein letters are here along with their translations. You might note the letters are written in the old German script which used a different alphabet. Most German’s today can no longer read these letters. The letters were translated for me by Mrs. Erika Burke, a secretary who worked at the Port of Long Beach. The letters were in poor condition and I took them to the Huntington Library and had them restored, backed on Japanese tissue and encased in mylar for preservation.
The first letter is the oldest letter, written in 1872. Above is the image is of the outside of the letter. You can see that the letter was folded into a small square and sealed with red sealing wax.
The translation is as follows:
Niedenstein, March 19, 1872
Dear Brother-In law August and Konrad.
Longingly I take the pen to write you a few lines since I have an opportunity now to send them to you. As far as we are concerned, we are still alive and healthy. We hope that my letter will find you and your household healthy. We don’t even know if you are still alive, because during the war I have written twice and have received no answer. We should keep exchanging letters t even if it is only once a year, because in this world we probably don’t see each other again. My business is going well, for a number of years I have worked in Kassel because there is a lot of building now going on in Kassel, more than in our time. I will also tell you that I have bought the Koh1shaus and intend to move in the third Whitsuntide day, we will then have our own home again. The Lengeman’s Karle is now willing to go to America since he does not have to go into the Army, but his parents do not want him to go. Konrad is in the Army now and is stationed in Koblens with the ( text missing)guard. That is so far from here, and as long as we are Prussians it would be better if one could stay in Kassel since they have to stay in the Army for 3 years before they can go home. The wife of Johannes Haegerich (or Heiderich?) died 14 days ago, you will remember her. My household sends all of you greetings, it consists now of four boys and should we have another one, then I will name one of you as godparent. Many greetings also brother-In-law and sister-in-law and children, it greets you your sister Lieschen and brother-in-law
Heinrich Schmoll
Dear August, even though I am addressing the letter to you, please be so kind and share it with Konrad.