Letter from E. Grome to N. Wert
| Wiesenstrasse,
62 Hannover, Germany(1) 1881(2) My very dear Brother & Sister, I meant that my letter should reach [you] by the New Year, but it will be later, but not too late to wish you both a very happy New Year. I hope that when it is an old one, to be with you. I have not before come to that determination until now to return home. I am very home-sick this year. I think it is because my winter is very dull. I miss the gay winter in Paris. The weather is something dreadful in Germany this winter. I am sure I should not remain at all, if it was not for Charlie. I do not feel as if I could take him out of school. He seems to be doing so well. Indeed, you would not know him; he is such a big boy, big for his age, and very naughty. He is very anxious to return to America and says "he will be a good boy there." He does not like to play with German children. I hope, dear Sister, that your health is now good. How lonesome you must be without your dear boys, only baby Earl at home. I often think about it for when Charlie is in the school, I hardly know what to do with my self. It must be worse for you with five and four away. How proud you must be of them all. I know I should be if they were my boys as I am very fond as [of] my nephews. I am so anxious to see them. I suppose Campbell and George will be giving you daughters(i) by and by, only make them wait until I return. How long the days are, since I have made up my mind to return. I suppose the next six months will be like ten years. Five long years will have passed away since I saw all your dear faces. How glad I shall be to see you all again. My dear brother, I hardly know what to say about your inheritance in Germany. I really do not think, without more evidence you can do nothing because it will cost so much for they will not give it up willingly, you may be sure. I have not been able to find out yet where this von Gochnat died, of what relation he is to you, for what I found at Colmar does not agree with what you wrote me.(3) If I could find out if your mother's mother was a Barth. Your ancestors seemed to prefer the Barth family. The last of that family died out about 20 years ago, leaving something of a fortune and this von Gochnat was married in this family also, although they say in Woerth that he was not married at all. There was no sign that I can find so far that your J. E. Gochnat was born in Colmar in the year you mention. It is dreadfully mixed. There are no more church records. I think most of them were lost in the war at Woerth. They were torn out just at that date. I presume I shall return in the summer through Colmar again. I should like to find out where this Valentin von Gochnat died, then I might find out if he left other property worth your while. The Castle at Woerth is not worth your trouble for it is a ruin, although people live in it. You say your J. E. von Gochnat was born in 1736; the only one I can find in Colmar was born 1704 and died 1735. The other one, 1681 and died 1732. This Valentin von Gochnat was born in 1727, so your grandfather must have been 9 years younger. Have you any idea also who or what your grandfather's name was? Can you find out? Valentin's father's name was Jeremiah von Gochnat. It is too mixed up to find much. Perhaps I can find out something in Geneva or Darmstadt? With all my love, I remain, Your loving Sister. 1Wiesenstraße in Hannover is in
the South-City, a newer section of the central part of
the city, near the new town hall and the Maschsee. |
