Category Archives: Diaries, letters, and manuscripts

Extract from Emma’s diary: Eberleins celebrate holidays

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

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An extract from Emma Eberlein Kriewaldt’s diaries:

“[Father] saw to it each year that we children had a tree and when mother sometimes protested because she was already so overloaded with household cares and duties, he simply said that he would trim the tree himself and that settled the manner. Mother was silenced and we had our tree and papa did not trim it either.

The same way at Easter time. We always had our colored eggs and how pleased father was when he could take his little flock out to the barn and watch them hunt their Easter eggs. How he used to laugh when one of the youngsters discovered his nest which he had carefully prepared out of moss and leaves several days before, discovered it, and full of beautiful eggs. I honestly believe that he enjoyed it more than us. Dear Father! And now he is resting these five years beneath the sod.”

Source: Emma Eberlein Kriewaldt’s diaries, entry for 20 December 1901, on pages 124-125 of the transcription prepared by Ernie Kriewaldt.

Extract from Emma’s diary: Dolly Eberlein and Gus Pludeman get married

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

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Aug. 3, ’92

Dear Diary: — Darling, darling, forgive me for not writing to you for so long. I have been very busy all this vacation and I suppose I owe you an account of it all.

… Now comes the strangest part of my story. Dolly [1] is going to be married in four weeks! Gustav vene, vidi, vici — Dolly! I believe she loved him all along but wouldn’t let on or how could she make up her mind to marry him so quick! She used to be so defiant and irritable when even his name was mentioned and now since he has come she is as quiet as a lamb — queer — queer — queer — will wonders never cease? I ask myself morning noon and night. How she used to scold me when I sat in with Emil alone in the parlor and boast about what she would do and now she is up to that trick herself. Just think Cousin Bull [2] is going to marry Emilia [3] my oldest scholar and there is going to be a double wedding. I am on the verge of distraction when I think of it all. …

Sept. 7, 1892.

Dear Diary: — The wedding is over and done with and Dolly is now Mrs. Pludeman. We had quite a few friends invited and I had to work like a trooper. So did Emil. Everything passed off very nicely with only a small chivari. …

Source: Emma Eberlein’s diary, as transcribed by Ernie Kriewaldt.

[1] Nathalie Eberlein, daughter of John Frederick Eberlein and Catherine Goerner
[2] Wilhelm Schenk, son of Catherine Goerner’s sister Maria Barbara
[3] Ameilia Wilhemina Pludeman, sister of Gus Pludeman

We have received a letter from John

03 Wednesday Oct 2012

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“We have received a letter from John and he says he wants to get married to a widow 34 years old! And he has stayed with her for 18 mo. past. Oh, dear, dear, all of one’s hopes to end in this disappointment. I was so mad at John for being so wicked that I wrote him an awful letter. I scolded him and called him all sorts of names and her too. I wonder what he will say to that? I almost hope he won’t take me at my word and write again but I am afraid not. Oh, but I was mad!”

Source:
Emma Eberlein Kriewaldt’s diaries, extract from entry for 16 December 1889, on pages 9-10 of the typed transcript produced by Ernie Kriewaldt.

Emma Eberlein’s diary: “A book beautifies a room more than a carpet or costly chair”

01 Monday Oct 2012

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“Every time I come home there is something new in the house. Oh, yes we are getting along nicely now, and I hope we will never have to save again as we used to. Our house is getting nicer each month for we are always making something new for it or else buying something. But this fall we have bought most of all. Indeed there are so many things I have done quite a little to beautify our home. I have sewed out 2 pairs almost 3 pairs pillow-shams. I have sewed out 5 pictures. I have bought a $9 chair. I helped fill up over [?] the album with pictures and bought 4 books to make our home look intellectual.

This reminds me that I bought a new book only last Saturday … One book is Nicholas Nickelby and I nearly jumped for joy when I saw it. And then too, just think, it only cost 25 cents. Great Scott! When did you ever hear the like. I would have bought $1 worth of books on the spot but Ma scolds me so every time I buy one. … Oh, I do think a book beautifies a room more than a carpet or a costly chair. I would rather go without my new muffler and buy books with it. … But I must have patience. Three or four a year will be quite enough for a while until Ma gets more reconciled to my passion. Oh, our home is getting so much more beautiful than before that it is positively a pleasure to work and help along.

When John comes home he will open his eyes and oh! I do so hope he is a nice gentleman and no rough rowdy. I figure he will be pleased when he hears how we have worked to improve our mind, manners and morals since he has been gone. really, those 3 years have worked almost a miracle.”

Source:
Emma Eberlein Kriewaldt’s diaries, extract from entry for 8 December 1889, on pages 7-8 of the typed transcript produced by Ernie Kriewaldt.

Extract from Emma Eberlein Kriewaldt’s diary, July 1901

01 Monday Oct 2012

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“I had a letter from Mother and she is not coming. She seems to go right on with that hateful business. How I wish she would sell it! I know she had to work and worry to manage that large house, and I don’t like it all. I wish she would settle down and take it easy in her old age. Poor Mother! She seems just as suspicious and pessimistic as she always was. What an unhappy nature is hers! Always seeing everything from its blackest side and worrying about things which mostly never come to pass. I wish I could do something to make her old age more happy, but it is impossible so far away.

I write to her with every post. I have not missed a single steamer in all these six years since I am gone. I knew that helps her bear my departure better. I send some things quite often and have sent her photos of our house, the church, Lobethal, scenery, and other little remembrances. We had our photo taken only lately and I sent her one. I have had a large one taken lately and am going to send it to her. It must go parcel post and will cost 2s-10d. But never mind. It is for Mother — she had to do much more than that for me.”

Source:
Emma Eberlein Kriewaldt’s diaries, extract from entry for ? July 1901, on page 93 of the typed transcript produced by Ernie Kriewaldt.

Anecdote about the Eberleins in Shawano

30 Sunday Sep 2012

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The following quotation is from two photocopied pages of a manuscript in my Uncle Fritz’s genealogical files:

“The Eberlein house across the street was open house for all the neighborhood kids. There was always plenty of fresh milk from their farm along with graham crackers for snacks. At mealtime, though, everybody out.

Laura [sic] Eberlein was a gracious, uncomplaining matriarch who held the entire Eberlein ensemble together — Mike senior, a daughter, and four sons.

Wally Eberlein, the youngest, and I were close friends as we grew up together. He was a first rate intellectual and was to become valedictorian of his 1939 high school graduating class. Wally’s next older brother, Fritz, and I were also to become good friends in our teen years.

Mike Eberlein, a big, gruff, successful, small town lawyer occasionally picked me up for a hug and a whiskery kiss on his way to work and the barbershop for his regular morning shave.

Like all little kids, I, too, was irresistibly huggable.”