Christian Frederick was first married to Mary Albrecht (1857), who died in 1870 in New Ulm, with four young children: Mary Boock (married August Raabe), George (married Schriefer), Fred, and Gustav. Christian Frederick subsequently married Wilhelmine Ernstine Plath, in New Ulm on May 17, 1871; to this union seven children were born: Ida (m. Adolph Klause), Emma Theresa (m. Ed Cordes, then William Ruemke Jr.), Albert Peter (m. Emma Ruemke), Friedricka (m. Hermann Hardt), Arthur Lincoln (m. Emma Aufderheide), Wilhelmine (m. Louis Broecker) and Oscar (m. Cora Custman). He died in the winter of 1888 in New Ulm, Minnesota. The first of the three letters is printed below. Letters from 1865 and 1873 will be posted later.
Recently, in planning discussions for a family reunion in 2009, Marilyn Boock Schmidt referred to a series of letters between 1860 and 1873 that C. F. Boock had written to family members in Germany:
Marilyn Boock Schmidt wrote:
" About Christian Frederick Boock's farm in LaFayette: I have copies of three letters he wrote back to Germany in the 1800's. Someone, somewhere translated and typed them. I've promised Wolfgang Boock (who collects old letters) copies but haven't done that yet. Perhaps some of you also have these.
In one addressed to Dear Sister and Brother-in-law, dated Lafayette, June 29, 1860, Christian writes "the government announced that a large section of land had to be paid up by the immigrants who were using it. Part of our land was included in that section. We had 160 acres and had to pay $200 for ownership. Many people wrote to the president and as a result, the dead line for payment was rescinded and I was able to pay my allotted payment. I have 20 acres under cultivation. I mentioned in a former letter that I joined a club which is planning to establish a city, well, that has materialized, the town's name is New Ulm. 5 years ago the first house was built and now there are more than 200 homes.
In New Ulm I also have some property, but at present there is no demand for it, even though its location is good, it is close to the boat landing on the Minnesota River. On the south side of the river on higher grounds you see summer houses already. In the wooded area I own 4 acres. My farm is only about 3/4 miles from New Ulm, I am able to see the town from my farm."In another letter Christian writes about his first wife dying and leaving 4 children and his remarriage 4 months later.
About his business he writes: " Dear Nephew, (headed New Ulm, May 11, 1873) I went into a partnership in a foundry and machine shop.We are 3 partners. I had to give up my old one which was in the best location on Main Street. I rented it to another and it was the same with my home. I had to rent it to another and built myself another home near the factory. Dear nephew, I could rent the old factory to you. Give my greetings to uncle Jonke on his golden wedding anniversary. Kindly tell me all about Henry and Amelia Jonke."
Perhaps these excerpts will help locate some of Christian Frederick's properties.We do know that his second wife, Great grandma Wilhelmine, ran a boarding house somewhere downtown. My dad, Norbert, would have known where it was, as he helped her with household chores after school.These letters are interesting reads."
[Historical Context of C. F. Boock's letter dated 29 June 1860:
Christian Frederick emigrated to the United States in 1854, Chicago 1855, and the Minnesota Territory in 1856. At that time, the Minnesota Territory included Dakota lands west of the Red River, territory from Wisconsin east of the Mississippi River and territory from Iowa south of the Minnesota River. As conflict was developing between the Northern States and the Southern States over issues of slavery and state's rights, the Enabling Act of 1857 was passed by Congress, C.F. took a homestead that same year (in what became Lafayette Township in Brown County in 1858). Christian Fr. was married to Marie Albrecht on 2 July 1857*. A fierce debate had developed over the issue of slavery until the repeal of the Missouri Compromise of 1854 ensured that Minnesota would come into statehood as a Free State--in fact, Minnesota was so divided that two different State Constitutions were drafted and signed in 1857, leaving the door open for statehood on May 11, 1858. Within a year of C.F.'s letter, on 13 April 1861, Civil War broke out in the United States, into which Minnesota regiments from Fort Snelling were sent. In 1862 the Homestead Act was passed, facilitating land claims by settlers; the same year, with Minnesota soldiers fighting in the Civil War, the Dakota War of 1862 broke out, directly involving New Ulm. So, when Fred writes in 1860 that he's farming on land to which the title wasn't firm (allowed after of Dakota Treaty of 1853; they wrote to the President (Lincoln) to intervene so they could continue claim without outright ownership) until 1862. According to Gertrude Boock Graupner's account in The Settler (1982), "Fred" sold his farm in 1863 and moved into New Ulm, where he had property. *presumably under the auspices of Minnesota Territory [ jfg]
Lafayette, June 29, 1860
Dear sister and Brother-in-Law,
Since I have given up hope to hear from you, I am forced to write again to inquire about your health and how you are getting along. It seems to me you are not concerned very much about me and how i am getting along, otherwise you would have written already and answered my letter; probably you thought, I would be asking you for financial help as I had mentioned about sending along several large augers with Henry Jonck, but I had also stated in my letter that the beginnings here are quite difficult and, if you could not have helped at this time, you could have excused yourself, this was your duty to do that, and I want you to know that all blessings which I received from you, I certainly am not ungrateful to you, or perhaps you had the same thought that our brother Josias had, namely living so far away, make it impossible to help each other. The truth is, distance is the minimum of a problem, if the will to help exist[s].
During the past 44 years, probably you have heard about us from Josias. This is not a lie, but I have been in a very awkward financial predicament, so I didn't know which way to turn for help. I was absolutely broke and had no inkling where to obtain the money as the government announced that a large section of land had to be paid up by the immigrants who were using it. part of our land was included in that section. We had 160 acres and had to pay $200 for the ownership. And if we didn't pay up by a certain day, it would be sold to someone else. This made me very nervous and irritable, but fortunately many people wrote to the President and as a result, the deadline for payment was rescinded. In the meantime, my financial conditions have improved, so I was able to pay my alotted [sic.] payment.
I will assume that you are interested in my present living conditions. On July 2, 3 years ago, I was married to Maria Albrecht, 21 years old. Two years ago we had a daughter. My wife came from Kirgen-Kegel by Goldberg in Mecklenburg-Schwerin and came to America in 1855 with her mother and 2 brothers who live not far from here. They are all industrious farmers. Most of my work is farming, because wagon building isn't much in demand, there are plenty of these around. I have 20 acres under cultivation, 4 oxen to help do the work, 3 milk cows, 4 young pigs and some chickens. I plant rye, wheat, and oats. Corn is my main crop. Also I raise peas, beans, potatoes, and a variety of other plants. This land is the most productive and the climate is most favorable, very much like that in Germany. The grain grows well in Minnesota and I foresee a plenteous harvest, but the price per bushel is very low, never in my whole life, have I found such cheap prices, a pound of butter for 6-7 cents, 3 Groschen (about 30 Pfennig in Germany) worth of potatoes per bushel here for 20-25 cents, and so it is with everything else. There is very little money available, caused by the low prices. Even farm land has come down in price, some farms 3 years ago were bought for $1,500, can't find a buyer for $1,000. As I mentioned in a former letter that I joined a club which is planning to establish a city, well, that has materialized, the town's name is New Ulm. 5 years ago the first house was built and now there are more than 200 homes, about 1200 to 1300 inhabitants. in New Ulm I also have some property, but at present there is no demand for it, even though its location is good, it is close to the boat landing on the Minnesota River. This river is very much like the Spree in size and full of fish. The town is very romantic and is built on higher levels, the river movers along in snake-like curves with cliffs here and there. On the southern side of the river on higher grounds, you can see summer houses already, in the wooded area I own 4 acres. If those 4 acres would be in the vicinity of Berlin, I would be considered a wealthy man. But I am satisfied that it is close to New Ulm. My farm is only about 3/4 miles from New ulm, I am able to see the town from my farm. Although my whole belongings are very limited, yet I am satisfied for what is my own which my [wife?] and I have carefully managed and so consider myself fortunate. I don't begrudge a king on his throne for my freedom and joy in my family.
Dear sister and brother-in-law write soon as possible, and tell me all about the happenings of friends and relatives for the past, also descrive [sic.] your times you are living in, and do tell me whether many people are immigrating to other lands.
If any one wishes to move and would like to settle on a farm, I would advise them to come to Minnesota, with energy and ambition you can make it, but if someone thinks of getting rich quick, he'll find disappointment.
In closing I hope this letter finds all of you well, as I am, while writing this letter.
Many greetings from me, my wife, and child,
Your loving brother and brother-in-law,
C. F. Boock
Greetings to uncle (?) and family
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