Gustav and Francisca Schindele Letters
Collection
Identifier: MSS 3096
Scope and Contents
The collection contains twenty-three letters sent by Gustav Schindele to Francisca Meder who was living on Illinois, between March 12,1895 to November 4, 1895. There is also one letter from her to him. These letters cover the possibility of marriage, poems, sonnets, and family news. When the letters end, Gus will travel to Conant, Illinois and the couple would marry in January of 1896.
The letters are in German with some words in English. The are written in a 19th century German script called Kurrent. They were translated by Ulrike Carlson who is the owner of Iowa Early Language in Iowa City, Iowa. The translations are following each letter. There are is also one letter from 1931 as well as some miscellaneous things that were included in some of the letters.
The letters are in German with some words in English. The are written in a 19th century German script called Kurrent. They were translated by Ulrike Carlson who is the owner of Iowa Early Language in Iowa City, Iowa. The translations are following each letter. There are is also one letter from 1931 as well as some miscellaneous things that were included in some of the letters.
Dates
- 1895
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection is held by the Institute.
Biography
Gustav Adolphus Schindele was born August 8, 1868 to Roman and Maria Anna (Digger) Schindele in the town of Schelingen, Baden province, Germany. Gus emigrated to the United States in 1889, following his older siblings. Reaching the U.S., he stayed with his sister Emma in New York City before heading west to North Dakota to homestead near his brothers, Ferdinand and Henry. Eventually the Schindele brothers would build up their holdings by claiming other farms from other farmers who failed. Gus’s homestead land was on the southwest side of East Stump Lake in Nelson county North Dakota. In later years, Gus would purchase several buildings in Tolna, North Dakota.
Francisca Cecilia Meder was born November 17, 1868 in Conants, Illinois to Erhardt and Antonia Bischof Meder. Her parents had emigrated from Bavaria in Germany to the area in the 1850s. She was employed as a teacher before marrying Gus.
Gus met Francisca in Conants, Illinois through friends. The two would marry in January of 1896 in Illinois. Then then traveled by trail to Dakota territory but Francisca became homesick and went back to live with her parents in Illinois. They would live in Harrisburg, North Dakota as well as Tolna, North Dakota. They would have four children, Peter Andrew, Antonia, and Rosena.
Gus died September 22, 1939 from Leukemia. Francisca died on Peter (her son) Schindele’s farm on May 1, 1942. Both are buried in the Tolna cemetery.
Francisca Cecilia Meder was born November 17, 1868 in Conants, Illinois to Erhardt and Antonia Bischof Meder. Her parents had emigrated from Bavaria in Germany to the area in the 1850s. She was employed as a teacher before marrying Gus.
Gus met Francisca in Conants, Illinois through friends. The two would marry in January of 1896 in Illinois. Then then traveled by trail to Dakota territory but Francisca became homesick and went back to live with her parents in Illinois. They would live in Harrisburg, North Dakota as well as Tolna, North Dakota. They would have four children, Peter Andrew, Antonia, and Rosena.
Gus died September 22, 1939 from Leukemia. Francisca died on Peter (her son) Schindele’s farm on May 1, 1942. Both are buried in the Tolna cemetery.
Extent
.25 Linear Feet (Contains paper letters and documentation for the letters)
Language of Materials
German
Overview
The collection contains letters between Gustav Schindele and his wife, Francisca Meder as well as the translations of the letters.
Provenance
Donated by Mark Schultz on August 21, 2020 (Acc. 2020-038irs).
Property Rights
The Institute for Regional Studies owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Gustav and Francisca Schindele Letters
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu