Translation of a letter from Eduard Kuehnert to F.B. Walther
Was in the text of e-mail from Judy Cole dated 5 Feb 2004:

	message://%3C15E9DF84-5822-11D8-AE45-000393677BF8@sympatico.ca%3E

							Chemnitz March 14,  1909 
Honorable Pastor F. B. Walther

Dear Brother -in-law. ( Pastor F.G. Walther?) 

	In addition to the letters from your father-in-law  (Frank Julius Biltz) and eight pages from Reinhold Biltz I’m sending you 16 pages of historical notes about members of the Biltz family. As far as your deceased father-in law, Frank Julius Biltz, is concerned the history is only piecemeal.  

	Mrs. Clara widowed Mueller (mother) of William Biltz who lives in Upper Frohns could share reports of her visit with relatives; even though we live three hours apart, yet we’ve taken the time to gather data from her to fill in some of the blanks. 

	I’m presenting only the raw data from visits with relatives:  Louise Bergt told me in 1877: "Cousin Carl, you’re the first one of our relatives who visited me since 1838". 

	The participation at the syndical meeting at Altenburg where the predestination matter was settled was an unforgettable experience for me.

	Your father (CFW Walther) were together at Sittners ( I believe this was a school) in Mittelfrohna.  He came back from Pastor W.  Loehe.  In 1877 I visited your father in his place.  I traveled with him by ship from St Louis to Wittenberg (Missouri) and return.  The return was our last occasion of being together.  He gave me his (? off the edge )  to give to Fritsche as a gift from the Gustav Fortsch family ( Material Kaufmann in Chemnitz)  {I am not real sure of the Translation of the last sentence translator}  Pastor L. Keyl has also been at Fritsches; Pastor Fritsche had died.  His two sons-in law, Winnfeld and  (Thegson )H???(off the margin)  Hold the business together.  They are honorable people.  The Fritsche family is blessed with earthly goods.  

	Pastor S. Keyl lodged with the Fritsches in order to provide them with the word of God.  I heard Candidate S. Keyl preach on the text; “Even though I walk etc.”  He also preached in Trinity church in Chemnitz.  He made reference to (_____ off the margin)  Fritz asked his court preacher:  "How does one know whether the Bible is god’s Word?"  Answer:  From the Jews. 

	Your brother-in law, Adolf Biltz, was with me in 1896.  He was (off the margin) his siblings.  Among printed matter there were five pictures of or from my Grandfather (Gottlob Friedrich) Biltz.  Certainly copies were found among the things which were felt behind.  I sent (Is this a list of the photos that he sent?) (off the margin) one from Edward Kuehnert, (is this a letter from Carl Edward Kuehnerts father?) oldest son, from my son G (off the margin) heir and one from my small quantity.  Do you want me to explain the process to print photographs on the back side?  Doing this increases the value.  

	In an earlier place in my letter I said that there were people in the family with the family name of Voeller and Lindner.  by ( off the margin) In Frohna and Altenburg I convinced myself of the intimacy in which these siblings related and lived with each other. 

	Reinh  (Reinhold?) (off the margin)  came to America years after 1838.  Weinhold with his (off the margin)  nee Lindner finally came to his relatives and siblings (off the margin) and brought them into a church fellowship through the gracious leading of God. 

	Others of the Biltz that later came to America (margin) Schulze family from upper Frohna, Mrs. Emilie nee Seideng (Margin)  missing line...... 

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Page 2
	 	
middle of page 3 of hand written info.)

	Which F. H. Biltz had given to his cousin William Biltz in Middle Frohna have gotten in to the hands of his son-in-law Robert Bauer. (margin) was Grometer in Glauchau.  When I last visited him (Robert Bauer) he gave me several letters.  The reason for giving them to me was that he (margin) in the close relationship we were to each other.  The manner and (margin) the sharing of the letters at our last meeting was and indication of the meanness of his death.  It was only a few months afterward that   (Robert) Bauer died after a very short illness.    (Robert) Bauer and his wife, Clara, had the initial family information (margin)  Bauer’s father often made confessions to Pastor Ferdinand Walther (margin) Bauersdorf Braunsdorf) who was later Prof. Dr. C. F. W. Walther in St. Louis.  Their father (margin) G. Walther, the son, the one named above to whom I refereed this letter (margin) that came to William Biltz on April 7, 1853 (Margin)  asked  attorney Edward Mueler. The writer of this (Margin)   Carl Eduard Kuehnert knew this man well. (translator 3 full sentence.  from 1853 to end of “knew this man well)  an Wilhelm biltz gekormmen ist, wird ernstlich ber das Verhalten avocasts Eduard Mullers gefragt. Schreiber dieses Carl Eduard Kuehnert hat diesen Mann gut gekannt.  According to the Patriarchal jurisdiction the knight was proprietor over Wilecki property in middle Frohna (Margin)  He let attorney Mueller handle his business with the court.  He did his job well. 
	My father (Friedrich Julius Kuehnert) was resident judge for that part of Muhlau’s business in Middle Frohna, 1839-1849.  In 1849 (Margin)  Halish Court matter was turned over to the State for the reason which Attorney Mueller (Margin)  identified as negligence.  In his defense (Carl Eduards Father?) I want to say (Margin)  that he was swamped with work.  It was attributed to his exactness that the final report was quite late in getting to Frank Julius Biltz (Margin)  since Mueller finished his work in a concise format.  I don’t want to excuse the (margin).  Muller’s honesty becomes apparent with his final reports.  Muller proved his truthfulness with his skill of bringing a cast to a close in a short time.  Muller seeks to reconcile both sides of a case.  He was known to be quite successful in this matter.  Mueller’s burial lot is only six steps away from that of (margin) wife and two daughters.  On July 21 (or 28) 1858, the question arose,- Is (Margin)  Gottlob Biltz still living? (There was Gottlieb Friedrich Blitz born 1790 he died in 1856.  He was the father of Gottlieb Friedrich Biltz born 1809 died 1849.  and Gottlob Blitz born 1805 died 1806. ) This was the father of my mother.  Our relationship begins here. (So it was Gottlieb friedrich Biltz born 1790)  My Mother Caroline, nee Biltz, and her or your father-in law were children of siblings.    (these two are listed in Green on the chart)  Your wife and I are children of another sibling (margin) (these two sidblings are listed in  Blue)
Gottlob Blitz was the first- born of his siblings.  Born 1780 (margin Dec 1856.  His wife Christine Sophie, nee Klitsch of Middle Frohna 

  From Kuehnert letter translated from the german archives at CLA

Translation page 5
  
In (Margin)  Gottlob, Carl and Caroline.  I have to recognize God’s guidance in the life of Gottlob.  A human being is born with inherited sin and becomes a child of God through holy baptism.  In a certain sense (Margin)  a Christian person does not fall out of his baptismal grace.  This is what I understand about Gottlob.  In old age (margin) God’s word rules.  The successor of a true and faithful teacher preaches Christ as our Savior. The son of God. (The last two or three lines on page 10 are not legible enough to decipher  

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Page 3

----??? 		Herr Klitzsch (the father of Christiane Sophie Klitzsch wife of Gottlob Friedrich Blitz b 1790 d. 1856) was a small garden owner, stocking maker (line missing.)  waechter   ( Wachler) and Koch at family festivals.  He took over handling the invitations to the family gatherings, spoke the table prayers at mealtimes; was good (margin) to manage the guests. 

	My grandfather describes him (Klitzsch?) (Ki as a sincere family father.  Otto (margin) attended worship services at Muehlau. 

	I received the following from Frank Julius Biltz’ schoolmates:  He was ___ child like other children, whatever pranks he saw he
would likely copy  and more, -one try and then another was Julius comment.  You youngsters, you’re often ready to try more that you can do and don’t see the end.  Julius said that when we we wanted to go on the frozen pond (margin) don’t go on the ice, it won’t carry you.  In short, things changed just a few days before the breakup when Julius (two pale lines............/?/?)

A classmate , Fritz Kousing or krusing?  
(Margin) same way with him.  Julius had a word to say about the  

Translation page 6 

approaching emigration.  Fritz Kruszig later became my brother-in-law. (this must have been on Ida Touchersman’s side) Fritz Schumaun who shared the above information was also a brother-in-law of mine.  In our conversations from time to time we talked about those who had emigrated. 

	Louise Voelker, half stepsister of her stepfather born ?? (margin) 22 1816, at Middle Frohna in the school house of teacher, ?  who was her uncle.  Louise was 22 years old in 1838.  Louise was widely known, also in the vicinity of Middle Frohna.  In the course of time I learned a good deal about Louise Biltz.  Her maiden man (margin)  My mothers’ (Christiane Sophie Klitzsch) grandparents  (Klitzsch) came from Middle Frohna.  My grandmother, nee Klitsch, took me to middle Frohna and Fiehtegstal when I was a child.  After 1850 I had frequent contact with Carl Bergt of Burgstaedt (margin)  brother of William and Adolf Bergt.  I also had contact with August Sterze of Lower Frohna.  Both went along to America in 1838.  How the emigration plans developed, what disturbances occurred after the publishing of Martin Stepsan’s sin and the resulting offense it caused.  Dr Marbach  masbach? and Dr. Wehse came back.  How the Christian standpoint didn’t remain firm when Dr. Marbach waffled theologically.  The government of Saxony put him in charge of the lottery.  The name of Dr. Marbeck  

Translation page 7  

was to be seen above every casino. 

	I never played the lottery, neither did my father;  he didn’t go into the area of a lottery.  Dr. Wehse announced, “I shouldn’t have left my American (margin)”  He should go to Switzerland (faded words).  I visited with August Klaus and Gottlob Sittner (faded)  and Julius (Margin) with regard to the publication “Lutheraner:  as soon as it appeared.  August Klaus and Julius (margin were classmates in Middle Frohna.  August Klaus and Gottlob Sittner would liked to have emigrated in 1838 if no____questions had arisen.  In 1838 Sittner’s sister worked for her father’s parents when the emigration was  launched and they weren’t able to cover the costs.  

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Pages 3 and 4 fail to connect; the bottom line of page 3 is partially indecipherable but there’s no attachment to page 4 that’s in the midst of a quote from I Sam. 15, 22.  “To obey is better than sacrifice,”  In translation the word order comes out differently.  so Page 4’s first line translated in the word order of your copy is: 

to sacrifice rather in obedience” as the holy will declares. (margin) 
	Grandfather Blitz died Dec 8, 1856 in Muehlau.  As the oldest son, born Jan. 26, 1812, I grew up with Friedrich Wilhelm (Fred William) and as school mates I spent the night there occasionally.  My father bought stocking material from him (Gottlob Friedrich Biltz) which I picked up from the proprietor of the Kralmcrholtz house.  He was a tall man.  (Gottlob Friedrich Biltz) This was the man who asked the question in a letter: How is it with the children of my brother?  The children died an untimely death.  In a letter from William Biltz dated April 7, 1853, he notes Rosalie Brauch a child of Fred (Friedrich) Biltz,-Rosalie and her husband Er. Brauch of Middle Frohna died young.  Various one in the family of her father-in-law were also taken young,-Biltz, Voelker, Linder and Schneider.  Children from their previous marriage were drawn into this relationship in the third marriage.  One Biltz from this family isn’t living anymore.  No biltz is living anymore from ancestor (margin)  (Note in margin from translator these dates can’t be correct)  Biltz born in 1856, the grandsons are living,-Louis Biltz born 1838 and has (margin) son, Oscar Louis biltz who lives in my house as a renter.  In Muehlau (margin) a grandson known as Carl Biltz, born 1850; I’m his baptismal sponsor.  He lives in the house in which his father lived and also his grandfather, he has more .  One of his brothers, Otto, married a woman from the Klitsch family of (margin)  Frohna and he lives in Muehlau in the house which my father (margin and faded)  this house belonged to me from 1856-1882.  Otto Biltz has (Margin) son Otto Biltz was in America as Louis 1881-1885.  The last place (margin) New York.  Here he became feebleminded.  Fortunately an acquaintance, Pastor S. Keyl, looked him up.  He took him to a state institution (Margin), again his mind cleared up.  Otto Biltz had good things to say about the institutional chaplain (margin)  to be shared with Keyl.  Pastor Keyl wrote Otto biltz about the recovery. (margin)  his father had died.  I told his mother.  In her joy she immediately offered to provide travel expenses to the recovered son for his return.  My daughter was married to Giesler in Milwaukee on April 29, 1885, and my son, Paul, married Marie Ruhland in a double wedding.  ( much faded make the next five lines impossible to translate)  Pastor Keyl and Wachler went to the institution on an island in New York to get Otto for his trip home.  What a joy it was for his mother to see her recovered son back home again.  Otto Biltz married Miss Weichert-Klitsch of Middle Frohna.  He did (margin) his living situation from 1881- 1885 put his occupation and his marriage on hold.  He has no time (margin) now I want to continue with data which I heard from my grand father Biltz.  One day father -in law Klitsch was visiting his son Gottlob Biltz in Muehlau.  As evening came (faded line-bottom)

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Page 5

Bottom of translation page 9

Klaus and Sittner who had previously been active in Sittrer’s business went to Altenburg.  His son bottom of page 9

Beginning of page 10 translation  

had married one of Adolph (margin) daughters.  After father Kraemer died the widow (margin) married Hellwege and stayed in Attenburg 1877 or 1899 (margin) table guest at Hellwegnes.  
			Carl Eduard Kuehnert.

	The following tells about Frank Julius Biltz, born at Middle Frohna near Limbach in the Kingdom of Saxony  on the 24th (margin)
	His father Christian Friedrich biltz died Oct 10, 1827.
	His mother, Sophie, died July 14, 1837.
	Julius biltz’ father became an orphan at age 2  (or Julius biltz’ father died when he was 2 years old)  He became the heir of his fathers possessions.  At the age of 12 years he became a double orphan.  (margin)  provided this young lad with an outstanding grasp of the challenge to supervise the business situation which he inherited for the future.  The manufacturing  business which his father had the son (margin).  Julius Biltz lived in Middle Frohna until age 20 when he took over a complex of houses and the stocking factory with all the other connected things.  In addition his father had received the royal franchise to be in charge of material from Middle Frohna and ____that, at that time the only source for this material.  This material business made a good profit.  

Bottom of translation page 10
Top of page of translation page 11

	Julius’s stepsister, Louise Voelker devoted her time until 1838. (margin)  Louise was a gift from god for managing the material business.  She was seen and honored as a full sister.  Also all the relatives and the vicinity of Middle Frohna saw and spoke of her as the Biltz’ Louise.  Julius Blitz, too was (margin) forgotten by relatives, neighbors and acquaintances.  the closest tie existed among those congregation members who were won to the word of God and Lutheran doctrine through the work of pastors;  they couldn’t immigrate because of their occupational connections.  These relationship were not injured, not even briefly.  The tie of faith held firm; the fire of love continued until death.  What I wanted to say in this letter I want to state , now in a few words.  The life of my uncle, now resting in god, was showered, with the blessing of God when he wasn’t occupied with the business in hand his eves were focused on his soul’s salvation and giving praise to God.  His point of view was (margin) rarely impassable.  It was easy for him to deal with laundry and clothing (margin) for the immediate future.  All the remaining property was only so (margin and unclear)  the slow settlement of the estate by Attorney Muller, now in the tenth year is a challenge to his patience.  What is being said  in 1929 ??has been deserved (margin) Biltz. a sketch from Gottlob  Fr. biltz, the oldest son (margin) my grandfather in letters refereed to Muehlauer the oldest.