Samuel Allemann, May 17, 1849: Georg left Hermann and returned to Switzerland. Georg's brother Hans settled in Hermann and likes it very much. Samuel authorizes Georg to sell everything in Untervaz — he urgently needs money for a bakehouse.

Hans Krättli, May 1849: Hans bought 120 acres of land for $440 — paid $240 cash, owes $200 at 6% interest. He asks his brother for the second time to send him the money.

Peter Krättli, December 31, 1849: Should sell Georg's land for $400 — he would do better to offer it for $200. Cholera raged in the summer (only one death in Hermann, about 1,000 in St. Louis). Harvest was good. Weddings: Margreth Philipp with Hüttenrauch, sister Anna with farmer Georg. Finally: “Lately I heard you would like a rich wife and had been running around everywhere. But they don't want you, you are too old.”

Johann Sutter, May 28, 1850: Samuel Allemann and Hans Krättli are in California. Hundreds are said to have panned gold worth over $100,000. Inflation: two oxen cost $60 instead of $30. Hermann now has a Masonic lodge with 35 members.

This letter is reproduced in full here — it shows how and what exactly was written in such letters:

Dear Brother,

I received your letter from February on May 12. Hans departed for California on April 30 in the company of Michel Philipp and a man from Zurich. They abandoned the plan via Panama because it was too expensive. They bought a wagon and three pairs of oxen and are making the journey across the prairie. By July 1, 40,000 people with 8,900 wagons are said to have passed Fort Laramie. Since then, 36 million dollars have been extracted from there.

This spring we sold: 2 yoke of oxen for 55 and 50, a pair of steers for 24, 4 cows at 12, 2 light horses for 60 dollars. 15 bushels of wheat at 1.05 dollars, more than 100 bushels of corn at 45–50 cents. We also produce sheep's cheese at 20 cents a pound, as well as cheese, wool, tallow, and butter.

We had a lot of misfortune this year. Hardly had my father-in-law recovered from a long illness when, on May 2, a heavy ox jumped over little Menga, breaking her left thigh. Three weeks later she went into labor — stillbirth. Now we are all healthy.

Best regards to everyone — from your brother Peter

Johann Sutter, August 10, 1851: Samuel Allemann and Hans Krättli are doing well. Gold is harder to find — someone for whom $15 a day used not to be enough is now glad to get $4–5. Hermann is growing; many stone mounds have been turned into vineyard land.

Peter Krättli, March 24, 1853: Johann Sutter drove a herd to California and bought 300 acres in Marysville. Hans Krättli is mining gold in Jacksonville and is said to be very miserly. No one knows anything about Michel Philipp — probably dead. One cow: $110–120, a pair of oxen: $190–200.

Christian Krättli, April 12, 1854: Has been in First Creek (near Hermann) for over a year. Peter is in California, running a timber business with two men from Zurich and earning well. Brother Hans has returned — very ill, but wealthy. Silvester Krättli tends the cattle; cousin Georg works in a dairy ( $60/month, board included).

Peter Krättli, August 26, 1861: The Civil War has been going on for a few months. Peter strongly advises against travelling to America — pirate ships are operating in the Gulf of Mexico. Thousands of soldiers are passing through Hermann. “After all, there still need to be farmers who plant something.” He will not take part as long as he is left in peace. Four weeks ago, a Christian was born.

Johannes Krättli, April 4, 1863: For two years, neither written nor received a reply. Business at the slaughterhouse is miserable. In the winter of 1861/62 there were three floods — in autumn 1861 they had 800 head of cattle; after the winter only 150 remained! The North is said to be keeping 600,000 soldiers ready.

Menga Krättli, August 12, 1865: War over, Confederates surrendered. Father Danuser was shot in the leg — the perpetrator was hanged from the next tree. Georg was a prisoner of war in Texas for ten months and received only water and cornmeal there. She reports on market prices, Henry Wolf’s steamboat, and upcoming weddings.

January 2, 1866: Still active in the cattle trade. Many floods. Matäus Danuser had a woman brought over from Ireland for the purpose of marriage, on the condition that she had to please him. When she arrived: “he said she was a big Irish beast and that he would rather live with a pig.” A major earthquake in San Francisco.

March 10, 1867: No letters from Switzerland arrive anymore. A G.G. sold wool and sheep for $20,000, but fell out with his son, who spent $35 on clothes (only $25 approved) — the boy disappeared forever. $12,000 was stolen from a safe; when it was opened, only 45 cents were left inside — 10 of them counterfeit.

June 18, 1874: Harsh winter. Neighbour Grydly lost 8,000 sheep in the floodwaters — he is so rich that it does not bother him. About deceased friends: “Howard has also stopped making iron gates; he more or less died in a drunken stupor, while his colleagues around him were still singing cheerful songs. It would not surprise me if barley were to thrive on his grave, because he loved its juice so much.”

Both parents were from Untervaz (born 1819 and 1821) and married in 1840. In 1844 they emigrated to America with the Philipp, Schindler and Gruber families. Sea voyage Le Havre → New Orleans: 86 days; July 1844 in Hermann, Missouri. Land near Berger, MO for only 12½ cents per acre — very fertile, much better than in Switzerland.

1848: Gold rush — Michael’s uncle set off. 1853: His father drove a cattle herd to California. Civil War: Father volunteered to fight against slavery and returned after three years, severely wounded. 1861/62: Two children died.

The sons: Georg to St. Louis († Jan. 14, 1912), Jacob to Kansas († Sept. 20, 1911), Anton to Sullivan, Missouri († Feb. 21 1913). The family’s vineyards were the pride of the region.

Michael Krättli himself was born on October 13, 1850, and died on March 24, 1934, in Kansas City.

(From Family History of Michael Kraettli, received from Timothy Philipp)

Anna Philipp married 37-year-old Georg Carl on March 9, 1849. She grew up in Untervaz — her father ran a mill on the Rhine. Around April 1, 1844, the Philipp family sold everything, said “goodbye” to the Rhine and the mountains, and travelled to Le Havre. Sea voyage 86 days; July 1844 in Hermann, Missouri. Land for 12½ cents per acre.

After arriving, the mother became severely homesick: “She somehow felt like a prisoner of these dense forests.” In autumn 1844, just a few months after arriving, she died. When Anna’s father remarried, Anna (17) left home and worked for three years as a maid in Hermann for Mrs Keane.

Despite major differences — he without schooling, she playing the piano and culturally interested; he Catholic, she Protestant — they found each other and had 11 children. When the Methodists founded a church and Anna converted, there was a long dispute. Georg died at the age of 68.

(From The story of George Carl, received from Timothy Philipp)

In 1849, Luzi Philipp emigrated from Untervaz to Wisconsin with his wife Sabine Ludwig from Zizers and two children. Emanuel Lorenz Philipp was born on March 25, 1861. His father fought in the Civil War for three years and returned severely wounded. Emanuel financed higher education by raising turkeys on the farm.

Career: rural schoolteacher → mechanic → railway employee → stationmaster (1882) → adviser to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway (1887) → transport agent for the Union Pacific Railroad. 1893–1903 timber transport company on the Mississippi — a town named Philippstown in his honour.

Elected Governor of Wisconsin in 1914 — re-elected in 1916 and 1918. During his term, the Senate wrote: “During the difficult time of the war, Governor Philipp administered the state with prudence and wisdom.” He wrote two books: The truth about Wisconsin’s freight rates and Political reform in Wisconsin.

Governor Philipp died on June 15, 1925, in Wisconsin. His successor said: “Philipp was a man of remarkable perseverance — an example of what can be achieved through unremitting work.”

(From Bündner Monatsblatt 1962, “A Grisons statesman in America” by Elisa Perini)