Nicolas Frett along with Nicolas Adams and Jacob Schmitt, were the founders' of Johnsburg arriving
2 Aug 1841 in what would become Johnsburg, and they also in time, established and had built
St John the Baptist Catholic Church. All three lived and farmed near where the church would be built.
Until the church was built, the Nicolas Frett cabin served as a church. In the fall of 1841, a Catholic priest who had gotten lost when returning from Wisconsin, was guided by Indians to the Frett cabin, where he the next morning, said Mass there. The first marriage was on 8 May 1843, when John Freund married Anna Marie Wagner, in the Nicolas Frett home. Nicolas is said to be the first burial in St John's Cemetery, 10 July 1844.
Shortly after their arrival, Nicolas wrote a letter on 30 August 1841, which he sent to friends and family back in Germany, praising the new land and encouraging them to come to America. The letter is known today as The Frett Letter, and was responsible in large part for the great emigration from the Eifel area of Germany. The letter has been reproduced in many local history books. There is also a German account in the book, Homeland Book From Mayen, published 1957, which many relatives today may not be aware of
"We left our wives and children in the city of Chicago, and we three, (Frett, Adams and Schmitt), went into the country to look for an opportunity, and we found it thirty English miles from the city of Chicago near the village of McHenry, where there is an English free school and a house of correction.''
"The village is only three miles distant from us. There I bought land of 160 acres, which according to German measure makes 200 morgen, at $2.50 per acre, in German money, 6 marks. The land lies in a good situation and also is a beautiful area.''
"Also, we have very fine meadow land upon which the grass is so high it reaches above my head. This will perhaps seem unbelievable to you, but it is true. I would not have believed it myself had I not seen it. The forest is composed of many trees and hazel bushes like none such as found in Germany and they grow in great masses. Also, in the woods, the wild lemons, (plums), grow in abundance. When we bought the land we hardly knew what to say as we glimpsed the splendid fruit and high grass."
"Nicholaus Adams from Hirten also has as much land as we. Jacob Schmitt of Muenck has sixty acres. We three took ours altogether in one piece. We also bought two oxen that are as heavy as the largest one to be found in Germany. Also, a double span wagon and a cook machine, (cook stove), which is artfully constructed. One can cook on four fires at once and at the same time have an oven baking."
"We also bought two cows and a plow, besides household gear which one needs to farm. The oxen cost forty dollars, and wagon thirty-three dollars, the stove twenty-two dollars with the utensils included, the plow seven dollars, and the two cows twenty-four dollars. When we get things somewhat arranged, we can keep a hundred head of stock at our own place."
"Here it is not like in Germany that one must support the cattle with his labor; here the cattle support themselves. They run out day and night, cows, hogs, oxen, horses, etc. Cows come home evening and morning by themselves. Feed is absolutely free. One can make as much hay as he wants and where he wishes without paying for it. Here one knows nothing about taxes. One does not need to worry about beggars as they do in Germany. Here a man works for himself. Here one is equal to the other. Here no one must take his hat off to another. We no longer yearn for Germany. Every day we thank the dear Lord that He has brought us, so to speak, out of slavery and into paradise. This also I wish from my heart for my dear friends, sisters and brothers, who continue to live in Germany
as if under lions and dragons, fearing every moment to be devoured by them."
"Costuming in America is similar to the best people in Germany. It is particularly handsome in the case of men. One cannot distinguish the farmer from the gentleman, they all stand on the same plane. If a women should cross the street without a hat she would be laughed at. In New York, I bought my wife and daughter, Maria, a new mantie, (coat) , of American cut."
"Board is also cheep in America. The common men lives better than the highest in Germany. One cannot describe how good it is in America and the many remarkable things to be found here. If one should write about them, they would sound too unbelievable.'
Source: Sandie Schwarz ([email protected])
2 Aug 1841 in what would become Johnsburg, and they also in time, established and had built
St John the Baptist Catholic Church. All three lived and farmed near where the church would be built.
Until the church was built, the Nicolas Frett cabin served as a church. In the fall of 1841, a Catholic priest who had gotten lost when returning from Wisconsin, was guided by Indians to the Frett cabin, where he the next morning, said Mass there. The first marriage was on 8 May 1843, when John Freund married Anna Marie Wagner, in the Nicolas Frett home. Nicolas is said to be the first burial in St John's Cemetery, 10 July 1844.
Shortly after their arrival, Nicolas wrote a letter on 30 August 1841, which he sent to friends and family back in Germany, praising the new land and encouraging them to come to America. The letter is known today as The Frett Letter, and was responsible in large part for the great emigration from the Eifel area of Germany. The letter has been reproduced in many local history books. There is also a German account in the book, Homeland Book From Mayen, published 1957, which many relatives today may not be aware of
"We left our wives and children in the city of Chicago, and we three, (Frett, Adams and Schmitt), went into the country to look for an opportunity, and we found it thirty English miles from the city of Chicago near the village of McHenry, where there is an English free school and a house of correction.''
"The village is only three miles distant from us. There I bought land of 160 acres, which according to German measure makes 200 morgen, at $2.50 per acre, in German money, 6 marks. The land lies in a good situation and also is a beautiful area.''
"Also, we have very fine meadow land upon which the grass is so high it reaches above my head. This will perhaps seem unbelievable to you, but it is true. I would not have believed it myself had I not seen it. The forest is composed of many trees and hazel bushes like none such as found in Germany and they grow in great masses. Also, in the woods, the wild lemons, (plums), grow in abundance. When we bought the land we hardly knew what to say as we glimpsed the splendid fruit and high grass."
"Nicholaus Adams from Hirten also has as much land as we. Jacob Schmitt of Muenck has sixty acres. We three took ours altogether in one piece. We also bought two oxen that are as heavy as the largest one to be found in Germany. Also, a double span wagon and a cook machine, (cook stove), which is artfully constructed. One can cook on four fires at once and at the same time have an oven baking."
"We also bought two cows and a plow, besides household gear which one needs to farm. The oxen cost forty dollars, and wagon thirty-three dollars, the stove twenty-two dollars with the utensils included, the plow seven dollars, and the two cows twenty-four dollars. When we get things somewhat arranged, we can keep a hundred head of stock at our own place."
"Here it is not like in Germany that one must support the cattle with his labor; here the cattle support themselves. They run out day and night, cows, hogs, oxen, horses, etc. Cows come home evening and morning by themselves. Feed is absolutely free. One can make as much hay as he wants and where he wishes without paying for it. Here one knows nothing about taxes. One does not need to worry about beggars as they do in Germany. Here a man works for himself. Here one is equal to the other. Here no one must take his hat off to another. We no longer yearn for Germany. Every day we thank the dear Lord that He has brought us, so to speak, out of slavery and into paradise. This also I wish from my heart for my dear friends, sisters and brothers, who continue to live in Germany
as if under lions and dragons, fearing every moment to be devoured by them."
"Costuming in America is similar to the best people in Germany. It is particularly handsome in the case of men. One cannot distinguish the farmer from the gentleman, they all stand on the same plane. If a women should cross the street without a hat she would be laughed at. In New York, I bought my wife and daughter, Maria, a new mantie, (coat) , of American cut."
"Board is also cheep in America. The common men lives better than the highest in Germany. One cannot describe how good it is in America and the many remarkable things to be found here. If one should write about them, they would sound too unbelievable.'
Source: Sandie Schwarz ([email protected])
Nicolas Frett along with Nicolas Adams and Jacob Schmitt, were the founders' of Johnsburg arriving
2 Aug 1841 in what would become Johnsburg, and they also in time, established and had built
St John the Baptist Catholic Church. All three lived and farmed near where the church would be built.
Until the church was built, the Nicolas Frett cabin served as a church. In the fall of 1841, a Catholic priest who had gotten lost when returning from Wisconsin, was guided by Indians to the Frett cabin, where he the next morning, said Mass there. The first marriage was on 8 May 1843, when John Freund married Anna Marie Wagner, in the Nicolas Frett home. Nicolas is said to be the first burial in St John's Cemetery, 10 July 1844.
Shortly after their arrival, Nicolas wrote a letter on 30 August 1841, which he sent to friends and family back in Germany, praising the new land and encouraging them to come to America. The letter is known today as The Frett Letter, and was responsible in large part for the great emigration from the Eifel area of Germany. The letter has been reproduced in many local history books. There is also a German account in the book, Homeland Book From Mayen, published 1957, which many relatives today may not be aware of
"We left our wives and children in the city of Chicago, and we three, (Frett, Adams and Schmitt), went into the country to look for an opportunity, and we found it thirty English miles from the city of Chicago near the village of McHenry, where there is an English free school and a house of correction.''
"The village is only three miles distant from us. There I bought land of 160 acres, which according to German measure makes 200 morgen, at $2.50 per acre, in German money, 6 marks. The land lies in a good situation and also is a beautiful area.''
"Also, we have very fine meadow land upon which the grass is so high it reaches above my head. This will perhaps seem unbelievable to you, but it is true. I would not have believed it myself had I not seen it. The forest is composed of many trees and hazel bushes like none such as found in Germany and they grow in great masses. Also, in the woods, the wild lemons, (plums), grow in abundance. When we bought the land we hardly knew what to say as we glimpsed the splendid fruit and high grass."
"Nicholaus Adams from Hirten also has as much land as we. Jacob Schmitt of Muenck has sixty acres. We three took ours altogether in one piece. We also bought two oxen that are as heavy as the largest one to be found in Germany. Also, a double span wagon and a cook machine, (cook stove), which is artfully constructed. One can cook on four fires at once and at the same time have an oven baking."
"We also bought two cows and a plow, besides household gear which one needs to farm. The oxen cost forty dollars, and wagon thirty-three dollars, the stove twenty-two dollars with the utensils included, the plow seven dollars, and the two cows twenty-four dollars. When we get things somewhat arranged, we can keep a hundred head of stock at our own place."
"Here it is not like in Germany that one must support the cattle with his labor; here the cattle support themselves. They run out day and night, cows, hogs, oxen, horses, etc. Cows come home evening and morning by themselves. Feed is absolutely free. One can make as much hay as he wants and where he wishes without paying for it. Here one knows nothing about taxes. One does not need to worry about beggars as they do in Germany. Here a man works for himself. Here one is equal to the other. Here no one must take his hat off to another. We no longer yearn for Germany. Every day we thank the dear Lord that He has brought us, so to speak, out of slavery and into paradise. This also I wish from my heart for my dear friends, sisters and brothers, who continue to live in Germany
as if under lions and dragons, fearing every moment to be devoured by them."
"Costuming in America is similar to the best people in Germany. It is particularly handsome in the case of men. One cannot distinguish the farmer from the gentleman, they all stand on the same plane. If a women should cross the street without a hat she would be laughed at. In New York, I bought my wife and daughter, Maria, a new mantie, (coat) , of American cut."
"Board is also cheep in America. The common men lives better than the highest in Germany. One cannot describe how good it is in America and the many remarkable things to be found here. If one should write about them, they would sound too unbelievable.'
Source: Sandie Schwarz ([email protected])
2 Aug 1841 in what would become Johnsburg, and they also in time, established and had built
St John the Baptist Catholic Church. All three lived and farmed near where the church would be built.
Until the church was built, the Nicolas Frett cabin served as a church. In the fall of 1841, a Catholic priest who had gotten lost when returning from Wisconsin, was guided by Indians to the Frett cabin, where he the next morning, said Mass there. The first marriage was on 8 May 1843, when John Freund married Anna Marie Wagner, in the Nicolas Frett home. Nicolas is said to be the first burial in St John's Cemetery, 10 July 1844.
Shortly after their arrival, Nicolas wrote a letter on 30 August 1841, which he sent to friends and family back in Germany, praising the new land and encouraging them to come to America. The letter is known today as The Frett Letter, and was responsible in large part for the great emigration from the Eifel area of Germany. The letter has been reproduced in many local history books. There is also a German account in the book, Homeland Book From Mayen, published 1957, which many relatives today may not be aware of
"We left our wives and children in the city of Chicago, and we three, (Frett, Adams and Schmitt), went into the country to look for an opportunity, and we found it thirty English miles from the city of Chicago near the village of McHenry, where there is an English free school and a house of correction.''
"The village is only three miles distant from us. There I bought land of 160 acres, which according to German measure makes 200 morgen, at $2.50 per acre, in German money, 6 marks. The land lies in a good situation and also is a beautiful area.''
"Also, we have very fine meadow land upon which the grass is so high it reaches above my head. This will perhaps seem unbelievable to you, but it is true. I would not have believed it myself had I not seen it. The forest is composed of many trees and hazel bushes like none such as found in Germany and they grow in great masses. Also, in the woods, the wild lemons, (plums), grow in abundance. When we bought the land we hardly knew what to say as we glimpsed the splendid fruit and high grass."
"Nicholaus Adams from Hirten also has as much land as we. Jacob Schmitt of Muenck has sixty acres. We three took ours altogether in one piece. We also bought two oxen that are as heavy as the largest one to be found in Germany. Also, a double span wagon and a cook machine, (cook stove), which is artfully constructed. One can cook on four fires at once and at the same time have an oven baking."
"We also bought two cows and a plow, besides household gear which one needs to farm. The oxen cost forty dollars, and wagon thirty-three dollars, the stove twenty-two dollars with the utensils included, the plow seven dollars, and the two cows twenty-four dollars. When we get things somewhat arranged, we can keep a hundred head of stock at our own place."
"Here it is not like in Germany that one must support the cattle with his labor; here the cattle support themselves. They run out day and night, cows, hogs, oxen, horses, etc. Cows come home evening and morning by themselves. Feed is absolutely free. One can make as much hay as he wants and where he wishes without paying for it. Here one knows nothing about taxes. One does not need to worry about beggars as they do in Germany. Here a man works for himself. Here one is equal to the other. Here no one must take his hat off to another. We no longer yearn for Germany. Every day we thank the dear Lord that He has brought us, so to speak, out of slavery and into paradise. This also I wish from my heart for my dear friends, sisters and brothers, who continue to live in Germany
as if under lions and dragons, fearing every moment to be devoured by them."
"Costuming in America is similar to the best people in Germany. It is particularly handsome in the case of men. One cannot distinguish the farmer from the gentleman, they all stand on the same plane. If a women should cross the street without a hat she would be laughed at. In New York, I bought my wife and daughter, Maria, a new mantie, (coat) , of American cut."
"Board is also cheep in America. The common men lives better than the highest in Germany. One cannot describe how good it is in America and the many remarkable things to be found here. If one should write about them, they would sound too unbelievable.'
Source: Sandie Schwarz ([email protected])
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First settler of St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church of Johnsburg
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