Klas Family of Prague, Czech Republic

Below is an interesting letter that Cathy Klass Corns found among her mother's papers recently. It was written by Alexander Klass in 1898 shortly after his arrival in Delaware City. The letter is addressed to Mr Wolrlgeloren, Herrn Wacskaw Kubat, Klatou, Europe. There are also some unintelligible lines. The last letter of Klatau appears to have a circle over the u.

Here's an interpretation of the letter, most likely created by a friend of George Klass, Alexander's son.

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"Dearly beloved uncle,

I often remember the day we said "Good Bye" in Hamburg. Also the 100 foot long boat. Had you seen the boat I was on you would have died. I spent on it a whole month and I nearly drowned as its screw broke and we were floundering until another boat came to our rescue.

When I arrived in New York on 3/13 I had no money. I was almost sent right back. Everyb ody has to prove he has a place to go to and one has to have at least $10- and I had nothing. They telegraphed my auntie and uncle sent me $10- so I could get to him.

So now I am at my uncle's and I am learning a little English. Also he is going to get me plenty of work to do. Casket makers (or carpenters) make $2- a day over here which is 5 golden pieces in our money.

There is no reupholsterer here in Delaware City and I have already made a sofa for uncle and he keeps showing it to various pedople and they are glad that there is someone here now who knows that trade and so I have already made $8 this week.

I go with auntie to church, it is very friendly here.

Uncle has 3 businesses and 8 houses and all the time builds and buys more.

If Frankie came over here he would be married right away, there are more girls here than soldiers in Klatovec and he could have lots of work. There is only one cabinet maker (carpenter) and Frankie could start work as a master.

But if he comes let him bring enough money because it is bad otherwise. The military might stop him at the German border so tell him to say that he is going to some German town like Dresden to look for work and it would be good to have some letter with him.

Auntie and all of us send our greetings and both of you and everybody.

Reply right away return post."

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The return address on the letter is Frank Bruner, Delaware City, Delaware.

The most recent communication regarding the family in Prague is the death notice I have linked here. The postmark in 1972. I have not figured out the relationship of this person to the family. A link to this document may be found at the Leslie Hersh website.

As family members know, my mother always wanted to know more about her father's family in Bohemia, Czech Republic. I am really thrilled to be able to continue working to connect with our family members across the ocean. Cathy Corns has been a great help in providing me with letters her father, George Klass, had received during the 1950s and 1960s. I will post more information as it becomes available to me.

Just a reminder, the family name Klas was changed to Klas by Alexander as he continued his life in the United States. His children George and Lillian used the name Klass in the United States.

There is also a recent document, as yet untranslated, posted on the Leslie Hersh website. Kelly Anne Cross has offered to translate this document for us for which I am very grateful.