Translated from German. The original letter is currently held in the Sophienburg Archives (New Braunfels, TX)
Obernbreit, the 5th February 1871
Dear Beloved Uncle:
The greatest joy, that I, my family, and all of Obernbreit experienced was occasioned by the letter, which the ____? wrote to my sister the past year which brought us the good news of the well-being of our dear relatives and friends on the other side of the ocean, lets me not rest. Although this is the second letter that I, dear Uncle, rush to you, to shout to all of you and coming from the deep down bottom of our hearts,
GREETINGS!
In the first place, dear Uncle, believe not that I, a schoolmaster, have such a hard heart, would forget my beloved relatives, though they be living in a foreign land. Hardly a day goes by in which not one from out of your large circle of friends here stops by to ask about you true dear ones.
Now to announcements:
As to my humble maneuverability, I am married 15 years. My wife is a daughter of the illustrious innkeeper, Adam Waldmann of Licherschausen, whose wife was a daughter of Thomas Metzger of here. I presently have two daughters (Lina, 14 years old, and Dorette, 12 years old), one son and one daughter also born here are deceased. Have now been teacher 12 years, in a new schoolhouse which has a new organ with 14 stops(?).
Obernbreit has since 20 years changed very much- many new houses, improved streets, a railroad from Wurzburg to Ansbach on Hornbach way, and in-fact that close that the houses at the edge towards the cemetery had to be torn away. At this point we have between it and the cemetery an 800 foot high dam. The railroad runs from Ukybreit through Obernbreit, Winkelhof, Guitzheim, Werehtheim, Affenheim- Burgbirnheim- Dehstetten, Ansbach.
Re: Family Gunthart (Pathe), Shoemaker Heinath, and Malbro Stubenrauch, Jr. are highly elated that their old true friend Pfeuffer is yet living and enjoying good health. Widow Ketyae Proschel and her children find themselves under the circumstances well and through the industriousness of the children in very good circumstances. Valentin Proschel is in reduced circumstances, by his own fault.
Cousin Geiling and his wife are deceased for quite some years. Babetta, their only daughter and child, is a maid-servant and is well-behaved, would also like to immigrate to America, and sends a thousand greetings to all of you.
Benario, the man who bought your tannery, died soon after you left and the tannery was sold to Louis Goetz of Heildboven. People say, "He is no Pfeuffer."
Michael Doller, your (Lehrling) pupil, has sold his brewery and (Wirtschaft) inn, and (privatisirt) lives, by virtue of a fortunate marriage and lucky sale of his properties, a carefree life.
Tremendous (sturme) tumultuous attacks raged last year all over Germany were, by God's clemency, turned back onto the heads of the instigators. France did not win a single battle, Napoleon with half a million men are prisoners in Germany. Paris, the modern Babylon, has capitulated, (Waffenstillstand) armistice declared and hope that peace will soon be declared too. (Bedingungen) Stipulations include that Elsas-Lothringen be returned to Germany, also the Ostindischen Besitzung and Pondichery and ten million Franken and 30 battleships- and Deutschland einig.
So, God willing, my letter shall reach you all in the best health and lively. All of my family too are well; only I have, due to great exertions teaching 102 children besides many private lessons hours, developed a heart condition and which still keeps on persisting and had, on doctor's advice, suspended teaching. God shall provide further.
For this time I now will close. I, and my family, and all friends bring you many thousand greetings and kiss you heartily in (Geiste) spirit.
Dear uncle and dear nephews and nieces write to me soon and send, where possible, photographs of yourselves. In the near future, you will receive ours.
All of you stay well and lovingly remember
Your true loving friend
J.?M. Pfeuffer