78. Paul Goetsch to Alexander Krueger, December 3, 1902 [67] PAUL GOETSCH TO ALEXANDER KRUEGER, DECEMBER 3, 1902 Slides 353 - 359. Trade Mark Blue Ribbon Fruit Exchange Paul C. Goetsch, Prop. South Calera, Ala17 Adress 5322 - 1st Ave Woodlawn Ala or c/o Drennen & Co Silk and Dress Goods Dept 5 B’ham Ala. South Calera, B’ham Ala., 12/3 19018 Mr Alexander Krueger. Watertown Wis. Dear Alex, your welcome letter came 10 to me as a pleasant surprise, and to show my appreciation will not delay in answering. I am certainly glad that you did well this year, this will give you new stimulus and ambition for the com- 15 ing year. As for my self the past season has been one of reverses, disappointments and severe trials. Contrary to my hopes and expectations the crops through the middle of our state from North to South were very 20 poor, and more or less all over the south, resulting from lack of rain; and a very prolonged drouth. In fact some of the natives claim it to have been the worst year they ever experienced. The result of it all was, 25 “I looked me up a job for to make a living.” I came to B’ham and had the refusal of four positions, I accepted one with Drennen, since then, I have been placed at the head of the dress goods and silk depts’, as dep’t manager 30 and buyer at $7500 per month. Now here is where my story dont read so good, I had all my goods shipped on to B’ham, and sent my wife and babies on in advance. Our plans were to board with a family I knew, 35 (Steussys’ who used to live in Watertown,) and store our furniture until we had time to find a suitable place. When I reached B’ham several days later I found Ellen in bed, just having under gone an operation, which 40 if it would not have been attended to at once would have caused blood poisoning and death. No sooner had she got well, when both children took sick with some stomach and bowel disease, and kept growing worse. 45 In the mean time we found a house, and had just moved in, when Ellen got sick, which developed into typhoid fever, I had her taken to a hospital, and had the chil- dren cared for in a private family. All three 50 were at the point of death at one time, when Russell finally commenced to improve and so did Ellen. But our dear little Dorothy grew worse, and two weeks ago Sunday (on the 16th) she was called home for eternal rest. 55 A beautiful little funeral service was held at our house, and we had the remains of our lost one interred in Wood lawn cemetery. Ellen could not be removed from the hospital, so did not get a farewell look at the dear 60 one, and had not seen her for three weeks previous. The Tuesday following, I brought Ellen home, since which time she has been gaining. Russell too is getting on very nicely now. So you see my experience has 65 been very bitter. Every week as I get my salary, most of it goes toward paying bills which accumulated. I do not like the dry goods business here, as well as in Milwauk- ee, and will likely not stay after next spring 70 or fall, or before, if a good job came my way. I still have my 20 acres at So Calera, and am having it cared for by Mr Frank whom you met. I shall not do any more farming for two or three years; or until my 75 orchards are in full bearing, this is nothing but a fruit country. I was surprised to learn that Will Wendorf was still in Costa Rica, I wish you would send me his address at once, as I should like to write to him. 80 I may want to take a trip down there my- self, if I can get a job to match his. My uncle is now at Calera with his wife, she has a store there, and he bought a hotel for $300000. They say she is playing 85 the deuce with him, says she only married him for his dough, and was sick of her bar- gain ten days after. I have heard different things like this from several reliable sources, and from what I’ve seen of her she is none to 90 good. I would like to go back to our old Mil. until my place here is in full bearing but Ellen wouldnt listen to going back to live. She says she’d like to visit all her friends, but wants to lif live in the south. 95 I dont know if Carlos has his picture or not, he says his brother called for it at Calera, and he had not seen him. Your clippings on North- ern Wisconsin were interesting and very true, but the one on Johnson grass is way off, as I 100 have seen too much of it, and its habits. Thorsby they say made a very good fruit crop in spite of the dry summer, which I can readily believe as fruit was the only thing I had, and some was very 105 fine. Dont ever mention again about your making trouble, as I really believe that both Ellen and I enjoyed your visit even better than you yourself, and wish you could have stayed longer. We prize the photos 110 very highly, in fact they are priceless now as this collection contains the only pictures we have of that sweet little angel which has left us. I had taken orders for some of the others, but as the niggers paid no de- 115 posit I would not take any chances. I wish you would see if you still have the negative of my little girl, if you have I should like to order several in my next letter. I am making my letter quite 120 a long one, but as they have been few and far between, hope you wont tire, reading it. I swapped my mare for a mule which Frank is now using at South Calera, as part of the arrangement 125 I made with him. My buggy I swapped for another mule which in turn I swap- ped for a beautiful 4 year old mare and got some difference besides. This gave me a pretty good price for my buggy as my 130 colt will bring me 75 or $80 in spring. The postmaster at Longview is keeping her for her feed, he uses her only for riding to and from work. I would give a good deal if I had it to spend, just 135 to see all my old Northern friends + kin, and have a look at old Watertown. I hope you will write me soon in fact I would like to have you write me at once, Will Wendorf’s address. Ellen begs to 140 be remembered to you all. Remember me especially to your folks, on the strength of my first full crop of fruit, I will likely come back to pay old Watertown and my former stamping grounds a genuine old 145 visit. If you take the “Western Fruit Grower,” look up my article in the August number. I must close now with kindest regards and best wishes Sincerely ~ Paul Goetsch (across top of page above line 102, SML) I am going to have 150 sent to you a pretty book- let on the Georgia Fruit belt. This is a fore runner of what our district will be some day.