Wilhelm Thomassen Arrives in Carroll, 1895

THOMASSEN

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 5/12/2007 at 12:32:47

I translated the following article from Der Carroll Demokrat, a German-language newspaper published in Carroll, Iowa, between about 1874 and 1920. It was originally published on Friday, 8 March 1895. Any information in brackets or notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

[Wilhelm Thomassen]

Wilhelm Thomassen, nephew of Mr. Wilhelm Thomassen from here, arrived in town last Sunday on the afternoon train. He departed on 16 February from Antwerp on the Red Star Line and landed on 26 February in New York. After spending two days in New York, he completed the rest of the journey and surprised his uncle, aunt, and their children when he arrived here last Sunday. The joy of the reunion is hardly describable. His aunt and uncle had last seen their nephew as a boy of 8 years old, and from a boy he has become a fine and promising young man, who at first look betrays the near relationship to his uncle. The young man is 22 years old and maintains a snappy military bearing, showing that it was not for nothing that he served two years as a fusilier in Metz. That he has brought with him strong aspirations is demonstrated by the fact that he went to work right on the following Monday and is assisting Mr. John Behrens in Roselle Township with working his farm. As has been told to us, his brother is also desiring to shake the dust of Germany from his feet. Rightly so, as here there is sufficient elbow room. Such enterprising young people are always welcome with us.