Diary One: Entry 1
- Arin Blackwood
- Feb 8, 2022
- 7 min read
The process
When I decided that this was going to be my path for the foreseeable future, I did not realize how long that future was going to be. Peering into the diaries I noticed a few things first: (1) Julius has very tiny cursive handwriting; (2) there are several places and names in English; (3) not knowing any German personally was going to make this a little more difficult.
I start looking at the English place names with the intent of using those to start creating a guide to Julius’ cursive script. That plan did not last past the first engagement, however. The script of the English words did not resemble one more letter anywhere in the first, nor the second entries. On top of that, there were letters that looked absolutely nothing like any cursive letter I had ever seen before in my life.
I took to Google, my dear friend, entering the search terms: German cursive and made my first discovery of growing frustration. His diary is written not only in German, but in what is called German Gothic Script as it was written before 1915.
German Gothic Script
Much like James M. Beidler wrote in the Foreward for the book Tips and Tricks of Deciphering German Handwriting, my first peek here at “German cursive script” was enough to make me curse…and maybe drink. Obviously, I now have a book and several PDFs that I printed off genealogical sites to aid in my puzzling out this handwriting. The handwriting in Germany prior to the second half of the 20th century is very different from the handwriting used in Germany today–so different that even Modern Germans can have difficulty reading it. I’m not alone, hurray! The old fashioned script that appears in my diaries is known as Kurrentschrift (running script) was only taught in schools until the mid-20th century. This wasn’t adjusted until he foundation of the German empire in 1871 bringing about the need for standard grammar, pronunciation and writing.
German Gothic Script key with comparisons to Roman Script Equivalents
So, first hurdle handled. I have several of these charts in my resource folder as while this is the general look of the script, everyones handwriting is different, even in our own English script. The next hurdle was figuring out Julius’ handwriting and it’s unique features compared to the keys I have available to me. This is easier said than done, mostly because I have little working knowledge of the German language in the first place. I may have bitten off more than I can chew….
Head first into the first entry
This first entry took over a week to tackle correctly. A frustrating week of swearing, throwing pencils and texting my brother with something along the lines of “I hate the German language with the passion of a thousand burning badgers.” Google translate along with some slightly less useful apps on my phone were my best friends as I played some convoluted version of hang man, a game which I lost more frequently than I won. I started even scribbling out my pencil marks rather than erasing out of pure frustration when my translation turned out to be a bunch of garbage that made no sense in any language. I’m sure some of my depictions of the written German are wrong, but I believe I got enough correct to become a meaningful translation of the first thing Julius felt the need to write down. I translated some of the colloquialisms into what would make sense in our language to the best of my ability.
First written page of Julius Hundhausen’s diary dated August 1864.
The German
Here’s the German(keep in mind that some of my changes I may not have written down, dopey moi): Tag eb ueh u Notizan uber meine Reihe nah New Orleans in August 1864. und marond miner Anwesenheit deselb st. das ab scied war uberpanden, und weinen verschachen genuss welches ich weuen Brudes, das einen Tag fruher abgenuss t marg Agaven Verliess ich Hermann am da en er stag dan 11 August 1864 per P.R.R. Capt Hunter van 3rd M.S.M. begleitete nicht nach St. Louis.
In Washington staf ich Eitzen u Firnstein welche unch nach St. Louis gungen, waselb stwir bei guter zeit ansk an en, und wo ich Robert u Hermann Ann nich emnart ans Depot ansr af. Ich ging wis Eitzen noch den Prescott House, we wir uns ein agirden nachdem Nachtarsen ging en wir bis Tivoli, we wir wahrnen Bei we sen zu sannaen Frafen. Ja habe ich also an Platz, das wir seit 16 Jahren zur Heimat gewordn nerlasten u Gott weiss wann u ob überhaupt ich ihn Jemals windechenn. Trotz den wir du Heimat nie un ab juny und strgenfrein Stallung bat verliess ich druhalbe stein illig un mir u andren Personen Ruhe und Ariude zu verfhaffeu. Möge wun Schritt nicht un sonst gewesen sein, und wen wir auf selbst nuht Lohn wird, möge sie deren anderen werden! Ich selbst aber hoffe mir wenigstens un gen uhle des Lebens Verg Essay estenheis zu erwingen.
Whew! That took forever and I’m sure a bunch of that is wrong, but this is as close to his spelling as I can get and it was close enough for Google translate. As I translated with Google, I fiddled with some words as the translation wasn’t making sense, changing letters that are very similar to each other in this script until it made sense. A meticulous process that eventually paid dirt!
The translation
Diary and notes regarding my travel to New Orleans August 1864 and my presence near there. The farewell was overwhelming and tearful, squandering the pleasure which knew my brothers had given me, because a day earlier, 11 August 1864, I left Hermann with P.R.R. Capt. Hunter of 3rd M.S.M., and they did not accompany us to St. Louis. In Washington I met Eitzen and Firnstein who then went to St. Louis, which we stopped at in good time, and where I met Robert and Hermann immediately at the Depot. I went to the Prescott House as Eitzen did, so we can meet up after the night and head to Tivoli, if we know where we’re going. Yes, I have a place that has become a home for 16 years and God knows if and when I will ever see it again, despite the fact that I never asked for my home when I was young and asked for free rein, I left you voluntarily to give myself and others peace and quiet. May our steps not have been in vain, and if we ourselves never find peace, may others find it! I myself, however, hope to at least force myself to forget my feelings about life. Entry One diary of Julius Hundhausen August 1864 as translated by Arin Blackwood
Some of the facts
He mentioned a few places in this entry. Hermann, Missouri is his home town, as well as the name of his brother (the elusive one). St. Louis is obvious, but Tivoli is unknown and Washington is referring to a town in Missouri rather than the more popular and well known locations that share the same name.
Robert and Hermann are his brothers, as stated earlier, but he also mentions an Eitzen and Firnstein. Charles D. Eitzen was also originally from Hermann, Mo. There’s even a statue of him still standing today in the same. Again a biography was provided in that wonderful publication I mentioned in my first post, of Gasconade County and it says the following:
Charles D. Eitzen, one of the oldest merchants and conceded to be among the most influential citizens of Gasconade County, was born in Bremen, Germany, August 20, 1819, and immigrated to America and located in Hermann in 1838, a short time after this town was laid out. For three years he clerked in the first and only store in the town, and in 1841, when but twenty-one years of age, purchased the store and began on his own account, a business in which he has continued to the present. In 1855, before the completion of the railroad to Hermann, he engaged largely in the lumber business, meeting with success, and shipping great quantities of yellow pine to points up the Missouri River, At the same time, as agent for the Meramec Iron Company, he shipped iron to different places on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. In all public affairs Mr, Eitzen has taken a prominent part. Politically he is a stanch Republican, and during the war firmly supported the Federal Government, and part of the time was captain of a company of militia in active service. In 1861 he was elected from his senatorial district (comprised of the counties of Franklin, Osage and Gasconade) a member of the Constitutional Convention, in which body he labored in opposition to secession; in 1875 was elected to the State Constitutional Convention, and in 1876 was elected to the Twenty-ninth General Assembly of Missouri. In 1871 he became identified with the public schools of Hermann, which were at that time in poor condition, but under his management and inspiration a two-story commodious school building was erected—an ornament to the city. Since then educational interests have constantly increased. Mr. Eitzen is now a member of the board of trustees. For twenty-five years he has been connected with the town board of trustees, during most of which time he has served as mayor. In April, 1844, he was married to Miss Jane Kehr, who has borne him seven children, three of whom survive. The History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford and Gasconade Counties Missouri 1888
A quick google search about him provides an abundance of information including some images of his mansion in California, Mo. Firnstein, however, was more elusive. I found a record of a Charles Firnstein as a Lieutenant in the Missouri Infantry, but he was discharged earlier in 1864, so I doubt that this is our man. There is also a Charles Firnstein listed as a Constable in the History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford and Gasconade Counties. We shall have to see if any more comes of this name.
Wrap Up
To end this first trip into the past, I feel that Julius is a man who is resigning himself to the possibility of death. Understandable considering the war is well known at this point, as it has been going on for three years. The ending of this entry seems melancholy and foreboding and I’m hoping he simply had an emotional and depressing personality and things improve for him.
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