John and Katharina Asbach [Letters and documents]

Includes scanned images of Civil War letters from John (Johann) Asbach to his parents and siblings. John Asbach served with Company M, 3rd Iowa Calvary, and was killed October 25, 1864. The letters reflect a mixture a German and English words. Also included are a letter from Veronica Asbach to her daughter Kathrina McNelly in Andover, Missouri (dated Feb. 10, 1887); a page from a family Bible; two fragments of writing exercises in English; and a map showing the course of the Rhine river. [Transliterations provided by Joyce (Hasselman McConkey) Nigbor in 1982. Translations provided by Sophie Zermuehlen in 1983.] Originals of John Asbach’s Civil War letters are at the State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines.

Requests to reproduce or quote from the Civil War letters should be directed in writing to:
Special Collections Archivist
State Historical Society of Iowa
600 E. Locust
Des Moines, IA  50319


Civil War letters from John Asbach

March 17, 1864. Des Moines, Iowa. To his father and mother.
Page 1
Page 2
Translation

May 7, 1864. Camp near Memphis, Tennessee. To his parents and siblings.
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Translation: page 1, page 2

Aug. 1, 1864. Camp near Memphis, Tennessee. To his sister; includes note to his brother Adolph.
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Transcription: page 1, page 2

Undated mouse-damaged letter (estimated Aug. 4, 1864, from Memphis, Tennessee). To his sister.
Page 1
Page 2
Envelope
Translation


Letter from Veronika Asbach to her daughter Katharina

Feb. 10, 1887
Page 1
Page 2
Translation


Additional documents

Page from the family Bible[?]
Iindicates Johann Wilhelm Asbach was married to Veronika Proff in Oberdollendorf, a district of Königswinter, Westphalia, in 1847.

Fragments of writing exercises in English
Page 1, 1861, Catherine
Page 2, 1861, author uncertain [also Catherine?]

Rhein river map
Part 1
Part 2


Back to Letters and Old German Script
Back to Scanned Images