Ernestine Kohlhepp - October 22 1905 Letter (Eda's Passing, First Letter to Fred)

Fred noted in his journal how he learned about the death of his sister, Eda Kohlhepp Epple, from a letter from his wife, Ella on October 28th. He wrote his father and sister on the 30th, no doubt asking why they had not told him about it, so that he would need to hear about it from his wife Ella instead. Tinnie (Ernestine) wrote back explaining that she had. She questioned if Fred got her letter. The wonders of the post office that a letter from Boston took longer to get to him than a letter that Ella wrote from American Falls, given that Ella had to first be notified by a letter from Tinnie herself.

The letter transferred from New York on October 22nd, and didn't get to Thun until November 2nd. We have that letter:

Jamaica Plain
October 22nd 1905

Dear Fred,

We got your letter from Liverpool, Eng, all right, and were very glad to hear from you, and glad that you had a good voyage. It was beautiful weather here all the while that you were in the water, and I was in hopes you had the same on the ocean.

Well now you have crossed the continent

[p.2]
also the ocean. That is what I hope to do some day. Your discription of Liverpool was very interesting. is it anything like the size of Boston? You said its streets looked like ours. How did you like London and Paris? I think you can write us an intensely interesting letter from there. I mean now.

I have still something to tell you, it is not pleasant news. Just two weeks after the day we saw Eda she was buried.

[p. 3]
She died on Monday morning the week following the one we saw her. Aren't you glad you saw her once more, and did you think she would go so soon? Father feels pretty much broke up over it. Of course coming so soon after mother's death, makes it hard for him.

I hope you will keep in good health and continue and have success in the good work. You didn't lose any time in preaching your first meeting, The evening of the same day you landed.

[p. 4]
Write again when you have an opportunity, as we will always be glad to hear from you.

With love from father and myself. I am your affectionate sister

Ernestine

P.S. I wrote to inform Ella of the death in our family