Family Register My mother died five minutes after seven on the morning of 29th November 1876. My father died 10 minutes before 10 on the morning of 9th June 1894. George died January 14th 1912 Jacob died September 20th 1911 Anton died February 21st 1913 Michael died March 24th 1934 John died March 23rd 1917 Katherine died May first 1933 Births John - Kerattly is born on first March 1842 Jacob Kerattly is born on 24th October 1847 Elisabeth Kerattly is born on 22nd March, 1849 died at 25th July, 1862 Michael Kerattly is born on 13th October, 1850 John Kerattly is born on 23rd July, 1852 Margarethe Katherina Kerattly is born on 5th September 1857 Mary Kerattly is born on 23rd January, 1859 Anna Kerattly is born on 3rd November, 1860, died August, 1861 Luisa Kerattly is born on 9th February, 1862 Dorothea Kerattly is born on 15th January, 1865. Died March 21st, 1945 FAMILIES My parents were born in Untervatz, state Graubünden, Switzerland. My father was born on the 27th January 1819 and my mother was born on the 2. June 1821. They were married by father Christian Morell in the Year 1840. After they were married they didn't stay in their hometown any longer because the longing for America was awake. Therefore in the year 1844 they started the journey accompanied by Mother's parents. The journey was very hard because there were no trains between Switzerland and the coastal city Garre (Le'Harve) and so they took a swimming barge pulled by horses. The journey on the sea took also a long time because at the time sailing boats were used on the Atlantic Ocean from the coast of the old world to the coast of the new world. In July 1844 they landed, after they traveled 86 days on the journey from Garre (Le'Harve) to New Orleans. In Hermann, Gasconade County Mo. they bought land to settle down. Every beginning is hard. It also was for the adventurers when they wanted to build a hut they didn't have beasts of burdens to transport the building materials. So they had to carry the burden where they needed it. All the attention was now turned to the agriculture and soon the fields grew enough fruits for their own needs. Because of the change in climate that all immigrants had to go through, soon sickness move 'in and in the first autumn my Grandma died. At this time my oldest brother also caught a fever and in spite of medical care his hip stayed paralyzed. It never healed and it will only end with his death. In 1845 from the far west, gossip was spread around that gold was discovered in the state of California. Already in 1851 my Grandpa, Michael Philipp joined a caravan that went to the gold region to search for the precious metal. In '53 my father followed to California. But soon he realized the gold digging as a lottery and he was looking for work in the dairy. He also thought it would be better for his family to move to California and therefore he wrote Mom to move also to the gold land. Soon everything was ready to leave and we were waiting for the Mississippi River to get open. But before we could leave, a letter from California from father arrived with different news. They should stay and he will come back to Missouri. When he was back he bought the farm of Hart Williams on which we are living still today When the American Civil war broke out Father fought in the lines of the Union Amy to fight against slavery that was already seen as a disgrace to the civilized world. Soon after that the whole family was sick and in August 1861 little Anna died in the age of 10 months. Everybody became better only Elisabeth suffered the longest and in March of 1863 when she already was able to leave bed. she got sick again and this time it was the pneumonia. All medical help was useless, on the 25th of March when the sickness wasn't even on its highest point Elisabeth died. The Lord freed her from her pain. On the second day of her death she was put in her silent grave. How sad it is to stand by the grave and watch how the dead corps was laid into the lonesome grave. Every piece of earth seems to fall at the chest of the sad and every noise out of the grave seems to say away - away - away. She was gone - silent her ashes. Soon Spring came with its splendor what encouraged the sad family and put a firm memorial of the dead in their hearts. To get to know the school system of the area better we have to go back to the time when we were living on our farm. At the time in the district was no school house build. Soon the pastor suggested to build a schoolhouse, and soon it was. Now we had a school we all were sent to. Only Elisabeth didn't have the happiness to visit the school. She has been sleeping in her silent grave now for 13 years. In 1863 we were in danger to lose our land but we fought to prevent this. On the second of January, 1863 Georg left the house of his family and went to St. Louis to learn the skill to make wagons. Jacob married in 1868, Kujanita Jacob. At the time he heard already about the beauty of Kansas and decided to go to the young state. In the morning of 22, October 1869 he left towards Kansas. There were a lot of improvements on the farm and among all, the vineyard stands out. Anton stayed at home until he turned 24 years old, but on the 28th of November 1871 he also left his home and went to Sullivan, Franklin Co. Mo., where he stayed for a long time. Presently he works on a farm close to Washington, Franklin Co., Mo. George still works in his profession in St. Louis in his own workshop. His brother Jacob did not get anywhere and went to his former home with his family last winter. Hopefully everybody keeps this in mind. Gods ways are mysterious but they always turn out for the best. Michael Kerattly 9, April 1875 __________________________________________________________________________ Translated by: LINDA K. THOMAS Attorney at Law Holland Building, Suite 403 205 Park Central East Springfield, Missouri 65806 September 1995