American Tewish Archives - American Jewish Archives

The colony consists of eleven families, fifty-nine persons in all,
of which thirty-six are children, and one a single, or rather, un-
married young man. Each family owns one hundred and sixty acres
of land, upon which they have built a dwelling (dugout). The
majority are now building additions, such as kitchens, alcoves, etc.
Each house has a well with good water. The houses are kept clean,
and are all nicely whitened or whitewashed, some even making
attempts to decorate the interior with bric-a-brac and such fixings
as only ladies know the names of - I don't.
The eleven families live on an area of land covering six miles,
that is, the first settler lives six miles from the last, the first being
Mr. David Klein, of this city, with his happy family of six children.
The last settler is Mr. Schwartzman, a Russian refugee with five
children. One of Mr. Schwartzman's daughters was married to the
son of Mr. Cohn (not the one previously mentioned). This was the
first wedding in the colony. But I digress. The best building in the
settlement is the school-house, intended for both school-house and
synagogue. Much as they are desirous to have their children in-
structed in the English language, they have no teacher, and it will
be the duty of our Board to provide one.
Many were the inquiries for Mrs. Rosa Sachs and her able corps
of teachers. Could she not detail one of them as a missionary during
the summer months? It would be quite a delightful change from
Saratoga. Services are held every Saturday and holidays under the
ministration of Mr. Edelhertz, who acts as Chasan [cantor], Shochet
[ritual slaughterer], no doubt, to their entire satisfaction, but this
office is no sinecure, as at the same time he is a first-class farmer.
I wish to state in this connection that the Sabbath here is strictly
observed, and no labor is performed by either man or beast.
The colonists have, in addition to building their houses, school-
house, and digging wells, plowed three hundred and fifty acres of
land, two hundred of which are planted with sorgum, which is in a
fine condition, and will, in addition to several acres of kitchen vege-
tables planted, produce sufficient to bridge them over until next
year's harvest, as all the men will be able, and are willing, to earn
their living by working on the adjoining railroad when they are
not needed on their farms. Preparations are now being made to