The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-15
FARMER LEFT.
PETER OFT. A GERMaN sETTLLER's
ExPERfENCE IN LUNENBt re.
In q Letter 10 the German-Amer'cah So
ciety, Of This City, He Tells
story OF Iii-Trcatioent'

Only a few months ago the citizens OF
Richmond az well as all over the state
of Virginia, were greatly stirred up when
it became known that German SET
tier. John Dern by name. and his ian'liy
were compelled TO leave house ana nome
In Lunenburg county. and seek refuge IN
this city. where the German-American
Association gave him sufficient financial
aid to start another home and TO carry
on his original profession as a shoemaker
A good deal was said and written at the
time as 10 whether or not John Dern had
been ill-troated or not. and in certain
quarters the attempt was made 10 white
wash the whole affair. Others went still
farther, and brought up "A trumped-up
charge against Dern. He was tried IN
the County Court and honorably ac-
quilted while some Of the parties who
had ill-treated him were prosecuted and
punished.
REPETITION OF THY DKES AFFAIn.
Nothing less than almost a repetition
Of the Dern affair is now reported by
another German farmer, who applies 10
the German American Association. OF this
city, in regard TO the remedy to which
he might receive. Mr.. Peter OFT, Of 3l5
letter to the association, gives some ex-
perience which he had as a settler I'm
Lmenburg county He enclosed "A reply
which he had previously received from
Mr.. A. Osterloh, the German consul, in
this city, md which. translated into
English, reads as follows:
Imperial German Consulate.
Richmond Va. Nov. II, 1895.
Mr.. Peter OFT. 3l5 east Sixty-hrst street,
New York:
Yours OF the sth instant has been re-
ceived. and I herewith return your dc
claration OF intention to become a citizen
OF the United States.
AS consul, il viii, therefore. not be pos
sble for me TO render you any assistance,
but you might submit your case TO the
German-American Association, in this
city. Respectfully,
a. OsTERLOH.
PFTER OTIS LrTTRB.
AIr. OFT took the advice Of Mr.. Oster-
loh. and addressed in German the follow
ing letter 10 the organization in question:
New York, Nov. L, 1895.
To the German Society:
Gentlemen.-I, Peter OFT. have pur-
chased from Joseph Frank. Room No ~,
World building, New York, a farm Of
forty acres in Wattsboro, Lunenburg
county. Va, for 1850 On March 2sth
last / settled on the farm, and paid the
sum of so as first installment, the bal
ance 10 be paid in three annual INSTALL
ments. on account OF a poor harvest, |
was compelled to return TO the city to
look for work. | was unsuccessful, how
ever. 1t being very hard TO fnd work in
cities.
My wife and child remained alone on
the farm, but ] had hardly been away
three weeks when my Wife was moiested
on the farm by Wade Hardy and Charles
Break These men went so far asNIo
hit my wife with a stick They attempt
ed 10 assault her, and threatened to
shoot her. II she should make resistance.
They returned at night. My wife was
rescued from her dangerous position by
Mrs. Buettner and two freeholders. Pest
master HOlltop and Mr. Locke came 10
upon the two assail8nts fed. This lasted
for three days and my wife was cOmpell-
ef 10 remain with Mr.. and Mrs. Buettner,
who witnessed the whole affair
] owed Wade Hardy twenty-five dollars
and paid him four dollars in cash, leaving
a balance of eighteen dollars. TO secure
himself he took a COW. fifteen dollars
and all our household goods. worth forty
eight dollars. Afterwards, hc gave my
wife only seventeen dollars, saying that
that was enough for the Dutch"
Charles Break. Sr.. is the one who
abused my wife IN such manner and did
a good many other things which l cannot
we'll describe.
VIII you kindly advise me what |
shall do In the premises, for | think such
people ought TO be held out 20 the public
Very resi- ectfully,
PETER OFT.