Old German postcard

ZABEL, KONIG, ZOBEL, KOENIG

Posted By: Lyle Ann Shults (email)
Date: 6/23/2008 at 04:09:11

My ancestors came to Ida County, Iowa area in 1874 (Hemer), 1882 (Kuchel/Frank), 1886 (Paulsen/Fahrenkrog), 1890 (Miller) and somehow an old German postcard ended up in my mother's trunk of old pictures in Ida Grove. The picture is of a blond woman who looks similar to my Kuchel line. With the woman are two adult children and two smaller children. They are standing in front of a very old building. I had the letter on the back of the postcard translated but don't see how it fits into my direct family and the translator said the old German on the postcard is no longer taught and it's hard to find someone who can read it. Anyway, the meaning of the letter is:

Operbudingen April 16, 1912
Dear Aunt and Uncle,

Through this letter I'm sending you a photograph.

Sirus was here for Easter, but just for one day and that is almost over.

We made out an application for vacation for potato planting. We hope that he will soon come.

We are all in good health. And we hope our card will reach you the same.
Heartfelt greetings and kisses are sent to you from the whole family.

Greet Mrs. Konig and her niece Marie Zabel.
Signed: C. Zabel
Addressed to:
Herman M. Konig
Teacher
in Losdorf
Town Leruterfingen

(Note: Konig is spelled with unlaut over "o")

Also, the date of the postcard is confusing, and might be quite a bit earlier than 1912. I cannot find the town names in Germany in Google maps, but I can find similar names in Austria. Does anyone recognize any of the people mentioned in the letter?