Reuther-Klobe-Baldwin Mystery Letter
Below is a transcription of a letter written in 1982 and addressed to "The Reuthers, Loganton, PA". At that time there were no Reuthers living in that area of Clinton County, Pennsylvania. The letter happened to be left in the mailbox of a family who did have a Reuther descendant as an in-law. They tried to contact the letter writer at the time by phone, but the phone number was not valid.
A Reuther descendant living at the time said this family had been in the area several times in the past looking for the same thing, but no one at the time knew what they were talking about.
Regarding the people in the letter:
The letter was addressed to Sophia Reuther and Jesse Reuther. Sophia and Jesse were mother and son. Both had passed away by 1950, long before the letter was written.
Sophia's husband Herman John "Nick" Reuther was the nephew of Adam Reuther (Herman & his father Nicholas immigrated in 1870). Adam immigrated from Germany about 1850 and was in Clinton County by 1857. Adam's son Christian married Emilie Klobe, also a German immigrant. Emilie reportedly immigrated with her brother and sister. Only Henriette Klobe, age 23, was found with Emilie on the ship's passenger list in 1854. The Herman Klobe who lived with Adam Reuther in 1860 & 1880 may have been the son of Emilie's brother. According to family stories, Emilie's sister was alive and well in the late 1890's in Philadelphia. If our Henriette is the same as Mrs. Schmidt's, then there may have been another sister we do not know about that was still alive in the 1890's. Herman Klobe farmed in Clinton County until he was killed in the 1927. Otherwise, no other information is known that ties these two families together, and nothing is known about the Baldwins.
I have transcribed the letter as written. It was typed on a typewriter. There was no signature.
Any information would be appreciated.
4237 North 9TH Street
Philadelphia Pa. 19140
August 3 1982
To Sophia Reuther and Jessie Reuther
Loganton Pa, Sugar Valley Pa 17747
Dear Mr and Mrs Reuther:
Iam writing you this letter, to ask you this question? What did you do with those papers written in German belonging to the daughter of Matthias W. Baldwin? I knew that Mary annie Baldwin was Baldwin’s daughter and her mother was Henreitta Klobe. And she had nothing to do with the Reuthers. Her real name was Mary anna Baldwin and was born to Baldwin with twelve fingers on her hands. Now when her mother died you people was to take care of her when Baldwin her father brought her to you, you treated like a slave and never left her go anywhere or talk to anyone because you were afraid she would find out the truth about her father. To hide her idenity you blindfolded her then cut off her fingers. Then you Stoled all of those papers that belonged to her. You even destroyed all the letters she received. Then you sent Some German man over to Germany to steal all of her money out of the bank. Now all because of you the Baldwin family and heirs have to suffer. Baldwin has a granddaughter, a Great Granddaughter, and Great Grand sons which are all living now and have to go through all this trouble. This thing and those papers were turned back to Baldwin’s daughter full control of everything and you did not do it. Now the estate will never be settled and looks like it never will be all on account of you, who Lied, Cheated, stoled and other things. You knew those papers did not belong to you, They belonged to Baldwin’s daughter and he left them to her. You people are a disgrace to the name of Reuther. And you should be ashamed to face anyone after what you have done to Baldwin’s child. She was the only Baldwin. There was no other And what is that girls body doing in Baldwins Grave she don’t belong there. You people shure made certain the the Baldwin’s Grand Children and Great Gran children did not get the things that belonged to them. You are nothing but common low thiving stealing conneiving people and selfish for you selves. That is all I will say now. I would like and answere from you soon and without delay. I want to know what you did with those papers that did not belong to you? The Baldwin family are looking for them and want them now. We are not fooling. If you do not tell me where these papers are you are going to regret it.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs Rudolph Schmid (Bertha E.H.B. Schmidt)
The Great Granddaughter
of
Matthias W. Baldwin
Ps You can come down to see me ,my address is up top of this letter or you can call me at 1- 215- 223 o755. Iwill be waiting to hear from you soon.