Monday, February 2, 2009

Ziegler Letters

In 1960 a young man visiting his grandparents, who lived in Jacob and Annabelle's house found a treasure! In the attic he found letters written during the Civil War by Jacob and Annabelle Ziegler. He kept the letters. This young man grew up to be a professor of mathematics and computer science. Back in the early 1990's he let, a friend, a professor of history borrow the letters. The history professor and his students studied and transcribed the letters. The history professor even came to Tennessee and met with Christian Ziegler and other relatives. He was kind enough to give them a copy of the transcribed letters. I have a copy of the letters, this is neat to be able to read what Jacob and Annabelle wrote during this difficult time in their lives.
There are 103 pages of transcribed letters.
In one letter to his father Jacob said reguarding the vote for seperation "I for one will die first. I will on the 8th vote against it, if it is the last vote I ever give." He joined the Union Army even though his father supported the Confederate States. Jacob became a lieutenant in the Union Army.

1 comment:

Judith Richards Shubert said...

How exciting to have found such a treasure! Letters are so rare in some families.

Thanks for following my blog, Tennessee Memories. I saw you there this afternoon and followed you here! I look forward to reading more of your posts.