The letter was written with letterhead from the Engineering & Mining Journal, where Anton and Rossiter Raymond headquartered as Deputy and Commissioner, respectively, for the Mines and Mining Commission In and West of the Rocky Mountains. Anton had just returned from his first trip to Arizona. The letter is in very poor shape and I only had photocopies. The originals are with Nila Savell, whose  husband was descended from Regina Haueser Deilmann and Louis Armbrust.  Regina Haueser original originally married Anton Dielmann, Anton Eilers’ uncle (and possible namesake).

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Office of The Engineering and Mining Journal and The Manufactuer and Builder.
Western & Company Publishers
37 Park Row.

New York, January 6th, 1870

Dear William (William Henry Phillip Dielmann – Anton’s cousin by marriage),

On my return from a protracted voyage to Arizona I found two letters from you, one for myself and one for my wife, the latter of which has not been answered. I returned on the 24th, just in time to help prepare the Christmas Tree for my little ones and there of course was great joy in the the house. I will not attempt to give you any of my adventures in that wild and distant country, the perils I had to overcome in regard to the Indians and the hardships I had to endure from heat and want of water; it would fll many pages and I am pressed for time, as I find a great deal to do after my return.

Your last letter to my wife contains your wish, that she might send you the “Weekly Herald” and “[indecipherable word in german] New-York Heraldzeitung”. Now you must excuse my wife for not attending to this little business at once, for you know, that she has been confined a short while ago and besides she has not been to the city; and even when she does go, she hardly ever comes low enough down town in the neighborhood of the offices of those papers. I would have attended to it before this, had not my wife been suddenly prostrated shortly after my arrival by a severe attack of inflammation of the lungs. She is now a little better, but still in bed. As soon as I can spare more time in town . . . an hour every day. (I do not dare to stay away from the house long). I will send you both papers, probably to-morrow or day after. I think they cost $2 each for the year.

With the exception of my wife all are well at home. Mother is no a great deal better, than she was, when you were here. Still she can walk around and look a little after things. Emma and Fritz are well and doing fine. Their boy, little Fritz is getting heavier every day and just commences to walk.

My wife sends her thanks for the photograph of your little sister. I do not remember, where you or your mother have ours. If you have not got them I will send them sometime.
It is right you want to sent Margaret to a better school. Where do you propose to send her? Have you good schools for young ladies down there [Mississippi], or will she come here? If so, she shall stop in my house. I shall never move from New-York any more. I am glad you have received the offer of interest … a few words unclear .. it will give you some business knowledge.

The final paragraph is in German.

It is signed A. Eilers.