Anna Weiss Selcher-- "The Oldest Weisskirchner Lives in North America!"
"Heimatblatt der Weifkirchner - Nummer 21- December 1969
THE OLDEST "WEISSKIRCHNER" LIVES IN NORTH AMERICA!!
The farm of Chas. Selcher is located at Spring Garden Drive, 8 miles southeast of Harrisburg. The mother of Chas., Anna Selcher, - maiden name was "Weiss" - celebrated her 100th birth on September 19, 1969. She was born in Weisskirchen. Several newspapers reported this, among them were the "Evening News" and the "Patriot News."
The newspaper report of the 100th birthday of Anna Selcher, and the picture, were sent to us by Stefan Kuhn who immigrated 60 years ago from Weisskirchen to America.
He now lives in Enhaut. He is a very close friend of the Selcher family.
Following is the article that appeared in the local newspapers. This article was translated into German and appeared in the "Weisskirchner Nachrichten" December 1969.
I will again translate it back to English:
Anna Selcher was born on the 19th of September, 1869, in Weisskirchen. Despite certain infirmities, she has a remarkable memory. She knows the birthdates of all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
At the time of her birth, Kaiser Franz Josef was Emperor of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire and Ulysses S. Grant was President of the United States. It is truly amazing to be able to speak with a person who was alive at the time of Ulysses S. Grant.
When one speaks with Anna Selcher, one is convinced that it was the great courage and determination that enabled her to reach this age. She had some difficult times. At the age of seventeen, she was stricken with Malaria. Due to a certain medication, she became deaf. She was stricken with pneumonia several times. Each time she was able to regain her strength. At age 85, she was stricken with an illness that almost cost her her life. The doctor claimed there was nothing more he could do. She was then put under the affectionate care of her son, Charles, his two-three sons, and his sister, Elisabeth. Suddenly, after 2 days, she seemed to regain her strength and after several days was again able to leave her bed.
Charles claimed that his Mother had an unusual zest for life. She had a difficult time, one in which she worked physically.
Anna was the only child of a small farmer, Josef Weiss. At age 11 she together with her parents, uncle, and aunt immigrated to America. They settled in Oklahoma. She remarked that it was the 12th of May 1880 and they departed from the Harbor of Bremen. The father acquired a large parcel of ground and the entire family began with hand-tools to clear the lands which they also began to fence.
When Anna was 16, the family bought a sewing machine. It was her assignment to make clothes and repairs for the entire family. "I was able to make the suits for my father and later my husband." She became a proficient seamstress.
On the family farm, she worked from 6 to 6, and then in the evening as a seamstress. Sometimes she would "baby sit" for an Indian woman who was married to a "white man." "When I arrived in this country I was sitll a child, however, I began doing the work of a man at the age of 14." Every now and then she would visit a nearby school to perfect her English. She felt uneasy and ashamed because no one spoke German. She then acquired a grammar book and with the help of a girl, attempted to improve her English.
At the age of 21, she married Max Selche rwho lived in a nearby city. He was also an immigrant from Weisskirchen. " Our wedding gift was 2 dollars. With this we bought a mattress and our parents gave us the bed frame." Max and Anna purchased 40 acres of land. They had to again clear this land. They then built a house. Max and Anna had 9 children of whom 8 survived: Catherine, Elisabeth, Max, Emma, Mary, William, John, and Charles. Her time was now consumed with household chores and also work in the field. Despite the large amount of work, she never lost her zest for life.
In order to demonstrate her pioneer spirit, she related the following episode:
The time was shortly before Christimas; her husband and a hired man loaded the wagon with products of the farm to deliver them to a farmer's market to be sold. Because of the distance, the men had to stay overnight. Anna, her mother, and the small children were alone. Shorly before 2 A.M, they heard the noise of a burglar who was attempting to break into another part of the house. She secured a loaded pistol from the wall. She confronted the burglar with the pistol and left the house. "I would have shot him," she said, "I have shot rabbits and birds and am familiar with a gun."
Several years later, Max decidded to seek a new place to live. He travelled with a covered wagon throughout the country as far as the border of Texas. It's an irony or fate that he could have purchased, at a very cheap price, large tracts of land upon which later oil deposits were discovered. He finally decided on Pennsylvania.
The Selcher family settled in Lower Swatara Township and in the course of years, farmed several farms in the area. Charles was born in the "Old Stone Inn" which was then part of a farm. charles' brother William, still manages the 50 acre Selcher Farm. Across from the farm is the house of Charles, in which his mother, Anna, still lives today.
Max Selcher died in 1939. Anna began to lived with her children.
A few years later, Anna made a trip to California. By coincidence she visited a movie house that was equipped with hearing aids for people who were hard of hearing. For the first time she became aware of hearing aids. She coudl again appreciate the sounds of life, and above all, television.
A short time later, Charles' wife died and Anna began to reside with Charles in his house. Finally the stereotype question: "Would you be willing to repeat your life exactly the way it was?" Answer: "Yes, I love this type of life I lived - I would gladly be the wife of a farmer."
Her tip for a long life! Hard work! She was then asked what her opinion was of the moon landing. Answer: "We need the money here on Earth."
Charles, in converstations with various doctors who treated Anna, reported that the doctors attibute her good health to a sound heart and good circulation.
On the 14th of September, Stefan Kuhn visited Anna at Spring Garden Drive. He congratulated her on her up-coming birthday. It was thier first reunion after 50 years. He was amazed at her recollection. Anna began relating her childhood in Weisskirchen to him.
"The home of my parenst was in Stefangasse (Street.) The maiden name of my mother was Harlacher who was a sister of Balthasar Harlacher. Josef Bolbecher lived in our left side and Karl Habschied lived on our right side. Both had daughters my age, Maria Bolbecher and Kathi Habschied. We spent a lot of time together. In those days, the children had daily chores to do. Those who did not perform their chores were punished in that they were not allowed to take the usual Sunday-walk. He also did not receive any spending money. We received 5 kreuzer weekly in spending money.
Stefan Kuhn then possed several questions about her early life in Weisskirchen:
Question: Do you remember which military band was stationed in Weisskirchen?
"No I don't, but I do remember them marching past our house.
Question: What transpired as you and the others prepared to leave for America?
Answer: "My parents and Uncle Balts decided to immigrate to America. They sold their entire belongings and prepared for the trip to America. On the 8th of May, 1880, we departed for Bremen. We boarded the ship on the 12th of May. The trip lasted six weeks. My parents and uncle purchased 400 acres together. Uncle Balts didn't like it here and decided to go East. His son-in-law lived in the area of Harrisburg, PA, and had a 100 acre farm. 1882, they moved in with him. Our family also moved to the Harrisburg area in 1904."
Last question: How many grandchildren do you have?
Answer: "17 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and 8 great, great grandchildren."
Translated to English by William Brunner (brother of John Brunner)
September 4, 1997
Anna Selcher lived to the ripe old age of 103, and died in 1972.