19th Century Steinbeck Family Papers

and daughter Johana went to live on the nine acre place which had been the home of the old uncle and aunt now deceased. In November 1848 all preparations for the long journey were completed. The passports procured. It was necessary also to get “emmigration permission” from the government for the males to leave the country. This permission withdrew from them the rights of citizenship of Germany. When they started their baggage was placed on a wheelbarrow and Fredrick wheeled it the nine miles to Elberfeld where they took cars to Thriest Austria there they embarked on a steamer to Symria.

From this point to Jaffa the journey

1848

was made on a sailing vessel to Jaffa.

Jaffa is thirty miles from Jerusalem over mountainous narrow trails on horse camel, or donkey back. One travels as there is no other convyance is here.

The necessary horses and mules were hired and with an Arab guide to protect them the party proceeded as far as Ramlah where travelers spend the night. The next morning it was raining heavily but the party started.

The rain came down in torrents and raised the stream until they were dangerous. What was only dry creeks were now deep streams. Mrs. Theil had never ridden a horse and was terrified. Her husband walked beside her often in water reaching his waist to hold her on the

During that summer the Steinbeck and Theil family went to Jaffa and engaged in stock and farming.

Mrs. Minor also moved with the mission from Artas to Jaffa and when her son to America returned that season she engaged the service of John Steinbeck as superintendant of the mission.

Mrs. Minor was a woman of strong personal magnetism and her influence over John religiously was strong.

In Nov 1853 the Dickson family arrived at Jaffa. Mrs Minor had sent John to meet them but the steamer was belated and he returned home.

The steamer arrived after dark. The family were taken ashore in a boat there being no wharf and directed to the American consulate.

financed the cause, bought land on which to employ the Jews, and build houses for destitute. At first the mission was started at Artas near Solomon’s Pool near Jerusalem. After removed to Jaffa and more land purchased and an effort to gain favor with the Jews made, but the Hebrews liked to be helded but did not want to work on the land.

After Mrs. Minor’s son returned to America, John Steinbeck was appointed superintendent of the work.

In 1855 Mrs Minor died and was buried on “Mt Hope.” The mission was continued for some time but it was primitive and small. The time was not ready. Some members of the mission returned home. Others went to Jerusalem. The care of the lands and work

was given to John Steinbeck by Sir Moses.

In 1856 John Steinbeck and Almira Dickson were married in Jerusalem by Rev William Jones.

After which John built a stone house on land bought by Sir Moses and continued the mission until 1858 when it closed.

When John built his house on Mt. Hope he also had a high wall near built around a large plot for a cemetery and the walled enclosure became the American cemetery at Jaffa. Here Fredrick Steinbeck was buried.