According to Lydia Zoch the following is a letter written by Grandma Zoch; it was verified as being written by Anna Theresia Schoppa Zoch (born 1879 Fayette County and died 1964 in Wilbarger County, wife of Traugott Zoch)in FAYETTE COUNTY, TEXAS HERITAGE, VOLUME II in a story on page 422 written by Georgie Bernstein Boyce.
1868 Mr. Michael Schoppa family with five children arrived at Galveston, Texas from Germany. He came in a sail ship - was on the sea one month. His oldest son passed away on the sea, he is buried in the sea. They landed at Galveston, Texas and bought a farm three miles south west of Warda, Texas with one room log house with a little field with reel fence, but how to farm? Could not buy horses and implements, had to build it himself. Had to farm with oxes, fix the harnish for the oxes because he could not buy it, Had to fell trees to get the logs to build bigger house. The big branches for reel fence to make more field. Cattle, hogs, running loose. Hogs feed on acorn. He had to make shoes from willow trees for the whole family. In summer time everyone went barefoot. He lost first wife 1881 and 1883 he married Mrs. Schur, a widow with two sons, William and Fred Schur. Second wife passed away 1894. Most of you did not know them.
When Michael and family arrived at Texas, he could not get any implements, no wire for fences. When bread flour was needed, he had to drive 25 miles in wagon to buy whole big barrel flour. On Christmas, when he wanted to see his family happy, he loaded up one bale of cotton, and left early in the morning for Giddings, Texas and came back late at night with one big barrel flour, and one barrel apples, and 2 or 3 stick candy. This was the only candy the children did get, and O my, the wonderful bread out of bakery. That was all a wonderful, happy time. Everybody was satisfied and thanked God for the Blessing.
The only daughter is Mrs. T Zoch, of Oklaunion, Texas. Mrs. Zoch remembers when she was seven year old, she helped her father and step-mother plant cotton. Her father plowed a furrow with his oxes, and her step-mother dropped the seed in the furrow, and Mrs. Zoch covered with a home made harrow with one ox. Cotton had to be carried with oxes, by one bale, to Brenham, Texas in wagon, two oxes. As soon as he could, he bought two horses, he could take his family to church and one Jack so his three smallest children could go to school. Mrs. Zoch remember yet, because they was three, so one had to walk, and her brother Ben didn't wanted to walk, so he ran fast ahead, hid behind a tree, and jumped in front of the Jack, and the Jack scarred, and I fell down on my nose, there was plenty blood. ha ha