During the National Suicide Prevention Month and In remembrance of those that we have unnecessarily lost to suicide, I am posting this story about my Great, Great Uncle Charles Bennett. He was a very rich person, but lacked the understanding to reach out to others when despondent. He and my Great Grandfather founded Bennett & Co. If you find yourself in need to talk to someone, please call the national suicide prevention hotline, 1-800-273-8255.

On October 22, 1847, the emigrant ship "Ocean" docked in Philadelphia. Among the passengers were the Knoll family from Schielberg, Karlsruhe, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. Father Francis, mother Francisca (married on April 29, 1833), brothers Gus, Englebert (my great, great, grandfather), Joseph and sisters Agnes and Theresa settled on Conarroe Street in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia with other German immigrants. Pictured is Gus Knoll (1838 - 1899). His brother, Joseph, was killed in a horrible accident in one of the woolen mills in the early morning hour of 8:30 AM on August 17th, 1864. His left leg got caught in one of the belts and his leg was torn out of the socket, instantly killing him at the tender age of 17.

This morning, after nearly 55 years, I was finally able to find and visit my grandfather's grave in Tamaqua, PA.

My Mom's dog, Toby (back in the day).

Heinrich Frey, my 8th Great, Grandfather was born on June 17, 1663 in Altenheim, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France from his parents Jacob and Anna (nee Hirtzeller) Frey. Heinrich had emigrated to America before Pennsylvania was established. Jacob had wrote a letter from his home in Heilbron to his son, Heinrich, who was then in New York, in which he said:

"Dear Son: Your letter from far away America reached us and gave us great joy; and when, a few days later, the father of your true friend came to see us, our joy knew no bounds." He speaks next of the persecution in Germany, and says that thousands would gladly leave the Fatherland if they had the means of doing so. "A merchant from Frankfurt was with us last week and informed us how along the Rhine a number of families have banded together to accept the invitation of an Englishman named William Penn, who had recently visited that community, to settle in that beautiful land and there establish new homes."

The elder Frey's letter continues: "After I had received this information, I went at once to our minister, whose parents live at Worms on the Rhine, and begged him earnestly to learn what truth there was in these reports and to find out if possible if there would be any opportunity for us to join them and go to the New World. He then informed me that these reports were all true and that he had been informed by one who had inside knowledge that in a place called Kriegsheim near Worms many were preparing themselves to go to the New World. When I gave the good man your letter to read, he was greatly surprised and said that you were on the land to which these emigrants were going. It is the providence of God that has shown these burdened people so glorious a land. We, as also the Platenbach family, are only awaiting a good opportunity when the dear Lord will take us to you. Your brother Peter is learning shoe-making and will soon be free (from his apprenticeship). America is the only dream of Elisabeth. Catherine, only six years old, asks us daily, 'Will we soon be going to our brother in America?'"

Only Heinrich's brother Peter, the shoemaker's apprentice, had his ambition satisfied. He came as an indentured servant to Germantown in 1685.

I thought I would share the above letter with you all, so that you may appreciate what transpired with our family, so that it would not expire from history.