My husband and his family had told me about this letter that they had received years back, but I had forgotten about it until recently. Well, Chris was able to dig it up today when I asked him and here it is. It's a shame no one replied to him, however, I plan to respond and see if we can work some connection out.
Now, just because it might be hard to read, I transcribed it(note that I transcribed it as-is, no grammar corrections):
Dear Mr. Rueblinger,
My name is Rueblinger too, and this also the reason why I am writing. I obtained your address from an American name register. Altogether there are 15 to 18 American families carrying this name. In Germany there are 18 holders of this name, mainly resident in Rhineland – Palatinate.
After World War II, I found, after thorough research, the name Rueblinger twice in Southern Germany: There is a town called Rublingen in Baden – Wurttemberg (ca. 5,000 to 6,000 inhabitants), and near Heidenheim – Gerstetten there is a Rublinger Farm, consisting of two farms that run the Rueblingen area.
Our name Rueblinger originates traceably as a proper name from an Allamanic (West-Germanic) group of people. This group established itself, during the European Migration of Nations, mainly in Southern Germany by breaking through the Roman fortification mound Limes and settling south of this line down to the Alpes area.
The name Rueblinger consists of two parts: First of the Allamanic proper name Ribol or Riebell, and, second, of the clan marking –inga =Ribolinga, in the spoken language Rueblinger. The above mentioned names of towns are pronounced Rueblinger/Rueblinga.
I know from family deliveries that members of my family emigrated during the time after the plague and also after the Thirty Years’ War (around 1648), because a lot of misery had been caused by these influences, plundering and seizures of estates. However, I have not been able to find closer details through deeds or written documents, because church books had been lost through the disorders of war, fires, or wrong storage.
I would be interested in what you know about your family from family deliveries. Maybe we could find out early common family history. Everything will, of course, be treated confidentially.
I would be very pleased to hear from you and I am also willing to provide further information.
Sincerely,
Hermann Rueblinger
I assume by family deliveries he means births, but I could be wrong. I am unsure when Chris received this letter, but I would say more than 10 years ago, since it was before we met! Hopefully, I can find Hermann's current address. We'll see how I make out!
