The 1842 Diary of Julia Turnau

In 1842, Julia Turnau made a diary of her nine-week voyage at sea from Bremen, Germany, to New Orleans. At 23 years of age, she immigrated to the United States to marry a young pastor in St. Louis, Missouri, and to serve the Lord as his wife. Her writing is an interesting and vividly told depiction of her daily life aboard the sailing vessel in the company of the young Rev. Louis Nollau and his wife Louise, who soon became Julia's dear friends. Julia wrote the entries as letters to her family about all that she noticed: her fellow passengers, the changing weather and environment, the threat of a probable pirate ship and the routines and accommodations aboard ship. Unsavory events, harsh conditions, moments of awe and unexpected pleasures were all described in detail. In recorded glimpses, she wondered about her future life in St. Louis as helpmate to her future husband, how different that city life would be from her early life in Germany. Throughout her diary, Julia generously credits the Lord for all His goodness and mercy as the steward of each human soul. She writes with wondrous joy, fervent conviction and devoted purpose.