99. January 10, 1928 Part 1

Jonas Victor says he has to dress up more formally when he is at his son's home. He has more questions about the Agricultural Removal in Sweden when many had to move away or move their houses.  Obviously, this Reform caused much upheaval among farmers.  For many years, farm communities were made up of 10 or 12 farm houses who shared all the land surrounding them  They had been built in a circle for protection and had to farm together.  It was a very inefficient and unprofitable way, so the communities were set up so some of the farmers received a plot of land, and other farms had to move.  When I was in Sweden, we saw the foundations of what had been Ann Greta (Jonas Victor's wife's family) home in Hamra.  They had to move their house to another place.  Of course, Jonas Victor was interested in how things worked out for his family.  Spakarp was not involved in this--it had been on royal land and contained over 600 acres.


Clay Center, Kansas
January 10, 1928


Dear Brother Albert and Family,
     Many thanks for the letter.  I learned so much.
     I am now in Clay Center with my son here.  I have good health.  I have it well where I am staying, but I most like to be at the farm, where I can wear everyday clothes, and only wear dress clothes on Sundays.  Here I have to be dressed up in a starched shirt and a bow tie before I have breakfast.  It is ok when you are used to it.
     It is better here for my feet.  At the farm, I must have them on a warm brick.  Here they have a fire in the cellar under the house and the whole house is warm.  When I am sitting to write, the floor is warm enough for my feet.  It is also warm in the bedroom on the second floor.  It is nice when I come.
     The people are in a hurry everywhere I go--at the farm to get the work done, in the town their businesses.
     You write about the sharing of Hamra.  When I think of that, it seems that the "gentlemen" (maybe from the government ?) had influence on the surveyor.  They got all the good ground and pasture, which was so good, and perhaps the "gentlemen" knew that during the whole time the surveyor was there.
       Gustav received everything in parts.  When he gets it in order, it will be good.  He has part bad fields, but also a another part is good.  It costs money, but they have received much money for their wood.  Those who did not have to move, had to pay those who must move.

Oskar Swenson, brother of
 Jonas Victor
Click on photo to enlarge.

     In your letter you said something about Dunkullen (another farm).  It seems that the income shall be maintained by Oskar (one of his brothers). Dunkullen has sold.  Was it the guardian who did that?  In another letter, I see that Oskar's son lived in Dunkullen.  He cultivated the bog and marsh.  He had a threshing machine.  He built a new cow barn, and had four cows and a horse.  Now I hear they lost Dunkullen.  Did the widow get money?  They had improved Dunkullen so much.
     
     
     

98. April, 1927 Part 3.

Jonas Victor Swenson again remembers his childhood country, and misses his wife five years after her death.  Roselyn


Clay Center, Kansas
April, 1927 Part 3


     How are you?  Have they done anything with the moving of houses in Hamra?  Is there any business with the wood?  Have they been able to sell? 
     I did not know how to reward you for what I learned in your letters, so I thought I would send the newspaper.  Perhaps you have received it.  Let me know.
     When I am sitting alone, my thoughts go to Sweden where my childhood was. I know that I have it better here, than what I would have had it there.  I remember my native country and appreciate it.  For forty years, I cultivated my farm here, and as long as I did that, I did not think so much about my native country.
     It has been five years, June 7, since my wife died.  I think the time has gone relatively quickly, but many days have been long, and many times my eyes have been filled with tears.
     During this time, everybody has taken good care of me, but what I miss is "my great companion".  The day is coming soon when I will be at my wife's side.  My God's will happen!
     Now I finish my long letter.  My wish is that you all are well.  The reunion will come.       
    Now, I just think how valuable it is that we can have contact with letters, though my writing is bad.
     When you can, do send me a letter, so I get to know how you are and what is happening in Hamra.


        J.V. Svenson
        My address is as usual,
        J.V. Svenson
        Randolph, Kansas, America








     

97. April, 1927 Part 2

Jonas Victor is remembering the past with his wife and deciding to come to America.  Roselyn


Clay Center, Kansas
April 1927 Part 2


When I am sitting alone, my thoughts go back to my childhood, and I find so much lack of wisdom.  That which my wife and I thought was difficult to leave, was our happiness.  Mother thought that Gnost was the nicest place she could live.  There were two old persons who should have exception. (his parents?)  We had debts for the half and servants (?)  There was no meaning, how we worked and kept house.  There was nothing left.  We wanted to find happiness, so we sold and went to America.
     If we had not had any debt, we would still be sitting there, and our children would have been born in Sweden.  We would have lived there satisfied, as the others in the neighborhood, but we came to America.
     The children were small.  We went to Kanas.  It was the only sober state in America.  There was no restaurant, but some served schnapps.  There was no demand to do military service.
     The children turned out well.  Of course, it was hard the first years.  The economy has been better than we hoped.  It is...and what is it worth when we die?  We had to think that what we were doing was not going to hurt our spiritual life.  When you get old and cannot do very much, the best is to leave it.  But you have to get what you need.
     

96. April 1927

This letter may be out of order.  Sometimes it is difficult to figure out the date as many of them have no date.  Jonas Victor writes of the problems of old age. Fia is Anna Sofia, his older sister.  Roselyn.


Clay Center, Kansas
April, 1927 


Dear Brother Albert and Family,
     As you can see, I am at my son's home, but only for a couple of weeks.  I have nothing to do, so I thought I would try to write a letter to you.  
     I am in good health for my age.  I do not have the advantage as Fia has, who can see and hear, but I can stand up every morning.  If the weather is fine and the road dry, I walk about one English mile per day.
     I have thought of sister Fia.  She causes trouble for the close family and to know that, is hard.  What does she want to do?
     I am with my children, but I pay.  They do everything they can for me.  Here it is very fine, so I have to be dressed up.  When I go from my room to the dining table I wear "Banros" (bow tie)? around my neck and a jacket.  There is a very fine cloth on the table, and I have to avoid a drop of coffee and use a fork.  The knife is only used a little.  If I use a knife, they do not say anything, but I want to do the same way as the others.
     The weather is fine here.  The winter has been nice.  It has been snowing a couple of times, but is melted away after a couple of days.  I like it when the snow melts, so I can walk.
     Oats was sown here in the beginning of March.  Wheat and everything looks good.  It has been raining, so grass and everything--both the meadow and pastures can grow.
     Many are dependent on other people, who are used to living a great life.  The automobiles take so much from people of small means.  They want to have automobiles, and there is a high tax according to size.  Now everybody wants to have big automobiles.  It is good for those who can afford.  The horses get the largest gain.

95. November 1928 Part 2

Jonas Victor continues his writing about taxes, education and farming.  Roselyn


Randolph, Kansas
November 1928  Part 2

     Otherwise we have to pay tax for the money in America.  The workers have to work 8 hours a day, but must work very hard.  In America everything must be done quickly.  In the factories they have to do special work.  On the farms they have to work from the morning to the evening, but it is not as it was when I was in Sweden.  Then you sometime had to get up at four o'clock for cutting.
     We have fine weather, but it is dry for the wheat.  Where I have been this last summer, the wheat did not grow.
     When I was in Clay Center, the people came both from the country and the town and visited what they called 'Pitses tratik" (I do not know what this is-Roselyn).  It costs from 25 to 50 cents per person, not as much for the children.  Much madness is showed and the people go mad.  Somebody is there every evening.  The rich people do not do this.  
     There are many people there who have many debts, and they are going downhill.  You wonder how it will be in the future, when young people and children grow up with this.  They go to school up to 25 years.  When they have finished, there are some who come back to the farm, but preferably they stay in town.  Some will be bad people.
     You write that you need rye and wheat.  That is true not only in Sweden. It is so everywhere.  If Sweden gets a month's out shipping, it would be enough. During September, shipping costs 480 millions dollars, mostly grain.
     Now I must finish my letter.  I have come to think that Fia (his older sister) was to.....and "The Old" receive loving proofs.  The times have changed since my youth--much to the better.  Many were poor.  Some of the old people you made fun of.
    May God lead us so we get to be together home with God.
     J.V. Svenson