Jonas Victor writes about his life staying with his son near the old farm. He tells that his children have moved far away. Roselyn
Randolph, Kansas
April, 1925
Dear Brother Albert,
I thought I would try to write a letter to you to let you know how it is here.
I have, thanks to God, fairly good health, so I am up every day and do not need to lie in bed with pain, as many have to do. I am with my son Alfred. I have my home there. I will be going to stay with my son in Clay Center and stay there for two months this summer. It is nicer in that town the warm time of the year. I will also see old friends. I have a good time wherever I am.
Now it is beautiful here. The trees are blooming in different colors and the weather is fine. The weather has changed. It was raining for the whole night but now it lasts no more than half an hour.
Alfred has much work to do. He is working until nine 'clock in the evening. His wife has much work with her hens and taking care of the eggs. She lays hens at least twice a week. The baby chicks that hatch from three hens are given to one hen. That hen now has about 30 baby chicks to take care of. Alfred's wife has many hens now, that are out with the chickens. The hens produce many eggs, sometimes up to 18 dozen eggs a day.
Not much wheat is grown in Kansas this year, but around here it seems to be good. It is not used so much here. They grow more barley.
The farmers have to work hard. It is difficult to get a farm hand. They want to earn forty dollars a month. The young people are in school until they are 25 years or more. Then they go to the bigger towns, and those who are talented and are reliable can earn a lot of money. Some become very bad people. It is very different these days.
My children are spreading wide around. The nearest son, who lives in Clay Center is 30 miles away. My daughter lives 88 miles to the south. Three sons live in Omaha, 180 miles north of here. Our youngest son, I don't know for certain, but it is at least 250 miles northwest of here.
I cannot speak to them so often, but I get letters from them. When they come it is always by automobile.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
86. January 6, 1925
Jonas Victor writes about Christmas in Randolph. He asks about things back in Hamra, Sweden. There were (and still are) lots of wooded areas in this part of Sweden. In the winters of the late 1800's, the Swenson family cut some of the woods to make charcoal for the trains. There is still a very large basket/sled in the barn at Spakarp that was used to haul charcoal to the train. Roselyn
Randolph, Kansas,
January 6, 1925
Dear Brother Albert.
Thanks for your letter which I got the day before New Year's Eve. I am so happy when I hear from you and the places around. I am glad to hear that you have good health. Now we have begun a new year and we do not know what will happen.
Hamra must be odd looking with a plain between the "Beren", but they will plant wood again. If not, it seems to me that it is like it was waste and the birch usually grow on special places and also grass.
You wrote your letter on December 12. Until that time we had fine weather, but then it began to be cold with snow. We have received more snow, so it is eight or ten inches. It is the most for many years. The snow is not gone away, but it is not as cold.
Now all parties are over, which are held during Christmas time. The Sunday after New Year's Day, prayer week begins. There is a gathering in the churches every evening. They have prayer gathering once a week the whole year--both Americans and everybody, but no gatherings are as little attended as the prayer gatherings.
I have been at home the whole of Christmas. It must be warm for me to be out of doors.
The war did great damage. If there would have been no war, the times and wood should still have been the same. Now it seems that all countries have to buy grain. We ship out much from America. It has been very expensive here. It is very expensive to get it ready to ship. They need it. The cattle are cheap so they lose money on them. Many people here are poor and especially the renters.
Brother, I think that you know that it is so great that we can send letters to each other. The postman says that a letter abroad costs 5 cents. I have put on 6 cents. Let me know if you need to pay for my letters. I want to pay for the ones you send.
I can say that it is good weather for a sled, but I have not seen anybody use one.
Now I finish this letter with dear greetings to you and enclose us all in God's protection and I pray to God that we will be happy, saved home to Him.
Yours sincerely, Brother.
J.V. Swenson
When you get time, do send me a letter.
Randolph, Kansas,
January 6, 1925
Dear Brother Albert.
Thanks for your letter which I got the day before New Year's Eve. I am so happy when I hear from you and the places around. I am glad to hear that you have good health. Now we have begun a new year and we do not know what will happen.
Hamra must be odd looking with a plain between the "Beren", but they will plant wood again. If not, it seems to me that it is like it was waste and the birch usually grow on special places and also grass.
You wrote your letter on December 12. Until that time we had fine weather, but then it began to be cold with snow. We have received more snow, so it is eight or ten inches. It is the most for many years. The snow is not gone away, but it is not as cold.
Now all parties are over, which are held during Christmas time. The Sunday after New Year's Day, prayer week begins. There is a gathering in the churches every evening. They have prayer gathering once a week the whole year--both Americans and everybody, but no gatherings are as little attended as the prayer gatherings.
I have been at home the whole of Christmas. It must be warm for me to be out of doors.
The war did great damage. If there would have been no war, the times and wood should still have been the same. Now it seems that all countries have to buy grain. We ship out much from America. It has been very expensive here. It is very expensive to get it ready to ship. They need it. The cattle are cheap so they lose money on them. Many people here are poor and especially the renters.
Brother, I think that you know that it is so great that we can send letters to each other. The postman says that a letter abroad costs 5 cents. I have put on 6 cents. Let me know if you need to pay for my letters. I want to pay for the ones you send.
I can say that it is good weather for a sled, but I have not seen anybody use one.
Now I finish this letter with dear greetings to you and enclose us all in God's protection and I pray to God that we will be happy, saved home to Him.
Yours sincerely, Brother.
J.V. Swenson
When you get time, do send me a letter.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
85. November, 1922. Part 2.
Jonas Victor tells of some family business of money loaned. He also writes about the schools and education in America.
Omaha, Nebraska
November 8, 1922 Part 2
On the farm near Cleburne, I think that Anton knows Anderson and his son Karl, who have borrowed money from him. They are carpenters and earn much money. They have built houses here and there. When the war was over, the building stopped. The son, Karl Anderson, has moved to Kansas City. In that town several hundreds of people live, and the town does not have too many carpenters. Anderson, who has borrowed money from Anton, works with repairing a roof, so he earns money. When I wrote to you, brother Albert, I said that they could pay because their earnings were so good. You answered that Anton did not know that. Then I thought that Anton had the same idea. I do not know if Smitt has sent something. I thought that he paid and sent it himself to Anton. I feel badly that Anton cannot get his money because he needs it.
Workers on farms earn $45-55 a month. Farm-hands receive this and food and a place to live. All farmers cannot pay a high salary, because they cannot make as much money, when they sell something from their farms. The machines and tools are expensive to buy. The tax is high, because you have to pay tax to the schools.
Every district has to keep a school like in Cleburne, about 2 1/2 miles apart and pay the teachers and maintain the buildings. Some teachers earn about $2,000 or more. It works well for the farmers who have sons. They come home three months during the summer, when it is a busy time. Those who have no sons, have to work hard. You must send the children to school.
Here in Omaha, a school is ready now after two years' work. The master builder had a contract of three million dollars. There are 3,000 students fourteen to sixteen years old. They go to this school for four years. (This would be what we call a high school). In another part of the town they are building another school in the same way at the same cost. That school will be ready next year. After the children have finished this school, they continue at high school (college?).
The children go to school from six to twenty years and more. Both poor and rich children go. All want to learn as much as possible.
I will finish writing for today, because the weather has been so cloudy and misty. As I have not received any letter from you, I wonder if I, in my last letter, wrote something offensive. In that case I want to ask your forgiveness. Have you received the paper?
Dear Brother, if you are well, write to me. I am in good health for my age, thanks to God. Old memories come now and then.
Greetings to all of you from your brother and friend.
J.V. Svenson
Omaha, Nebraska
November 8, 1922 Part 2
On the farm near Cleburne, I think that Anton knows Anderson and his son Karl, who have borrowed money from him. They are carpenters and earn much money. They have built houses here and there. When the war was over, the building stopped. The son, Karl Anderson, has moved to Kansas City. In that town several hundreds of people live, and the town does not have too many carpenters. Anderson, who has borrowed money from Anton, works with repairing a roof, so he earns money. When I wrote to you, brother Albert, I said that they could pay because their earnings were so good. You answered that Anton did not know that. Then I thought that Anton had the same idea. I do not know if Smitt has sent something. I thought that he paid and sent it himself to Anton. I feel badly that Anton cannot get his money because he needs it.
Workers on farms earn $45-55 a month. Farm-hands receive this and food and a place to live. All farmers cannot pay a high salary, because they cannot make as much money, when they sell something from their farms. The machines and tools are expensive to buy. The tax is high, because you have to pay tax to the schools.
Every district has to keep a school like in Cleburne, about 2 1/2 miles apart and pay the teachers and maintain the buildings. Some teachers earn about $2,000 or more. It works well for the farmers who have sons. They come home three months during the summer, when it is a busy time. Those who have no sons, have to work hard. You must send the children to school.
Here in Omaha, a school is ready now after two years' work. The master builder had a contract of three million dollars. There are 3,000 students fourteen to sixteen years old. They go to this school for four years. (This would be what we call a high school). In another part of the town they are building another school in the same way at the same cost. That school will be ready next year. After the children have finished this school, they continue at high school (college?).
The children go to school from six to twenty years and more. Both poor and rich children go. All want to learn as much as possible.
I will finish writing for today, because the weather has been so cloudy and misty. As I have not received any letter from you, I wonder if I, in my last letter, wrote something offensive. In that case I want to ask your forgiveness. Have you received the paper?
Dear Brother, if you are well, write to me. I am in good health for my age, thanks to God. Old memories come now and then.
Greetings to all of you from your brother and friend.
J.V. Svenson
Saturday, November 26, 2011
84. November 8, 1922 Part 1
This letter does not have the year stated, and 1922 is just a guess.
Jonas Victor mentions a terrible storm that struck the area that he calls a hurricane. I have found a record of a bad tornado that struck Omaha, NE on November 4, 1922, so this must be the correct date.
After the death of his wife, Anna Greta, in June 1922, Jonas Victor lived part time with his children, mostly in Omaha, Nebraska, and Randolph, Clay Center and Cleburne, Kansas.
I wish he had written what work the women in his family did. I do know that my aunt Huldah, daughter of Grandma Matilda Swenson Skonberg, worked in a store the Swenson Brothers had set up near Osage City, Kansas. Roselyn
Omaha, Nebraska
November 8, 1922
Dear Brother Albert and Family.
Now in my life's evening, I will try to write a letter to you. I cannot verbally talk to you, but my thoughts are often of you, and I wonder how you are.
I am still in Omaha, but if I am still alive when you get this letter, I will be with my son Alfred in Randolph, Kansas, a big town like Omaha. (I never knew Randolph to be nearly that size-Roselyn). There is so much to see. Everything moves so quickly. If you are in the shopping center among the big buildings, some are from four to eight stories, there are many automobiles and trucks there. It is nearly impossible to cross the street, and everybody is in a hurry.
I think that in forty years it will be another generation. Of those who are now living, not many will be alive. Everything is vanity and perishes under the sun. It I go to a park, there are many flowers and it is very beautiful and nice to see. There are thousands of people there, and they talk to each other and enjoy it. You do not see any discord.
A week ago there was a hurricane in the south part of town; about four miles from here, trees were pulled up by the roots. The houses were destroyed, with large floods and five people were killed and five hundred were homeless.
In a little town twenty-five miles from here, there was a burial of 118 people, some from Illinois, who were in the same house after the burial, were killed. (I am not sure what he means here--Roselyn). The rain and the hurricane destroyed the house. Such accidents do not happen in Sweden. I think that you can read in the newspaper what happens in other countries, that never happens to you.
Here in Omaha they have built several hundred houses in summer. The people go to the bigger towns, especially the young. If they have knowledge and are clever they earn a lot of money. They have short working hours. In the evening they visit different places of amusement.
Even the girls earn much money. My daughter (Matilda), has a daughter who makes $175 a month. She works seven and a half hours a day. Saturday afternoon is free. My daughter (Matilda), has a daughter in law who makes $175 a month. They have no children and her husband is sick. Many people do not earn that much money. Girls who have grown up on a farm can work for a rich family and earn $15 a week.
The railway workers say what they want to earn. If they do not get that, they go on strike. When there are hundreds of thousands, and the trains stop, no power can do anything against them. The bigger towns grow quickly. In the smaller towns there is not much work. The carpenters receive $1.25-1.50 an hour. In small towns they do not build anything.
Jonas Victor mentions a terrible storm that struck the area that he calls a hurricane. I have found a record of a bad tornado that struck Omaha, NE on November 4, 1922, so this must be the correct date.
After the death of his wife, Anna Greta, in June 1922, Jonas Victor lived part time with his children, mostly in Omaha, Nebraska, and Randolph, Clay Center and Cleburne, Kansas.
I wish he had written what work the women in his family did. I do know that my aunt Huldah, daughter of Grandma Matilda Swenson Skonberg, worked in a store the Swenson Brothers had set up near Osage City, Kansas. Roselyn
Omaha, Nebraska
November 8, 1922
Dear Brother Albert and Family.
Now in my life's evening, I will try to write a letter to you. I cannot verbally talk to you, but my thoughts are often of you, and I wonder how you are.
I am still in Omaha, but if I am still alive when you get this letter, I will be with my son Alfred in Randolph, Kansas, a big town like Omaha. (I never knew Randolph to be nearly that size-Roselyn). There is so much to see. Everything moves so quickly. If you are in the shopping center among the big buildings, some are from four to eight stories, there are many automobiles and trucks there. It is nearly impossible to cross the street, and everybody is in a hurry.
I think that in forty years it will be another generation. Of those who are now living, not many will be alive. Everything is vanity and perishes under the sun. It I go to a park, there are many flowers and it is very beautiful and nice to see. There are thousands of people there, and they talk to each other and enjoy it. You do not see any discord.
A week ago there was a hurricane in the south part of town; about four miles from here, trees were pulled up by the roots. The houses were destroyed, with large floods and five people were killed and five hundred were homeless.
In a little town twenty-five miles from here, there was a burial of 118 people, some from Illinois, who were in the same house after the burial, were killed. (I am not sure what he means here--Roselyn). The rain and the hurricane destroyed the house. Such accidents do not happen in Sweden. I think that you can read in the newspaper what happens in other countries, that never happens to you.
Here in Omaha they have built several hundred houses in summer. The people go to the bigger towns, especially the young. If they have knowledge and are clever they earn a lot of money. They have short working hours. In the evening they visit different places of amusement.
Even the girls earn much money. My daughter (Matilda), has a daughter who makes $175 a month. She works seven and a half hours a day. Saturday afternoon is free. My daughter (Matilda), has a daughter in law who makes $175 a month. They have no children and her husband is sick. Many people do not earn that much money. Girls who have grown up on a farm can work for a rich family and earn $15 a week.
The railway workers say what they want to earn. If they do not get that, they go on strike. When there are hundreds of thousands, and the trains stop, no power can do anything against them. The bigger towns grow quickly. In the smaller towns there is not much work. The carpenters receive $1.25-1.50 an hour. In small towns they do not build anything.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
83. May, 1924. Part 2
Jonas Victor continues with his letter saying the boys go to school so they won't farm, people are spending more than they can afford, etc. He gives advice to his brother Albert, about selling some of the wood in the forest on their land. We do not have the end of this letter. Roselyn
Randolph, Kansas
May, 1924 Part 2
The young boys are studying, and then they will not work at the farms. The employees receive big pay, but nobody is satisfied. These are troubled times. The people have lived greatly in everything, so they do not have enough money. There is much anxiety between the countries. We do not know what will happen.
You say that the forest affairs are good, so there will be a shortage of wood. They have to plant where they cut down.....from Hamra forest. I understand what is causing this.
Brother Albert, I cannot say that you should do as I say. You know better than I do, but if it was I, and the prices were so high, I would sell. There can be a forest fire and burn it up. There can be a crisis so the affairs end, but if the times go ahead as it seems to do, the forest will get a higher price. The price of boards and planks are unusually high here. If I sold the wood, I would be careful until I received the money. Now you do not need to take advice I have given you. I have only said what I would do.
In the Church, it is as you can see in the paper. I can only say that, because Anton knows how it is in Cleburne, where there is a good clergyman, so it is a blessing.
I will tell you that I have given Smitt $5 for taking care of Mother's (his wife's) grave. I told him the he should send the money and give something to Anton. I wrote to Anderson that he should try to add something, too, so they could send $8 to make it nearly 30 Skr. Smitt said that he would try. He has been not been well this winter and it is hard to get interested.
Randolph, Kansas
May, 1924 Part 2
The young boys are studying, and then they will not work at the farms. The employees receive big pay, but nobody is satisfied. These are troubled times. The people have lived greatly in everything, so they do not have enough money. There is much anxiety between the countries. We do not know what will happen.
You say that the forest affairs are good, so there will be a shortage of wood. They have to plant where they cut down.....from Hamra forest. I understand what is causing this.
Brother Albert, I cannot say that you should do as I say. You know better than I do, but if it was I, and the prices were so high, I would sell. There can be a forest fire and burn it up. There can be a crisis so the affairs end, but if the times go ahead as it seems to do, the forest will get a higher price. The price of boards and planks are unusually high here. If I sold the wood, I would be careful until I received the money. Now you do not need to take advice I have given you. I have only said what I would do.
In the Church, it is as you can see in the paper. I can only say that, because Anton knows how it is in Cleburne, where there is a good clergyman, so it is a blessing.
I will tell you that I have given Smitt $5 for taking care of Mother's (his wife's) grave. I told him the he should send the money and give something to Anton. I wrote to Anderson that he should try to add something, too, so they could send $8 to make it nearly 30 Skr. Smitt said that he would try. He has been not been well this winter and it is hard to get interested.
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