Jonas Victor is still remembering some money transactions from long ago in Sweden. He also talks about the recent presidential elections in America. Roselyn
Clay Center, Kansas
December 6, 1928.
Brother Gustav Albert and Family!
I came here last Monday. I have a son here, and I am sitting here alone, but not far from dinner. I never know how it will be when I move. When I come, I have it good.
I like best to be quiet. I have some problems with my feet. I must have them on a warm brick.
I want to tell you about a letter I got from you. I thought I had it, but I cannot find it. It was about some money from an inheritance.
Now during the winter, I cannot go out. It is too cold, so I sit in a rocking chair all the time. Here I do not need to go out because they have a fire in the cellar, so the floors are warm. When I am with my son on the farm home, I have to go out to bring in wood.
I am writing to say that it is best if you can take one day at a time and rest in the comfort of my father's hands.
As you know, I was in Omaha, Nebraska (He was living with another son there). I always go in an automobile both ways.
There has been more rain than we need here in Clay Center. There is a good harvest of everything.
I will tell you a little about the presidential election. The Democrats put up a man who was governor of New York, the most important occupation in that state. He had a good reputation, and he was a good man, but he promised that there would be restaurants (legal alcohol). He thought all who wanted a dram should be able to have it. Those who did not want to have it, it was ok.
The Republicans were for the sobriety law. When the day for voting came, the Republicans elected the president. (Calvin Coolidge) The Republicans got 40 states for him and the Democrats' governor got 6 states. You see the people did not want to have "restaurants". Indeed, the law was passed, but it will be harder.
Brother Albert, I see that you have passed 80, so you will be free from working. You have sons who can do the job. Before in Sweden, when you were 50, you would not do anything. (they retired?).
Kindest regards to you. Thanks for letters I get. It is so nice to hear from you. May God be with us in our different ways, and help us so will be happily saved home with God.
From your sincere brother.
J.V. Swenson
I wish you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
104. August 1928 Part 2
Jonas Victor continues in this letter, to speak about money he is owed by the family. He mentions his daughter, Tilda, who was Matilda Swenson Skonberg, my father's mother and my grandmother. It is interesting to think that she had some kind of written connection to Anna Greta's mother. It would be nice to have some letters from women in the family. Roselyn
Omaha, Nebraska
August, 1928 Part 2
We had done so much for my parents-in-law. I think they would have had difficulty living without our help. They could not get a farmhand, so I had to work hard. I did not cost them anything. I had clothes, but I wore them out. I bought new clothes when I got married.
My mother-in-law told Tilda that Victor and Anna Geta worked hard. Tilda told us this a year ago. I looked in the box where my wife's gold rings were. I saw 4 wide gold rings and 2 thin ones. She had received them from her mother. It was noted whom they were from, and how many carats they had. I think that her mother wanted my wife to have these rings.
I never told my children so none of them know anything about this. I had forgotten all of the work we did at that time. It is such a little sum, so think nothing of it. We have been blessed both with spiritual and physical things.
I made a loan of $2,000 to the son of a friend, and he has not paid. His father signed the loan. Now the father has lost that money for his children and others, so he has no money left. I will not get the money back, but it is no trouble for me. It will only be that much less money after my death.
I will now finish with kindest regards to all of you.
I hope that God will bless us, so we may meet God.
Brotherly, Victor Swenson
Omaha, Nebraska
August, 1928 Part 2
We had done so much for my parents-in-law. I think they would have had difficulty living without our help. They could not get a farmhand, so I had to work hard. I did not cost them anything. I had clothes, but I wore them out. I bought new clothes when I got married.
My mother-in-law told Tilda that Victor and Anna Geta worked hard. Tilda told us this a year ago. I looked in the box where my wife's gold rings were. I saw 4 wide gold rings and 2 thin ones. She had received them from her mother. It was noted whom they were from, and how many carats they had. I think that her mother wanted my wife to have these rings.
I never told my children so none of them know anything about this. I had forgotten all of the work we did at that time. It is such a little sum, so think nothing of it. We have been blessed both with spiritual and physical things.
I made a loan of $2,000 to the son of a friend, and he has not paid. His father signed the loan. Now the father has lost that money for his children and others, so he has no money left. I will not get the money back, but it is no trouble for me. It will only be that much less money after my death.
I will now finish with kindest regards to all of you.
I hope that God will bless us, so we may meet God.
Brotherly, Victor Swenson
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
104. August 1928 Part 1
A letter in which Jonas Victor tells about the early years and how hard his wife Anna Greta worked, sewing. Another letter tells of all the garden she raised and canned for food for them It is one of the few about her life. Roselyn
Omaha, Nebraska
August, 1928
Dear Brother Albert,
I received your letter--many thanks. It is always nice to get a letter from you.
I am now in Omaha, 200 miles north of my home in Randolph. Kansas.
(Then some writing about a long ago debt when his wife's estate in Hamra was settled. It seems he was owed some money, but says he does not remember.)
I have had so much income, so I did not need the money. God has blessed us with so much. If it had been during the first 13 years, I would probably have remembered. During that time it was difficult many times.
We had grasshoppers twice. They ate all the harvest. We had cattle, but they were not worth much. Some years we had a little harvest, so we had the food we needed. We lived in a poor house, but it was better than others, who had to dig an earthen cave or live in a sod house.
We had money and Mother (his wife Anna Greta) made butter, which we could exchange for what we needed. When I look back, I can see that God helped so much. Thanks be to God's holy name.
During this time, my wife sewed clothes for the children--caps, sweaters, coats, waistcoats and trousers. She made everything with her hands. She was busy late in the evening, many times after midnight.
She wrote to her mother about our life here. Her mother wanted to help her with sewing. My wife answered that the biggest help would be to have a sewing machine. Her mother sent $88.58 cents. I do not remember, but I think that a dollar was not more than three Swedish crowns. My mother-in-law had enough money, so she could send without any trouble.
Omaha, Nebraska
August, 1928
Dear Brother Albert,
I received your letter--many thanks. It is always nice to get a letter from you.
I am now in Omaha, 200 miles north of my home in Randolph. Kansas.
(Then some writing about a long ago debt when his wife's estate in Hamra was settled. It seems he was owed some money, but says he does not remember.)
I have had so much income, so I did not need the money. God has blessed us with so much. If it had been during the first 13 years, I would probably have remembered. During that time it was difficult many times.
We had grasshoppers twice. They ate all the harvest. We had cattle, but they were not worth much. Some years we had a little harvest, so we had the food we needed. We lived in a poor house, but it was better than others, who had to dig an earthen cave or live in a sod house.
We had money and Mother (his wife Anna Greta) made butter, which we could exchange for what we needed. When I look back, I can see that God helped so much. Thanks be to God's holy name.
During this time, my wife sewed clothes for the children--caps, sweaters, coats, waistcoats and trousers. She made everything with her hands. She was busy late in the evening, many times after midnight.
She wrote to her mother about our life here. Her mother wanted to help her with sewing. My wife answered that the biggest help would be to have a sewing machine. Her mother sent $88.58 cents. I do not remember, but I think that a dollar was not more than three Swedish crowns. My mother-in-law had enough money, so she could send without any trouble.
Monday, January 16, 2012
103. July 6, 1928.
It is midsummer and Jonas Victor remembers it as a beautiful time in Sweden. Roselyn
Randolph, Kansas
July 6, 1928
Thanks for the letter I received from you. It is always nice to hear from you. At midsummer, it is a beautiful time in Sweden. I received your letter on July 4.
We have had cold weather until a week ago. Now it is warm with a south wind. In the room where I am sitting, the thermometer shows 90 degrees, and in Randolph it is 100 degrees inside. Outdoors it is hot in the sunshine.
When we received your letter, we had eaten new potatoes for two weeks. They are cheap here. The potatoes in the South are so cheap, it is not profitable to pick them, so there are several thousand acres there that will not be picked. The potatoes cannot keep hiding. (?)
I see in your letter that Anton is a Pentecostalist. I have read about them in Sweden. We do not know any here. Perhaps he is a Pentecostalist for a while, and then he belongs to another sect.
Is he busy repairing shoes and making new? He has probably earned much money.
I have three children in Omaha, Nebraska. Now they want me to go there. They come get me with the automobile. It is 180 miles away. At my age, you want to live in peace and quiet. Young people do not understand what old age feels in its heart. On the other hand, it is not as hot in Omaha. Here it is sultry warm, and then my eyes get worse. If it is cooler, I can see well.
Thanks to God, I am rather well, but I have pain in my feet, so I have to get up every night.
On June 7, it was six years ago that Mother died. Life is best when there is hard work to do.
We are in an evil world. May God help us, so we will be saved to a better land. We can see the members of our family and dear friends there. We will also see Jesus.
Dear Regards to You.
J.V. Swenson
Randolph, Kansas
July 6, 1928
Thanks for the letter I received from you. It is always nice to hear from you. At midsummer, it is a beautiful time in Sweden. I received your letter on July 4.
We have had cold weather until a week ago. Now it is warm with a south wind. In the room where I am sitting, the thermometer shows 90 degrees, and in Randolph it is 100 degrees inside. Outdoors it is hot in the sunshine.
When we received your letter, we had eaten new potatoes for two weeks. They are cheap here. The potatoes in the South are so cheap, it is not profitable to pick them, so there are several thousand acres there that will not be picked. The potatoes cannot keep hiding. (?)
I see in your letter that Anton is a Pentecostalist. I have read about them in Sweden. We do not know any here. Perhaps he is a Pentecostalist for a while, and then he belongs to another sect.
Is he busy repairing shoes and making new? He has probably earned much money.
I have three children in Omaha, Nebraska. Now they want me to go there. They come get me with the automobile. It is 180 miles away. At my age, you want to live in peace and quiet. Young people do not understand what old age feels in its heart. On the other hand, it is not as hot in Omaha. Here it is sultry warm, and then my eyes get worse. If it is cooler, I can see well.
Thanks to God, I am rather well, but I have pain in my feet, so I have to get up every night.
On June 7, it was six years ago that Mother died. Life is best when there is hard work to do.
We are in an evil world. May God help us, so we will be saved to a better land. We can see the members of our family and dear friends there. We will also see Jesus.
Dear Regards to You.
J.V. Swenson
Friday, January 13, 2012
102. February 18, 1928 Part 2
Jonas Victor is remembering his parents and times back at Sparkarp--his old home in Sweden. Roselyn
Clay Center, Kansas
February 18, 1928 Part 2
I have thought many times of Father's and Mother's last years. How good I have it compared to them. I think I remember that you told me that Mother was sad before she died. It was difficult for her to be in bed for 8 years. I do not know if she could sit up in bed. It was hard enough with that.
I have been wondering what it was that made her so sad. Could it be Oskar? I heard that he was bad and troublesome. The clergyman came and talked to Oskar, but Oskar felt superior, so the clergyman could not do anything. I do not know if it was true. I have heard that, and then I wonder if Mother was sad about that.
I do not think that any of her children in America made her sad. She used to say: "If they go to America, they will have a good life."
When I am sitting here, I remember the time since my childhood. As long as I was on the farm, I did not think of all the work there was to do during that time. When I now look back, I can see the buildings in Spakarp, pear trees and cherry trees. We used to sell pears and cherries. The cow barn was far away. It was a long walk to go there. Perhaps, it would not be as long if I were there now.
I think of all the changes in Hamra. We also change. I have thought of the words that the clergy man had said "We are given notice to move". I have moved many times from one place to another, particularly in Sweden.
I want to depart this life and be with Christ, which will be much better. That time is coming. May God help us to go home in peace.
Dear Greetings to you from the old brother.
The reunion remains.
Do you know if sister Fia (Anna Sofia) is in her house again? Since I wrote this, I have had dinner and been out and went in the car in the town's streets, which are cemented, smooth and fine.
When you get time, send me a letter.
Clay Center, Kansas
February 18, 1928 Part 2
I have thought many times of Father's and Mother's last years. How good I have it compared to them. I think I remember that you told me that Mother was sad before she died. It was difficult for her to be in bed for 8 years. I do not know if she could sit up in bed. It was hard enough with that.
I have been wondering what it was that made her so sad. Could it be Oskar? I heard that he was bad and troublesome. The clergyman came and talked to Oskar, but Oskar felt superior, so the clergyman could not do anything. I do not know if it was true. I have heard that, and then I wonder if Mother was sad about that.
I do not think that any of her children in America made her sad. She used to say: "If they go to America, they will have a good life."
When I am sitting here, I remember the time since my childhood. As long as I was on the farm, I did not think of all the work there was to do during that time. When I now look back, I can see the buildings in Spakarp, pear trees and cherry trees. We used to sell pears and cherries. The cow barn was far away. It was a long walk to go there. Perhaps, it would not be as long if I were there now.
I think of all the changes in Hamra. We also change. I have thought of the words that the clergy man had said "We are given notice to move". I have moved many times from one place to another, particularly in Sweden.
I want to depart this life and be with Christ, which will be much better. That time is coming. May God help us to go home in peace.
Dear Greetings to you from the old brother.
The reunion remains.
Do you know if sister Fia (Anna Sofia) is in her house again? Since I wrote this, I have had dinner and been out and went in the car in the town's streets, which are cemented, smooth and fine.
When you get time, send me a letter.
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