A look back at early area history as found in the archives of the Enderlin Historical Society and Museum ��� by Susan Schlecht
The following are excerpts from letters written in Norwegian to John Moen (Muriel Hamre�s father) in the years 1901-1904, before he came from Norway to America. He was born in 1879 at Maalselven, Norway near the city of Tromso and the Lofoten Islands, 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle. The letters were written by John�s sister Marie and, later, his brother-in-law Ole Roe. They are trying to convince John to come to America, too. Muriel Hamre translated these special letters. I'm sure they are similar to many letters written at that time. Enjoy!
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December 1901 Valley City, ND
Dear Brother John,
I want you to know that I am well and happy. I am not living with Uncle Per anymore. I did not like the farm. I am in a town named Valley City and have met a nice Norsk girl named Hanna. I wish you were here. You are too good a man to be a slave in Norway. You can earn more money here than in the old country. You would never be sorry if you came to America. I wish I had come sooner. There are many Norsk people here. It is very cold here now. I wish you would come next spring and bring sister Anne with you. That would be so cozy � so nice. I have been here only two weeks and of course don�t understand English yet. I will soon learn.
Your Sister, Marie.
January 1904 Nome, ND
Dear Brother John,
I understand you want to come to America. I am so glad! I now have a kind husband, a cozy home and what more can I wish for? They called me a �silly girl� when I wanted to go, but I left Norway anyway and it has gone well, and it should for you too.
Your Sister, Marie
January 1904 Nome, ND
Dear Brother-in-Law John,
I want you to know I have the best wife ever. I wouldn�t trade her for the world. But I must not come in the house with dirt on my shoes! Then it is best to be outside in God�s nature! Are you fishing on the Lofoten Islands this winter? That must be a hard life. Have you thought of coming to America? I am sure you would never be sorry. You can make up to $2.25 a day here � that will be a little over 8 Kroner a day. If you come, you can live with us and it won�t cost you a cent. Let us know when you are coming.
Heartfelt Greetings, Ole
May 1904 Nome, ND
Dear Brother John,
Heartfelt thanks for your letter. We see you are coming to America, and we are so glad! You can live better here than in the old country. And, America is full of pretty girls! In Ole�s letter you ask how many clothes should you bring. Take along your wool underwear and stockings; it gets cold in America. Take two or three shirts so you can change. Don�t buy any new clothes there � when you come here you will want to dress like an American. It would be a waste of money. Yah, now I quit. Ole writes more. Live well then John. We will soon get to welcome you. You will be on the train 4 or 5 days and come to Nome and that is only a Norsk mile from the farm where we live.
Sister Marie
May 1904 Nome, ND
Dear Brother-in-Law John,
We received your letter and see you are coming to America this summer. Yah, you can double your wages here � you can get a job as a hired man on a farm. You could make $26.00 a month from 1st of April to 1st of Dec. You can get more work later on for $1.00 a day! In harvest $2.00 a day. Come early summer, that�d be the best. The ticket from Norway will be about 235 Kroner � that�d be $65. Right now it is $60. Take along your woolen underwear and stockings.
Greetings from Ole
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Muriel�s notes: John departed from Norway June 30, 1904 from Christiania on the ship named Oscar II. He landed in New York on July 11, 1904. He came to Nome, ND to his Aunt and Uncle, the Pedar Roe�s, and his sister Marie (Mrs. Ole Roe).