RaknestoRakness

Unforgettable aunt.

I am still thinking of Norway. I feel more well as time goes on and I have got more contact with the neighbours. It would be interesting to see you among as, but I understand that it is difficult for you to come to America. I still have good health. I am working at the same place. I have in mind to get another job. I have in mind to marry, but I am not quite sure yet. Love and open-heartedness will make marriage good for me. It is important to get a respectable husband.

The man I am in love with is a Norwegian from Aukra parish in the county of Møre & Romsdal

He is in my eyes a very proper young man, a very competent, hardworking labourer. He is no craftsman, but it doesn’t mind as we nevertheless must out on the prairie and take land. Then it depends if you are able to work. He is 25 years old.Perhaps I am a bit young to marry, but I will soon be 20, and I think I have got rather old. I am not quite sure if I am going to marry, so please don’t show this letter to anyone. I have bought linen, and am going on with sewing pillow cases and sheets. I have already made 6 pillow cases, and have in mind to sew another 6. I have sewed 4 sheets. I think I am going to sew another 4 sheets and some more pillow cases. 2 shifts and 2 trousers have I sewed, too, in American manner with nice crochet work as finery.

Please remember me to grandfather and grandmother. Tell them I am going well. I am very happy to hear that grandfather is getting better.

Sincere greetings to all the family from Johanna Øye.

Unforgettable aunt!

I received your letter on New Year’s Eve. I also received letter from my home the same day. I am heartily happy to hear that all of you are well. As I have told you before I am married. I am really happy. I have only my husband to care well for.

I made some sewing before I married and bought bedclothes (pillow 4$, carpets, blankets 6$). I also bought a bedspread, a very nice one.. It is just to spread over the bed as finery. It cost 2.75$

You think perhaps I have described my bedclothes in details, but I find it enjoyable to tell you what I have since you can’t come over to me. I bought three tablecloths. Prise 3$. I have a rocking chair which I often use. The stove included many cooking vessels, cost 24$.

It’s nine o’clock now. I have to stop writing to night as I have plenty of time to write during the day. Besides, my husband just entered with some apples for me. I have to finish my letter and start eating. Good night!

The next day she wrote:

Since I married I do not think so much of Norway as before. But of course I am still thinking of my family in Norway and wish we could meet again. Now I and my husband are sitting outside at home, just two together, on a sunny Sunday. Everything is calm around us.

Your sincerely Johanna Raknes

Dear aunt!

Your letter of 28. September I received 29.october. We have bought a house of our own. We feel more comfortable now than before when we rented. I and my aunt Synev(My father’s sister) are living very close to each other, there is only a wall between us. It is a small house with only a living room and a bedroom and drying room upstairs. Perhaps we are going to buy new land and move to another place.

Besides this I have happy news to tell you. 16.september I bore a nice healthy little baby girl.

Children can give the parents much pleasure when they behave well. But they can also bring many sorrows. The name of our little girl is Beret Marie, named after Peder’s mother Berit and my grandmother Marie.

I had my aunt Marit(My father’s sister) to help me when I bore Beret. She stayed with me two weeks. I gave her 2$.

Love from me and my husband. Greetings from Synnev and Marit.

Johanna Raknes

Dear aunt!

I have received letters from home and aunt. I have been busy with housecleaning to Whitsuntide.

I can’t forget the taste of your gammelost (a special cheese in Norway). I can’t find this sort of cheese here. I really long for sitting on the hill looking down to the beautiful valley Surnadal (valley=dal). How green was the valley in the spring.

My child Beret has a beautiful white face. She looks like my mother Ingeborg says my aunt Marit. We have taken land nearby uncle Johan in Avoca. We think to move next year. Here are swarms of grass-hoppers. They eat the harvest rapidly. We have to trust in God, and hope the neighbours will not be suffering. New settlers are not interesting to take land because of the grasshoppers. They will wait and see. I have written to Ingebrigt Tellesbø to plough some acres. We have decided to saw wheat next year. To work in prairie is hard, and the income is little. Peder as been working in the village, but the job is now uncertain. We look forward to work at our own farm and not doing hard work for other people.

Greetings to grandmother and grandfather.

Lovely greetings from me and my family.

Johanna

Dear aunt Brit!

I am thinking of my relatives and friends in Norway. I don’t think I will meet them anymore. After Peder vent to Oregon to fish salmon I am feeling lonely many times. I can’t go to Oregon because of a bad illness there. Peder will be staying in Oregon this autumn and perhaps spring next year. Peder is not feeling well at this time in Oregon.

I will move to Peder’s cousin in Mankato. I can’t live alone with two small children, Beret 3 years and Oskar one year. Oskar was born 20. September 1876.

We are hoping that the grasshoppers has disappeared from Minnesota. I have to sell my only cow.

This will be difficult for me because I am used to have milk of my own.

Love from Johanna

Mankato 13.01.1878

Dear aunt!

Your welcome letter I received yesterday. I will answer the letter immediately. I am sitting alone at home together with my two small children. The only pleasure I have is to receive letters from relatives and friends in Norway. I find myself so far from you all and also from my dear husband. He is still staying in Oregon. I have had many tears and sometimes wished I was welcome home to Norway. But I can’t think like that. Peder wants me to come over to Oregon this spring. It will be a difficult journey for me with two small children. With help of God I hope we shall get there. Peder has earned a lot of money during his stay there. I have a lot seeing work to do before I leave. In the neighbourhood many have got smallpox. Therefore I had to vaccinate the children and my self too. I am afraid of this disease.

This is perhaps the last letter I write to you from Mankato.

I am now 24 years and I feel I grow old. Beret is singing many songs I have taught her. She is very eager to go to daddy. Peder has promised so much to her. Beret is a very beautiful girl. She doesn’t look like my family. Oskar looks like my family.

Love to you and your husband.

Your niece Johanna Raknes

In a period I have had toothache. I have lost many teeth. We built new barn and a new house. We have now started working at business. I feel comfortable here, but feel a bit lonely as we live far from neighbours. It’s very cold here in winter, and for a time we now have felt a portion of the frost here on the prairie.

You wanted to know the names of our cows, and I tell you. We have just two cows, and their names are Løkros and Sali. We have two calves, Molli and Kjerrey, and one sheep and one pig. The sheep are much bigger here than in Norway.

Beret and Oskar have got so thick and fat since we went into the country. They feel much more free and easy here than in town.. We have had a very cold Christmas, and have been to two Christmas parties. It’s a long time since I visited Synnev, but Peder has visited her. She is not with good health. It’s not easy to get a maid here, and people have not so much money to pay a girl when the income is bad. I wished I could reach to Norway to get a good spinning wheel. Here in the country we need to have a spinning wheel. The neighbours have given me wool, so I have spun all the thread we need for stockings this winter.

Magrete og Lars Glerum visited us during Christmas. Magrete is a very nice and efficient woman. Marit , my aunt, visited us last autumn for a short time.

Please write to me soon, and I will try to answer sooner next time.

Many times I wished I could talk to you, but I live in a foreign country and find myself among strangers.

Greetings to grandmother from me. I think very often of her.

Live well, dear aunt.

Your niece Johanna Raknes

I have received your letter from 28.04.1879

Dear aunt!

We have straitened circumstances. I can’t remember so bad times since I came to America. It is difficult for people to get work. Our fields are looking very fine. But it is uncertain how crop will be. 17. May I bore a girl. We named her Ida after my mother Ingeborg. The birth was easier this time.

Last winter we had only a little snow. Peder is digging out the potatoes to day. WE have 7,5 acres with corn, wheat, potatoes and oats.

Last year many Norwegians have come over to this settlement. I wished I could get a spinning wheel and a pair of cards from Norway. If anyone is leaving for America after you have received this letter, please ask them to bring over these instruments.

I am writing this letter with Ida sitting on my knee.

I should add that Peder now is a church singer here. Live well dear aunt.

Johanna Raknes

Dear aunt!

Your welcome letter I have received a long time ago, and the pleasant information that you have sent me a spinning wheel and cards. I have certainly yet got hold of them as I have not written to Ole Sylsbakken to ask him to send them to nearest town from here, so that I can fetch them there. I hope the girl who brought them for you travelled to the place where John Einhaugen

went. As soon as I get these things I will pay the girl for the trouble. I also want to get to know if you will be able to change American money into Norwegian in Kristiansund. Then I will pay you for the spinning wheel. You must please tell me this as soon as possible as I have waited too long before writing to you. Autumn is a very busy time. You ask if we have a Norwegian clergyman here, and confirmation. Yes, we have , just like in Norway, and it’s a short way from here to church. Communion like in Norway. We have a shepherd to take care of our animals during the summer, from May untill 15. October. We pay one dollar each animal. Many farmers do like this.

We have now got payment because of the main road passed over our land,130 $. It’s not quite good in beginning we start up in the country. We need many things, and everything is expensive. You say you had liked to see aunt Marit as wife. She has now grown rather old in a short time, and thick and fat like grandmother was at her age. She is not always comfortable as wife, she says,but nothing can be changed now. But she says one can nothing know before one has married. You must come over to America soon. Then you will get you a little girl from me. I have so many. Little Ida has grown big and clever, and she is a very good little girl. Little Beret often must take care of her, and she is very clever. What is the reason that Ingeborg wants to go to America? I don’t think she will feel well here. I think the best thing for her will be to stay in the neighbourhood of father. Synnev is with good health now. I have to finish now.

Love to you and your husband.

Bring my greetings to old grandmother. Live well in the name of Jesus . Well dear aunt, though I can’t see you, you are never out of my mind. We have just a short time to be separated if we by the grace of God could meet beyond.

Johanna Raknes

Unforgettable aunt!

It’s really too bad of me that I have not written before. Spring has been a very busy time. We have now 7 ½ acres of wheat and 7 acres of maize,and much potatoes have we planted .Hope really we get what we need for our living. At last I got the spinning wheel and the cards.

Ole Syltbakken and Rolf Telstad visited us during Whitsun .It was very pleasant. I didn’t recognise Rolf, but he recognised me. I haven’t tried the spinning wheel yet, as one foot is missing, but a new foot is going to be made. Every time I look at the spinning wheel I remember the time I watched you handle it ,thinking now it is here by me thousands of miles from the place I earlier saw it. I owe you so many thanks.

My husband has not been with good health this winter. Hope he soon gets better.

John Bergum has visited us for a fortnight. He looks like feeling unhappy in America, and wants to go back to Norway. Almost everybody feels unhappy in beginning of their stay in America, and I mean that nobody ought to leave their home in Norway if they live well there. America isn’t as attractive as one could believe. Though, I should really wish them being our neighbours here.

I don’t think my sister, Ingeborg will be coming to these places as she has not written to me.

As I’ve heard she left for Ameria in April, and as she has not arrived here, I don’t think she will be coming to us. I’ve heard she was going to arrive at Paul Ranes, and from there possibly to her

fiancee. I don’t think Ingeborg will feel well over here because you must work hard here.

I have lived like I did in Norway during John’s stay here. He has now left for Synnev aunt.

Synnev has born a boy, called George Bernthard, She is quite well now. As I know everybody

lives well at Marit She stayed with Synnev during her illness for a long time. Magrete Glærum has born a boy lately. She has 5 children.

Please forgive me for not having written before.

We lost one of our calves this winter, so we just have two, and three cows giving milk.

We have four small pigs, forty chickens and four hens .

I have to finish for now with a loving greeting to you and your husband. You must write soon again. Greetings to old grandmother from me. Tell her we live well. Poor old grandmother, how is she living?

Yours sincerely

Johanna Raknes

Dear aunt

Your welcome letter I received a time ago. I thank you for answering me so soon. We are happy to hear that you all are well, the same with us. Peder has been with good health for a time now, hope his disease will not return to him We got the winter on the 15. October, and it has been a very snowy winter, barn and house have been almost snowed up. Winter lasted until 14. April.

The fields are now growing green. Nobody can remember such winter. Nobody has starved in the neighbourhood, but many have suffered a great deal. The railway was closed from beginning of February until last of April, so one could get no support of food We were lucky having enough flour, but had to beg for coffee, tobacco and so on. After snow had disappeared there was so much water that bridges and parts of the railway were washed away on some places. However,

everything has been brought in order now. It says that in Dakota people have starved and thousands of creatures have starved too.

Many people marry now a day. I had hardly thought that Gjertine Glærum would go to Bergum, but perhaps she thinks getting old now, and Peder Bergum has been comfortably off?

Our nearest neighbour is Irish, I don’t like the wife’s behaviour.

We lost all our small pigs and. We got three calves last winter. They are still living. Beret is just reading, Ida is often talking about you. She asks for the stockings you promised her. All the children call you aunt.

Love to grandmother.

Greetings from your Johanna

Dear aunt!

we got a beautiful son. We named him Otto after my father Ole. Since the church is

now far from here, Otto was christened at home eight days after he was born. Beret and Oskar went to English school last summer. Beret was clever to read. Oskar was too young to read. We allowed him go, since the school is not far from us. He is only five years to day. We get a quite bad year. The wheat was very bad and the oats was good. The reason was a very rainy autumn. The corn was good

We have five hungry pigs. They need much of food. We have to slaughter two big pigs as soon as they get fat enough. We have in all eleven creatures. We have three sheep and I get from them all the wool I need for knitting. I have got some thread sent from you. You do so much for me and I can’t do anything for you. Many thanks for remembering me.

Yours Johanna Raknes

I received your letter two weeks ago. As you now the time before Christmas is very busy, but not so busy as in Norway. The Christmas in America is rather short. We celebrate the Christmas at home with our family. Now a day we have no clerical services. Therefore we can’t go to church. I have been invited to many Christmas parties, but I have had too little of time to go.

We are all well.

We have had much headache and inflammation of the throat this autumn. As I wrote in my last letter we had the bad harvest last year since we came to America. It is strange that we in the south of Minnesota only get small crops. In the north west of Minnesota they get good crops. We must have come to an unlucky place. Many villages grow up everywhere. It is now easy to sell and buy. The railway is going near our house.

I have not more to write of interest for you as you don’t know anybody around here.

You have to make you ready and come to America, you too. Then we could go to Red River Valley and become neighbours there. We hear so many nice things from that place.

I have to finish now.

With love from us to you and your family.

Tell old grandmother that I often think of her as a very, very, good nurse.

Yours Johanna Raknes

Dear aunt!

I have received your letter two weeks ago. I have always so much to do that it’s almost impossible to sit down writing a letter. We are all well, just little Otto is not well because of his teeth. I read from your letter that everything is going well in your home. I think of poor grandmother, I can do nothing to help her. But I can pray for her,that God will take care of her. Dear aunt, look after her, I know you do. We have Easter now, and a very unpleasant weather. Yesterday evening Mr. Heggernes visited us. He was a clergyman at the time we were in Mankato. Today he and Peder travelled 8 miles west from here. Our service was today. We had a pleasant time during his stay here .Perhaps he comes back tomorrow. During winter we had a very nice weather, but the spring has been rainy.

Sister Gunhild tells she wants to take you with her next spring and leave for America..I don’t think she will manage that .John Bergum has a time ago gone to Willmar to do some work to Ole Glærum. Randi Glærum is there too,I’ve heard

Synnev Hagstad with family live well A neighbour got his barn burnt down on Easter Eve. The reason was stroke of lightning.

I have to finish now. Love to you and your husband from us all.

Yours Johanna Raknes

Dear aunt!

Your welcome letter I received some time ago. I understand that everything is well at home.

You tell that Gunhild prepare her trip to America, but you don’t tell if she is leaving this summer.

Of course she leaves for Dakota..You must get ready and come , you too.

We have no relatives coming helping us. Marit visits Synnev several times. Greetings from her to you. Bereth thought this time to send you some words, but she didn’t get ready. She is still not good enough to write. She is not at school so often , therefore she need some more time to be clever in writing. She told me today to write to you. You are her aunt as well as mine.Love to grandmother from us. I often think it’s not good being so far from ones relatives. At the same time I find that it’s a quite short time we live on earth, therefore it doesn’t mind where we stay

on earth. I think mother is waiting for us, longing for us beyond.

Love from us all.

Yours Johanna

Dear aunt!

I can’t remember when I received your letter, and yet I have not answered it.

We are all well, and I am working alone on the farm, without husband. Peder has moved to a

town called Modelie. He is a store clerk. He left a fortnigt ago. I have had a letter from him. He is going well in his new job and feels more well working inside. During the last years he has suffered from indigestion. As soon as his feet got wet ,he became ill. He therefore wanted to try another job. After some time it’s our plan to start with a store of our own if we get sold what we own here. We are not ready to sell our farm yet. I’m yet not quite sure to move at all. Waiting for letter from him tomorrow. I have now a grown-up girl, so I live quite well. I have much to get ready if we are going south . However, it will take some time to get sold all the creatures. It will be very sad to sell everything we have built up, as both Peder and I like to work as farmers.

The most important , however is to have good health.

I heard to day from aunt that sister Gunhild meant to visit her relatives. It’s uncertain if she comes to us. She has not written to me about it.

Gunhild Bergum’s engagement has come to an end, I think.

According to the wheat ,flax and oats we had a good crop. The maize was very bad because of

a very cold summer and frost early in September.

We have bought a new threshing machine, perhaps we’ll get it next week.

Live well. Love from Johanna

Dear aunt!

It’s too bad of me that I have not answered your letter before.

I have still much to do. Christmas has passed, and we had a very pleasant Christmas Eve.

We had Christmas tree in the church and about 400 presents were handed out.. We got presents,

too. It’s strange we always have to live without having any relatives together with us. But wherever we have stayed, I’ve found people to be very kind to us.

Peder has started a coral society two days a week. People are very interested .The church is almost filled up with people. For Christmas Peder was dedicated a Bible, cost 7$. I hope God will give us time enough to read. Together with two other men Peder have started Sunday school.

We feel more well here in Hadley than in Modelie. Peder has been with very good health since we

arrived here.The trade goes well. We have now two good cows, calf and some turkeys.

I think I have much to write , but have to finish now.

Kind regards from Johanna

Dear aunt!

This summer I have been more busy than usual. We have built a little store of our own. I am occupied in the store the whole day. Peder administrates a wood ware store. His salary is 35$ a month. For a time I have hired a girl. The children have not been well for the last time. Last summer we have had very little of rain and really warm. The crops look to be bad.

Kinds regards from Johanna Raknes

Dear aunt!

Several weeks have passed since I received your letter. We are now well all of us. Peder has suffered from headache since last summer. He is much better now. We have managed without having a girl. The salary for a girl is 2$ a week. Beret is very clever in sewing and baking. Our children have last year gone to an English school. Soon a Norwegian school will be started. George is a very clever to speak. He says whatever he wants. He is a funny little boy. We must often laugh at him. He is very animated. However, we are very fond of our children.

Love to you and your family.

Johanna Rakness

Dear aunt!

Peder is still suffering from his headache. I have a girl to help me. I try to work less than before. Peder’s half sister came from Norway 2. June and is feeling well here. She really wishes to have hand loom to make carpets. It is good earnings for such work. This year we are quite satisfied with trade. But it is little money among people. Many must take on credit.

The wheat, oaks and flax are growing well this year. Oskar is a shepherd this summer. He earns 50$ for this job.

Love to you and your family.

Johanna Rakness

Dear aunt!

I am now 13 years old. I take care of my sister Josefine Pauline. She is 13 months. I hope I could visit you. But you are so far away from me.

Love to you and your family.

Bertha Rakness

Dear aunt!

I tell you that I have talked to Ingebrigt Tellesbø. He arrived here yesterday and is staying at aunt Synnev.He is living well and has a farm. He has started building house,too.

And I am going to get rather old, next Wednesday I’m nineteen. Oh, how I should like to meet you all that day, but there is no help for it. I’m very tired tonight . I have washed and ironed today too, because tomorrow our strange people are going to leave. I had therefore to wash their dirty clothes before they leave.

I have to finish this letter now.

Love to you all from your always sincere niece

Johanna Øye

Dear grandmother!

I’m so happy to hear you are living well and have kept your sheep and lambs so well this summer.

I remember well the sheep I had the time I stayed in Norway. I don’t think I will get to own a sheep here in America. But if God will grant me life and health for some years, I shall return to Norway. My dear native country with relatives and friends I can never forget.

Though, it’s good to travel away to show what one is worth and go through the serious life’s practical school. I must say I live quite well here though I had liked to see you all sometime.

I understand you are going on as dairymaid this winter, too. This winter I’ll be let off that. The boys are dairymaids here. They also bring in the fuel wood for me.

Hope you are both well. I shall never forget you. I hear I’ve got a little sister who is with good health and the same with mother. It’s a good thing to hear. I wished I could see her, but that is impossible for me.

Love to you and grandfather

Johanna Øye.