SOREN HANSEN'S LETTERS TO HIS SON HANS, 1884
The
following letters were written to John H. Simmons--Danish name Hans--by his father in
1884. The second was the last he received. His father died in November 1884 just before
John was married. The family emigrated to Fairwater from Faurbo, Province Sjelland,
Denmark, in 1866. John left home in 1878, eventually settling in White, South Dakota. |
Fairwater, Wisconsin Dear Hans, Your letter of July 20 we have received with joy and are glad and hope it will always be well with you on your undertakings. When we hear of them it makes us feel good and I believe that when a person goes forth with industry and righteousness you will always have success. It has been hard for us to get the harvesting done. For the last two weeks we have had so much rain but are glad that the hay was harvested. We had four small loads of hay but the grain is short and much weeds that have pretty much choked the grain so that it is not so good. Jacob is well and has worked for David Hillman for three weeks. He was sick for three weeks, and then for two weeks he could not work again. He says we have been good to him and he has often told us this. Peter is in Neenah but forgets to write home. Mary has gone to Stevens Point but we don’t hear much from anyone. We are well and have it good enough. We have sold a big cow to a man who has rented [unreadable] place and received $10.00 paid down and are to get $25.00 more in October is fall is well. She didn’t give much milk and didn’t have a calf and feed is so expensive. We still have two cows [unreadable]. Jens Jorgenson said there was no hurry about the $5.00 [unreadable] ne said he had not paid Norris [unreadable] We have sold our two best horses [unreadable] We will have $260.00 coming in this fall. It seems that my letter is getting long so I think I will close for this time with a hearty greeting to you and hope that all will go well with you. It doesn’t look like your sisters and brother will make much progress here. So good-bye Soren Hansen |
Fairwater Wisconsin Dear Hans, We got your letter today and we have no reason to be mad at you and I can not write so good. Hannah (Lizzie) said she would write to you and we are glad that you write to us. We were looking for a letter from you. Mary has been selling books around Oshlosh and Fond du Lac and we don't know where she has gone now. Pieplow didn't like this and wrote her several good letters. She got real mad and wouldn't have anything more to do with him. Then he got mad and in January it will be a year since she has seen him so he [unreadable]. Peter was in Ripon and worked in a stable where they breed horses and he had his own horse there for nothing. Jim Hansen sent word to him that he would give him $40.00 a month so he went to Neenah the 9th of June and left the horse in Ripon where he pays $1.00 a day for its board. It is poor planning but he never gets any smarter than he is. His mare goes to the Stallion and it cost him $10.00 for that. He has not let us hear from him since he went to Neenah. We do not have it very good since Carl [unreadable] came from Denmark. He came here on the 5th of June. He had had a good deal of headache and it began the day he landed in New York and continued to the 9th of June when he became very sick and we must send for the doctor. When the doctor came he said it was typhoid fever. He is very sick but the doctor thinks he will get over it, but it will take time. People are afraid to come here and I have been alone night and day to take care of him. I am trusting in the Lord--he has always been my comforter. We had a very hard rain and everything looks very good here. I think father will go to Neenah tomorrow so he can tell Peter this. We sold a pig a few days ago and got $9.80 for it. I don't feel like writing much so good-bye and lucky future. More next time. |
