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Compiled and edited by Frances M. Wold
INTRODUCTION "I haven’t been any where to hear any knews,1 so I have to write about ourselves," Effie Hanson said in one of the many letters she wrote to her friend, Ethel Buck. Her accounts of herself, her family, and the everyday events on a small North Dakota farm some 60 years ago offer a fascinating and sobering view of that life as seen from a woman’s perspective. Too often the documents from which history is written are those left by the favored few whose lives were blessed with education, leisure, money, and success. Effie Hanson enjoyed none of these benefits. Her lot included unremitting toil and stronghearted struggle against the hovering specters of poverty, sickness, and natural calamity. Her family’s farm was small; the land, though productive, was not the best, and it never yielded the family enough wealth to provide even the simple amenities that a mother and helpmate needed. Her letters record the courage it took to survive; they are remarkable glimpses into the lives of the "common people" whose labor and whose love has sustained North Dakota in good and bad seasons. Effie’s world was sharply circumscribed; yet her optimism and essential cheerfulness kept her from succumbing to its narrowness and drudgery. Hard though it may seem when judged by modern standards, her lot was not much different from that of her neighbors and friends. Today’s young wife and mother wondering at the contrast between Effie’s life and her own will be able to identify with Effie’s love for her family and her pride in her children’s accomplishments. These letters were found in 1978 by Russell Buck of rural Hazelton in a trunk stored in the basement of the family’s farm home. They were written to his mother, Mrs. Fred (Ethel) Buck, by Mrs. John (Effie) Hanson, who lived on a farm near Wing in Burleigh County. They cover a period from December, 1917, to April, 1923. Effie Hanson and Ethel Buck came to know each other through Effie’s mother-in-law, Mrs. Anton Hanson, who had at one time been a neighbor of the Bucks in the Red River Valley near Kent, Minnesota. Though the elder Mrs. Hanson was much older than Ethel Buck, the two women were close friends; when the families each moved away, they maintained their friendship through correspondence. However, Mrs. Hanson was a native of Norway who was unable to write in English, and she depended upon others to write letters for her. After the Hansons moved to the Wing area of northeastern Burleigh County, North Dakota, Mrs. Hanson’s daughter-in-law, Effie, performed this task, writing often to Mrs. Buck, a woman she had never met. In the Fall of 1917, the Bucks came in their Overland automobile from Hazelton to visit the elder Mr. And Mrs. Hanson. At that time Effie and Ethel became personally acquainted. The two young women felt a mutual attraction and almost immediately began a lively correspondence. The letters that survive are apparently just a small portion of the many that were exchanged between Wing and Hazelton, but they offer informative glimpses into the farm life of the period. The letters were mostly undated, and the envelopes were destroyed. However, by checking the birth dates of the Hanson children, and by knowledge of family events, it has been possible to arrange them in what seems to be accurate chronological order. John Hanson and Effie Kimbrell were married November 4, 1912, in a double wedding ceremony with Effie’s sister, Anna, and Fred Huguet. John and Effie began their life together on John’s homestead on the SE _ of Section 20 in Wing Township in Burleigh County.2 John’s parents, Anton and Anna Hanson, had homesteaded on the N _ of N _ of Section 32 in the same township, a little over a mile away. Both farms were In rolling country where little could be seen but surrounding hills.3 Anna and Fred Huguet lived not far away. Both farms were in rolling country where little could be seen but surrounding hills.3 Ann and Fred Huguet lived not far away. Effie’s parents, Thomas and Cora Kimbrell, had farmed near Wing until Thomas died unexpectedly in 1913. Effie was the oldest of the four Kimbrell children.4 Her mother later married John Hanson’s older brother Olaf, an event that made for some rather unusual family relationship.5 At the time these letters begin, Cora and Olaf lived in Wing with her two youngest children, Blanche and John. Effie’s husband, John, was the second son and third child of Anton and Anna Hanson, who had married in Wisconsin after coming to this country from Norway in the early 1860’s. Anton and Anna lived at Menominee, Wisconsin, until 1879, when they traveled by ox team to settle in what because Richland County in North Dakota. In 1891, the family moved east to Wilkin County, Minnesota just across the border. Here the Hansons became close friends with a young couple, Fred and Ethel Buck. Mrs. Hanson, who was a midwife, delivered the Buck’s first child, a daughter who they named Edna, on July 3, 1906.6 The next year, when they were both about 60 years old Anton and Anna Hanson pioneered once more, following their older children, Olaf and Hilda (Mrs. Ole Wold), back to North Dakota to northern Burleigh County, to homestead.7 Their two younger children, Anna (later to become Mrs. Ed Erlandson) and Clarence, came with them, as did the middle child, John, who took a homestead of his own and five years later married Effie Kimbrell.8 John and Effie Hanson lived in an unfinished one-room house (about 16 by 24 feet) that John had built on his claim though they expected every year to enlarge it, poor crop years and the expenses of a rapidly increasing family prevented them from carrying out their plans. The first child, Anton arrived a year after their marriage; a daughter, Helen, was born after that, and another daughter, Agnes, came the following year. The correspondence with Ethel Buck was evidently very important to Effie; she wrote when she was so tired that her script scrawled over the pages, and in her weariness she often omitted letters and entire words. She wrote when she was ill, racked by pain and fever. And she wrote in haste, stealing precious moments from the relentless tasks that pressed upon her, often with a child on her lap or at her shoulder. The exchange was also important to Ethel Buck, a fact demonstrated by her retention of Effie’s missives in a trunk with other valued mementos. The recipient of Effie’s letters, Ethel Johnson, had become Mrs. Fred Buck on April 12, 1905. The couple farmed that first year in Wilkin County, Minnesota, near the town of Kent, but the land was so low and wet that their crop was a near failure. After the birth of their daughter, Edna, which was attended by the elder Mrs. Hanson, they moved to a farm near Verdi, Minnesota. Here they lived until 1913, when Fred put all the family belongings into an emigrant car, and the Bucks came by railroad to Hazelton, North Dakota. They lived on a quarter-section of land that Fred’s father had received as part of the settlement when he sold his farm in Iowa. The family stayed on the Hazelton farm, where Russell buck and his wife, Fern, still live. Russell’s older brother Raymond and his wife Jessie live not far away, near Linton.9 It is because Russell Buck recognized the historical significance of the letters his mother had saved that they survive, and we are grateful to him. We are also grateful to Effie’s children for permission to print the letters; through them, we may share both the experiences of her world and the heritage of many present and former North Dakotans. THE LETTERS OF EFFIE HANSON [Christmas Day, 1917] Dear Friends: … Well, how are you folks getting along? We are all well here, but our nose keeps running but seems we don’t get sick. I have been going to write you for Mrs. Hanson but the weather has been so cold that I never get down there, and when the weather is nice I have to wash clothes or something ... We just butchered [a] while ago and I had the meat to see after. Mr. Hanson’s just butchered the old cow last week and we got some of that. Well today, Xmas Day, Mr. & Mrs. Hanson were up here and spent the day. We all had a nice time together. Mrs. Hanson is feeling quite good. She see[s] about the same as when you folks were there.10 Mr. Hanson has been quite sick. The first of Dec[ember] he had a cramp around his heart and Mrs. H. was all alone with him. He was quite sick that night. She said she went out side several times wondering if she could find her way up here. But it just happen[ed] to be awfully dark that night. John was down there quite a bit and he also took him to the Dr. at Wing one afternoon and the Dr. give him some medicine. He is better now but don’t seem quite so strong yet. Hrs. H. was up most all night with him fixing hot irons to his feet. John is quite busy hauling hay when the weather is fit. The children, Anton & Helen speaks about sitting in Edna’s lap. And Anton speaks more about Raymond and the baby more than the rest of them. Would you please write all of your children’s names when you write again?11 My brothers are just over the chicken pox and most every child in Wing has them12 … My children hasn’t had the chicken pox yet and I hope they don’t get them this winter either. I’ve been staying at home pretty close and nobody has been here, only Mr. & Mrs. Hanson. Oluf13 and Ma are well and Blanch goes to school there in Wing. What did you folks get for Xmas? Mrs. Hanson give me oilcloth and also some head cheese from the cow … John go the girls some beads and [a] rubber ball for Anton, and got some nuts and candy and some apples and put them in their stockings, and they sure was pleased over them. But peanuts he couldn’t get a one in town. Agnes is getting to talk [about] everything. She was two yrs the 23rd of Nov[ember]. She is the baby. They had a Xmas tree in Wing on Friday before Xmas and a programme also. But we didn’t go in as the weather is quite cool of a night, and the chicken pox in Wing too. We didn’t care to take the children in on that account. John felt kindy bad because he didn’t get to see you folks. He thought you was going to stay two or three days or he would of put off going to the mine.14 Well maby we can get down to see you folks some time anyway. I hope so. We just got a fresh cow before Xmas, a heifer calf it was. She gives a nice lot of milk. We will milk 5 cows in the summer. Well, think I’ll close for this time. Hoping to hear from you soon and tell us how you are getting along anyway, and I’ll try to answer sooner next time. From Mrs. John M. Hanson15 [March, 1918] [The first few pages of this letter are missing, but they evidently tell that John had hurt his hand.] ... and hurt it pretty bad. I had to take the milking in hands myself and the first few days I helped with everything around the barn. But now he is lots better but can’t milk yet so I have to milk. He hurt it the 4th of Feb[ruary]. Seem like everything have to go wrong this winter. This morning Helen got up vomiting, first she has vomited since last July. But winter before she vomited ever[y] little while. My children hasn’t had a cold yet this winter. Anton & Agnes are both well. Helen is feeling better now. I am knitting Anton a pair of mittens for next winter. Mrs. Hanson knit my girls a pair [of] red mittens apiece and she said she didn’t have to see much for that. Mr. Hanson had to take of f the thumb for her.16 Mr. Hanson isn’t well a tall this winter, since he had such a cramp around his heart ... Mr. & Mrs. Hanson were up here the 10 of Feb[ruary]. First time they’ve been here since Xmas. I haven’t knit any for the Red Cross yet. But I think I’ll start some time but don’t know just when. I want to knit some for my children first. It is good to know how to knit anyway. Blanch & Ma are both knitting for the Red Cross and most everybody around Wing are knitting...17 I have been sewing for that little one. Suppose you knew that when you saw me last fall. But I’ve felt good most of the time so I can’t complain. Anna Erlandson is still waiting for her little one to come. Don’t think she has had it yet. Seem like there is quite a few expecting little ones this spring. There are two right in this neighborhood. The children are just crazy for a baby brother. I hope we get a boy too ... 18 I let the children out when the weather is warm ... Anton goes out with me to milk every evening. We are milking 3 cows. Two of them came fresh since you was here. We get quite a bit of milk now. That makes us head of cattle now. We will have two heifers to come in in May and June. I thank you many times for the picture of the baby. He is so natural. I would be glad to get the other children’s picture & even your[s] & Mr. Buck’s also. No, I do not get eggs this winter. My children didn’t get the chicken pox . . . I was to Wing last week and spent the day with my folks. First time I had been to Wing for 3 months. They seem to be well and happy. I wish you folks could come in for dinner today. I have some beef boiling and potatoes cooked with it, so that makes a pretty good dinner ... [The end of this letter is missing.] [April, 1918] Dear Friend ... Seems like the wind blows so hard every day. I get tired of it. It is so hard for the people to work in the wind, as it is hard on the eyes. John’s eyes are quite sore from the dust blowing in them. And his eyes can’t stand much anyway, since the prairie fire came along the first summer we were married and burnt our barn. His eyes were burnt quite bad that time. The wind was blowing something awful that day. I hope we are through having prairie fires. John is harrowing and this afternoon he is going to plough a piece [of] ground for wheat ... Everybody is busy in the field now the last days. Most every body got seed & wheat from the County and John has been running to Wing quite a bit to get that.19 I am sending your name to Wm. C. Geraty Co. ... Yonges Island, S.C. so you will get a price list of [from] them for their cabbage plants. We’ve had their frost proof cabbage plant[s] every year and I tell you they are just fine. The plants are strong & healthy looking and sure are frost proof too. So I hope you will order from them. They are 35 cents for 100 plants ... Don’t take them long to cook either. Mr. Hanson [John’s father] got his arm & face burnt quite bad. He put some milk on the stove in a gallon pail and pushed the lib down tight on it. So just when he tho’t the milk was hot enough he kindy opened up the lib and the milk flew to the ceiling & in his face and on his arm. He had a bad looking face for a while but it is better now. I don’t know what he was thinking when he pressed the lid on tight. Mrs. Hanson is feeling well most of the time. She is going to put in some garden. She has two hens setting already. But my hens aren’t setting yet, but I get quite a few eggs every day. I only have 34 hens though. I haven’t been down to Mrs. Hanson’s for over 2 weeks. John is using the horses most of the time, and I just don’t feel like walking ... Mr. Hanson and us are going to take a telephone in about 10 days or two weeks. John wouldn’t take one unless his pa took one too so Mr. H. got the notion at last. He is getting old and one thing, if anything should happen to either of them they could get the knews out quick. A person never knows what is going to happen until it is too late.20 I haven’t any garden planted yet as [it] isn’t ploughed. I hope to get it ploughed soon though as it is time. We have a little horse colt now. First colt we’ve had. John bo’t a mare for $55.00 at a Jew sale.21 That makes us 5 horses and 1 colt ... Oluf is working on the section now.22 Ma & the rest are all well. I’ll soon have to think about a girl (about the middle of May). But I’ve felt good most of the time so can’t complain.23 Tomorrow I’m going to wash clothes as I’ve just carried the water & put my clothes to soak ... I just made the girls a new dress apiece for summer and have a suit to make for Anton. Well guess I’ll close for this time as I’ll take John a fresh drink of water. From Mrs. J. Hanson. [P.S.] Anna & Ed [John’s sister and brother-in-law Erlandson] have moved up to Still, N. Dak. ... He is running a blacksmith shop for the Farmers Union and have a good outfit to work with too. Anna hasn’t got anything yet. Don’t know how long she will put it off.24 [Late May or early June, 1918] Mrs. Fred Buck with family; My dear Friends: ... We are having lots of rain this spring. But it is sure making my cabbage plants & Rhubarb grow ... My garden is coming fine. John has seeded some flax, about 14 acres. I sure hope North Dak. Does have a crop this year. John had to disc up some of his rye & seed it to barley — some rye he seeded last fall. You have me beat on the chicken deal. I only have 23 chickens yet but will have 2 hens to hatch next week. My hens are slow about setting this year ... I want to raise all the chickens I can this year. Eggs are 30 cents a dozen, here at Wing. I haven’t seen Mrs. Hanson for quite a while. John uses all the horses in the field and I’m so now I can’t walk to do any good. I have me a hired girl now. She is a fine one too. I am on my feet yet but don’t know just how much longer I will be up. My time is up already. Clarence lives about 7 miles north east of us. We have to go through Wing to get to his place. Clarence isn’t home much. He is breaking up north of Wing for $4.50 per acre. I saw Eva in Wing last Sat[urday] eve[ning].25 I hope we can come some time this summer to eat plumbs & currents with you. I hope we can come ... & stay a day or two with you. Anton is helping his papa seed barley. The girls are around the house most of the time. The children are going out to Eva’s and stay a few days just about the time I get sick [i.e., have a baby]. Eva is very fond of children. I wish we did live neighbors to each other. We have our telephone now and it sure is [a] handy thing to have. Mr. Hanson hasn’t his phone in yet. He put in his crop alone this spring. I sent to Sears Roebuck for Anton a little wash suit ... and sent for some embroidery for the girls an undershirt ... The 15 of this month is John’s birthday. He will be 39 years old. We were down to Mr. Hanson’s yesterday and she wasn’t feeling so very good. She is failing fast though, Mrs. Buck. I can see it on her this spring. Her eyes are so large and she looks so pale. She has planted most of her garden now. She had quite a few tomato plants and the other day it hailed and broke them off ... I have such a bad cold now. My throat is so sore too. It must be from planting garden. I kneel on the ground & sit also, so guess that must be it ... From your friend, Mrs. John M. Hanson [July, 1918] Dear Friend:- ... I should of answered the letter long ago but seem like I never get time & baby takes up so much of my time. The stork was here the 10th day of June so you see baby is going on 7 weeks. Brought us another girl baby. Named her Thelma Bessie. I got out of it easy this time. Never had a pain. Mrs. Hanson was with me. She said she never seen anything like it. She didn’t see how I ever had the baby. She give me some medicine to make me vomit. That was all that helped me to have it was vomiting. And I wouldn’t of vomited if it wasn’t for the medicine. I sure was lucky this time. I wouldn’t mind having a dozen if I could get out of it that way.26 Baby only weighed 6_ lbs. when born. The children think a whole lot of the baby. She has a cold now but guess she will get over it. Helen & Agnes are out to Clarence’s now ... I wish you folks could come out the 28th of July as we are going to have a surprise for Mrs. Hanson. She will be 71 years old and she may not live to see another birthday. . .There will be us, Wolds, Oluf & familie and Clarence & wife and Ed & Ann Erlandson . . The 10 of October they [Hansons] will be married 46 years. We had a good rain the 21st of July. Our crop isn’t hurt much by dry weather so that rain just came in time ... My garden is good. I have just 275 cabbage plants starting to head ... I didn’t have good luck with my chickens. There was so many died while I was sick. Mrs. Hanson can see a little more than she did when you was out. They have their telephone now and it sure is nice to talk to each other over the telephone every day. She can ring as good as anybody ... We are milking 5 cows now and sometimes I help milk. It all depends on the baby if I can get away from her that long ... Anna is well but her baby is cross these days so my brother John went up there to stay a few days ... You must excuse writing as I’m holding baby while I write and she is awfully fussy ... Everything is awfully high now isn’t it. We have 11 little pigs ... Our flax is doing fine. We only have about 14 acres but [it] is in bloom now every morning. John rented some of the hackney Land but it didn’t grow a tall, so all that work was done for nothing ...27 We just butchered after the 4th and got all my meat took care of. I’ll tell you it was sure a job. We have lots of beets and have [had] greens for a long time. Suppose you like beet greens. We just love them ... I have [had] lettuce & peas to use [for] a long time, and my rutabagoes will soon be big enough. I had quite a few tomatoes planted but they froze down so I only have 7 hills up that maby I can get a quart to can anyway. My sister Blanch will be out here this evening. She is going to mustard out of the flax ... Did you take your children under 4 years to have them weighted? We did take ours to Wing the 1st of July to the school house. They [there] were over 200 babies . . . to be weighed and measured. 28 John worked on the roads for $8.00 per day.29 He worked 5 days if I remember right ... From your friend, Mrs. Hanson. [Early Fall, 1918] Dear Friend Mrs. Buck:- ... Mrs. Hanson had the flu and was quite sick ... as her lungs were affected some. But she is getting along fine though now. Her granddaughter from Regan has been helping her. It left her awfully weak though. We haven’t had the flu yet. Seem like it has been all around us ... The schools all closed around us ...30 John has all kinds of work around him now. Did think he would make the barn bigger but changed his mind as it is getting so late in the fall and we are to have cold weather any time. And he works every day her can. Sent an order to Sears for over $40.00 for clothes. Then we didn’t get all we wanted to. It sure is nice to have a telephone. John & Mr. Hanson talks Norwegian and I can understand quite a bit of it. I sometimes speaks a few words to Mr. H. in Norwegian just for fun ... From your friend Mrs. J.M. Hanson. [P.S.] Thelma can crawl all over the bed and she can raise & sit up alone and has for quite a while. [Sept. 29, 1918] Dear Friend Mrs. Buck:- ... I have taken my garden in already and my cabbage was the only thing that was good. I’ve made sauerkraut already and but 100 heads in the cellar for our own use & give Mrs. H. another 50 lbs... I feel awfully good this summer. The children & me took the old team & digger and dug 9 rows of potatoes and carried them in the cellar and had 23 bushel to put in. And we had 50 rows left to dig but John will finish them. He has been working away from home quite a bit ... We are staking grain today if it is Sunday. I haven’t been anywhere on Sunday since the 28 of July. John has been away quite a few times to help the neighbors but I never went ... Seems like we are behind with our work till we pretty near have to work on Sundays. Mrs. Hanson is home all alone today. She wasn’t feeling very well. Poor thing, I feel sorry for her. I have covered two quilts this fall and have two more to cover, and have lots of sewing to do before cold weather. I’m going to buy yarn and sent to John’s sister in Minnesota to knit socks for John & stockings for Helen & Agnes. She has a knitting machine and she can knit 3 pr. in an afternoon ... Oluf has a machine to take pictures with now, so we will all have our pictures taken the 13th. My hens are laying food this month. I get all the way from 12 to 20 [eggs] a day. I’m saving eggs for winter ... My children has bought thrift stamps and 1 war savings stamp with their pennies. They are awfully proud of the books with their stamps.31 I have to get the lunch for the men so good bye. Write soon. [no signature]. [Late Fall, 1918] Dear Friend Mrs. Buck:- ... We are all well but have colds and hope it don’t turn out to be the Spanish flue. Seems like everybody is getting it around here. How is it down there? ... Mrs. Hanson hasn’t been well this week. We were down there [Hansons’] on Sunday and dug their potatoes for them. They didn’t turn out so very good. Eva, Clarence’s woman, came down & helped us. It was nice that day to dig. I had baby along with me to the patch and she was awfully good. She rode along in the wagon all the time ... The children and me dug 23 bushels & put them in the cellar while John was helping the neighbors thrash ... We … got 2 of the neighbor men to help finish & we had over 150 bushel to put up in the cellar and besides that we give a neighbor some of the small ones and the pigs got some of them ... I made some sauerkraut and put 100 heads of cabbage in the cellar. Besides we had 1 bushel & 1 pk. of rutabagoes and 1 bushel of carrots and 3 pks. [pecks] of beets besides what I canned, and [a] water pail full of onions but will get a bushel of onions from Eva. I will have 1 bushel of turnips so guess we won’t stare this winter. And we are fattening a hog to go with them all so think we will get along. We didn’t but any fruit this fall but had some Rhubarb of my own to use. Fruit was so awful high this fall ... How are your children? I got your stockings you sent baby and thank you very much for them ... They have closed all the schools around here on account of the Spanish Flue. Well, everything is going up all the time, isn’t it? Does Mr. Buck have a share in the new store.32 John does, and everybody else around here and off south. We got thrashed all right and our grain was fair. If we only had more of it. From your friend, Mrs. J.M.H. [P.S.] We have 12 head of cattle and 11 head of hogs, 6 head of horses. So in March we will have 2 colts and milk 7 cows next summer, so we are getting quite a bunch with stock. [P.P.S.] Mrs. Buck, I forgot to tell you that my baby goes all over the floor. She gets on her hands & feet & stands her body up off the floor. Well this is honest. She did this before she was 4 months old, and she gets on her hands and toes & leaps forward ... She wasn’t more than 3 month old when she started to leap forward ... Mrs. Olson didn’t believe it until she was down and saw it. [Late November, 1918] ...My Dear Friend:- ... We haven’t had the flu yet and hope we don’t get it either. You surely had your hands full. Mrs. H. is getting along fine after having it. I never expected her to get over it, but she did & she was up here yesterday & spent the day with us. Both came up as we just butchered a hog and they came up to help. We was home Thanksgiving and worked all day. It seem like John can’t get a rest this fall. Tomorrow we are going to Eva’s so John can rest up them. And would like to visit around before cold weather anyway as we are at home most of the time in cold weather. I haven’t been to Wing for a month now but I don’t care to go very often ... I haven’t been anywhere to hear any knews so I have to write about ourselves. Well, I’m pretty tired just now so you must excuse [the] writing for this time. I ‘m getting 2 & 3 eggs right along so far. Think that is pretty well. Eggs are 53 cents at Wing at the new store and butter 55 cents a lb. Did they start that new store at Hazelton. We sure have a good store & so many thing[s] in it ...hoping to hear from you soon. From your friend Effie. [Late December, 1918] Received your most welcome letter a few days ago & was sure glad to hear from you ... Yes, Old Santa was good to us. Better than I was expecting. Give John & me 3 plates, me a pair of shoes (felt), John a shaving mug & necktie, "Lutefisk," Guess you know what that is.33 And brought Anton 2 a.b.c. books, 2 handkerchiefs, 1 knife, pearl handle. And peanuts, candy, cracker jacks to them all. Helen got 2 blue hair ribbons, a doll, teacup & saucer and plate, 2 handkerchiefs, and nuts. And brought Agnes the same. And baby Thelma a white dress. We were down to Mr. Hanson’s Xmas day, had a nice time too. Had all we could eat. They didn’t have a Xmas tree here very close as they wouldn’t allow it. I’m getting eggs every day, 3 & 4 a day, up to 8 a day. The children are learning their abc’s now. Anton & Helen knows pretty near all of them but Agnes don’t know quite all of them yet ... Think I’ll get an incubator in the spring as I want to raise more chickens. It means to stay home more while the incubator is going but I don’t care ... Schools started up again now around ... Hay is selling for $10.00 a ton here ... can’t hardly get hay around here any more. I started to make a gray mohair skirt and haven’t got it quite done yet. And made the girls a new dress, dark blue trimmed in velvet, and Anton a suit. Had fine luck with all of them. Sometimes when I sew things don’t go right so it takes me quite a while. Have the girls in overalls most of the time. They are lots warmer for them on cold days. From your friend Effie. [Early Spring, 1919] [The first pages of this letter is missing.] We have to put in more land as our family is larger now and it takes more money now, every year. We have 13 head of cattle and will have 4 more calves this spring. John [will] have to build more barn room after seeding is over with, or have to sell some of our stock. But he wants to build more barn, and we really need a larger house too. I have to work hard this spring. Want to raise chickens enough to get an organ is I have good luck with them ...34 John don’t have to buy his deed this springs as we will have enough but had to buy oats for feed to make enough. They are 60¢ a bushel at the elevator. I hope we do get a crop this year as we sure need it ... From your friend, Mrs. J.M. Hanson. They have diptherea [diphtheria] in Wing now. [The remaining pages are missing]. [Spring, 1919] Dear Friend Mrs. Buck:- ... I would of answered sooner but I’ve been so busy ... and we have been out of paper so I tho’t I’d answer while I had paper. The first chicks from the incubator have all died but 9 so don’t know whether I’ll save them or not ... But I’m going to set the incubator again. I was to Win Sat[urday] to take the cream in. First I had been since Jan[uary]. I had so much to see after that I didn’t get to see Ma only 10 minutes. I washed clothes today so I’m kindy tired just now so you must excuse [my] writing. I have some of the garden planted but not all as it is so wet yet. I’ve been washing for Mrs. Hanson as she isn’t well a tall. She is so weak she can’t carry a pail of water. She was to the Dr. two times. She has water on the lung and her heart is so weak too. She won’t try to raise any garden much. Her breath is so short. She can’t stand on her feet long at a time as she will fall over. John is busy seeding wheat. He has about 70 acres seeded. He is alone with the work this spring. It keeps us both going. We are milking 6 cows. We have 12 little pigs too ... The baby can’t walk alone yet but she crawls all over & climbs up to things. Newt Sunday the 25th of May I’ll be 27 years old. [The last pages of this letter are missing.] [July, 1919] Dear Mr. Buck, ... Baby walked before she was 1 yr. Old, and is getting more teeth. She has 5 teeth now ... Mrs. Hanson isn’t feeling so very good. Her feet & legs are swollen so all the time...We will have a dinner for her the 27th of July and would be pleased if you could come ... This will be our last dinner we get to have for her. [Dr.] Thelen says she will only last 5 or 6 weeks … 35 The grasshoppers are quite bad too here. John has been poison[ing] them. But not so bad as down to your place though ... The crops needing rain too here, and my garden is allright what I have, but the seed didn’t all grow and it also needs rain. Ann Erlandson is with Mrs. H. now. Ed is working here now. He will start in the hay field tomorrow with John. Their baby is doing fine. You know he got run over with [the] Bull tractor36 wheel and was in the hospital at Bismarck for two weeks. But seems to be allright now. They only have the two boys yet. Think they will [have] another baby in the fall ... Don’t mention anything about Mrs. Hanson in the letters you write, that about her having only 5 or 6 weeks. John feels kindy bad about it you know ... I didn’t get me a new hat this spring. I had a plain black hat last year so I just put a red velvet ribbon on it this summer. Got me a gray silk waist and navy blue mohair skirt and also sent for a pink silk corset cover. Got a soldier suit for Anton, tan color, and got some white embroidery dress for the girls — that is, goods to make. Send to Montgomery [Ward] for it. Got 6 yds at 50¢ per yard. We went to Regan the 4th and had a good time too.37 Had their dresses for the 4th. And got a blue pongee shirt for John for the 4th. I also made me a gray mohair skirt trimmed in cope[n]hagen blue, blue belt & pockets. We need a big rain ... Everything is getting so dry here now. I got an incubator this spring but seem like the chickens didn’t do so very well. The got the direah [diarrhea] so bad & couldn’t get any medicine for it for so long ... From your friend, Mrs. J.M. Hanson. [P.S] My cucumbers are blooming and if we don’t get a rain soon they won’t amount to anything. [Summer, 1919] [The first pages of this letter are missing.] ... but we had to tell Mrs. Hanson about them coming as Dr. Thelen said it would be to much of a shock to surprise her. But her nose started bleeding at 5 o’clock Sunday morning and bled till about 5 in the evening, but she was feeling good the rest of the week. We put ice on her head and neck ... Ann, her daughter, is staying with her ...38 Clarence & Eva sure had a nice little boy born is June. Name[d] him Willard. We need rain bad. The wheat is rusting so bad. But oats & barley look good yet. Flax we didn’t get to put out any as it turned so dry there [at] the last. The bugs were after our potatoes but we sprayed them with paris green. Now I see they are after them again. We have the grasshoppers. [A page is missing, but she was evidently talking about the men coming in for dinner] ... Then I have to wash up the dishes after they go and water the hogs at noon. Then keep something cooked up all the time … John has 3 quarters to put up hay on. Am afraid John has more than he can put up himself ... Anton & me walked to Mr. H. as the girls went to the hay field for the fun of it. I am pretty strong this summer ... I walked to Mrs. Hanson’s and carried the light bread dough and also 1 gal. _ [of] cream to churn.39 And carried the 8 loaves [of bread] back and my butter. I had Thelma to carry part of the way and part of the time [she] rode in the little wagon. Mrs. Hanson was feeling pretty good today only Anna’s baby is so cross and that worries Mrs. H. so. She can’t hardly stand it al all ... [The last pages are missing.] [Late August, 1919] Dear Friend Mrs. Buck:- ... Was sure glad to hear you & baby are getting along so nicely. We are all well here but my right lung pains quite a bit at times and also my chest hurts me quite a bit. The rest are feeling quite well. We are thru with our haying now. The crops are very poor here, especially the wheat. We didn’t cut all our wheat, as it wasn’t worth cutting. We just have the barley left to cut now but it is very poor and so short. Have to cut it with [the] mower. We will cut it for hay. Mr. Hanson won’t have anything to thrash this fall … but his oats. It is sure dry here. John was thinking of doing some fall ploughing if we ever get a good rain, but no use to plow when it is so dry. Now we have our hay up so Clarence & John are putting hay up together as they rented a quarter together ... Clarence & his brother-in-law boards here and also Ed (Anna’s Ed) [Erlandson]. Ed is building a barn to the school house down here and is taking his meals at our place. I’m busy all the time. Ed & Anna are going back to his folks in Wisconsin after she has her little one. Just for a visit. Anna is with Mrs. Hanson yet. But they will go to Regan to their own place next week. I don’t think Anna will have her baby until Sept[ember] or Oct[ober]. Never ask[ed] her just when it would be… Have canned up 10 qts. of cucumbers. Rhubarb didn’t do so well this year as it was so dry, and strawberries, we had about 85 plants and they all died but 5 of them. And one vine had 1 strawberry on it, so I eat that myself. And I only got 4 ripe tomatoes this year. My chickens are doing fine. Have only fried one so far as I want to save the best roosters to trade with somebody. What kind of chickens do you have? We have the Rhode Island Reds... Haven’t been to see Mrs. H. for 3 weeks. Seem like I’m tied right here at home all the time. You know how it is. Keep something baked all the time, and then I do the chores here morning & night. I don’t get much time to rest up a tall. Haven’t been to Wing since the 3rd of July, that will soon be two months… Have you named your baby yet? You can name if Effie after me or Lena. Either one of those names goes good with the name Buck … From your friend Mrs. J.M. Hanson. [P.S.] John’s sister that was here for a visit during Mrs. Hanson’s birthday sent us some blueberries. Mr. & Mrs. Hanson and all their children had their picture taken together while the daughter was here. First family group they ever had taken. [PPS.] We are going in to visiting the folks tomorrow. Never been there on Sunday for 3 yrs. to visit … I’m baking bread today and scrubbing and doing up the Sat[urday] work. Well I’d better quit and get some dinner for Ed as he will soon come up. Good bye. Write soon. From Mrs. J.M. Hanson. [PPPS.] Anton went along to the hay field but Helen thinks she don’t have time to go as she looks after the baby. [Fall, 1919] Dear Friend:- … I’ve been very busy this fall trying to get the work done up and have been alone with the chores & all for two weeks or more, and it keeps me busy getting Anton & Helen off to school every morning besides the other work. And I go down to Mrs. H. every little while. You know Mrs. Isn’t well a tall … Think tomorrow the 14, I’ll go down & wash clothes for her. John is away from home bailing hay for Charley Josephson.40 Him & Clarence bought one [baler] together for $200. They were up at Clarence’s place a while. Now they will come here the 16 or 17 of this week. They are 4 of them in all. Anna has gone home long ago and Mrs. H. will be alone from now on as girls to work are scarce now days. We thrashed long ago … We did not get anything … We have dug our potatoes here [a] while ago and got about 15 bushel from 1 acre, so you see what we got. We only get 25 cents worth of sugar at a time and that don’t do very much baking. Baby is getting along fine. She was quite sick [a] while ago … she sure thinks a whole lot of her papa. Oluf & Ma are going to Brainerd, Minnesota this week sometime. I hate to see them go. Blanche & the boys also. The children al had the measles in Wing now so I haven’t been to Wing for a long time… Agnes gets pretty lonesome while the others are at school. You must excuse my writing as I’m in a hurry and I’m so sleepy I can’t hardly write … Please come over this fall … From Mrs. J.M.H. [December, 1919] Dear Friend Mrs. Buck & Family:- … The weather sure has been cold for several days now. Seems like it never warms up. I should of wrote you a letter long ago but have been quite busy most of the time, and we were down to Mr. Hanson’s quite a bit, besides the other work around the place. Have been doing quite a bit of sewing for the children. Made Helen & Anton a coat for school out of my coat and one of John’s old overcoats. Made Anton a vest of John’s sheepskin cordroy. Mrs. Hanson died Nov. 11th and [was] buried at Wing Nov[ember] 14th. She didn’t seem to suffer at all to the last. John and me and Ragna Wold & Mr. Hanson were with her when she died. She died about 20 to 3 p.m. Ragna Wold, Mrs. Hanson’s oldest granddaughter, was there about 3 weeks before she died.41 Mrs. Was out of her head before she died, and she spoke Norwegian all together. I couldn’t understand her a tall at last as she didn’t talk it quite right for us to understand. Mr. Hanson is all alone now but we talk to him every day over the phone … Mr. Hanson just butchered before Thanksgiving and John went down & helped him. I haven’t been down since Mrs. H was buried. I should think it would be pretty lonesome down there now. I am going down when the weather is warmer. It has been so cold to take the baby out and no sleighing wither. We only have the buggy to go in. I cannot ride in the wagon to do any good. We were home Thanksgiving and I made head cheese for Mr. H. that day. Anton & Helen goes to school every day when John can take them as it is pretty cold for them to walk now … Anton said the teacher was going to have a Xmas tree here at the school house. They like their teacher fine and wants to go every day. John wasn’t ready for winter when it came and isn’t ready yet but he has been doing what he can on these nice days. We lost some chickens those cold spells as we wasn’t home to take care of them as we should when Mrs. Hanson died. But john put tar paper on the chicken house and has it fixed up better now. He will bank it with manure and then it will be all right … Olufs moved to Brainerd before Mrs. Hanson died so Oluf wasn’t here for the funeral. He is working in [a] pulp & paper mill for 47¢ an hour. I didn’t like to see them move but it couldn’t be helped … Good night. Write soon. From Mrs. John M. Hanson. [P.P.] Anna Erlandson is getting along fine. She has three boys now. [Late December, 1919] Dear Friend Mrs. Buck:- … The children were all sick the 26 of Dec[ember]. Kept me up all night. They were vomiting so hard all night but they are all right now again. We were to Wheeler’s Xmas day. What did you do that day? Mr. Hanson also went. We had all we could eat. Mrs. Wheeler fixed two turkeys that day …24 I think my mother likes it fine in Minnesota … I sure miss them. Mrs. Hanson is gone too now. Seem like we haven’t gone anywhere this winter. When Ma was in Wing we could talk to them over the phone when we wanted to … Old Santa was good to the children. Brought all the candy, peanuts and walnuts they could eat. Have some left for New Years. Brought baby a doll, Helen & Agnes hair ribbons, Anton marbles. And their Aunt Blanch sent them all a ring with a set in. They were all pleased with them. Brought me some lutefisk … But we didn’t expect much either this year as we didn’t give any to anybody. John is busy hauling bail[ed] hay to Wing. He had about 40 ton to haul all together. And a man43 have been here part of the time, and I sure have lots to do too. John goes in the morning to load, then goes to Wing after dinner. It sure gets late before he gets home some evenings. I generally have the milking left for him to do when he comes home, but the rest of the chores are done … I have not done any crocheting this winter. We will have a picture finished for you. Mrs. Hanson wanted you to have one … I think I’ll wash
clothes tomorrow. We are having fine weather for washing … Anna
[Erlandson] named her boy John got $16.00 per ton for a small car of hay and the rest for $20.00 per ton. He said he only wished he had more to sell … From Mrs. J.M. Hanson. Jan. 27, 1920 Dear Friend Mrs. Buck:- … We do not get any eggs … Thelma is sure quite a girl. She … tries to talk everything but she can’t quite say it …. Sugar is scarce here too. We got sugar before Xmas and that is the last. If they get in some the town people gobbles it all before we country people get any. And it is 26¢ a lb. besides so we can’t afford to buy very much at a time. Just have a little to look at. And everything else is sky high. Cream is way low to what you have to pay for other things. And the stores only pay 50 cents a lb. for butter… It sure is lonesome down to Mr. Hanson’s. John can’t hardly stand to go down there … John isn’t very strong after having the flu. It settled in his back and left a weak spot. I feel pretty good only my feet are so cold this winter and my back hurts me a whole lot … Well, good bye … Must cook supper now, and [it] is getting dark so better light the lamp. From Mrs. J. M. Hanson. [April 2, 1920] Dear Friend Mrs. Buck:- … The weather here is fine now. John hauled the banking away from the house today, Sat[urday] the 2nd, and Mon[day] the 4th he will start in the field … We are invited away to a dinner tomorrow Sunday the 3rd about 3 miles s.w. of here to [a] Norwegian family but they are nice folks. I churned today and shall scrub & wash windows this p.m. Also give the children a bath this forenoon. But Anton will get his tonight. He is a little particular about washing before the girls … Clarence’s man was here last night to spend the night. He was going for hay but it was so windy that he could not haul. I’ve set out some winter onion sets today that one of my neighbors give me last fall … Do you take the Farmer Labor State Record?44 We do. We saw your name in it once lately. If you take it you will find our name in it once in a while. I did not plant any tomatoes in a box yet. But I have no place for it so that is why I never. Made a pair of pants for Anton from some old ones. Eggs aren’t worth anything much in Wing now. They were 12 or 13 cents after Easter. The children were much pleased to get the Easter cards … Write to me soon. From Mrs. John M. Hanson. [Spring, 1920] Dear Friend Mrs. Buck:- … We are all quite well now again. Anton was sick first with sore throat and bad cold. Then Helen & Agnes came down a few days later … The girls had quite high fever a few days. Then a few days later I was quite hoarse and coughed. John got some fever tablets & cough syrup from the Dr. The Dr. said it was the flu only in a light form. They missed 10 days of school … They are going in First Reader in a few days. Learning real fast … Thawing the last few days. Am glad too. Seem like the winter was so long and took so much hay & straw … Washed clothes today and also washed Monday. Hadn’t washed for two weeks. The children were all sick and I didn’t like to have wet clothes hanging in here … Feel pretty tired just now. Do Mr. Hanson’s washing too this winter … We are getting eggs too now … Have sold 8 _ doz. besides what we used. They are 45¢ a dozen now. Cream is 61 cents. Everything is so high now when you have to buy … Have been sewing quite a bit lately, and have some more to do too. Sewing for that little one that is coming some time the last part of April or 1st of May. I have not been so very well lately as my back hurts me all the time. Hope we get a boy this time. Anton thinks we have girls enough. Don’t know yet who will stay with us. Have been looking for girls but never found any yet. Seems like they are getting married, what few they were. Have wrote to John’s sister up by Regan for her oldest daughter but haven’t got any answer yet. You know she stayed with Mrs. Hanson when she was so bad, [at] the last. She sure is a good girl if I do say it for John’s niece. So quick to get around. Can harness horses, milk cows or most anything. She is 17 years old … Potatoes are 5_ cents a lb. here at Wing. We are buying a few potatoes to eat, saving our own for seed … Write soon. Mrs. J.M. Hanson. [April 1920] Dear Friend:- … The weather is so cold all the time. Seems like it never warms up. Have set my incubator and 1 hen already … Am getting from 22 eggs to 28 & 30 a day. Think that is pretty well from 49 hens. Have sold quite a few too besides what we use. John has dragged and disced some … The ground freezes quite hard nights so he can only work in the afternoons … Mr. H. came up and spent Easter with us. And my sister and her family were here too… Thelma sure is growing and tries to talk everything. Have her broke of the diapers long ago and she wears little underwear. She likes them too. Have her hair in three braids now. Anges & her plays together while the others are at school. Anton & Helen goes to school every day … Teacher thinks Helen does extra well for 5 years… We milk 4 cows and some evenings I help milk but can’t help mornings as I cook breakfast & get the two ready for school. Don’t know when I’ll make garden as the weather is so cold all the time. We haven’t been able to locate a girl yet. Seem like they are hard to get. John wanted to look for one Sun[day], the 18 as my 9 months will be up the 24th of April. He don’t like to take a day off in the field and look for one but suppose if he has to he can do it. Some days I can’t hardly walk around as my limbs ache so bad at times. Guess it must be Rheumatism that bothers some. Had a letter from the folks and they bought a house & lot [at Brainerd, Minnesota] for $1500. 5-room house, wood shed, quite a few nice trees, fancy side walks, a lawn also, nice lot for a garden … Have 151 eggs setting in all. Hope I get 125 chicks at least, or even 100 strong chicks. Won’t be bad if only I can raise them … From your friend, Mrs. J.M. Hanson. [June, 1920] Dear Friend Mrs. Buck:- … Both baby and me are getting along fine. Baby is so good. Don’t know we have a baby. Named him Paul Thomas. Eva’s sister, Clarice, was here the first week, and the Mutchler girl from Wing has been here since. They were all good girls … Eva’s sister is 21 years old and John’s niece is 15 yrs old and this girl is 16 yrs old. Thelma sure thinks lots of baby Paul. You folks better come down this summer and see us. It is easy for you to come as you have an auto … The school is out here and I’m sure glad. The children can help a little with the baby so I can help with the milking. We milk 5 cows and I have helped most of the time. We have 6 little pigs & doing fine. They are slick as glass, so cute now. Have all my garden in now, finished on my birthday. We have not lost a chick since they hatched. They are nearly 4 weeks old now. Some folks have been out [of potatoes] so long they pretty near forgot what they look like. We had our own seed and about 3 bushel over. Have them planted now. They are selling for $6.00 a bushel … Our cattle are all in good shape, They had all the hay they could eat this winter. We were the only ones that had hay for our stock … We sold quite a lot of bail[ed] hay this winter. My sister (Mrs. Huget) has a baby girl the 19th of May and getting along fine. Weighed 10 lbs. They could not find a girl anywhere so there is a married woman staying with them. One of our neighbors. Girls are scarce. They all go to Bismarck this spring to work. All kinds of work there for girls… From your friend Mrs. J.M.H. [July, 1920] Dear Friend Mrs. Buck:- … I have been hoeing and trying to keep the weeds down in the garden, but seem like they will grow. Had lots of radishes but the lettuce didn’t come at all. We are having lots of rain … Wheat and everything else are growing good now. The children are all well. Wing did not celebrate this year. The neighbors had a picnic at Tollivers place 93/4 of a mile west of here). We had everything to eat that day … Had ice cream and several cakes too. I haven’t had a girl since the baby was 4 weeks old. He is so good all the time. He is just two months old now. He is so strong for his age. Can almost sit alone now. Mr. Hanson was up here Monday … He gets bread here. The children walks down there every little while with bread and he gives them lunch. They think a whole lot of Grandpa … He says he won’t stay there this fall if we get a crop. We all need a good crop this fall. Do you think you will move this fall? Chickens are growing good, what I have, only a few. Did not se the incubator more than once. I have the Belle City Incubator. What kind is yours? … Did you go out to vote? I did. First it ever happened though. Does Mr. Buck belong to the League?45 Everybody around here does. I see where Frazier won.46 I have not been up to Wolds this summer but John was up there two times. I’d like to go next week but don’t know whether we can or not. Good bye. Write. [No signature]. [August 25, 1920] Dear Friend Mrs. Buck, …John has been haying an cutting grain … He was thinking of going out shock thrashing for a week or 10 days. Crops are fair. We have some pretty good wheat. Some rust in some, grasshoppers and little of something else in some other grain. Seems like we can’t get a real good crop any more … Our [hired] man’s name is August Sekota. He is [a] Finlander but is a good worker. He isn’t much use[d] to machinery and worked mostly in mines of different kinds. Clarence got him in Bismarck. We tho’t we was pretty lucky to get him. We have all kinds of garden truck to eat. Corn, Rutabagoes, turnips, carrots, beans, cucumbers and onions & some cabbages, not so many cabbage. Clarence & his man has been out here to help us hay so that was 4 men to cook for and send their dinners with them. We don’t have any teacher for our school yet. Think they will pay $110 per month here … Sugar is 28¢ a lb. Flour is $4.25 for 50 lb. sack. Coffee 50¢ lb. [at] the least now. The storekeepers is living off the farmers [and] getting rich. Everything else is high … Anton drives the stacker team. They say he does real well for a small boy. Tomorrow the 26th is Anton’s birthday. He is 7 years old and Blanch sent him a silk handkerchief with butterflies on the edge. Helen will be 6 on the 17th of Sept[ember]. Agnes won’t have a birthday till Nov[ember] 23rd [fives years old]. Good bye from Mrs. J.M.H. [P.S.] Mr. Tice went to the river & got chokecherries & gave us _ gal. Have 10 qts. Of cucumbers canned up. [Fall, 1920] [First pages missing] … Mr. Hanson is getting along fine. Think he will have a sale this fall some time & quit farming. You folks better try to come up that day … I had a letter from Ma … Oluf’s working in the N[orthern] P[acific Railway] shops. Likes it fine.47 The Dr. don’t think Anna Erlandson’s baby will live. It has rheumatism, rickets, kidney trouble, and think it has paraysis [paralysis] now. Don’t know how to spell that word anyway. But it is too bad. They say it is so good. Do you have flies? We sure have the last days. Think I’ll have to batch a while as John is going out thrashing for a week or 10 days. Paying $10 per day for man & team. Paul nearly sits alone now. Have had fried chicken all ready. [No signature] [November, 1920] Dear Friend Mrs. Buck:- … Mr. Hanson’s sale was pretty good and [he] will start in about 2 weeks. He will visit Olaf & family on the way.48 We were all in to vote. And the Nonpartisans won we hear. What are you folks, or are you afraid to tell us. Well we will tell you the honest fact that we are Nonpartisans and not ashamed to admit it, and everybody around here west & east for a long ways and also south.49 No, I never made myself anything new yet. Made some new things for the children. Costs like everything to buy a few things now days. Made Thelma a red dress, trimmed it in blue braid… We got potatoes for own use & glad we did. Yes, grain is down here, too, and cattle you can’t hardly sell, or anything else … John is in Bismarck today. He went with our neighbor in [his] car. Baby is a big boy. He has no teeth yet, and is a good one, too. He was 6 mos. The 2nd of Nov[ember]. The 4th of Nov[ember] was our wedding day. Was married 8 years. Don’t seem that long either. I wish we lived nearer you folks or could get down there to see you. We have a spring wagon now. It is much nicer to ride in a two-seated one than one[-seated]. Eggs are 42¢ in Wing. Lots [of] sales around here this fall … From Mrs. J.M. Hanson [Late December, 1920] Dear Friend … Was Santa good to you? He was pretty good to the children. Thanks for the picture you sent us. We went to Wing Thanksgiving Day to a Nonpartisan Speaking. All took dinner and had a good time. Two speakers from Bismarck [were] out … Knews, I do not have any. I owe so many letters. Seems like I never get time to write, and we do not go so very much as the weather was bad quite a bit and no sleighing either. We have a good buggy but it is so high to sit up there … They had a Xmas program here in our school … The baby crawls all over now & tries to climb up. He is so strong … Anton & Helen are in Second Reader. I shall make some rompers for the baby. We killed a beef and hog since I had your letter … [no signature] [First of the year, 1921] [First page missing] … I’ve sold eggs since Xmas for 60 cents part of the time … Wheat sure is low enough, 1.19 for durum and 1.36 part of the time… Suppose you knew Ed & Ann have a baby boy. 4 boys in all now. I’m wearing glasses now. We went up to see Dr. about my head ache and he said to wear glasses. Which I did and it helped too. We went to Wilton with Eva’s father in [his] atuo …50 I got 18 eggs today. That isn’t so bad. I haven’t done much sewing this winter as cloth is so high. Have been patching & getting along with old ones… I sure miss Mr. & Mrs. Hanson both. Wheelers live on Mr. H’s place now and also rented his telephone … Mr. H. will soon be coming back here. Guess he will stay with us and up to Wold’s part of the time. Write soon. From Mrs. H. [January, 1921] Dear Mrs. Buck:- …Children goes to school every day and it keeps me busy, mending their clothes [and] washing up their things as they don’t have a great many changes … The water is soft, though, so I don’t mind washing. John is pretty good around the house so if I’m not feeling food, he helps me. My back isn’t strong at all since having the flu. That flu leaves a weak spot on most every one … We get 12 to 18 eggs a day. Have for a long time. Eggs come down to 12¢ per doz. at the farmers store. They aren’t worth selling. Well, it sure is too bad as wheat is so low and everything you buy is high. Cattle aren’t worth anything either. We would like to take Anton to Bismarck to have him operated for rupture after school is out but don’t know is we will or not. Hope we do anyway. I sent an order to Sears Sat[urday] for something for the children and for myself. Percale is 15¢ and here it is 28 & 30¢. If they don’t come down I’ll send for everything. Grandpa is with Oluf’s yet … Having a good time too visiting with his old friends. Am cooking some beef for supper. You better come up & we [will] have a social chat … If we can get somebody to do our chores we might come down after seeding. Can’t come this winter as the weather is uncertain this time of year. Hope we get a bumping big crop this year. We can stand all we get. I sent for a black mohair skirt. I want to get Anton a suit of some kind and also me a waist, children some white dresses, as we are about out of clothes. I’ve patched & tried to get along. But can’t always do that. Baby walks around the chairs & bed now so suppose he will start out alone one of these days. He gets a good many falls though, but forgets about it again … We milk 3 cows now & cream is only 34 now. It sure is fierce. [signature missing] [March, 1921] My Dear Friend Mrs. Buck:- … We had a few nice days last week but today is Monday and having another storm but isn’t so very cold. Our thermometer shows about zero … I’ll be glad when these blizzards are over. Seems like the last one never comes. Our hay is holding out pretty good but have been out of straw long ago. John had some old straw he was using for bedding and got a few loads off of our neighbor’s place … The children are all fine and going to school ever day … We had a letter from Mr. Hanson yesterday. He is well. Blanche & the boys are going to school. Ma & Olaf are well. Olaf is still working. They have everything fine in their house. Blanche has an organ and she took a few lessons. Olaf buys her anything she wants… What did you do last Sun[day] the 5th? We had company. One of our neighbors east of us come over & spent the day. First time ever she visited us … She had a baby last spring and it died when only 2 or 3 days old. Then about 3 weeks later she lost the baby older than it was. This one had pneumonia the 3rd time. Now they hone only 1 boy left. He is a few days older than Thelma… Now she is going to have — and pretty near lost this one. She was in [the] hospital a week since Feb[ruary] 1st. They had lots of bad luck. Dr. Thelen was out last fall to see her. They sure have lots of Dr. bills to pay out. We sent to Sears for the girls a new dress apiece, some gingham. I’ll have to buy more dress goods later. Have you done your sewing yet? Well I haven’t. Wish you was closer or the telephone line was longer … Maybe I’ll have more knews next time. Your friend, Mrs. J.M.H. [April 25, 1921] Dear Friend Mrs. Buck:- Rec’d your welcome letter a few days ago and also the package and many thanks for it. They are [a] little large now but will be allright for summer. They are real nice. It [will] come in handy for him to slip on for Sunday. He will be 1 yr. old the 2nd of May. We think he is real cute. He is just the right age to make us laugh at him. He is learning to walk now, takes 4 & 5 steps at a time. Then he sits down again … John has 27 or 8 acres [of] wheat seeded now. And had some more ground ready about to seed. It has been raining since 4 o’clock yesterday p.m. and today is Monday the 25th and rains yet … Have not made garden yet. We haven’t any little chickens yet. The people here are loosing them so bad. Mr. H is with yet. Hope we get a good crop this year. Everything is so high that it takes lots to buy. We just depend on those cream checks. We milk 6 cows now and will have 1 more soon. The Nonpartisans will have a picnic at Tollivers _ of a mile west of here the 7th of May. You better try to come up that day … We only have 1 room to clean [and] it isn’t finished either so I don’t have … trouble cleaning house. But wish the house was large enough so I could clean it once or twice a year. Eggs are 20 here … Clarence & Eva are both well. They have 1 boy will be 2 in June. Nothing doing with Eva yet. [signature missing]. [August 9,1921] [First pages missing] … We went down to visit my cousin on Mr. Hanson’s place. I’ll tell you it seem so lonesome not to see either of them there. Look like they both ought to come to the door. But those times have gone forever. I feel like crying lots of times but that don’t help a bit. So I choke back the tears if I can, but sometimes I can’t choke them back right away … Don’t think I’ll have more than 2 or 3 qts Rhubarb or maby 4 but not any more. I’d like to go visit the folks but can’t this year. We need a bigger house but we won’t get that either. Well I don’t care. I want to get out of here as soon as we can. It is hard to do it this year as the stock & machinery won’t sell for anything.51 We have a boy 13 years old helping us now. And the children takes lunch every p.m. Do you give lunch? If they get used to it it is hard to get along without it … From Mrs. J.M. Hanson. [Fall, 1921] … It sure is hot & dry here. I was to the river one Sun[day] not long ago. John stayed home with the children. I went with my sister and her husband’s brother (a batchler) [bachelor]. He has a car. I got enough to can 10 qts & made 2 qts of jell. We thrashed all but the flax. Our[s] did not yield more than 6 bu. To the acre. We had 70 acres and thrashed 430 bus., and oats & speltz got 200 bu. Off 28 acres. That sure was poor … We have not cut our corn yet and cucumbers I did not get a one to can. Those watermelons & muskmelons make my mouth water. Sure wish I was close to your garden as I did not get anything hardly in the garden. Do you have flies? We sure do. They are so bad this summer. The baby takes his time about going in & out the door. [Last pages missing] [October, 1921] Dear Friend Mrs. Buck:- … John & me both have sore throat but hope to be allright again soon. Agnes goes to school now with Anton & Helen and won’t miss a day if she can help it. She likes it fine. Anton & Helen are in Second Reader now. Getting along fine too. Agnes hasn’t been going a month yet & can write pretty good for a beginner. She couldn’t write a thing when she started. We get 13 to 15 & 16 eggs a day, have for quite a while now. They are 45 cents in Wing. [Last page missing.] [October, 1921] Dear Friend Mrs. Buck & all:- Thank you many times for the pictures you sent me … I do not know if that picture looks like you or not as I [have] almost forgotten what you look like … … We were in to vote Fri[day]. Suppose you were too. The League was ahead in Wing Township. Well in all the townships around here the League was ahead. I hope the League wins.52 I haven’t done much sewing yet. Made a few garments what I really needed. Got some outing in Wing to make drawers for the girls to wear over the union suits. The drawers keeps the underwear from getting so dirty. Paul is a good boy. He tells me most of the time so it helps lots in the washing. I am so glad I got him broke before cold weather set in … I do not know what the farmers are going to do. Grain isn’t worth anything now. And flour is $2.25 for 50 lb. sack. That is too much. Did it blow any down to your place on Fri[day]? It sure did here … John was to the mine and bro’t home 3 ton in that dust & dirt. His eyes were so full. When he was coming home there was corn fodder blowing ahead of him lots of times and hay and Russian thistles also across the prairie. We were up to one of my friends yesterday, Sun[day], n.w. of here. Sure had a nice visit … Your friend, Mrs. J.M. Hanson. [Mid-November, 1921] My Dear Friend Mrs. Buck & family:- … Am sorry Nestos, Kitchen & that other IVA got in. Do not see how [that] could happen … Those IVA’s are sure a happy bunch after Nestos got in …[a page missing].53 We have 18 cattle and 9 horses. We will have 3 colts to break this spring 9coming0. But John won’t have much to do, only to break some for flax and plow a little for oats. He has his wheat ground all ready to seed… Am sorry to her of your father being so poorly. Hope he gets well again soon. Rupture is a bad thing. Our oldest boy is ruptured quite bad … so I know how he suffers. We should have had him operated before but crops hasn’t been very good and prices so low that we have neglected doing so. It hasn’t bothered him for some time now. But he never will be well until it is tended to … I washed clothes this forenoon & had to dry them in here I baked bread also & ironed up my colored clothes that I washed yesterday, today I washed the white clothes. The children are going to school every day. Haven’t been tardy once. They feel pretty good about that, the only ones that hasn’t been tardy… I do not feel a bit good as my hips & knees just ache and guess it is the rheumatism that bothers me. It isn’t anything else. Agnes stayed all night with our teacher Thurs[day] night and she felt good because she was the first one of the children to stay with her. They sure like her fine this year. You must excuse [my] writing as I’m not feeling food. I just ache all over my body. We have S[unday] S[chool] yet but I won’t go if I’m not feeling better by tomorrow … I think I’ll scrub the floor today and also give the children all a bath. John is banking the house and he fenced his hay stacks and shall haul some of it in (2 stacks). We sold our hogs all but 3 that we shall keep over and have one big one we will butcher. We will butcher long about Thanksgiving. We will kill a steer also long in the winter. Mrs. J.M. Hanson, your friend. Feb. 7th, 1922 My Dear Friend:- … Will tell you we [have] 2 sick girls in bed. Helen was quite sick but she got allright. They all have tonsilist [tonsillitis]. Her fever was up to 104 _ . She was pretty sick for over [a] week. Thelma now is pretty sick. Anton was sick Xmas week. I hope the children gets well and stay well. We called Dr. Thelen in Wilton and he advised us what to do. So we are [treating] Agnes & Thelma the same way and they both are getting along fine… Anton & Helen are going to school And our nephew is here from Mont[ana] and he also goes. He is 14 years old. You know his mother died about 8 yrs. ago.54 I would like to go out a little but the weather has been so cold that I’d rather stay by the fire. We were over to my sister’s place Xmas & that is the last I’ve been anywheres. Wish you lived closer so we could visit back & forth. I get an egg now and then too. They aren’t worth anything in Wing now. 20 cent & 18. Cream came up a little. It is 27 in Wing but we ship to Felton Produce and get quite a bit more. We milk 7 cows … Cream is 12 or 13 cents higher east. Clarence & family are pretty good. Their baby will be 3 yrs. in June. Don’t think there is anything there yet. Her baby has had an awful cold since Xmas. Clarence is busy hauling gravel. He has several teams and he has a cook car & they all bach together. Eva & [her] sister stays on the farm taking care of the cows and such like. He goes home once in a while to see how she is getting along… Mr. H is sure enjoying himself. Am sure glad he can go out like that sometimes. He was feeling fine the last letter we got. It was sure lonesome on that farm for him. No one realize[s] how it is till they have to go thru it like Mr. H. did. Our nephew is so hard of hearing. He is troubled with ear ache now. His ears runs but they are lots better. He is a good worker though. We sent to Montgomery Ward of St. Paul for Paul a pair of shoes and he sure is proud of them. He does not talk much but understands everything we say to him. Wheat is going up a little now. It is 84¢ (Durum). But flour is high enough though. Pretty close to $4.00 per 100 lbs. John might go to the mine tomorrow or next day. Then I’ll have the chores to do for night & morning anyway. The mine he goes to will be about 17 miles. That is a long ways this time of year. Asplund mine, you maby heard about it. There is a mine closer but not as good coal.55 Children are doing fine in school now. Like their teacher so much better than last year … Our hay is holding out good … John said it was too bad you had to buy your hay. It sure counts up … Your friend, Mrs. J.M. Hanson. [Summer, 1922] Mrs. Fred Buck:- My Dear Friend:- … We had a good rain last Friday the 14th and looks like rain again. It has been [a] little warm some days and it don’t take long for the ground to dry out. My garden is looking fine in spite of the hail. Cucumbers are in blossom and the pumpkins have little ones on. But tomatoes I may get a few but not many as the hail killed my first ones. But Eva give me about 2 dozen [plants] so maybe I’ll get some from them as they are in blossom now. John has been haying. He cut some of the poorest rye for hay and also some oats… Mr. Hanson’s rye is nearly ready to cut. He is with us yet … We did not raise many flowers this year. The seed did not come very good. Poultry is doing fine also. Clarence & Eva are well … Her baby is past 3 years old. No sign of anything yet. What will you do tomorrow? We think we [will] go to our neighbor just west _ of [a] mile. We will start church in our school house Tues[day] the 25th and it will last till the 13 of Aug[ust]. But we won’t go every night. Maby go once in a while. It is the shouting Methodist they have here. I’ve canned up 30 qts of pieplant and 3 qts of currents and 1 qt. of jell from some currents & Rhubarb. We had frost here the same night you did, 7th of July. It frosted 2 of my pumpkins but the cucumbers it never touched and the west end of the corn was frosted a little but it wasn’t bad here at all. But other corn around here was frosted bad. Our grain is picking up and we shall get feed and some rye if we have good luck. The grain will all be a little later but maby it will be allright. Children are all in bed and it is after 10 o’clock so maby I better go too. Anton & Agnes are up to Wolds visiting. Helen & Thelma were up there 10 days. John & the children had the pink eye but are about all right … [Ma’s] are all well but Olaf is out of work again. He has picked quite a few berries now since the strike is on … I wish I could go down there to visit. I would sure be happy if I could go.56 You folks better take a trip up here. We would be so glad to see you all … I wish you could come to our meetings. They get awfully loud and cry so loud. Holler & whoop, laugh & cry… From your friend, Mrs. Effie Hanson. [Summer, 1922] My Dear Friend:- … We are all thru with the grain cutting but flax & millet. Flax is turning so it won’t be long. John & Alfred shall start haying tomorrow Fri[day] 4 miles southwest of here, so they take their lunch with them. But I do dread to fix lunches as it is so much work. Crops are pretty good after all, considering the hail we had. Oats are good. We ought to have lots of feed for the stock. Have corn and 3 stacks of rye for hay. Garden is good. Pumpkins nearly good enough to use. I wish you could ship me up a box of tomatoes if you have good luck with them. The hail knocked ours to pieces. I would be so tickled to get some. Cucumbers are fine and lots of corn & potatoes this year. Have some cabbage and quite a few carrots Y rutabagoes & beets. Am salting my cucumbers in a jar a I don’t have enough fruit jars to use for all … Our great revival is over. Only got one new one and the rest of them just renewed over I guess you call it. We never joined them at all but went several times. They were after me 2 times to join but I never. They will have prayer meetings every Thursday at the school house till school begins, then they will go to the neighbors. Yes, I wish I could go home & help eat the strawberries. I am a little bit homesick this summer but don’t know when I can go home. It don’t take long to go — leave here about 20 til 10 A.M. and get there before midnight the same day — make one change only … We have been shipping our cream now. It pays much better. We got 1.20 more on an 8-gal. [can] than we do by selling in Wing. Cream is 23 in Wing but 33 below. We ship to different ones, not the same ones all the time. Tomorrow I shall go to Wing with cream, with 10 gal. To ship to St. Paul… Well last night I was watering the team and one of them turned away from the tank & hit my ankle with his shoe and last night all night it pained me considerable and this morning it swelled up so bad I can’t hardly walk at all. Guess he hit me on the ankle bone on [my] left foot. I should scrub but think I’ll let that go on account of my foot… We have some spavin cure I’ve been rubbing on. Well, today is Wed[nesday] the 23rd and my foot is a whole lot better. I think the hot vinegar helped it. I was going to see the Dr. today if it hadn’t been better. Anna E. has another boy, was born the 4 of August. Weighed 8 lbs. They nearly lost him as the 2 women was afraid of him and wouldn’t go near him. It was Ed’s mother and another woman. They laid him away till the next day & never as much as washed him. So Anna found him soaked in blood. So baby & Anna are getting along fine now … Good bye, Mrs. Effie Hanson. [Fall, 1922] My Dear Friend Mrs. Buck:- Rec’d your most welcome letter long ago & have neglected answering it and I’ve been busy quite a bit of the time so now today is Sun[day] and will write some. Paul is asleep. Grandpa & Anton went down to his place. John went for hay and Thelma to S[unday] S[chool] and Helen & Agnes went to my sister’s place yesterday and will come to S.S. and then home again. And I broke the Sabbath by baking bread. We shall [have] the thrashers Tues[day] or Wed[nesday] and Grandpa will get them some time tomorrow… Children are in school and not any too well satisfied with our teacher. She is so bad to threaten them all the time. Anton takes any thing to heart anyway and he don’t seem to be well sometimes. I think it is because of his rupture more than anything else. Every day she tells them she will put them back if they do not do their lessons and she will keep them is next. The teacher last year was a splendid one … Year before last we had one the same way. Anton’s nerves were all unstrung. He got so he would faint away, sometimes. We took him to Dr. and he said that was all that caused it. She was so cross, keep him in so much and pull his ears. It was partly because we are N.P. [Nonpartisan Leaguers], and she IVA [Independent Voters Association]. This teacher now is IVA and the N.P. children, she has a spite at them. Our corn isn’t so very good. You know the hail struck it and it was put back a whole lot. Anna has 5 boys. She is feeling fine with this one. I believe she wanted a girl this time … I’ve put up 8 gal. Of cucumbers only and they were planted the 14 of June as my first ones were hailed out. So you can see they did not do bad after all. I did not think I’d get any as it turned out so dry, but we got a good rain and helped them along. My sister is expecting an increase about Xmas time. That will be the 4th one. Well I also baked bread today if it was Sun. Clarence & Eva & boy went to Wing not long ago and going home the neck yoke come down some way so Eva was pitched out over the back of the seat, lit on her back … She was hurt bad and scratched some. She couldn’t hardly walk around to do her house work … Clarence is out thrashing now — has 6 teams out. Eva is quite a worker. She does all kinds of work. Was that the way before she was married. She stayed her 2 falls and [I] liked her fine. She was so good to the sick … and so good to the baby.57 [No signature.] [Fall, 1922] My Dear Friend:- … John was away making 6 dollars a day thrashing. He made just even $100. But thrashing is over now & Jno has been mowing the roads. He gets $1.00 a mile for 1 swath. Yes, we sure enjoyed the tomatoes and they were fine. We eat quite a few raw. They were so nice. I saved quite a few seed from them. Hope I’ll have tomatoes next year. Ever so much obliged to you for sending them … Olaf is out of work yet on account of the strike … has been on since the 5th of July… We got our potatoes dug. We got 115 bu. In the cellar and small ones we give to the pigs. Got 2 bu. rutabagoes, 1 bu. carrots, and Eva give me _ bu. turnips. 1 bu. beets we raised and 8 gal cucumbers. And Jno bought 500 lbs. of flour, $3.45 per 100. We won’t starve for a while anyway. Later on we shall butcher a hog. Then it will be sugar & coffee to buy … I haven’t done much sewing yet. Have some outing that I shall fix some quilts with. Have to make some underskirts for the girls. Sent to Sears for overalls for our boys and sweaters for Paul & Thelma. I want to go up to Wolds next Sat[urday] & stay over night but don’t know for sure yet… Well election is not far off. The Leaguers are wanting to get a law thru so the farmers can get more for their grain & IVA’s are fighting it. Some strong IVA’s are going to vote for that law. These elevators are sure hogs. We had the finest wheat there is and they docked us 4 percent. What can we do but take it. And they steal on the bushels besides …58 Grandpa’s crop was fair as can be … his barley went 40 bu to the acre. John gets half of that. The potatoes in Hazelton are cheap. In Wing they ask 1.25 when you buy them. And you sell them for 30 cents. Children are in school and doing pretty well so far. They got pretty good on their report cards … Hope we have nice weather till after election any way. It sure hurts those IVA’s as long as this nice weather lasts. I hope we have our way for once any way. Can’t you come up here one Sun[day] soon … If we had a car we would run down but to come by train it takes so long and it is hard to get one to do chores as help is kindy scarce now any way. We never sold our grain, only enough to pay [the] thrash[ing] bill. Grain is coming up a little but elevators are all filled up & can’t get cars to ship. Can’t get cars to ship hogs or cattle … I did not get more than 2 _ gal of wht [white] beans after the hail got 2/3 of them. Seem like the weather man is against us raising beans … I went to S. School yesterday. There wasn’t many out, only about 25 in all. Ole Wold came down yesterday and brought Grandpa down. Grandpa & him went to a sale at Regan Sat[urday] and Grandpa bought a bed, heating stove and some kitchen utensils. He shall stay in his own house this winter. He has his grain stored there for a while till prices go up a little more and he don’t think it would be safe to leave |