They Came To Montana: August 2013

Monday, August 12, 2013

Amanuensis Monday....long lost letters

It's been a long time since I've participated in a Geneabloggers daily prompt. But with the arrival of the packet from Marita in Sweden, I'm excited to transcribe two family letters.

Laramie 3/12 1896

Beloved Parents
I received your letter the 30th of November, a few days late of my birthday. But it was a pleasant and warming when it did arrive. Thank you so much for the little rose leaf. It is very precious to me. It is now almost Christmas again and I wish that my writing will reach you by Christmas.

I am thinking that I am going to celebrate Christmas with my uncle and Christmas morning at 4:30 going to church. Then I will probably have to stay home and cook dinner for my master.
I will go to church in the evening again where all the Christmas gifts, apples and nuts are given out. I heard that Sven is now home helping you. That glads me, now that he is so big and nice too I hope.

Have you received any letters from Johanna and Andy lately? Are they sending you any money at all? We have not seen each other for a long time, Johanna and I. I long to see her again and the girls, but I am thinking that I might just walk from home to Montana, sometime during the winter.

Have you heard anything from Hulda? I am just wondering what has happened to her. I never really hear from her. I hope that she will write you sometime if she is still alive. Is Nils planning to return to America or is he content with his farming at home? I am sending with this letter five dollars for you for Christmas and if Johanna sends some money then it might cover the cost for a winter coat to mom. Now the letter is filled almost and I wish with my whole heart a very happy Christmas.

Love your daughter Anna
Look above the Crucified Jesus. Greetings to everyone in the family, Uncle gives his regards. I send some small presents.
letter from Anna Fält, from the Marita Fäldt collection, Sweden. Translation provided by Marita Fäldt

Rock Springs Wyoming
1 April 1895

Beloved Parents and brother Sven,

Many thank for the letter that we received some time ago. It is lovely to hear that you are in good health. I also would like to inform you that we are in good health. We have our good Lord to thank for this.

I saw in your letter that you have already bought a piece of land from Nils. I can even see that you would sell your place to us. I don't think that will happen for some time, because we do not have the money to pay for the whole place, and travel to Sweden and be in debt. That would be crazy. As long as I can earn 300 Krones a month in America. But if you would like to borrow some money to pay for Nils then we can let you received against security deposit of some kind. I am not really familiar with farming but I thought that I could buy your place and build a blacksmithy there and earn my liviing that way. But can happen that it is not worth while so then I am better off where I am right now. At last, a dear greeting to all from us including Esther and Ruth.

Best regards,
Gus Borgreen
Rock Springs
Box 416 Wyoming
North America
letter from Gus Borgreen to Lave and Hanna Fält in Sweden, from the Marita Fäldt collection, Sweden. Translation provided by Marita Fäldt

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Fält family photos, letters and documentation from Sweden

I was contacted by a distant cousin in Sweden. We exchanged notes and email messages and two days ago a packet arrived in the mail box from her. It was full of photos, letters and translations, family group sheets and other documentation connecting Johanna Fält with her parents and siblings. Below is a sampling of items from the packet. There are no words to describe the excitment at this windfall of information and a new relative to add to my Christmas card list. I can hardly believe my luck. All items from the collection of Marita Fäldt.