Micheal's Letter to Grandfather

Michigan City, N.D.

Dec. 3, 1893

Dear Grandfather,

Because you would like to see my handwriting, I will try to send you a few lines, but I am a poor man to write because I don’t have much time for that because I have to be with my father both summer and winter. Now we have much to do outside but it has not been cold this winter. Just a little snow and no storms up to this time. We use the wagon when we go to town.

Tomorrow papa and I are going to town to sell wheat, which we hauled in earlier, but it is so little price for wheat. This fall under 50¢ a bushel. This fall we bought a new binder. It should cost $130 but they got four oxen. We sold them according to weight so we got $106. We also sold two cows and got $26 each.

Because you can’t see me, I have to tell you I have become big but not as fat as when you saw me. I am well grown and strong and I am never sick, which is good. It is soon Christmas and Mama has promised me something nice if I learn my lesson, and that makes me glad. Live well, then, dear grandfather. I hope you live long and happily.

Dearest greeting from your Micheal T. L.

Low Prices, High Costs

Land might have been less expensive than in Norway, but the cost of living was high on the plains.

"I guess I’ll send a few more lines hoping that you have received a letter with pictures that I sent to you this summer. . . News is so scarce there is nothing to write about except all is well.

Micheal is now through plowing and he has plowed 40 acres almost alone with two oxen. Now it is to haul wheat to town but it is so sorrowfully cheap. Think, only 50¢ and less for each bushel. This fall we got 900 bushels wheat and 300 bushels barley and oats. We had a threshing machine one day for $60, so it is expensive work here in Dakota. There was a time this fall they paid $2 a day with the machines so the farmer has to pay a lot again.

We bought a self-binder this fall and paid $130. From us they got four oxen, for which they gave $106, and the rest he paid with cash. You might know, grandfather, that Micheal was a big man when he got to sit on the new binder and drive it.

Father and Anna shocked so we do not have to hire anyone for work because the children are so big and strong that they work like grown people. So we have it good with that too lately."

The Crop Report of 1892

Lars Gjeldaker never visited America. He never rode the train across the country, never watched the landscape flatten under tall grass, never saw a lone stand of cottonwoods on the horizon.

But he had a bird's-eye view of life at the Lillehaugen farm.

In February 1892, Sigrid reported, "The crops were good last year, the first wheat harvest in Dakota. Now we will see if it will be better here. Some have given up their land and moved away. Tosten and Micheal have much work in the barn, as we have many animals. They also bought a team of horses. There is much to buy when a man is beginning to farm, and here it is expensive. Machine and tools we need, but we are afraid to buy before we can pay."

In October, she sent another update with details on yields and prices.

"This summer we have had the best and nicest weather, so for the first time we got a good crop. Now we have threshed and plowed. They have left to haul the wheat to town before winter comes, because then it is best to hibernate like the bear.

We got over 800 bushels of wheat, 400 oats. The wheat is worth 50¢ a bushel. Low price! Now we have to sell wheat to pay for the horses we bought last fall for $200, and threshing cost $52. We had a man during threshing for two dollars a day. So that’s the way it goes with the money. It goes here and there.

But we are satisfied that God has helped here. This year I guess there has been very bad weather at many other places. Through the summer we sold eight cattle. We have 22 left and we have enough hay for them. We have mowed quite a bit, Micheal has done most of the mowing and raking. Grandfather should see how big and smart a man he has become this fall. Now he is going along with Father and drive to town and they will both have teams."

She adds, "Lars has to watch the cattle and that is not so good now with prairie fires all around the places."

A few years later, another prairie fire will alter their lives forever.

Letter Excerpt: February 25, 1892

February 25, 1892

Dear unforgettable Father! Mother and Brothers,

Now that at last your long-awaited letter has come, I want to send you my thanks for the letter. I often wondered why Father waited so long before he sent us a letter. How lovingly welcome to receive your dear familiar hand again and read the dear lines from Father. Yes, I thank God for letting that happen. With gladness I see that everything is well with you at home. And the same I can say from here because we have our health to date, which is the best of everything good. God gives us His grace.

First we must tell you that on November 4 we were blessed with a little well-shaped son, Theodore, who now is growing and bright for his age.

The crops were good last year, the first wheat harvest in Dakota. Now we will see if it will be better here. Some have given up their land and moved away.

Tosten and Micheal have much work in the barn, as we have many animals. They also bought a team of horses. There is much to buy when a man is beginning to farm, and here it is expensive. Machine and tools we need, but we are afraid to buy before we can pay.

You must all now live and greet everyone we know and would like to hear from us. Loving greetings from me and mine. Clara now has a pen. She will write to Grandfather later.

Sigrid