Jan Nilsson comments:

The following is part of a continuing story about my family with roots at the farm Busvebacken ("Backen" for the neighbors) in Bringasen village, Kyrkas parish and Jamtland district in northern Sweden, and all the family members neverending curiosity for living societies and politics in Sweden and abroad. There are also a lot of very good, not to say maybe uniqe storytellers in the crowd of family members. That is showed in an intense letter writing during the years, beside to their ordinary work with skilled farming and political and social engagements.

The story behind my familys settlement i Kyrkas is kind of the story about historic farming which I have tried to describe in short in English at the site EnglishSummary.

Short story about Hans Hansson and his family

Jonas, Ante o Hans Hansson 1868 Family Hans Andersson 1884 Kristinas picture 1911

First photo ever of Hans Hansson is from 1868, the three eldest boys of Hans Andersson, Jonas, Ante(Anders) and at that time the youngest Hans jr (right in too big a kostume). Just two years later began Hans Andersson's 20-years-period in the Swedish parliament where he had to stay in Stockholm the five first months of every year. His wife Brita had to manage the farm with the help of an employed farmhand when Hans was away, but from the year 1875 all routine work was done by the family. Here Hans jr had many opportunities to learn and practise the carpenting and timber work which later became his occupation during his stay in Michigan. On a farm like this one with wooden houses there where built and maintained hay sheds, horse stables, cow stables etc nearly every year and each farm could have more than thirty individual roofs to take care of.

1884 was the last year with whole family at home - mid picture. The son Hans jr stands to the right, and daughter Anna (left side) married the same year. Annas daughter Kristina painted the first coloured picture (right above) of the farm 1911 - the year when Hans jr made his first trip to the U S. From the year 1904 does Annas 17-year-old son Hans Ericson start his photogenic work with picturing relatives and other people, farms, livinghouses and landscapes in the surroundings of Kyrkas, which illustrates my notes from 1904 and forwards to around WW2.

Here it´s time to mention a confusing use of swedish surnames. There was an official change in naming children which started with the year of 1900. Children born before 1900 usually were given surnames with their fathers´ Christian name in it, e g son of Hans - Hansson or daugter of Jonas - Jonsdotter. Women kept their original surnames even after marriage. The year 1900 it changed so sons and daughters got the same surname as their father's and women changed to husband's surname at marriage. That´s the reason why the mother of Hans Hansson born 1826 is called Brita Jonsdotter before 1900 and Brita Andersson after 1900, while Hans Hansson´s wife Karin Jacobsdotter was Hansson after marriage and their sons Martin and Joe were Hansson after their fathers surname.

Hans jr was born 1861 as the fourth of coming six children to the newly established farmer couple Hans Andersson and his wife Brita Jonsdotter on a new farm in Bringasen. Both the parents came from very longstanding and skilled farming families in the small neighbor villages. At that time the school system in Kyrkas only supplied a low grade primary school of three or four years. which moved between farms from village to village. A kind of secondary boarding school, one or two years, was available in Lit, where I know that at least Ante studied. Otherwise there was a tradition of self-tuition parents-to-children in the families several generations backwards which, according to Antes later biography on his father (Hans Andersson), was said to has gotten him enough math skills from his father Anders Larsson to be able to manage and lead the economy of the Parish, and that was the same way Hans A´s father Anders Larsson also had got his leadership of the Parish from his father Lars Andersson from Lit.

After Hans A had been a MP (1870) he sent lots of litterature for self-tuition home to his family from Stockholm, and that made the whole family very well skilled in community work, political science and familiar with the global world. I am sure that all children were as curious of knowledge as Hans Andersson himself who in some letters to the home complained about that his eyes were stressed because of all the reading he had to do. All family members were engaged for better education, locally by initiating and raising houses and employed a skilled teacher for the first secondary school on a division from Busvebacken,( in the same corner where Hans jr got his holding). Hans sr also was engaged for arranging basic education and further advisory in farming skills in Jamtland as early as in 1870ties.

There is no doubt that Hans jr also was very well-red. Some time in his life he made up his mind to learn about bible studies, which no one in the rest of the family had done, in spite the normal way to make academic career for boys with a good head for studies was teological studies at a university. Neither intelligence nor economy should have prevented him or any of the other children at the time on Busvebacken to do that, but I think (from their writings) that all of them had a more firm belief in working with earthbound development in real life than to do studies in oldfashoned imaginations and religous governing as a priest.

Another preparation for the future took place when Hans Andersson and Brita decided to make a partition of the estate and inheritance 1887. Ante, the eldest son, who married that year got the estate Busvebacken, and had to pay the worth of equal shares to the other sisters and brothers. With his share could Jonas buy their mother Britas home stead in Lungre from Brita´s retiring brother (without heirs).

Hans jr got a small division from the estate as a crofter´s holding, which he built up with small farm buildings during the 1890ties before he, 39 year-old, married 18 year-old Karin Jacobsdotter from Undersaker the year 1900. That holding was later expanded with an estate 1 mile away in Kyrkbyn near to the old Kyrkas Church, and when Joe returned to Bringasen 1946 he expanded even more with Maja´s home estate in Lillsjohogen and two rented estates.

The eldest sister, Anna, was already married to a young farmer in Bringasen, and the two youngest ones married to farming estates also around the year 1900. After that it allways seemed to be a good mood between the familys of sister´s and brother´s and they cooperated often as independent enterprices in different ways.

Hans Hansson Stockholm 1891 Hans Hansson in a studio photo, Stockholm 1891.

Hans jr was possibly the only one who made a compromise between realities and divine interests, and went to Stockholm around 1890 for learning to work as a pastor in the Evangelical church. These studies led him to work as a pastor in Undersaker, Jamtland where he also found his wife Karin. I also think that the emigrated relatives of Karin trigged Hans jr´s interest for American studies and the later emigration with the family.

I have also in other letter exhanges found that there was a national discussion in Sweden around 1910 about why the great emigration took place. Ante and maybe even Hans were engaged in a political association with the task to prevent or slow down Swedish emigration at that time.

Hans Hanssons work with the Evangelical church was passed on by heredity to his sons, who were strongly engaged in a small parish in High Point, Issaqua, Wa, where they settled down after their emigration 1927. That little parish is still living with earlier support from Martin Hansson and now from his descendants.

Hans, Karin and Joe Hans,Karin, Martin o Josef 1907 Karin Hansson med Martin och Josef 1912

Here is probably one of first photos by Hans Ericson with Karin, Hans and about one-year-old Joe in the back of their new house in Bringasen 1904. The studiophoto with Martin too is taken in the town Ostersund 1907, while the third is pictured by Hans Ericson 1911 or 1912 when Hans Hansson was in America the first time. Karin Hansson with Martin and Joe are cutting hay at home in Bringasen.


Letters from  America

602 Iron River, Mich, U.S.A.  ½ 1912.

Dear Brother!  Grace and Peace! I have probably  been fuzzy not writing to You.  Looking for a poor  excuse  in the fact that I thought  You have got some information  from  a lot of  the letters  I have sent  to my home.  I´m  also thinking that  those letters  sent  to  the  paper "Jamtlandsposten" are observed, and now also that one sent in Jan. this year.  However will I now make up for parts of  what I have neglected.

What I'm writing  about America is  neither for or against the Emigration, because  that is for me up to  the individual's  business of their own to decide, it´s just for telling the matter  as that appear. If others tell a contradictual opinion, they may do, because it isn´t my task  to fight them or to try to refute  them.

As You now ask for my statements, I want to  make it briefly, becuse space doesn´t admit an appropriate presentation.  According to Your letter about the Mosses of Sweden, I think they will make a god future, and  I want that the  small one  south of  lake Gillersjon must remain.

But I have another opinion about America than  what is said in  enclosed  press cutting. It is  possible that farms here can be impoverished  as well as e.g. impowerishments of homesteads  in Sweden by companies.  And then you go to another region and ravage again. Even here do you have people who just harvest and do nothing thereafter. They think that is sustainable.  Easiest way to get rid of the manure was many times to put it in a nearby pit, or to burn it on the spot. No farmer hereby is silly enough to pay as mad as the farmers in Ostersund. If he wants manure, he can wait for late winter  to get a payment of 25 cents a wagonload  taken. The need for fertilisers isn´t  strong. You can see the most excellent oat crops and also hay crops  at non fertilised  soils. Commonly you may not fertilise oats, because it will then lie down and rotten.

My belief is that the blackpaintings of the future  crops of America will never occur.  However there is a lack of good management of soils until you may see a change.

Other dangers than  those mentioned can threaten the country.  If too many  "niggers", mobs and bad workers are coming  can soon all of it  easily be destroyed.  In my opinion the fears will be not so little. But you may remember the government already have started to know, and presumably they will take care in a good direction.  To loose workers without craftmanship I presume the U S generally will not have  great wages for you.  There is a lack of  employment in Sweden but it is in a small scale.  A firewood logger should I advise not to work here like in Sweden,  because maple trees for firewood is unbeleavbly  hard and heavy to cut up.   Of coarse  the maple logs too are hard to handle.  Many times  are the work heavier, more dangeros and more difficult than in Sweden, but not always.  You may not beleave that all works are done in great hurry in this country.  That is very various.

If you can bring good money with you to America it is helpful.  Anyhow in the beginning is bad knowledge  of the language a big obstacle.  But that is passing.  Your personal experience from America can be different.  It often is depending of your own  actions.  An old man  being away from  his family in Sweden for 17 years said he would like to go home.  He didn´t get any money left here.  Once upon a time he got a payment near 200 dollars, decided to go,  but at first he had to visit a saloon and there his money was left and so also his journey.  Booze is even in this country a vast destruction, and the wicked deeds are often connected.  Here are, like somewhere else  globally, very good and very bad people. They are very kind as workers.  There are few exceptions  from that.  The character will became somewhat else here.  "Help yourself" is the norm.  Accordingly  they don´t interfere with others´  businesses.  The political mess so common in Sweden is totally absent here. You know that it´s not on politics  but on  work you can exist.  Maybe they will move a bit at the presidential election.  And in the papers there is  nearly all silence. Always there is normally a good industrial peace forever.  Sometimes a strike can occur, but  politics is quiet.  As far as I am concerned I will say like many others: "America is all right, and Sweden is all right". 

The climate has a strong influence on my body.  Merely can my greedy appetite bear enough witness to that. I have many excellent swedish friends too, I get on well and hope for the best.  Soon will my brother-in-law in Washington  come over which will be even better I think.

In Januari there was a cold weather down to 46 farenheit = around 43 celcius.  It turned out well tho. You stay inside at cold weather.  January was colder than ever within living memory. Nice weather occurred before Christmas. Today has been mild weather,  so now it will probaly turn and  in March we expect  that the 8 inches of snow will be gone. Otherwise have winters of the last years been very mild with less amounts of snow than earlier, when the forests of Michigan had their golden age.  Now I have to quit, because  I cannot write a comprehensive letter about this country.  You  must understand that a journey  to America is very interesting, so just a small part of that can be told in a letter. Greetings to mother and all in Backen! I will probably write to mother later on.

Brother Hans

P.S  There is still plenty of room for emigrants in the U S. Remember that geography tell us it is nearly 3000 (swedish?) miles between the eastern and the western Seas, and between  north and south there are some 1,500 miles.  If it starts to be overpopulated,  I think ports will be closed.


Hans Hansson wrote to A J Hansson:

602 Iron River, Mich. U.S.A. Sept. 29th, 1912 Dear Brother!

It is my comprehension that  You often go to Ostersund, why I take liberty sending to you $ 50, which I want you to deposit on account in Jamtlands Folkbank on behalf of mrs Karin Hansson in Bringasen, for disposal any time.

Don´t think  I´m away  a long time after this, but don´t decide travel time  until  the presidential election  is over after Nov. 5th.

We still have quite a lot of work undone on the five houses we are  doing.  Nothing new to notice, if not quite a lot of snow  is fallen , e g in Minnesota. Otherwise  there was a relatively  cold summer and  unusually rainy.  Last days we felt some of coming winter  and some  snow stars (crystals) have fallen down.

Very large  building construction works are done on this place this summer and may continue until the winter cold starts.

Many greetings to Mother and your family!

From brother Hans.


Hans Hansson wrote to A J Hansson:

602 Iron River, Mich. Nov. 14th, 1912

Dear Brother!

As  it is now  the time  for paying taxes in Jamtland,  I´m today sending to You a Money order  á  $20. You have to take from  that total  what´s required  for my payments,  and  bring what´s left to my wife Karin.

This summer working chances and wages in this country  haven´t been bad, just the reverse. As usual  it will probably become less of it when  the cold is coming.  Until now  the weather hereby has been very convenient, mildly and without any snow.

If the presidential exchange  recently passed will be beneficial, is  depending on if the new party in power, dare to  make any destructable  reforms, or if they let it be as usual. American people take it easy and  bide their  time.  Because they  are calmly working people, who wants good working atmosphere and like to put politics aside.

Greetings from brother Hans.


Jan Nilsson comments:

The journey is well and elegant described by Karin Hanssons diary,  but the first part of the following notes is a letter adressed to her  8-year-old son Josef (Joe) from Karin  staying for a hospital visit in Stockholm,  400 miles  from Bringasen.  She had some, for me unknown, health problems , which had to be cured just  a few months before going away.  Stina is  probably  the grown-up daughter from the nearest neighbor farmer Nils Anderson. She is married to Per Karlsa from the neighbor willage, Skjor, now farmer after Nils A, but also famous for playing the organ at the Church of Kyrkas up until his 90th year of age. Stina was for the moment employed as home help to Hans Hansson during Karins abscence.

Fiften years later Hans wrote a small paperback book in Swedish,  about his experiences from his two journeys, from which I have choosed a chapter with  the   familys  voyage 1914. This is a much more bombastic description than the one that his wife Karin made, maybe influenced from his biblical studies and his work as a pastor in Undersaker to.

The name of his book is in my translation: "In America at the World War - cultural pictures and reflexions by H. Hansson" edited 1930. The content of this book can also be a collection of the same letters  to Swedish papers which he mentions in the following letters to Bringasen (Jan Nilsson have not checked them up!).

Tho, just a couple of months before departure Karin had some health trouble and she had gone to Stockholm....


Karin Hansson wrote from Stockholm to son Joe in Bringasen:

Stockholm April 14th 1914

My dear beloved Josef!  Peace thro Jesus!  Thousands of thanks for  both of your letters.  Just today I got the one that you wrote April 5th.  It was returned  from the hotel  and to the  Sofiahemmet (Sofia Home) Thursday last week, after that Sofiah made a  mistaken address  and today when I  was there for bandaging I got at last the information to look for the letters  at th Post office Linne street 9-11, Bureau for inquiry and quite  right there they were, one from you and one from Olga Andersson. I think you are kind while mum is away.  Thank you for telling me so much!  But you aren´t  telling  what will happen now when Stina  isn´t there.  I´m of course listening.  Poor children waiting for Mum  every day.  You must stop waiting now because I will probably be away  for at least  another month, then you can start waiting.

You want to hear a little about Stockholm.  Today I was reading on the wall of Sofiah. , that the king  was sleeping 10 hours this night, temperature 37 (degrees C), pulse 59, recovery is proceeding. When I got the letters I  also saw a flowerbed with white and yellow flowers  in April.  Yesterday some children picked hepaticas out at Saltsjobaden.  At the Nordic Museum I have seen  lots of remarkable things. Men and women  with clothes and in full  size.  But curiously all of them had the same shape of their faces, they  were probably cast in the same mould. At the Royal Armory I saw the horse of King Gustav II Adolf, stuffed and all natural, even could  I see  the shirts and stockings belonging to the Hero King when he died.  They were all very bloodstained.  At the National Museum I have seen  masterpieces by great artists.  Pictures cut in marble, Carl XIV Johan mounting his horse, Gustaf II Adolf, Gustaf III and so on.  A mother giving suck to her little baby and  much more, all of it in white marble.

I´m eager to see the castle too, but still I have to be careful.  Sure I am quite well now.  Today I have stitched on  my sock. Now you have to be wise and kind.  Ask Pa to help  washing all your body.  When you have  made all the underpants in Pa´s  drawer dirty, go up to the closet and take the striped cotton pants  for use.  Tell Pa to give you enough food to eat. At least you must eat oat porridge. We get that every morning here. Thank you for the story you sent to me, it was very good.  Tell Martin that he will have the next letter. In Martins letter I will send  a funny  lad.  Look after the cat and the goat kids. You have to make som cheese to get some whey cheese.  Greetings to Stina and to all the neighbors and and to Grandma.  Now Good Bye  from your loving Mother


Karin Hansson wrote:

Travel book

Witsunday 1914 was  undersigned  with husband and children departing for America.  At 3 p. m. we left our beloved home in  Kyrkas where we have worked and laughed,  in hope and in beleaf  14 years for better for worse.  Entered the train at Ostersund 6.30 p. m. , and  reached Stockholm at 8 a. m.  Here we had two hours time to  look at the city. 

10.20 a. m.  did we depart Stockholm and had some sights over the beautiful Sweden.  The  provinces Sodermanland and Ostergotland were very nice.  Magnificent farms, exellent buildings. In Smaland it became worse. There is nature more like in Jemtland (were Kyrkas is situated).  Small and bad cottages and rocks on rocks. In Scania was it different. Large fields in the rich green with nice farms here and there and a whole lot of  wind mills.

We arrived in Malmo at 9.30 p. m. , visited  the office of  the Cunard line and were directed to their hotel.  There was clean and nice.  Our stop in Malmo just lasted to June 2ce 2 p. m.. With the ship travelled a goup of boyscouts playing several melodies on horn. The journey from Malmo to Copenhagen lasted only a couple of hours in lovely weather.  So did we see the native soil last time. 

In Copenhagen we were very well recieved.  Good beds och good food and nice people.  There we went out  looking at the city.  The castle of the King was destroyed by fire some years ago and is now restored. At the centre in front of the castle was a statue of Fredrik VII. Copenhagen seemed to be blackish and dirty.  So did we spend the night in Copenhagen  and went on train thro Denmark June the 3rd with start at 10 a. m. This land is all flat country containing very well managed farms, who at this time of the yearwere dazzling green.The living houses looked to be of a primitive sort.  There were a few brick houses,  otherwise  were the outhouses very poor and covered with straw roofs.  What was easiest observed was the  welldone  gardens.  Just here and there could you see a church.  The Danes don´t seem to be much religious.  Denmark looked to be all farmland with the fields bordered by leaf tree plantations.  It was very interesting to see the train boarding the ferry when we passed the sounds of  Stora Balt and Lilla Balt. We arrived to Esbjerg at 4.22 p.m.  Here was a doctor looking at our eyes and hands and after that could we strut on to the ship.  As we all the time from Malmo to Newyork vere going  second class we went on royally.  First thing we had to do on the ship was eating a nice dinner of clear soup with asparagus, a joint of roast  veal with vegetables and potatoes and vanilla cream.  After eating we went to bed immediately  due to  rolling.  That time  did we escape seasickness tho.

4th of July  in the evening did we arrive to England, Harwich.  We stayed over night on the ship and left the ship 5th of July at 7 a.m.. There our goods was cleared. We went free thro the customs. After thatbegan a 10 hours trip thro the beautiful  England. Here we had to be satisfied with 3rd class, because  in England  aren´t anything between  the 1st and the 3rd class.  We had at least stuffed sofas and plenty of room.  But oh, what a drive!

England is wery much in advance of Sweden concerning the farmers harvesting.  They had already harvested the  green forage and all kinds of grain vere in full bloom.  The rye had formed ears. They also used leaf hedges instead of fences.  This give the country a very nice wiew.  The country also has a very extensive channel system.  At every little farm there  flowed water in a small channel.  Nearly all kinds of bushes had flowers.  But living houses  were not good.   It is true that most houses were erected  of  brick walls and  tiles or slate roofs, but even worse ones with straw roofs.   Both large and small  houses were smoky and unpleasant.  We didn´t see any real  cowstable on the whole trip thro England.  They probably  keep their critters  outside all the year round.  Now and then did we run thro factory towns, which looked like cities, but oh what smokiness and unpleasantness. Sometimes did we go over  a railway, sometimes under one. England do really have many railways. 

We arrived in Liverpool in the evening of july the 5th.  A cab took as to the hotel where we had room  and got food.  They fired coal in open  fireplace.  We played pianino and sang,  we ate and drank and slept well during the night although the room wasn´t nice, dark,  it smelled musty and black. They wanted tips everywhere.  Liverpool is a unusually dirty city.  People looked  awfully  torn and dirty. Mothers whith nearly uncovered bodies,  a baby  in trash at the breast.  In Liverpool we visited the Swedish  Seamen´s Church, where  pastor Petri were preaching.  At first we sang "Tryggare kan ingen vara än Guds lilla barnaskara" etc,  then n:o 4 in tones of Sion after service: "Herren signe du och råde."

At 6th of July in the morning our stop in Liverpool ended, and at 2 p.m. did we take a cab down to the quay and boarded Mauretania.  The ship needed all the evening to leave the harbour, but  after it had born off, we   went away 30 miles an hour.  The  evening and the following night was nice, but on Sunday we had a moderate breeze and had to stay in bed all day exept Father, who attende divine service at the first class saloon.  Monday  gave the best  weather you can imagine.  We spended all the day on top deck.

Life onboard is very changable.  The orchestra is playing twice every day. We eat three times and have a cup of clear soup whith crackers at 11 a.m.. Tea at 4 p.m.. The cabin is nice with electric lights and all comforts, irreproachably white blankets and a  change of towels every day.  Food was first class. There are bathrooms  if you will take a bath.

On Tuesday did we have  windy in the morning, why some people got ill again, but we were lucky feeling well. On Monday did we go up on the deck to look at sunset.  On Wednesday was also good weather, but some wind. I was feeling discomfort all day. Father and children was well.

On the ship there was a young Belgian couple, who wasn´t allowed to marry in their country due to the fact that she was too young by law. They tried to marry in Liverpool but found that  too expensive.  Tho are they travelling  together as a married couple in a cabin, so it will be interesting to see if they are allowed to land in America.  In cases like this  it is very rigorous.

Life on board is a pleasure.  Here is all kinds of sports. joking and gaiety. Wednesday  afternoon there was a consert on behalf of  poor children in Liverpool and Newyork.  Even on Thursday did we have a nice weather.

Friday morning the  12th of June at 5.30 did we arrive in Newyork.  Wonderful green shores.  A tall church tower rise its spire into the sky, and on a small island in the sea is the statue of Liberty entroned. Now  we are sitting in the docks waiting  for customs to declare our goods. Then we go to Chicago and have a   train  change.

Here in Newyork is a swarming life. From the harbor we went by cab to the emigrants home of the Swedish Lutherans where we have dinner to the cost of  $1 for 4 persons. Oh, what a hot weather, 25 - 30 degrees (77-86 F). The fare from the docks to The Emigrants Home was $ 1.50.

We´ll have to wait until 5.40 p.m. before we can leave Newyork. We left Newyork  at 6 p.m.  As fast as we had left  the central station we were out into the countryside. We saw fields of wheat and corn. 

Even here was a rich  vegetation.  America is probably better than many people are thinking.  During the trip from Newyork to Chicago did we see many beautiful homes and well managed farms. Our attention was attracted to the large fruit gardens at the small homes, and also  the water turbines they used for pumping water upp into a  water tank, and from there press it to kitchens and outhouses.  Watertanks were formed  cylindrical and placed high up from earth. It was fun to see horses, cows and sheep wading in grass up to their knees, I thought that they could eat themselves to death.  The houses are  in general built of bricks, but there are also bad houses of boards. I think Canada was worse. We changed trains  in a city named Detroit.

13rd of June at 10 p.m. did we arrive in Chicago.  Should note that we had plenty of room at the train, but that the train trip  is much more fatiguing than to go by boat.  When you have gone a day and night on the train you  are glad to be able to stop and rest.  When we arrived to Chicago  we had an omnibus to the North western station where we later  will take the train to Iron River. A negro welcomed us. He was very neat and polite. Took us into the station building which was bathing in light and the most stylish I have ever seen. I can´t describe very well how it was looking, but it was built with marble, very high up to the ceiling inside and very impressing.  The cost for it was $ 20 million.  Here children and women could have a rest over night for free.  The men could rest in big waiting rooms with rocking chairs and couches, very clean, nice and comfortable. As we had to wait until evening  4th of June, we had to go to a hotel.  Had a nice room  with two big beds.  In the morning did we take bathes in the bathroom just beside our room. We bought food in the same house for good price. Chicago is much nicer than I could imagine.

The 14th of June in the evening did we leave Chicago at 9.50 p.m. We went a long way thro the city. There were beautiful lights.  Many plantations with nice lawns was seen flitting past. There was a long night because we had to sit up all the time.  The landscape upwards into Michigan is not as luxuriant as further down the country.

The 15th in the morning at 10.45 a.m. we arrived at Iron River.  Eriksson the farmer was against us to the station and we had a ride  up to his farm, where we were well taken care of and were provided with food and coffe.  Here is a bit alike Undersaker. Hills and valleys. A small lake is situated  just besides. Lush leaf trees were blazing in beauty and grass grow all wildly on cultured fields.  The first days we stayed by the farmer, and after that did we rent a flat with two rooms and a kitchen just besides. The warden is a Swede.

Shortly this is  what I have observed during our travelling time to America. Want to add that  they have the same sky, the same God and the same Father as we have at home.  The sun is shining as clear and is covered with clouds somtimes, all like in Sweden.

Karin


Hans Hansson wrote in one of the chapters about the departure to America in his book, 1930:  

Departure.

At the quay was Mauretania awaiting  her depart within a short time.  The servants from  the Cunard hotel returned back, pleased after getting their usual amount of tips, english silver coins. We stepped high upwards the steep  gangway and reached the second class deck of the  gigant ship.  Their  met a team of obliging beings.  And after a quick ticket control we were led in a high speed to the appropriate cabin. Nearly two thousands of travellers, most of them emigrants, were gathered onboard and divided amongst different floors.  Nevertheless there were no crowding.  As an exception  you can note third class deck,  and there was a  need of more seatings.

The four big chimneys of Mauretania belched out black smoke of  pit coal. The gangways  were taken away. The engines worked. Our floating giant hotel, 800 feet long started a slow movment.  This worked like a given signal for the last farewell greetings between departed and left folks. Some of them shed tears.  To those, who seemed not to be affected of pain for the divorse, belonged passengers   fleeing from military services in Europe and longing for the freedom in the West, and also politically sensible persons, who, due to the militaristic warthreatening holdings of  the old country were relieved to turn their backs to Europe.

Such a large shipload of people from different nationalities looks to me as an odd mix to a person inexperienced with such a company. But my adaptability seems to work, smooth out and approach. ”Yellows”, chinese, even if its just a few individuals are gentlemen the same way as the white man. They stand side by side. They have the same means of conveyance over the sea. The target is many times the same; America, work, business etc. Just unexpected do one find himself already in the mill for the big democracy in The West.

The ship passed near to ”the green island”, Ireland, and there where no greenery tho, but much rather did the sunlit, bluecolored seawater catch our looks. At most our attention was captured by the cliffs abruptly descending into the sea, which according to an old author grown up by the sea. Even if not made that way, they at least bordered a long part of the coast line, as were they shaped to a steady defence against the waves of the sea and what else evil which might assault from outside.

The feeling of hunger seized the crowd of travellers – when it is good weather the appetite of a wolf catch people on the sea. Pains of said kind had a thrustworthy cure, because the inside of our onrushing giant monster was supplied with an abundance of good food items. The chefs of the ship had been on time. The bell called for dinner. ”The kind of people I like”, as one of the officials of the ship put it about the scandinavians, had the honor of sharing the table with Englishmen. Because; ”the Swedishman is good”, as one Englishman said, och for that the honor to the Swedes. But ”the Niggers” - those are South Europeans and others - which originated from less cultured people were conformed to their equals.


Jan Nilsson comments:

The year 1915

A little letter from Martin´s cousin of same age, Karin Hansson, Busvebacken to Martin on his probably first year in America.. She became a lifelong penfriend to Martin, lasting until they reached over 90-years of age, but in this first try she forgot the dating of year. It ought to be 1915 when Karin was 9 and Martin 10.

Karin Hansson, Backen, wrote to Martin Hansson, Iron River:

Cousin Martin

Thanks for Your photo. I din´t recognize it were you, because you are so large. I have written several times but it wasn´t sent away. Now I am at school in Klappe and I enjoy it. Erik has to start school after Christmas, when it cames to Lungre but we are staying in Klappe 5 weeks after Christmas too. I started school at Januari 11th and had exam at May 21st, and now did we start in Klappe at November 15th. I´m now doing third grade so maybe I will start secondary school next year. In Mars I caught sight of an aeroplane he flew from town and Grandma saw it too because he flew straght over the flag pole on the farmyard. Erik should have written a bit too, but he hasn´t learnt writing yet, but he is Greeting so much. We are well and I think You are enjoying America, aren´t You coming back soon! Should send greetings to you and Josef and Uncle and Aunt from Grandma she is as usual.

Greetings from your cousin Karin Hansson

Bringasen

Martin and Joe selling milk in Iron River? The air photo of Busvebacken is from 2004 but show exactly the same red-painted buldings which my mother Karin had around at 1915. Martin´s photo is from 1917, Iron River.


Hans Hansson wrote to A J Hansson:

114 Stambaugh, Mich. 16.5.1915.

Dearest Brother Ante!

At last do I now make time to thank you for and to answer your letter. When I now looked it up, I found the date of it to be March 1st. Time is passing so fast, that you can hardly follow.

This winter have a lot of working people been without labor in this country. Many of them was probably able to get some labor with lower payments if they had wanted to. But more than a small payment by a farmer or in the forestry they prefer to go without a job, until one more profitable is given to them. As usual the profitable works are more numerous and better in the summer. Compared to old Sweden is America always in the midst of a fermenting and great development. From American perspective, is it nowadays a ”bad time”, but no ways like during the democracy times. The daily payments have not lowered very much. But also have´t the Democrats governed for an especially long time yet. The Democrats are sort of a ”liberal” party, promising a lot, fulfil ne´er a lot.

As the Republicans probably soon will return into the power, people are awaiting a raise as never before in business markets.

A wealthy German in this place are building several houses this summer, as it will be impossible to get labor for money the next year, as he said.

At present, I´m building a ”loghouse”, e g a house of round cedar logs. It is a stable aimed for horses and automobiles. It is situated only a short distance outside town, in a beautiful place at the lake and belongs to a Dentist Tyler. As assistants or helpers have I got a French, a russian Polish and an Austrian Tiroler. It works well, as they are in a peaceful temper. The same doctor will also build his living house of ”logs” = round logs. Soon the foundation is ready and there is a question of further work for me here too.

As I didn´t want to shirk from constructing works a day, have I had it especially ”trudgy” the last week, because in the evenings, after 6 o´clock I have planted potatoes for my own farming. I may be planting quite a lot of bushels. But it has been too early for potatoes yet. Maybe it´s a good idea get some early ones, because they can give you 20 a 30 crowns a barrel after Swedish counting. Late half of april did we get a real summer. One evening at 8 o´clock was temperature measured to 9 degrees Celcius. One day did we make a note of 25 degrees in the shade. At May was more changing. Today was mixed rain and snow. Sometimes occur a cold night. And possibly will there still be several, because a reliable summer is not to wait for before June.

May 21st

Right up today has this letter stayed. The hurry of this week has prevented me sending it. This week brought cold nights, so now are flowers and a lot of leafs on apple trees frozen. Today as well as earlier days it was raining, which means we´ll have a good hay crop.

From papers you will see the great politics of our president. When a hundred of Americans dare to go away with Lusitania, which wrecked, then the president is protesting magnificently, against Germany; but he seems to find it all right, if the Americans bring a lot of ammunition, which kill hundreds of thousands of germans. But you see, the President will also show bravery some times. That tells something, and will meet with approval from the patriotic Americans.

May it soon be peacetimes founded by the transformation of human beings in a Christian spirit.

Greetings to Mother and others from us! Brother Hans.


Hans Hansson wrote to A J Hansson:

Stambaugh, Michigan 5 dec. 1915

Brother Ante!

I have to thank you for your letter, which I´ve gotten a long time ago! Time is passing so fast, and carries along before the answer is given.

You have an interest for farming. Okay then here it is. According to the Americans have summer been cold. Moreover bumper's rain.

Yet this Country has got an immensely rich harvest. Those cold nights did pretty much injure the small corn fields sown here in Mich. Potatoes wasn´t damaged by night frost to more than 10 percent according to experts. Potatoes gave about the same like good years in Sweden. But in low levelled places it was injured by the rain and rotted. It is generally beleaved that they will be very expensive in the spring. We had planted quite a lot of potatoes. We got, how much I don´t know, but there were at least several hundred bushels. Up to now they are paid 50-80 cents a bushel that is a bit more than SEK 8 á 14 a barrel. Will not be astonished if they raise to double that price at summer.

These American potatoes are bigger than in Sweden and taste better than rose potatoes there, which due to more mature and firmer in the flesh. But the taste of the Swedish almond potatoes (still famous for Northern Sweden/Jan Nilsson) cannot be overrated! We planted some of those too, but they were comparatively small sized.

That potato illness, we have seen, appear from a small or large part of the potato get a dark color and soon passes into decay. I wonder if it can be the same illness seen in Jamtland this summer.

When you write someday, I want you to tell about your experience from your potato picking machine, what it cost, and were it is made.

The Americans boast of this country. And as I´m now in the Western, I naturally have to say that farming is good. But with work like this you have to fight against several enemies: the potato beetle, the potato illness, rust on grains, drought, hailstorms, frost and bad weather etc.

If the war not raged would doubtless democracy time make very low price on groceries. What this means for the farmer need not be said.

Yesterday did I and another Swede start constructing five cow stables, as we are comitted to build on a couple of iron mines.

At home in Sweden did I sign for two shares in the Steam ship line Sweden-America. I can see, that they just start with the first boat. I haven´t heard anything from them about payment for the shares. Probably have to inquire of the Board thereon.

I think, what you have to pay me for the use of my land this year will be the same as last year, that is SEK 130. I´ve told my treashurer Tronberg, that he at the end of December can extract from you a larger or smaller portion of it, which shouldn´t face obstacles.

Now I want to wish You a merry Jesus´ Christian feast, Christmas reminding about the Grace and Peace prepared and offered to this agitated and battle full world.

Greetings from us! Brother Hans.


Hans Hansson wrote to A J Hansson:

In 1916, Hans is i a awaiting Ford´s tractor project ( "machine plow"). The first one came in 1917. En god skörd.

Stambaugh, Mich. 16.01.1916.

Dear brother! Happy new 1916!

Thanks for the great letter of December 20 1915! It arrived here yesterday evening. Thinking that you have by now received the letter, I finally sent.

At the departure to this country, I instructed Tronberg to take care of my incomes and expenses in Sweden. This included not only what concerned the land property, life insurances or what else could be considered. Then I did not know, that you made such payments for me, I ascribed Tronberg that he had to extract with you more or less of what you would pay for the use of my land in 1915. However, it was all very well, that you paid for the two shares in "Sweden-America." I think this will be the paper, which rise quickly in value. I am grateful that you want to pay even what is remaining for the shares this year. So do we have to figure that into the lease amount for the year 1916.

For, even this year I want you to cultivate my land. If you think this will be too early in the year to fork out the lease, you may have to count for interest. Because I had no knowledge of, or received no notification of when the share capital should be paid, I have not done anything thereby. I waited any communication from the board, but it stayed away. Now, after all, "all right." Thus you don´t need to leave money to Tronberg. In person, I shall count with him, and I´m sending him the sum, which may be found necessary. I asked him also ensure that those, who care for my road, get paid therefore. Do not know if he even made it - but give me good clarity thereof.

Hope that the company "Sweden - America" ​​will give a good chunk of bread and money to the inhabitants of old Sweden! It is gratifying that the Swedes begin boosting the supply of iron. It is taken up work at all iron mines. The workers have to wait for a 10% pay rise for 1 Febr. This means a wish for more workers, and that the good times are in the offing. When spring it will be a movement on the many railways, for then will the ore be transported from a variety of mines here. It's not everyone who would like to work in the mines, because this work is like to trudge in red paint and water, not to say more. However so the ore traffic will bring much prosperity for the people.

Lately, I have had reasonable haste. From half five in the morning to 7 a 8 in the evening, I have striven in the workers trousers. Think it will soon become easier, because the construction contract is soon clear. On cold days, I am not in carpentry work. But those days have not been very many. However, now in the new year begin "cold waves" coming. Now a few days there have been fiery cold. Thursday morning we had 34 degr. Celsius and this morning 28 degr. When the addition is blowing and infusing some fine snow, so you can understand it should be clothes on, when going out. In the beginning of the week weighed mercury at zero.

In some places in this vast land is raging flu. Here in the area is quite healthy.

The great peacemaker Ford is back home and will now fabricate inexpensive automobiles – and soon we will get one to each man - and cheap machine plows, which don´t need to be heavy for the horses, for the towing only uses an insignificance of gasoline. Credit to Ford although he languished discourage war by Christmas!

The snow here is not one foot deep.

Greetings to mother a. o. from US. Before Christmas, we sent two letters to her. We'll see if they get there!

Brother Hans.


Karin Hansson wrote to Brita Andersson:

To our beloved mother and grandmother!

Hurrah on your ninety anniversary February 8th, 1916. Let Your life's evening become light and warm, in the shadow of God's Country!

We have thought to send you for a whole month, but do you think it was done! We've all had colds and had to stay inside several days now in the worst cold. It has of course to some extent contributed to the delay in the letter. Further more would Hans buy a birthday card, but it was impossible to obtain.

We have today received a letter from Jonas from there we see that Hans Petter is now engaged. Yes, we wish him of all our hearts luck and blessing.

We have now for some time had better weather, but last night it got cold again. Hopefully it does not go on so long this time.

Greetings in amounts from devoted Karin and Hans. Joseph and Martin


Hans Hansson wrote to A J Hansson:

POB 114 Stambaugh, Mich. May 21, 1916.

Brother Ante!

I almost imagine being in debt to send a few lines and to let know how we feel, let the pen go.

We are healthy and working as usual. I am now carpentry foreman of a doctor I was building for the last year. But that job should we try to get ready in June.

It is decided that in this summer should I lease a good farm, which is located right in the city edge. If we get lucky with the growth we can get quite a lot of oats on 8 acres sown. After normal harvests we have the prospect of selling 50 tons of hay and have thereto enough for our cows and 2 a 3 horses. Everything is in top condition. The owner is rich and considers himself not to bother with farming. He don't sell that farm for 50,000 dollars - perhaps hardly not for double the amount. On this new farming should we start planting potatoes this week. Already at the beginning of May, we set some bushel early potatoes, but it has constantly been cold, so they have not got any way.

Currently, this is pretty good times for the workers and even non-working obviously have enough to live off. The ship loads to Europe show that food as well as many other things are found in abundance. But no one knows how soon the changing shadows is coming. Subsistence see a steady price rise. A reversal will occur when the peace is concluded in Europe.

Greetings to mother and all from us!

Brother Hans


Hans Hansson wrote to A J Hansson:

Stambaugh 31.07.1916.

Brother Anders!

We heard that sister Brita (Brita Eriksson married to Lars Eriksson, Lungre) already ended her days. Mourning letter came a few weeks ago.

Well, we knew before that it was not particularly well with her health. For we are mortal but who consider that as one would!

Even come to our attention that mother is in poor health. Hope you properly make sure that mother has a good nurse, who take good care of her in the days of weakness and suffering. I will send her a jar of olive oil, here is it used to cooking oil. It is invigorating, gives appetite and keeps your stomach from constipation. When mother wants can try to take a tablespoon of it per day. I address the jar to you, and here you know how it can be used.

It has now been warm days. Today we have had 34½ Celsius in the shade, and yet it has been a pretty strong wind.

I want you to send me a Swedish wagon harness with ordinary Lokar of wood and harness hooks of iron. It should not be large and must be that strong it can be used in easier contract works. Maybe is it now export bans on such. In such cases is maybe best just sending lokar, harnesshooks and iron goods! Best would be to send it through the Swedish-America line in Gothenburg. It must be packed in a box. For customs clearance neeed price be assigned. It would be cheaper if it were a little used.

How do I stand to books in your accounts when you have made this year's crop, you will announce later.

Hay harvest here has, thanks to the abundant early summer rains, been abundant. July has offered warm and beautiful weather.

The best greetings to mother and others

from Brother Hans


Hans Hansson wrote to A J Hansson:

14 Stambaugh October 30 in 1916.

Brother Ante!

We heard a new death occurred within the family, in that Emil passed away. It is us, however, unknown whether he has been ill more recently. Some time ago the boys were given a photograph's postcards of him and Hans Eriksson. There, he showed a suffering appearance. But still we didn´t think it was so great danger with him.

Jonas announces that mother is in bed, and that her power wane. It is possibly so that she thus subsequently is not likely to hold out for many years. Now in the winter, I can not think of coming to greet her, which would have been my greatest pleasure. I have one single way, to write letters. And here I am enclosing a few lines, you may leave to her.

Hope soon get a letter from you, and may well then know if you could send the harness I wanted.

Here's even bare ground, unfrozen, but snow has fallen several times.

Wondering how it can go for some Swedes in winter. There may be expensive to live. Wheat flour here costs 10 dollars a barrel, and if it is shipped to Sweden, it becomes even more expensive. One thinks that the wheat perhaps go up to $ 15 a barrel. Potatoes we now sell to $ 2.50 pr bushel and flour to $15 a barrel. Potatoes we now sell for $ 1.25 bushel, bu t when the harvest became poor, the price will go up significantly. The wheat crop became poor in Canada, the States and the South. "Hunger and expensive time!"

Now here is certainly good work for everyone, but those least paid in these expensive times have to look around, to get the debit and credit in balance.

We all enjoy the benefit of health. The other day we bought a good heifer for $70 . She milks 12 a 14 liters pr day on the ordinary feed of hay and a little cabbage.

This week I heard two Republican political talks. It is worked with power for a new president in the kingdom, but not with rancor, as in Swedish politics.

Good continuation with greetings from us!

Brother Hans.


In 1918

Iron River (PO Box 395) 3 Febr. 1918th

Brother Ante!

Thanks for the letter of December 2! Your letter from this summer has been answered. And censorship is not worse than that which goes in this direction, will happily come through. Your last letter arrived eight days ago, that soon is it now.

The authorization for share transportation is enclosed. I guess it is in the style of your desire. In addition to that, as I recall, I wrote once I wanted to have one of the shares for myself. Therefore, I write three pieces in the mandate.

The shares in your electrical limited liability company, I feel slightly worse. The purpose may well be good. But I do not want more than two. The others can whomsoever receive. But as I said, more than two, wouldn't I have of that kind.

For the electric lines I guess I can grant free land provided that the line is drawn at least 200 feet from the nearest house. I will not have it all too close to the home. It is pretty cold now. It is often between 30-40 degrees. The snow is not a foot deep.

Groceries rise in price. Butter 50-60 cents for pound (½ kilo) Sugar, is not found. Granulated sugar is available for a maximum of 50 cents at a time. If you want more you can buy in many stores at 50 cents a time.

Stories go in turn. About a month ago it had been telegraphed across the country that peace was concluded. Today, they say that "the Kaiser" is dead. It has also been said before. And the consequence is that you do not beleave much of the talk in these times. It is a lie and deception. Newspapers recently reported that Sweden landed troops in Finland. It is probably also doubtful. Hay is reasonably expensive this year and now costs at $ 30 per ton.

Would there be new drawing of Rederi AB or Folkbanken, do it in good time.

Greetings to mother and others from

Jan Nilsson comments: As mentioned in this letter, did the farms in Kyrkas connect to electric grid this year 1918. Telephone grid was connected to the living houses of both Ante and Hans as early as 1909.


This is a letter, which Hans's Karin wrote home to her birthplace Undersaker. It is written just before the end of World War I, and it was a fact that the entire family returned home to Bringasen the following year, 1919. Iron River is located in Michigan state, just south of Lake Superior, where Joseph in a letter later in his life, said he did not want to return because it was too cold in winter and too hot in summer.

Karin Hansson wrote to Uncle John in Undersaker, Jamtland:

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord"

My beloved Uncle John!

Right now we have tonight received mail from Sweden and see in a number of J.P. (Jamtlandsposten) that Uncle celebrated your 70-year-day. Receive also my and my family's tribute, although there will be two and a half months late! Oh, how many memories intrude on me when I see uncle's beloved features in the magazine. Father's death, mother's death, weddings and funerals! And so all the memorable moments I had the pleasure to attend in the bosom of your family, when Uncle read from the precious Book, aunt with her knitting, Betty played and we all joined in the singing. I particularly remember one time when my aunt wanted us to sing: "How earnestly Lord you lead your bride." It was the first time I heard that song, then I have sung it many times. Now it will be to live in the memories of bygone days. One year is added to the second during which you may not see some of the dear faces we were used to seeing and loving as a child. Good anyway when you get to keep your loved ones.

I had intended to write to Uncle Olle when I saw that Brita Karlsson got summoned home, but it was not then, please, Uncle, bring my greeting to him! With all my heart I wanted to participate in their grief. How difficult it might not be for Alfred and kids! "God's ways are not our ways." May it be a godly sorrow!

I think that Uncle would like to hear a little from here. Only then a regret, that this country gave itself in the bloody game, where will this end? We however, have not yet had any sense of the war, other than that everything has become more expensive.

We lease a farm and has two horses, 7 cows, 20 chickens, calves and rabbits. We are selling milk for about 120 dollars a month. So we have our own wheat, rye, oats, barley and peas. Potatoes not to forget. What we do not have is a Jemtlands-baking oven so we could bake bread of the fine flour. The hens have laid all winter since in Nov. We feed them with wheat, oats and a touch of freshly boiled potatoes with bones or meat debris in it and a little flour. Yesterday I put a hen on eggs. -

Hans run manure at the last snow surface today and for the milk transport, he had the cart, the first day today. (There is only one English mile to the city). Hans bought the 40-acre woodland, a Swedish mil from here, so we have also sold firewood in winter. So we have two acres here, where we are building our home. It is not finished yet.

Working population around here have more beautiful homes than you can imagine. I thought for myself that it was much worse. E. g. I want to mention a couple who got married two years ago, they are our neighbors and Hans was one of the builders of their nice homes. The young man was here for four years, so he went home to his old father in Westmanland and greeted in a year. Then he came back here, worked for a year and then they got married. Now I would describe the home, these young people have created themselves.

He bought an acre of land for 300 dollars where the house would stand. It has cellar under the whole house with stone walls, includes kitchen, dining room, lounge, two bedrooms, pantry and bathroom with water and bath tub made of china, everything is first class. All rooms nicely furnished. And there remain, all expenses paid. Do that if you can!

Now well - uncle must be tired of reading, so I have to stop. -

Do not think that we intend to stay here forever, and one day we will come back to our dear Bringasen, God willing and the state of the world is such that we dare us over the sea. The boys are now big and still go to school. Perhaps their knowledge of the English language can be useful at some point even if we come home.

The warmest greetings to aunt and uncle from Hans and affectionate Karin.


Hans Hansson, Iron River wrote to A J Hansson,Bringasen:

Iron River, (PO Box 395) 8 Sept. 1918th

Brother Ante!

Thanks for the letter of July 19! Its transportation took more than a month. And I received the same one week ago.

Regarding bargain of shares in Folkbanken, I give it up, due to they are so expensive. But now, should a drawing in the Shipping compani Sweden - North America (Svenska Amerikalinien) be undertaken, then please subscribe for 2 - 3 shares there for me! For possible needs, I am sending an authorization in which you fill in a figure - great enough for wants.

As I previously announced in a letter, was coffee, I sent to Mother, not departed from Newyork, and came back here. They have no boats for parcels.

Leasing of my farm in Kyrkås for this year, we have to remodel. I think you can give me the same as is used here - half the hay harvest. I guess more or fewer of us get to Sweden in the winter, and then it is good to have a little hay for livestock. You can calculate this aside, if the rulers intend to take surplus hay (sort of warfare rationing/Jan Nilsson).

Furthermore, I have the need for 3-4 barrels of potatoes and 2-3 spans of seed grain. Actually, a couple of decars "highlands" this autumn should be plowed up for potato.

Departure from here can not now be determined because the businesses must first be cleared.

Greetings to Mother a. o. Brother Hans.


Hans Hansson wrote to A J Hansson:

In 1919

Months ago I despatched a letter to you in which I now stated desire to obtain some hay from my farm at Kyrkas school in the spring. For several reasons, I am prompted to change this so far that you can either sell it or use it yourself. The idea was that at least some of us were to steer our course to old Sweden. But of letters from brother Lars apparently groceries be so scarce, that they do not have over so much as "a bucket roots" and everything else sparingly, why it currently has reason to not get there. Daily bread will be enough sufficient then.

The hay harvest will you have to make up even this year's summer. However, you might assume that I would probably want all the hay - but not the horsehay and other small debris that can not pay. If so, do I pay for the hay. Understand that hay now cost much at home, why you should be able to attend to that I possibly can obtain "martial profits" of the farming industry.

Yes lately it became troubled times now! The promises of eternal peace seems not so easy to accomplish. One must prepare for several changeovers. The war has changed the thinking of many. If now the Germans get a hard peace, they may swing over to the Bolshevik mindset they say. And it's natural! Hereafter is probably best to treat the little people with caution. The so-called working class is growing by leaps and bounds, and in due course come to the majority, it takes the power. In order to protect this country, the government has begun to deport thousands of foreigners," red "and I WWare. Sweden also gets it's share of them. The latter variety, the most violent enemies against America's involvement in the war, have not shunned violence for their aspirations. You have perhaps read about them in the newspapers.

In case of "Swedish America line" exhibits new subscription, so please take 2 or 3 shares for me. I enclose a power of attorney. But then I do not know how many shares a former co-owner can possibly get, so I leave you open to insert a figure suitably large.

Here in the country is a rich supply of necessities of life. But it is difficult to get larger amounts over to Europe, for there are too few boats.

We are feeling well! We had a splendid winter. The last few days have been in the nature of a bitter weather as well!

Greetings to Mother and all!

Brother Hans.


Karin o Martin 1 aug 1920 Hans and Karin 1925 Martin, Hans and Joe 1926

The photo of Karin and Martin is taken August 1920 by one at that time young photographer and neighbor Paul Norling in Lungre. The year 1925 was the photo of Karin and Hans outside their house in Bringasen. Next card shows Hans Hansson with his sons Martin and Joseph outside the home in Bringasen about a year before the third trip. Hans show up "The Home Friend Magazine". Photos of Hans Ericsson.

From 1919 until the beginning of 1928 lived the Hansson family on their small farm in Bringasen, reinforced with a land and forest parcel in the village Kyrkbyn, called Aslagden, before the America fever broke out again. Joseph were at Christmas 1927 engaged to Maja from Ol-Kals (Olof Karlsson) in Lillsjohogen. Martin went at April 26, 1928 alone over the sea - this time to the Woodlands at Seattle on the Pacific coast in the Pacific Northwest. The trip started this time from Stockholm by boat to Bremen in Germany and from there America ship to the United States.

At the target was now waiting work and support of Carl Persson, a relative to Karin from Undersåker, who had established a successful sawmill at Sammamish lake in Preston outside Seattle.

In early November the same year married Joseph and Maja and two weeks later they boarded Ms. Gripsholm in Gothenburg for transportation to New York and then a country trip to Seattle - on that journey they had incidentally joined by a number of royals who would celebrate a wedding in New York.

This time, the parents stayed in Bringasen, although Hans, until his death in 1945, dreamed of emigrating once again, though in that case maybe to Canada, while Karin was equally determined to remain at home and "hold the fort" until the boys should return again.

My opinion (Jan Nilsson's)from these letter exchangings is, that these "emigration journeys" never were kind of escaping from anything. They were always planned as sort of temporarily adventures made out of their intersests for exploring other cultures and countries, and after that return to their country of birth. I can se the same things obviously have happened among some members of my fathers family in the 1920-30 years.

Astrid, Erik, Maja, Josef, Karin tar avsked Martin and Joe in Preston Martin's and Joe's houses in 2006 Model of the old church

The cousins ​​Astrid Eriksson from Lungre, Erik Hansson and (to the right) Karin Hansson from Backen take farewell shortly before Joseph and Maja head off to Seattle in the Western United States. Martin and Joe had support from their relative Karl Person when emigrating 1928, and got jobs at Karl Persons saw mill in Preston. Here douglas fir, a gigant pine variety covering the mountains around the Seattle area, of first logging generation on the saw bench. The houses of Martin and Joe. Nowadays Martin's house to the left is gone. Picture taken from church's porch, and in the garden could you see a model of the original shape of church. Left to Martin's house there's seen a special yellow sign "Caution Swede's crossing" for him to take care of the church.

From 1928 onwards, until Joseph and Maja's death, is a lot of letters sent from relatives in Jamtland to Martin and Joseph in High Point, a small community a couple of miles east of Preston where they had their first jobs. In High Point the two brothers soon acquired a small house each near a little church belonging to an evangelical parish which they supported. Here lived Martin and Florence until a few years before his death in 2003.

Maja went home and was registered at her parents home in Lillsjohogen in 1937 and Joseph returned to mother Karin and Maja at Bringasen in 1946 after his father Hans's death in August 1945.

In the 1940s, left Martin the sawmill job and took work as a janitor at a school in the nearby community Issaquah , where he worked until his retirement.

Here follows a selection "Sweden Letters" from different times. First some letters from four (female!) cousins ​​on the occasion of Martin's apparently quite hasty departure from Sweden in 1928 - the first two were a double letter from Karin on the Backen (Martin's first penfriend above) and Astrid in Lars-Ers, Lungre (photo above) who together then attended Kristinehamn's Practical School in Varmland - third poem letter comes from Helga and Anna Hansander in Singsjon.


Karin Hansson and Astrid Eriksson, in Kristinehamn wrote to Martin Hansson, soon going to Preston:

Kristinehamn April 22, 1928.

Dear cousin!

Thanks for your letter. It is quite some time since I got it now, and I've probably thought about writing an answer long before this, but frankly it has almost felt a little "dreadful" to write such a leave-taking letter.

You should believe there was dismay in the camp when we were told that you, so head over heel, would head over to America. Your letter sounded really tragic. Never is a difficult word, and that we never should see you again, I still can not quite believe. You might well come back any time, when you had enough of America. In case you ever get it. You certainly have long yearned to get there, so it's good, you finally get to go and try your luck in the great land of opportunity, but probably it will always be a void without you in Kyrkas always. The choir is obviously shattered and so one loses a capital cousin and friend. Wish you good luck, however, on the journey and hope that you are not so completely going up in all the new things you face that you just forget your old friends in Sweden, without writing a line sometimes.

Astrid and I just came the other day to discuss how quickly everything can change sometimes. Do you remember, for example. Last year Easter Monday went Joseph and you and the two of us to Lit at a party, admired the choirs performance at the place, investigated the Gypsies living conditions and - froze a little, for the wind was really very cold. This year, the same day, Joseph was happily engaged, you are almost on your way to America and Astrid and I strolled in Karlstad streets - because we went there that day to watch the town -. So then was the four-leafed-clover scattered. A little strange to say that a four-leafed clover is scattered, but I thought the leafs, and then it became so. Hope you understand the "chaise". Yes, it was sad that we did not come home for Easter, but it can not be helped now.

We thrive still good in Varmland and have it nice in every way. Lately we have finished with the cooking job and go now only in the craft. Currently both of us are weaving, something very fine, of course. We have a small, funny old teacher, who teaches weaving and another such kind one, who teaches sewing. This day, a Sunday, we have, among others been in the Mission Church. In this small "Ash" there are churches and chapels in every street corner. I almost think that all possible denominations are represented. Since "later we laid it on" and went to the theater. Here did they act in an amateur play, called "The suitor from Varmland", and really was it worth 0,75 Skr to see it. The action took place in ancient times, when the "ladies" had wide crinolines and the men checked pants, and there was a long line of marriage proposals.

Since I now personally can not say goodbye when you leave, I send my portrait instead, for I have like all other orthodox KPS:es been to Jonsson and immortalized me. Mentioned photography is almost mandatory for it is intended that all of the more or less comfortable faces of the school's students are collected for a memory album, which is published on the occasion of the school's 50th anniversary now in Pentecost. Now remains only to tell you a tender farewell and thanks for all gone by, including also lessons in English and more such.

Dear cousin Martin!

Some lines also need I write now when you are going to go away from us. I did not think when I left you, that you would have traveled away before I came home. But you are certainly not the one thinking too long and it is boldly made, I think. Hope you will enjoy it in your "old" homeland. But now we lose our kind singing leader, how do you think the choir can survive it? Hope that they give you a round of cheers, before you leave, I also agree with it but it does not reach your ears.

And I think Joseph settles with his Maja on the turf of Bringasen and becomes a wealthy farmer and so is he probably healed from his America Fever. Yes, the one who knew what it looks like the next time we meet, if it ever will be, we just do not know. But how the world ever is living with you, I hope that you will always remain the same kind fellow, you always have been.

So, I've been away and "photographed" me, so now I come to you in person. Not will it be really good, but hope you can recognize me. Hope you do not forget the "dear family" when you get to the new world, but send some greetings now and then so I can hear how it goes for you.

Best wishes and happy trip.

Your cousin Astrid.


Singsjon April 22, 1928

Cousin Martin!

As soon as you leave the shore of home

and run away to a distant land,

We send you a greeting

May the luck always follow you!

Feel what you encounter on your path

only redound to your best.

Yes, let the mighty Father's Hand

help you walk safely in the alien land!

Anna and Helga.

(Heartful Greetings to your family)