Martha Dahl (left), Medicine Hat 1930

Martha Dahl, born in Norway 10th of February 1852, had to earn her living from an early age. With her husband Anders Dahl and two daughters, Marie 3 and Anna 1 year old, she emigrated to North-America in 1879.

The following letter written in 1930 to her sister-in-law (my great-grandmother) is a condensed version of fifty years of hardships the family suffered as homesteaders, first in North-Dakota and later in Alberta, and how she wound up in Medicine Hat.

Her story is penned by her daughter Mrs. Marie Haight, who left Norway at the age of 3. The original letter is written in Norwegian with some English words in-between.

 

This is the letter in English translation:

 

 

Medicine Hat July 5th 1930

 

My Sister Marie.

Now I must try to answer your welcome letter that was both sorrow and joy. I never thought I would hear from my folks again. I was sad to learn that both my brothers had passed away. I knew that Mother was dead some time ago, but that was all. I have tried to find you, but the letters always came back, then it was a friend of mine here who said that I should write to the Consul, and that he wold be able to find you, and when I got an answer from you he surely have found you.

Then I am the only one left of our little family. And you are just about right about the age too. I will be 79 years old the 10th of February 1931. I am healthy and quick to this day, but you must not believe that I am like I was in my younger days. But I am doing very well because I have my eldest daughter with me, who is now a young widow of 54 years.

 

Now I must try to tell you a little of my years here in America. I did not find a gold-mine or cow in green grass, that is for sure. The first 3 years here in America we were on a rented farm where we got half of the crop. Bad crops and bad prices, and then a child every second year or so. Then we moved to the prairie where we lived for 13 years, and where all our children were born, 8 in total. And during hard times – bad crops, bad prices, and a big family, we were able to pull through in good health until we had lots of cattle and 5 horses, wagons and equipment and some money. Then we were going out on the big North-Dakota prairie to take up a Homestead, that was in 1897. It was then bad luck entered the family, the first winter. March the 6th 1898 our little boy died. He should have been 5 years that Mai month. So we took Homestead, and started to build our home, we fixed up quite a nice home.

Then, in 1902 father died, and I had two half-grown boys to run the farm until 1905. Then the second of the boys died of galloping consumption, he was then 18 years of age. And 3 days later a married girl died, she died not 23 years old, and left a little girl that I had to take and raise like my own. The little girl wanted one month to be 3 years when I took her, and she will be 28 years now the 15th of August, is married and has 4 children.

Then I had another daughter who became a widow one month later. Her husband were killed on the Rail-Road. So it was even more sorrow. She had a little boy not 3 years old. Then there were 3 sad homes at the same time.

And yet it was not the end. These deaths occurred in July and August of 1905. November 1905 my eldest son was totally blinded.

He had been out hunting and was shot. This made poison in his body and from this he became blind. I took him to the best eye-doctors here, which is in Rochester Hospital in Minnesota, and he was operated on. He was blind the whole winter, but in the spring he got his sight on one eye, and was quite well for two years, then he was suddenly taken ill and died within 24 hours. He died in 1908 and was buried January 2nd 1909.

And 22nd of February 1906 a grownup daughter died too, 28 years old, married but no children. The grownup boy was also 28 years when he died.

So, all in all I buried 6 of my children, and believe me, it did not feel good. But then the sorrow was too great. Every time I went to the small town I went to the grave-yard, and you know, this could not go on. So I sold what I had and went to Canada, which is now 21 years since, this spring.

When I came to Canada I took up a Homestead, because I had 6 cows, 2 one-year old heifers, 4 calves and a small horse. And there I was, alone with the little girl who was then 6 years old.

But the disasters was not yet brought to an end. I was on the farm for 14 months. The second spring I was there, a strong blizzard came late in the spring, and I lost all my cattle. They froze to death in the terrible blizzard. So, there I was with my two empty hands. I had my horse and a little buggy, and the little girl. I took my horse, buggy and the girl and came to this town. I drove 60 miles, and when I came to this settlers town, I had 75 cents in money. So I tethered the horse and slept under the buggy with the girl. The horse broke loose the first night, and I have never seen him since. At that time I was 57 years old.

So I started to go around and wash other peoples dirty clothes, which I did for a year. Then I was rich. I had saved up 40$, and then I started to board, because the town was growing as if they had struck a gold-mine. And I made good money, so I have built my own house. But then the war broke loose and everything went wrong again.

I have my house, but I have some debt on it, and a lot that is 50x134 ft with some trees and also some fruit-trees, and a big field of potatoes and all sorts of other garden stuff. My house is 30x48 ft in one floor, a little garret upstairs, 7 bedrooms, bathroom, dining-room and a big kitchen. I have worked hard here, but I am all right now. For cooking, heating the house, light, I use natural gas. I have sewer and water in the house, so all I have to do to draw water is to turn a crane, the same when I light the stove, turn the crane and hold a match to the pipe, then I have heat in my big stove.

Now it is hard times here, no work for anybody, so I have no boarders, but there will be in the autumn, I think. The crop does not look good, the farmers say, but my garden are fine because I have a hose so I give it water when it is needed.

Now I have put down on paper most of what I have lived through since I came to America. But I can not write on paper all the heartaches I have gone through.

Now I am all right, my daily bread to this day, a lot, but friends –

I am the grandmother of 4 children, and great- grandmother of 6 children, 4 of whom are living here, 2 blocks away. One daughter is here, the other one is in California in United States.

Write soon and friendly greetings from

Tante (Aunt) Martha.

 

 

I am the writer, and will stay here with mother the rest of the time, I think.

If your father had been living, he would have remembered me. I was born in Norway and baptized in Frukirken (Church of the Holy Mother) by pastor Flod. I was 3 years old when I came to the great America.

I have been married, have been a widow for many years, have a grownup boy who is married and have a boy. So I am also a grandmother. My boy and his wife are living in Seattle, Washington U.S.A. I have not seen them in two years.

Be sure to write so we do not loose each-other again.

Friendly greetings from your

(Cousin)

Mrs. Marie Haighth.

 

Done