#1: from Palmer

Sterling, Colo.
April 29, 1921

Dear Friend Margaret — Well how are you folks back in Minnesota getting along, fine as ever I hope. I am feeling fine as ever and like myself pretty good in this country but I do get quite lonesome at times.

I started to work here the 13th of Oct. last fall and have only lost one day since. The only thing I do not like about my work is that I got to work on every Sunday, but all the churches here in town has meeting in the evening. I have been to church every Sunday evening except one since I came out here and I try to remember to think of God and to obey his Laws the best I can.

I am making about $127.00 a month now which I think is pretty good for a green farmer boy like me. I got to pay about $45.00 a month for board and room but anyway I can save quit a lot of my wages, but I would just as soon work on the farm as to shovel coal and cinders.

I suppose you are surprised to get this letter from me knowing that I was engaged to be married when I left home last fall but the truth is that Edith Aygarn took back her promise she gave me. For one thing she said she did not love me the way she thought she ought to for to be a true wife to me and another thing was that she did not think she ever would be strong enough to become a married woman.

So if you are not allready engaged or married please write to me, but I do not want you to come in trouble with anybody about writing to me. Well Margaret I must now close for this time with best wishesh [sic] from your friend Palmer.

Please write soon as I will be waiting for a letter from you in about a week.

Palmer Mindrum
Box 391
Sterling Colorado

P.S. I do not know if you are at home or at Rushford with your Uncle but will send this to your home so I am sure you will get it. Goodnight.

If your name is not speled right just let me know.

Dear friend,

Yes, I’m very much surprised at getting a letter from you, as I have a good reason to be, you know. Anyway, I’m answering you as I would like to be your friend.

I’m glad you like it down there and are feeling good. I’m sure you are lonesome sometimes, being so far, far away from your people. You certainly have kept steady at your job and are getting good wages. So many are out of work now days, but it must be hard to work on Sundays.

I’m staying down at my uncle’s place yet. Has been here now close to two years. It makes me feel good to help uncle and these mothers and children out, and we have good times here too. My cousin Ella Oian and I are chumming. We go to the moves sometimes and Luther League, etc. Luther League isn’t much like Y.P.S. on the prairie, though. Very few young people come to League down here. Well, I better close up for this time. My hand is getting so tired, and I got left to set bread tonight. Ha ha.

With best wishes and regards I’m as ever,
your friend, Margaret

P.S. My address is Margaret Landsverk, Rushford Minn c/o Henry Oian.

#2: from Margit

Rushford, Minn.
April 6, 1921

#3: from Palmer

Sterling, Colo.
May 10, 1921

Dear friend Margaret,
I received your letter yesterday and you do not know how much I enjoyed getting it. Time seems to go so much faster when I get a nice letter once in awhile, but it seems as tho all my folks are so busy with their work that they do not find much time to write letters.

I am glad to hear that you are having a good time. As for me I think I have done most of my chasing around for fun, as it costs quite a little if I am going to take in very much out here and I am working for to save some money now so if the day ever comes that I can start a home of my own, I will have a little to start with.

I am sure there must be more happyness in having a place to call home than to stay with others all the time Ilike I have been doing.

I wish I could have been in Rushford Sunday and got some of that bread you baked Sat, for I am sure it was good.

The only thing I do not like about the place where I am boarding is that I sometimes get poor bread, but as they are poor people with a big family and need all money they can get, so I do not like to leave them just for a few loaves of bread.

I had a long talk with old Pat XXXXX from Rushford today. He is visiting his sons who live out here. It sure was fine to see and talk to someone I had seen before I came out here. I was thinking a little about coming home soon, but I have now made up my mind that as long as I am getting these wages, then I will not come home before sometime in the fall.

Yes, Margaret, it did seem a little funny to go to work on Sun. morning when I first started to work here. But the only time I wait for to come now is Sunday evening, as I enjoy going to the Methodist church here on Sunday evening as the Minister they got there always tries to make the young people interested in our future life, which sure is a great help for many of us.

I hope this will find you well and happy as ever. Will now close with best wishes from your friend, Palmer.

Please write soon and tell me all the news you know.

Dear friend,
Received your letter today, was very glad to hear from you, will answer tonight, so I can get it mailed tomoro when I go over town, I haven’t got any thing else to do tonight, as I have just finished a good story book.

Well, news is scarce as ever. All you hear now days is that someone is getting married. And of course you have allready heard who all they are any way. Ruby & Francis Johnson had quit a wedding, I guess. I’ve heard there were at least five hundred there. Joseph Humble & Ada Olson was married not long ago. I haven’t been home for dogs age, and no one has been down, so I don’t know of any news from up that way. Well have you been out hanging May baskets this year? I wasn’t out this year, but I got quite a few baskets anyway, from the kids around here.

There is dance over town to night with real Hawaiian music and tomoro night they are going to have show and native Hawaiian music.

You tell ’em we got music here too now. Uncle Heny is playing his mouth organ and guitar and the kids are fighting. Ha ha. Ole my brother was home helping a week with the spring work. He walked home from Decorah. Some hiker. Ha! Julia Hanson is working down here for Ed Overland. Clara Ryan is working for Harry Arnold. I see them both quite often.

There is going to be service in both the English and Norwegian language Sunday. Finn Magellssen is Pastor down here. I like to go to church too, but it’s hard to be good and do right always, I think. Well, the space is limited so will close with my best wishes.

I’m as ever, your friend Margaret.

#4: from Margit

Rushford, Minn.
May 13, 1921

#5: from Palmer

Sterling, Colo.
May 16, 1921

Dear Margaret — Mange tak for dit kjare brev jig fik idag. You sure are a good girl to answer my letters. There are very few Norwegians out here, so I will soon forget how to talk it.

All the Lutheran Churches out here are German, and as I do not like to be along with them very much, so I go to the Methodist church. So Ruby J and my cousin had a big wedding. Well, I was not there and I do not think I lost so very much. I do not see any good in having those big weddings. I am feeling real well and am working every day as ever. I sure have had more good luck than I really deserve by having steady work and good health all the time. I sure am thankfull to God and I try tho best I can to do the right thing, But I also find that it is hard to be good at times. I have many times thought of the many good times we had together three years ago this spring and I do hope that we can have some more good times together like we used to when I come home next fall.

How is Nettie H and her husband getting along?

Tomorrow I will get another paycheck. I will get $64.13 tomorrow. We get our pay two times a month.

You must excuse my letters for not being so very interesting as work, eat, and sleep do not make so much to write about. But I am trying the best I can. I had a letter from Grandpa [Peter M. Olson, who raised Palmer] today. He said they were both feeling real well now. I am sure glad to know that they are well because you know they have done a lot for me.

So Clara Ryan is in R. now. Do you know if Roy Hauge comes down to see Clara now?

Yes, Margaret, it seem as all kids got to do some fighting and crying but anyway this world sure would be lonesome without the dear things.

[in pencil] My pen is not working right so will finish with this ting. Well, Margaret, I must now go to bed so will close.

As ever your true friend, Palmer.

Dear friend — Well, this afternoon it’s thundering & raining like every ting. So I think I will take time and answer some letters. It’s kind of nice to be your own boss sometimes, you see. And down here it’s hardly any outside work to do, so it’s an easy place in one way. I don’t suppose your work is very easy. But you must have some days off anyway, haven’t you?

I went home over Sunday, came back this morning. My, it’s just wonderfull up in the country. Now every thing is green and nice and the lilacs and snowball trees are all in bloom. It makes me/one feel so happy.

They had a little school picnic by the Staaland house in the afternoon. Just a few of the neighbors was there. Emma Mindrum & Mrs. Anfinson was there too. We had a good time. It was dance at [___] in the new barn Sat. night. I quess, last night we was to Y.R.S in the Highland Prairie church. They had a good program and the basement was full of people. They are going to start up the band again now, I guess. Ole & Gunhild will join again this year too. I wonder if Emma or Orney will? I guess they like Choice pretty good. Emma is going to teach Sunday school down in Choice.

Yes, I have seen Ray Hauge take Clara Ryan to the movies couple times. She ain’t staying in Rushford any more now though. Didn’t like her place, I guess. I was down to see Gladys when I was home. It seems nice to have neighbors down there again. We used to run down there so often before. We just had a heavy rain shower here now. I pity those that were out on the road. They certainly got soaked. It feels nice and cool now after the rain. Are you having nice weather down there?

Nettie and her husband is getting along alright, I guess. But Nettie is living in hope that they’ll move to town some time. She said still she don’t do any outside work, But I s’pose it’s lonesome, for her.

Well, I guess this about time to get supper now. I’m afraid you will get sore eyes before you get through anyway, as it’s written in a hurry. You will have to excuse poor letters.

Haa maa du vaere hilset paa det venligeste ifra din veninde, Marcha.

#6: from Margit

Rushford, Minn.
May 23, 1921

#7: from Palmer

Sterling, Colo.
May 26, 1921

Dear Friend Margaret — I received your long and interesting letter today for which I thank you very much. I am feeling well as ever and working every day. Yes Margaret I can take a day of from work once in awhile if I want to, but when I am supposed to work every day, I like to be as steady as I can.

Well I have decided to quit working out here and come home, so if nothing extra happens, I think you will see me at home by the 23th of June.

By that time, they will soon start haying, and it is nearly always some work to get through haying and harvest, and even if I do not get steady work, I think I can aford to have a few days free after working so steady all winter. Don’t you?

I do not think I would have thought of coming home so soon if the Co. had not decided to lower our wages by the first of July.

We have been having such nice weather out here all spring that everything was drying up. But yesterday we got a good rain shower which was the first real rain shower we have had since I came out here, and we only had a few smal snow stroms this winter, so you can imagine that it was dry. I understand you have had plenty rain at home this spring.

There is a swell Carnival in twon now. But as I am trying to make as much money as I can, the same as they do, so I do not spend much on anything like that when I have not got any friends to take along with me.

It sure is going to be nice to come home again and have some fun, after staying here with strangers for eight months.

I suppose Gladys and Frank has got a cozy little home in the valley now. I do not think there is anything like having a hoe of your own. Well Margaret I will now close, hoping that this will find you well and happy as ever.

Your friend
Palmer
Please write soon. Box 391 Sterling.

Dear friend — Well here I am again, so quite here tonight. Ruth, Marian and I are alone tonight.

Received your letter yesterday. Was glad to hear you are feeling fine. Same here, Couldn’t be any better.

For lands sake now it’s starting to rain again. It’s almost to much rain now. It rained allmost all last week. The river was so big it was about one foot deep in the dike all over. They say the South Fork river hasn’t been so big since fifteen years ago, so I spose it looks pretty shabby in Choice now.

Saw from your letter you are coming home soon. We sure will be glad to see you again, I should allmost think you could have a vacation after working so steady all winter. I’m going home next week. The school will be out then and they are going to try and get along alone till the Norwegian school starts. Then I spose I have to help them out again. I like it down here but I also like to go home for a change.

Minnie Olson has been around here in South R. serving now for a while. We sure have had a good time together to. We play ball and hide-n-go-seek etc. with the kids around here and it sure is fun.

And then of course we go over town bumming some times.

They had some goings here Monday, Decoration day, but it was [burn], if it was cloudy all day and in the after noon it rained. Didn’t see any of our neighbors down here. Guess they where all bussy in the corn field.

Sunday a bunch of us had a picnic down by the [Tufry] creek. We had a lovely time. Was about fifty people there.

Minnie was over here last night. We helped each other write letters. I wrote one on Tellemarking to Stella & she wrote one on Stavanger to Gunhild. It sure was some letters you [till’m]

#8: from Margit

Rushford, Minn.
June 1, 1921

Well you will have to excuse my poor letters I’m so tired and sleepy tonight I can’t think straight. Got left to set bread and sprinkle cloths so think it’s on time to close with Best Wishes and Regards.

I’m as ever
your friend
Marg.

P.S. I’m going over to see Myrtle Halvorson tomoro. Spose you know her. She is going to graduate Fri night, poor girl. She has hated school before, but now she feels bad. She has to leave home next year and go to school some other place — such is life.

#9: from Palmer

Sterling, Colo.
June 5, 1921

Dear Friend — I received your dear letter yesterday. Was sure glad to get it and to know that you are well and enjoying life. I am the same as ever and try to pass away the time the best I know how.

They have been having some awfull weather around here lately. There was a cloud burst about thirty miles west of here. A mother and three children were drowned. Their father got caught in a fence so they saved him, but he was so badly tore up by the fence that they do not know if he can live.

They had another cloud burst up by Pueblo last Friday which caused two big reservoirs to bust, and all the water came right down in Pueblo. They do not know for sure how many lives are lost, but they are sure that it is over 1000 lives lost and about ten million dollars damage done as the water flooded all of the main part of that big City.

A big rain rain caused two more reservoirs to bust up by Denver this morning and they are expecting that water to come by Sterling this evening but the town lays so high here that I do not think it will be hurt anything by the flood.

Well I just came back from church, so will try to finish my letter before I got to bed. I heard a fine sermon tonight, so I think I can manage to be a good boy for the rest of this week. I am going to quit work the 18 of this month. So now I only got one more Sunday to work on and I am sure glad of it as I am getting tired of working every day of the week.

So you are having lots of rain at home too. Well please be carefull and do not let the flood take you away before I come home, as I sure am longing for your company again.

I bought a extra Denver paper now when I came home from church which states that two big dams busted this morning again above Pueblo so the main part of that big city was under many feet of water. This afternoon the water was as deep as seventeen feet at some places. Well, Margaret I think it is soon time for me to go to bed, so I can be able to get up in time for to go breakfast in the morning. Hoping this will find you well and happy as ever. Will now close with best wishes from your friend Palmer.

I will soon be in dreamland now, so Goodnight.

#10: from Palmer

Rushford, Minn.
June 15, 1921

[An envelope addressed to “Miss Margaret Landsverk, Whalan, Minn.”]

Dear Margaret — Well I am now in Rushford. I came home last night.

I did not intend to come home so soon, but I got my right hand hurt about one week ago so I could not work for some time. I bought a little car this fore noon and if the roads get better, I will come out to see you in a day or two.

((That is if you will let me.))
It is quite hard for me to write with this hand so will close with hopes that I can see you soon.
Best wishes from
Palmer

#11: from Palmer

Rushford, Minn.
July 7, 1921

[An envelope addressed to “Miss Margaret Landsverk, Whalan, Minn.”]

Dearest Margit — Well how is the girl? Same as ever I hope. Well I came home at last Mon night to, altho I tore to pieces one of my chains in the newly worked road in the Wold hill about one half mile from here.

I backed the car down the hill and left it there until the next day as it was so dark and muddy I did not want to fix it there.

I suppose you have been along haying now. We huled in eight loads of hay today, and tomorrow we are going to start cutting barley. Don’t you pitty me who got to shock that d— stuff?

Well, be good Girlie and be all smiles as always by Sunday.

So Goodnight.
Your friend
Palmer.

Dear Palmer,

Your Invitation was received. Many thanks.

I am sorry to say that we can not come to your wedding. For one thing I am not able to wear a [decent] shoe on my left foot yet. It is getting better though however as I have not got so much pain in it. And the other problem was to get someone to stay here while we were gone. So we had to give it up.

I will herewith enclose a small check with congratulations and our best wishes for a happy and prosperous future.

So can you and Margaret decide to buy something you like best as a [remembrance].

With our love and [goetruy] to you and Margaret, and all

From your Father

#12: from Edward

Osakis, Minn.
Nov 29, 1921