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Saetran the 31st March 1886





Dear and unforgettable brother,
It has been a long time since we have heard anything from you who live on the other side of the world ocean so I will today take my pen and write over this paper and tell you a little about how we live here on America's prairie. But it has maybe been a while since you have heard anything from us but you have to excuse my being so late to write back because I am not a letter writer.


Yes, dear brother, I can tell you that we are all healthy and well at this writing time and



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that is the greatest thing we can wish in this life. And we see in your last letter that we kept that you all are well though maybe something could be different (over there now) because it is over a year since we have heard anything from you. I don't have any news that affects you that you would find interesting. The weather and the wind changes often at this time of year. This winter we had an unusual amount of snow. One day it was bare ground and the next day we barely got in to the house so quickly the snow fell. But now the spring is here and the cold winter has gone and in a few days we can start with the spring work.
 


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We see also in the last letter that we kept from you that you wanted to come and see us but you think it is better that I come and visit you. I think it would have been very nice to see you one more time in this life but because of the long distance that is between us so I think we never see each other again in this life.
 
In addition I can also report to you a little bit about our last year's harvest of wheat. We got 900 bushels. We got a good harvest of barley and oats so we received a very good crop. I see also in the letter that you have running water on the farm. I can also report that I have the same. I have laid pipe under the ground from the pump so we

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can pump water to the stable. I have also recently bought me a 4-year old horse which I paid 116 dollars for so I have 4 good working horses. You must also say hello to John Saetran and tell him from me that I am well and healthy at this date. But I am starting to get tired but work every day. This is nearly all what I have to write about at this time. I hope to glad hear some glad news from you. Best wishes from your brother.
 
Baard P. Saetran

Write back soon


















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Saetran the 31st March 1886




I will also with the same opportunity send some words from my own and greet some of my old acquaintances who live in old Norway, namely your wife Randi and John's wife Lespet. It is already many years since we separated and it is possible that we never will meet again in this earthly life but we may hope we may meet each other when our earthly life is ended here on earth in a better land hereafter
I have nothing particular







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to tell you at this time. Greet all my old acquaintances so much from me. I have stop with this hope that these few lines find you with best greetings. This is what I wish from me to you.

Eli Hansdatter Saetran




I hope that I hear some news from you again.
 
 
 

 


Peder took over the family farm after their oldest brother, Hans (1810-1839), was drowned in Troiteshollen. Baard and Eli came with 6 of his 7 children to Wanamingo, Minnesota in 1855.

CLICK HERE to read a letter from Baard's wife, Eli Hansdatter Traelstad Saetran

Following are images of these letters and a translation to English.  The "translation" is basically a "direct" translation of the Norwegian words to English rather than a translation where the resulting text is re-written the same way and English reader would have written the letter.

THE LETTER FROM BAARDTO PEDER 1886
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Note in the left margin: Greet Sivert Torstensen Saetran with his wife and tell them that we are all well.Greetings and health is well at this time.






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I send best wishes also from Gunder Olesen Saetran that he is still alive and is and is having a good time in America and he has been visiting us this Christmas and he has said that he is doing well in his body and he doesn't come to Norway anymore. Say hello to his daughter Beret so much from him.



THE LETTER FROM ELLEN
LETTER FROM ELI HANSDATTER TRAELSTAD SAETRAN 1826-1914). She and Baard were married May 29, 1855 in Norway. Baard's first wife, Ingeborg Hansdatter Saetran had died in 1850 leaving him with 7 children. Eli and Baard had five of their own in Wanamingo, Minnesota (Minneola Twp.)
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© Jon Satrum