Funk, Nebraska, July 1, 1907
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To the honorable Committee on Emigration in Sweden:
At the request of the above named Committee, I, as an uneducated farmer, wish to attempt to point out the reasons why emigration from Sweden to America has been so great.
"Poverty, oppression by the ruling class and compulsory military training are driving them away. Pride and whiskey are ruining Sweden entirely," this was the verdict of my brother in law and myself when we were in Sweden four years ago.
As an indication of our condition when we lived in Sweden I am sending you a "Golden Wedding Book" which describes a festivity which was celebrated March 24, 1906.
I will also give a brief autobiography of myself: I was born September 25, 1858, in the "soldierhome" No. 729 at Brokebro, Harlunda socken, Skaraborgs lan, Sweden. (Read the Golden Wedding Book) Four of us children were born in the above named soldier home (soldatsbostalle), namely sister Anna Lovisa, the undersigned John, brother Carl, dead and buried Harlunda, and brother Thure. We moved to soldier home No. 730 Grybe, Harlunda, where sister Johanna Matilda was born. Later we moved to Stora Vanga under Stora Hoberg, where brother Emil was born. In 1869 father went to America. (Fled from military service because of poverty). He left us behind, mother and five of children. I, the oldest of the boys, 11 years old, had to go to Herrgarden Stora Hoberg, Stora Vanga, and herd sheep, hogs and cattle, and drive the threshing machine in winter, all for 12 shillings, or about 25 ore a day and eat my own lunch, if there chanced to be anything to eat. A barrel of rye cost 32 crowns. Mother worked on the Herragard (estate) part time, and received 50 ore a day during the harvest season. But most of the time she was home weaving, for then she could look after the little ones. Sometimes she had to go out and secure grain to grind, but that was not easy of one did not have the cash. "Arade Nadig Frun" (Honorable Gracious Lady) thus she would be addressed, fru Jylling of Hoberg. She instructed Manager Samuelson that he "understar sig ej att lata Linesa fa kop nagon sad" (under no conditions permit that Lind woman to buy any grain). This as punishment on us because father had gone to America. I remember a number of times when I had to go to Herrgarden (the estate) without breakfast with only a piece of bread in my pocket until someone would come with food. I recall especially once when I had to be satisfied with my piece of bread until five o'clock in the afternoon, when finally someone at home had succeeded in procuring something for me to eat. Then I was so hungry that I stole a piece of oats bread, which lay in a window in the cattle barn amidst cow manure, and which was intended for the dog. But the dog got milk on his bread, but of course, he belonged to the estate. "Valle" was his name. I, on the other hand, was only a "inhysehjon" (a person taken up into another's home) and out of pure mercy taken in as a shepherd boy on Stora Hoberg. This struggle lasted for three and half years, due to the fact that father was deceived by a certain consul, Smith, in Chicago. When father bought tickets from him he stole the money and sent no tickets. But in 1872 we fortunately got to come to America, and there begin life anew.
In Hampton, Illinois, father worked in a coal mine for $1.50 a day. Very soon I got work in the coal mine pouring water at $1.00 a day. That was quite different from 25 ore at Stora Hoberg, where I had to work 15 days to earn $1.00. In two days I could earn 50 pounds of wheat flour which at that time cost $2.00 for 50 pounds. I do not know what wheat flour was worth in Sweden at that time, but in 1869 when rye cost 32 crowns a barrel and I got 25 ore a day, it took me 128 days of work at Stora Hoberg to earn a barrel of rye. But of course, we used only a little rye flour, and potatoes and oats flour for the rest.
I worked eight years in the coal mines at Hampton, Illinois, and earned from $1.00 to $3.00 per day. I worked for father, so that he got my earnings until I was 21 years old. I worked two years for myself in the mine, and in that time saved $400.00. In 1881 I went to Phelps County, Nebraska, where my parents had moved two years before and taken what we call "Homestead", 80 acres for nothing, to make it their home. But when I got there all the land had been filed. I bought out the rights of another (Peter Bergen) to 160 acres for $400.00 and took that as my homestead. Later I bought 120 acres for $11.00 per acre. After that I bought 80 acres for $1,350.00. I now own 360 acres of land worth about $20,000.00, and my brothers and sisters in proportion. This is not to my credit but it is a gift of God of which I am steward.
We owe a debt of gratitude to both God and the United States because a way has been opened for the poor emigrant to come here. What I have said here of myself and my brothers and sisters can be said of thousands of Swedes here in America.
John Lind
Written by Johannes Lind and edited by Dave Guiel (Ida Branch)
