This letter stands out as one of my favorites in my entire collection of family history artifacts. It was written by Herman Brodd, the younger brother of my great-grandmother Clara Brodd. It was written just a few weeks before her wedding.
I left the spelling as written – Herman betrays his Swedish roots throughout (‘ever’ spelled as ‘efver’, etc.)
Ceresco Neb
Sept 9, 1901Dear Sister Clara,
I must write you a few lines to let you know that we are all well. Hoping these lines will find you all the same.
It has bin dry out here efver sins you left here tills now. We have had Rain for 2 days and it is raining yet.
The Swedeburg Choir is Singing for the Festival that will be held in Wahoo the 14 & 15 of this month. The Omaha, Lincoln and Mead Choirs will be there too so we will be ofver 100 singers. Prof. Halgren from Omaha will do the leading.
Well My Dear Sister I see in your kind letter that you are going to get Married and never to stay with me any more. My dear Clara Remember me and think of the good times we used to have to geather when we was young. May God be with you Both on your Wholy afaire.
I can’t with pen explain to you how lonesom I am to think of that the day has come for us Part. I can hardely write this letter. I cry when efver I think of Day’s gone by of as Dear Sister as you have bin to me.
May God be your companion Through Life and don’t forget your Brother Herman.
I have bin thinking of coming out to your Wedding But as I see in your letter you are not going to have any Reseption so I don’t know if it would be needed for me to out there but I would like to come out of the worst kind. I guess it is no use for Willie to try to get me a pass. You could ask him about it But don’t say that I asked for one as he might not like to ask. You write and let me know if he can.
Mamma and Pappa they are happy and glad and get along nicely. Ray he is just as jolley as ever so you need not worri about then.
Well I am not married yet and don’t know any more than when you was home. Pappa wans to Build a house some place on the Farm here but I don’t know if I would like that or not. He would do that this fall if I would want him to. But I haven’t said anything wether I would take that ofer or not. He says he don’t think he would liket in a Town.
I have know more news to tell you for this time so I guess this will bring my letter to a close hoping to here from you as soon as possable.
We all send our best Reguards to you and Willie and Uncle.
The Folks they seem to be well Pleased with your undertaking so don’t be worried if I am fealing lonesome. Maby you nead some money if you do I will tell Pappa and he will send some.
From your Brother Herman
Lillie sends her Best Reguards to you.
Greet Willie from me.
Notes and comments:
1. After all the hinting about attending the wedding, we see Herman as an attendant in the wedding photo (above). I wonder if P.W. was able to get him the ticket?
2. I love that they referred to their parents as “Momma” and “Poppa”.
3. Herman complains about not being married yet, but he sends his “reguards” from Lillie, and by December of this same year he is married to her!
4. He talks about his parents wanting to build a house on on the farm (because they would not “liket” in Town – so cute!). It turns out that A.G. and Gustafva did in fact retire to a small house that they built out on the farm. (Their only experience living in a town would have been in Carbon and that didn’t sound all that great…)
5. He mentions a “Ray” (or it could be “Roy”) in connection with his parents. I don’t know who he is. A.G. and Gustafva later have a grandson, Raymond Nelson, but he doesn’t come along until 1913. No one by the name “Ray” or “Roy” appears with the family in 1880 census.
Such a charming letter. I understand that Clara and Herman had a close relationship throughout their lives. One of Clara’s sons (my grandfather Herman) was named after his uncle.
