MySource:Romsaas/Letter from Ellen Eriksdatter Romsås (Toftness) to Elwood Russell Romsaas

We came from Norway to Benson, Minnesota on June 19, 1884 where we met Christian Pederson. Christian was in Benson to take home a load of lumber for their house but he had to leave the lumber and take us along. Aunt Marit was so glad to see us all. We stayed here for a while and then moved to the Wilson place south of Torgersons. This house had been empty for some time. Clara was born here, January 1st. It was a very cold winter and a cold house - ice between the bed and the wall. It was a wonder that mother and Clara lived through it. Uncle Amund's mother's brother had a farm without buildings on so he let father put up a small one room house on it and here Andor and Martin were born. We burned hay; Thea, Mary, Emil and I twisted hay. We went out every evening to bring in as much as we could and we had lots of fun doing it. We had two cows and some sheep and we got one cow from Uncle Pederson and the other from Uncle Torgerson. We had a covered wagon fixed and we were going to the north. All was ready to go in the morning but in the evening, Mathias Romsaas and Engebret Romsaas came and got uncle and Dad and we went to bed before they came back. When we got up in the morning, they told us we were not going North but were moving on the farm we were living on. Uncle Amund paid for the farm (guess Dad paid a little) Aunt Marit came early in the morning to say goodby but instead came along to our new home. We kids walked and chased the few head of stock we had. Otto and Elmer were born here.