A Letter from Nebraska
In 1881, Maja Svensson lived with her parents, Nils and Elin, in Sweden. Her uncle Lars had moved from Sweden to Nebraska in 1879. In a letter, Lars wrote that he could help Nils find farm work and help the family settle nearby. The Svenssons wanted work and wanted to live near Lars, so they decided to move to the United States.
Before leaving, the family sold some furniture and packed clothes, bread, and a small bowl. They rode in a wagon to a train station. Then they took a train to a port and boarded a steamship bound for New York. The sea was rough on some days, and the family shared a small space with other travelers.
In New York, the Svenssons took another train west. They watched their bags and tickets carefully as they traveled. In 1882, they reached Nebraska, where Lars met them. By 1883, Nils worked on a farm, and the family lived in a small house near Lars. Maja missed Sweden, but she wrote that the journey had brought her family a new start.