Charlie letters

January 24, 1916

(From Funk, Nebraska)
(To Richvale, California)

(Letterhead of Scandinavian Mutual Insurance Company of Kearney, Phelps, Dawson and Harlan Counties)

Friend Charlie:

I am going to write you a few lines tonight, So you will know that I'm still alive.  How are you out there.  I suppose you have lots of rain now days.  I've read in the paper of floods in southern Cal. but they maby dont reach as far north as Richvale, I hope not.  Now is when you ought be out here, and skate, we've had dandy ice, but now its been warm weather a few days, so the ice was not hard enough to skate on in the evenings or afternoons, but it seems like it will be colder weather tomorrow.  We are done picking corn now.  How did it go with your threshing this year, did you get done in time for the rain.  How much does it make per acre?  The best wheat out here is worth $1.02 now.  The Elevator men cant get cars enough so people can haul as much as they want to.  We have been shelling some corn but it is too warm weather now, so the corn gets tough and wet.  and people cant get rid of the corn because the Elevators are all filled up.  We have been working with shoeing horses today so we can haul wheat on the ranch(?) roads.  last Wednesday we were on funeral, Alberts little boy was buried, he was around 1 1/2 years old.  Tomorrow Edolf Carlsons baby is to be buried.  Theres people sick pretty near all over around here this winter.  Measels and Lagrippe mostly.  Havent had much time to hunt rabbits this winter yet, been out three times.  There seems to be more coyotes around here than it used to so I think people could have great sport if they'd put up a (?).  Do you have may Geese and ducks out there now.  We had quiet a few out here this fall, I didnt have much time to hunt but I shot 13.  I'm running out of news now and I might as well quit for this time.  Write me a line as soon as you have a chance.  Greet the rest from Your Friend
Emil Gustafson

December 1, 1916

August 13, 1916

(From Funk, Nebraska)
(To Richvale, California)

Dear friend Charlie,

I'm going to try to answer your welcome letter of some time ago.  It would sure be fine to see you in this part of the country again.  We are having rainy weather now days, and we sure needed it, so it is welcome.  The corn was nearly suffering for rain, some of the corn has got stunted but I think it will make at least 25 bls(?).  Weve had around 3 in. of rain now, in several differnent showers this last few days, Today it rained so we couldnt go to church, so you better come out here and pick corn, We have plowed about 40 acres in a little better than two days.  We plow with two gangs and the tractor, I suppose you will soon start harvesting rice out there.  how are the prospects this year.  I hope they are good.

The wheat turns out pretty good this year.  From 16 to 38 hv(?) as much as I have heard.  We shocked(?) threshed some which made 21 1/2, the wheat up in the hills made 23.  All new wheat tests around 60 lbs. to the hv(?) or over so we get the top price for wheat, they dont even test is this year.  We sold the wheat we raised in the hills for $1.18 a hv(?).  Oscar Martinson has gotten the house almost ready now.  The plasterers are there working, and the house is half painted on the outside.  Oscar is going to run one of Bill Pearsons threshing outfitter, he has two you know.  Father, Mother, Carl, and Duzenia(?) were in Sarmville(?) last tuesday and Wednesday, they rode automobile, had fine roads, they came home just in time for the rainy weather.  Does Albin still hang on the the job of pumping cars(?).

I suppose you've heard that Durty(?) John(?), got his hand cut off in a corn shiller last winter.  He has still got the grays he bought on your sale.  Dolly or the one Bengstons bought has a colt this year.  Last Sunday afternoon we took a trip over 2 miles north of Kearney to Andrew Wilsons(?) they used to live west of Funk, but now before they moved they lived out by Holaugh(?).  They are bulding a new bridge across the platte(?) over by Kearney, It's going to be a concrete bridge and not much over 80 rods long.  We were to the river to swim in Sunday afternoon but there was no deep water about three feet the deepest, The 29th of August my brother Rev. Oscar O. Gustafson of Elbow Locke(?), Minn. is going to get married to Miss Hilden Lindburg - Omaha, and we, as many as possible, will try to be there, Axel Erickson is here now fixing our porch. and building our machine shed.  It seems like Im running short on news so I might as well quit.  Hoping to hear from you soon. 
Your freind
Emil G. (Gustafson)
Greet all the rest of 'em