Recently I read An Untamed Land, a novel by Lauraine Snelling. The story follows two families that immigrated to the United States from Norway with the goal of acquiring a homestead. The work of clearing land, establishing a home and managing to find the food and resources to survive was terribly hard. The book offered a sober story.
I thought of my great-grandfather. He immigrated to Michigan with a small group from Finland around 1885. He worked for the copper mines in Upper Michigan for some time and made the decision to apply for a homestead. The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed an immigrant head of family to apply for free land. In return the family was required to clear acreage and establish a home. My understanding is that five acres of cleared land was required within a time frame.
He and four other families each claimed homesteads and established the village of Tapiola in the upper peninsula of Michigan. At the time, the only way to reach their land was by boat along the Sturgeon River. They built shelters and cleared forest, preparing to cultivate the land. Eventually they had subsistence farms.
There were hardships, but they met for home church services. They had a community attitude and began a school for children. I am grateful and blessed by the hard work of my ancestors.
Linking with the Five Minute Friday writing community. Kate’s prompt is: DECISION
Also linking with Sweet Tea and Friends .
how decisions of the past influences the present eh? Nice connection between what you read and what your family is.
I love how you approached this week’s prompt. My husband’s family immigrated from Norway a couple of genertions before he was born. My family arrived on the Mayflower.
FMF #13