Historical novel tells the story of immigrants ëcoming to Americaí
Posted 5/22/02

Where we came from is just as important as where we are going. In a day and age where we are looking farther and farther into the future, our past sometimes slips away faster than we realize. But no matter how much we have forgotten, the past is still there, and it is still very much part of our lives.

"Opportunity 1850: Netherlanders Go To America" (available from 1st Books Library) by Fannie Smith of Milaca is the story of one family and their dream of success and a better life in the United States. Four farm brothers want to escape a hopeless future in the Netherlands and seek fame and fortune in America. While their parents are a little less than optimistic at first, the boys soon find themselves as members of the crew of a packet ship going to America.

While on board this ship, they looked after steerage passengers surviving under horrible conditions. Each day a stew was made from 60 killed rats, supplying one third of a meal. Once the boys finally made their way to the shores of New York, they immediately set their eyes on California, gold, and the fortune they were sure they were waiting for. Before reaching San Francisco on the same ship, they experienced a near- miss shipwreck and a mutiny.

The boys, upon reaching California, learn how to mine for gold only to have it almost immediately stolen from them. Thirteen years after the four siblings left the Netherlands and set sail for America, Mama and Papa are finally able to come visit. It is at this point, looking back at their lives, the family realizes that despite the setbacks, humorous moments, and their successes, they had made the right decision.

"Smith has the ability to relate in clear terms what her characters were going through in their great adventure," said Mille Lacs County Times Editor Gary Larson. "You can sense their amazement, their fears and their humor in how they dealt with what was happening to them.

"Fannie writes about immigrants from the Netherlands, drawing back on what she learned from her parents and grandparents. But the travelers could just as well have been from Sweden or Norway."

Author Smith was born and raised near Pease. In 1944, Smith began attending night school, where she acquired the basic skills in typing and Gregg shorthand. When the Gregg School would not take her, Smith began a career in machine shorthand that would last for over 40 years. In 1947 she purchased a public stenograph service in Minneapolis. Eventually, Smith became the first woman member of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

Smith is the author of "The Record Never Forgets: History of Court Reporting and Shorthand." When she is ready, she plans on releasing her memoirs, tentatively titled "40 Years and 40 Days-A Court Reporter."

"Opportunity 1850:Netherlanders Go To America" is available at the Mille Lacs County Times and priced at $17 plus tax.

Following are excerpts from the book.

(Leaving the Fatherland

1st Day)

Mama had the food divided into four parts in cloth sacks; rye bread, cured cheese, oatmeal, a pound of raisins for each and some surprises. The honey was in four treated calf belly skins, given by Sietze DeBoer with his best wishes.

No one had much to say. The dreaded time had come and everything had been said. Nothing was said about the knitted blankets each brother packed, or the good things made ready for them. The four boys were choked up and quiet. It seemed to Jakob and the girls, the quiet in the Stollzoen house was scary; ominous. After Papa sweetened the porridge with honey, added milk and tasted it, he scooped into the pot with the family ladle, filled the ladle and, one at a time, emptied it into each wooden bowl that Mama put out for this special time. While standing, the men of the family ate the usual oats porridge for breakfast. No one said a word. When Papa finished, Mama took the cereal pot from the table to the milk room. The pot was shaking and Mama was restless, fidgeting and said,

"Itís so quiet in the milk room, but, then, itís quiet in the whole house." Myntje broke the tension and in a strained, forced voice, yelled,

"Jakob, why donít you go, too?" and burst out crying.

"Myntje, stop your bawling! do you want your brothers to remember you bawling like a hurting cow? I want to go too, but they think Iím a kid, well -" Jakob was shouting and obviously unable to finish because of his own grief. Collecting himself, he said,

"Iím already lonesome," and then he cried so hard, Myntje stared at him and caught her breath....

(Camping on Their Claim

345th day)

"Hear that noise, Reintjes?"

"Yes, Klaas, itís a man or big animal. Iím afraid. I can hear him. Heís banging on the tree. What if itís a giant or a wild man who roams this land? Donít move, he may go away." Klaas wants to know,

"Quiet, shhh, Cornelis, hear that thing out there, what is it?" Cornelis is next to Klaas, at the tentís outside,

"Iíll lift the edge of the tent; maybe I can see. Yep, itís a huge deer with a big rack of horns. Donít move. Maybe heíll leave." Everyone was awake. Klaas whispered,

"Iím so scared; Iím shaking." Cornelis watched for a few minutes,

"Fellows, heís going down the mountain. Lay still, lest he comes back. I think weíre safe." Jake asked,

"How big is he?"

"Much taller than a cow, long legs, a dark color, and two racks of horns on the top of his head, one on each side; not like cow horns."

Editorís note: Starting next week, Smith and another area writer, Doris Bergstrom, will be writing historical columns in the Times.