When Carl Sandburg was born on January 6, 1878, his father, August, had been in this country for nine years. His mother, Clara, had been here for five years. They were immigrants from Sweden.

They were a quietly religious couple who raised seven children on a railroad wage of fourteen cents an hour. August had purchased a small house before their marriage. Over the years he would buy and improve other homes to shelter his family.

Clara and August believed in and practiced thrift, hard work and close family ties. Their children were taught to do chores around the house and yard. They went to school and did their homework.

It was a tense time when August and Clara decided Mary, the oldest of the children, with good grades, was allowed to attend high school. It was expected that she would become a teacher and her earnings would help the family. Carl, when his turn came, was told to find a job. He knew he had to bring home his wages for the benefit of the family.

The Panic of 1893 was a devastating time for the Sandburgs. Wages were cut in half at the railroad company. The children spread lard instead of butter on their slices of homemade bread for breakfast. They picked up the small pieces of coal that had fallen off the railroad cars to keep the fire in the kitchen stove burning.

Carl worked at a variety of jobs with no future and minimal pay. In his spare time, he read Mary’s high school books and discussed them with her. He was doing the best he could to gain knowledge for the future.

When the Spanish-American War began in 1898, Carl decided to enlist in the United States Army. It was one way to get away from family, the town of Galesburg and low-paying jobs. During the six months of military life, Carl lost twenty pounds and gained friends he treasured for life. He gave half of his pay to his father.

As a veteran, Carl was given a chance to attend Lombard College. It was the opportunity of a lifetime for him. He enrolled in courses on elocution and writing. He studied the classics of English literature. He wrote for the college newspaper and edited a history of the college celebrating its fiftieth anniversary.

Professor Philip Green Wright encouraged Carl to write prose and poetry. He even bought a press on which to print college posters and small booklets of prose and poetry written by himself and Sandburg.

Carl never finished the coursework at Lombard College. He roamed the country selling stereoscopic views door-to-door to support himself and read and wrote, and read and wrote some more.

While working in Wisconsin, he met a brilliant young woman named Lilian. They were married in 1908. They would eventually have three daughters. Carl wrote American fairy tales for them, Rootabaga Stories, that were later published. The stories are full of whimsy and characters with names that make the reader laugh out loud.

Carl’s first book of poetry was published in 1916. It included two of his most famous poems, “Chicago” and “Fog.” During that period he was also working as a newspaper reporter in Chicago. Late at night he would write the words of his Lincoln biography. The first four volumes appeared in 1922. There were two more volumes published later.

In 1920 Carl began appearing on college campuses to read his poems, comment on current events and sing folk songs accompanying himself on the guitar. He continued to travel the country performing for students the rest of his life.

One of his last campus appearances was at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana in 1956. As a student, I was fortunate to see and hear him that evening. His collection of papers and artifacts had been given to the University Library.

Carl Sandburg became a colorful individual in his lifetime. He had rugged features. He was outspoken and had an independent mind. He had compassion and expressed it in his writing.

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Thank you for reading “my stories” for the past ten years. My original idea had been to tell readers about Carl Sandburg growing up in Galesburg—the individuals he knew, the places that were familiar to him, the events that helped shape him, and I hope I have accomplished that.

My thanks also go to Rick Sayre for posting the stories on the Sandburg Historic Site Association web site. The stories would never have seen the light of day without him.

Two poems by Carl Sandburg are reprinted below: “Buttons”--because I find the imagery so compelling and “Fog” for all the fourth grade students who have visited Sandburg’s birth house.