| Niels Lembach, of Halden who revolutionized agriculture in Fet, gave away property to poor tenant farmers and farmers' children as well as rewards to enterprising farmers. There is a monument to him in Denmark. |
Article from Fet Menighetsblad, nr. 9 -1979, by Kåre Nordby
A book by Ove Malling was published in Copenhagen in 1777, it was entitled, "Good deeds by Danes and Norwegians" This book mentions the chief magistrate for lower Romerike, Niels Lembach, as a prominent representative for the officials who worked for the betterment of agriculture in our country. He was way ahead of his time, the physiocratic movement of cultural streams that became valid in the18th century, became apparent in our country at the end of the century.
Niels Lembach was born in Halden in 1693, the 9th of 10 children. He began his studies at the University of Copenhagen in 1712. The newly educated lawyer was hired as secretary for Bishop Bartholomeus Deichman, founder of the Deichman Library in Oslo, in 1717. On Deichman's recommendation he was appointed chief magistrate for lower Romerike in 1730, a position he was to keep for 20 years. As magistrate Lembach needed to live in the country, so he bought Hof (Hov) in Fet. Agriculture was a neglected area at that time in lower Romerike. The peasants were mainly interested in the transport of timber and planks into Christiania (Oslo) from the many sawmills in Fet from Østanes, Gan, and Varåa. There wasn't time to run a farm properly and the yield from the water-starved fields was at best mediocre.
Onto this scene comes this enterprising, energetic magistrate who is also rich in capital. From the get-go he ran his farm based on the most rational, modern methods of the time. He started building drainage ditches, something that was almost unknown at the time. I have wondered about what sort of material was used in the ditches at that time. I believe it must have been stones (we always have enough of that). I have built ditches with my father in which we used asp strips, this was 60 years ago. Lembach exerted influence by example. The peasants quickly noticed that the improvements Lembach instituted resulted in financial gain and they began to copy him. The growing interest for agriculture must have pleased Lembach In order to foster further interest he initiated a system of practical training and assistance in the community. The expression 'adult education' is therefore nothing new, it's just that it encompasses a much wider area now.
As mentioned, he was rich in capital. He married Maren Bendeke, daughter of the wealthy merchant Calus Bendeke in 1732, the marriage was without issue. Lembach therefore had the chance to use large portions of his fortune for the general good. He bought farms and parts of farms, increased their yields many times over and then gave them away to enterprising sons of farmers or tenant farmers. In addition to Hov in Fet he owned half of East Bjanes and and Lower Garder.
He loaned or gave away huge quantities of seed grain. In 1748 he provided 160 tons of seed grain to the farmers in Høland. The year before he had bought a large but worn down property in Høland. He put a lot of work into this farm and supported some of the parish's poorest families while at the same time teaching them farming methods. When the farm was yielding several times what it had yielded he gave it and 2000 rd in start capital to a poor fram boy.
He gave a quarter of a large farm to one of his deserving farm hands. He wanted people who had the capacity for work and a propensity for agriculture to take over his properties in Fet. They paid an annual fee while he was alive but took over the farms, free and clear, after his death.
Another very interesting chapter in Lembach's work for the betterment of agriculture is his acknowledgment of deserving farmers. The silver decoration that Lembach presented personally is the first of its kind Norway. It was a square silver plate with an engraved standing plow with the year 1750 above it on one side and the inscription 'To the industrious farmer" on the other side. A letter of acknowledgement came with the presentation of the decoration along with songs "to the praise and encouragement of farmers."
One of the farmers that received Lembach's decoration was Morten Knudsen from Enger in Fet. The letter and song have been preserved. The song:
"Do not wonder why
some rise so high
to happiness and flattery.
The honor often is
mixed with great troubles.
Go about your work honestly
Let God provide for your family.
By the sweat on your face
Your nourishment comes to place.
He who cultivates his field
Sees his blessed dwelling.
Blissful farming man
Accept this appreciation."
It is not known how many farmers were honored by Lembach in this manner but it would be interesting to know if anyone had any copies.
The plow on Lembach's decoration makes me think about the cap that agriculture school students once wore, or perhaps it wasn't until they were finished with their schooling as agronomists. This cap also had an emblem with a plow on the front. Is there any connection to Lembach's decoration?
The ancient and modern plows have been and will continue to be the symbol of cultivation and farming.
Today we have wars against rats and beetles that employ traps and chemicals. Lembach gave cash prizes for the downing of predators and pests, first and foremost in the fight against rats and mice. From her elevated position in the temples of Egypt as the goddess Bast's sacred animal, the cat had not yet gained widespread popularity in Norway.
Lembach also displayed great generosity in his support of home crafts and housework. He was a willing customer to skilled craftsmen who could make wood products, plows and other farm implements as well as women who could hand produce garments in wool and linen.
It is written that lazy people and drifters knocked on his door to no avail. I don't know whether or not this shows a bit of hardness in his soul. It was mostly those who were able to fend for themselves he tried to help, he had no great love for those who couldn't or wouldn't.
Lembach sold Hof (Hov) in Fet in 1748 and moved to Høland. He died there in 1750 at the age of 57.
There are no memorials to Lembach in Norway but in 'Jægerpris' castle grounds there is a memorial in Norwegian marble. Prince Fredrik, King Christian VII's brother put up this monument to the progressive Norwegian magistrate on his property. The present owners of Hov farm have been to Jægerpris and seen the memorial to their predecessor from 250 years ago.
There have been many poems written to praise Niels Lembach, by both Johan Rein and Jens Zetlitz, but the best known is the one written by Edvard Storm which can be seen in his 'Collected Poems' from 1785.
Niels Lembach was a Norwegian gentleman
His country's benefactor, teacher and friend
Whose name didn't need to be bought and ranked.
His name shines not from ceremony nor
From the heroic deeds of war.
His memory will blessedly remain
As long as plow and drag sustain.
Edvard Storm's poem is 10 verses long and each one ends thus:
His memory will blessedly remain
As long as plow and drag sustain.
Translated by Steven Mohn, December 1999