“These Hear Parts” (Roscoe)

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: September 26, 1943 envelope

: September 26, 1943, p. 1

: September 26, 1943, p. 2

: September 26, 1943, p. 3

: September 26, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Cal.
Sept. 26, 1943

Dear Mother,

3 v-mail letters from you, one from Jim, an air mail from the folks and an air mail from the Walkup’s. Your latest v-mail was dated Sept. 13 and was the latest received. It seems it’s nip and tuck with air & v-mail but the air mail is best.

Glad Jim could come home again to see his mother and also see Glenn. I also In Jim’s letter he told me of his foot & leg trouble and that should be corrected before he gets out because lame fellows don’t have much business in “these hear parts.” However when one makes Chief in the Navy he is as good as retired. Maybe Jim hasn’t found that out yet. A Chief never

[page 2] works. Maybe I’m a little hard on that branch.

You were part of the tropic in both mom’s letter and Jim’s. They were both praising you very much. Sure did sound good to hear read what they had to say. Of course I agree with them more than somewhat and can then add lots more to what they wrote.

I’m not much surprised at John’s allergy since it is in the family on both sides. That is one of the things we will have to work on as time goes along. And I guess Mark has a little at times also – Maybe D. will be free but that remains to be seen.

Repeating – I sent $250 on Sept. 16. That should help pay the extra expenses you are having but as I said before let the bills run and pay them as we go along for

[page 3] I don’t believe the Hospital will be too hard if you try to pay a little each month.

We had eggs sunny side up this A.M. The first time in about 6 wks. Sure makes one appreciate them more when they are served so infrequently.

I changed procedure this time and wrote the folks first. I thought maybe I’d have more ideas when I finished theirs. Their letter today was more to Dad because his birthday is coming up, and I wished him a “happy birthday.” Mom in her letter was telling me what she received – hose [?] Towels, etc., and she also mentioned the letter in which I wished her a happy birthday – From her letter I believed she appreciated my letter as much as she did the

[page 4] gifts. Maybe that is not so out of line but it did seem funny when she put it the way she did.

I’m going to air my bunk today, because something smells in this tent. Smells like Garbage but we can’t locate it so we are going to do some airing to see if that will help. The blankets we have under the mattress may be a little moldy and that might be where the smell is coming from. It couldn’t be my feet but it sure makes one wonder at times.

Well, I’ll be writing again tomorrow –
Love Daddy

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/03/07/these-hear-parts-roscoe/

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LXXXV

Waiting For Coal (Gladys)

1 Reply

: September 26, 1943 envelope

: September 26, 1943, p. 1

: September 26, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 26 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Sun. afternoon & spending it at the hospital. Glen & I came down this morning. Yesterday when I was here Mother seemed so low I thought we had better be here as much as possible today. I stayed last night until nearly 10 o’clock. She gets weaker all the time. It doesn’t seem possible for her to get any weaker and last. The dietitian came up this afternoon to see would like for supper but she said she didn’t want anything at all. She seems less drowsy today than she did yesterday. If you have the letter I wrote yesterday I told you how awful she looked then. I haven’t talked to Dr. Cole today but think he isn’t giving much medicine now except for sleep.

Glen is some better – at least able to come with me today. I had Dr. Cole give me two prescriptions for him yesterday & it seems to be helping some. They are still waiting on Mother’s condition to go home. Think they should go now but hate to leave.

The old home town isn’t what it used to be. Last night when we got back to town I thought I would stop at the groc. store & pick up a few things – well, it was only a little past – well not quite 11 – and you remember how the crowds used to mill around the streets till about midnight. The only store I found open was

[page 2] the Morgan place and they were sold out of bread – what I wanted most. The streets were deserted and everything closed. Nick’s were still open but Sat. night is about the only time they stay that late. I don’t know what those people do who used to hang around town so late.

I saw Sister Amelia yesterday & she said to tell you hello for her. Also saw Sister Juventia and she was asking about you & said she missed “you boys” – (who doesn’t). Alma W. said Reed was wishing “that little devil” was back. He needs to see a Dr. & won’t go see anyone – guess he is waiting for you to come back. Mrs. Plummer came out on David’s birthday & brought him a gift. She goes to Dr. M. for shots and she said he asked her about us. I haven’t seen him since I brought Mother down here to Dr. Cole. Dr. M. was out of town when David was hurt and out of town when Mark cut his hand so I can’t help it if he doesn’t have the latest on us.

It is nice & sunny out today but chilly. This fall came without delay. It was summer one week then fall the next & it’s been cool ever since. It has been hard on our coal supply because with a baby (now two) in the house we had to have heat. I told J. & M. if we couldn’t get any coal we would have to go someplace else to live. I am just doing what everyone else around Kent is doing about coal – waiting for it to come. I suppose it will be winter (I hope).

Well, I have rambled on & on without saying much. I told you in yesterday’s [letter] the trouble with the powder room plumbing & Geo. Monroe finding it – the pipe leading from the house was broken – he fixed it.

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/03/06/waiting-for-coal-gladys/

Lena’s Postcards #1

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[Editor’s note: As my posts about the smallpox epidemic have been going for several months now, I’m going to make a little adjustment. I will still post a few days a week on the epidemic until the articles run out. This is the first post in a new series titled Lena’s postcards.]

Lena (Scofield) Hackleman was my other Indiana grandfather’s great aunt. Lena married late in life so she never had her own children. However, she married a man with six sons, the youngest of whom was six when his father remarried. Lena also had many nephews and nieces. The extended family corresponded regularly. When Lena died in 1935, her niece Ina (Kerschner) McGraw inherited many of the old family papers. Ina was my great grandmother. This branch of my family was among the early settlers of Fayette County, Indiana.

Back row: Daniel Kerschner with Eugene, Oliver McGraw, Ina McGraw with Charles, Norma Strong, Ella (Scofield) Kerschner/Front row; John W. Hackleman, Esther Strong, Lena (Scofield) Hackleman/Taken c.1911-1912, Fayette County, Indiana

This collection contains over 100 postcards which were sent to Lena and her husband, John Wesley Hackleman.

Postmark: May 19 1909 Appleton Wis. 10 AM

Addressed to:

Mr. J. W. Hackleman
Connersville
RR #2 Ind

This is where you get off when you come to Appleton. All are well.

Yours
J.C.H. [John Carl Hackleman]

Image of postcard now available to view and download at Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/1909-05-19-reverse

©2015 copyright owned, written and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/03/05/lenas-postcards-1/

Don’t Know What to Make of Your Mother (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: September 25, 1943 envelope

: September 25, 1943, p. 1

: September 25, 1943, p. 2

: September 25, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Cal.
Sept. 25, 1943

Dear Mother,

Your air mail of Sept. 10 & Sept. 11 came yesterday both of course earlier than the one of day before yesterday which was Sept. 12.

I guess Jim crossed me up when he sent my letter on to you – I’ve sorta forgotten what I wrote him. I mean the words I used but I know whatever it was I meant it.

From your letters, etc., I really don’t know what to make of your Mother but I guess that isn’t so unusual since the Drs. there seem to be having a little trouble and they have the x-rays, etc., to work with. The gallstones shouldn’t be

[page 2] causing too much difficulty – by that I mean her condition doesn’t seem to be a gallstone case out and out from your descriptions – maybe your next few letters will be more informative – That is the Drs. may have something more definite to tell you.

I keep wondering if you will get the flowers I’ve sent via a friend. He promised me very faithfully that he would do that and since I gave him money I believe he will. He seemed a little more sincere than some of the others by whom I sent word to you.

Sorry about the coal situation. You will have to order from

[page 3] both telling them the first one to get coal in will be the one that gets the job. You will have time yet in the next few weeks because while it may be getting a little cool it won’t be too cold for some weeks. That is if the winters are as they used to be. It seems last winter was a freak so one hardly knows what to expect this winter.

Well this is inspection day so must get ready for the event.
Love Daddy

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/03/05/dont-know-what-to-make-of-your-mother-roscoe/

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LXXXIV

Tea Drinkers (Gladys)

1 Reply

: September 25, 1943 envelope

: September 25, 1943, p. 1

: September 25, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
(St. E. Hosp.)
Sept. 25 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Mark, David & I came to Laf. with Alma Walker. She was on an errand for Les Ford & I had the chance to come with her. We stopped at the Hospital then she took me to Dr. Cole’s office. He gave David his smallpox vaccination and me an examination. Said my trouble was digestive and thought the pressure at present is the cause. After I got thru there Alma brought me back to the hospital & Mother seemed so low I thought I had better stay so Mark & I stayed & Alma & Juanita (Toole) Parr took David home. (Juanita was along too.) Alma is going to bring our car down this evening to get Mark & I. I thought Mother was about as weak as she could be before but today she dozes off every few minutes and sleeps then when she wakes up thinks it has been a long time. When I left to go to Dr. Cole’s I told her I was going to get something from Dr. Cole for Glenn. He gave me two prescriptions, ephedrine & amatol. When I came back, she thought it was the next day & wanted to know if the medicine helped Glen. Her eyes are beginning to look queer & protruding. Glen is feeling rather bad – He is so chocked up – I hope this medicine will help. He seemed to be pretty good until Thurs. eve. He went out into the garden & dug potatoes and there were a lot of weeds around – That may have made him get this attack. Alma was telling me what you gave Billy & said you had him inhale tincture Benzine. Glen smokes a powder – I am going to ask him if he ever tried inhaling steam.

[page 2] Mark has gone to the café down the street to get his supper. Alma got a sandwich for me to eat but when Mark comes back I am going to go get something more substantial. I need something hot.

I don’t feel very newsy but just happened to think about something – Alma told me Reed is going with Dorothy Kindig (You know Jack died some time ago). I think it’s really serious & Jimmy can’t get used to the idea of Reed having any interest in anyone else. He is so used to Reed taking him places he wants to go when Reed go calling on Dorothy. I said I thought Dorothy deserved a break & Alma says there are glad R. is going with her.

Sister Celerita just stopped in to say goodbye – she is being sent someplace else but doesn’t know where. She has been on this floor a week. I was hoping she could stay – She wants me to write to her. I don’t know whether you remember her but she is very young & friendly. She was in O.B. three years ago.

I must get this finished so I can get a bite to eat & something hot to drink. You know how well I like hot tea – or do you remember – We are quite tea drinkers in the evening – The boys still have their milk at mealtimes however so the tea habit isn’t too bad.

Love Mother

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LXXXIII

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Louis Thompson Has Smallpox

Another case of smallpox was reported to the Board of Health yesterday, the patient being Louis Thompson, living at No. 1716 Yandes street. He is employed by one of the gas companies, and the Board of Health fears that many people have come in contact with Thompson. He has been sent to the detention hospital and the other five members of the family placed under quarantine.

“Louis Thompson Has Smallpox,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 29 April 1900, p. 8, col. 3; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 3 March 2015).

Jeep Waiting (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: September 24, 1943 envelope

: September 24, 1943, p. 1

: September 24, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Sept. 24, 1943

Dear Mother,

Your v-mail of Sept. 1, Sept. 7 and air mail of Sept. 11 came yesterday. You wrote the air mail while in the hospital and said you would call Dr. Cole before you left and I thought you would give me a report on what you found out but you mailed it before you called. I guess you will explain to me in the next mail.

It sure was great hearing you tell of someone returning. Mr. Dye as I remember was over there before I left the States. Of course duty at a place like he had would be great as compared to what I’ve had but

[page 2] other people could say the same about the duty I’ve had. I guess everyone thinks his work is the hardest and his task is the greatest and there will always be a chance for an argument on both sides. I’ve been in this place now for over going on 8 months and it does get a little old in spots but it’s interesting. I’ve been all over the place on land all around on the water and even in the air above so it’s almost as well known to me as Newton o. but it’s not nearly as beautiful from some standpoints.

I have a jeep waiting for another trip so must get going in order to cover the territory today –

Love Daddy