Thanksgiving Plans

Letter postmarked the day Kennedy was killed 11-22-63

Letter transcription:

Mrs. R.S. Yegerlehner
146 W. Graham Street
Kentland, Indiana
Nov. 21 – 1963

Dear David –

I banked $200.00 for you this week (so you can keep your accounts straight).

Floyd, Ruth & Steve are coming up, for Thanksgiving and Ruth and Earl will come over if someone can go get them. I thought since you and Bonnie would be coming home on Wed. evening you could go over to Wilmington Thurs. morning and get them. I hope that is agreeable with you.

Dad has gone to the hospital on a baby case and I should be getting to bed but want to do a few things yet.

I am to take Mrs. Myers to the dentist tomorrow afternoon and told her I would take her grocery shopping after she gets through. I think she seemed a little disappointed when I told her we wouldn’t have anyone here for Christmas. Maybe we can plan to bring her here for dinner sometime before Christmas. If possible we will go to Chicago for the day.

Clarence & Clara and two of Kenneth’s girls came last Thurs. so Clarence could hunt pheasant. He hunted but didn’t

[page 2] have any luck. This morning a beautiful cock pheasant strutted around our front yard. Too bad Clarence wasn’t here today.

We will be looking for you Wed. evening.
Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/11/19/thanksgiving-plans/

Jacob DeCoster Jr. of Hebron, Maine

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[Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of posts about the DeCoster family of Maine and Massachusetts. Eventually all the separate biographical sketches will be combined into one family lineage and published in book form.]

Jacob⁴ DeCoster (Jacob^3-2, Isaac¹) born 27 May 1774, likely Plymouth, Massachusetts;[1] died 29 July 1842, Hebron, Oxford County, Maine.[2] He married at Hebron, 20 December 1801, Susanna Row(e).[3] She was born in 1777;[4] died 15 January 1841, Hebron.[5]

In July 1814, when the British attacked Fort Sullivan at the eastern end of Maine’s coast, the citizens of Maine were propelled into the War of 1812. As the summer progressed, the British advanced down the coastline. Portland was considered to be the next target by September, and thousands of militiamen rallied to defend Portland. Jacob, with his brothers Samuel and Rogers, served in Capt. Isaac Bearce’s Company, Lieut. Col. Cyrus Clark’s 3^rd Regiment Massachusetts. They mustered at Hebron and served at Portland from September 13-24, 1814.[6]

Jacob resided, most likely, in Hebron in 1810.[7] By 1820, Jacob ruled over a household of nine members. The household included: two males under ten; three males aged ten to fifteen; one male over forty-five; one female under ten; one female aged sixteen to twenty-five; and one female aged twenty-six to forty-four years of age.[8]

In 1822, Jacob mortgaged a tract of land to the Hebron Academy.[9]

Know all men by these presents, that I Jacob Decoster Jun^r of Hebron in the County of Oxford and State of Maine Yeoman–in consideration of the sum of one hundred and two dollars paid by the Trustees of Hebron Academy in the County of Oxford–the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge–do hereby give, grant, bargain, sell and convey, unto the said Trustees or their successors or assigns forever, a certain tract of land situated in said Hebron being a part of number four in the fourth range in the first division of lots in said town bounded as follows it being the land I bought of William Fogg beginning at the east corner of [?] and Benj^m Rowe’s land and adjoining E. Bearce’s Land, thence north forty five degrees east to Zac Rows land thence North forty five west on said Rows land thirty rods, thence south forty five degrees west to Simon and Benj^mRows land, thence South forty five degrees to the bounds first mentioned thirty rods.

To have and to hold the aforegranted and bargained premises, with all the privileges and appurtenances thereof, to the said Trustees their successors or assigns to their use and behoof forever, And I do covenant with the said Trustees or assigns, that I am lawfully seized in fee of the premises; that they are free of all incumbrances; that I have good right to sell and convey the same to the said Trustees to hold as aforesaid. And the I will warrant and defend the same to the said Trustees their Successors or assigns forever, against the lawful claims and demands of all persons.

Provided Nevertheless, that if the said Jacob Decoster, J^r his heir, executors or administrators pay to the said Trustees their Successors or assigns the sum of one hundred and ten dollars and interest annually, interest to begin the first day of next June and to be paid in three years from the first day of June next then this deed as also one certain note for the above sum bearing were state with these presents given by the said Jacob Decoster J^r to the said Trustees to pay the sum and interest at the time aforesaid shall both be void otherwise shall remain in full force—

In witness whereof I the said Jacob Decoster Jun^r have hereunto set my hand and seal this tenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty two

Signed, sealed and Delivered

In the presence of us,
Caleb S. Barrows– Jacob Decoster Jun^r [Seal]
Rebekah Barrows–

Oxford ss. December 10, 1822 personally appeared the above named Jacob Decoster J^r and acknowledged this instrument by his [?] to be his free act and Deed. Before me Stephen Myrick Justice of the Peace—

Oxford , ss.–Received April 26^th 1824, and recorded from the original, pr.
Alanson Miller—Register.

Jacob’s family expanded to ten members by 1830. The household contained: two males aged five to nine; two males aged fifteen to nineteen; two males aged twenty to twenty-nine; one male between forty and fifty; one female ten to fourteen; one female aged twenty to twenty-nine; and one female aged fifty through fifty-nine.[10]

In 1836, Jacob sold land to Nathan D. Bearce.

Know all men by these presents, that I Jacob Decoster of Hebron in the County of Oxford and State of Maine in consideration of the sum of one hundred and ten dollars paid by Nathan D. Bearce of Hebron in the county and State aforesaid the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby give, grant, bargain, sell, and convey unto the said Nathan D. Bearce his heirs and assigns forever a certain tract of land situated in said Hebron, being a part of lot number four in the fourth range and first division of lots in said town, being the land that I purchased of William Fogg, beginning at the East corner of Dimmick D. Rows land and joining Charles Bearce J^r land, thence North forty five degrees East to Zacheus Rows land, thence North forty five degrees west on said Row’s land thirty rods, thence South forty give degrees West to Dimmick D. Rows land, thence South forty five degrees East thirty rods to the bounds first mentioned.

To have and to hold, the aforegranted and bargained premises, with all the privileges and appurtenances thereof, to the said Nathan D. Bearce his heirs and assigns, to his and their use and behoof forever.

And I do covenant with the said heirs and assigns that I am lawfully seized in fee of the premises; that they are free of all incumbrances; that I have good right to sell and convey the same to the said Nathan D. Bearce to hold as aforesaid; and that I will warrant and defend the same to the said Nathan D. Bearce his heirs and assigns forever, against the lawful claims and demands of all persons.

In witness whereof I the said Jacob Decoster and Susannah wife of said Jacob hereby relinquishing her right of Dower—have hereunto set our hands and seals this the first day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six

Signed, sealed and delivered
In presence of
Willaim Sewell J^r Jacob Decoster [seal]
Susannah Decoster [seal]

Cumberland ss.—June 2^d 1838 Personally appeared the above named Jacob Decoster and acknowledged the above instrument to be his free act and deed.—Before me,

William Sewell J^r—Justice of the Peace.
Oxford ss.—Received May 25, 1842 at 1 o’clock PM and recorded from the original.
By Alanson Mellen Register

Jacob sold eighty acres of land to his son Asa in 1838.[11]

Know all men by these presents, that I Jacob Decoster of Hebron in the County of Oxford, State of Maine, Yeoman.—in consideration of the sum of six hundred dollars paid by Asa Decoster of Augusta in the County of Kennebec Innholder the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby give, grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said Asa his heirs and assigns forever one lot of land lying in Hebron aforesaid, being part of the lot N^o six in the fifth range and first Division of lots in said Hebron bounded as follow. Viz, beginning at the South corner of said lot, thence running on the Southeasterly end line of said lot one hundred and thirty six rods to the Northeasterly side of the town road, running through said lot to a stake and stones, thence twenty three rods by said [?] to a stake and stone, thence running parallel with said line twelve roads to a stake and stone, thence Southeast parallel with the end line of said lot twenty seven roads to the Southeast side line of said lot to a stake & stones, thence one hundred and thirty six roads to the bounds first mentioned containing eighty acres more or less.

To have and to hold the aforegranted and bargained premises, with all the privileges and appurtenances thereof, to the said Asa his heis and assigns, to him & their use and behoff forever.

And I do covenant with the said Asa his heirs and assigns, that I am lawfully seized in fee of the premises; that they are free of all incumbrances; that I have good right to sell and convey the same to the said Asa to hold as aforesaid; and that I will warrant and defend the same to the said Asa his heirs and assigns forever, against the lawful claims and demands of all persons.

In testimony whereof We the said Jacob & Susanna wife of said Jacob in token of relinquishing her right of dower have hereunto set our hands and seals this seventh day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight
Signed, sealed and delivered
In presence of
Solomon Decoster Jacob Decoster [seal]
Susannah [her X mark] [seal]

Oxford ss.–June 8^th 1838 – Personally appeared Jacob Decoster above named and acknowledged the above instrument to be his free act and deed.–Before me,
Joseph G. Cole–Justice of the Peace.

Oxford ss.–Received June 8^th 1838 and recorded from the original.
Register.

On the same day, Jacob and his son George sold an additional lot of land to Asa.[12]

Know all men by these presents, that we Jacob Decoster of Hebron and George Decoster of Canton in the County of Oxford State of Maine Yeoman—in consideration of the sume of one hundred dollars paid by Asa Decoster of Augusta in the County of Kennebec Innholder—the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby give, grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said Asa his heirs and assigns forever a certain piece or parcel of land lying in Hebron aforesaid being part of lot N^o four in the sixth range of first Division of lots in said town, beginning at a stake and stones at the Southwest corner of land which have bargained to Isaac Ward and joining land of Adam Richardson line twenty rods to a stake and stones, thence Northwesterly forty rods on a line parallel with the line of William Cobb Jun^r land to a stake and stones standing on the bank of the river, thence Northeasterly twenty rods to a stake and stones at theNorthwest corner of Isaac Wood’s land, thence on the line of said Wood’s land forty rods to the bounds first mentioned, containing five acres more of less.

To have and to hold the aforegranted and bargained premises, with all the privileges and appurtenances thereof, to the said Asa his heirs and assigns, to him & their use and behoof forever.

And we do covenant with the said Asa his heirs and assigns, that we are lawfully seized in fee of the premises; that they are free of all incumbrances; that we have good right to sell and convey the same to the said Asa to hold as aforesaid; and that we will warrant and defend the same to the said Asa his heirs and assigns forever, against the lawful claims and demands of all persons.

In testimony whereof we the said Jacob and Susanna wife of said Jacob & George and Harriet wife of said George in token of relinquishment of right of dower of the said Susanna & Harriet have hereunto set our hands and seals this seventh day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight.

Signed, sealed and delivered
In presence of
Solomon Decoster                                                  Jacob Decoster [seal]
Parnel Irish                                                               Susannah [her mark] [seal]
George Decoster [seal]
Harriet Decoster   [seal]

Kennebec ss.—June 9^th 1838—Personally appeared George Decoster and acknowledged the above instrument to be his free act and deed.—Before me,
Seth May—Justice of the Peace,
Oxford ss.—Received June 16^th 1838 and recorded from the original,
By Alanson Mellen

A few months later, Asa sold his father’s farm to his brother Jacob.[13] Then, Jacob leased the farm back to his parents for the remainder of their lives.[14]

Know all men by these presents, that I Asa Decoster of Augusta in the County of Kennebec and State of Maine–in consideration of the sum of Seven hundred dollars paid by Jacob Decoster Jun^r of Charlestown in the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby give, grant, bargain, sell, and convey unto the said Jacob Decoster Jun^r his heirs and assigns forever two certain pieces of land lying in Hebron in the County of Oxford, State of Maine being the same now occupied by Jacob Decoster Sen^r consisting of what was his farm & a piece formerly belonging to David Bicknell’s farm, being the same land that was conveyed to said Asa by Jacob Decoster & George Decoster by their dead staed June 7^th, 1838. Recorded in Book 54 page 250 & Jacob Decoster by his deed of the same state recorded in Book 54 page 214 to which deed reference is made for further description—

To have and to hold the aforegranted and bargained premises, with all the privileges and appurtances thereof to the said Jacob Decoster J^r Jun^r his heirs and assigns, to their use and behoof forever.

And I do covenant with the said Jacob Decoster J^r his heirs and assigns, that I am lawfully seized in fee of the premises; that they are free of all incumbrances’ that I have good right to sell and convey the same to the said Jacob J^r to hold as aforesaid; and that I and my heirs shall and will warrant and defend the same to the said Jacob Decoster J^r his heirs and assigns forever against the lawful claims and demands of all persons.

In witness whereof I the said Asa Decoster have hereunto set my hand and seal this eighteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight.

Signed, sealed and delivered
In presence of
Sam^l F. Brown Asa Decoster [seal]
Nathan Warner

Oxford ss.—September 18^th 1838 Personally appeared the above named Asa Decoster and acknowledged the above instrument to be his free act and deed.—Before me,
Samuel F. Brown—Justice of the Peace.
Oxford ss.—Received February 6^th 1840 and recorded from the original.
By Alanson Mellen Register.

Know all men by these presents that I Jacob Decoster Jun^r of Charleston in the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts in consideration of two hundred dollars paid me by Jacob Decoster of Hebron in the County of Oxford & State of Maine, yeoman, which I hereby acknowledge to have received do hereby let and lease to said Jacob the land, being the farm on which he now lives situated in said Hebron & the same that Asa Decoster has this day conveyed to me by his deed of this date to said the said Jacob & his wife Susannah.

To Have and to Hold to the said Jacob & Susannah his wife for and during their natural lives.

In testimony whereof I hereto set my hand and seal this eighteenth day of September in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & thirty eight.

Witness Sam^l F. Brown Jacob Decoster Jr. [seal]

Oxford ss. Sept. 18, 1838. Then the above named Jacob Decoster Jr. acknowledged the foregoing to be his free act and deeds. Before me Sam^l F. Brown Justice of the Peace
Oxford ss. Rec^d Feby 6 1840 and recorded from the original pr.
Alanson Mellen—Reg.

Jacob lived out the rest of his days, presumably on his farm in Hebron. Enumerated in 1840, still in Hebron, Jacob’s smaller household abutted his son Jacob Junior’s with two males fifteen to nineteen years of age; one male aged sixty to sixty-nine; one female aged ten to fourteen; and one female aged sixty to sixty-nine.[15]

Susannah died on January 15, 1841. Jacob survived her by a year and a half, dying on July 29, 1842. They were buried in West Minot, at the Riverside Cemetery.[16]

Known children (born Hebron, Maine) of Jacob⁴ DeCoster and Susanna Rowe were as follows:

13.     i.   PARNEL⁵ DECOSTER, b. 14 November 1802; m. David Bicknell and Orrin Irish; d. 1886.
14. ii.   GEORGE DECOSTER, b. 28 October 1804; m. Harriet Bicknell; d. 21 October 1879, Canton, Maine.
15.   iii.   SOLOMON DECOSTER, b. 17 January 1806; m. Cynthia Dunham; d. 2 September 1889, West Minot, Maine.
16.   iv.   HOWARD DECOSTER, b. 19 October 1808; m. Mary Ann Buck; d. 17 August 1881, Buckfield, Maine.
17.    v.   JACOB DECOSTER, b. 6 July 1811; m. Selina Record; d. 1889.
18.   vi. ASA DECOSTER, b. 13 August 1813; m. Martha Fullerton; d. between 1880-1900, likely New York.
19. vii.   FEAR DECOSTER, b. 5 June 1816; d. before 9 September 1818.
20. viii.   FEAR DECOSTER, b. 9 September 1818; m. Samuel Bicknell and Charles H. Goss; d. 14 June 1879, Paris, Maine.
21.   ix.   FEARING DECOSTER, b. 18 October 1820; m. Silence Packard and Joanna Conner; d. 9 February 1897, Brockton, Massachusetts.
22. x.   EPHRAIM DECOSTER, b. 20 November 1822; m. Lydia (Lilly) Heath; d. 6 June 1890, Boston, Massachusetts.

[1] Hebron Town and Vital Records, 1786-1893 [FHL microfilm 0,011,030/ FHL digital film 004,255,378], image 23/597; citing Hebron Town Record, 1700-1800, 13 [item 1]. While all the children of Jacob and Priscilla DeCoster are recorded in the town of Hebron, it is likely that the family was still living in Plymouth or Bridgewater, Massachusetts, when the children were born.

[2] Hebron Town and Vital Records, 1786-1893 [FHL microfilm 0,011,030/ FHL digital film 004,255,378], image 321/597; citing Birth & Death, 1700-1900, 5:79 [item 3]. Also, Find a Grave, digital image (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 11 September 2016), memorial page for Jacob DeCoster (1774-1842), Find A Grave Memorial no. 38,569,505, citing Riverside Cemetery, West Minot, Androscoggin County, Maine: the accompanying photograph shows a newer stone which is probably not original.

[3] “Record of Marriages by Rev. John Tripp, of Hebron, Me.,” Collections and Preceedings of the Maine Historical Society, Second Series, Vol. IV. (Portland: Brown Thurston Company, 1893), 436.

[4] Find a Grave, database and images (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 11 September 2016), memorial page for Susanna DeCoster (1777-1841), Find A Grave Memorial no. 38,569,544, citing Riverside Cemetery, West Minot, Androscoggin County, Maine: the accompanying photograph shows a newer stone which is probably not the original. Much debate has been made over the use of the name Morse on Susanna’s stone. She died before Jacob so she would not have remarried after his death. Two possible reasons for the inclusion of the name Morse: it may have been her middle name or the individual who erected the newer stone may have made an error regarding Susanna’s maiden name.

[5] Find A Grave, Memorial no. 38,569,544, Susanna DeCoster; Also, Hebron Town and Vital Records, 1786-1893, image 321/597 [item 3].

[6] Brig. Genl. Gardner L. Pearson, Records of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia: Called out by the Governor of Massachusetts to Suppress a Threatened Invasion during the War of 1812-1814 (Boston: Wright & Potter Printing Co., 1913), 175.

[7] See note 15 from “Jacob Decoster of Maine and Massachusetts.”

[8] 1820 U.S. census, Oxford County, Maine, population schedule, Hebron, p. 218, line 18, Jacob Decoster, Jun^r; NARA microfilm publication M33, roll 37.

[9] “Official Land Deeds Website,” images, Maine Registers of Deeds Association
(http://www.maineregistryofdeeds.com/ : accessed 6 November 2016), Oxford County, Deed Book 24: 106.

[10] 1830 U.S. census, Oxford County, Maine, population schedule, Hebron, p. 34 (penned), line 1, Jacob Decoster; NARA microfilm publication M19, roll 50. The enumerator likely checked off the wrong age category for Jacob as he would have been 56 years old in 1830.

[11] “Official Land Deeds Website,” images, Maine Registers of Deeds Association
(http://www.maineregistryofdeeds.com/ : accessed 6 November 2016), Oxford County, Deed Book 54: 214.

[12] “Official Land Deeds Website,” images, Maine Registers of Deeds Association
(http://www.maineregistryofdeeds.com/ : accessed 6 November 2016), Oxford County, Deed Book 54: 250.

[13] “Official Land Deeds Website,” images, Maine Registers of Deeds Association
(http://www.maineregistryofdeeds.com/ : accessed 6 November 2016), Oxford County, Deed Book 59: 62.

[14] “Official Land Deeds Website,” images, Maine Registers of Deeds Association
(http://www.maineregistryofdeeds.com/ : accessed 6 November 2016), Oxford County, Deed Book 57: 348.

[15] 1840 U.S. census, Oxford County, Maine, population schedule, Hebron, p. 147 (stamped), line 12, Jacob Decoster; NARA microfilm publication M704, roll 146.

[16] Find A Grave, Memorial no. 38,569,544, Susanna DeCoster. And, Find A Grave, Memorial no. 38,569,505, Jacob DeCoster.

Selective Service

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – handwritten by David]
Mrs. R.S. Yegerlehner
146 W. Graham Street
Kentland, Indiana
Nov. 13-1963

Dear David –

You received a card from Selective Service today – You have a Student deferment to Nov. 1, 1964. Dad just finished writing letters for Jim Johnson & John Saiall, to get them deferred for medical reasons.

I have to give a program for W.S.C.S. in Goodland tonight. I am going over this afternoon to arrange background.

I had my last cholera shot today and have a sore arm. The first one made my arm awfully fore and this shot feels like it is going to be just as bad, if not worse. The first one was 5/10 c.c. and this was a full 1 c.c.

I talked to Dad today about the car and he didn’t think much of the idea.

Love Mother

P.S. I looked at our itinerary and we will return to Chicago Mar. 29, so you won’t be back

[page 2] in school after all. I think you will be able to meet us.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/11/18/selective-service/

Travel Plan Changes

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – handwritten by David]
Mrs. R.S. Yegerlehner
146 West Graham Street
Kentland, Indiana
Nov. 2, 1963

Dear David –

Bill brought the desk blotters and the calendar this morning. I took a blotter to Mrs. M. She seemed very pleased. She has several things in her living room she has added since you left: a new chair, a new t.v., magazine rack and some art objects. I suppose you know H. Funk bought the hotel and Dick & Marge Ryan are running it. They are also running an Insurance business where Harold used to have his office. Harold is back in his own building.

Rosemary Murphy is working with the 7^th & 8^th grace children in our church. I thought she needed the class room Bible Study class was using, so by vote of my class they decided to go to the kitchen. Rosemary is promoting a camp project for next summer. Three of the boys in her class are working on our driveway edge to earn something to go into the camp fund. Before the three boys came here the entire group had earned $25.00 today. I said something to Dad not long ago about working on the driveway and he said he wasn’t interested. He took up the geraniums yesterday for some nurses at the hospital. He said since we would be gone this winter he wouldn’t try to keep them – He didn’t have much success last year.

I had sub-district meetings this week and I am glad they are over. I also finished a study class I was teaching at Raub. Clarence & Clara stopped last Saturday on their way to Ruth M.’s Just as they were leaving Floyd & Steve came. They had just come from Ruth’s. Floyd & Steve had spent a few days in Chicago. Ruth had intended to go with them, but Ruth couldn’t get off from work.

[page 2] We had a very successful UNICEF drive last Tuesday night – another item in a busy week. We had a very good response from children and parents and I mailed a check to U.S. Commission for UNICEF for $189.15 – $32.00 more than last year.

We may have to change the time when we visit Bonnie’s parents. Since the government of Indonesia has broken diplomatic relations with Singapore we may not be able to fly from there to Djakarta and if we have to go from Hong Kong to Djakarta we will definitely have to change dates. John is having his vacation Feb. 8 to 23 so it may have to be after that time that we go to Malacca. We will probably know more about it when you come home Thanksgiving.

Love Mother

P.S. It was nice hearing from you Oct. 26.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/11/17/travel-plan-changes/

Shots and Vaccinations

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Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – handwritten by David]
10-11-63

Dear David:

For your information I deposited
9-16 $300.00
9-25 $50.00
9-26 $35.00
9-27 $30.00 (and gave you $40.00 in cash while you were still here – besides the $5.00 for birthday)

You had better try and get your bank account up to date. My adding machine totals the above amount at $455.00. The last time I asked you had a bal. of $88.

I wrote Bonnie a note this morning. I think she left a scarf here. If it is hers I will send it to her. A record came for Gary today. Dad asked me what I was going to do with it and I said just leave it on David’s desk until he comes home Thanksgiving time. If Gary wants it, it will cost 14½ postage to get it down to Bloomington. I thought I was through forwarding things to him.

We had the childrens’ pictures taken Saturday. Red Harris and Marge took them, and I think they did a very good job. We plan to go to Chicago next Thursday to get our Yellow Fever shots (have to go to a Center to get those shots) and after Mark and Shirley see the pictures and take the ones they want I will send you one of each.

I have had a typhoid and paratyphoid shot and a smallpox vacc. I have to get two more typhoid, a cholera, typhus and the Y.F.

I have to stop at Sears and get a seat cover for the Chevrolet. I got one and part of it was missing so had to send it back.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/11/16/shots-and-vaccinations/

Happy Birthday 1963

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Happy Birthday

Dear David –

I suppose we were both in the writing mood at about the same time. I mailed a letter to you at 5:50 yesterday.

So glad you like your courses for this semester. I hope you can come up with some A’s and nothing lower than B’s.

Your experience in the Martinsville church should teach you a lot. You haven’t been exposed to anything like that so I know it seems strange to you. Don’t try too hard to change them.

I can’t remember where I read about the one letter of Paul being extant, but I suppose Dr. Hill has better information.

I am listening [to] Figaro. It has become one of my favorites. I think I could listen to it all day.

[page 2] I will send the kit and dictionary. I wondered if you had forgotten those items.

Save the stamps on the card you received from S.A. I received a card from Councils of Churches acknowledging my last box of stamps. Since the first of this year they have delivered 890 tons of U.S. Gov’t surplus food to needy families and orphanages overseas. Also $5,938.90 to Church World Service. So keep those stamps for me to send in. Again Happy Birthday.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/11/15/happy-birthday-1963/

Draft Board Letter

5 Replies

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – handwritten by David]

Dr. R.S. Yegerlehner
Physician and Surgeon
103 North Second Street
Kentland, Indiana

Sept. 20, 1963

Dear David –

A letter came for you from Draft Board. We opened it – just in case it was of an urgent nature. It is just a form, but you had better take care of it at once.

I sent you a note and $5.00 for your birthday. Hope you received it OK.

The weather has cooled of some. I hope it is nice tomorrow for the movers (Mark & Shirley).

Did you see Sperry closing for Thurs.? Just in case you didn’t it was over 17 (17 3/8) so that should make you feel a little more wealthy. Do you want to sell?

Love Mother

Not A Word

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Wed. Sept. 18, 1963
Dear David –

I really shouldn’t bother to send this card to you, since it is almost 2 weeks since you have been gone and not a word from you.

I suppose this heat wave has reached Bloomington, and just when you are beginning to get started in your studies – which I hope you don’t neglect for other activities.

So far Dad has been able to keep the mowing done without too much rushing. He had intended to mow yesterday evening but was in the hospital instead getting a boy for Joe Bob Hiestand’s wife. He had to go on another baby case at noon. I haven’t checked with the office as to whether he has returned.

I got a vaccination a week ago and much to my surprise I am getting a reaction – I had smallpox when I was 21, so thought I would never get a positive reaction. I had Arvella give me a flu shot day before yesterday so last night I didn’t feel so good.

[page 2] I went to a church board meeting which got rather tiresome before the chairman adjourned. Mr. Oscar Hopkins (he and his wife are members of my Sunday school class) has taken the high school group. Mr. Vineyard is to give him some assistance – also Rosemary Murphy. Mr. Hopkins is with the Soil Conversation Dept. and I found him a very interested member of my class. I hated to lose him but think he can do more good helping in the high school group.

You wouldn’t recognize the garage. We are really getting it cleaned and cleared. Dad is putting all his tools in holders – and by the way – some wrenches are missing – do you have them? You room is getting some attention also. I sent the drapes to the cleaner and Dad put new rope in the fixture. He is about to get the lamp in the ceiling repaired. He needed two parts which I got for him yesterday, but since he wasn’t home couldn’t finish the lamp. I also took the desk lamp back to J. Yost and he is going to get new parts for it. I cleaned and waxed the kitchen and work area floor. I used Johnson’s (supposedly one step deal) but found on reading the directions I had to water mop the whole area before applying the wax. We have a janitor

[page 3] for the office. He first said he would take the job (we offered $50.00) then said he wouldn’t unless it was $60.00. I said no we wouldn’t pay more than $50.00 so he came back and said he would take it. He is to clean three times a week and when we have snow to clean the walks.

Mrs. Shoal is doing the ironing again. I went to get it this a.m. and she said it had made her pretty tired. However, she asked me for the job. I went to see her one day and she said she was tired of not doing anything and would like to do my ironing again.

There is a magazine here from your friend in South Africa. Do you want it? I won’t send it unless you let me know.

What is Bonnie’s address?

Don’t get so busy you can’t think of us once in a while.
Love Mother

P.S. There is some kind of 2^nd or 3^rd class mail here for Gary. I think it is an ad from Book-Month-Club. You can take it to him when you come home.

Summer Break

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – handwritten by David]
5-21-63

Dear David:

We received a letter from John yesterday. He plans to come home July 21 and return to Indonesia the 17^th of August – that is, leave the states on that day. I am glad you will be home this summer (for several reasons). I think you will enjoy being with John again.

We received our finished itineraries. The first one was dated from Jan. 25^th and this one is dated from Jan. 10^th. I am looking at it from time to time. I intend to have it memorized by the time we are ready to leave. (I said itineraries, because we have two copies).

Dad finally got over his tooth trouble. He had to have one tooth pulled and another one filled – then the filling dropped out and he had to go back and have another filling put in. He really didn’t feel very good for several days, but is about back to normal. He says he wants to mow the lawn this evening and then it will be your job from then on, so you had better plan to get home as soon as possible. Luckily, we are having a little cool weather. Maybe the grass won’t grow so fast.

I talked to Rev. Fields about writing to you and he said he would. However, since you will be home within a week, I am not too sure you will hear from him. He was wondering if you would be able to teach on Sunday June 2. If you will drop me a line so I can tell him. He said they had a discussion with the MYF group as to what they want in the way of lessons, but he didn’t say what had been decided. He has finished the series of lessons he was giving them.

I have a club meeting to attend this morning – the last one for this season and am I glad. I have so much to do before Jan. 10 that I have to get a little bit done each day. When I think of all the things we will have to take along I think I am not starting too soon.

Doris told me that Bill was coming home to get the car to bring his things home. You didn’t mention Bonnie in your last letter. Are you still planning for her to come with you? Let me know.

I have to be at my meeting by 10:30, so must get ready and go. – I almost forgot to tell you, Jim Egan died yesterday afternoon. Doris Marvin’s mother Mrs. Ethel Herriman was buried last week. I forget you get the paper and get all these news items.

Love Mother

P.S. We notified the janitor to turn his key in May 24. We will empty the wastebaskets Saturday and hope you will be here to do same on Monday.

Here’s the Contract

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – handwritten by David]
5-17-63

Dear David,

Here’s the contract. I hope you are in a better frame of mind than when you wrote. You sounded a little discouraged. Well, chin up and all that sort of thing.

Dad recovered from having his tooth pulled, but it did bother him a few days. He sprayed the evergreens yesterday and today it is raining. However I think all that stuff needs to do to kill bugs is hit. I hardly think a gentle rain will wash off the effect it has on the bugs.

[page 2] I am feeling much better. In fact I washed some windows yesterday. A bird flew into the middle living room window and made such a mess it needed a good washing. I didn’t wash all the windows and since it is raining today I am glad I didn’t.