Wedding Details (Gladys)

: January 6, 1944 envelope

: January 6, 1944, p. 1

: January 6, 1944, p. 2

: January 6, 1944, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Jan. 6 – 1944

Dear Daddy –

Three letters today, including the wedding details, which were from your descriptions, simple. However, it doesn’t require an elaborate ceremony to make a lasting marriage. Does it? It is a bright sunny day. Makes a person wonder how it can be heavy and overcast one day and in a few hours so clear and bright. It was so grey and overcast yesterday it was somewhat depressing. I think I’ll take David out for a breath of fresh air after he gets up from his map. It was below freezing early this a.m. but the sun has been shining so bright all day I think the temp. will be up enough to take him out. He is over his cold, but still has a hang-on cough. Dr. M. said if he didn’t get over it he would give him a whooping cough shot. I remember you used to use that treatment for coughs that resisted treatment. However, I am holding out hoping the cough will leave. About the only time it bothers him is after he sleeps a while. The

[page 2] rascal woke me at 4 a.m. – I had to take him up, change him & get him a drink. He was wide awake and wanted to play but you know his mother well enough to know I wanted shut-eye. I put him in bed with me but soon discovered that was not the way for me to go back to sleep, so put him back in his bed and we both went back to sleep.

John had to give a report on dehydration in Ag. today and worked on it all evening. When he has something to do he goes right after it and if I may say so with pardonable pride, does a pretty good job. Having watched his father at work on M.S., M.D., etc., I can’t help but see more than a little similarity.

The account of your meeting Bud (Geo.) Mulligan is in the paper this week. I mentioned a conversation with his aunt in my letter yesterday. In looking thru the paper I see that Jack Sullivan is one of the latest fathers to be inducted. Eddie Steinbaugh was married to an Army nurse at Chanute Field, Monday this week. Jack Dye’s picture is in the paper this week. He lost a leg in action and has been discharged.

Washburn’s celebrated their golden wedding this week and Albert Thompson’s celebrate their 60^th.

David is awake now and ready for some fresh air. He is playing the piano now. Maybe he will be a musician.

Mark slipped and fell down stairs last nite.

[page 3] No damage done. John said it is a good thing Mark can fall relaxed. I told them if John had fallen like that he would have broken bones until he would have to be in a cast from head to toe. Never a dull moment.

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/22/wedding-details-gladys/

Kentland Democrat (Roscoe)

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: January 5, 1944 envelope

: January 5, 1944, p. 1

: January 5, 1944, p. 2

: January 5, 1944, p. 3

: January 5, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
1-5-44

Dear Mother,

Yours of Nov. 18 came today – It must have gotten lost in the rush someplace. Anyway it made good reading. There was also a Christmas greeting from The Prues – a letter from Bob Hufty, a Christmas greeting from Etta Campbell and two Kentland Democrats. The latest Democrat was dated Dec. 2. So it was later than your letter. I haven’t written Boonie as yet to thank him for the Democrats or am I correct? Didn’t you tell me he was sending them to each man in the service?

Seems as if lots of the boys

[page 2] are mentioned in the paper but I’d just as soon not come in for any newspaper stories.

In your letter you said Mrs. Roberts and her children were there and you also said that Joe had hopes of getting home after 18 mo. That does seem to be a policy but this fellow who had the picture taken with me on that vacation has been here longer than that now. I really think an effort is being made in that direction but it really takes more than effort and as I’ve said before too much hope in that direction isn’t so good because the disappointment is too great if it doesn’t happen that way. It probably will be

[page 3] our luck to have the time limit changed to 2 yrs. or longer by the time the next 34 days roll around. You see I have the days counted.

Opinions vary as to wants & wishes on returning. Some wish to stay; others are more than willing to be on their way. I’ll say there are arguments both ways. New Zealand is fine – don’t misunderstand when one is here the war is far but what will be the tour after returning? Many at present aren’t worrying about going home. They are worrying about having to leave a second time and there is a

[page 3] point there. So looking at it in that respect maybe the longer here the less possibility of a further foreign tour of duty but I’ve been thru the mill once and I suppose I can take it again. It’s lots of fun after it’s all over.

Let’s get off that subject and talk about you – I can’t seem to formulate any words but if thoughts could be crystallized huge chunks could be had at any and all times. Believe me! and so good night and

Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/21/kentland-democrat-roscoe/

Fashion Moments – Cuirasse Bodice

3 Replies

Welcome to my weekly fashion blog post. Each week I will discuss a female garment, fashion trend or influencer from the age of photography (1840s through the 20th century). My goal is to educate family researchers and genealogists about the clothing worn by our ancestors. Dating photographs is an issue we all struggle with as family archivists. Additionally, anyone who writes about their family’s history should be aware of the environment in which their ancestors lived. Period clothing is an important part of that environment from how it affects a person’s movement to their overall lifestyle. This week I introduce you to the Cuirasse bodice. (I mentioned this style briefly in my bustle post.)

Cuirasse Bodice

The cuirasse bodice came into fashion in the mid 1870s and continued into the early 1880s. The bodice takes its name from the cuirass, a piece of close fitting defensive armor worn over the torso or chest. The resulting nineteenth century garment was tightly fitted and required corsets and additional boning to create the effect. A defining characteristic of the bodice is its extension below the natural waistline, often over the hips and sometimes even lower. Because the hips were so fitted, skirts were forced to became narrower (in contrast to the wider bustles and hoops earlier in the decade). In fact, the bustle almost entirely disappeared during the years 1875-1883, with extensive drapery coming to the forefront of fashion. It was during this period that the longer “princess” seam came into prominence.

Gallery

Images

Wedding dress, 1879 (Brown silk with gold accents), Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Accession number: 2009.300.3017

Afternoon ensemble, 1878-1882 (Grey silk with fringe trim), Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Accession number: 2009.300.87a–c

Dress, 1878-1879 (Cream silk with asymmetrical drape), The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Accession number: C.I.45.38.1a, b

Digital Collection, Thomas J. Watson Library, Metropolitan Museum of Art. Women 1879, plates 073, 020, 036

A Skating Contest (Gladys)

1 Reply

: January 5, 1944 envelope

: January 5, 1944, p. 1

: January 5, 1944, p. 2-3

: January 5, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Jan. 5 – 1944

Dear Daddy –

No mail today but five letters Monday. It is cloudy today. It was foggy this morning then there was a little sleet. It is just a typical grey, overhanging winter day.

Yesterday was Washburns 50^th Wedding Anniversary. They held open house at Howard’s. I took David and went out about 4 P.M. Helen is here from Neb. She doesn’t live in Calif. now. I suppose you have been in the former Canine house (the one Howard bought). Yesterday was the first time I had been in the house. It is almost exactly like the other house they lived in except the porch on this house is enclosed and can

[page 2] be used summer and winter. What a play room that would make. About the Anniversary, there were many beautiful flowers in all colors of yellow and orange to represent Golden. Also beautifully decorated cakes, in white and yellow. Tea and coffee were served. Mrs. Bessie Dixon and Mrs. Ruben Hess poured. I saw Mrs. Carrold Bledsoe there. She said they were living in the tenant house. They were living on the place when it was sold.

Last night the boys (J & M) went to the pond. Bob Shurttler sponsored an a skating contest. I think one of the McCartney boys won the prize. Mark is still learning to skate, so didn’t enter the contest.

David is taking his nap. He was so busy all morning.

[page 3] I wanted to take him over to see Jimmy Ed, this being J.E.’s birthday. I called Lucile this morning and she said Jimmy had a temp. last night and some cold so I won’t take David over. I’ll go over and take Jimmy’s gift. David’s cold last week kept us from getting the boys together. They seem to get along pretty good.

I went over to the locker last night (afternoon) and turned in ration points for the hog (1/2). The weight was 96 lbs. That took 233 points. I turn in advance points in this case.

A woman called me to tell me her nephew is where you are – Pharmists mate 3/c – I think his name is Mulligan. She didn’t know where he is stationed but he wrote home that he had

[page 4] met you. This aunt was in Boonie’s and he told her about your letter to him about meeting Col. W. – and putting this and that together figured out her nephew’s whereabouts. You know Boonie has a yen for figuring things out, although I know he misses sometimes.

I just straightened out the bank figures – I had made a slight error or two – but the balance at present is $336.12 – but there are quite a few bills to pay yet – Ins., groc., etc. When I get them all paid I’ll give you the bal. I got three $37.50 bonds bought Dec. 31. – I bought 7 – $18.75 in July and the above mentioned, which makes $243.75 in Bonds for 1943.

I think David is waking up and I have been writing and figuring and no nap.
Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/20/a-skating-contest-gladys/ ‎

New Zealand (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: January 4, 1944 envelope

: January 4, 1944, p. 1

: January 4, 1944, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Jan. 4, 1944

Dear Mother,

There was no mail today but I didn’t hardly expect any since those came yesterday. We will have to wait now for several days again I suppose.

I could see nothing bad about D.’s mother in the picture where she was holding him on the Johnson’s front porch. You said you were trying to get him to hold still and yours wasn’t so good.

The order came thru that we can now say we are stationed somewhere in New Zealand – so here I am. That is as much as we can say. It really is a pretty country and young with respect to ours in the length of time it has been settled. Natives here often ask what we knew of or thought of their country before the war. I just don’t know what I did think and of course now I’m prejudiced and no use asking you, for you have a different idea now than you had before I know. In some ways I think the people here are about like ours were 50-60 years ago. There is no hurry. The trains stop ever so often

[page 2] for 20-30 minutes and everyone gets off for a cup of tea. Imagine going on a day’s trip in the U.S. and stopping 3-4 times while all left the train and had a cup of tea and a few cakes. I’m still not a converted tea drinker, and don’t ask anyone of them to drink Ice tea. That is simply unthinkable.

The pictures – You said those boys looked English – They certainly are. To hear them talk is just like listening to some bloke over the radio direct from England. It doesn’t sound so funny coming from older people but when a kid comes out with that talk it seems as if they are putting on the dog. I think

I think Bob & I were the only Americans those boys had ever seen or at least talked to and were they thrilled? I suppose our kids would be the same. They have a daughter about 14 and of course we had to autograph her book. I mean write our names in those books girls about that age carry around with them.

Well, Maybe I can write more about the natives next time –
Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/19/new-zealand-roscoe/ ‎

Jimmy Ed’s Birthday (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
1-4-44

Dear Daddy – No letters today but five yesterday up to Dec. 23. Also a letter from Geo. Wingfield Jr. He is in San Diego now. He didn’t give any address except N.A.S. It is cloudy today and below freezing a few degrees. Washburns’ are celebrating their Golden Wedding at Howard’s today. I want to call on them sometime during the day. David is taking his nap. He wants to climb the stairs now that he has discovered that he can. I will have to get a gate or some kind of barrier across the bottom so he won’t have to be watched. Mrs. Zell and I are planning to take some of their fresh pork over to the locker. I don’t have so much in the drawer now. I ordered half a hog but Brands are short of help and haven’t got it put in yet. Tomorrow is Jimmy Ed’s birthday. I have a gift and card for him. I don’t believe Lucile is going to have a party for him because of the flu and colds around now. James L. II has a birthday the 11^th. I am sending him a card today but haven’t a gift for him yet. Can’t get what I want here and haven’t been to Laf. recently. Can’t always get things there either. I may go down Sat. so I can take Mark for an X-Ray. I wish I could take him to a warmer climate – I believe he needs more sunshine.

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/18/jimmy-eds-birthday-gladys/

Little Old Man (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: January 3, 1944 envelope

: January 3, 1944, p. 1

: January 3, 1944, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Jan. 3, 1944

Dear Mother,

Yours of Dec. 18 and 20 came today, one of them had the pictures of Jimmie Ed & David with their mothers, etc. I think I got the biggest shock of all from the one of D. standing alone on the sidewalk. Of course you had often written about him walking and standing, etc. but he looked so boyish and grown up in that picture. He was standing there just like a little old man.

There is a wide gap of about one week in your letters so I didn’t get to begin at the beginning. I don’t know what happened to Virginia Z. but you spoke of the possibility of her having a skull fracture, I suppose the details are in those missing letters.

The giving of Vit. C. tablets to D. is a good idea and might be better than forcing him to take the oranges. However, commercial tomato juice would also be OK or grape fruit juice or pineapple juice but I suppose those things require lots of points so I see no reason why Vit. C. tablets aren’t just as

[page 2] good.

Sure was glad to hear you were able to get some good coal but I missed the first load. You were just said you had gotten some more so I supposed you were able to get some from someplace other than Chet V. Maybe that will put you thru the coldest part of the winter and the poor grade of coal won’t be so bad during the spring.

You mentioned another thing. Ar The dividends on the insurance – you said the three policies. I don’t remember how you get three. I thought it was four. And there should be a small dividend on the one that was paid up. On each premium slip on the old policy there was always so much, less the dividend, plus the sum interest on the loan. Now that the loan is paid up we should be able to collect that dividend. I have a feeling you meant the $26⁰⁰ was on the four policies or possibly on all five. I’ll be glad to get a financial statement at the end of the year – you said you would send one if I wanted one. Not too detailed however. I hope the $300⁰⁰ check I sent helped out. Well the space is all gone so

Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/17/little-old-man-roscoe/

Monthly Update – September

Dear Mother, Love Daddy

Book sales continue to be slow and steady. I just received a large shipment of books. I ordered extra books in anticipation of my upcoming lecture this week. The books arrived last week and I was heartbroken to realize that the whole lot was badly printed. The pictures were all streaked and grainy. I even received one book that had been printed with an extra 50 pages. Fortunately, CreateSpace really stepped up. Within 24 hours, the company emailed me back to notify me they were sending a new shipment, and all I had to do was print a label and drop off the messed up books at my nearest UPS store. The new shipment of books arrived yesterday and today, and they look great.

I am looking forward to November when I have scheduled to begin work on the second volume of letters. I anticipate publication of the next volume in February or early March. I think I may have settled on the name of the book, but I am not quite ready to announce the new title.

If you are interested in purchasing an autographed copy of the book, send me a private message through the contact page. Or you can follow the link on the sidebar to purchase a copy from Amazon. For anyone who has read the book, I invite you to post a review on Amazon. I currently have seven reviews and I am trying to reach twenty to boost my rankings.

Sacramento Library

This weekend is my big speaking debut. I am presenting my first lecture at the Franklin branch of the Sacramento Library at 2:00. My presentation is titled Why Genealogy? I will discuss six reasons why everyone should be working on their own genealogy now. Once I survive this presentation, I have several other lectures that I would like to prepare. I am working on fine-tuning my speech this week, and trying not to wander off-topic! I do so much better when I stick to my script.

As for future speaking engagements, I took the plunge and submitted a proposal to next year’s Jamboree in southern California. I am looking for more opportunities to speak in Northern California over the coming months. Contact me if you are looking for a new speaker for your society or group.

My monthly Ask A Genealogist sessions are also going very well. In August, I helped a patron find resources for Italian genealogy, assisted another patron with identifying dates for her collection of photographs, and jump-started another patron on her online tree research. I am having so much fun meeting fellow genealogy enthusiasts and researchers! To sign up for an appointment, contact the Franklin branch of the library.

Discovering Your Past

The second episode of Discovering Your Past premiered earlier this month. Dan conducted a family interview with his mother, and discussed tips for setting up a successful interview. I talked Sue through writing a research plan for her Noble ancestors in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The video on my end was a little wonky, and I made a slight error in my Revolutionary War history. See if you can catch it! I can’t wait until we start working on the next episode. In the meantime, Dan and Sue did some exploring in North Berwick, Maine, to discover where some of Sue’s ancestors were buried. Check out Dan’s blog for the first part of their cemetery adventure.

Fashion Moments

I have written over a dozen Fashion Moments posts this summer. I am amazed by the popularity of these posts. I will continue to write this weekly series because there definitely seems to be a need for fashion education for genealogists. I welcome any ideas or suggestions for future posts.

To view previous Fashion Moments posts, check out my board on Pinterest. I have boards for every decade of the nineteen century with examples of real clothing. Or go to the Blog tab at the top of this page, and click on the sub tab for Fashion Moments.

Personal Research

My own research has slowed down quite a bit this month. But I have taken a little time to explore Ancestry’s new will and probate databases. I have found some great documents but have also been disappointed by many of the gaps in coverage.

Some more family videos have been digitized, including more of Gladys and the children during WWII. The following video is about ten minutes long and includes snippets from 1942-1944. Amazingly, these clips are in color! There is even a very, very short clip of Roscoe and Gladys together at the very end!

May the genealogy and ancestral winds be in your favor this month!

Golden Wedding (Gladys)

1 Reply

: January 3, 1944 envelope

: January 3, 1944, p. 1

: January 3, 1944, p. 2-3

: January 3, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Jan. 3 – 1944

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Dec. 17, 20, 21, 22, 23 came today. Also a letter from Geo. Wingfield. He is in San Diego now. Said some mail just caught up with him and a letter from you asking him to write me. Said after the war we would have to visit Reno and fight the war in retrospect as it should have been. He spoke very highly of you, and I believe he was sincere. He mentioned the flowers so he must have been the one to send the roses in Sept.

I hadn’t had any letters for several days and getting five at one time helped the old morale. I do hope you are getting all mine and hope the pictures I had made of David for Christmas

[page 2] get to you soon. I am sure they will give you a lift. David was rather cross all morning, but I think that one tooth that has been trying to push thru for so long is pretty responsible. One point is thru now so he should feel better soon. He seems to have more cold but can’t “hack & spit” like his mother (tho he tries to imitate me) and can’t get rid of the mucos, only as it runs down his nose. He has no temperature and wasn’t so cross if turned loose, but I was busy trying to work so penned him up in the nursery and he didn’t like that. I handed him a toy and he threw it down as quickly as he could. He has quite a bit of “spunk.” He is so used to being admired – yesterday Mrs. Zell was here and I had David on the toidey – when he had finished I put his pants on and turned him

[page 3] loose – He walked away from us a few steps then turned and looked at us, as if to say “don’t you think I am cute?” with a merry twinkle in his eye. I told Mrs. Zell, or rather asked, who could ask for a girl when they had a boy like D. She said that was always the way she had felt about their girls, but Mr. still wants a boy. I said, really I don’t think it would have made any difference to you whether we had boys or girls. However, having had all boys I don’t know the real answer. Mr. Z. wants a boy so much after getting three girls he wants to try again. Mrs. Z. says she thinks she has all she can take care of and now since fathers are being taken Mr. Z. may have to go. I wrote you that Bob Shurtter had enlisted in the Navy, but evidently his commission didn’t go thru because he is waiting to be called to the Army. He is registered in Laf. and his number was about up when he enlisted or

[page 4] tried to enlist. E. Wilson got a 3 mo. deferment and unless he can get another when it is up will have to go if passes the physical. The new law provides $40⁰⁰ for each child, so anyone with 3 children will get $120. Doris is due to have her baby soon, so that will make her allowance 160.

The A.D. Washburns are celebrating their golden wedding tomorrow. They will receive guests informally at Howards from 2 to 4:30 and 7 to 8. The announcement was in the paper but I received an invitation. Did I tell you Howard bought the Canine farm? The moved some time ago. Mr. Tackett, the new coach moved to the place Howard vacated.

I am upstairs having dried my hair. I hear David. He has been taking his nap downstairs. He didn’t sleep too long, so may be a little touchy.

Love Mother

No Mail on Sundays (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: January 2, 1944 envelope

: January 2, 1944, p. 1

: January 2, 1944, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Jan. 2, 1943 [sic]

Dear Mother,

I was wrong about the mail. I just found out they don’t do much with it on Sun. either so none came in or at least none was delivered. So all the hopes I had for today are transferred to tomorrow. It’s that old tomorrow that always gets one, but mail will just have to come one of these days.

Went swimming this P.M. It was the first time here and in fresh water. It had been so cold but lately the mid summer heat has been something terrific especially in the middle of the day. Even at that the water was cold. It must be from springs in the mountains.

I’ve started this before the show and will finish after and give comments good or bad. Last night’s show was Bittersweet or some such name – all in color and lots of singing Nelson E. & Janette Mc. Maybe you have seen it. I think it’s old but of course I wouldn’t know. I feel a little hottish or if I might have gotten a little sun but I guess it won’t be too much of a

[page 2] shock to be sunburnt a little.

Where we swam there wasn’t much breeze and no sand. Just rocks and my feet burn from walking on the rough hot rocks, but that should help get the smell off of them so I can stand that. I didn’t get the swim this year on Christmas or New Year but did come pretty close – well I’ll see you after the show. I mean finish after the show.

The show is over and it was so so. A prison picture. “The House Across the Bay.” I’m not sure just how many bells I’d give it but not too many. Of course we always have a big crowd regardless of the picture and if one doesn’t like it he doesn’t ask for his money back because it’s all for free as you know.

Lentz is about the same as always – just “sorta” getting used to the set up as I was about 6-8 weeks ago. When I came here I didn’t know anyone and I sure felt like the same old orphan boy at the picnic so I know how he feels.

Well, must write the folks a note yet so solong,

Love Daddy