Category Archives: Genealogy

Those letters mean a lot (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
5-1-43

Dear Daddy – Sat. morn – Mark and I are getting ready to have breakfast – John has gone to the band contest at North Manchester – I didn’t have to take a load and was glad because I have been house cleaning this week and I am tired. Clara got sick and couldn’t help me so had to do most of it with J. & M.’s help. David is going to sleep for his nap before bath time. Lucile & I entertained Cosmopolitan Club yesterday. That is the first time I have done any entertaining since you left and I wouldn’t have done that except for it being a church organization. I am to have the S.S. class meeting this month and that will take care of my social obligations for another year. The woman’s Club has most meetings in the club room this year to eliminate the necessity of entertaining in homes – which used to require refreshments (that is practically nil now). So much for that. Two letters just came, yours of Apr. 8 & 9 – and that raised my morale lots. I must say those letters mean a lot to my old morale – and here I am at home with the boys all around me – so I know what letters from here mean to you. – but this is the longest stretch without mail when you weren’t moving – so evidently they aren’t coming by air – or maybe the Air Service is so overworked it just takes longer now. – Well I feel much better now and have some clothes ready to hang out. It is sunny this a.m. – and I want to get out of doors – We are still having some cool weather and this is May 1 – Too bad you can’t be here – you would relish the spring this year.

Love – Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/15/those-letters-mean-a-lot-gladys/

Writing Paper (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: April 30, 1943 envelope

: April 30, 1943, p. 1

: April 30, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

March
Apr. 30, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet Post Office
San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

You will note the writing paper. It came thru the mail from Uncle W. Arrived just one day after the letter telling me he had sent it. I’m not too fond of writing on this type paper but beggars can’t be to critical. We can buy paper now but most of it is heavy and if I can swipe a note pad from the office I’d rather use that.

I’m writing and sweating because it is hot and sticky but that isn’t unusual only I have to have something to write to fill up space. We were talking yesterday about how drab and boring our letters must be to those who read them but there isn’t anything more that can be written and I think you folk understand that – at least we hope you do. For a while we could write more fluently but that has been stopped as you have noted.

[page 2] Yesterday Commander Fredricks got a box from home filled with sardines and shrimp. So you can imagine what we did. He ate one can and I the other – or rather the contents of one can. He makes one feel good at time by the things he says. He knows the number of children we have and more or less my life’s history as I know his. So he writes home and tells his wife about us. Then he tells me what he has written. They live in Cleveland Ohio and have one daughter 20 years old.

My Reno pals are still getting along OK but the fellow from Missouri got orders to leave. I guess that is the way it will be one at a time orders out and someone new come in to take that place.

I had most of my laundry down but this AM two pairs of pants were still there and boom down came a big (frawn) (Spelling) cocoanut leaf or limb and “busted” the line but the pants were dry enough that they didn’t have to be washed again. We “sorta” have to watch those things while walking around.

I must write Uncle W. thanking him for the paper and letter –

So solong
Love Daddy

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

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/14/writing-paper-roscoe/

Pinkie Came Home (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-29-43

Dear Daddy – It is cloudy & raining some today. Not cold but just in between. Didn’t get my mail again today. It has been more than 2 weeks now since yours of Apr 6 came – I think I have most of the letters you had written up to that date. Maybe by the time you get this I will have heard again – I hope – Hope my letters are getting to you. We had a little excitement – Pinkie came home (for Mr. Steinbaugh’s funeral) in an Army plane. He flew over town several times – too low for any good. Mark wrote you a letter about it. Floyd & Ruth have moved to Bluffton – In case you haven’t rec’d any word about his rejection the Draft Bd said he was too nervous – now beat on your chest again and let out a Tarzan yell. I may have to take a load of band members to North Manchester Sat for the contest. John was to go with Washburns but Angus has the measles. I had D. out in the yard a long time yesterday and he got quite a tan. It is too cloudy & wet to take him out today – He is a happy little fellow most of the time – no teeth yet. I think John & Mark will have him talking long before he really does. I am to go to Ruth M’s in May and take sweet potatoe plants. She said they were anxious to see D. again. It is getting near his 2 P.M. feeding and he is getting hungry, I think. This is a band concert at the H.S. tonight and I want to go if I can find a nurse maid. John will play so I should go.

Love – Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/13/pinkie-come-home-gladys/

A Final Resting Place

6 Replies

In December 1915, William B. Schwartz died. He was buried on 16 December 1915. I am currently in the process of ordering William’s death certificate and the burial records from Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. Mary Victoria died a few years later in 1918. Both are buried in unmarked graves, in adjoining plots, at Crown Hill Cemetery. I have been unable thus far to find an obituary for William. Perhaps once I have a definite death date for William, I may be able to have better luck finding an obituary.

I have tracked down two personal court cases in which William B. Schwartz was involved. The first case was from 1901 in which he was the plaintiff; the second was from 1906 in which he was the defendant. I will begin transcribing and posting from these two cases this week.

I will post more information as I discover it, but at this point, what I have of William B. Schwartz’s story has been told. I still haven’t made up my mind whether he was truly a scoundrel or a man caught up in life’s misfortunes.

You can visit William B. Schwartz’s memorial at Find A Grave.

©Deborah Sweeney, 2014.

New Washing Machine (Roscoe)

3 Replies

: April 29, 1943 envelope

: April 29, 1943, p. 1

: April 29, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Apr. 29, 1943
Lieut R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet Post Office
San Fran. Calif.

Dear Mother,

Yesterday I had to forgo the washing because the machine was new and had to be adjusted but we got things going today. One of the fellows from Reno used to sell this machine so he knew what to do and we pooled our washing. His shirts are all 15 ½ and his pants are accordingly large so we had no trouble separating the finished product. Of course we took our work very serious and did the whole thing very thorough. Even to rinsing the thing twice and using the agitator to get the soap out and wringing the final twice. Now if

[page 2] just had an iron we’d be all set and maybe in time we will have those things.

We had a little party last night to celebrate the departure of one of our gang – sang songs and drank a little beer. And everyone was sober when the thing was over. We really needed some onion sandwitches to make things more complete but there was none to be had. Wish I had about one pound of onion sets but they would spoil before getting here.

Yesterday P.M. got a v-mail letter from Uncle W. saying he had sent some writing papers. His letter came thru without being photo – because he put his address in both places on the inside and left mine off. So it had to come that way.

Well must get going – Love Daddy.

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

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/12/new-washing-machine-roscoe/

The Warden’s Reply

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth, Kansas
Carbon Copy for the Files

March 5, 1915

Mr. James A. Refferty,
Bureau of Investigation,
N. Y. City,

Dear Sir:

In reply to your letter of the 3d instant regarding the correspondence of William B. Schwartz while in this institution, I beg to advise that he received no communications from Julius Hochfelder. On June 18, 1906, however Schwartz received a letter from his brother H. A. Schwartz, Loudenville, Ohio. This may possibly be the H. Swarts you have reference to.

Respectfully,

Warden

AJR/M

Source:

Letter from Warden, R. W. McClaughry, to Jas. A. Rafferty, Chief of Bureau of Investigations, 5 March 1915, William B. Schwartz, Prisoner no. 5476; Inmate Case Files, U. S. Penitentiary, Leavenworth, Kansas, 1895-1931, Record Group 129; National Archives at Kansas City, Missouri.

Victory Gardens (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-28-43

Dear Daddy – No mail again today – the last I rec’d was dated Apr 6 – I mean the latest date – sometimes I get some back dates – but nothing has come so far this week. – – We are having a spring day with a few clouds that look like your – Have had quite a lot of rain this spring – That will make the victory gardens grow – as well as the weeds etc. The dandelions are in full bloom now. They are everywhere so why worry. I am still cleaning house and the ground is too wet to work in and it’s too early to set flowers out. The tulips are blooming and are very pretty (red). I was snapping my fingers to amuse David and he acted like he tried to snap his fingers. Mark wanted me to write that down in the baby book. I said no one would believe me if I told that but it’s true. If I wrote down everything Mark wants me to I wouldn’t have much time to write letters – David is developing I think about normal. Of course J. & M. think everything he does is unusual. Donnie Funk is still three or four lbs heavier but I think 18 lbs for a 7 mo old baby is heavy enough. He has been so well and as a good disposition so that makes him a pretty fine fellow – John & Mark have gone back to school and D. is sitting in his buggy by the desk doing things. Lucile & I are going to have Cosmopolitan Club Friday. I am going over there tomorrow to make cookies. She just called me & said Betty Lohr’s mother died. Mr. Steinbaugh was buried this morning. I wonder who will run the Democrat now.

Love Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/11/victory-gardens-gladys/

Bureau of Investigation

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

Municipal Civil Service Commision
Of the City of New York
Municipal Building
Centre & Chambers Sts.
Bureau of Investigation
JAR/JFK
New York, March 3, 1915

Federal Prison,
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Gentlemen:

William B. Swarts (Schwartz), of Indianapolis, Ind., was convicted of counterfeiting, xxxxx November 26, 1906, and sentenced to serve five years in Leavenworth Prison.

Will you kindly advise the Bureau if your records show whether a Julius Hochfelder, or H. Swarts communicated in any way with the prisoner while under your care.

I am anxious to obtain this information and would appreciated the courtesy of an early reply.

Respectfully,

Jas A. Rafferty
Chief of Bureau of Investigation

[Handwritten]
Recd. H. A. Schwartz, Bro.
From Loudonville Oh.
June 18-1906

Source:

Letter from Chief of Bureau of Investigation, Jas. A. Rafferty, to Warden, R. W. McClaughry, 3 March 1915, William B. Schwartz, Prisoner no. 5476; Inmate Case Files, U. S. Penitentiary, Leavenworth, Kansas, 1895-1931, Record Group 129; National Archives at Kansas City, Missouri.

Big Wigs (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: April 28, 1943 envelope

: April 28, 1943, p. 1

: April 28, 1943, p. 2

: April 28, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Apr 28, 1943
Lieut RS Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet P.O.
San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother

This will include the letter of Apr. 27 also. For the past few days I’ve been out with some of the big wigs of the Profession who have been looking the situation over in general and as a result my writing in the daylight hour whas was impossible but now that that is over I think things can be carried on in the usual manner.

Last night late I received

[page 2] your v-mail letters of Mar 31 and Apr 1. Other fellows have gotten regular air mail later than that but I have given you that word before and I think my mail will be better when you switch back to air mail.

We have a nice new washing machine and if I don’t get tropical lead in my pants before I’m going to wash my laundry which has been piling up in anticipation of the washing machine.

I haven’t received any seeds as yet but am very anxious because I believe I can do

[page 3] OK and would surely like to sink my fangs into a nice crisp carrot or radish. We had fresh liver for chow last night but on onion for those few we had the other day have long gone the way of all strong onions.

I Don’t remember whether I mentioned it before or not but I have run on to a man here from Marion Ind. and a Dr. from Logansport and also a Dr. from Evansville Ind. so maybe the old State is kicking thru.

Well, I still feel like doing laundry so here goes –
Love Daddy.

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

Chief Postal Inspector

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

William B. Schwartz, Indianapolis, Indiana.
RLS-RHS
Post Office Department
Office of the Chief Inspector
Washington
Case 15887-E
August 23, 1910

Mr. R. W. McClaughry,
Warden, United States Penitentiary,
Leavenworth, Kansas.

Sir:

Receipt is acknowledged of your letter dated August 15, 1910, with inclosures, alleging use of the mails for fraudulent purposes by William B. Schwartz, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Your letter and the papers accompanying it will be referred to a post office inspector for investigation, and such action will be taken as the facts warrant.

Respectfully,

R. S. Sharp

Chief Inspector

Source:

Letter from Chief Post Office Inspector, Robert S. Sharp, to Warden, R. W. McClaughry, 23 August 1910, William B. Schwartz, Prisoner no. 5476; Inmate Case Files, U. S. Penitentiary, Leavenworth, Kansas, 1895-1931, Record Group 129; National Archives at Kansas City, Missouri.