Category Archives: Genealogy

Don’t exactly know why (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

1/31/43

Dear Mother,

This P.M. while reading a little I fell asleep and was out for almost one hour. Don’t exactly know why because I was reading one of Daymon Runynon short stories, but I will confess I don’t remember much of the story even though I did finish it.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Hasn’t rained any today as yet but the wind blows hard – we are looking forward to a show tonight to help the Eve. pass by. The name of the show is The Queen of the Yukon. Sounds very exciting.

Dr. Loop was in a short time this P.M. Just long enough to say Hello and was gone again. I thought he had gone because it had been some time since he had paid us a visit.

[page 2] Just 6 mo ago today I took my wild airplane ride across the country from Chicago to San Francisco. That was a very hard day’s ride and if you ever want to relax don’t travel so far in a plane because it is very tiresome. I really have to go back a long time to get something to write about but that’s the only way I can think of enough to write. There are lots of things I could ask about but I know you have the answers in the mail that is coming but mail coming doesn’t mean a thing – only that that is here is any good or as an old Yegerlehner saying – a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Or maybe that is somebodys else’s saying.

Dr. P. just got a Christmas greeting and a V-mail dated Dec. 26 but that doesn’t

[page 3] help very much – we still have a possibility of mail at 5 P.M. but I think there is no hope for much – but in time things will come along again I hope. Will finish later.

Well things are better – had two shows tonite, and also had mail. Your V-mail letter of Jan 12 came, air mail Jan 14 also air mail Dec. 29, Dec 26 Dec. 24. Your letter of Jan 14 wasn’t too good but I really think now that you have had that washed out it will be OK at least I hope so. I believe if that had been treated often early that wouldn’t have happened – but you can’t get that type of treatment at home unless things have changed since I left there. I truly hope and pray things are better for you now. My mail is at least 6-8 days later than others due to you writing every day. The V-mail is later than most others but this Jan. 14 is the later – keep dropping a V-mail about once each wk.

[page 4] The picture of D. was pretty good – he begins to look as if he is filling out pretty rapidly.

Most of your letters were old and the old ones told of your condition leading up to this last affair but like a continued story all your letters end in critical points. The one on Jan 8 said you were better. The V-mail of Jan 12 said one side was Ok, but the other was acting up. Yours of the 14th said you had a washing out and there is the end. I suppose the next will be 4-5 days later and it probably won’t get here for several days. So I’ll just have to wait worry & sweat until I get the next. Your suggestions about the hospital is fine and I hope you go if things are too bad. Surely someone will take care of J & M in case you have to go.

I’ll be waiting for Agnes M. letter about the taxes – do what you want. Just so you keep me out of Jail & buy bonds

[page 5] to cover the taxes. And Don’t renew the J.A.M.A. I told you that before but just in case the word didn’t get there.

Along with your mail came a V-mail from Allgoods and a Christmas greeting from Guess Who – Amel Taylor. And it was censored – wasn’t that a Joke. The only letter that has even been censored. Really I’ll write them a reply – They I think mean well but their finances are not the best so I’ll answer just to be nice.

I’ll re-read your letters tomorrow and maybe have something more to write but it is now time to turn in so I’ll say solong and hope you are better, much better, by now

Love Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/11/30/dont-exactly-know-why-roscoe/ ‎

Sunday’s Obituary – Rosina (Yegerlehner) McCormick

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McCormick, Rosina (Yegerlehner) - Obituary - croppedMcCormick

Mrs. Rosina McCormick, aged seventy-two years, died yesterday afternoon at the family residence, 336 Madison street. Death was due to complications and followed an illness of six weeks’ duration.

The deceased was born in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland, Oct. 13, 1841, and came to America with her parents at the age of nine years. She was united in marriage to Thomas H. McCormick Nov 21, 1861, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio. They moved to this city in 1893, where Dr. McCormick practiced medicine until his death in 1911.

Surviving relatives include the following children: Mrs. Minnie M. Houser, of Fort Wayne, Ind.; Rev. F. C. McCormick, of Milton, Ind.; Thomas H. McCormick, teacher of mathematics at the Commercial high school, of New York City; Miss Ada M. McCormick, head of the business and municipal department of the Fort Wayne public library; Rev. Harry B. McCormick, pastor of the Church of Christ, New York City. Twenty-three grandchildren and one great-grandchild also survive. Two daughters, Mrs. Pearl R. Haller and Della C. McCormick [sic Ake], preceded her in death. Mrs. McCormick was a member of the West Creighton Avenue Church of Christ.

Funeral arrangements have not been completed and will be announced latr.

“The Deaths: McCormick,” The Fort Wayne Daily News (Fort Wayne, Indiana), 25 May 1914, p. 11, col. 1; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 November 2013).

______________________________________

Rosina was the only daughter of David and Magdalena (Strahm) Yegerlehner. She traveled with her parents from Switzerland to London, and then to the United States. The family settled in Holmes County, Ohio. Despite the above notion that Rosina married Thomas H. McCormick in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, they were actually married in Holmes County. Both Rosina and her brother Christian applied for marriage licenses on the same day, although their weddings were 3 days apart and they were married by different ministers.

McCormick, Thomas & Rosina Yegerlehner - Marriage, 1861

How’s that for misspelling!?! (Click to enlarge)

Rosina and Thomas also moved their growing family west to Indiana, settling there by 1870. While older brother Christian and their parents moved to Clay county, Thomas and Rosina settled in northern Indiana, near Fort Wayne. After many years of living in the rural townships of Allen County, they finally moved into the city.

McCormick, Thomas & Rosina - c1900

Thomas & Rosina, c1910
Copy from an original in the possession of Rosina’s descendants

Rosina and Thomas were the parents of eight children: Florence, Wilhelmina “Minnie,” Della, Pearl, Firman, Thomas, Ada and Harry. Rosina’s progeny were quite numerous, possibly surpassing both her brothers in living descendants. One of Rosina’s more famous descendants was Edward H. White, Jr., an astronaut from the Apollo program who tragically lost his life during a fire on the launching platform in 1967.

Rosina and Thomas are buried at Lindenwood Cemetery in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Photograph by Jim Cox

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at:  https://genealogylady.net/2013/11/30/sundays-obitua…hner-mccormick/

Opera about over (Gladys)

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1943-01-30Letter transcription:

MRS R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
1-30-43

Dear Daddy – Sat P.M. and opera about over. You know that is a “must” with John. Mark is working on a model. David is asleep – had vegetable soup today. Gave him about a tablespoon full to start with. He likes it better than Pablum but he takes it now without a howl. I went to see Jimmy Johnson yesterday. His “mama” wants him to be a perfect baby but I think Jimmy is going to be an “individualist” – such as sucking his fingers like our David does. Those things can be corrected in time and don’t worry me now. Lucile wants to get Jimmy over the 2 a.m. habit but he upsets things by waking around 4 a.m. I suppose it is natural for her to be so exacting. They had a letter from you and had me read it. You do write nice letters – they agreed with me that you do. Pat yourself on the back – Our weather is warmer and snow about gone. I was afraid it might freeze before the snow left then it would be slick again. Such a winter – hope it will soon let up, but still have Feb & Mar. I am looking forward to spring and working in the yard – if Mother will stay so I can get out. Wish we could raise a garden so we could can beans, carrots, tomatoes, etc. All those will be rationed soon and if we could can some would help. I got 8 cans of soup for D. today. Have a supply of canned milk- They say not to do that but I don’t want to risk not getting milk for him. Am glad we use Dexri-Maltose. Karo is so hard to get. We can’t get our pictures till Wed. but will send them as soon as we can. Hope you like them. The uniform money hasn’t come, if it does I’ll pay that Ins. loan. I bought 6 $50 bonds, besides the monthly 25⁰⁰ – David has 2 & J. & M. each one but will soon have another. They are buying 25¢ stamps now.

Love-Mother

©013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/11/29/opera-about-over-gladys/

One of my bad days (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

1/29/43
Dear Mother,

This has been one of my bad days – don’t know why or how – just not worth a dern. Finally I went up and took a bath in the brisk breeze and that cooled me off and gave me a little pep I think. I hope. Yesterday I wrote several letters but today this will be the only one I hope.

Today has been less rainy than the past few days but we have had several spurts – now and then. It rained hard at intervals last night and the old tent flopped and banged but stayed put.

My watch is on the bum and a fellow is fixing it for me. He is supposed to be pretty good but

[page 2] I’m not sure what condition it will be when returned. Of course a watch isn’t very important – What one needs here is a calendar and now since I have two I’m pretty well fixed up.

The Chaplin was in a while ago and he said he thought he would get someone to play the song tonite. I think this is choir practice night and he probably will have the regular pianist play it. Maybe John will have to make another record and sent it. We do have a phonograph.

In Ruth M.’s letter the other day she referred to her days work as My Day and I told her I’d rather she wouldn’t use that with quotation marks because of the reminder – Think I asked you to do the same thing. Once upon a

[page 3] time.

Our latest mail is still Jan 8th but there is one delivery yet today so maybe things will pick up.

Dr. P. is all ambition today – has shined his shoes – swept the floors cleaned out our water buckets etc. Must be some sorta of a spell coming on. I haven’t caught any of that surplus so far. Fred is making a necklace but uses only one strand of shells – really don’t think it is a good as the last one I sent.

LATER No mail and no show which pretty well ruins our whole afternoon and evening but maybe will be able to go to bed early and get good sleep for some hours. I am going to get something to read and see how that will work. It isn’t raining very hard but hard enough to keep the show from going on.

[page 4] We just had a visitor and chinned a while nothing important but just helped pass the time. We are just like persons living on the wide open spaces of the west glad for an opportunity to talk.

Well, I’ll have to admit that all I’ve been doing is just trying to fill in space and really I think it’s been a poor job – Maybe something will be in the mail tomorrow and will give something to write back.

Lots of Love
Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/11/28/one-of-my-bad-days-roscoe/

Friday’s Faces of the Past – Family Funeral?

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The three above pictures appear to have been taken on the same day. The two single portraits were clearly taken at the same location. The group photo shows Gladys and the older woman wearing the same clothing as their individual pictures. Everyone appears to be wearing black or dark colors. Hence my assumption that the photograph was taken around the time of a family funeral. I date the picture circa1925. Gladys was born in 1905 so she would have been 15 in 1920 and 20 in 1925. Gladys’ haircut is straighter and less wavy than it was later in the decade. Her skirt length is short which moves the date further from 1920.   The older woman is wearing a dress styled from the late teens. It was quite common for older people at that time to wear clothes that were more “old fashioned.” Even today the trend continues.

McCammon, Lydia & Jesse with Minerva Metcalf

Minerva (seated) likely 1916

Many years ago I sent a copy of the picture of the older woman to my father’s cousin. She identified the woman as Minerva, Emma’s twin sister. Since the cousin knew Minerva, I generally take her word for it. However, I still say “the older woman,” because I am not 100% sure that she was Minerva (Lawhead) Metcalf.  I have only seen two pictures of Minerva and they are of a somewhat younger woman. The earlier photograph was taken about 1908 and Minerva was plumper and would have been about 36 when the picture was taken. The second photograph was taken about 7-10 years later between 1915-1919. Again the picture shows Minerva with a fuller figure.  Minerva would have been in her early to mid 40s at this point.

Which brings us back to the pictures at the beginning of the post. Do you think that the older woman is Minerva? She seems to have aged too much to be in her 50s. But times were different then. For someone who did hard manual farm labor, they could have aged more harshly. I know she is related to the Foster/Lawhead family. She bears a striking resemblance to Jim Foster (Gladys’ brother). When my grandmother was near her end and Alzheimer’s had robbed her memory, she thought the picture was of her brother Jim. So what do you think?

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/11/29/fridays-faces-…family-funeral/

Snow again today (Gladys)

1 Reply

1943-01-29Letter transcription:

MRS R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
1-29-43

Dear Daddy – Yours of 1-20-43 rec’d today – Snow again today – IT keeps coming – is the soft clinging kind that makes things look picturesque. It was snowing before we got up and it keeps snowing but isn’t very deep yet. Just got the walks & drive cleaned off and now covered again. I can hardly see south or north to 41. It is that white. Such a contrast to your weather. Just had to stop and see about David. I had bathed & fed him put him in bed and he was raising a fuss. He doesn’t stay put any more. Now we have to watch him even in his bed. He gets over to the side and hangs his legs out or gets turned with his head to the side and that hurts him. He is a confirmed thumb sucker but I am not trying to break him of the habit yet. John and Mark think everything he does the smartest ever. He gets tickled sometimes when I change his clothes – must be ticklish like his Daddy. If this weather continues we will have to get some more fire wood – Not that we need the heat but we like a fire on dark days and Bill told me to get all I wanted from his wood pile. Shirley Boze and her family moved to Calif. Ann went along – Lambs bought the Boze property. Shirley was due for another baby about the time she left here. I see in the paper that Link and Mr. Webster (Music teacher) are new Rotary members. Uncle Wes’ picture was in the latest Rotarian. Dorothy White sprained her ankle and Babe Carrol is working for Dr. M. John Krull is in Camp at Atlantic City N.J. Most of the above is from the Enterprize.

Love Mother

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/11/27/snow-again-today-gladys/

I hardly know (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

1/28/43

Dear Mother,

I hardly know how much I’ve answered and how much hasn’t been. All I know is that there was lots of mail in the past few days. The last letter being Jan. 8 and you were better. All the other letters told of your ups & downs. Your letter may not seem interesting to you but I read every one of them several times because they are extremely interesting. The pictures are also swell – keep them coming ever once in a while.

This morning while things were a little lax, I got out your letters and check way back to August. And strange as it may seem when the ordinary mail didn’t come the V-mail did. There are lots of letters missing – Really

[page 2] more than I thought. Some of the days may be Sun. and since you can’t mail a letter then that might account for a few missing dates. Here is the score so far – I’m giving your missing dates. Some are the Aug. 19, 23-30. Sept 6 and then from the 12 to 30 inclusive. Oct 1, 2, 4, 5, 11, 13, 15, 22, 25, 26. Nov. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 15, 21, 22, 26 & 29. Dec. 6, 18, 24, 25, 27 & 29. Jan 2. Now if you can think of anything important you wrote in those you might repeat. You will notice that more than ½ of Sept are missing. V-mail letters of Sept. 12, 14, 15, 19, 21, 25, 26 & 29 – Oct. 2-5. Nov. 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 & 9 have been received. You see most of the V-mail letters work in where the other spaces are the largest. Maybe you wrote more V-mail and maybe when you wrote a V-mail you didn’t write other. In any case that gives you an idea of how much mail is missing. I haven’t kept track of other people’s letters because

[page 3] I don’t know how often they wrote.

You mentioned that Dr. Holliday was back – you know stories get around pretty fast and we have it that he wasn’t just as brave as he might have been and shady circumstances surround his return. That came pretty straight although he may be back only for a short time. In that case I guess no one could be too hard on him, but if he is back for good I’d rather think there was a colored gentleman in the woodpile. [This is a more polite version of the idiom which means “some fact of considerable importance that is not disclosed—something suspicious or wrong.”]

Last night it looked very rainy before movie time but we took our rain coats etc and went. It was a detective story with several persons suspected and when it came just about time for the quilty one to be caught it simply came down in bucketfulls, but we stayed. Didn’t even get a bit wet, but the rain made so much noise on my hat I could hardly

[page 4] hear the sound. This P.M. it is so windy I wonder sometime if our tent will stay put but so far it’s pretty well anchored – even though it does make lots of noise.

I turned John’s music over to the Chaplin and so far he hasn’t found anyone to play it. Don’t know if it is too difficult or written too poorly. He said he believed he could find someone and if so he is going to let me know. I haven’t heard much of Mark and his horn lately. Is he still at it and if so how is he getting along? And does their music have any affect of D. sleeping hours. I would think he’d get used to noise with the two older ones around because if I remember they weren’t too soft natured around there at times.

Dr. P. & W. have gone to the sea shore for a short shell gathering trip. I’ll go again one of these days and see if I can pick up a different variety and get

[page 5] an idea. Not that I think the things I make so wonderful but it’s something different. Dr. Joe is at a place where he can buy better things than here and I doubt if good are as scarce as here and the stores and supplies larger. I told you before – but I wrote him and got an answer but haven’t heard from my last letter to him. It’s “sorts” nice that you and she can talk to each other once in a while. I think.

Show’s over and all mail over. Good show no mail. It only rained a little during the show so we really enjoyed it. The wind is still blowing like the very duce but the tent is still holding fast, probably the flopping of the tent will help us sleep.

That will be all from here tonite good night and
Love Daddy

P.S. Did that ending sound like Allan Scott do you still listen to him?

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/11/26/i-hardly-know-roscoe/

A Heavy Frost This Morning (Gladys)

1 Reply

1943-01-28Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
1-28-43

Dear Daddy – Another bright sunny day, but cold. There was a heavy frost this morning. It seems odd not to have snow on the ground after having so much all winter. We have all had our pictures taken and John and I had to have a second made. I have the proofs of the ones we didn’t like – John said we should send them to you and tell you not to let this happen to you. They were pretty bad but the others were good. Will try to send them out next week – they aren’t ready yet. We went to Sheldon yesterday and got some meat. It was a nice day to drive. I think it is a little cold to take the baby out in a buggy but the car is warm. Don’t think I am trying to make a sissy out of him but am of the opinion too cold air won’t do him any good. Hope to make up for this staying in, in the spring. I haven’t seen the Johnson baby yet but hope to this week. My sinus condition is better. I didn’t want to go around a new baby with a drippy nose but I am past that stage now. Just some drainage once in a while and that drop into my throat. Mark had a little cold and I gave him the oral vaccine as you directed. Kept him home from school one day. His teacher said the room was cold Monday (due to a north wind) – that she got a cold from it herself. He is as full of pep as ever. John and Mark just came home for lunch – both very hungry and clamoring for food. David woke up and I had to take him up to see if he needed anything.

Love – Mother

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/11/25/a-heavy-frost-…morning-gladys/ ‎

Two More Letters (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

1/27/43

Dear Mother,

Two more letters came from you today but they were back, Jan 1 and Jan 4. I suppose now there won’t be any more mail for days again – Even now the oldest letter is 19 days. That isn’t so bad if we could just keep it coming with any regularity. There is more to it than that but I can’t tell just now why we have difficulty.

You asked questions about the money. I’ve already written that but my advice is to buy bonds. The Bldg. & loan is OK but those are taxable so in the long run bonds are better. About the piano – See what Miss Smith thinks, and I don’t recall any further questions, but there are comments – Sure wish I could have been present at the little

[page 2] party at Funks. I can just see Bill passing the drinks. Tell Ellsworth I have gained some weight but he still has me bested by a large poundage. I hope this new necklace gets there in A-1 condition because I believe you will like it better. There are upward of 200 shells in it and there are 2 holes in each shell. My thumb and index finger are still numb – The color of these may not be right for you but as you said a new dress will have to be bought.

I was surprised and I wasn’t at the Dye family. I think I told you before that you she came to me about him being so hard to get along with and he always seemed so sarcastic with her and I think she was more or less sensitive by nature – and they used to sleep in different rooms. I shouldn’t write that – but I did. You

[page 3] had written me that before and I also had seen it in the Newton Co. E. Don’t write out the last word in any more of your letters because there is a ship by that name and someone might censor it. So refer to it as I have above. Gosh I wish I could remember what I wrote in that letter to Bart – because if it comes back out here I might blush if Dr. P. or Fred read it. I’ll censor the whole letter out before they have a chance to read it.

I hope you and D. are over your troubles entirely but there are several month of cold weather yet and one can expect things like that during those months.

We didn’t have a show last night – too much rain – It’s still cloudy today but not

[page 4] much rain so our show should go on. The Evenings are very long when we don’t have a show. WILL FINISH LATER

After show and mail – Your letters of Dec. 22, 18, 23, Jan 4, Dec 5 and Dec 19 came. I just gave you those as I have them laid out on the table and tell Tony Schub his postmarks of Dec 18 & 19 were incorrect. They were Nov instead of Dec. Your letters are getting pretty well up to date now. That is up to Jan 8th you were better in that letter hope you are continuing so . The picture of the three boys was good and the snow pictures were good. Those small ones must have been taken by Mr. Zell I believe. I still believe I’ve answered all the questions. You say taxes. Do you mean 1941 Federal? That amounts to 80⁰⁰. I believe – The last two installments. I still wish you would

[page 5] pay that or put that much extra in bonds, because I know that that will have to be paid. And possibly interest. So I’d rather it be paid. But don’t pay 1942.

Letters also came from Ruth M. Sam & Esther – Dave & Marie and a Christmas greeting from Berdie Steele. I’ll make out a list of your letters up to date in a day or two and you can see how many are missing. Lots of your letters have the same date post marked on the outside. Must be early in A.M. and late P.M.

I’ve gotten so many letters from you in the past 2 days that I’ll have to re-read and rewrite but for today I’ll say Lots of Love – and thanks for all those letters. I know it’s a burden for you to write as much as you do as often.

Love again
Daddy

Mrs. Fred Williams
1012 Root St.
Flint, Michigan} Fred’s wife’s address

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/11/24/two-more-letters-roscoe/

The Necklace Broke (Gladys)

4 Replies

1943-01-27Letter transcription:

MRS R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
1-27-43

Dear Daddy-Yours of 1-17 Rec’d today. We are having sunshine today – there was a heavy frost last nite. It isn’t as cold as yesterday – but still cold enough to keep the stoker busy – Mr. Monroe oil it yesterday and aired the radiators. My sinus seems some better today – and I quit doing anything about it – it kept draining whether I had it washed out or not so thought I would quit doing anything – Maybe that doesn’t make sense but having it washed out every other day didn’t seem to help any. There is some drainage today but lots less. I am figuring up taxes. Have to pay gross this week. Agnes is going to write you and explain in detail about ’41 Federal. I am going to give her the figures for ’42 and she will file a report. Now please quit worrying about the taxes – we will take care of things “OK.” David is asleep. He took his pablum without a fight this AM. As soon as we get all our photographs finished will send you another box and put the pictures in the box. I believe you will get it that way as soon as by letter. The reason you haven’t been getting letters is due to shipping space shortage. Maybe the V-mail will be speedier. The necklace broke but I think I’ll have Mr. Reinard restring it. I had my picture taken and then the string broke. The picture didn’t turn out very good and I had it taken again but couldn’t wear the necklace.

Love Mother

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at:https://genealogylady.net/2013/11/24/the-necklace-broke-gladys/