Tag Archives: David A. Yegerlehner

Something Wrong with the Alarm Clock (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
10-26-43

Dear Daddy – Yours of Oct. 18-19 & 20 came today. You evidently hadn’t rec’d any message thru the Red Cross about Mother’s death. I haven’t had any confirmation from them as to whether it was sent. You may get my letters first. – It is a typical fall day. Wind and rain, chilly, leaves falling. There was a heavy freeze predicted for last night but the temp. according to the radio this a.m. was 44. The Onargo Co. finally replaced the evergreen (a week & half ago) and I had a few more shrubs put in the back. I was going to water them but I think the rain will do it for me. We overslept this a.m. – John wondered what was wrong with our 7 a.m. alarm (David). I heard him about 6:15 & gave him dry pants & put him in bed with me & he went back to sleep. When I woke up he was about ready to get out of bed. He doesn’t like his play pen any more. I am afraid it has served its purpose here. He does stay in it a little while at a time but prefers the wide open spaces. Paul & Leanna’s baby was 4 wks. old Sun. and they took her to church. I didn’t take D. Your Mother stayed home with me. She said she didn’t know what we would do with him in church – he is so noisy & can’t sit still. The Tommy Thompson’s have a baby girl. Coke came over to solicit for the U.S.O. drive & she told me the news. I gave $1⁰⁰ to the drive. I have a chicken cooking for dinner. Your Mother gave it to me – It was a young rooster weighed over 7 lbs.
Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/06/something-wrong-with-the-alarm-clock-gladys/

Indiana Coal (Gladys)

2 Replies

: October 25, 1943 envelope

: October 25, 1943, p. 1

: October 25, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Oct. 25 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

About all I have done today besides get lunch is write letters. I baked a cake and John & Mark assured me I am the best cake baker. John came in & when he saw the cake & steak hugged & kissed me. I told him he was like Dagwood in the funnies. He saw what was “cooking” before he embraced me. However I appreciated the gesture anyway. Had a letter from Jim & Pauline (she writes for Glen & Co. now) this a.m. and an Ins. receipt. Also rec’d a jar of Morruguant I ordered from Massengill salesman last week. That is the best ointment, bar none, I ever saw for burns. I give “dabs” to the neighbors when they have burns & thought I had better get a new supply. I smeared it over a place on my arm I touched on the hot grill & presto! No burn. It works like magic.

It is blowing today & cloudy. I was going to take David out in the sunshine but don’t see any now. There was some around noon but he was asleep and I was busy getting lunch ready. It feels like winter is blowing its cold breath the way it comes in around even the windows & storm windows. I am going to try a stoker full of Indiana coal. Chet says he has some that is pretty good. I have had our order in since last spring & no Va. Coal has been rec’d here. Floyd said Bluffton was the same way. I saw a load of stoker coal going out at Garrison’s, Earl Pack. I called Bun Walkup about getting me some there but he said he wouldn’t have it so it must be like the kind McCartney had that time. Now I wish we had an oil burner because there seems to be plenty of oil around here. But wishful thinking won’t do any good, so will do the next best thing & try Indiana coal.

David is taking a nap. He is some tired from his visiting. He doesn’t walk alone yet, gets tired of his pen and has too many spills out in the broad open spaces, so little fellow has a hard time once in a while. He certainly has a mind of his own about what he wants to do. I just wonder if Daddy wouldn’t spank a little more than Mother does. So far he hasn’t gotten very many but I think he will get them in time.

[page 2] I have a roll of film so will get some pictures in a day or so, depending on the sunshine. I would take the whole roll & send them this week but don’t know when I can get more so will make this roll last longer.

Today was music club but hardly felt up to social gatherings. Thought I would take David for a walk & mail the letters I have written but it seems so chilly, don’t know whether to take him out or not. He is still asleep – his second nap toady – but I think he was pretty tired from all our visiting around.

J. & M. can write you about their grades. John is getting ready for stunt night. He has a part in the 8^th grade play. Mark plays football all the time. He is trying so hard to get a muscle & get heavy – by the way he is in the 5^th grade this year.

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/04/indiana-coal-gladys/

Back in Kentland (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
10-24-43

Dear Daddy – Just home from C.C. about 2 hours. Four letters were here of Oct. 13-14-15-16. As soon as we got home had to feed David & put him to bed. He wouldn’t stop crying so I went up to see about him. I brought him down to let him eat some toast while we ate supper. I found the reason he wouldn’t go to sleep – he couldn’t get his thumb for his long sleeper sleeve. I took him back up & he went to sleep. We stopped to see Dave & Marie on the way home. Dave isn’t very well. Goes to the Clinic in T.H. for treatments. They found a spot on his back that was causing neuritis. He will have to write you the details. I think he doesn’t look very strong. When we got home Mr. Zell had our fire going so the house was warm. He told me we had lost three citizens since Wed. Judge Cummings, Willard Sprawl and Shorty Virgin. Floyd showed all his movies last night. The ones he took in Apr. were in Technicolor. They were fine. The colors were splendid in all of them. The pond across the road from Ralph’s house made good background for the pictures taken there. They were going to take pictures of David Sat. or Sun. but they said it wasn’t light enough Sat. & today we left before they came out and it was pouring down rain. We had dinner at Clarence’s today and left as soon as we could after dinner. I wanted to get an early start for home.

Love – Mother

© 2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/02/back-in-kentland-gladys/

Thirteenth Month (Gladys)

2 Replies

: October 23, 1943 envelope

: October 23, 1943, p. 1

: October 23, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Clay City, Ind.
Oct. 23, 1943

Dear Daddy –

Today is David’s 13^th month. We are visiting with Esther & family today. When Leanna was ready to come Imogene, Ruthie, John, Mark, David & I went down and brought her & Linda. Linda is a very healthy looking young lady. Is on pasteurized & Karo. It seems funny for them to go to town and buy pasteurized milk since I have been here but your Dad just milks one cow and she is a Jersey and since David is sensitive to rich milk I thought it would be better to get the pasteurized. However I boil it – remember you said to boil it until the baby is old enough to boil his own. Ruth & Floyd brought their movie camera & want to take some pictures tomorrow if it’s sunny. It is raining now. Ruth took some of J. & M. & Sam’s new dog but David was taking a nap & didn’t get in that picture. They (R. & F.) are coming out tonite and show all their movies. Mom asked all the families to come tonite & see them so we will probably have a house full. After dinner Imogene showed us their wedding gifts. Her brother is in Hawaii and sent her a luncheon set from there.

– – – We have been to town, stopped at Clarence’s on the way home & now back home. J. & M. stayed to play monopoly with Dwane. Clarence’s went to T.H. today to get Wilma. She gets every week-end off so far. She likes her work. I asked her when she would get her cap and she said Feb. We are to go to Clarence’s for dinner tomorrow, then start home soon after dinner. I want to stop in Brazil on the way & see Dave & Marie. So far we have visited all the relatives (except Clarences & them tomorrow). Everyone thinks David is quite the boy. I saw several people in town – I thought I would see more but we were too early today & it was raining.

[page 2] Dot Salter Hoffman had a roll of 116 film she sold me so now I can take some more pictures of David & the rest of us. Ruthie said she would try & get me some so maybe I can manage pictures once a month now for a while.

David is in the baby bed playing with two sauce pans grandma gave him, having quite a time & jabbering like he really is saying things.

I must get this finished and get busy – Have to get David’s milk boiled for supper,
Love Mother

YEG1940 - Sam, Esther, Earl, Paul & Leanna

Samuel Yegerlehner with his wife, Esther, their sons, Earl and Paul, and Paul’s wife Leanna, circa 1940 (Photograph courtesy of Don Yegerlehner)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/04/30/thirteenth-month-gladys/

In Clay City (Gladys)

1 Reply

: October 21, 1943 envelope

: October 21, 1943, p. 1

: October 21, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Clay City, Ind.
10-21-1943

Dear Daddy –

You will note from the heading I am in C.C. We went thru T.H. yesterday & left J. T. at Mayroses. We left Kent about 2 PM & started for C.C. about 5 – then I happened to think I wanted to see Ethel W. It was a good thing I did because Wayne was at Teachers Convention and Ethel was going to take Mark & go home today. I didn’t have time to visit long because all three boys were anxious to get going but at least I saw her a few minutes. We got almost here & had to detour past Dietz – they are oiling 59 and all the traffic has to come this way. Your mother certainly is getting the dust when the wind is from the south. She is hoping it will change so the people on the south side of the road will get part of it – or that she won’t get it all. She & Dad slept upstairs last nite. I had to sleep down because of the baby’s bed so she thought I wouldn’t rest well on the davenport. I slept pretty good until 3 a.m. then was awake off & on until time to get up. I still feel tired but I think I will for a while.

We are going to town this afternoon and do some visiting. Faye asked us down to dinner tomorrow – then the next day will be Sat. & Sun. we go back. Time soon flies. It was cloudy this a.m. early & we had a shower but it’s cleared off now and seems very pleasant out. John is with Dwane & Mark with Glendon. Glendon was going nut hunting and of course that suited Mark but not John. John got his report card yesterday. He had 3 – A+’s, 2- A’s, 1 – B+ and two S’s. S is for satisfactory and Phy. Ed & Citizenship have just two grades – satisfactory or D which is below passing. John, Angus, Ina M. Walkup

[page 2] and Evelyn Mingle in the 8^th grade were on the honor roll.

David is taking a nap. He has been having a good time this morning. I brought the Taylor Tot along & he can get around in it. The pen is too big to fit in the back of the car & is a nuisance to take along – anyway he doesn’t like to stay in it so the Taylor Tot was the best to bring, then when we go to town we can put him in it while we shop. He can’t walk along & is too heavy to carry. Besides he doesn’t like to be carried – squirms down when he takes a notion he would rather walk.

J. & T. will start back Fri. for Norfolk. He may be there for a while yet or may be sent to another shipyard if he gets changed to Chief steam fitter.

Mom is mashing potatoes, so must go help.
Love,
Mother

John and Lovina Yegerlehner in front of their farmhouse (Clay City, Indiana) in the 1910s.

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/04/25/in-clay-city-gladys/

New Tree (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
10-19-43

Dear Daddy – Yours of Oct. 12 & 13 came today. I was downtown this afternoon 5 P.M. & saw Barry the Mass. Salesman. He had pictures of his twins. They really are some boys. Barry of course wanted to know when you were coming home. He saw David and thought he was growing very much. We saw Lucile & Jimmy Ed. Jim, Thelma & I walked to town for some fresh air. I have been so tired – I thought I would lie down a few minutes this afternoon and went to sleep and John woke me up when he came in from school. He, Mark & Jim have gone to the football game. They were planning on Uncle Jim buying hot dogs for them. They said what fun is a foot ball game without hot dogs. I am not used to cooking for Jim. It’s just like shoveling coal into a furnace to feed him. I don’t see how he stays so streamlined as much as he eats. Thelma told me he has to go back to school Oct. 25 if he doesn’t get his rating changed. He has applied Chief Steam fitter and if he gets that will be sent to some ship building yard – he says the quota where he is is full. The Onarga Co. finally replaced the tree & I had some more shrubs put in the back yard. I had Jim water all of them today – want him to water them before we leave tomorrow. They said that one tree was too dry. It is on a little hill but it was guaranteed so should be replaced. The new one is very nice looking. We are still having nice weather. Hope it lasts this week. It’s about time for the boys to come home.

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/04/20/new-tree-gladys/

The Day After the Funeral (Gladys)

2 Replies

: October 18, 1943 envelope

: October 18, 1943, p. 1

: October 18, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland, Ind.
Oct. 18 – 1943

Dear Daddy,

Yours of Oct. 5, 8, 9 & 10 came today – one picture – Thanks and reminds me to tell you I haven’t any film and can’t get any for our camera. I will keep trying. Maybe I can find a roll in time for Oct. 23 – (13^th month). David is now sitting in his high chair chewing on a crust of bread – he seems to like to eat just plain bread. I cut his hair today and I like it very much. He jabbers like John used to do. Lucile kept him yesterday until after the funeral and she said he was very good. Slept from 1 pm till 3 – Floyd & Ruth brought him home after we came back to the house for all the family to see. Your Dad, Ralph, Faye, Glendon & Clara came yesterday. Your Mother went back – She had intended to stay but J. & T. stayed so she went home. I am to take them to T.H. Wed and go on to C.C. The boys will be out of school from Wed. noon (teachers convention). Which reminds me – Mark brought his card home with 3 A’s, 1 A-, 5 B’s, 1 B+. John didn’t get his card today. The band teacher had to resign due to a heart condition.

[page 2] As yet I haven’t received the autopsy report but know there was carcinoma of Pancreas & gall stones. I’ll send it as soon as I get it. I asked the Red Cross to get a message to you so hope you got it. I haven’t talked to Dr. Cole since last Thurs. I thought he might be able to explain things fully after the O.M. but the report will no doubt do that.

Jim addressed cards to people who sent flowers, pallbearers, Mrs. Knowlton & Rathburn & Rev. Servies. We both signed – I got a wire for $10⁰⁰ from Glen this a.m. for flowers. Of course I had taken care of the flowers for all the children. Jim had a pd. up pol. for $100⁰⁰ and one for $315⁰⁰ I have here. I paid the hospital bill in full Fri. – The total was $248⁰⁰ but I had kept it paid every week. If I figure correctly I have a bal. of $23 – now in the bank but have no outstanding bills except the drug store and it isn’t much. There isn’t anything I can think of I’ll need to pay before the first. The Ins. is taken care of now until Dec. J. & T. are out right now. Mark is in the yard – John is trying to entertain D. and I must get this finished so it will get mailed. I still think you could write a book. I have your letters to prove it when you come back.

Love Mother

John and Lovina (Schiele) Yegerlehner (Roscoe’s parents, c1946)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/04/18/the-day-after-the-funeral-gladys/

Inspection Time (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: October 16, 1943 envelope

: October 16, 1943, p. 1

: October 16, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran Cal
10-16-43

Dear Mother,

No mail yesterday again but today is young.

My thoughts aren’t well collected this A.M. so I’m just not sure of what might get into this letter.

Just a thought that I overlooked in your last letters and that is the seemingly superiority of our D. Maybe you didn’t mean it that way but I’m glad you feel that way – first because it’s a parent’s duty and second from what you say it seems to be true. Maybe I’m breaking my arm – patting myself on the back. Hope you haven’t any broken bones from that type of thing.

Today is regular inspection day for our own camp and since I have the Island to look after ours

[page 2] is always a little worry some to me because it should be a good example. It usually is in pretty good condition and I have very little to worry about but it is a continuous fight to keep the little things going. Like having the cooks clean their finger nails and having them change their uniforms before they get to slick or slimy. You know men are men the world over, and this is no exception out here.

Now you will have to admit I’ve written something but as far as it being interesting or informative it is nil, but it did serve as a kind of visit with you which otherwise would have been missed

Lots of Love
Daddy

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

Flowers (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: October 14, 1943 envelope

: October 14, 1943, p. 1

: October 14, 1943, p. 2

: October 14, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran C.
Oct. 14, 1943

Dear Mother,

Yours of Sept. 24, 27, 29, 30, Oct. 1 & 2 came yesterday. I’m at a little loss to know why 24, 27, & 29 were all post marked Sept. 29. Probably was a little slip up some place along the line and doesn’t make a great deal of difference. In one of those letters the 7 months pictures and the letter you wrote way back there were present. I can’t understand that either but I guess these P.O. in the field have a lot to do.

So glad you got the flowers – I just knew this friend wouldn’t fail and I don’t feel badly about sending that amount of money. You should get another bunch of flowers along about your birthday from another fellow. In case you don’t get those all I can say is happy birthday. What I meant to say was I’m taking this opportunity to wish you a happy birthday because I can’t send anything – not even money in time and I didn’t send any sooner because I didn’t have any and won’t until the last of the month. So I have you get the flowers in time.

[page 2] I’m sorry your mother’s condition fails to improve. If it isn’t a carcinoma it has to be a hardening of the liver and the treatment of either is futile but I still think it is carcinous and the Gall stones have nothing to do with the condition. I’m afraid you are going to be pretty short financially because you only had a little over $150 so early in the month. You hadn’t mentioned before about paying the hospital as you went along which I think is a good idea if you can but it if cuts you so low that you can’t make the rent & insurance stall them off for a while – don’t ask Jim for more than half the expenses and I guess Glen isn’t able at this time to aid in that respect. I’m sure the finances will work out OK so don’t let that worry you.

Now about you – Your invoice sounded good but let me warn or prepare you – In sickness an individual who is responsible for the care of sick will often go on their nerves – Then when it is over if proper care isn’t taken a relapse or let down is evident and that is what you have to guard against. Get plenty of rest – sleep and let the house work go for a while. Your indigestion is probably like what I had when

[page 3] Openshaw, Mathews, etc. were out of town and I was run ragged remember. Don’t blame the strep you had last winter too much. Of course you might have a recurrence but you didn’t have a strep the year before and one got you last year so just because you did have that last year is no reason to expect one this year.

100 pounds, dark hair, Green eyes, 5’4”, pleasing features, a little slim but just my type. Do keep healthy Dear – just as if you won’t try?

The one year old pictures were good and but don’t try to send the movie films. Of course I’d like to see them but don’t take the chance of losing them and I don’t know the size nor the size of our machine here. Where is the pressure coming from for D. hair cut? Don’t tell me just let me guess. I won’t express myself on the subject. You probably know how I feel. Isn’t that a big help?

Those letters are such a big help when they come in as late as those yesterday – Thanks and lots of love
Daddy

P.S. I received a letter from the fellow who sent the flowers and he told me he had done so. He is from Reno, Nev.

[Editor’s note: The fellow from Reno, Nevada was mostly likely Roscoe’s former tent mate, George Wingfield, Jr., who was transferred a few months previously.]

YEG1943-05-15 - David on stoop with tulips

One of David’s 7th month photographs

The Hospital Called (Gladys)

1 Reply

: October 14, 1943, p. 1

: October 14, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

St. E. Hospital
10-14-43

Dear Daddy –

I was called down this morning. Mother doesn’t seem to know much, was seeming to be in pain when I came but is dozing now. She looks terrible, and breathes hard now. The hospital called me – our telephone was out of order and they called Foulkes & Coke called me to the phone. The storm yesterday put a lot of phones out of order. This is Thurs. I haven’t talked to Dr. Cole but suppose he is around town someplace. He does take week-ends off sometimes starting from Thurs. I hope he hasn’t this time.

Alma W. & Caroline Wright came down with me. Ruth stayed home with the boys. We had intended to come down Thru Brookston and leave her off there but when the call came I got ready & came on & she stayed to get lunch for the boys & take care of D.

Alma told me Nellie Riggs went home with Polly as soon as Clarence’s funeral was over. Polly’s husband has double pneumonia & was in an oxygen tent. Polly had a premature baby several weeks ago – It lived almost two months, but it was only 6 ½ months & not strong enough to make it.

After the storm & rain yesterday the sun is shining today but it’s cool. Alma & C. went on to town & I told them to get my coat out of storage. It may get cool enough to war it any time now.

[page 2] I think Bernard Funk’s have a new baby but I don’t know any of the details. I asked a 3^rd floor O.B. nurse about Mary Tues. when I was here and she thought Mary was on 4^th.

I had been bringing flowers down all along from our flower beds and had quite a nice bouquet to bring down Tues. but I think the frost last night nipped everything that was not under cover last nite. Ruth & I mailed some letters from the Hotel last night & it had cleared off, so I was expecting a good frost – it was so cool.

Ruth wrote to your Mother Mon. and had an answer today. I intend to call your Mother from here sometime today. She said she would come up. Ruth is planning to go home tomorrow, but she is waiting developments here. – – It is 12:30 midnight and we are getting ready to go home. The nurse thought I should stay all night but I have about decided to go home and come back early in the morning. I called your Mother and she is coming on the bus to Laf. in the morning. The blood vessels have bursted around Mother’s neck and some on her face. She doesn’t see now or recognize anyone. – I am in the chart room – there was a woman just brought in – supposed to be in a coma (with police escort) but the police thought she had too much to drink. They found her on the street.

Love – Mother