Tag Archives: Dr. Edmund T. Lentz

Heads Up Junior

I am trying to reconstruct a timeline of events from July 15^th-July 31^st, 1942. This is what I have so far.

July 15^th – Roscoe writes that he will be firmly requesting a leave from his commanding officer in the morning

July 16^th – Roscoe requests leave and it is granted. According to a “voucher for per diem and/or reimbursement of expenses incident to official travel (standard form no. 1012-revised)”, Roscoe left Norfolk, Virginia at 19:00 hours on July 16^th. That would be 7:00 PM to all of us non-military types.

July 17^th – Again according to the voucher, Roscoe arrived in Kentland on July 17^th at 16:50, or 4:50 PM.

July 18^th – Gladys receives letter Roscoe wrote on the 15^th in the AM, prompting her to write a letter wondering where Roscoe is and when she should expect him because she has not heard from him.

July 20^th-Dr. Lentz mails Roscoe a letter from Norfolk, with a 7:30 PM postmark.

July 22^nd-Dr. Lentz’s letter arrives in Kentland and it receives a second postmark of 7:00 AM

Detail from travel reimbursement document

The military paperwork and Gladys’s letter create quite a contradiction. My only thought for the discrepancy is….the military form was stamped February 1943, a good 7 months after the original travel occured. I think it likely that my grandfather mistakenly put the wrong dates on the form. I believe that my grandfather actually left Norfolk on Friday the 17^th and arrived in Kentland on the 18^th at 4:50 PM. This would account for my grandmother mailing a letter prior to 4:30 on Saturday, only to be surprised an hour or so later when Roscoe walked in the door. I still don’t know why he didn’t call or send word prior to his departure.

As you will see by the following letter by Dr. Lentz, my grandfather had a bittersweet leave. The letter that my grandmother wrote and posted on Saturday is possibly one of the letters that Mrs. Evans said had arrived on Monday morning. Dr. Lentz presumably mailed it back with his own letter to my grandfather in Kentland. It might explain why this is the only early letter of my grandmother’s that has survived.

_____________________________________

: July 20, 1942, p. 1

: July 20, 1942, p. 2

: July 20, 1942, p. 3

: July 20, 1942 Envelope front

: July 20, 1942 Envelope back

Letter transcription:

Monday PM

Lt (jg) Yegerlehner-

Well, Junior, it is hot as the infernal regions today and no relief in sight. The official readings for Sat. + Sun were 104° + 101° and today about equal to those. Am in Ferneau’s room in front of fan writing this in my lap.

Enclosed find letters which arrived this a.m. according to Mrs. E.

The reason I am writing this via Air Mail special is that I am being detached Wed-July 22 to report for duty in the West Coast on or about July 31. These new preliminary orders and no specific place has been mentioned- I got the information

(page 2) about 1:30 PM today and about 3:15 PM while in the O.D. Room saw your leave papers + mentioned to Dr. Wack that you roomed with me – so immediately informed me that you have order reading similar to mine for a place on the West Coast which he told me not to mention. You will get the orders on your arrival from leave, so have a good time, and you will have opportunity to see our family when you leave for the coast via Kentland. So informed Mrs. E. accordingly + she feels rather badly about it.

Three (3) new doctors reported today – a Dutchman, a Dr. Weaver from New Albany, Ind.

(page 3) and a lieutenant Commdr.

Well-it won’t be long before we will leave this hot place. We will be practically on leave from time of detachment until the time specified to report.

With Kind regards and best wishes,

Lentz

Protected: No letter today

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Sunday’s Obituary – Clara Etta (Steiner) Yegerlehner (1901-1966)

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Last week I posted the obituary of my grandfather’s brother Clarence. I am still waiting to receive an obituary I ordered from the Vigo County Library before New Year’s. I had been hoping to post the obituary for my grandfather’s last brother today. So change of plans….this week I will write about Clarence’s first wife, Clara.

Terre Haute Tribune; Monday, January 24, 1966, p. 2

Clara Etta Steiner was the daughter of George and Rosina (Willen) Steiner. Clara was the fourth of five children. After her mother died, George remarried. His second wife Grace had four children. George and Grace’s youngest son, Earl, was good friends with my grandfather’s youngest brother Floyd. George Steiner and his family lived in Owen County, Indiana. The Steiners were another family of immigrants from Berne, Switzerland. They, too, followed the same immigration trail through Holmes County, Ohio and thence to Owen County, Indiana. The Steiners were members of St. Peter’s Church as well as the Yegerlehners. The church is located on the Owen and Clay county line. In fact, I believe the church is technically in Clay County while the graveyard is in Owen County. The Steiners and the Yegerlehners were two families that knew each other well and have trees that have intertwined over the years.

Clara and Clarence had certainly known each other since they were very small children. They were married May 22, 1920 in Coal City, Indiana, by the Rev. William Krieble, Clarence’s great uncle. If you would like to read more about Clarence and Clara, see the images posted with Clarence’s obituary.

________________________________________________________

: July 11, 1942 Envelope

: July 11, 1942, p. 1

: July 11, 1942, p. 2

Letter translation:

Sat. Eve

Dear Mother,

Again Sat. and no delivery and no letter. Got a card from Boone. I’ve had the P.M. off and just now feel like the cat that licked the cream because I’ve spent the whole afternoon reading a ten cent detective story. I picked it up this AM and started it and there was nothing doing this PM. So we go off and I brought it home to finish all one story about 250 long.

Lentz went out to play golf and I’m waiting to get a message for him if it comes. He may take another week end off if he gets the right message. I think his girl friend is in Wilmington Delaware. That’s just a surmise and since I’ve been reading detective stories I try to figure those things out.

I go on duty tomorrow at 9:00 AM and get off at 4:30 Mon PM quite some stretch, but I guess I can stand it. Maybe I can find some time to write during the day.

Jim called me the other night he had come in to legde lodge but I was working on my correspondence course so I didn’t go downtown. He told me he was thinking of taking some sort

(page 2) of school work himself.

I’m running very low on clothes again. Haven’t gotten any laundry back since June 30 and socks are getting to be a problem again. And also underware. I’ve got some but not enough to last for one month. Its been 10 days since I took the laundry in and it took several days to get that much dirty clothes so that takes the most of the months supply.

Very very warm here today, only a faint sprinkle of rain last night again. It did help things to cool off however

Well, I’ll write again tomorrow

Love Daddy

Sam Snead

4 Replies

Sam Snead playing at the PGA championship in 1942 at Seaview, New Jersey

I never quite know where my grandfather’s letters will take me. Today, I’m learning a bit about Sam “Slammin’ Sammy” Snead, the professional golfer. I am rather of my grandfather’s opinion on the whole subject. I don’t really like sports and I don’t spend my time following them. I love his attitude towards golf. I’m sure we have all had the stereotypical picture in our mind of our doctor, playing golf on his day off. I guess my grandfather broke the mold on that one. My only exception for watching sports is during the Olympics. I will watch sports for 2 weeks every two years and then I’m done. This case is no different. I’m sure if I knew who Sam Snead was and if I was an avid sports fan, watching him play would be quite the treat. Dr. Lentz was most likely of that opinion. But how cool is it that my grandfather got to watch this golf legend play (even though he didn’t appreciate it).

___________________________________________

: July 9, 1942 Envelope

: July 9, 1942, p. 1

: July 9, 1942, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Thur Eve

Dear Mother,

Didn’t get a letter today- I suppose it got mixed up in the mail at least I hope there is nothing wrong that you couldn’t write.

We are having some pretty hot weather down here at present. So far it has been very cool at nights but the days are really hot + sticky.

We went out and watched Sammy Snead¹, a professional golfer play a little this Eve. He was giving lessons. He is now in the navy and of course must give the lessons free. Somehow I don’t care anything for golf anymore-seems to me that it’s a waste of time and energy. Just as well walk and give up the hitting of the ball ever so often. Dr. Lentz seems to get a big kick out of it, was talking about buying a new set of clubs for $30², but then he doesn’t have any dependants to speak of etc.

Mrs. E. finally told me last night that she found the boxᶟ you left. She almost threw it away thinking it was an empty box. She got a letter from Dorothy. She said

(page 2) she was going to answer both your letters before long.

Today is the first day in eleven days that anyone got orders. He had been here about the same length of time that I have been. He was sent to the Panama Canal Zone.

Well, it’s time to go eat.

Love Daddy

Notes:

Samuel Jackson Snead was a professional golfer who served in the Navy from 1942-1945. He was known as “Slammin’ Sammy” for his perfect swing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Snead
$30 for a set of clubs! Amazing, but my grandfather was correct, Dr. Lentz didn’t have any children so he probably had a little more disposable income.
When my grandmother and Dorothy Krull left Norfolk, they left a present for Mrs. Evans. At this point, it has been over two weeks since they left. I wonder what was in the box?

Wednesday’s Child – Harvey E. Steuernagel (1884-1885)

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Photograph of gravestone by Tonya & Keith Tetidrick from Find A Grave

This is my fourth Wednesday’s Child blog. Wednesday’s Child is a genealogy writing prompt in which the gravestones of children are highlighted. So far I have written about the gravestones of my uncle and two of my grandparents’ nephews. Fortunately, there are no other graves of young children in this generation. I have to go back another generation to continue this prompt. Over the next few weeks I will be highlighting the graves of my grandparents’ cousins.

The first such grave is that of my grandfather’s cousin Harvey. Harvey was the son of Charles and Henrietta Paulina (Yegerlehner) Steuernagel. Henrietta was my grandfather Roscoe’s aunt. She died long before my grandfather was born in 1904. Henrietta was only 23 when she died in 1889. Henrietta died the mother of three children, none of which survived long enough to have children of their own. After Henrietta’s death, Charles married Henrietta’s younger sister Matilda Savilla Yegerlehner.

Harvey E. Steuernagel is buried at St. Peters Cemetery at Hickory Corner, Owen county, Indiana. (FindAGrave)

_______________________________________________

: July 7, 1942 Envelope

: July 7, 1942, p. 1

: July 7, 1942, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Tue Eve

Dear Mother,

Do you remember the agreement that you typed and I signed to take a correspondence course in naval regulations etc? Well I got the course and that is what I’ve been doing this P.M. We always get an afternoon off and since I had the duty Sat and couldn’t take it Sun. I’m taking it today because the fellow who had it Sun. took Mon. That sentence sounds like Boly S. but its OK. There are 14 lessons in the course and one must get one in each month. If I can keep awake I don’t think it will take that long. The first lesson has 77 questions.

I went to the Captain today about the leave and he told me to come back next Mon. That will be the 13^th so if I don’t get orders before then I’ll probably get to leave here around the 14^th or 15^th at least that is what he thought today. Sometimes it takes 3-4 days to get the papers made out so can’t be sure just what day it will be. By then I may hear from the other. And one fellow I know of got some little vacation between the time he left here and the time he had to report in Fla. That would help a lot we’ll just have to wait + see.

We had a pretty good shower yesterday Eve and last night but not enough to soak up this dry ground around here

(page 2) There was one new (Jg) came in today and there are others due Captain Mills told me today between now and the 12^th so that is why he is holding me until then.

Mrs. E had her cleaning done today and was taking a bath. Told me if any of the boys came home to keep them out of the bathroom. Just as if they would break the door down. And just as if I’d fight them off.

Lentz went to bed last night at about 7:00 PM. He had been up most of Sat. + Sun. Couldn’t hardly get him up this AM at 7:30.

I rather enjoy the course. Think it will give me something to do during the Eve. The questions are given and the answers have to be copied of out of a book. Not hard but tedious.

Don’t know where I’ll eat yet this Eve. Have to wait to see where Lentz goes.

This room is still vacant. Wish you were here so we could live there, if I had know[n] that that Dr. was going to be transferred. We could have sent Dorothy home and you could still stay, but those things we don’t know.

Well Solong

Love Daddy

Amanuensis Monday – July 5, 1942

7 Replies

Another week of letters transcribed! So far I have transcribed 41 letters from 3 different authors. This week I’ve learned about my grandfather’s efforts to get into the flight course for doctors and his attempts to get leave to return to Indiana. Unbeknownst to him at this point, he will be home in just over a week. During the last week, he has been busy giving more inoculations and examining new recruits. Many of his peers have moved on to new assignments and new doctors are expected soon. I enjoy reliving his dry sense of humor. I laughed when I read about the mix-up with the letters to Dr. Matthews and his comments about possibly getting a phone call from other women. I wonder what went on between Dorothy Krull and my grandmother. What did Dorothy say that got my grandmother so steamed? My grandfather’s advice was pretty good.

It has only been a month since the Battle of Midway. By July 5^th, the Japanese had firmed up their control of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. An allied reconnaissance mission sometime during this month revealed that the Japanese were building an airfield on the island. Since this was major threat to Australia, the United States felt they urgently had to launch an assault to reclaim the island. The first landing of US Marines occurred on August 7^th, 1942, in just over a month from today’s letter. Things are about to change for my grandfather, and not necessarily for the better.

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: Image of the Lady Elsa (1940) from BBC’s history website WW2 People’s War

: Image of the Lady Elsa (1940) from BBC’s history website WW2 People’s War

: July 5, 1942 Envelope

: July 5, 1942, p. 1

: July 5, 1942, p. 2

: July 5, 1942, p. 3

: July 5, 1942, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Sun 10:30 AM

Dear Mother,

Just got off Duty. There wasn’t much doing last night – even though it was Sat and July 4^th. Got to go on two merchant vessels at the piers. Men were sick and wanted medical attention. The USS Ulua¹ and the Lady Elsa² (a British trawler). The Captain of the Lady Elsa had the stomach ache. Those two trips were interesting and possibly a little different than one would expect. The stairways or interiors of the navy the ladder ways were very narrow and very steep. I couldn’t help from thinking of the difference in that and in our Stairway which had to rise in so many feet etc. The British Captain offered us a Scotch + Soda but we were on duty and had to refuse. That is one difference between U.S. + British they can have their drinks on board.

We were telephoned from the signal tower that the Lady Elsa was coming in in about 2 hours so we went down in time to see her Dock, wasn’t much to see because all was dark except a small search light on the ship and a flash light on the pier. Besides the Captain there was another sailor who had had trouble with “is ‘eart”

(page 2) That was almost a dud. Finally we understood it was his heart. The captain’s room was about the size of our bath room but it was well planned and there were numerous things present. One port hole on each side. One davenport a tiny fireplace with electric coils for heat. One steam radiator a close closet and numerous drawers and shelves. Other than a slight rocking from side to side one wouldn’t know that but what it was a small pushed together hotel room.

The USS Ulua was a larger ship but it wasn’t the captain who was ill so we didn’t get such a good look around. There were both cargo boats, but were both armed.

Since I had the duty last night, I had to inspect the chow Sat noon and then eat at the demonstration mess. It being the 4^th we had a regular holiday meal. Turkey and all its trimmings. I even ate 3 helpings of turkey and two of just plain navy beans. Supper last night wasn’t so extensive. Had ham and fried potatoes for breakfast, besides cereal toast and a coffee cake. Don’t think I’ll eat until late this Eve.

We are expecting a number of new men in this week and I’m going to try the leave again hope it works. I’m beginning to feel that maybe the

(page 3) flight application will go thru now since it has been several days since it was sent in and no orders to upset the plans. Maybe I’d better hold my breath for a few days yet.

Lentz is gone for the week end (weak end) I don’t know where. He left Sat P.M. and expects to be back sometime tomorrow. I don’t have any idea. He can’t go all the way back to Pa. in that length of time. Smith is home for a few days. Mr. Ferneau was out last night and I had the duty so Mrs. E. was all alone and I guess plenty lonesome too. She isn’t used to such quietness for so long a period of time.

Since I’m writing more than usual today I’ll not write the boys. I’ll get them at some later date. That ic last picture you sent was better than the other but I think you didn’t take[look?] good in either. Maybe it was your shape or somethingᶟ.

Jim called before I got home and said he couldn’t come out after Church because he had to be back on duty. So guess I’ll be all alone all day long except for – – – -get it.

(page 4) Got a letter from Dr. Matthews yesterday seems as if he is busy especially since many of the Drs. are away on vacations.

If I get leave I’ll call you either from here or some place in route depending upon the schedule. I’m going to the Captain tomorrow I only talked to the Commander the other time but it’s not best to gone go over the commander only I’m going to because I know what he will say “I’ve been here 3 yrs. without a vacation.” So what his wife and sister-in-law are here with him.

I have to write to Boonie, The folks and Ruth M. Yet today sometime. I sorta reserved today to do this and it’s a pretty good days work Id for it takes more time for me to think and compose their letters. Their not interested in the same thinks that I might write to you.

I’ve written 3 others now so so long

Love Daddy

Notes:

1. I have not been able to find a USS Ulua. A submarine of that name was built later in the war, but was never completed.

2. The HMS Lady Elsa was a British trawler under the command of Sidney George Phillips. For more information on the Lady Elsa, visit this link http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/6383.html

3. I am impressed that my grandfather would be able to get away with saying my grandmother didn’t look good in either picture and it had something to do with her shape!

Pearl Harbor (and not the one in Hawaii)

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Commissioned Officers’ Mess, Norfolk, Virginia
Postcard from the 1940s

This is the second letter in which my grandfather refers to going to Pearl Harbor to eat. I can only assume that it is one of the naval mess halls since it appears to be walking distance from the dispensary. Perhaps it was even the Commissioned Officers’ Mess pictured at the left. I tried finding some reference to this nickname via google but to no avail. I did find a dictionary of Navy slang published at www.goatlocker.org. I will keep this link for future reference in case my grandfather slips in some other unknown naval terms. Some of the terms in the dictionary are quite humorous and definitely not for polite company.

This letter posed some other interesting questions:

What is oxathelien? A search on google resulted in nothing as did a search for Kendall Co. I found a Kendall Company that sold bandages and other medical supplies during this time period but they don’t appear to have actually sold medicines.

Who is Art? My grandfather has mentioned him several times now. I am assuming he is the local pharmacist.

What type of shot did my grandfather get?

Who was Harold Foulks’ brother-in-law?

Are John and Lovina, Roscoe’s parents, receiving any of his letters?

I may never find the answers to these questions. I think I might be able to figure out some of them eventually: such as who are Art and Harold Foulks’s brother-in-law? I might even find out if my great grandparents were receiving Roscoe’s letters. Oh the joys of family research! The questions never seem to end. It’s all part of being the family researcher and genealogist.

__________________________________________

: July 1, 1942 Envelope

: July 1, 1942, p. 1

: July 1, 1942, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Wed

Dear Mother,

Just got home from a heavy days work shots + exam. I don’t believe it is as warm here as it was when you were down.

Guess by this time you have my letters explaining the latest move and are standing by on same.

Don’t get too much worked up about this but I’m going to try to get a leave sometime within the next few days. I’ll either call or telegraph you before I leave so that you will know for sure-but don’t bank too much for they are moving into the new dispensary and don’t know what that will mean. If I can get over to see the boss tomorrow I’ll find out. Don’t say anything about it at home until I know more definite.

Lentz is going golfing so I’ll have to walk to supper and that means Pearl Harbor. Guess I can stand it for one meal.

I got a letter from Mrs. Wm Unger today and she asked about a tablet – I think she was taking (oxathalien –purple of Kendall Co.)+ Hy-Val-flora of WM Warren Warren Feed. The purple tablet she has but I don’t believe Art has any of the others. She will have to call him Call both she and Art and

(page 2) see if he has them. If not, she will have to go elsewhere.

Got my last shot today. So far my arm doesn’t seem to be very sore. Maybe it won’t this time.

I’ve written two letters home. Or rather you wrote one and I’ve written one since and haven’t heard. I’m just wondering if they got my letters. Have you gotten any letters which indicated whether they have gotten them or not?

Has Harold Foulks’ brother in law been transferred or do you know?

Well, guess I’ll get over toward Pearl Harbor and get back and do some reading-

Love Daddy

You are the oldest and she needs a man there

Amanuensis Monday – June 27, 1942

5 Replies

Bonds build Ships. Buy More Bonds, 1943
Artist: George Picken
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

The last week of letters has seen the arrival of my grandmother in Norfolk and her departure. We learned a few details from the time my grandmother was there. Some sea mines were released outside Virginia Beach and several boats were hit. The Kingston Ceylonite, a boat on loan from the British Navy, was sunk. My grandparents’ friend Dorothy Krull appears to have come along for the drive. A mouse was found in the closet of Mrs. Evans house, an alarm clock was set very early, one of my grandfather’s white suits was misplaced and Dr. Lentz borrowed my grandfather’s raincoat.

Most likely due to the success of the Battle of Midway in the Pacific, my grandfather was kept busy inoculating sailors and administering routine exams. A new level of anxiety seems to have been creeping into the letters. Several doctors received orders for shipping out, including ones who had arrived after my grandfather. Dr. Lentz received some phone calls and my grandfather was getting jittery whenever the phone rang. He expected to receive his new orders soon too. In one letter, he remarked that another doctor received orders to report to a new battleship in New Jersey. My grandfather thought that was a “pretty good” assignment.

Many of the letters contain details of just plain old, down and dirty, everyday life. My grandfather’s adventures with laundry (which at times seem amusing to me) must have driven him crazy! I can’t imagine having to continuously buy new clothes because of a lack of clean ones. Updates on pay raises, allotments and money orders also grace this week in letters. There was also another mention of purchasing war bonds.

Today’s letter gives Dr. Cole his entrance into the story. Dr. Ira Cole was the attending physician during the birth of my father. I am intrigued by the obsession with my grandmother receiving enough vitamin B. While it is important today for pregnant women to receive sufficient B vitamins, I can’t help but wonder if my grandmother’s vitamin B regimen had something to do with the death of baby Michael in 1940.

We still have about three weeks more of letters before we hear my grandmother speak. I must tell you I am getting very impatient to hear her side of the story! It’s on my list of things to look forward to in 2013.

________________________________________

: June 27, 1942 Envelope

: June 27, 1942, p. 1

: June 27, 1942, p. 2 & 3

Letter transcription:

Sat. P.M. (postmark June 27, 1942 8:30 PM)

Dear Mother,

Didn’t write early this A.M. because I wanted to see what your letters might contain but Lentz picked them up took them to the base and I missed him somehow so he still has my letters, he didn’t think that I was off this P.M. since I had the duty last night.

Had to get up once during the night a policeman dislocated his thum. Other than that the night was uneventful.

I was going to suggest that you take the money order you got the other day and apply it on a bond to keep the months record clean maybe you still can if you haven’t

(page 2) already this month. I would send some money home but I wait until after next Wed. – pay day, then send it all at once- I’m at the P.O. now. Came down town to pay the remainder on my clothing bill. I’m going on down town for a shopping tour to see if I can get some underware I’m supposed to get laundry today but I think I’ll just wait until Monday to be more sure.

Got a letter from Dr. Roberts yesterday he is still waiting, hasn’t heard for sure yet. He tells me that most of the fellows are gone or going around Watseka [Illinois].

(page 3) If you haven’t been to Dr. Cole yet you had better do so and I believe I’d stop getting shots from Dr. Math. He might feel rather hurt if you run up to to late and anyway Dr. Cole said he would come up if necessary. Get some unicaps from Art and take 2-3 each day. You should get enough Vit B. from those.

I realize this is rambling but there is lots of traffic thru here where I’m writing.

I’ll write in the A.M. again.

Love Daddy

Sunday’s Obituary – Samuel Albert Yegerlehner (1891-1944)

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Obituary for Samuel Yegerlehner: Terre Haute Tribune, Wednesday May 3, 1944. p. 2

Samuel Albert Yegerlehner was my grandfather’s oldest brother. Samuel was the son of John Henry and his first wife Emma Harden. I don’t really know much about Emma Harden or why she died. She was the daughter of Henry and Melinda (Boleck) Harden. Emma and John Henry were married in Clay County on April 6, 1890. Samuel was born almost exactly one year later. Two years passed and then in 1893, at age 21, Emma died. I can only imagine the heartache experienced by my 26 year old great grandfather John Henry. Since John took over his father’s farm and his mother continued to live on the farm until she died, I can imagine that John had the support of his family to help take care of young Samuel. Three years following in 1896, John Henry remarried. John’s new wife, Lovina Schiele, by all accounts treated Samuel as one of her own. John and Lovina had six additional children, including my grandfather.

Samuel received an 8^th grade education in one of the small rural county schools. He was married on January 31, 1915 to Esther Zurcher. The Zurchers were another Swiss German family that lived in Harrison Township who were also members of St. Peters German Reformed Church. In 1917, Samuel signed up for the World War I draft. I don’t think he actually served during the war. According to the 1930 census, Samuel was not a veteran so he most likely did not. Samuel and Esther had three sons, the oldest of which died in infancy.

Biography of Samuel & his wife Esther, from the Centennial booklet of St. Peter’s Church, 1854-1954

Samuel was a farmer, like his father. He had his own farm nearby his father’s land. I do not know if this was land he purchased himself, or a parcel his father had given him, or even perhaps something he might have inherited from his maternal grandfather Henry Harden. Samuel’s family did not inherit the Yegerlehner farm which went to his brother Clarence and his descendants.

Samuel was also active in his church, serving as a Trustee, Deacon and an Elder. According to his biography in the Centennial booklet of St. Peter’s Church, Samuel also helped take care of the church property, due in part to its proximity to Samuel’s farm.

Samuel died suddenly in 1944 while my grandfather was stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Base. I have not read ahead in the letters of my grandparents during this time so it is possible that there is mention of Samuel’s death. In fact, as I look through the letters there seems to be a gap for this period. There is a letter postmarked May 2, 1944 (the date of Samuel’s death) and then nothing for almost a month. I feel like I am jumping ahead in the story, and I don’t want to disturb the narrative. To quote one of the sayings of a favorite science fiction character, she would at this point say “Spoilers!”

Samuel, his wife Esther, and two of their sons are buried at St. Peter’s Reformed Church Cemetery on the Owen county line.

_______________________________

: June 25, 1942 Envelope

: June 25, 1942, p. 1

: June 25, 1942, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Thur P.M. 1715 (postmarked June 25, 1942 8:30 PM)

Dear Mother,

Just got home and have had a chat with Mrs. E. Dr. Lentz didn’t bring me home-he called and informed me he had other arrangements. Don’t know what’s cookin. He got a telephone call Tue Eve. Don’t know which one it was from.

The mail enclosed will probably be the last maybe some tomorrow-That makes $18⁰⁰ that has gone thru the mail this week.

I got your letter last night (wed) Glad to hear you made it OK and in such good time. I have the duty tomorrow and may not get a chance to write. I could

(page 2) write OK but the mail isn’t taken from the base after 1500 so that makes it the same if I write the next day.

Guess I’ll have to eat at Pearl Harbor this Eve. because its too far to walk any farther and I don’t want to spend .20 to ride the cars to + from eating.

I got three telephone calls this P.M. and on each of the three I expected orders, but nothing happened. One was about the allotment. They had made a mistake and they couldn’t make corrections so had to fill out another card. After one or two of those calls one get the jitters wondering where he’s going to land.

Well, so long until tomorrow

Love Daddy