Tag Archives: Emma (Lawhead) Foster

Such A Climber (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
6-15-43

Dear Daddy –

No mail today – but 8 letters came yesterday – The $100⁰⁰ ck hasn’t come yet. The 150 & 32⁶⁰ came some time ago. It is a warm humid day – we are still having so much rain – It hasn’t rained yet today but we had hard rains Sun. & Mon. Mother is out in the yard with David. After he has his bath & 10 – feeding if the weather permits he goes out in his buggy. He is such a climber – stands up in his buggy & hold to the top. Dorothy is going to get some film for their movie camera & take some pictures of D. Floyd has taken him at 3 & 6 months. John is taking a piano lesson this morning. Mark and I are going to Laf. this afternoon with Arlene & Rosemary. I think Dr. C. should see Mark after his tonsillectomy and this is almost two weeks after. John is going to stay home and help take care of David. John baked an angel food cake yesterday. He is getting to be quite a baker. He does a good job – He is very exacting. Had a note from Aunt J. They got your letter of May – June 12. Uncle W. isn’t very well – they haven’t gone north yet but intend to. Glad you got the seed from your Mother. I sent mine some time before she sent – Maybe you will get them some time. It is getting late so I must get ready to go.

Love Mother

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/08/11/such-a-climber-gladys/

Rainy Sundays (Gladys)

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
6-13-43

Dear Daddy –

Another Sunday and more rain. It rained on Easter Sunday and John as been checking on the rain for seven Sundays. This is the 7^th and it has rained every Sunday since Easter. I still can’t say whether that proves anything. It was so hot and close when I got up this morning – Mother said she didn’t feel like going to church so I went. The boys didn’t know I was there and I sat about two rows back of them – They acted good enough, but as soon as the service was over, darted out the side door and got home without knowing I was there. That is the first time I had been to church since the Easter Services but I would rather have the boys keep their church habits – when D. gets a little older I might try to take him. He is having a time now in his pen. He is playing with a pillow. His third shot seemed to bother him a little, but it was so hot after he had it. The spot is about gone now and he is as happy as every today. We can’t sit out in the yard now – We just had a hard shower and it keeps thundering like more is coming. The wind blew hard for a few minutes like something was going to happen, but soon quit. I saw the Henderson baby – I think the last one you delivered before you left – It doesn’t look well. He is 13 mo. old and weighs not a pound more than D. He looks like he needs vitamins. I took J. & M. to the band concert last night – there was the usual Sat. nite mob in town.

Love Mother

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/08/07/rainy-sundays-gladys/

Photographs (Gladys)

2 Replies

: June 12, 1943 envelope

: June 12, 1943, p. 1

: June 12, 1943, p. 2

: June 12, 1943, p. 3

: June 12, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
June 12 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No mail today but had four letters this week. The travel check came but as yet the $100⁰⁰ hasn’t. It is cloudy, windy, sunny, sultry today. It looks like rain then the sun shines again. I got the roll of pictures developed and am enclosing a few. I was in only one and John moved the camera when he took it but I am enclosing it anyway. I will take another roll when D. is 9 mo. old. These were taken at 8 & 8 ½ months. The one taken on the terrace shows the grass as needing a hair cut – John has gone out now to take care of the job. He took the lawn mower to get it oiled & sharpened before he finished his moving last time. This continued rain keeps him busy with the lawn and since

[page 2] Mark’s tonsillectomy John has done most of the garden work – plowed the potatoes with a garden plow this morning. We had spinach, lettuce, onions & radishes today. Wish you could enjoy some of the green onions.

Mrs. Roberts was here this morning. She had taken Earl’s girl to Sheldon. Earl is still in the States, but I think he is out on Maneuvers now. His wife is with him or was but their children are with the family here. Mrs. R. brought a weaning cup for David she had used for her children. She had some recent mail from Joe & his add. is Navy 609. I haven’t rec’d all your letters so don’t know what your latest word from Joe is.

David had his third shot yesterday – and it made him restless all night – He has been slightly cross today – but I think he is trying to get the third tooth – and as hot

[page 3] and sultry as it is today is enough to irritate him. He is asleep in his buggy. Mother is sitting out in the yard with him. This heat is almost too much for Mother. She hasn’t been feeling very well since she came back, and it’s about all she can do to keep going. I try to keep her from doing anything because I know she doesn’t feel well enough to exert herself much. She is so thin and doesn’t have much of an appetite.

I had a letter from your Mother. She said they didn’t have all the corn planted yet. Some have here and others haven’t. I think they will get “our” cornfield done today. John and I were so hoping they would put something else there this year.

Speaking of the pictures – I took the pictures with the spirea in the background when it was in full bloom so you could get a fair idea how much it

[page 4] has grown and how pretty it was in bloom. I told you before “I,” meaning me, separated some of the fuller bushes and transplanted to the thin spots – so now it is pretty well evened up. I filled up the N.E. corner with large bushes so it looks like it should.

Dean Davis is having a picnic for the factory workers today. Statons have all gone for the afternoon. It is quiet in the neighborhood now with Jimmy gone, Bobby & Zell girls taking naps. Bobby was watching me hoe a flower bed and remarked “my mother isn’t a planter.” I told him his daddy took care of their planting. Bobby is always saying something to give us a laugh. We think he has a very high I.Q. for his age – and his vocabulary is amazing at times.

Not much news around town that I know of just now.

Love Mother

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/08/05/photographs-gladys/

Piano Recital (Gladys)

1 Reply

: June 11, 1943 envelope

: June 10th Piano Recital Program

: June 11, 1943, p. 1

: June 11, 1943, p. 2

: June 11, 1943, p. 3

: June 11, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
June 11 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Rec’d yours of May 26 – the $32.⁶⁰ ck. came yesterday, but as yet the $100⁰⁰ is still en route. I am enclosing a program of the Piano Recital given last night. You will note John’s three numbers. If you want to show it to anyone you might casually mention that John is playing the same grade music the three high-school girls play – (Helen Hoover, Barbara McCartney & Mary E. Arnold). John has decided to discontinue in the swing band. I am glad he decided that for himself because I was afraid I would have to. They want to practice too late at night – and they will probably go some places to play I wouldn’t approve of. Buddy just arrived – he has been here every day except Sunday for a week. John and Mark are

[page 2] washing dishes and Mark is giving a demonstration of what the different kinds of machine guns, etc., sound like. Mark went to baking class today. He said they are having a farewell party for Mrs. Rupp – she is getting married – so that means another teacher for next year – there will be several changes.

The mosquitoes have been bad already and we are warned in the paper this week they are to be worse – There has been so much rain and it keeps raining. According to today’s Newton Co. E. the farmers around here haven’t all their corn planted. This field directly north of us has had so much water standing on it they haven’t got it ready yet for planting. They had two tractors going on it yesterday but the rain started before noon so they had to stop, but were at work again this morning. John and I are of the opinion they are ruining

[page 3] the ground by repeating corn crops there (as if it’s any our business) and were hoping they would either change crops or put nothing in. We have to turn in the front license plates for scrap. We now have last year’s rear with the small plate issued this year fastened on. Mother had a letter from Jim – He is in Primary Training now, which will end July 1 – then advanced training, then a 10 day leave – when he intends coming home – Then I suppose Thelma will go back to T. H. to live because he thinks he will be shipped out. He has all new uniforms now – C.P.O.

I am trying to concentrate on writing and all the family are here in the living room plus Buddy – so it’s a little hard to think and keep my mind off what is going on.

David is in his buggy. Took a nap out in buggy but we had to bring him in when we had lunch. He woke up just a few minutes ago. Mark is playing with him now and D. is pulling his hair –

[page 4] He thinks it’s funny now but I tell him it won’t be when David gets older. It is getting near D.’s 2 P.M. feeding – which will be of potatoes, peas, carrots & apple sauce & milk. He doesn’t care for potatoes alone so I mix them with anything else I have. I still give him Vit. C. Tablets – the last time I gave him orange juice it bounced right back up. As old as he is (8 ½ mo.), I should think he could keep orange juice down. I give him apple sauce or peaches or apricot & apple sauce combined and he keeps any of them down. He likes either peas or carrots or asparagus but gags at beets. I can’t feed him spinach or prunes. His bowels are inclined to be loose so have to be careful what I feed him. Cream of Wheat also has a tendency to make his bowels too loose, so he gets Gerbers wheat cereal, Pablum or Pabena (Mead’s oatmeal cereal).

Mark and Buddy have taken D. out for a ride – until time for him to eat. Raymond Bower is home but I haven’t seen him – Dorothy was telling me he has been around a lot – his ship was in a battle.

Love – Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, Indiana, June 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/08/03/piano-recital-gladys/

We Scored Again (Gladys)

1 Reply

: June 10, 1943 envelope

: June 10, 1943, p. 1

: June 10, 1943, p. 2

: June 10-, 1943, p. 3

: June 10, 1943, p. 4

: June 10, 1943, p. 5

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
June 10 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

We scored again on mail today – Yours of May 20 & 21 came with the travel check. I am sending John to the bank to dep. it and mail this when I finish. Your letters were very refreshing – you had had some from me and answered some questions and commented. First I’ll talk about the furnace & coal situation. Up to now the furnace has been doing “OK.” We keep it well cleaned and Mr. Monroe keeps a record on the oiling and comes every 60 days to go over the oiling job. I have kept coal put in and have a standing order for coal. When I paid the cast coal bill yesterday Chet said he had me down for a fill up the next car that comes in. I was going to have Harlans

[page 2] bring a load but since coal is getting to be so hard to get thought I had better let the order stand at the Lumber co. I can get some later from Harlans. I think you would be proud of our job taking care of the furnace. When we came home from Ruth’s (May 24), I cleaned the furnace out before I started a new fire. It will have to be cleaned again soon because day before yesterday when John & I cleaned the basement we burned a lot of papers & bones.

About Johnson’s baby – he seemed some better last week when Lucile went to Laf. with me to get Mark. However they had to keep his arms & legs covered with long stockings to keep him from digging. I haven’t seen or talked with Lucile since then but will in a day or two. They are giving him S.M.A. and did give him lamp treatments. Ellsworth Wilson’s baby had eczema so bad but it finally left and Lucile is hoping Jimmy Ed will outgrow it too – I saw Ellsworth yesterday – He

[page 3] had Eddie Ray with him. I think they keep him home all the time, or take him with them when they go – He looks pretty good, but after a fracture like he had, I suppose they have to keep a close watch on him (my own observation).

David is in his bed following his his bath & cereal. He can pull up to his feet now. He is so much to climb I can hardly hold him on my lap – he wants to climb right up. Tries to climb out of anything that offers the opportunity – like his buggy or play chair. It is raining today so he can’t go out of doors. His two lower teeth show up very good now. He is due for his last shot but I am going to wait until tomorrow evening – the last one he had in the morning and he was cross all day. I used to leave him in bed with me after he had his 6 a.m. bottle and he would take a nap but he won’t be still now – Just as soon as he gets thru – he turns over and tries to climb up on the head of the bed – Mother gets up about the time he finishes

[page 4] his bottle so she brings him downstairs. Sometimes we wake him up when we go to bed but he just smiles, turns over, takes his thumb and goes back to sleep.

I went down to Funks last night. Arlene had been to Laf. and had a wisdom tooth pulled. She has learned to drive so she drove their car down. Don’t worry, about a gift for Carl’s baby – I gave “Tommy” a present. I haven’t seen him yet but Arlene & I are to go one afternoon soon and see him.

John is practicing a lot this morning – The recital is tonight – – Buddy came out before Mark was up this morning – I didn’t let him disturb Mark – he just waited until he did get up. They are around the house some place now playing. I think Buddy has been out here every day except Sun. since Mark came home from the hospital. I think Mark’s throat is about normal again. He doesn’t chew quite so much aspergum. He has a good appetite and says he has gained back all he lost while in the hospital. Last night when we were ready for bed he weighed 61.

Had a letter from Ruth M. today

[page 5] She was going to Tat Coan’s wedding. Tat went into the Catholic Church and had quite a large wedding. When we were over there they were having several showers for her. Ruth had been invited to one. Tat and Helen came to see us while at Ruth’s – of course they wanted to see D.

I just looked at the clock and see it’s 11:30 so must get busy and stir something for lunch. I bought potatoes again yesterday. We don’t buy by pecks anymore. It’s by the 10 lb. – (73¢ for 10 lbs). I got 2 lbs hamburger and it was 31¢ lb. I ran out of meat – still have chickens, bacon (and the strawberries I put in Tues). Brands said they had a quarter I could have but it didn’t materialize. Parttens have promised me a quarter but they won’t butcher till fall, so I got caught with my locker almost empty. However Zells’ frys are ready and I am going to put a dozen in the locker. I must stop and write your Mother a line.

Love Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, Indiana, June 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/08/01/we-scored-again-gladys/

Another Lazy Sunday (Gladys)

1 Reply

: June 6, 1943 envelope

: June 6, 1943, p. 1

: June 6, 1943, p. 2

: June 6, 1943, p. 3

: June 6, 1943, p. 4

: June 6, 1943, p. 5

: June 6, 1943, p. 6

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
June 6 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Another lazy Sunday afternoon. It is inclined to cloud up at intervals and very close & hot. Had David in the buggy but he got tired – the buggy hampers his style too much so put him in his pen. So far the mosquitos haven’t bitten him but they are awfully thick out in the yard around the shrubbery. We have not been bothered much with flies in the house, but every time any one sees a fly we go after it like it is a dragon “or something – “ but as far as the baby is concerned a fly can be as dangerous. The last of the week it was so hot he broke out around his neck and shoulders with heat, but it is better now, and it’s getting hot again.

Mark is coming along nicely from his tonsillectomy. He seems to be hungry all the time – hope that

[page 2] is a good sign. He is so anxious to gain and get big muscles. I should get some myself from the work I do in the garden & flower beds but so far haven’t noticed any.

There is an item in the paper about getting new telephone rates (higher). Our phone has been going dead ever so often. The service man was here one day but it has been out a time or two since then – so we wondered what we would be getting higher rates for, but I suppose it costs the co. more to operate now.

–a pause—went over to Zell’s & fed their chickens – They are away for the day – The chickens are ready for market, but I don’t want many at the present price – however they aren’t as expensive as steak. The ceiling on chickens to dealers – and that is what they would charge me – being a neighbor is .35¢ – I sent to town for sirloin steak yesterday – it was .45¢ a lb. I didn’t want to drive to Sheldon so thought I would try “store meat” once again – It was good enough but not as tender I thought as what we have had.

[page 3] The last quarter of beef I got was cut into roasts & boiling meat mostly so we are out of steaks at present. I ordered another quarter put in the locker – but Brands can only by a limited amount now and I have to wait my turn. Parttens will have a beef ready for fall, but we will need some before theirs are ready. We will have plenty of coupons – with five books. We have plenty for canned goods too. I want to can beans, carrots & tomatoes this summer. The first carrots I sowed are up and I am going to put in more.

Bobby Funk is here – Bill and Arlene left in their car – We heard Bobby crying very loudly – Mark and I were pushing the carriage trying to get David to sleep and Bobby came out – Betty Muscleman [Musselman] came out after him – we told her we would take care of him – since she had to stay with Donnie. Mark is working on a model airplane and Bobby is admiring him very much. Bobby said, “My Daddy is teaching my mommy how to drive, ha! ha!”

That little ha ha he sometimes

[page 4] adds to his sentences sounds like he means more than I know he can.

Joe Bill Mullen has been commissioned a second Lt. at Field Artillery Officers Candidate School at Ft. Sills, Oka. That is where Emmett Miller is stationed. He rec’d a promotion to Capt. Some time ago. Eddie Steinbach is now a second Lt. in the Medical Administration Corps, Camp Barkley, Texas. Pat Mullen is a corporal now – he has a N.Y. address.

There is a new Auto Ins. law – anyone operating a car has to carry $11,000 liability – July 1 – our policy expires in Aug but will have to see about it to make sure we are carrying the correct amt.

Mark just got caught in the closet – the door knob doesn’t turn from the inside – Bobby let him out. John was listening to a musical program but it was so noisy with static I insisted he turn it off – so he went upstairs.

Love Mother

[page 5] Since finishing the letters I started this afternoon had callers, Mrs. Roberts & her children and one of Earl’s. She hadn’t had any recent word from Joe but he isn’t in Noumea now. She doesn’t know where he is. I told her my mail had been slow this week too. She said Joe had written you a note and thought you should have it quite some time ago.

The threatening rain finally came and what a rain. It came down in sheets for a few minutes. It has stopped now but the radio is still noisy and there is thunder. The noise on the radio was more than I cared to listen to so the boys are in their bedroom listening. David of course is asleep – He goes to bed following his 6 P.M. feeding.

–Monday—It turned very cool during the night, following the hard rain. It has been cloudy all day but begins to look like it is clearing away. We have the Bendix going now with David’s clothes.

[page 6] No mail again today – This makes a week without mail – Probably will get a bunch when it does come. David pulled himself up to his feet in his pen this morning. He is in his pen how with one foot sticking out on the floor. Margaret Kruman asked me to give Bud a hypo Wed. She wants to go away for the day and couldn’t find anyone. Since I have given myself shots, I suppose she thought I could give one to Bud. – Well, I’ll try.

Mark is in the baking mood and is mixing a cake now. I think he is coming along nicely from his tonsillectomy. It’s time to get David’s dinner ready so must open a can or two of vegetables.

Love Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, Indiana, June 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/07/27/another-lazy-sunday-gladys/

Ice Cream (Gladys)

1 Reply

: June 5, 1943 envelope

: June 5, 1943, p. 1

: June 5, 1943, p. 2

: June 5, 1943, p. 3

: June 5, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
June 5 1943

Dear Daddy –

Another day without any mail – If I hadn’t rec’d two Tuesday this would have been a blank week as far as mail is concerned.

Brought Mark home yesterday – He feels pretty good today. Dr. Cole said to have him chew aspergum. There was a box here that had come for you, so we are getting it used up. When it came I didn’t know what to do with it, so just kept it. Mark wanted to chew it but I told him it was for people needing relief from pain

[page 2] so now he has a good opportunity to try it out. He has the living room full of airplanes to build, comic books and what not. Zells said they were going to bring us a fry. He though he wanted it today but we had hamburger and he couldn’t swallow it so well, but ate peas, bread & butter. He now wants ice cream so when I finish this, John is going to town to get him a cone. That is the only way we can buy ice cream (except at Boones). Commercial ice cream can’t be sold only in containers. The drug stores & restaurants can sell ices in quantities but not cream.

The latest canned goods to be on the ration list is milk, but I think I’ll keep David on canned milk thru the summer. We can now buy homogenized milk here and when I change him over, think I’ll use that.

John and I had to work in the garden a while this afternoon,

[page 3] then we had a shower and had to come in. It was time to feed David – We got rid of a lot of weeds. John thought we should have arranged the tonsillectomy so it wouldn’t interfere with Mark’s garden work. We have spinach, lettuce, onions & radish ready to use. Our carrots are coming along nicely as well as the peas & potatoes.

Mary Largent finally had an appendectomy. She has been having attacks for some time. She is home from the hospital. I forgot to mention it before.

It isn’t so hot today. It has been cloudy and cooler, but the sun is shining again and Mother is sitting out in the yard with David. I hate for him to miss a day in the sunshine. He is so nicely tanned I want to keep him that way. He certainly enjoys being out of doors.

[page 4] John is reading the funny books Mark got and I can’t get much work done when he lapses into a funny book, but he has done quite a lot already today. He has done most of the work around here so far, because he has done the lawn all alone and now helps in the garden.

Catherine Tilton has had another operation on her arm. She and her Mother, and I suppose Libby too are living with Geo in the Barr house, Geo bought. The Barces have rented their home and moved to Fowler with Mrs. Harrington. Hilda was working at the factory but quit. Said they couldn’t meet expenses on their income. Mrs. Dieter was with Francie, coming home when they had an accident. Mrs. D. sustained a broken leg. They were in St. E. with her Thurs. evening getting an X-ray and cast put on. I saw Mary & one of her brothers in the lobby. Mary said they were going to put on a walking cast, so she won’t have to stay in bed. About out of paper so will sign off –

Love – Mother

Yegerlehner home, Kentland, Indiana, June 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/07/23/ice-cream-gladys/

Brave Little Boy (Gladys)

1 Reply

: June 4, 1943 envelope

: June 4, 1943, p. 1

: June 4, 1943, p. 2

: June 4, 1943, p. 3

: June 4, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
June 4, 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters today – in fact none since Tues. when I rec’d yours of May 17 & 18 – but probably will get a lot at once. The 100⁰⁰ ck hasn’t come yet but likely will come with the rest of the delayed mail.

I am going to get Mark this afternoon. He got along fine, so with proper rest when he gets home should be in good shape soon. As I told you before the adnoid wasn’t bad but tonsils were. He was a brave little boy thru it all and didn’t cry or act up like the little girl in the next bed did. Last night or rather evening at 5 – when

[page 2] I left he was trying to eat ice cream. I told him he would feel much better today and could eat.

I was very tired when I came home last night and still feel tired today but I think after another good night’s rest I’ll be rested up.

Mother has David out in the front yard in the sun. He is so full of pep – I wish I had some of it. He woke me at 6:30 this morning by pounding on the head of his bed. His two new teeth show up good now. I have to get him a new pr. of shoes – but his aren’t rationed. His ration tickets give us an extra in case someone should need it.

I promised Mark yesterday I would get him a new slack suit, so will have to go shopping before I go to the hospital.

[page 3] I wrote your Mother about his trip to the hospital, several days ago, so he rec’d a card from her today. She sent John a card when he was supposed to have measles & didn’t – but she didn’t send Mark a card when he had measles and didn’t like that very well, so she was careful to correct her error this time.

John is helping Zells out today. He is mowing their lawn. Mr. Zell has been [helping] farmers run tractors and with his own garden doesn’t have time to do his mowing. John will be kept pretty busy – our garden will have to be worked – our peas are blooming – spinach, lettuce & radish ready to eat – The potatoes are coming along fine – also the carrots & onions. We planted corn & beans Sat. & the beans are up.

[page 4] Mrs. James said she was trying to clean house and Bobby is there on his tricycle & he and Jimmy keep fighting so Mrs. J. isn’t getting much done but refereeing. I have to mix formula – Have the water boiled and bottles washed, so must go boil bottles & mix things. Lucile is going with me today and we are to leave at 1 P.M., so I will have to get busy. Oh yes – Dr. Holliday had a patient in Pediatrics yesterday – Had an emergency operation. I must quit writing & get busy with things around here.

Love Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, Indiana, June 1943

Fresh Spinach (Gladys)

1 Reply

: June 1, 1943 envelope

: June 1, 1943, p. 1

: June 1, 1943, p. 2

: June 1, 1943, p. 3

: June 1, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
June 1 1943

Dear Daddy –

The first day of June and a wind blowing. It looks like rain any minute. John has gone to take his music lesson. He rode Mark’s bike. At first Mark didn’t like the idea but I told him I didn’t want John to walk thru the rain so he decided it would be “OK.” Mark was taking David for a walk (ride) but I had him come in. We have been taking David out of doors so much he doesn’t like to stay in. He is in his buggy now looking out the living room south window. He is so adventurous

[page 2] he has to be watched or will try to climb over the side of his buggy. When in his pen or bed tries to pull up to his feet but hasn’t quite made it yet – but gets up on his knees.

Either the mail is later today or we didn’t get any. Yours of May 17 & 18 came yesterday but to date the letter with the $100⁰⁰ check hasn’t come.

Had the S.S. class meeting last nite. We worked on Red Cross sewing. I didn’t get to bed last night until 11:45 so I was very sleepy this morning. I got David’s bottle and fed him at 6 – then Mother got up and took him downstairs and I went back to sleep and woke up about 9:30 – I was more tired than I realized because I was still tired when I got up, and feel not too peppy yet. I wanted to set out some more flowers today but the

[page 3] rain will keep me from doing that. I am about thru, but it has rained so much I can’t get enough done between rains. Where Floyd (Billy) dug up the septic tank – there was a bald spot – I had to wait for the ground to settle before I could do anything with it – then we cut some sod from the back yard to make larger flower beds and put it on the spot and some of the grass is growing but it looks rough – however I think it will be smother after John mows it some. John started to mow this morning but had to quite to go take his lesson. He has had quite a job so far keeping the grass cut. If we get Mark’s tonsils out I am afraid he will have some garden work to do too. John has grown up so much this past year. Mary Parttens said when

[page 4] you left John was a homely little boy and when you come back he will be a good looking young man. Mark is pretty much the same – it isn’t time for him to make a quick change. However he is hair conscious and combs his hair so many times during the day – He is still trying to get a wave to grow. When I bath David I can work up a few curls and both J & M think it is “cute.” His curls stay pretty good until I put a cap on him. One of the Zell girls came over to see if we want some spinach for dinner. Their garden spinach is ready to use – ours isn’t quite that far along but soon will be.

I will have to get something ready for lunch – I’ll use some of the 7 ½ ¢ lb. potatoes. We don’t eat them every day – but ours will soon be large enough to dig then we can have them often as we want.

In case you missed some of my letters, I got your letter with your suggestions about the lawn –

Love – Mother

Yegerlehner home on E. Dunlop Street, Kentland Indiana, June 1943 (Note: Mark’s bicycle leaning against the tree and one of the boys is sitting with David under the window to the left of the door.)

A real summer (Gladys)

1 Reply

: May 27, 1943 envelope

: May 27, 1943, p. 1

: May 27, 1943, p. 2

: May 27, 1943, p. 3

: May 27, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
May 27 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Today has been a real summer, rainless day, (so far). The boys are out in the garden pulling weeds. It is still too wet to hoe or do any more planting but just right for pulling. We are having onions & radishes and will soon have lettuce. Everything is doing well. Potatoes are up about a foot high – some aren’t so good but most of them are. There are so many wild parsnips in our garden they keep coming up as if by magic. The ground is about right for me to get my flower beds finished and I want to work on them this evening. John has to go to

[page 2] band practice this evening so that will let him out but he volunteered to help Mark weed the garden. John has had the most to do so far because he has had a continual job mowing the lawn and the rain has kept Mark from working in the garden.

Mother has David out in the buggy on the terrace. He has had a lot of sunning today – Had a nap this morning in the sun. He is about to get another tooth thru and is a little touchy today – or maybe he is just spoiled. I think he missed us when we went to Laf. yesterday. He is so used to having someone pay attention to him. He is satisfied to stay in his pen or bed, or play chair but likes company.

Three letters came this morning. The latest being dated May 17 – So far the second check (100⁰⁰) hasn’t come but it will no

[page 3] doubt be along in a day or two. There’s a few letters missing but I believe they will come, because all of yours up to May 5 have come. Thanks for the picture. We enjoy getting yours as much as you do ours. Mrs. Zell said she could tell by looking at your picture the baby looks like you. Most everyone says he looks like you and Ruth M. calls him “little Jake.”

One paper came today but I haven’t had time to scan it over for news items that would interest you. The Rotary Club wrote you and that should pretty well cover the local news situation. As usual only one paper came today. The same old story. Seems like they would just change the date of publication. Mrs. Steinbaugh is running the Democrat now. It came today.

[page 4]Mark is a business man now. Since he has his bike he runs errands – Now the traffic situation is a different matter than when you were here. He went to town for Mrs. Zell & Arlene this morning. He started putting down his earnings. He wants to help pay for his Bike. I told him he couldn’t have a new horn but he said he would rather have a bicycle and keep the old horn. If he has his tonsils out next week he won’t need either for a while.

Mother had a letter from Jim and he is now a C.P.O., but has to stay in Williamsburg until Sept, then thinks he will go places. Then Thelma is going to return to T.H.

Mark wants to take a ride so I’ll get this finished so he can mail it.

Love Mother