Tag Archives: Emma (Lawhead) Foster

Soup & Ice Cream (Gladys)

2 Replies

: September 21, 1943 envelope

: September 21, 1943, p. 1

: September 21, 1943, p. 2

: September 21, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 21 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Back from Laf. today. I talked to Dr. Cole. He said he quite giving Mother the Betalin shots because she wasn’t responding any. He talked to Baylee and B thought the ammonium nitrate would take that fluid down in her abdomen but Cole said he didn’t think it would help much. Baylee said to give insulin to make her eat so they are going that now. She gets weaker every day. So weak she can hardly feed herself, and today complained of pain in her bowels. The Dietitian came up to her room and asked her what she would like to eat – she had a nice supper tray and did eat some soup & ice cream but as soon as she started to eat complained of the gas bothering her. Glen & Pauline are talking of going home the end of the week. He has to get back to work and hates to leave here with Mother so bad. He got all the storm windows hung. There was a pane broken in the French doors & a basement window & he is going to fix them tomorrow. Also going to paint the

[page 2] Taylor Tot for David and do a few other odd jobs around. Pauline has cleaned all the upstairs, stairway & Nursery. She really cleans & never seems to know when to quit working. We have to wash at least one tub of clothes everyday and she hangs the thing out if it’s chilly because of my hands. I told them to take that old washing machine & the rug I had rolled up in the attic. Glen is going to see about shipping the washing machine & if the freight isn’t too much will send it. I think Bun Loughridge has forgotten he was supposed to take it because it has been here almost two years now or is it three? No guess two is correct. Bun hasn’t changed. I took the sweeper down and after two weeks or more went down and got it still not fixed. The band broke but I can still use it for suction.

My throat has been sore so went in to Dr. Ade today & had a treatment. I have been hacking & spitting all evening. Will go in for another treatment the next time I go down if it persists in being sore. I told him I didn’t like starting in the fall with a sore throat but I believe the strep I had last winter left my throat in a weakened condition. Dr. Ade wanted me to take sulfa but I told him I am allergic to it and having had such a severe attack of allergy so recently am afraid to try sulfa now. Maybe when you come home & if necessary I can have tonsils out but

[page 3] will try to get by without that little “ectomy.”

I mailed a letter in Laf. today I wrote last night, with two pictures. I am enclosing two more in this letter.

Dorothy couldn’t go shopping for David’s birthday gift so had me buy something for him. I got him a pr. of red corduroy overalls and a red & white t-shirt. He has his red snow suit jacket so will be a red bird with all those things on. He trys to say John. He really attracts attention wherever I take him. He turns on the personality and has everyone looking at him – or is his Mother just imagining things? Yesterday Glen went to town with me & we took D. along. We went into Nick’s and David got a lot of attention. Glen said something about the fuss everyone made over David.

John & Mark went to a football game tonite & Mt. Ayre won. John is still having headaches & Van Buskirk says his glasses are correct. I wonder if his age hasn’t something to do with his headaches. His face is a sight – worse with pimples & blackheads than ever.

It’s past 10:30 so I must get to bed. David has a habit of waking around 7 so if I don’t get to bed in time to get my sleep out by 7 a.m. I just miss it.

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/23/soup-ice-cream-gladys/

Meat Points (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: September 19, 1943 envelope

: September 19, 1943, p. 1

: September 19, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Sept. 19, 1943
Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. S.F.C.

Dear Mother,

Your letter written Sept. 5 just two weeks ago today came yesterday. You had been to the hospital and have given a report about your mother and I must say the report was not good but you were doing the best things you knew how and after all that is the only thing one can do.

You said you were in a spot with company and meat points. I should think you wouldn’t hesitate to collect meat points from your company and I would think they wouldn’t think hard of it if you did ask for them because that is a nationwide program and everyone should understand.

It’s hard to imagine the cool weather back there. We just take hot for granted and that is that. All our tents, buildings, etc., are just a top with sides screened in. Storage places for foods are the same way. Never expecting of course freezing weather nor not much wind. In fact not enough wind to blow rain into the sides of the huts. I guess I’ve said all that before but I just happened to think as I was writing – how different we live from what we used to – but I think

[page 2] we can easily get back to the good old fashioned way – weather included.

Once in a while I see Josserand’s name in the paper. I just wonder if the old fight is still going on among the three as it was when I left.

I’m having a little competition from conversation so don’t be alarmed I’ll try my best to keep this on the upper level. I wish I could put some of those things down but that wouldn’t be cricket.

Glad to hear your hands cleared as soon as they did and I think you should be exceptionally careful in the next few months of what you eat because of the nervous tension you are under.

It sure would be fine if a locker could be established at Kentland. It would save gas, tires, etc. Brook would be worse but we can still use the one at Sheldon.

Well, I must get on with a letter to the Folks –
So Solong until tomorrow
Love Daddy

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

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/20/meat-points-roscoe/

These Prairie Winds (Gladys)

2 Replies

: September 19, 1943 envelope

: September 19, 1943, p. 1

: September 19, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 19-1943

Dear Daddy –

Sun. evening & bedtime. Glen, Pauline, the babies & I went to Laf. today. John & Mark stayed home. David was so full of pep he wore us all down. Slept all the way home. He is tucked in now but was so tired from the trip he was a little cross before going to bed. James is a much quieter baby than D. Glen doesn’t know what to do about going back home yet. He hates to leave with Mother so low and feels he should get back to work. Mother looked much thinner today & Fri. and seemed weaker. She wouldn’t eat any supper – Dr. had ordered some new medicine for her and after taking the first dose threw it right up. The nurse brought in another dose at 4 P.M. – There were 4 large brown tablets and I think it was ammonium nitrate. She kept the last dose down but refused to eat at 5 P.M. I looked at her abdomen and she was distended quite a lot. It is full of fluid. Mrs. Zell came over to see about Virginia going to Laf. with us Tues. & when I told her Mother is thinner she said she didn’t think it possible, however she is.

Glen worked on the storm windows Sat. He washed the frames and when he gets the windows washed will hang them. He gets chocked up once in a while but is better than when he first came. He said the window casings should be washed but I told him just to brush the dirt off & wash windows.

[page 2] It was warmer today than usual. Warm enough to be out without wraps & so far since cooler weather wraps were in order. Seems to me we are having an early fall – while driving we can see flocks of birds going mostly south – if that means anything. I told Glen it will probably turn warm after we get the storm windows on. He wanted to know how we got any ventilation after putting all those storm windows on. I told him when these prairie winds blow across here we get ventilation. I told him it was hard to keep that wind out. I suppose they have winds in Nev. but any wind would have to be strong to beat these.

I am sitting on the edge of our bed writing. I came up to get to bed early but it’s past 10:30 and no shut eye yet. I want to get this written. David is sound asleep but a little stopped up – I was a little worried about him having a cold so early in the fall but have decided it is an allergy – here one day & gone the next. He sounds now like he has some mucous in his nose but not enough to wake him up. John is better of his condition. Dr. Van Buskirk gave me a bromide prescription to have filled & I did what you have had patients do – didn’t get it. Dr. Van says John is nervous & needs the sedative for his system but I know John – he is like he has been all his life – his cough is gone and I am not going to give him bromides. Dr. V. doesn’t know our John – just because he squirmed around when he tried to look into his nose & throat he tabbed him as too nervous. Well John is better & no medicine so I guess that is O.K. –

Love Mother

Pauline Foster with James L., circa 1943

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/19/these-prairie-winds-gladys/

Glenn’s First Wife (Gladys)

3 Replies

: September 18, 1943 envelope

: September 18, 1943, p. 1

: September 18, 1943, p. 2

: September 18, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 18 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Wind, Sand and Stars (1939), a memoir by French aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Yours of Aug. 28 – 31 & Sept. 8 came today – I think you will be able to write a book by the time you come back. I remember reading a book written by a French aviator or some similar rating and I didn’t think it was as interesting as your letter of Aug. 28. Yours of Aug. 31 was answering my letter telling you what Dr. Cole had said about mother’s condition. I was down to see her yesterday & Cole didn’t have much to say about her condition – that is he didn’t seem very hopeful about her recovery – Of course I know or feel that she won’t get well and we can’t do much about it now. Dr. Cole is still giving her Betalin by hypo every day but it doesn’t pick up her appetite any. If I had only known sooner and could have had surgery done – but I didn’t know and it’s too late now for that. Her abdomen is distended so much – Dr. Cole says she is full of fluid.

Glenn is washing the storm windows and the frames – Is going to take down the screens and put the storm windows up. He is going to clean the furnace too. Pauline is cleaning the upstairs. Cleaned Mother’s room and

[page 2] the boy’s room – Is working on our bathroom today. She is a worker. Her parents came from Poland & she is very strong and likes to work. She enjoys doing housework. She & Glenn haven’t much yet in the way of worldly goods – When he got a divorce from Norma he didn’t get anything but his clothes and with the baby coming, haven’t got much ahead. I told them they could have the old washing machine & rug I took out of the den. Glen is going to see about shipping the washer out by freight if it doesn’t cost too much. Glenn has been in pretty good health since living in Nevada and has had steady work but lived with the wrong woman too long to get anything saved. I believe Pauline will take better care of his money. She says she wants a home & their own furniture. I think he & Norma had their furniture but Norma got everything. Glenn doesn’t care to talk much about things but did tell me he should have left her long before he did – she ran around with other men. Pauline said she (Norma) was going with a man whose wife was an invalid, while she & Glen were still married and after Glen & Pauline were the invalid wife died so naturally everyone thought this man & Norma would be married, but after he was free to marry again he married someone else. A little complicated but maybe you can make it out. Elida has been married six times. Now is married to an Ensign in the Navy. Margaret Ann is married to a boy in the Army but Pauline says she doubts if it lasts – M.A. seems to be like her aunt & Mother – enough about such people.

[page 3] David & James L. are both taking naps. I took D. to Laf. yesterday but Dr. Cole was so busy I didn’t get him in to see the Dr. I was starting back to the car & saw Dr. Cole coming back from the Home hospital and talked to him out in the yard. David seems to have the same thing John has – an allergy – maybe Hay fever – maybe something else – One day he has it then the next day its gone – however John’s just stays. I took John to Van Buskirk for his eyes last Sat. then had him go over him for this cough & Van said John didn’t have a cold but some kind of allergy. When Jim was here he said how would John have hay fever – I said he had plenty of bla back ground for it. I have some good pictures of Jim & Glen & I with the babies – will send you one when I get more made. – Just had to stop & put the babies out in the sunshine – They are watching Glen & Mark washing windows.

John has been washing dishes and it’s time for me to do something – as if I haven’t been busy – but had to take time out to write my daily letter. Pauline wanted to know what I wrote about every day – I said just what happens around here. Haven’t had time this week to scan the paper for local news. Bob Hufty called me to invite me to Rotary Mon. eve.

Love – Mother

P.S. – Enclosing a picture of D. & me.

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/17/glenns-first-wife-gladys/

900 Points of Beef (Gladys)

1 Reply

: September 17, 1943 envelope

: September 17, 1943, p. 1

: September 17, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 17 – 1943

Dear Daddy,

No letters today but have had up to Sept. 6 so can’t complain. I went to Laf. today to see Mother & meet Glen. He left T.H. Tues. eve. & drove thru to Williamsburg without stopping & then started back the same day he got there. If you could see him now with Mark you would never know he had missed any sleep. When we came home from Laf. Mark & John went out to the fair with Statons and after feeding Mark David, I fried some of the new steak for our supper. I went to Sheldon & got some meat this a.m. – the quarter we got was over 130 lbs. It will take over 900 points. I am going over to get the bones when it is cut up and

[page 2] cook the bones to get soup broth. I had never thought of that until someone else told me about doing it.

I saw Dr. Cole a few minutes and he couldn’t give me any encouragement about Mother. – Her abdomen is full of fluid. He is still giving her Betalin every day.

There is so much noise & talking going on around I can hardly think. I saw Sister Celerita today – She has just been put on 3d Main. She was in O.B. three years ago. She was so glad to see me & asked about you. Sisters we knew when you were here are in other hospitals. Only a few are still in St. E. Sister Amelia is now Supt. of Nurses in St. E.

Will try to do better next time.

Love, Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/15/900-points-of-beef-gladys/

Better Care (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: September 16, 1943 envelope

: September 16, 1943, p. 1

: September 16, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Sept. 16, 1943
Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Cal.

Dear Mother,

Your air mail of Sept. 1, 2, 3 and your v-mail of Aug. 25 came yesterday Eve. It does seem a little funny that Jim should take on the way he does and I think your attitude is swell for after all its that way and nothing seemingly could have altered the situation. The latest supposition of Tuberculosis I have considered a bit also but that to me seems a little unlikely – no need for me to go into the reasons why I think so.

Now about you – your hands, etc. You have the situation solved. A little too much over indulgence in things you shouldn’t eat and also a let down after the responsibility of up & down stair etc. By all means, if possible, keep your mother in the hospital. She will get better care there and it won’t be so hard on you. The trips will not be as hard as

[page 2] taking care of her.

It sure made me feel good that the letters I write give you a lift. The compliments you know I sincerely mean and of course you know all along how I feel so anytime you feel low just consider how I feel about you. I know you like to hear those things and I like to write them because it makes me much more proud of you just for me to write them because for if I didn’t feel that way I couldn’t write that way. The above may sound considerably mixed up but I mean well.

You will find some pictures. I’m not humpbacked as that one makes me look. None of the pictures are good of me but maybe you will enjoy them some what.

Love Daddy

[Editor’s note: The pictures that Roscoe refers to do not appear to be part of the collection, although the picture below might be one of them.]

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/13/better-care-roscoe/

Another Chilly Day (Gladys)

1 Reply

: September 15, 1943 envelope

: September 15, 1943, p. 1

: September 15, 1943, p. 2

: September 15, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 15 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Another chilly day. The sun did shine and we got a washer of clothes dry. We have to wash every day with 2 babies in the house. James L. is so different from David. James L. will stay put any place. He can be left on the bath table, couch, bed, play chair, Taylor Tot or anywhere – David climbs out of anything but his bed & play pen and has for months. This evening Pauline was holding David and said James L. is much easier to hold. David won’t sit still – just wants to climb all over a person. I often wonder what his Daddy would do about his urge to move around all the time – Maybe just like we do – just try to keep him from getting a fall. I put a pr. of corduroy overalls on him today and J. & M. thought he looked like a boy should look. He still has long hair, but it curls up around his neck & his Mother can’t cut

[page 2] it off – she keeps saying she will give him a hair cut when he is a yr. old. I think I know what Daddy would say – “give that boys a hair cut.”

Uncle Wes & Aunt J. were here enroute to C.C. this a.m. – Uncle has lost 30 lbs. & doesn’t look so good. Has had a bronchial cough that has taken him down.

J. & M. have gone to the fair tonite with Zells. They had grand stand seats. I made them wear wraps. It is so cool they need heavy coats – but didn’t want to wear anything. It’s hard to think it is so cool this early in the fall. Mrs. Zell said today it looked like snow. Of course it didn’t snow but the clouds would look like snow clouds sometimes.

I have to meet Glenn in Laf. tomorrow & see Mother. David seems to have a little cold or it may be an allergy – I can’t tell and I want Dr. Cole to see him. Since John has his fall allergy too or it may be just a cold. This cool weather so early is a good excuse for colds.

Arlene called me today. She hasn’t any help yet and it keeps her busy doing everything. I asked her to go to Laf. with me but said

[page 3] it was so hard for her to get away now. She has to have everything prepared for meals before she leaves. I really feel sorry for the girl because she isn’t too strong and with this other baby coming has her hands full.

I havne’t had time to get John & Mark down to writing you again but will try over the week-end to get them to. John has a teacher (Band) Clements from Jasonville – He knows Floyd & says he knew of you. He and John had quite a chat one evening after school. I know only a few teachers so far – Al had to hire so many new ones this fall.

My hands are all over the “spell” they had but are tender and burn this evening from running out to the clothes line today. Pauline is cleaning house for me while they are here. She got the little bedroom cleaned today & wants to clean the boys’ room tomorrow. She is a hard worker & clean. A lot different from Norma. She wasn’t much on the work order. She says Glen will take the screens down & put on the storm windows. He wants to wait a few days to see about Mother before they start back. He is much heavier than he used to be. His asthma isn’t as bad now that is it cooler.

It’s about time for the boys to come home from the fair.

Love – Mother

Family Photographs (Gladys)

1 Reply

: September 14, 1943 envelope

: September 14, 1943, p. 1

: September 14, 1943, p. 2

: September 14, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Sept. 14 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters today but rec’d 5 yesterday and David’s birthday letter. I’ll put that $2⁰⁰ toward another bond for him. He & James L. keep things lively around here. Jim wanted his car at Norfolk but he & Thelma were afraid to risk driving it back so they are to start back this afternoon by train & Glenn is bring the car for them, and come back on the train. He is to be in Laf. Fri. This is Tues. We plan to go to see Mother tomorrow then again Fri. & meet Glenn too. Pauline wants to do some shopping tomorrow for J.L.

Alma Walker called me this afternoon to inquire about things and told me before if there is anything she can do, will be glad to, so she is going to stay here tomorrow afternoon with the babies. They are both good and not as hard to take care of as two yr. olds. Alma had Dr. Van B. work on her nose Sat. & said he tortured her. She said she still has a headache from it. John sure had hay fever – or whatever it is he has – this morning. Said he hated

[page 2] to go to school – he was sneezing so – his eyes were red and he coughed. I believe we will have to do something about his condition in another year. Last fall he had a mild case. – This year it’s more pronounced. I imagine it will get worse every year unless we can do something for him. I had picked some flowers for Glenn & Jim to take to the hospital and had some marigolds. Glenn said he could feel the pollen from them the minute I brought them into the room. Said it just seemed to go right up his nostrils. I haven’t yet found anything that bothers John but I suppose it is some kind of vegetation. Probably marigolds. Arlene said they couldn’t raise them in their garden because of Bobby’s hay fever.

We took some pictures today before Glenn & Jim left of all of us with the two babies – that is Jim, Glenn, Pauline & I. J. & M. were in school. I do hope they are good so I can send you a few. We are out of film so Boonie loaned us his Kodak with five shots left on the roll. Jim was wearing his blue uniform. He had to get has coupons from the ration board to drive the car to Va. Thelma got them at T.H. but he needed gas to get from here to T.H. so had to go to the board here. They gave him coupons for 10 gal.

[page 3] Mrs. Roberts called me last night to inquire about the family. She has kept in touch with me all summer either by phone or coming over. I have called her too but haven’t been over but once early in the spring. Of course we always talk about you & Joe & wonder when you will get to come home.

Mark has green beans, carrots, Swiss chard, onions and cake on exhibit at the Fair. He got a free pass by exhibiting for 4-H. He did the baking entirely by himself – no one was in the kitchen when he made the cake.

David is in the play pen making a little fuss & James L. is in the play chair banging things around. Yesterday morning I called to John to get David’s bottle and David said “dah, dah” right after me so we have been trying to get him to say John. Once in a while he will say “dah” after we say John. He is making a fuss now so I’ll have to see about him. He pulls everything down he can get his hands on if we don’t watch him. I was talking over the phone & he was in the Taylor-Tot and I turned around just in time to catch him – He won’t stay put in anything he can climb out of.

Love Mother

: Glenn holding James L., Jim, Gladys holding David September 14, 1943

: Glenn holding James L., Gladys holding David, September 14, 1943

: Jim Foster with his nephews, James L. and David

Birthday Letter (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
9-13-43

Dear Daddy – Yours of Aug. 26-29-30-Sept. 1-2 & 6 came and David’s birthday letter. I read it to David and he jabbered something I couldn’t translate. He is drooling again so must have more teeth coming in. I’ll put the $2⁰⁰ on another bond. Jim & Thelma got to come home again. Thelma is in T.H. today. Jim & Glenn are in Laf. at the hospital with Mother. Jim got 5 days again. Will be here tomorrow then start back. Mother was a little better yesterday so let the night nurse go – just had her two nights. Have supper ready waiting for Jim & Glenn to come. John is snuffing – Seems his allergy, hay fever, whatever it is, is worse this eve. He came home from school sneezing, nose itching. Mark is getting his vegetables ready to take to the 4-H exhibit at the fair this week. It is cloudy toady – won’t be dusty or hot for the fair this week. Have been so busy with everything here haven’t had much time to think of the fair – Jim & Glen are here now – They talked to Dr. Cole – He said he couldn’t give much encouragement about Mother’s condition. However she was pretty good today – Will go down Wed. if not called sooner – Mark is busy again baking a cake for the exhibit at the Fair. David is tucked in for the night and I am ready to go to bed too, a bit sleepy.

Love – Mother

V-mail Was Better (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: September 12, 1943 envelope

: September 12, 1943, p. 1

: September 12, 1943, p. 2

: September 12, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Sept. 12, 1943
Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Cal.

Dear Mother,

Your air mail of Aug. 25 and v-mail of Aug. 30 came yesterday. This is one of the first times that v-mail was better than air mail. I still want you to keep up just the way you have been – mostly air mail with a v-mail at times.

I was glad that Glenn could come and no doubt your mother appreciated it very much. I wish they could stay and help you for a time but I suppose you’re their work keeps them from doing that. I’m sure your mother would be better off in the hospital and I’m sure you would have less to do but the traveling back and forth

[page 2] would also be equally difficult.

Your expenses will probably mount very much but inform those concerned that we will pay as y we go along and don’t let it worry you. With times as good as they are anyone you become indebted to should be able to carry along without our paying on the line. So much for that – I’m sure it will work out OK and aff after all that is only a small problem considering other things going on today.

You didn’t mention anything what Dr. VanB said about John’s eyes – possibly he hadn’t written you as yet, and to date I have not heard from Dr. Cole.

I just happened to remember that

[page 3] months ago I sent you some films of pictures we had taken in Noumea – you never did mentioned them. I just wonder if they never arrived or if they were no good? You probably wrote of them but that letter hasn’t arrived as yet. Pictures are pretty much frowned upon here and of course I couldn’t bring that camera with me and I’m not sure whether it was packed or whether Dr. P. or W. kept it. The box was cracked and it wasn’t much good anyway.

This is the day to write the folks so must cut off here and write them a note –
Love
Daddy