Tag Archives: genealogy

Chicken bones (Roscoe)

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: April 21, 1943 envelope

: April 21, 1943, p. 1

: April 21, 1943, p. 2

: April 21, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Apr. 20, 1943 [April 21, 1943]
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet P.O. San Fran

Dear Mother,

Maybe I can do a little better today than yesterday but I’m a little pressed for time because I’m going out for dinner. I forgot to mention that a package came today yesterday. The chicken bones and its contents. The candy in the packages was very soft but and the ants beat me to it so unless things are in cans it is just no go. Anyway thanks. The end was out of the box so don’t know how much

[page 2] might have been lost. There were was the bone, two tubes of insect repellent, 3 other small packages of candy and some funnies. No sardines.

Got a letter from Ruth Y today telling me that Glenn Hofman was coming out but she hadn’t gotten the word of my change when she wrote and I’m afraid we won’t come in contact with each other.

Next Sunday being Easter I’ll wish you a happy one. Of course this is late but I did mention it before

[page 3] and while I’m on the subject the same for a happy mother’s day – which I guess is coming along sometime next month.

It’s about time for me to be shoving off to the dinner date so solong

Lots of Love
Daddy

P.S. The chicken bones are good but not crisp as at home – make a good slow chewing candy.

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

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/28/chicken-bones-roscoe/

No letters today (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-20-43

Dear Daddy – No letters today – but this is Mon evening and probably tomorrow some will come. Some come in 10 days – others 2 weeks. I didn’t get much done this evening after school – it rained. The Zell’s went to Laf. today so Betty & Virginia came here after school. We went over and checked up on the chickens – they have about 300 – They keep them in the brooder house until they are ready for market. – Mrs. Z. and I went to church this evening – There is to be services every evening this week till Fri. There is a concert at the grade school Thurs. evening and Mark is to play a solo. John is going with the band to North Manchester to the contest – D. came out today – she said Nick took an exam at Kokomo but has to go to Chicago for a final – He was told he may not pass due to his crooked arm – and if so will not have sea duty. Dr. M. told me they were going to buy Staton’s house, had theirs sold then Link & Irene backed down. I think Dr. M. was disappointed. Dorothy said they were trying to buy it if they could sell their place. Ralph B. & Socky W. were working on it, but it looks like Statons will stay. Newell Lamb didn’t pass so he won’t be in the Navy, but may have to go into the Army – – I sent Wilma a present for graduation – I forgot to get it sent last week. The boys are all upstairs and I am getting sleepy. J. & M. have to take a bath so I needn’t hurry. Mark is still as pokey as ever unless I hurry him along. Thanks again for the lawn suggestions.

Love – Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/27/no-letters-today-gladys/

This will have to be short (Roscoe)

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: April 20, 1943 envelope

: April 20, 1943, p. 1

: April 20, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Apr. 20, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
% F.P.O.
San Fran

Dear Mother,

This will have to be short and sweet because we are very busy with and have some censoring to do.

There was mail this morn. but I didn’t get much due to the fact that most of it was old. I did get one from you date Feb 19 and you asked in that for suggestions on the lawn and I did do that some time

[page 2] ago. Hope you have all the particulars.

The other letter was from Ruth M. but it was also old although all of that mail is still appreciated.

You will certainly have to excuse this but I wat want you to get the usual daily letter

So solong
Love Daddy

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

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/26/this-will-have-to-be-short-roscoe/

Monday morning (Gladys)

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-19-43

Dear Daddy – Monday morn and no letters – but got five Fri & Sat – and one I had been looking for – about the yard. (Mar 25 & 26 – Apr 4-5-6) We spaded up more flower beds, but the space between the garage & tree was a run way for the children and that kept the grass from growing so I decided to do something about it. I wanted to work out in the yard today but so far it is cloudy & cool. When it is warm I put D. in his buggy and I can go outside and work but don’t like to leave him inside alone. I’ll be glad when Mother gets back so I can dash out when I want to. We took a long walk yesterday – it was so nice out – We made several calls, stopped at Plummers but Mrs. P. was in bed with a touch of flu – coming home to this chilly weather gave them both colds – so we didn’t stay long there. We called on Jimmy Ed – I wish you could do something for him – his skin is like sand paper and the back of his head is a mass of dry scales – his red hair (and he had so much) is all gone in the back. Lucile said they were thinking about going to someone else with him but Dr. M. thinks when he gets old enough to take foods other than milk he will get better. Dr. M. changed him to lactic acid sometime ago but it doesn’t seem to do much good. Mrs. Zell, Lucile & I went to an Easter Cantata at the Methodist last nite. J. & M. stayed with D., but he sleeps so they weren’t bothered with him. I must send Wilma a graduation gift. She is going into nurses training at the union.

Love Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/25/monday-morning-gladys-3/

A Mystery Solved? (Part 6)

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Digging even further back in time and place reveals some interesting findings. So far, the family of Joseph Laughead has been pieced together by circumstantial evidence. The discovery of two documents from early Pennsylvania court records adds more weight to the evidence.

Conclusions from the Circumstantial Evidence

Joseph’s parents were likely James and Bathsheba Laughead.
Joseph had several siblings, of which Susannah (Lawhead) Glover and Ruth (Laughead) Coen, are likely candidates.
James Laughead likely had siblings as well, namely William and Elisha, who lived in physical proximity to James in Ohio.
James Laughead moved his family from Pennsylvania to Ohio between the years 1817-1820.

Jumping back to the 1810 census of Pennsylvania reveals thirteen Laughead households:

Laughead Families in Pennsylvania – 1810
Adam Laughead	Salem, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania
B Laughead	Warriors Mark, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
James Laughead	Menallen, Fayette, Pennsylvania
James Laughead	Menallen, Fayette, Pennsylvania
John Laughead	Cumberland, Adams, Pennsylvania
John Laughead	Union, Fayette, Pennsylvania
John Laugheed	Union, Fayette, Pennsylvania
Nathan Lawhead	Salisbury, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Thomas Laughead	West Salem, Mercer, Pennsylvania
Thos Laughead	New London, Chester, Pennsylvania
William Laughead	Versailles, Allegheny, Pennsylvania
William Lawhead	Hopewell, Washington, Pennsylvania
William Laugheed	Union, Fayette, Pennsylvania

These thirteen Laughead families are spread out over nine Pennsylvania counties. The 67 Pennsylvania counties have now been narrowed down to 9. The adjoining counties of Allegheny, Westmoreland, Fayette and Washington are in the southwestern section of the state. They are located south of Pittsburgh and are physically very close to West Virginia.

Original map courtesy of the United States Census Bureau

Looking at the census table, two James Laugheads were located in Menallen, Fayette, Pennsylvania. James and Bathsheba were likely married around 1810, but it is possible that James had not established his own household when the census was taken. He might have been enumerated in his father’s household. Pennsylvania does not have easily accessible vital records from the early part of the 19^th century. Unlike its neighbor Ohio, there are no online county marriage records currently available for Pennsylvania. Finding a marriage record for James and Bathsheba has thus far been unsuccessful. However, focusing on the two James from Menallen Township, is a good place to start.

The elder of the two James had a household of six individuals: one male over 45, one male aged 16-25, one male under ten, one female over 45, one female aged 16-25, and one female aged 10-15.

1810 Census Menallen Township Fayette County Pennsylvania (Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

The younger of the two James had a household of two individuals: one male aged 16-25 and one other free person (no age or sex is indicated). Coincidentally, this James matches the age range for James of Ohio. A 16-25 year old male in 1810 would have been born between 1785 and 1794.

1810 Census Menallen Township Fayette County Pennsylvania (Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

Family Search has recently begun the push for digitizing county records across the country, focusing on wills and probates. The “Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994” database has some records available from Fayette County. The majority of the records are Orphans’ Court documents from 1783-1950. The elder of the two James Laugheads died intestate in 1814. His youngest son was not of legal age at the time of his father’s death and was assigned a legal guardian. An older daughter also chose her own guardian at the same time.

Laughead, Elisha & Mary - Guardians appointed, November 1814

Image courtesy of Family Search

“At the Orphan’s Court held in Union Town in and for the county of Fayette, the third Monday of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fourteen before the Honourable Samuel Roberts and his associate Justices of the same court –

Elizabeth Martin…[omitted in transcription]

Ellis Baily being chosen guardian of the person and estate of Mary Laughead minor daughter of James Laughead deceased, above the age of fourteen years, is appointed accordingly by the court.

Ellis Baily is appointed, by the court, guardian of the person and estate of Elisha Laughed, a minor son of James Laughead, Decᵈ, until he arrives at the age of fourteen years.”

Prior to the appointment of Elisha and Mary’s guardian, their brother James petitioned the court in regards to the partitioning of James Sr.’s estate:

Image courtesy of Family Search

“On the petition of James Laughead, representing, that his father James Laughead lately died intestate seized at the time of his death in his demesne [?] of fee of and in eighty eight acres of land situate in Menallen Township aforesaid, leaving his widow Mary and nine children, surviving him, to wit, Hannah, married to James McHarry, John Laughead, William Laughead, James the petitioner, Martha married to William Wells, Benjamin Laughead, Richard Laughead, Mary Laughead and Elisha Laughead – That he is of full age and is desirous that the said estate should be divided to and amongst the heirs and representatives of the said Intestate if such partition can be made without injuring and spoiling the whole, but if not that a just and conscionable appraisement thereof be made and to this end prays the court to award an Inquest, agreeably to the acts of Assembly in such case made and provided – The court thereupon award an Inquest agreeably to the prayer of the said petitioner – writ ifs & not paid [?]”

Conclusion:

James Laughead of Belmont County, Ohio, was formerly of Menallen Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He was the third son of James Laughead, Sr. and his wife Mary. James Jr.’s older brothers, John and William, may have already migrated west to Ohio, leaving James Jr. to handle the affairs of their father’s estate. The children of James and Mary Laughead were: Hannah (wife of James McHarry), John, William, James, Martha (wife of William Wells), Benjamin, Richard, Mary and Elisha.

Sources:

1810 U. S. census, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, Menallen Township, p. 1004 (penned), line 1, James Lawhead; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 April 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication M252, roll 54.

1810 U. S. census, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, Menallen Township, p. 1000 (penned), line 9, James Logshead; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 April 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication M252, roll 54.

“Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994,” digital image, Family Search (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 24 April 2014), November 1814 Orphans’ Court, guardianship appointments of Mary and Elisha Laughead; citing Fayette County, Orphans’ Court Records 1783-1844, v. 1: 152.

“Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994,” digital image, Family Search (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 24 April 2014), August 1814 Orphans’ Court, petition of James Laughead, Jr.; citing Fayette County, Orphans’ Court Records 1783-1844, v. 1: 149.

Alaska would be appreciated (Roscoe)

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: April 19, 1943 envelope

: April 19, 1943, p. 1

: April 19, 1943, p. 2

: April 19, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Apr. 19, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet P.O.
San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

Have been buzzing around this A.M. as much as the tropic will allow but as a whole I’ve felt good since coming to this area, although Alaska would be appreciated along about now.

Glad to hear in your letter that finances are coming along OK but I’ll try to send a little home if there is any way to get some of that on the book. What I’d

[page 2] like to do is increase the allotment when and if I get to a place where that is possible. Sometimes when that is done the old ones have to be dropped for a month before the new starts and if that be the case I’d have to send some in order to tide you over. And the much talked of uniform money has not arrived also I think your transportation will be paid only one way to Norfolk. Even that is more than I expected but

[page 3] I’m beginning to wonder if any of that will arrive.

We didn’t have the steak for dinner yesterday but on the whole our chow is better than a few weeks ago with prospects of continual increase in “goodness.”

Well that’s all for this time –
Love Daddy

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

A regular visitor (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-18-43

Dear Daddy – Fri & Sat we rec’d 5 letters – the latest written Apr 6 – two back Mar 25 & 26 – but the one I had been looking for – in answer to my letter asking your advice about the yard. You had evidently written once before but I never did get it. There are still a few missing if you have written daily but maybe they will come. Floy & Ruth came over for a while yesterday – Nick bought Floyd’s tools for Buddy. Mark wondered why Uncle F. didn’t give him the tools – I told him there was the little matter of $50. F. & R. are moving to Blufton in about 10 days and Geo Burcham from C.C. is taking Flora job. David is taking a long nap but will soon be time for his 2 P.M. feeding. I got a good pose of him with a toy in his hand – I do hope it turns out well. It is nice and warm out today so will snap one or two. I started taking a roll last week so I will be sure to get a good one somewhere along the way – – Mark is reading (under protest) – Just now our woodpecker did a sound effect on our roof. It was quiet with J. & M. both reading so you know what a laugh that caused. This woodpecker is a pretty regular visitor this spring. – Mark brought three books home from the library and then left them alone as usual, so I told him he had to read them – John has read two, with pleasure – but Mark is reading his [he’s] very much disgusted with me because I am insisting he reads. – – We planted two rows of potatoes yesterday and have two more rows to plant. – – I heard definitely Nick K. has joined the Navy. Hope you get the seeds I sent.

Love Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

All the mail came in (Roscoe)

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: April 18, 1943 envelope

: April 18, 1943, p. 1

: April 18, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet Postoffice
San Francisco Calif

Dear Mother,

Since all the mail came in a day or two ago I hardly expected any to come today or for a few days yet but one never can tell. And we always hope.

The officers gave a sort of a party last night for the men – having a picnic lunch and some beer – I think everyone had a good time with maybe a few headaches this A.M. but not many because there wasn’t enough.

As yet I haven’t gotten to re-read your letters to the fullest extent and yesterday

[page 2] that letter I wrote was done so in the midst of much conversation so I’m not sure what all the content was. I can explain the whys and wherefores of these things later on.

Right now have a task to do – so solong

Love Daddy

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

Plenty of Guessing (Gladys)

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-17-43

Dear Daddy – Yours of Apr 4 – 5 & also Apr 2 came today and last evening Mark stopped at the P.O. and yours of Mar. 25 & 26 came and a letter from Dr. P. at N.C. – I wrote thanking him for the letter he wrote while you were traveling and he answered. He said that you were OK – At last I got your letter with suggestions about the lawn – we worked yesterday in the back yard and divided some of the shrubbery and filled those bare spaces down at the east corner. I have some seed potatoes & Mr. Zell is going to help us get our rows ready this evening. It is cloudy today and quite chilly. I suppose we won’t have warm weather until after Easter – As you said if you were moved you would have everyone guessing again, but my answer to any inquiries is (as it was before) destination unknown. There is plenty of guessing going on but that won’t them to guess. Dorothy was asking me this week about your new location but I told her I didn’t know. I don’t know what Boonie’s latest guess is but he enjoys guessing so let him have his fun. John has to take his music lesson this P.M. and he is not so pleased about missing “The Barber of Seville.” I think it would be better for your uniforms to be here so I could see that they are aired and taken care of.

Love – Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

Tail End of a Cyclone (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-16-43

Dear Daddy – A windy day – such a wind all night that I was afraid the S. E. dormer would lift right off and blow away, a time or two the wind hit the metal pieces of the windows just right to make them buzz – it was so loud it awakened David twice. I had to get up and go over to his bed and get him quieted down. I feel a little sleepy today. Mr. Healy came out today to assess us and he said he thought we got the tail end of a cyclone – – Mrs. Roberts called me this a.m. – she had some letters from Joe and he is being moved – you may see him some time. The boys wrote you thanking you for the souvenirs. They said your imagination was better than theirs but I think mine is better than theirs. I didn’t get any letters today. The first letter I rec’d after you could write you said you had written three but to date those haven’t come. Mrs. R. said Joe’s uniform money just came – so maybe yours will come sometime. I haven’t bought any bonds so far this year – was waiting for that money to come. There is a 13 billion Bond drive on now – – I was out spading some – had D. out for first time in almost a week. He sat in his buggy and watched me work then got sleepy so brought him in and he is taking a nap. I want to go back and work some more in a little while and get broken in again.

Love – Mother