Tag Archives: genealogy

Listening to the radio (Roscoe)

: April 9, 1943 envelope

: April 9, 1943, p. 1

: April 9, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

4/9/43
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 224
% Fleet Postmaster
San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

I’m wondering how the weather is at home along about now. It should be wet and rainy with April showers grass green birds singing etc. To be honest I’ve had my share of the blessed hot weather – continued summer now for a year – Mr. Berg a fellow from Missouri said this noon he wanted to go home when it’s cold so I guess we all feel the affects of the glorious summer.

We have been eating from china dishes and with real silver wear again. In fact we made better progress here than at the last place. Things are getting much more livable here so I’m beginning to wonder if maybe a move isn’t in order. Hope if it is it’s your way rather

[page 2] than the other direction? Hope. I hope. I hope.

Heard a little of Kay Kayser last night and news form the USA and from Japan. One of the fellows has a radio and we can go listen when we feel like doing so, but lately it has been so dark one can hardly feel the way home. I believe it’s darker here than at home and I also believe the moon is brighter when it is moonlight – Guess I’ve said all that stuff before.

I’ve been trying to do some washing again today – to get out the rusty color I added a few days ago. I’ve trying to soak the whole thing – dirt etc out over night.

Well, guess I’ll do something else for a change –

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/2014/04/06/listening-to-the-radio-roscoe/

Report Cards (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-9-43

Dear Daddy – No letter today but have rec’d three this week (Tues). The boys got report cards and they can write you their grades. We can’t work in the yard this eve so they will have time. We raked and tried to clean the back yard but didn’t have time to do it all last evening so will just have to wait now. Had quite a hard rain this morning. Had clothes ready to hang out but they are still in the basket. Everything is beginning to grow and the yard it beginning to recover from the “beating” it took from the weather. The ground was frozen so hard for so long the lawn is bumpy but couldn’t get it tolled at the proper time – Maybe it will smooth out this summer. David is beside me in his high chair trying to turn around and raise a fuss in general. He has one bootee off trying to eat it. I gave him prune juice this a.m. and he kept it down – and he drank it from a cup. It is still rainy looking so won’t get to take him for his afternoon stroll. Had a letter from Jim and he said he might be shipped out any time. Sent me a little memento for our Wedding Anniversary – Floyd Hoover is in charge of the Loan Co. Tommy Thompson did run. Tommy has gone to his father’s farm to help put in crops. The war bond quota for this county is $290,000. Each child is asked to buy three times as many stamps as they had been buying. I have filed a mortgage exemption. It didn’t have to be filed till May 1 but I thought I wouldn’t wait until last minute. D. is beginning to sound a hungry signal so will have to feed him.

Love – Mother

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

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/05/report-cards-gladys/

A Mystery Solved? (Part 1)

6 Replies

“It is the brain, the little gray cells on which one must rely. One must seek the truth within – – not without.” ~ Poirot – Agatha Christie

Genealogy research is hard, time-consuming work. For some, the work is enjoyable, but nonetheless, it can be very hard, and occasionally mind-numbing. Doing genealogy research is part records collection, intuition and plain old detective work. Analysis of collected records is an integral part of the process. Having the largest archive in the world means nothing, records must be organized in some way and then analyzed; otherwise, they are just ink on paper. At some point, every researcher must stop and analyze what they have collected. Documents exist in an historical context. They answer questions and generate more.

One of my biggest genealogy challenges over the years has been tracing the family of my grandmother Gladys. She was an excellent archivist of the papers relating to the Yegerlehner family, but she left much of her own family’s history in the shadows. She did not have a positive relationship with her father so it was not particularly surprising that few artifacts survived. I inherited a two page, written family chart and some photographs from the Foster side of the family. On her mother’s side, even less was left behind. Gladys had a close relationship with her mother so the lack of information was distressing at first. A handful of photographs and some old quilts are all that remain. When I started my genealogy journey in 1994, I asked Gladys for information about her family. She sent me a copy of her birth certificate that included her parents’ names: Emma Laughead and J. E. Foster. Over a year ago, I wrote a post about what I knew about the Laughead family. Since then, I have earned my Genealogical Research Certificate from Boston University, completed over 1/3 of the ProGen program, and begun working as a professional genealogist. In addition, I began DNA testing all of my immediate family members (and beyond).

Gladys’ birth certificate

With my newly developed skills, and hundreds of DNA cousins, my quest to find the parents of Joseph Laughead intensified. The last few months have provided me with many new possibilities.

Start with what you know:

Using and creating graphic organizers is a great way to visually present information extracted from documents. Joseph’s life has been hard to trace because of the lack of readily available 19^th century records. The family moved around quite frequently. His surname has been spelled both Laughead and Lawhead over the years in various documents. Lots of misinformation has been published as well. For example, just because the SOUNDEX code puts Lawhead, Laughead, and Lloyd in the same grouping, does not mean that the family ever spelled their name Lloyd. Starting with the documents I have already collected over the years, I created a timeline of the known events in Joseph’s life:

c1817 – Born in Pennsylvania.
1838 – January 19^th married Cassandra Harding in Belmont County, Ohio.
c1839 – October 22^nd first son Elisha born in Ohio.
1840 – Household of Joseph Laughead of Somerset Township, Belmont County, Ohio consisted of three individuals: one male under 5 years (Elisha), one male 20-29 (Joseph), and one female 20-29 (Cassandra). A John Laughead was enumerated several lines above Joseph.
c1840 – January 5^th son James Henry born Marietta, Washington County, Ohio.
1842 – November 16^th son John William born in Ohio.
1845 – Between 1845-1848 daughter Mary Ellen born in Ohio.
1848 – April 1^st A land grant was purchased at the Marietta Land Office; 39.98 acres of land in Monroe County, Ohio, which borders Belmont county to the south. The land is located in the south east corner of the county near the Ohio River.
1850 – February 26^th daughter Louisa Jane born in Ohio, likely Guernsey County.
1850 – November 8^th Household of Joseph Lawhead of Seneca, Guernsey County consisted of the following individuals: Joseph, Casander, Elisha, James, John, Mary E., Louisa J, and Bathsheba Lawhead. Next door resided the family of William and Ruth Coen and their 2 year old son John.
c1852 – son William born in Ohio.
1860 – June 25^th Household of Joseph Lawhead of Center Township, Greene County, Indiana consisted of the following individuals: Joseph, Casander, Elisha, James, John, Mary, Louisa and William. Next door lived the family of John Lawhead (aged 84, born in Pennsylvania) with Susan, Elisha G. and three Talbots (Ruth, Elizabeth, and William).
1861 – November 3^rd son James Henry married Martha Lafoon in Greene County, Indiana.
1863 – November 26^th son Elisha married Sarah Reynolds in Greene County, Indiana.
1866 – September 2^nd son John William married Elizabeth Abbie Abrahms.
1867 – March 18^th daughter Mary Ellen married James Hash, in Greene County, Indiana.
1867 – March 19^th daughter Louisa Jane married Ahart Hash, in Greene County, Indiana.
1868 – December 5^th – son James Henry married for the second time, Margaret A. Rea, in Greene County, Indiana.
1870 – August 11^th Household of Joseph Lawhead of Steel Township, Daviess County, Indiana consisted of the following individuals: Joseph, Cassandria, Mary E. and William A. Two young boys Joseph and George Sherman were also part of the household. Son John William and his family lived next door.
1873 – February 27^th son William married Charlotte D. Abrahms in Daviess County, Indiana.
c1874 – son William dies, leaving a widow Charlotte and a daughter Ora.
1880 – Have been unable to locate Joseph or Cassandra on the census record
1883 – July 12^th Joseph’s death
1883 – Burial IOOF Cemetery, Edwardsport, Knox County, Indiana

There are many gaps in the timeline and lots of questions to be answered. My original question still remains to be answered – Who were Joseph’s parents?

Sources:

1840 U. S. census, Belmont County, Ohio, Somerset Township, p. 10 (penned), line 14, Joseph Laughead; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 April 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication M704, roll 378.

1850 U. S. census, Guernsey County, Ohio, population schedule, Seneca Township, p. 474 (penned), dwelling 3045, family 3067, Joseph Lawhead; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 April 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 684.

1860 U. S. census, Greene County, Indiana, population schedule, Centre Township, p. 75-76 (penned), dwelling 530, family 530, Joseph Lawhead; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 April 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication M653, roll 262.

1870 U. S. census, Daviess County, Indiana, population schedule, Steel Township, Washington Post Office, p. 12 (penned), dwelling 90, family 90, Joseph Lawhead; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 April 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication M593, roll 306.

Bureau of Land Management, “Land Patent Search,” digital images, General Land Office Records (http://www.glorecords.blm.gov : accessed 4 April 2014), entry for Joseph Lawhead, Monroe County, Ohio, no. 14230.

Find A Grave, database and images (http://findagrave.com : accessed 4 April 2014), memorial page for Joseph Lawhead (1817-1883), Find A Grave Memorial no. 52,810,778, citing IOOF Cemetery, Edwardsport, Knox County, Indiana.

Greene County, Indiana, Marriage Records, June 1858-October 1866, v. G: 325, Elisha Lawhead and Sarah Reynolds, 26 November 1863; citing FHL microfilm publication 1317805.

Greene County, Indiana, Marriage Records, June 1858-October 1866, v. G: 325, James Lawhead and Martha Lafoon, 3 November 1861; citing FHL microfilm publication 1317805.

Greene County, Indiana, Marriage Records, October 1866-December 1870, v. H: 264, James H. Lawhead and Margarett A. Rea, 5 December 1868; citing FHL microfilm publication 1317805.

Greene County, Indiana, Marriage Records, October 1866-December 1870, v. H: 77, James Hash and Mary E. Lawhead, 18 March 1867; citing FHL microfilm publication 1317805.

Greene County, Indiana, Marriage Records, June 1858-October 1866, v. H: 80, Ahart Hash and Louisa Lawhead, 19 March 1867; citing FHL microfilm publication 1317805.

Illinois Department of Public Health, death certificate no. 24333 (1920), James H. Lawhead; Department of Public Health, Springfield.

“Indiana, Marriage Collection, 1800-1941,” index, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 April 2014), William A. Lawhead and Charlotte D. Abraham.

“Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994,” database and images, Family Search (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 4 April 2014) Joseph Laughead and Cassandria Harden, 19 January 1838; citing Belmont County, Marriage records 1833-1838, v. 4: 30.

“U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900,” index, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 April 2014), John William Lawhead and Elizabeth Abbie Abrams, 1866.

Air Battle (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: April 8, 1943 envelope

: April 8, 1943, p. 1

: April 8, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Apr. 8, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 224
% Fleet Postmaster
San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

Today is another special day since it makes another month in this here foreign duty – eight months ago today we left the U.S.A. Some long and some short months. Anyway it’s that many behind.

In censoring the mail I ran across several accounts of the boys writing home about an air battle we were able to witness. The news of this has been released so we let the letters pass. I might say in passing the real things has it all over the movies. Even to the thrills given the audience. There is more to the story but I’ll have to stop for obvious reasons.

[page 2] Now if the boys are saving news paper clippings I might be able to recall some of the incidents if there was some little item to help. We of course can’t keep diaries anymore and it’s easy to forget things. News items that have been released to the public can be written although at time those items are incorrect and we just sorta laugh at the incorrectness of the newspapers.

We’ve been shooting the bull this P.M. over a few bottles of beer – got a little beer into camp and after all that helps raise the moral a little. That might sound funny but it’s true. Of course no one gets drunk but just enough to help the appetite, and by the way we had fresh meat for noon chow – got some native cows – a little tough but tasted good.

Well it’s about time for evening chow so solong until tomorrow

Love Daddy

____________________________________

Japs Tell of Air Fight Over Russell Islands

(By the Associated Press)

A Berlin broadcast of an imperial Japanese headquarters communique said today that 47 “enemy chaser planes” were shot down in an air battle over the Russell Islands in the Solomons last Thursday.

The Japanese admitted the loss of nine of their own planes in an action which obviously was the same as that described yesterday by a U.S. navy communique.

The navy said 16 Japanese Zeros were shot down out of a formation of 30 or 40 near Guadalcanal. The Russell islands are about 50 miles north of Guadalcanal. The navy said six United States planes were lost.

“Japs Tell of Air Fight Over Russell Islands,” Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune (Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin), 3 April 1943, p. 1, col. 2; digital image, Newspaper Archive (http://www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 30 March 2014).

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/2014/04/04/air-battle-roscoe/

A Grand Spring Day (Gladys)

6 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-8-43

Dear Daddy – No letter today but had three Tues. It is such a grand spring day – just the kind for poets to write about. I think we will work in the yard this evening and if the ground isn’t too wet plant more peas, etc. I took David for a long walk yesterday. He was feeling good and showed off when people talked to him. He seemed to know he was being admired. He took cream of wheat this a.m. without the usual fuss. I gave him some prune juice but he threw it up. He can’t seem to handle fruits of any kind. Ed Johnson asked for your address. He was on his way home to take care of Jimmy Ed so Lucile could finish her ironing. It is about time for J. & M. to come for lunch. They come in with such a bang. I sometimes have to brace myself. The stores are closing now Thurs. afternoons. I thought maybe they wouldn’t do that now but they started last week. The coil factory is working nights to keep up production. If you got my letter mentioning the Stork to visit Bart’s – I think that was just a rumor. The local papers didn’t come today so haven’t any news to add. I saw Ruby Clark and she said Geo (being 38 now) was given his choice of discharge to work in defense work or stay in and he chose the defense work. Is with Allison Indpls. Saw Irene yesterday and she said she would write you. The Dr. at Mayo told her to quit work – but she said that wouldn’t pay the mortgage. It is time for Mark to go to school and take this. We are all fine – John hasn’t had measles and hope he doesn’t.

Love Mother

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

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/02/a-grand-spring-day-gladys/

Red instead of white (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: April 7, 1943 envelope

: April 7, 1943, p. 1

: April 7, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Apr. 6, 1943 [Apr. 7, 1943]
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 224
% Postmaster San Fran

Dear Mother,

Had some tough luck today – did my washing and the water I rinsed them in was rusty so now my towels etc are red instead of white. Hope the next deal is better.

I’ve been digging in our fox hole today – making it deep and livable just in case. I think we’ll put in a hot dog stand and a beer Keg. Wish we could.

At chow last night, when I told you I was going out – we had spaghetti and meat balls and a peanut butter dessert.

[page 2] We also had scotch & soda in the beginning which was the best part of the whole deal. It is rumored that we will have beer for evening chow but we don’t know for sure.

We are in a dry spell now hasn’t rained for two days.

News are as scarce as the dickens but I’ll try better next time.

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/2014/04/02/red-instead-of-white-roscoe

The Garden (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-7-43

Dear Daddy – No letters today but had 3 yesterday & John & Mark each rec’d one with the souvieners. They will thank you. It is still cool and windy. Had some rain last night. Mark and I started our garden yesterday – got peas, spinach & radishes planted. We sowed some grass seed last week and I want to put out more garden this week yet. Lucile came out with Jimmy Ed yesterday. He has allergy so bad his skin is rough and he has the hair worn off the back of his head and his skin is dry & scaly where he hasn’t any hair. He is growing but not any faster than David. I had a struggle again this morning to get his cereal down but when I finished with him he was able to laugh so it doesn’t upset him too much. He certainly has strong tendencies for a 6 mo. old. He has to have cereal or he is hungry so I suppose I’ll just have to keep on struggling to get it down. The gross return came today but I am going to inquire about whether it has to be paid this yr. We are to be refunded for last year’s payments. Let me know the amt taxable with your increase if it has to be filed. I haven’t received all the letters you have sent but maybe they will come in time. Bart told me Clem has been discharged from service. He had some kind of pleurisy. I would hesitate to say whether he is lucky or not. David is awake and is now sitting up in his buggy – can sit alone now. It is about time for J & M to come for lunch. Mark got quite a thrill out of making garden. He is in 4 – H and this garden is his project. I hear Bobby & Jimmy fighting. They certainly can make lots of noise together when they get mad about something.

Love – Mother

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

Not in a “writey” mood (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: April 6, 1943 envelope

: April 6, 1943, p. 1

: April 6, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

4/6/43
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 224
% Fleet Postmaster San Fran

Dear Mother

Your letters of 2-23, 2-26, 3-11 and 3-12 came today and also John’s of 2-25. You didn’t say how often my mail was getting there and how long it took. Maybe you said but after all your letters have been very spotty.

Sorry Mark had the measles but the latest letter told of his improvement. Guess by this time you have given D. the Immune Globlin as I noted you suggested in your

[page 2] last letter and by this time you know my feeling on the matter because I suggested it a few days ago.

Maybe I told you before but just in case – Dr. Porterfield wrote me that all my things are stored so don’t expect them at present.

I’m invited out to Lun Dinner this Eve – Yes to another navy camp – won’t that be thrilling – maybe they do have the spam cooked in a different way. Who knows – it may taste like chicken!

Well, I’m not very “writey” today – So solong until tomorrow

Love Daddy

The Banika airfield under construction in March 1943 on the Russell islands (Image via http://www.ibibilio.org)

Your Dad was so pleased (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA

4-6-43

Dear Daddy – Three letters today but I think some are still missing. J. & M. got theirs today with the gifts. They will write and thank you. Uncle Wes & Aunt J. stopped this a.m. enroute to C. C. We have about recovered from our trip. We were all tired Mon. but went to bed early and this morning all felt better. Mark and I are going to work in the garden when he comes home from school. Want to plant some peas & onions etc. It isn’t warm enough yet to put out everything. Our garden is directly north over by the corn field. Dr. M. called me today to tell me he had a letter form you about receiving the box. He sent that out early in Jan. Got an announcement from Wilma for her graduation. Will send her something. She is going to enter nurses training. Her boy friend has to go to the army this week. The last box of shells you mentioned with the necklace hasn’t come yet – Neither has the uniform or travel money. It is about time to feed D. his vegetables & milk. He still cries every time I feed him cereal but is hungry if he doesn’t get it and it digests good – so what should I do. I still give him Vit C – he can’t retain orange juice. He was so cute while we were visiting. He is just beginning to imitate. Everyone (almost) agreed he looks like you. Your Dad was so pleased about his name being the same as his grandfather’s. Will send more pictures later. Can’t get film so easily now. Mrs. Roberts called and thinks Joe is being moved. He had written for his other blue uniform then she got a cable not to send it.

Love – Mother

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

Shrubbery Business (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: April 5, 1943 envelope

: April 5, 1943, p. 1

: April 5, 1943, p. 2

: April 5, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Apr. 5, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 224
% Fleet P.O. San Fran Calif.

Dear Mother,

Just in case you didn’t or won’t get yesterday’s letter I’ll repeat – Use the above address entirely for I believe it will be better. As I stated yesterday our mail has been rather regular. Today a letter came form Dr. Porterfield and all my clothes etc – have been stored at the last station so don’t expect them home at least for the time being. However, I’ve heard that the storage place there is being moved and the stuff might be sent anyway.

[page 2] We had to put our home address on also. So if the storage place is being moved it might be sent home.

I’ll also repeat what you asked about the shrubbery but since I’ve been away some time my suggestions might not be so good but as we previously planned – real uniform small shrubbery especially like Lloyd’s in scattered locations and not directly set in front of the house would be idea but you use your own Judgment because things are different than when I left.

You can let me know how

[page 3] you make out on that shrubbery business and after it is in take a picture and send it.

If at any time, I should write you information please keep it to yourself because too much talk isn’t good but I’ll not write anything unless it’s a slip.

I don’t believe I ever did say definitely but the promotion is definitely right but I still don’t have two bars to wear. In fact I haven’t worn any insignia for some time.

Well, hope mail mail is getting thru to you and I see no reason why it shouldn’t

Love Daddy