Tag Archives: genealogy

Back to School

Letter transcription:

[Wright Sept – Handwritten by David]
9-14-61

Dear David:

We are still waging the battle of the crickets, but from the way the weather has turned maybe they will go underground. It was so hot yesterday I had the air conditioner on and today I have the heat on. You can add another $2 to your bank account (GM dividend check came Tuesday). I haven’t heard any more from Mr. Owings. I went up to the office Tuesday to pay my little account and he said there was a long waiting list for Benquet so you may not get it for a while. It closed at 1¼ yesterday. I can’t remember – did you tell him to buy at 1¼ or 1 1/8? Dad mowed most of the lawn yesterday evening after office hours – can you believe it, it needed to be mowed after all of that rain. He finished this afternoon. He is working on some shelves at the office this afternoon since finishing the lawn. We have the Cadillac books. Mr. S. wants us to select the colors for a new one. Unless GM gets their strike settled, we won’t need to bother – but I rather think it will be settled soon. If it is as cool in Bloomington as it is here you won’t be needing your Burmuda shorts now. We have had cloudy weather all day with the temperature around 56°. Dad was looking for some gloves when he did the mowing. Did you take any gloves with you? He found a pair and didn’t seem to know who they belonged to so I am wondering if you forgot gloves in your packing. – – We have had supper – not the usual fried chicken for Thursday, but ham and soup. The refrigerator is beginning to look like we need, as you put it one time, a CARE package. I haven’t had to buy any groceries yet since you have been gone. When Mark gets the refrigerator from the garage I won’t be able to keep such a meat supply. Did you know they are going to take the refrigerator for their apartment on Lawndale? They asked me, that is Mark did, if I wanted to help them move. I told them I would take care of Becky. I didn’t think I would be of much help on a moving deal, but I think I could manage to take care of the baby sitting job for a day. I suggested letting me keep her here. I think Shirley’s mother and father and Janet and her husband are all going to help with the moving. I had started this letter and written quite a bit before I discovered I was using the same form I use in writing to John – no paragraphs. We have the 2 rolls of films John sent home developed and are going to look at the pictures on the projector tonight. From what I could tell from just looking at them I think he got some very good pictures. Quite a few from Bangkok. I made a raid on the crickets with a fly bomb and as of now I don’t hear one cricket. Maybe I have won.

Love Mother

P.S. I banked $250.00 & $2.00 for you.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/23/back-to-school/

Failed to Subtract

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 513 – Handwritten by David]
Dr. R.S. Yegerlehner
Physician and Surgeon
Kentland, Indiana
May 15 – 1961

Dear David –

I sent you a letter yesterday telling you that you were overdrawn .53₵ and that I added $25.00. I will get your statement from the bank today. You haven’t added or subtracted somewhere along the way – you have fail to subtract I would say. It looks like Sperry is climbing. So I won’t indent incorrectly, I will use the same method as in writing to John. I am enclosing your housing contract which Dad has signed. Thanks for the cartoon. I haven’t had time to decide about when I will come down – Thurs. or Fri. a.m. Will let you know in time to get me a room if I come Thurs. The weather has been real summery. I think we had a record high for May one day last week. It is making everything grow like mad. So far Dad has been able to get the mowing taken care of by himself. I am at the office but I am ready to go get papers and go to the bank. See you either the 25^th or 26^th.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/22/failed-to-subtract/

Spring Blizzard Blocks Highways

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – Handwritten by David]
Kentland, Indiana
April 24, 1961

Dear David:

I think an epistle like the one just received deserves an answer. Glad to learn of your good grades and suggest that you do what is necessary to improve your grade in Government. I can’t understand why it should give you trouble, when you are so interested in the subject. Just try a little harder. We are going to Indianapolis Saturday to spend the night and attend a Blue Cross meeting. We will be staying at the Athletic Club (on North Meridian Street, a few blocks north of the Circle). We will be coming back home Sunday afternoon. If you want to come to Indianapolis Sunday, we will be at the Athletic Club. There is a meeting in the morning. I told Dad I would go to Church, so if you want to come up and see us, let me know and we will make some definite arrangements.

From all reports Kentland probably had more people staying here Sunday night than had ever stayed here before. The Mingles, Wengers and Janssens kept people. People all over town kept travelers and the overflow stayed in the gym all night. The roads were still blocked until Monday afternoon. Without a doubt the restaurants and hotels and motels had more business than they had ever had in one day.

We had a letter from John last week. He is planning to be home – arrive in Chicago – July 5^th. He will be leaving to return to Indonesia August 1^st (unless he has made some change in his plans he didn’t mention). His plane arrives in Chicago at 10:10 PM so we should be able to go meet him.

We are having rain today. I had intended to work in the yard some, but it keeps raining every little while. The rose bushes we set out the day before Easter look like they are about ready to start growing. I am ordering another set (7) to finish the row. I am also ordering some mums, so that I will have some flowers this fall. Dad has been mowing the lawn every Thursday. Now that the weather is warmer, with this rain, everything is beginning to turn green, (that wasn’t already green) and it makes me want to get out of doors.

Let me know about Sunday.
Love Mother

To read more details about the blizzard that stranded travelers, click here.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/20/spring-blizzard-blocks-highways/

Visiting Relatives

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – in David’s handwriting]
March 20, 1961

Dear David:

I think I forgot to tell you to add another $2.00 to your bank account, (GM dividend). I deposited it for you when it came, but haven’t written since then. I am a little tired today, but not as tired as I thought I would be. I have just about replaced everything and have washed all the extra bed clothes, so by tomorrow I should be ready for the club luncheon and meeting in the afternoon. The only thing left is food. I put the steak into several packages and put it in the freezer and the ham also. For some reason my apple pies didn’t get eaten and now we are working on them. The Clay City relatives and the Mutchlers left around 4:30. Uncle Floyd and Aunt Ruth and Steve stayed a while longer. When they got ready to leave Floyd told Ruth she had to drive home. He had taken a long trip on Saturday and only had two hours of sleep Sat. night. Mark and Shirley stayed long enough to feed Becky her supper. I put her in her pajamas and when they left Shirley had a bottle to give her on the way.

I have some tax business to work on, so must get with it. Can’t keep them waiting (they gave us ten days to answer a question and it has been almost a week since we received the letter).

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/19/visiting-relatives/

Overdrawn Account

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – in David’s handwriting]
February 18, 1961

Dear David:

I was informed by the bank yesterday that your account was overdrawn, so I put in $100.00 and got your statement today. You have a .50 charge for overdrawn account and .65 monthly charge, so subtract $1.15 from your balance. According to your statement you have a balance of $95.47. All your checks thru 36 (Feb. 11 IGA for $5.00) have been returned.

We had a letter from John this week. He is starting home June 29^th and returning to Indonesia – leaving here August 1. Plan to be home the month of July if possible, because that is as long has he will get to be with us. Had you made any plans for working this summer?

Mrs. Simons told me yesterday that Chuck is planning to come home for Julie’s birthday (I think it is the first week-end in March) and wondered if you would be interested in coming home to help with a surprise party for Julie. Let me know.

I made a trip to the hospital this morning and stopped on the way to take a plant to Mrs. Littlejohn for her birthday. I think she is 95. I also stopped to see Edna’s mother and took her a plant. She was in the hospital two or three weeks ago and I was out to see her, but forgot to take her anything, so I told her this morning the plant was supposed to have been for her while she was sick. She said she would be able to enjoy it more now.

It is so warm today it is just like spring, but the forecast is for a drop in temperature tonight. My S.S. class is having a party at Alberts (east of Goodland) tonight. I hope the cold doesn’t catch up with us until after tonight. It is 62° now on the north side of the house. It has been so mild all week I was able to get all the windows washed on the outside Wednesday. You know that was supposed to be your job while you were home, but it was too cold then.

We went to Monticello Thursday evening to a dinner given by the Bankers Mortgage and Banks Insurance Company and Bankers Growth. We have stock in Mortgage, and Insurance and now we have opportunity to buy in Growth. Haven’t decided yet. I think we will buy your Sperry next if you want to sell to us.

I am listening to opera this afternoon.
Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/18/overdrawn-account/

Out of the Office

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

[Kentland to Wright Quad 513 – in David’s handwriting]
February 10, 1961

Dear David:

Yours received and $10 added to your bank account. We received a letter from John yesterday. He said they are in the rainy season and from his description, it really rains there.

I finally got the Chev. garage repairman to work on my car. I am waiting for it now. It is 11:10 and he was supposed to have it here around 10. At any rate it will be like new when I do get it and clean again.

Mark, Shirley and Becky are coming this evening. Mark called two evenings ago. They (he and Shirley) had had the flu, but so far Becky was OK. I do hope she doesn’t get sick. Mark has decided not to quit his job after all. They have a baby sitter and Shirley is going back to work the middle of this month.

Dad has been out of the office so much this week – most of the day Wednesday – he had to go to Hammond to confer about a court case he will have to testify in. One day he had to go to Fowler to appear in court. He wasn’t gone too long that day. Today he has to go to the hospital for a staff meeting at 12:30. He hasn’t been around here for lunch much this week. This month the baby cases are few, but next month I think there are about 15 due.

We were listening to the news (as usual) and thought we might hear some comments on the President’s answer as to whether he have a missile gap. You will remember that during the campaign he was positive on the subject but now it seems he is waiting to hear from his investigating committee. We have heard two prominent republicans commenting. They said essentially what we were thinking. Now that he is in the driver’s seat it doesn’t sound so good to be telling the world we aren’t in top place, or that we are second rate.

Our weather is warm enough today to do some window washing, but I have an appointment at Doris’s this afternoon, so the windows will have to wait.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/17/out-of-the-office/

New Parsonage Movement

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

[Wright 513 – in David’s handwriting]
Kentland, Indiana
February 6, 1961

Dear David:

Yours received this AM. I put $80.00 in the bank for you today. Be sure and put that on your check book balance.

We entertained the Polks last night with a supper and bridge. After we finished playing we sat and talked for a while and Dad decided to show them some of Becky’s pictures, along with his baby picture to see if they could see any resemblance. Speaking of pictures, I finished the roll in the camera yesterday morning. After a fog Saturday night, the temperature dropped and made Kentland look like fairy land Sunday morning. I sent the roll in this morning along with the negative of Dad and Becky you want enlarged.

I attended a meeting with a few members of the Finance Committee last week one evening and the thinking has gotten around to the place that we think we will have to take care of Capital Funds. We are also going to make a drive to get enough money to buy a new parsonage. There is to be a special board meeting Wednesday night to get a vote to give the Board of Trustees the power to proceed with a New Parsonage Movement. There is a medical meeting at the hospital that night and I am planning to go with Dad to that. I talked to Rev. Fields this morning and he seemed to think there would not be any opposition to the “Movement” and that I would not be needed at the Board Meeting.

I sent to DuPont for a booklet called “The story of World Trade.” I am going to prepare a program for club. I was put on without my consent and given the subject, International. I decided World Trade is about as International as anything can be. I wish you could help me draw some maps, but I rather think you won’t have time. This booklet has a lot of maps and information I am going to use and since this is Feb. and I don’t have to give the program until April I should be able to get it done myself.

Some new books came from Book of the Month. I ordered the January selection which was “The White Nile” and “Shadows on the Grass” (both about Africa) and with them came a dividend, “Gibbons Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire.” I have started to read “Shadows on the Grass” which is quite interesting. This afternoon, however, I have some book work to do, so must forego reading until tonight. Also have my Getty work to do.

Just been listening to the news and about the storms on the East coast. Sounds very wintry. We are supposed to get more here. So far we haven’t been snowbound. We have a lot of snow in the driveway, but we can get in and out.

I have lots of work to do, so must get busy.
Love Mother

City Gas

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[to Wright 513 – handwritten by David]
Kentland, Indiana
146 W. Graham Street
January 31, 1961

Dear David:

We are enjoying a little warmer weather. If we didn’t still have snow on the ground we might think it is spring.

I worked on statements last night and this morning. I thought about running the total up on the adding machine, but didn’t have you here to do it, so just didn’t take the time.

We now are using city gas. The plumbers and Public Service men came Saturday and made the change over. Our furnace had to be turned off about two hours, but the house didn’t get too chilly. Dad goes out and looks at the meter once in a while and says the needle travels awfully fast. Walter Small and John came yesterday and took the tank away. John is home for between semester vacation.

Pres. Kennedy was on Dave Garraway’s program this morning. We listened to his State of the Union message yesterday. Did you? The commentators pointed out the striking difference between his message and the one Ike gave recently. The Democrats applauded, but the Republicans say he has painted a picture that isn’t quite true. I will agree with him on his view on physical fitness.

There is a meeting tonight at the Church for members of the finance committee and others to discuss what our church is going to do about the Capital Funds drive. R. Zell came out last night and talked to us about getting the ball rolling for a new parsonage. I found the program for Jan. 1. Here it is in case you still want it.

Have some book work to do, so must get at it.
Love Mother

Far Behind Schedule

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[513 Wright – handwritten by David]
Kentland, Indiana
January 12, 1961

Dear David:

I haven’t ordered the Bible for Gary yet, because I want to know if he wants his name on the cover. Let me know and if he does, just how he spells his name, etc. It won’t take long to get it and you can take it back with you after semester vacation. The Commentary is $8.75 from Cincinnatti. I think there will be a handling charge in addition.

Mark and Shirley won’t be down the 20^th or 21^st. That is the Saturday Mark has to work. Maybe we can go to Chicago and see Becky while you are home if they can’t come down. All depends on the weather, etc.

We received a letter from John this week. He said he didn’t get my letter suggesting he call home for Christmas until after Christmas and since the last time was so unsatisfactory he didn’t think too much of the idea. He said when it was Christmas morning there, he got to thinking that we were having our Christmas Eve, well this is what he wrote, “As I woke up on Christmas morning here, the thought came to me that it was now Christmas Eve back home, that you all would have finished stuffing yourselves and that you would be sitting around watching television or something, waiting to open the presents. I suppose you had the usual potlatch?” Let’s just hope he can be with us Christmas Eve 1961.

This has been a busy week for me. I had to work for Arvella yesterday. She had to go to a funeral out of town. Daddy has been so busy in the hospital, he has had to miss some office hours. I am going to the office again this AM to help out a little since they are going to be so busy. I didn’t get the shirts to Mrs. Shoaf as usual on Tuesday, so I am going to take them today. That is how far behind schedule I am this week.

If I get time will send you some vitamins today. There are some here at home, but Dad said last night there were some he thought would be better for you at the office, so will send them out this morning.

Let me know if you want me to meet you at Rensselaer.
Love Mother

Sperry Dividends

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

[Wright 513 – handwritten by David]
Dr. R. S. Yegerlehner
Physician and Surgeon
Kentland, Indiana
1-4-61

Dear David:

The Sperry dividends came today, so I deposited $3.00 to your account. Don’t forget to add that to your balance.

Nothing much to write about this soon. Dad has been awfully busy since you left. He had to go to Watseka to help on surgery last night. Didn’t get home until after 8 o’clock. He had to go to Geo. Ade this afternoon to assist Dr. Gery. I am at the office now. He just returned from the hospital at about 4:30, so we are rather busy.

Your stock came back with your name corrected. You are supposed to sign some papers and return them. I think you can sign them when you come home again. The stock salesman will be here tomorrow and will tell us. If they are in a hurry, I will send the papers to you to sign and return to the Company.

Are you taking any vitamins? If not let me know and I will send you some. You were complaining about being tired. Maybe it is because you need vitamins.

Love Mother