Tag Archives: genealogy

Local Entertainment (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
Dec. 14, 1943

Dear Mother,

It’s a little late again this time. Seems as if I didn’t have time to write during the day and then there was a stage show of native talent and naturally I wanted to go to that. It’s a regular Tue. night program and of course it’s must different than the usual movies we see. I can’t say that I’d pay much to see such back home but it is different and a few of us go just to see what will

[page 2] happen and how it will happen. Possibly the how is as much the entertainment as the what. The thing lasted about 2 hours and everyone was more or less show happy when the last act was presented. They do have some kids that are good dancers and singers but it seems to me they try to over develop 8-10 year olds’ voices. Many of the 16-18 year old actors they have, try to over act, but who am I to be critical of singing and acting?

Tomorrow is Coca Cola day. We get can get a case. It costs us 3/6  I think, and that is very reasonable but we have to

[page 3] furnish the bottles and the case in the beginning, and that is a little more. The 3/6 is about 58 cents I think and the 3/6 is read or means 3 shilling & six pence. A shilling is a bob and a six pence is a sprat. Just like we would say a Jitney and a buck. They have lots of sayings which to us might be a little funny or even a little smutty and that can also be turned around. The word bloody is never used in mixed society. I mean nice society and if someone remarks that they were screwed yesterday – That means they drew their salary yesterday. Imagine

[page 4] what a funny situation that might create back in the U.S.A.

Tomorrow is payday and I’ll be sending you a check. I really don’t know how much is due. However, I won’t get it sent until the 16th so you can be looking for that letter. I just hope it gets to you by the first of the year because I know we always had lots of insurance, etc., coming due around about then.

Well, Dear starting this letter with no thought in mind as to what I would write – I think I did pretty good to fill up this much space so before it’s all gone let me write – “Lots of Love” from

Daddy

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Neither Flu or Grippe (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Dec. 14 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters today but with the Christmas mail getting heavier all the time I can understand delays. The three last week made me feel much better after the 10 days without. J. & M. are anxious to get their Christmas money. They are just as anxious just to get a letter from you but I told them you were sending them money, and you know the human nature angle. David of course isn’t as concerned as they are, but probably would be if he were older. He is asleep now. I had to put him down and cover him about 6 times to get him finally to give up and go to sleep. I had given him his dinner and put him to bed before J. & M. came and it was after 1 P.M. before he went to sleep. He still has a cough but no temp – and feels fine otherwise. So many have the same cough so it will probably hang on for a while. He hasn’t been out of doors since Sun. but yesterday I felt like I was taking flu and didn’t want to go out, besides being the coldest weather yet this winter 5° – The weather prediction for tonite is 5 below. I should go to Sheldon and get our acct. there straightened out. They sent me a bill for $49⁰⁰

[page 2] and I know I don’t owe anything like that. I do owe the rent in advance & a few processing charges but not that much. I am glad I keep pd. bills & cancelled checks.

I called Harlans yesterday and he said I could have a small amount of Ky. Coal today and that he has a promise of more in 10 days. I will be so glad to get cleaner coal. However I have been told that no coal is treated with oil this year, so even the Ky. Coal may be dirtier than before. We have had 3 pins break since using the Ind. coal Nov. 1. It seems to form clinkers on the retort much faster than better coal. No. 2 speed doesn’t feed enough coal to keep the fire hot enough and No. 3 feed is too much, so the result is that quite often I have to shut off the coal feed and just allow the air to fan thru the accumulated coals to burn them down. I should know this furnace well this winter. It certainly didn’t get this much attention last year.

We rec’d a box from Ruth & Floyd today. I think it is nuts, etc. Also rec’d a picture of Keith Algood and a card with “Loraine & Keith Algood” printed on it. I told you before Loraine secured a divorce from Gerald – cause – another woman having a baby by the aforementioned Gerald. Loraine is working for Allison in Indpls. & her mother keeps Keith. I think things went on while they lived in Kent that Loraine didn’t know about – don’t you?

[page 3] I have been getting the children’s pictures out to put on display until Christmas – Just an idea of mine. I think it’s fun to look at their pictures. J. & M. have changed so much, yet I can still see they look like they did when younger. David seems to look more like Mark’s baby pictures now, however he is distinctly David and can hold his own. Do you remember how we used to think Mark was the prettiest baby ever? I think that feeling must have been especially for Mark. I didn’t feel that way about John, although I thought he was a good looking baby. And somehow I haven’t had that particular feeling about David – but will say he is the best looking baby around town – (proud mama stuff). David gets a lot of compliments about his good looks. J. & M. of course think he is the best looking baby they have ever seen, and the smartest, and all the other adjectives.

I am sitting by the south nursery window with the venetian blind up to get all the sun I can get. My throat is a little scratchy, tho I didn’t come down with the flu. I thought I was going to last night – had a slight temp. – but feel good today.

[page 4] This epidemic that is around is neither flu or grippe but something milder – It is bad enough, because so many people have had it or are having it. Some people were wishing for a cold spell, thought that might help things. Well, we will see – It is colder now and probably will be for a while. Personally I could do with warmer weather.

This is two days before time for Arlene to go to St. E. I talked to her today and she was feeling good. She has gotten along since Louise left with part time help. She isn’t so large this time. They sent you two boxes for Christmas this week. You probably won’t get them until Jan., but Arlene had so much to do she said she couldn’t get them out any sooner. I told her you would appreciate them any time.

David just awakened so that ends my letter writing – He still sucks his left thumb and his Mother has about decided it’s time to do something about that little habit. You can imagine the condition of his thumb – It wasn’t a bad habit when he was smaller (or was it) but I think it should be stopped now – He knows we don’t like to see him work on his thumb and if in a good humor will take it out of his mouth when told to do so. Must take D. up and put him on toidey before he dampens his pants.

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/05/neither-flu-or-grippe-gladys/

Writing Practice (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 13, 1943

Dear Mother,

Just finished writing some records and while I’m in the writing atmosphere I’ll try on a letter – with records to write and letters my writing should improve but it seems to get worse. I miss a secretary and a wife who to do all the writing that was done around our place – The wife the most however. I really didn’t know how much I didn’t write before I joined the navy but I can easily break that writing habit once this thing is over. The above was some bunch of nonsense but it sure filled up space.

I thought I heard someone

[page 2] talking about mail but my rushing in to see was all unnecessary because there was none but it isn’t hardly time yet so there is still some hope.

I’m writing this time in the P.M. just before walk time (Long pause). The fellow I was going walking with just came along and it is now some hours later and three letters to answer – yours of Nov. 27, Nov. 30 and Dec. 2 came; the two last ones were v-mail. A greeting card letter also came from Sam & E.

I didn’t know Foulkes’ brother-in-law had been out of the States. Yes it isn’t good to be ill like he must have been. He evidently wasn’t in the Pacific area because I know of no tour like that unless it was for his

[page 3] illness.

I had received word about Marie S. in your letters and you writing of X-ray treatment – just reminded me. The next time you go to Lafayette take Mark and have a chest X-ray. All you need to do is go to St. E. and ask that Dr. Mcc McClelland read the picture, and if need be you can give Dr. Cole’s name.

I was amused and at one thing you wrote and that was the “loaning” of D.’s shoes to Jimmie Ed. Was there hope or despair in the word loan? Who is there to wear them after D.? Maybe I just read between the lines or am I assuming? Or am I just plain crazy? Or what?

Even in the letter from Sam & E.

[page 4] D. came in for his share they said “very sweet and good looking” like his mother. I added the last part of that.

You need not apologize for the Christmas presents because I certainly did not over extend myself for you – and remember I asked you not to send things and I know the spirit in which it was given and certainly appreciate it very much. (another pause)

It is now about 8 hours since this letter was started. The last pause was a bit of Bull throwing along medical lines and lots of fun.

Well Dear again a Merry Christmas and Lots of Love
Daddy

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©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/04/writing-practice-roscoe/ ‎

Winter Arrives (Gladys)

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1943-12-13 (GRY)Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
12-13-43

Dear Daddy – Our first real winter day – It was 5 above at 7 a.m. in Chi. and not much warmer here. The house isn’t warm enough today. We can’t seem to get the furnace adjusted to this Ind. coal. I had to turn off the coal feed and let the air fan thru the accumulation of coals all morning to get the fire box cleaned out. It is building up again but not enough to get the desired heat. David is toddling around – just turned him loose and he is enjoying it so much. His big act today is saying ooh, ooh, with his mouth all puckered up. He likes to watch himself in the mirror do that. The flu epidemic is still going – I think John said 35 were out of high school today – a little better than Fri., 50 were absent. I don’t know how many are out at the grade school, but I suppose about the same percent. I have a touch of sinus and I am staying in today – The cold always makes it worse. At least it is draining good and that’s something. After all the mild weather up to now this really hurts. The boys dreaded going out to go to school They boys were looking for their letters from you this a.m. but none came. They are anxious to get the money to do some Christmas shopping. I didn’t get any letters either, but got the check last week – thanks again and hope you have a Merry Christmas

Love Mother

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Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/03/winter-arrives-gladys/

Pictures (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 11, 1943

Dear Mother,

You will or rather have noted the pictures which were included in yesterday’s letter. The others will follow a few at a time so that they will not be too heavy for air mail. These were taken as you can see – one in a Botanical garden and the other just outside a little hotel where we stayed. That is about all I can say about the pictures for further description and “stuff” might be telling things so we will stop there.

Once before I mentioned about

[page 2] you putting the boys’ ages on the pictures and not putting your own. Of course, I know, so you can’t fool me although that picture would fool me if I didn’t know because you surely don’t look your age – and I don’t mean you look older.

You also wrote in one of those letter about D. & his mother both taking a nap in the P.M. You wrote it as if you were ashamed but I see no reason why you would feel badly about taking a nap in the day time. I sure don’t feel that way and I’m sure some of the other fellows around

[page 3] here feel the same as I on that score.

The Newton Co. E. came today – The first issue in a very long time. It was the issue dated Sept. 30. I’ve read the whole thing and will give it to the Mulligan boy. He told me the other day he had not received any issue and I think he doesn’t receive any letters from there.

If I’ve figured correctly it is just two weeks until Christmas and if I’m going to wish you a Merry Christmas and have it get there in time I should do it now – So Merry Christmas and lots of love

Daddy

[Editor’s Note: I do not believe I have the photographs Roscoe sent home in this letter.]

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Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/31/pictures-roscoe/

Planes Overhead (Gladys)

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1943-12-11 (GRY)Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
12-11-43

Dear Daddy – No letters today but one yesterday of Dec. 3 – also the day before rec’d Dec. 1 & 2. Had a letter from your Mother and she is having flu. Seemed to be having it pretty hard. None of us have had it so far during this epidemic – David has a little cold yet but no temp. Your Mother said Gerdie Harden died. I knew she was ill – had cancer in her stomach or bowels – at any rate I think she was taking treatment from a “quack” – He gave her medicine that was going to remove said ca[ncer] without surgery. I didn’t make any comment on the treatment when I was down there in Oct. but didn’t believe she would recover – from Faye’s account of her condition. John has been listening to opera and Mark has been working on a plane for Bobby. David is in his pen wanting out. I don’t like for him to roam around when I am trying to write – he finds so many things. J. & M. can make out so many words he jabbers – I think they are imagining most of them. It is very cold today. I hung some white clothes out and they hung frozen for a long time, but finally dried. This is hard on our coal pile – just hope more comes in soon. I hear a plane going over – they go N., S., E., and W. every day.

Love – Mother

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Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/30/planes-overhead-gladys/ ‎

A Better Christmas Present (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Fran. Cal.
Dec. 10, 1943

Dear Mother,

Two air mail letters today one dated Nov. 23 & one Nov. 26. The pictures were in one and believe it or not I think you couldn’t have sent a better Christmas present. Those are the first pictures I’ve seen in a long time because the ones you have sent are packed away and are supposed to be sent to me. You see most of my gear had to be shipped because I traveled by air and couldn’t take everything. I sure went round and round there to tell you I didn’t have your

[page 2] pictures with me.

A letter from the folks came yesterday today also. It seems as if they are getting along fine. Mother’s writing has improved lots and I’m sure she isn’t nearly as nervous now as a year or so ago.

When on our trip we had some pictures taken and when they come back I’ll send them to you if they are good. They might be good of the hills, etc., but the subjects in question were both poor so I know they can’t be too good. The pictures I mean – I’m run down –

Love Daddy

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Lafayette and Back (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Dec. 10 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Just back from Laf. Took Lucile down to shop and purchased a few things too. John wanted records for Christmas so got him “The Nutcracker Suite.” In case you don’t know what it is, it’s from an operetta. I was going to take David and Lucile was to take Jimmy and we would leave both babies with her sister, but David still had some cold and I didn’t want to have him around Jimmy – so I got Clara to come stay with D. and also she got all the venetian blinds washed and windows while here, so I got some housework down even tho I wasn’t here. I didn’t want to take David away from home while he has any cold. He slept last night without coughing and didn’t run any temp. today but coughed quite a bit all day. He is asleep now and

[page 2] seems to be resting very good. I called Dr. M. wed. about giving him sulfadiazine and he said give him ¼ tablet every 4 hrs. I did that 36 hours then stopped. After I got back from Laf. this evening I went down and talked to him about d. He said if he continues to cough to give him sulfa again in two days. This cough seems to get so many people. I don’t know how contagious it is but know of no one being close to D. that had a cough. Ed Johnson has had it for several weeks but he hasn’t been close to David only out of doors – last Sun. he took some pictures but it was in the yard, I didn’t take D. into their house. At any rate it hasn’t made him feel bad and so far he isn’t running any temp. He is not as bad as he was yesterday, so I suppose I will just have to keep him in and keep him warm. When I came home this evening he was walking around the house having a grand time. I fed him and put him to bed, then I went

[page 3] to see the Dr. Mark said he would go along. After seeing the Dr. decided to get my supper downtown – I was hungry and didn’t like the idea of coming home and frying eggs – (meat frozen isn’t easy to work with) so Mark & I ate at Krulls – the first time I have eaten out for weeks – but eating in Laf. is quite out of the questions with us – We try to eat before we go or after we come back. Sometimes we have stopped at the Triple X on the hill and get a sandwich and drink. The Krull children were going to the ball game at Remington and asked J. & M. to go along. I come home as soon as I finished eating so John could go. I am here with David now, trying to catch up with my correspondence while it’s nice and quiet (except for the stoker).

I saw Phyllis M. downtown and Art is soon to be traveling. He is to go to some eastern port for 8 weeks, then, who knows where. The Emmet Millers have a baby boy. Born just shortly after Emmet was sent out.

[page 4]  They were somewhere in the South – he was sent to N.Y. and she came home one day and had her baby the next. She made the trip part way by plane, so you can understand why. James William came 3 wks. early. She was in the hospital in Laf. but I didn’t try to see her today – I figured she would be home by now.

Mr. Z. had been in Laf. attending something at Purdue since Tues. Mrs. Z. was going down today to get him, but Virginia took a cold and Mrs. couldn’t go, so Lucile and I brought him back with us. I was going to take Alma today but she had another one of those terrible attacks last night and wasn’t able to go. She has been doctoring with Rumkorf since you are away. Jack told her to either go see him today or have him over but I haven’t talked to her this evening so don’t know whether she did either.

Yours of Dec. 3 came today – not bad, eh. Just hope you get mine as fast as you have been. If 18 months mean anything – oh well, you know the answer. Thanks again for the check. As I said before it will help a lot, as we are a little low.

Had a letter from Juanita and Ralph was going to be drafted so he joined the Navy, so you see the pre-Pearl Harbor fathers are being taken –

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/28/lafayette-and-back-gladys/

Pounds, Shillings & Sixpence (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
Dec. 9, 1943

Dear Mother,

Just received your v-mail of Nov. 28 It sure seems as if v-mail is faster than air mail and eleven days isn’t bad. I hope mine are getting to you in as good time. Some day I’ll write you a v-mail to compare the time – I’ve said that before but never have – when I think of it I don’t have any forms and I can’t remember to get the forms when I’m around where they can be gotten where ever that is I haven’t found out yet.

In your letter today you again wished me a Merry Christmas. Those greetings are sure getting

[page 2] here early but better that way than not all at all.

Got my laundry back today and it was 4/6 which I think figures about 70-75 cents. That was for three shirts and a pair of Pjs. Maybe that isn’t so bad. Really back there I imagine it is higher than that now. That 4/6 is shilling & sixpence. We just don’t try to compare it with U.S. money because it’s too hard that way. It’s all in pounds, shillings & sixpence (or rather pence). I’m not too handy at the stuff yet but a little better than at first. I keep thinking a pound note is the same as a dollar bill but it amounts to about $3⁰⁰ or rather a little more than three dollars. Really

[page 3] they must have intelligent cash registers around here to figure all that business and have it come out right at the end of the day.

The pictures you wrote about haven’t arrived as yet but they should in the next few days because all the letters before and after that one came. It’s been some time since I’ve had pictures but I think you explained that films were a little hard to get back there.

Well, here is wishing you that Merry Christmas to you and –

Lots of Love
Daddy

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Mail Came Today (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Dec. 9 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Dec. 1 & 2 came today. Thanks for the check. Our bank acc’t is low ($49.00) so that will boost it somewhat. When I can find the time will send you a complete financial statement for 1943. I have the checks listed under their respective distributions (to Dec. 1) but haven’t added the long columns yet. I put a few figures in a letter last week, about Ins., Bonds, etc., but those didn’t take much adding. It doesn’t seem possible I wrote checks to cover all the money I put in the bank in ’43 but I have the checks and they all were essential – with the exceptions of a piano, fur coat, etc. However a goodly amt. went into Ins., the house & bonds.

David is still coughing a little, but hasn’t any temp. I am still giving him sulfadiazine. I haven’t had him anyplace where he could get such a cold but he has one. 37 were out of school today (high). Irene, Mrs. J. & Jimmy are all down with flu. I called Link and talked to him. I told him David was under the weather.

[page 2] and I can’t leave him now but could come over after school if I could do anything to help. He said he had gotten them all fed and they were pretty well taken care of then. They had Dr. M. yesterday and today. I didn’t call the Dr. to come I just asked him about giving sulfa & he told me what dosage to give and how often. David is asleep now. Hope he takes a nice long nap. I try to keep him in his bed but he gets tired of being kept up, so have to turn him loose when he gets to dissatisfied. He takes his stuffed toys and loves then, then throws them down. He pulls the lovey stuff on me too when he wants something very much. He certainly understands things we say to him. I told him he couldn’t crawl around the floor. He got down and began to crawl. I said “do you want me to put you back in your bed,” and he quit crawling. I put him on the toidey seat just as soon as he finishes his breakfast and he usually has his first B.M. I am not always lucky enough to get the next, but if I put him on the toidey after his nap he usually saves a diaper. He tries to feed himself, but to keep from wasting Pablum I give him a spoon to work with and at the same time feed him with another spoon.

[page 3] He won’t allow me to help him guide the spoon he holds and doesn’t seem to notice I am feeding him at the same time he is trying to feed himself. He can hold his cup to drink from but is a little awkward so I usually hold the cup.

John was relating some school happenings yesterday. He sounded so much like you in his tone and mannerism I told him you couldn’t have sounded more like yourself. They had to give reports on certain animals and the Dean Davis boy in John’s class gave a report on monkeys. You recall Davises used to have a pet monkey. John doesn’t care for the D. boy and ended the discussion with this observation, I wonder if the Davises were trying to find a twin for Dwane when they got that monkey. He was so droll about it – Just like his Dad.

I see in the paper that Ira Dixon is going to engage in the practice of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1913, according to the paper. As has been the custom the Dem. comes on Thurs. and the Newton Co. usually tags in on Fri.

I told J. & M. their Christmas money would come in a day or two – I also told them they could buy themselves a fresh supply of cod liver oil out of their own money. I don’t know how they could get more benefit from spending on themselves, do you?

[page 4] Mark has been playing football all fall. He came in at noon with a bad thumb. Thought he couldn’t cut his meat and when I pointed out it was hamburger, got along with his fork. He takes the prize about so many things. I tell him he gold bricks. Sometimes he will say, “Now Mother don’t think I am trying to ‘gold brick.’” He was done all his Christmas shopping and has his gifts wrapped and under the tree. He is so full of anticipation for Christmas. It’s good to have someone in the house like that. John is rather matter-of-fact about things. I told both boys our bank acc’t is low right now, so John said, to cut down on Christmas spending (now who is that like?). Not that I was throwing money around on elaborate gifts. I have a few things I think Mark will enjoy, some toys for D. and want to get a record or two for John. He will probably get himself some records with the money you send.

Dot Salter Huffman sent me a roll of film and Lucile sold me one so now I have two rolls and can get some more snaps of D. and the rest of us. Dot works for Easley and knew I wanted film, hence the roll from her. Katie Fletcher works at the NuJoy and gets film for Lucile – You really have to be on the inside track to get film not.

Love Mother

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Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/26/mail-came-today-gladys/ ‎