Tag Archives: genealogy

Dear John (Roscoe)

: December 3, 1943 envelope

: December 3, 1943, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 3, 1943

Dear John,

This is just a little present for you. I hope it isn’t too late for you to make good use of it for Christmas – Buy what you want but if you feel you need some advice consult your mother for I’m sure she will be glad to give you suggestions.

I’m also sending Mark & David the same but in case something happens that theirs don’t come thru I’m sure you would like to divide with them.

Mother, I’m sure, will see to it that you boys will have a fine Christmas and I do hope you will enjoy yourselves very much and I’ll be thinking of you.

Love Daddy
P.S. My regards to Mother.

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/11/dear-john-roscoe-3/

The Finances (Gladys)

3 Replies

: December 3, 1943 envelope

: December 3, 1943, p. 1

: December 3, 1943, p. 2

: December 3, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Dec. 3 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters for four days but maybe a bunch will come tomorrow or Mon. It is a typical grey wintry day – however not very cold. The checks just came today so must go to the bank and make a dep. I am running low, but will try to give you some idea about the status of our finances when I get thru writing. At least we won’t have to pay int. on Ins. loans this Dec. I paid the balance on the piano today. Had it tuned and that cost $5⁰⁰. I will pay all the groc. bills, etc., while downtown this afternoon. I am keeping all bills paid – that is why I am so short of cash on hand but I would rather not allow bills to accumulate. I am not going to spend much on Christmas gifts this year. There isn’t much use to go shopping – the stores just haven’t the stock for the Christmas trade they had last year. Had a letter from Ruth M. and she wants to either come here or us go there for Christmas. I wasn’t planning to go to C.C. I think it isn’t best to take David away during the cold weather to stay so long. There too would have to get the neighbors to look after the furnace and that is too much trouble to ask of anyone. I think I am going to suggest the Mutchlers coming here, if they can manage their gas situation. I would much rather stay home. Dorothy has asked us to come there for the day, but family comes first and if we can arrange with Ruth will spend the day with them here or there.

[page 2] Leo Sondgerath had a ruptured appendix. He is in St. E. and seems to be getting along, according to the Newton Co. E. Bluford Healy had pneumonia and was quite serious, but is better now. His wife went to Ft. Bliss, Texas, to be with him last week.

David woke up a little grouchy from his nap. It isn’t sunny today so won’t take him out in his buggy. Will go in the car so I can get groceries. I am buying homogenized milk for him at Bair’s now and today is when the fresh supply comes in (Tues. & Fri.). He tries to say some words when we talk. So far we have to guess at most of his words or expressions. Mark is pretty good at interpreting his talk. He is trying to feed himself and I think will soon be able to manipulate spoon from bowl to mouth without too much loss of food on the way. John and Mark played Monopoly last night and had Virginia come over and play with them. I told them no arguments or I wouldn’t allow them to play. They do pretty good.

I saw “Ma” out chasing Jimmy. He wants to stay out and she wants him to go in. He runs and she can’t catch him. She hadn’t been so well, but now that we aren’t out in the yard much I don’t see her much. I think Irene goes to Chi. for thyroid treatment quite often. She isn’t to have an operation but takes iodine. The Factory is building an addition and intend to move the Chi. Plant here. I think the new addition will be almost as large as the original.

I must do some figuring so I can go to town and give you an idea about finances. I hear a plane going over – sounded so low – might have touched the tree tops. Every time I hear one go over I think it might be bringing you home.

Love – Mother

(over)
By the time all current bills are paid there won’t be much balance if any – but maybe next month it won’t be so bad – or will it?

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/10/the-finances-gladys/

Cigarettes and Chewing Gum (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: December 2, 1943 envelope

: December 2, 1943, p. 1

: December 2, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 2, 1943

Dear Mother,

Just by way of repeat – In yesterday’s letter I had a check for your Christmas and I’ll get some money orders for the boys tomorrow. Maybe I’m a little late with this Christmas business but with any kind of connections the letters should get there in good time.

Your V-mail letters of Nov. 16 – 19 & 20 came today – Those were the latest I’ve received here. It seems v-mail is faster than air mail but keep both coming. I don’t mind v-mail in the least but many of the fellows don’t like them – they do seem a little like canned mail but it keeps one up to date.

In case I didn’t mention it before – Ruth M. sent me some cigarettes and chewing gum. The latter was quite a treat since that stuff is really hard to get. I don’t like to mention things like that because I have a feeling gum is hard to get there and I wouldn’t like to deprive anyone from their supply. Mother sent some a few months ago and I had some of that until just lately.

Your greeting also came and the little insert where you inserted the word “one” for “folk” was

[page 2] really something. I’d say rather cute and with much meaning and of course the thing applies both ways.

I’m still feeling badly about not writing for such a long stretch of time because just about now you are in that period when you are reaping the benefits of me not writing. I surely hope you won’t think to me too terrible but it was an opportunity I hated to miss. I’d like to write you all about the trip but that isn’t al the way the censorship is here so things like that will have to keep until later. It was such a delitful delightful experience after the past few months that it’s hard for me to even describe or realize just how much it really did mean. Here I am writing you all this when you really haven’t had a vacation or a change for some time and no prospects of one so I’m more than somewhat ashamed of myself.

Other letters to the folk, the Ruths, etc., have to be written and if I stop now maybe I can write one or two tonight so

Solong –
Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/09/cigarettes-and-chewing-gum-roscoe/

Yesterday’s Letters (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: December 1, 1943 envelope

: December 1, 1943, p. 1

: December 1, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 1, 1943

Dear Mother,

In one of your letters yesterday you gave me the full details of the flowers arriving for your birthday. He (Palmer) had the exact date so maybe he planned the whole thing that way and there is also a possibility that he arrived just in time. Too bad something like that couldn’t happen so I could send you a real nice Christmas present but so far I see no hope of that.

This little check is for that purpose – (Christmas present) but it really isn’t like flowers, etc. One could buy some things presents here but I am a little afraid of sending things since that box I sent last year didn’t come thru and it was also late when I arrived here. So use the check for something you wouldn’t otherwise wouldn’t buy, like the Pjs you told me you bought for your birthday. I got more than somewhat of a kick out of your description of that affair.

When you wrote that I would have a good picture – better picture rather of D. growing up than some “Daddies” at home you were very correct because there has been very few letters in which he didn’t come in for his share from

[page 2] his proud Mother and of course I was as eager to hear read those things as you were to write them. I often as you can. What you write but send them as often as you can. What you write but send them as often as you can. What you write but send them as often as you can.

Tomorrow I’ll get some money orders for the boys so they can get a few things for themselves, as they did last year. Seems as if they got a big kick out of that last year. All this Christmas writing by me I suppose was brought on by the date for it just doesn’t seem that that time is around again and of course we know now that we won’t have snow but you have possibilities there. I know you will not be disappointed if snow doesn’t come but as I’ve often written a little bit of snow under my feet would sure feel fine especially if it were in certain parts of Indiana.

I do hope this gets to you by Christmas time but I have a feeling that the mail will be slow again this year because of the regular Christmas rush which is hard to control.

I’ve rambled lost lots but any way.
Lots of Love
Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/07/yesterdays-letters-roscoe/

Report Cards (Gladys)

1 Reply

: December 1, 1943 envelope

: December 1, 1943, p. 1

: December 1, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Dec. 1 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

The first day of Dec. – no mail today but probably will get some tomorrow. It was a little sunny today and I took David out for fresh air. He hadn’t been out this week (Mon. or Tues.) due to a slight cold which was not present today, so I thought fresh air would do us both good. We walked over to Johnsons but they weren’t home so went on over to Krulls. I hadn’t seen their kitchen since they had remodeled. They now eat their noon meal at home every day & Thurs. & Sun. are home since those days the restaurant is closed. They closed up the door that went into the pantry and made another at the south end of the dining room. They now have a bathroom with a shower off their kitchen. It is very nice with built in cupboards, new sink, etc. If you were home I think I would want to finish the room over the garage for the boys, but under the present circumstances I think it is best that we get along as is, but it’s something to plan for. Even with a new house there is always something to do (like finish the basement).

J. & M. brought home report cards today. John had Gen. Science A – English A+ – History & Arith. A – Ag. B+ – Physical Ed. S (Satisfactory) – Band A and Citizenship S. Mark’s grades went down, but

[page 2] I am not surprised. He isn’t quite up to par. I didn’t get him started on vitamins quite soon enough and I think he played too hard thru “their” football season. I set a new bed time for him which is 8:30 and am trying to get him rested some. He and Bobby are upstairs now working on a plane for Bobby. Mark is having trouble with arithmetic now – long division seems awfully hard for him. I have to help him every evening and he isn’t grasping it like he should. I think that is one cause for his present nervousness – he gets impatient about not getting his work rapidly. David is walking around the house playing with a muffin pan and a lid. He went to the stove and got them out of the drawer. We are slapping his hands now to teach him to leave things alone that sit around where he can reach. In the morning when I get up, I have sinus drainage and do some clearing, hacking and spitting. He imitates me. He is at the age where he tries to do a lot of things we do. Of course we think he is advanced for his age, but that’s our privilege.

Dorothy told me today that Ellsworth got a 3 month deferment – that Al is going to quit teaching next year ( he will be retired then) and run Ellsworth’s business while E. is in service. Now that is as told to me and things may change by then, but those are present plans.

I tried to do some Christmas shopping today but didn’t get much done. Got a box to send to Jim. Have a gift for Thelma – an English coin purse Bud K. made.

The weather is turning to the wet order. It is raining some now. Theresa Ann Tubberty just came to get Bobby – she helps Arlene after school. Louise is back but she isn’t able to work like she used to – I don’t know when she will have her baby – She probably won’t stay after Arlene gets back from the hospital and can get along. Bobby said his Mother was addressing Christmas greetings today – She has to get her things done early.

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/06/report-cards-gladys-2/

Ten Days (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: November 30, 1943 envelope

: November 30, 1943, p. 1

: November 30, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Nov. 30, 1943

Dear Mother,

You mentioned in one of your letters I received today about forgetting to mail a letter for one day and was sorry – well, I haven’t written for 10 days as you probably know by now but I wasn’t supposed to say too much about a leave I was taking – So I’m sorry for not having written. It had to be that way – The only thing I did write was that my mail would be off schedule. There was 18 letters and a package from Ruth M. waiting when I got back.

About the vacation – I have a word picture of the whole thing but that can’t be written for reasons you already known by you. It was a chance I couldn’t afford to miss and maybe I had it coming because it has been some time since I’ve had a day off from duty. Not being able to write was the thing I hated the most.

There are so many things in your letters about which I’d like to write but three more just came so I’ll have to have some time to digest all of them. Most of the letters were old having gone to the old address the latest being Nov. 15, and the worry you had about leaving off the 133 was useless because it really isn’t too necessary although

[page 2] it does help.

The most vivid thing running thru all your letters was D. walking. I believe you stressed that the most. Maybe that was the thing that was most interesting to me. At least I enjoyed it lots, and I know he must enjoy walking from your word pictures of his actions while he is toddling along.

I hope Art Kenney was correct about the tour of duty. Of course one don’t expect things like that to happen on the exact day. What he told you about the contingent of Marines has proven correct in so far as I am concerned. He has been promoted rather rapidly to have reached the rate he has in such a short time but I think Art is a pretty bright boy.

So far the home town paper sent by Boonie hasn’t arrived but things like that are slow. I hope the pictures of D. are good you had taken under the sponsorship of the paper.

Maybe tomorrow I can write a little better letter after I’ve had a chance to think about yours and re read the ones I might have skipped over lightly –

Lots of Love
Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/05/ten-days-roscoe/

Trying to Tell Me Something (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
11-30-43

Dear Daddy – No letter today but had Nov. 19^th Sat. It was very chilly this a.m. I hung clothes out and they froze by are now. It has warmed up quite a lot. J. & M. are just home from school. David is running around the house enjoying his freedom. He does love to be out of his pen and go places. We are having Shurtters to dinner this evening. Bob thinks he will be called around Christmas. He applied for an Ensign commission. That will make the high school short two teachers. Coke Foulkes called to get your address today. Their brother-in-law is back in Great Lakes. He has been very ill – had Malaria and disintary. I am glad you weren’t ill. I wish you were home but wouldn’t want you to get sick to get back. I think he was gone a year – that being the tour of duty for that area. I saw the proofs of the pictures I had taken of David and they were the best yet. I won’t get the pictures before two weeks so you probably won’t get any of them by Christmas, but maybe shortly after. David is trying to tell me something now but I can’t understand a word – Bobby says he can understand him.

Love – Mother

Enough Gasoline (Gladys)

3 Replies

: November 29, 1943 envelope

: November 29, 1943, p. 1

: November 29, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Nov. 29 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Mon. afternoon – David took an early nap and woke up grouchy – I was taking 40 winks myself when he demanded attention. His nose is a little runny today, but with all of us with a little head cold more or less I am not surprised. I am just having the usual sinus drainage and J. & M. are about over theirs. Under Dr. Cole’s instruction I gave them sulfamerazine and the colds got better. They have started on Vi Delta and of course David has had his oleum percomorph continuously since 5 wks. old. I let David loose but that didn’t work because I wanted to write and do a few other things and when he is loose he has to be watched. I put him back in his bed and it is by the window so he can look out. I gave him a lot of toys but one by one I have heard them hit the floor. He is now shaking the bed. When the coast is clear he can move the bed over the room by shaking the side. He says kitty & dog quite plain now and notices the squirrels out in the yard. I am afraid squirrel will be a little hard for him to say. He is more like John about the chattering and talking early. In some ways he isn’t like either J. or M. – must be just David.

It snowed last night and there is still snow on the ground. It is grey today with some snow falling. It has been so dry and this snow is melting, so the shrubbery will get some moisture.

[page 2] I have watered our new shrubbery this fall because if the evergreen that was replaced doesn’t hold up they won’t replace it. I thought they never would get around to replacing it at all.

I haven’t heard from Floyd & Ruth since we saw them Nov. 1. I don’t know whether he has been reclassified or not. It may depend on how scarce men are to answer the draft quote in Clay Co. Pauline Hiestand thinks Joe will soon have to go because his number is low and the single men are all taken from here. About Paul & Earl – they are on deferments so may have to go in time if the demand is great enough – however Paul was rejected I believe for some cause or another – I couldn’t say for sure what is was. There was a lot said about Ellsworth W. but he is still around – some people think military discipline might do some good in certain cases.

I have had enough gasoline. When I had to make so many trips to the hospital I had to have much more than an A card allowed but I was taken care of by friends. However the ration board here is very generous and when Jim was home he got gas to drive back to T.H. and Glen got special C tickets without any trouble at all to go back to Nevada. I get 3 gal. a week and in ordinary times is all I need.

David is raising a howl so must go see what I can do about it, if anything. He still sucks his thumb but J. & M. keep working on him to stop him. I put a thumb guard on him but he usually gets it off. He isn’t so bad about it unless he hasn’t anything else to do – he is working on it rather strenuously now – he makes a little noise in his throat sometimes when he is sucking his thumb.

Love Mother

P.S. Finances aren’t so good, but I think I can make it O.K. Not much surplus but am keeping bills pd.

Shopping After Thanksgiving (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
11-26-43

Dear Daddy – Just home from Laf. again. Had to get my new lenses. Also took Mark to Dr. Cole. He has a slight head cold which doesn’t seem to improve with nose drops. Dr. gave me 2 prescriptions. Dr. Cole is so buy with so many baby cases his office is crowded from the time he goes there until he leaves. He is doing his share in the war effort taking care of so many cases, more than he would ordinarily. I think there is only one other baby Dr. in Laf. besides Cole. Alma W. went with us. She saw Van Buskirk for her sinus and is to go back next week again. My throat & sinus have cleared up since I got heat in our room again. Mrs. Z. kept David this afternoon – It was her idea. I was going to take him along & leave him in the car with J. & M. I went over and got him and John took him up to bed. I hear him now making a sleepy noise. John wanted a monopoly game for Christmas so I gave him the money and he bought it today – He and Mark are having a game now. I told him he couldn’t play with it until Christmas but he & Mark wouldn’t listen to such an idea. I got Mark a few things today & David too. Was going to get records for John but couldn’t get what he wanted. I really did better on my Christmas shopping today than I thought I would – in spite of crowds & scarce goods. Here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas.

Love Mother

Fashion Moments – Marcel Wave

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Welcome to my weekly fashion blog post. Each week I will discuss a female garment, fashion trend or influencer from the age of photography (1840s through the 20th century). My goal is to educate family researchers and genealogists about the clothing worn by our ancestors. Dating photographs is an issue we all struggle with as family archivists. Additionally, anyone who writes about their family’s history should be aware of the environment in which their ancestors lived. Period clothing is an important part of that environment from how it affects a person’s movement to their overall lifestyle. This week I introduce you to the 19th century French hair dresser Francois Marcel.

Who was François Marcel?

There are conflicting reports about who Francois Marcel was, mostly due to the fact that he used different names throughout his career. However, it appears that he was François Marcel Grateau (1852-1936). During the 1870s, he invented a technique for curling hair using hot curling tongs. By 1905, then known as François Marcel Woelfflé. he patented his first design for a curling iron in the United States. Marcel continued to register patents for various curling irons, permanent machines and hair clippers until his death in 1936.

: 1905 Curling Iron (Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

: 1905 Curling Iron patent (Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

Marcel Wave

Although the technique was originally perfected for longer hair which was styled up and back, as women began to “bob” their hair in the 1920s, the Marcel wave became even more popular. Many film stars, like Claudette Colbert, sported Marcel waves during the 1920s. My grandmother Gladys employed the style on her hair during the late 1920s and early 1930s. This picture was taken in 1929. The main characteristic of the Marcel wave is the alternating “S” shape in the rows of waves.

Foster, Gladys - Terre Haute, Indiana,1929

Gladys Foster, Terre Haute, Indiana, 1929

The style was not restricted to the young and famous, or to specific geographic regions. Women of all ages and social standing “marcelled” their hair. Coincidentally also in 1929, this photograph was taken in the San Francisco Bay area. While my other grandmother, Louise, was only 14 at the time, her mother stylishly wears the Marcel wave in her hair.