Tag Archives: Indiana

Fayette Friday – Eugene B. Scofield, 6 June 1886

Letter transcription:

Sexton, Rush County, Ind., June 6 1886

Dear Sister Lena:

Ettie wanted me to write to you Friday last but as I was very busy I failed to do so, and as I have been from home every since I had to put it off until now. I am on my way home from the Hannagan and am waiting for my train.

I write this expressly to urge you to come up and visit us as soon as you can arrange to do so. Ettie would like for you to come the last of this week and remain as long [as] you can. I am at home most of the time and can be with you.

Can you not spend several days with us before harvest?

Yesterday was quite rainy.

Love to all—Drop us a card that you will come. Write soon.

Lovingly E. B. Scofield

 

©2018 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2018/01/26/fayette-friday-eugene-b-scofield-6-june-1886/

Throwback Thursday – A Teacher’s License

Lena Scofield’s teaching license, 1877

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Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2018/01/25/throwback-thursday-a-teachers-license/

Wordless Wednesday – Gladys in a park with a mysterious building

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Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2018/01/24/wordless-wednesday-gladys-in-a-park-with-a-mysterious-building/

Another Photographic Series

 

[Emma (Lawhead) Foster holding her grandson, John Yegerlehner, 28 January 1932, Terre Haute, Indiana, photographs privately held by the author.]

Sometimes we know when photographs are taken. In this case,  my grandmother probably labeled the photographs, as the one of the far right refers to Emma as “Mother.” I do not know the occasion for the photographs, but the photographer (again most likely my grandmother) took several.  We think nothing nowadays of taking picture after to picture to get the correct shot, to make sure everyone is smiling, eyes are open, etc. Not so in the previous centuries. Film cost money, and you didn’t know what you shot until the film was developed.

FOS1932 James L. Foster with John - Terre Haute, 1932-02-28

James L. Foster, holding his nephew, John Yegerlehner, 28 January 1932, Terre Haute, Indiana, photograph privately held by the author.

If the photographs had not been dated, the automobile provides a great clue, especially to all the old car experts out there. Emma’s dress—although we don’t see much of it since John is in the way—does give some clues as well. Gone is the dropped waist of the 1920s. Seated on the car’s sideboard, the top of Emma’s dress blouses over a waist (left). Soft pleats may also be visible at the hip line (right) as well as a longer skirt. These are clothing characteristics of the 1930s. A great place to look for everyday clothing styles of the 20th century are the Sears catalogues, found at Ancestry.

Sears catalogue, Fall 1931 (Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

©2018 copyright owned Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2018/01/22/another-photographic-series/

 

Photographic Clues

[Photographs of Gladys Foster and unidentified female, early 1920s, Terre Haute, Indiana, from author’s private collection]

These photographs of my grandmother were taken in Terre Haute, Indiana, in the 1920s. Only these three survive in my collection, and who knows if  more were taken? The clothing and hair definitely say 1920s. The length of Gladys skirt indicates the earlier part of the decade, before skirt hems rose to knee length. Born in late 1905, Gladys would certainly have been in her late teens or early twenties when the pictures were taken. The company name on the window provides a fantastic clue for when the photograph might have been taken.

Terre Haute city directory, 1924, Foster listings (image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

I already knew that my grandmother worked as a stenographer before her marriage. After high school she attended some kind of secretarial school. The whole Foster family (with the exception of the eldest daughter Lydia who had married and was deceased by 1924) can be found in the Terre Haute city directory. They lived at 2046 N. 8th Street. Gladys’ entry shows that she worked as a stenographer at Pierson & Bro. I could conclude that the photographer was taken about 1924, possibly on her lunch break with one of her co-workers.

As an added bonus, I found 2046 N. 8th Street on Google Street view. Fortunately, this house still exists (light brown in the center). (One of Gladys’ later residences was torn down and was replaced by a freeway!)

2046 N. 8th Street, Terre Haute, Indiana (Image courtesy of Google Maps)

©2018 copyright Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2018/01/21/photographic-clues/

Fayette Friday – Eugene B. Scofield, 15 March 1886

Letter transcription:

New Castle, Ind. March 15, 86

My Dear Sister:

You ask why I do not write, and my humble reply is I have no excuse. However, I have been from home so much, and my time has been so occupied when at home with my professional labors that I have little time or disposition to write.

Last Friday Ettie and I went to Summit where she will remain for some ten days during my absence at Cadiz for a week or so. I returned from S. next day, and spent Sunday at Millville, and have just got home. Am all alone. I go to Cadiz this 2 p.m.

We met Bro. Wiles on the train Frid— on his way to Marion. Said he had just heard from folks west. Said the church at Connersville are going to remodel their house to the turn of $3,000. He was

 

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much elated at the idea. Says it will be.

Now my dear sister you have about all the news I can impart.

Dr. Booe, our good neighbor and brother, has been sick, but is some better.

A Mrs. Kinsey, who was visiting her daughter, on the opposite side of the street from us died this 7 a.m. two hours ago.

Bro. D. K. Van Buskirk is to be here next week and the week after.

The death rate is rather high this Spring in this county.

Thanks for C.[Connersville] papers, they are always welcome.

Give my love to all, and accept much yourself. Would be glad to have you come up as soon as you can make it convenient.

Your Brother in much love
E.B. Scofield

©2018 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2018/01/19/fayette-friday-eugene-b-scofield-15-march-1886/

Throwback Thursday

David’s baptism certificate, April 1944

Digging through the family archives, here are a couple documents from the World War II era which I did not scan during the time I was transcribing the WWII letters. Some of my archive is a little more organized since then!  Roscoe and Gladys waited until Roscoe returned from the Pacific to celebrate David’s baptism. David was between 18-19 months old when he was baptized!

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Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2018/01/18/throwback-thursday/

 

Gladys – 28 April 1971

Letter transcription:

118 Juniper Court 47906
April 28, 1971

Dear David and Bonnie and Debbie,

Yours received today and since the rest of the week seems to be well taken, thought I had better get a line or two off tonight. I still do not have my own typewriter. The one the shop loaned me works, except the ribbon won’t turn and I have to give it a turn once in a while—hence the unevenness in the way the words show.

Tomorrow Edna is going with me to get the missionary who has been itinerating in Logansport and Lafayette Districts. He is speaking at a church near Logansport tomorrow evening. He will spend the night here and speak at our church Friday morning. I hope someone comes to hear him, since this meeting was a rather quickly arranged affair. Seems the Board of Missions sometimes doesn’t know what all is going on. We had his itineration set up so he would be at Trinity Sunday morning and at another Lafayette church in the evening, but he has to be in Buffalo, N.Y., by 8 PM April 30th. Did I mention in my last letter that Delmar Byler attended a meeting for North Indiana Conference Missionary Secretaries, members of Div. of Christian Outreach and District Superintendents? That meeting occurred the day before I went to Wichata. He told me he was going to come to Rockport to see you some time. It seems his wife has something in Boston from time to time.

Dad has the duty today, which lasts until 7 o’clock in the morning, so he isn’t carrying on a project tonight, except to watch tv and answer the phone.

One of the nurses who used to work at Purdue is married and lives in Germany. Her husband is a German, but an American citizen and serving in the Army. They have invited us to visit them this summer. We will have a week to drive around in Germany and Switzerland after we leave Africa. The Schillers live close to the French border, but in an American housing development for army personnel. We didn’t see much of Germany when we were there two years ago. We should see more this trip. There was an exchange student living with a family who attends Trinity last year. She helped the girl of the family she was living with make a banner for WSCS and I sent her a jewel box from Japan last summer. She sent me a very nice thank-you note. She lives in Marburg and we plan to see her while we are there.

Last week while I was in Wichata, I was able to enjoy real spring weather. Now that I am back home, it is like winter again. The flowers and trees—everything growing—was so much further along. The flower beds were full of blooming geraniums, and other flowers in full bloom. The part of Wichata that I saw was very clean. It was a delight to see the area around the Exhibit Hall—Century II. Everything so clean and orderly. The taxi driver who took me to the airport to come home said something about the stupid liquor law they have in Kansas. He seemed to think it kept Wichata from getting conventions, because most conventions have people attending who want to drink. That didn’t bother CWU. The convention center is a 13½ million dollar building—quite a place. Meets the needs of any convention.

There is a luncheon I plan to attend in Wabash Village—close to Glenwood Heights. It is a meeting of League of Women Voters which I have found is a very interesting organization. They really do get the facts on any subject they deal with. I haven’t been able to attend very many meetings, but have enjoyed the ones I have attended. If we could just get our church people to be as interested in getting the facts and to know what is really going on as the League, we might be able to accomplish more. I heard I.F. Stone on the Today Show this morning along with James Michener. It seems the Reader’s Digest condensed something Michener wrote about Kent State and left out something very important that seemed to give Michener’s article (book, really) a different meaning. Stone asked him why he permitted R.D. to do that to his book? They had quite a heated discussion about Kent State.

Love Mother

©2018 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2018/01/15/gladys-28-april-1971/

Fayette Friday – Eugene B. Scofield, 6 October 1885

Letter transcription:

New Castle, Ind. Oct. 6. 1885

Dear Sister Lena;

I am indebted to you, to Ella, to Zora, and to Sherman and perhaps to Minnie, for kind missives received somewhere in the remote past, so long ago that without reference to my “Column of Correspondents” I could by no manner of means locate their timely arrivals.

First and foremost—we are well: O what a boon is good health while so many of our acquaintance are stricken with the harsh hand of disease, and many fall victems of death; God spares our lives and blesses us with health. I trust you are well, and that Ella and all

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hers are in good health.

There is quite a number of cases of Typhoid fever in this country this fall. A young man by the name of Peacock, who worked the summer for Ettie’s Pa is down with it and, if not now dead is not expected to live.

Bertha Hartche, of Muncie, you remember her, was not expected to live the middle of last week, we don’t know whether she is still alive or not.

I was preaching in Clarke Co. when I was to have been at the S.S. celebration, as you perhaps recollect, and when there a good old Brother of ample means offered to pay all expenses if I would bring my wife down and visit them and attend the Southern Exposition at Louisville, I was to preach a couple of nights as an equivalent to expenses.

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When I came home Ettie at once approved of the arrangement—who would not. On my return from my ten days absence Ettie was at her father’s, and as made known to her the proposed trip she invited May to go with us which arrangement was finally consummated making the trip so much pleasanter for Ettie.

We left here on Monday morning and went direct to Bro. Gibsons who lives at Gibson Station eight miles from Jeffersonville on the Ohio & Miss R.R. We went by way of Indianapolis, and as we had a few hours there we visited the State House—there is quite a number of marble and granite columns in the corider—‘twil be grand when finished. We also visited Mortens Monument in the Circle Park.

We had a grand, good time the girls said they never visited a place that paid better than this visit.

But I cannot further describe our trip this time as I must lose [leave?]

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Before closing however.—I spent a couple of weeks at Blountsville holding a meeting—staid all night during first week with a Mr. Barr whose wife is a niece of Charley Booe’s Mother—fine folks—big noses like the Booe’s & Moffetts—

On Monday 28 ult Mr. & Mrs. Booe and Mrs. Roysden were at church. As a [I] went to shake hands with Mr. B. supposing him to be a resident (as were the several others I met as I steped into the church) I was in for letting go his hand but he held on until finally I looked up to see why he didn’t let go—well you may imagine my astonishment.

I must close. I have been interrupted and did not get this done as above date. Sally Smith is here canvassing for something called yestar. I am going to Cleaveland Ohio to Conventions—see Standard. Ettie is just finishing Lou’s ricrac—

Love to all—Your Brother Eugene S.

[top of page 1]
P.S. Am out of ink.

©2018 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2018/01/12/fayette-friday-eugene-b-scofield-6-october-1885/

Gladys – 22 April 1971

 

Letter transcription:

April 22, 1971

Dear David & Bonnie,

Had to get up at 5 this morning to get a ride to airport with a friend. We got the TWA 8:10 to Kansas City and changed planes and were in Wichata by 9:30. It was about 10:30 by the time I was ready for a nap. I am rooming alone, so had no competition from a room mate. It is about 12:30 now so I had a chance to catch up a little.

Yesterday morning a young girl from Indianapolis who had been a J-3 from the old Northwest Conference spoke to 5 of the circles of our W.S.C.S. We met in the church parlour. After the meeting was over I went to the Geneva Center to a meeting that had been called by the Ex. Director of North Ind. Conference. The Division of Christian outreach, all Missionary District Secy’s from the 10 districts and the D.S.’s were also present. Imagine my surprise when I arrived and saw Delmar Byler. He flew back to N.Y. from Indianapolis so saw him again this a.m. He says he is going to come see you sometime.

The convention center called Century 2 is just across the street from this hotel. I am on the 8th floor and have a grand view of the city and Arkansas River. We never did get to Wichata while living in Liberty, but I know in the past 25 or 26 years it has changed much. When I was in Kansas City in 1967 it didn’t

[page 2] look much like what I remembered when we lived close.

I read your letter after I got home yesterday and glad you have made contact with Lea and that she plans to stay with you after the baby comes. I will come when I can get away.

Spring has arrived a little early in W. Laf. and the ravine was beginning to show green when I left. I had noticed around town the red buds beginning to show some color. We are far enough south here, the trees are in full leaf and the red buds are far enough out that the blossoms are about gone from some.

This isn’t the most expensive hotel room I have ever stayed in. There were two sheets of paper and no envelopes. Guess I will have to see what I can find on a desk in the lobby.

Plan to be back home Monday the 26th.

Love Mother

©2018 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2018/01/11/gladys-22-april-1971/