Tag Archives: Indiana

Art Kenney

[Editor’s Note: Thomas Arthur “Art” Kenney ran one of the two pharmacies in Kentland. He joined the Navy in 1942, and served as a pharmacist’s mate. He and Roscoe were good friends for many years.]

September 26, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 26, 1944, p. 1

Sept. 26^th 1944
Dear Doctor, Gladys & Family:-

I’m sitting here feeling sorry for myself so I will pass away a few minutes dropping you a line. Well lots of things have happened since I bid you adieu over two years ago. You have seen lots I have seen some and the war has is definitely over the apex and we are all looking forward to when it will be over, which I hope & pray will be sometime next year. I received the Kentland Democrat today and see where another Kentland lad has paid the supreme price, Bruce William’s boy. I wonder how many more will be forced to give their lives before this war is over.

Francis said he has seen you a couple of times since you have gotten back to the States, but he didn’t say how you survived your tour of duty out here. I have often wondered if you picked up any of these tropical diseases. I hope you haven’t. I don’t worry too much about them but do hope I escape anything too serious.

Haven’t had it too hard out since I signed up sometimes feel a little ashamed when I read what some of the lads have gone through but guess guys my age aren’t suppose to be daredevils. I have been in Malaria Central ever since I’ve been in the Navy. I’ve done everything from hatching mosquitoes, identifying larvae & blood parasites, to bossing Natives, draining ditches and spraying oil. Out here I don’t have a lot to do guess they figure I can’t shoulder too much responsibility or maybe it’s the old Navy game of getting out of work. I do have a mighty good superior officer here. I was with him all the time I was in the States and will probably be with him all the time I’m out here. An entomologist from U. of S. Calif., taught there and really knows entomology.

September 26, 1944, p. 2

9-30-44

I started this the other nite and the generator went off so I will finish now.

[page 2] This is Sat. a.m. and about time for inspection but don’t know whether will have one or not. If I ever get back to Kentland I’m going to have field day on Fri. and inspection on Sat. Oh yeah and eat beans for breakfast Sat. a.m. so don’t come in the store Sat. before ten o’clock. We have really had our share of rain the last week out here. If this is the dry season God help us when the rainy season hits. Had a letter from Francis & Clara yesterday and still no orders for him, he says he’s sitting there expecting them any day. Wherever he goes I hope he gets good duty. He surely has been lucky to stay in the States as long as he has. From what he says guess he has gotten some good experience.

What do you think of the war now? Do you think we’ll make it back by 1946? I hope we do, but we are up against a wall in Germany and have a long way to go out here. I guess from what we hear of the news Halsey has been having the time of his life. He surely loves a good scrap. Several unrated (Seamen) have gotten orders back to the states from here. Most of them have been out here a year, they are going back for new construction. Personally now that Mather is gone I hope they leave me out here until I’m ready to be discharged. Well there isn’t any news I can write haven’t had a chance to make Chief yet suppose when my time is up I’ll get to hope so anyway so far I don’t have a good enough vocabulary for Chief yet maybe I can acquire it. Take care of yourselves don’t work too hard and maybe will all be back in Kentland in ’46.

Sincerely,
Art Kenney

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/14/art-kenney/

Lucile Johnson

1 Reply

August 13, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Sunday Evening
Aug. 13^th

Dear Gladys,

Are you having another siege of this hot weather, too? I have nearly roasted all day. Jimmy and I are planning on going to Monticello tomorrow for a few days so I have worked all day getting ready. Since Mildred is so busy I have been washing my own hair, and I even did that task today.

The Rotary Club members are entertaining their wives for dinner at the Sportsman Hotel at Monticello tomorrow nite. Wish you and Doc were here to go with us.

Yesterday we moved your meat. I am enclosing the agreement that Ed signed for you. We will just keep the keys here until you come to Kentland. Mr. Brand said you had the keys to the locker in Sheldon and wanted you to send them to him. We took some round steak from your supply and had lovely baked steak for dinner. It was so tender you could cut it with

August 13, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] a fork. We have enough left for dinner tomorrow. Thanks for the steak!

About all of Kentland is either in Wisconsin or are expecting to go there within the next week or so. The Bowers, Geo. Dale Tiltons, Doc. Limps, Pauline Dennis and the two younger boys and Greta Dixon left early Sat. morning. The Sammons are already there. I understand the Foulkes are going to their cottage this wk. The Funks and Krulls are leaving Thurs. P.M. of this week. Nick is closing the Restaurant for two weeks. I understand the Funks are staying for a month. I guess several other people from Funks are going to Wisconsin, too.

Arleen entertained Bridge Club two weeks ago last Tues. and had a shower for Dorothy. She received such lovely gifts: a big blanket from Arleen; a carriage robe from Cecelia Donahue; a chenille bed spread from Sarah Glenns Dowling; two Percale crib sheets from Rose Bruck; a carriage pillow and lovely hand made pillow case from Pauline Dennis; Marie

August 13, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] gave her a beautiful pink satin quilted “cuddle nest.” That was something new to me. You can use it in the carriage sort of like a Bunting. I had Margaret Kruman knit her a darling pink sweater, hood and booties. (Of course, you knew it was to be a girl!) Dorothy has been buying some things recently. She got some shirts, receiving blankets and some pads. Had to leave an order at Loeb’s for curity diapers. You should see her. She is as big as a barn, but still serving beer at the Restaurant on Sat. nite. Nick doesn’t have any help on Sat. nite so she still works. I wouldn’t do it. He could close the place first.

Jimmy attended a birthday party last Wed. David Dennis was 5 years old. I baked him the Birthday cake and Jimmy kept yelling all forenoon – “Davie’s cake!” He talks constantly now. Is putting words together at last. He says, “Daddy come on.” “Down town, market!” He loves to go shopping. If he is in the room where I am and wants to go after something he says,

August 13, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] “right back.” He tells a whole story in about three words – “Haircut – coke – penny!” That means he had a haircut, that we had a coke afterwards because he was a big boy and didn’t cry, and that he had to give the man a penny for cutting his hair. All silver are pennies and he has no use what so ever for folding money.

Jimmy had half of his first whooping cough shot Thurs. A.M. Doc was afraid he would break out, but we have had no reaction. He is to take the other half of the first tomorrow and if he doesn’t have any reaction from that he is going to give the others in full shots. I tried my best to get him to give him a full one the first time but he wouldn’t do it. Jimmy’s nose had been running, he sneezes so much and his eyes are so watery red and swollen, and I am afraid he may have hay fever. Doc thought perhaps it was just the dry, dusty weather. I don’t know when we have had a rain. I certainly hope he doesn’t have hay fever.

August 13, 1944, p. 5

[page 5] Ed says that is a rich man’s disease. We can’t afford to go to Wisconsin for a couple months. Jimmy still has several (many I should say) – toilet accidents yet, so disgusted with him I don’t know what to do. I think he still be having accidents when he starts to school.

If Doc gets a leave and you come to Kentland, we would be glad to put up Doc, you and David, but I don’t know where we would put the other two boys unless it would be under the bed, and it might be a bit dusty there.

Would love to see you. I’ll bet David has changed considerable. I know Jimmy has. We had his 18 mos. pictures taken. We thought they were real good.

Your meat is all moved so you can rest easy on that score, and we were glad to do it for you.

Hope to see you yet this month in Kentland.

Love,
Lucille

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/12/lucile-johnson/

Postcard #2 (Lentz)

2 Replies

Postmark: July 26, 1944, Wyalusing, Pennsylvania

Addressed to:
Lt. R.S. Yegerlehner
~~Kentland~~
~~Indiana~~
324 W. Kansas St.
Liberty Mo.

Dear Yegie –
Rec’d your letter. Will write when I go to duty at Nav. Amm. Dep. Fort Mifflin, Pa., July 29-44
Regards to all Ed.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/10/postcard-2-lentz/

Big Push Tomorrow (Gladys)

4 Replies

June 11, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
6-11-44

Dear Daddy –

Sun. evening and the boys are in after a game of croquet with the Zell girls. David is asleep – Just went up to see bout him and he had taken off his sleepers. I want to retire early because have lots to do next week. I intend to pack dishes, etc., but the men who do Lyon’s moving will move the rest out into the attic. I told Mr. L. we couldn’t lease the house but he said he didn’t expect a lease but would like a 30 day notice. Their refrigerator won’t fit into our kitchen so that won’t have to be moved. They will use ours. I don’t know about the stove, but it they don’t use ours, I will tell them to store it in the attic.

June 11, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] I gave Mr. L. a few instructions about the furnace but will tell him more before we leave.

As far as I know we will leave here on the 5 a.m. train and the 10 a.m. out of Chicago. I haven’t tried to get anyone to take us to Chicago in a car. I don’t like to ask anyone to make a trip that far unless they would be making it anyway. I haven’t seen much of Krulls. I called D. and went down to the restaurant one day but seems they were insulted because you didn’t go past and say good-bye – She wasn’t very friendly – in fact I had to make any conversation that went so I haven’t been back. I was entirely unaware of offending them but found out something was wrong and after getting the “freeze-out” decided to leave her alone until she thaws out.

I was out walking and stopped to see Arlene. She is having to rest quite a bit now. Her heart was bothering her, but she is feeling better.

June 11, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] They (Bill & Arlene) had a family picture made – It was very good. The picture man was around last Mon. but I didn’t have any take of David – Thought we would wait until he is 2 for a photographer picture.

Mark took his exams and got his report card. Got better grades on the exams than he had on his last term. When Al was out he said he told Miss W. he would go over her head and promote Mark, but I felt it wouldn’t hurt Mark to take the exams, then there wouldn’t be any questions or hard feeling on Miss W. part. Or course, I felt Al was right in the way he “put it” – He said “we graduate the Seniors who enter service, after one day of school,” so why not promote Mark, who had only one week to finish – so much for that.

June 11, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] I am tired of doing nothing all day so will turn in and get rested up for the big push tomorrow.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/02/big-push-tomorrow-gladys/

Train Schedules (Gladys)

6 Replies

June 9, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

June 9, 1944, p. 1

Kentland Ind.
6-9-44

Dear Daddy –

Went of Laf. today & got a Sante Fe schedule – I found that I can get a train out of Chicago at 10: a.m. as Jacobs told us that gets into K.C. 8:35 – Now we can get the train out of here at 5 a.m. if we can’t get someone to take us to the train in Chi. Ed is going to Hammond one day next week and if it isn’t too soon we will go up with him – I inquired about the train from Laf. and it goes to St. Louis and we would have to change trains so I checked that off the list. I suppose I’ll call you and talk all this out over the phone, but will write anyway.

Just listened to the Amos & Andy

June 9, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] show. Mark has been out chasing lightening bugs – He worked on his exams today. I found that the report cards hadn’t been mailed – Miss W. refused to give Mark his card unless he took the exams. She said if Mr. Cast wanted to go over her head and promote him he could and probably would – I found myself in the midst of a tempest I had precipitated (unwittingly). It seems there wasn’t the understanding about Mark’s promotion I was led to believe. At any rate I didn’t argue with Miss W. but told her he would do his exams and he did them today.

I have cleaned out a lot of trash to burn but it’s too late tonight so will leave it for tomorrow.

Not much news I care to write but will have a lot to tell you.
Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/02/28/train-schedules-gladys/

Getting Ready to Move (Gladys)

1 Reply

May [Sic June] 8, 1944 envelope

May 8, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
5-8-44 [sic June 8]

Dear Daddy –

Your letter about the house came today. Sounds Ok. Nothing much exciting to report. I still don’t know which way to come – via Chi. or Laf. – or even by bus from here. If you could meet us at Quincy we could go by bus to there from here but I think I’ll call you or have you call me to settle the issue before we start.

Have been working in the yard some. Have the present growth of weeds about eliminated – I suppose it’s a waste of time and the way I ache all over I am not sure it’s worth it.

May 8, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] Your shirt came from Seligs – you are going to hate it – it’s very heavy material – even heavier than the first one you brought – at least we got a shirt back and that’s more than we got out of orders so far.

About the train from Laf. – it has to go thru St. L. and would take us from 1:30 a.m. – until 4:30 p.m. to make the trip – could almost do that well on the bus – It leaves here at 10:00 a.m. and gets in Quincy at 7 p.m. – If you could get off on Sun. or any day we might come by bus – but maybe it would be best to come by train. I’ll decide after I hear more from you. Must get this ready to mail.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/02/26/getting-ready-to-move-gladys/

Invasion (Gladys)

4 Replies

: June 6, 1944 envelope front

: June 6, 1944 envelope back

Letter transcription:

June 6, 1944, p. 1

Kentland Ind.
6-6-44

Dear Daddy –

Well about all we have heard today has been invasion. Mr. Zell went to Delphi to a Rotary meeting and was going to find out about the train from Laf. and reservations but he didn’t have time when he came home to give us the info but will when he comes home this evening. In case we can’t get train reservation we can get bus connections from here to Chenoa, Ill., and change there. That bus goes thru Quincy and into Kansas City but the bus trip all the way would require 18 hours. I thought

June 6, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] You could possibly meet us in Quincy if we have to go by bus, but we will come by train if we can get seats.

It is so cold today, the heat kicked on, but I turned the therm. down so it wouldn’t get so hot.

Mildred Morton’s mother died yesterday. She was in St. E. and was recovering, satisfactorily they thought, and her death seemed to be rather unexpected.

We had a dust storm yesterday and it was warm enough to have all the doors open and the house is very dusty throughout today. I washed some things today. The water got hot enough – the hottest it has been for a long time.

June 6, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] I went to the dentist & took Mark along. He said there was nothing to do about Mark’s teeth in front, but he did put some filling in. My tooth was just sensitive and nothing to be done now.

Lucile said they couldn’t get lumber enough to build Jimmy a play sand box so I told her to come out & see if they could find enough here. They came, but while we were looking Lucile thought about the supper she left cooking on high so they left before we found anything.

I waited to talk to Mr. Zell before finishing this and didn’t get it mailed Tues. He found that we could

June 6, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] get a train out of Laf. at 1:30 a.m. that would get us into Kansas City sometime around 11:30 or 12. I called Chicago and there are no day trains out of Chicago to K.C. or Liberty, so I think we will go from Laf.

It is some warmer today but was very chilly yesterday. The sun is shining today again.

I am forwarding a letter from Geo. Wingfield – why don’t you write him and ask him to stop off in Liberty and see us while he is on his way to Chicago? Here is another v-mail from Lentz – am trying to sew, so will sign off.

Love Mother

Your first letter came today –

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/02/24/invasion-gladys/

Cokes Would Be In Order (Gladys)

1 Reply

June 4, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

June 4, 1944, p. 1

Kentland Ind.
June 4 – 1944

Dear Daddy –

Will start a letter this evening and maybe I’ll have something to add tomorrow – Howard & Ursula came to see me this afternoon. Helen is home and is going to come over and see me. She lived in Kansas City, Mo., 10 yrs. If she comes tomorrow I’ll tell you anything that might be of help to us. Howard asked me if we would rent our house. I told them our little attempt with Smiths – They agreed with me our house is well worth $45.00 – said they were getting $40.00 for theirs in the country. Mrs. W. said she thought our house should be worth $50.00 – The new

June 4, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] Ag teacher is looking for a place & Mrs. Z. asked me if we were considering renting. I told her I didn’t know yet – we would have to see about “Mo.” first.

Arlene came up and Lucile brought Jimmy so we really had “open yard” this afternoon. Mark got the idea cokes would be in order so he & Virginia loaded up some bottles and went to the Station and bought cokes with his money – without consulting me. I had the same idea so was glad he had acted before I told him to. Jimmy Ed & David both got a share of their mother’s cokes – Jimmy is a veteran coke drinker but David seems to like the stuff pretty well too – Arlene has a new girl – one that seems to be the answer to all her desires for a helper – She even lives there and so Arlene has a little more time off.

June 4, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] When Arlene loaned us the “Thum” bottle, she decided to pour a little out in something in case she might want to dab a little on Donnie “in case” – The only thing she saw at the time was a “shot glass” so poured some in it. She told Bill what she had done and he told everyone she was trying to break him by putting “Thum” in his glass. I am certain that would break anybody of anything – after getting the tiny bit in my eye.

I wrote to Ruth M. today. You should drop your folks a line now and let them know you are in your new location. As soon as I get news from you of a house I’ll call for train reservations.

Love Mother

June 4, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] Monday afternoon –
So far I haven’t talked to Helen. I saw Coke this morning and strange as it may seem they haven’t any K.C. connections. I thought perhaps they would know someone there.

I cleaned half the basement this morning – Try to finish the other this evening. David got an ink bottle this morning and spilled ink from davenport to kitchen so J. & M. cleaned living room & dining room floors – however it needed to be done. The house looks like the one at Lake Forest – I have rugs all over the place to catch the black marks –

Hoping to see you soon –
Love Mother

David, Jimmy Ed Johnson & Donald Funk, dated June 4, 1944

Acute Housing Situation (Gladys)

1 Reply

May 2, 1944 envelope

May 2, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

May 2 – 1944

Dear Daddy –

I am enclosing the mail that came for you & Ruth’s letter. I rec’d two letters from you and can’t understand why you didn’t get the letter about David’s accident. Mark mailed it Wed. evening – the day he fell or rather pulled the radio over on himself. His lip still has a scab but the stitches were removed Sat. He made it bleed yesterday. I am not going to touch it, but just let the scab come off as it will. Dr. M. said to take him to the dentist as soon as his mouth is healed. I think the inside has healed entirely.

Just like the radio serial you were comparing our letter to – I wonder if you have found anything yet. Maybe I’ll have to go up and spend a day yet to find something. We should have spent your vacation house hunting. Just keep working on it – something has to be found.

There is a high wind. I washed this morning, then this p.m. put in two woolen blankets and the couch cover. I accidently picked up the red (old drapery) cover and it got washed too. The color runs out of those old drapery curtains and the result is, the couch cover has a new tint. It really is better looking than before. The wind is so strong I brought David back into the house. The wind didn’t bother him, he still wants to go bye-bye.

Mark doesn’t have any school today because of election. He has been mowing Staton’s lawn. They have taken their lawn mower over to their cottage. They must have quite a place over at the lake.

May 2, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] Just retrieved a piece of something from David’s mouth – don’t know what it was, but it wasn’t to eat. He just made a puddle on the floor – right after I had put him on the toidey. I think I am going to have to use a little spanking on the young man if he doesn’t try to cooperate a little better.

I am a little tired. D. woke up before I had a chance to rest any – and after he gets up there isn’t much rest for anyone. Mark being busy with the lawn mower can’t help me right now.

I added a P.S. to yesterday’s letter about Smith. He was here a few minutes to see about the house. He & Mrs. are coming back Sat. He said he would like to lease it for a year. I told him your future was too uncertain to do anything like that. Maybe we can work out something. Helen Bartlett said she used to teach under Smith and says he is a good school man. I know Bart worked to get Smith here. Smith’s own their home in Delphi and Helen said they were interested in buying here. They may find a place for sale but I don’t know where they could rent anything. Alene Miller is coming back to their house – the one Statons used to have, but the people in it now can’t find a place to move.

I’ll certainly be glad when the housing situation isn’t so acute – at least for us.

Love Mother

Housing Situation (Gladys)

1 Reply

May 1, 1944 envelope

May 1, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
5-1-44

Dear Daddy –

A letter this a.m. You had looked at the cottages with a community pump and chem. Toilets. I told the boys about them and you can imagine John’s reaction. However if we couldn’t do any better I suppose we could struggle along in a cottage, but it would be something to pay $100.00 a month for such unhandy quarters. The water carrying wouldn’t bother me – with J. & M. to furnish transportation. But it would always be the other boy’s turn to carry water you know. David is still taking a nap. It’s 2:30 and I have had 40 winks myself. It is raining so can’t take D. out – unless it clears off. He was out so long yesterday he will miss it today if he has to stay in. He bumped his lip a little again this morning and made a little blood come – about a drop. I’ll be so glad when it’s completely healed. The inside looks like it is healed.

May 1, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] The Carrols are moving here from Brook and taking the house Gerricks live in (Mrs. Shuh’s property). Gerricks are looking for a house but haven’t anything yet. The Greathouses are moving to Fowler – he is manager of a store there – but the Donahue’s are taking the house Greathouses have, and someone already has the Donahue house – so the situation here is as always. Lucile J. asked me how much we could get for ours. I said the payments and she seemed to think that was more than anyone in this town could pay for rent. I imagine Smith’s would pay what we ask to get a place to live. I don’t know whether there are any empty apts. at Kent or not but do know Ira said they were trying to find a place for the Ag teacher too. Tackett didn’t pass his physical, but I don’t know whether he is being hired again this year. He wasn’t very popular with many people and Washburns want to get him off their place. I know if a lot of people around here have their way he won’t be back here to teach next fall.

Last night when I talked to Lila I asked her if she would go to Evanston with me one day, but

May 1, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] she said she didn’t know her way around in Evanston. If I could get someone to go with me and spend the day I should be able to find something but it would have to be someone who knows the town. Dorothy’s mother should be able to help a person out. She lives in her apt. alone – maybe she would let us use a room until we could find something – I am certain we will find something if we try hard enough.

For a few minutes I thought the sun would shine but it’s very cloudy again and looks like rain. We watered the evergreens Sat., but I believe there is enough rain now to keep them damp a day or two. I never did get the dirt loosened up around the shrubbery and spread the manure and now it’s took wet to do much for a few days. Ed was out yesterday, raking and cleaning their yard. They are going to fence in a play yard for Jimmy. They cut out the tree in that little front yard and with it out there will be quite enough space for Jimmy to play in. I do wish we could get a place for the summer with a play yard – but I’ll not complain about anything if we can be together – that’s a promise –

Love Mother

P.S. Smith was here this afternoon – He & Mrs. are coming back Sat. to look at the house.