Tag Archives: Irene (James) Staton

The Gopher Hole (Gladys)

2 Replies

1943-02-19 #2Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
IND
2-19-43

Dear Daddy – Just finished cleaning the “gopher hole” – that’s what we call J & M’s room. One day John came downstairs and said “Mother, a self respecting gopher wouldn’t stay in our room” – The reason was Mark’s airplane mess and mess in general – So I cleaned it this evening and Mark has a corner in the dormer – that is the dormer is his. He is up there now at work – and should be practicing on his horn. John has done his practicing for today and is now lounging on the davenport. It is warmer but still rather a sharp wind. Mother has a quilt ready to start quilting. We showed it to Mrs. Plummer. She admired it so much we are going to give it to her. They are going to Fla for the mo. of March. Servies were here and hadn’t seen David since before Christmas. They both thought he had grown very much. Mrs. S. says he looks just like you – as so many people do. Irene said I am in the “Nursery” with D. when they come and go to work and we wave and that is about as close as we get. I told you we had Christmas dinner there – Thompsons were there too. I told you before about her asking to use your large office desk but Newell wouldn’t let her have it. I didn’t enter into the thing only I told Irene she could use it if n. would let it go. They can’t get a new one. There are so many things can’t be bought now. Arlene needs a new bed for Bobby but can’t find one to buy. Fortunately Mary P. loaned me one for upstairs and Harold’s sister loaned one for downstairs. I will be looking for a letter with your suggestions about the lawn. Will send you pictures of the yard after things start growing. Mark is starting to practice horn.

Love Mother

©2014 copyright owned and/or written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2014/01/08/the-gopher-hole-gladys/

Point Rationing (Gladys)

3 Replies

1943-02-14Letter transcription:

MRS R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
2-14-43

Dear Daddy – Valentine Day and about 4 below. Last Sunday it was so warm we went out and took pictures but you can bet we didn’t flip around in the yard today. A little snow but not much but a cold wind. I got a box ready to send yesterday but I couldn’t send it because it’s too heavy. There is a 5 lb limit – so will have to break it down into two, so will try to get it mailed tomorrow. The band mothers are having their annual dinner for the band tomorrow night. It is a little early but they said we would have to have it before point rationing starts. I am not certain about everything that will be rationed but I know canned goods will be. I haven’t studied “point rationing,” but will before it starts. The second books will be issued next week. Have been trying to ration our meat before meat rationing starts. I don’t know how they will ration people with lockers. Glad we have one. Brands have a waiting list about a mile long. Paid for the half hog I had put in – it was $20 – also pd locker rent & processing – Mr. B. forgot to put the rent on when I paid him in Sept. – so withal pd. out about $45 for meat & locker but that will last us months. Bobby came up today to bring the boys valentines. He is cute as ever. He said David looked different than Donnie. He still runs away sometimes then has to stay in the house the rest of the day but the next day it’s the same thing again. Jimmy S. came over last nite with valentines. I asked Irene if she got the desk from the office. She said Newell wouldn’t give it up. I wrote you she asked to rent or buy it – I told her she could use it if Newell would let her take it. He says he things he will be in Service by next June but I wouldn’t hazard a guess. There has been some talk lately about who will have to go next but nothing definite. Louise Glenn is here on a visit and came up this evening. She left Johnny at home with Franklin & his mother. Johnny is as large as most 3 yr olds and is about year & half. Hope you get the bones in good time. I put in two Sunday papers. Couldn’t get any film for you.

Love Mother

©2013 copyright owned and/or written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/12/30/point-rationing-gladys/

More snow (Gladys)

1 Reply

1943-02-13Letter transcription:

MRS R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
IND
2-13-43

Dear Daddy – It is cold, the sun is shining & it’s snowing if you can feature all that. Can’t see very far away because of the white haze but once it a while the sun comes thru – Now the snow is flying all ways. I am getting a box ready to send today. Mrs. Plummer wanted to send something so gave me a dollar to get something – I will just use it to pay for what I put in. Dorothy gave me the can of chicken bones. I am leaving them in the can so they will get to you intact. Betty & Buddy are here this afternoon. M & Buddy are working on airplanes. John & Betty listening to opera. Irene asked me if they could borrow your big desk to use at the factory until they can buy one. I told her if she could get it away from Newell Lamb – but I wouldn’t sell it. David bumped his head against my glasses and broke the temple piece off, but I have them glued with Mark’s airplane glue. I think they will last a while. Sorry you have missed so many letters. Didn’t keep copies so haven’t any idea what I wrote. As I have repeated several times Agnes M talked to a Fed. Man about our 41 taxes and he advised not to pay now. She wrote in when she sent in the form for the last payment and had an answer so you needn’t worry about it. I’ll send you the info about the ’43 next week. I told you before Mrs. James hasn’t been very well this winter. Has just had the flu. She has been taking liver shots all winter but doesn’t seem to pick up much. I hope we have had all the colds we will have for this winter. All fine now.

Love Mother

©2013 copyright owned and/or written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/12/28/more-snow-gladys/

Darning sox (Gladys)

1 Reply

1943-02-08Letter transcription:

MRS R. S. YEGERLHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
2-8-43

Dear Daddy – Monday evening and studing going on – Mark is supposed to be practicing his cornet but is munching an apple – David is tucked in – Mother is darning sox. Have the den about done over into a nursery. Looks much better now, but now the piano seems to crowd the living room. Maybe we will get used to it. I didn’t get this finished last nite – but sent a registered air mail yesterday – Lucile came out today with Jimmy Ed – It is so nice today – Just like spring – but will look for anything tomorrow. Jimmy Ed is getting a skin irritation so Dr. changed his formula. She has to add lactic acid now. He is on the bottle altogether now and isn’t gaining quite so fast but weighs 11-4. It is about time to eat – I made biscuits and you know that always suits the boys. This eating business is getting more expensive all the time. I want the boys to make a garden this summer if we can find a place. Mark wants to join 4-H so I thought we might be able to work out something – However I am not going to fill my cans until I get the vegetables. If he had a little help I think he could do a lot with a garden. Jimmy Staton is better but Mrs. J. [Mrs. James] is sick. She has been taking liver shots all winter but they haven’t seemed to do much for her. Mark brought his spelling paper – had C in spelling & B in writing. Would sent it to you if this way regular mail. John wrote an essay but haven’t heard it yet. It is getting near D’s feeding time and he is getting a little “mean.”

Love – Mother

©2013 copyright owned and/or written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/12/19/darning-sox-gladys/

I’m not scolding (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

1/31/43

Dear Mother,

I’ve re-read and I believe most of the things are answered so maybe just some comments here and there. In the first place instead of getting only your letter of Jan. 14, I got both 13 & 14 in the same envelope. Maybe that is something only what if the 14th hadn’t gotten here. I’m not scolding just kidding. Your writing every day either hits the mail as it comes or my box where ever it is gets so full the postal clerk has to get rid of some any way that was about the latest yet of any around here. Even the V-mail was later than most other mail.

If Agnes M. hasn’t written about the tax I wish she would because I didn’t know she had written in about the 1941, but I guess you have that all fixed by now. I’m sorry if I asked the 1941 to be paid after she wrote in

[page 2] and everything. You probably had written me of hat in some of those letters which haven’t arrived. And if you have any surplus buy bonds because after all that is the best and maybe it will help in a small way also.

Was your mother just coming for a visit or to stay permanently? She just as well plan on leaving Terre Haute for good for she would have it so much nicer in Kentland I would think.

All the boxes you sent have arrived, and I now have lots of chewing gum. It is OK but even inside the wrapper etc. it is just a soft mass and has to be “walled and lolled” quite somewhat before it gets into a chewable mass. We can occasionally get peanuts here that are canned and if eaten right away they are still fresh but it they stand overnight they get tough and moist.

Sorry Bart got the address twisted

[page 3] because other people might write also. Taylor’s greeting had only the Naval Base and New Caledonia but it got here OK. No San Fran. or anything.

The Chaplin hasn’t reported on the progress of John’s song as yet because after all we don’t have many piano players along since playing pianos isn’t our main purpose for being here.

Got my watch back and it does pretty good – gains only about a minute in 24 hrs. Didn’t cost anything – That isn’t this fellows work but I treated a bunch of boils for him and got him a hundred Vit – B tablets so he returned the favor. He told me however the watch had seen better days but don’t send one because there really isn’t any need for a watch here and this hot damp weather is hard on watches.

Don’t know what the show is tonite yet but the weather looks favorable.

[page 4] The show is over and so is the last mail delivery. Scored big – got each of the Christmas letters the boys wrote and a letter from Dr. M. and a V-mail letter from you dated Jan. 16. That is the latest by two days. So my idea of the V-mail was correct only you didn’t say a word about how you were and since you didn’t mention yourself I assume you are better at least l hope that is the case.

I can’t understand your mother but I do think it will be fine for both and really she don’t need to figure on going back when I come home unless she wishes because I know we can get along. She and Mrs. James should be able to hit it off in pretty good style – by the way I don’t believe you have mentioned her since I left home – how is she? I haven’t had any word from home so am

[page 5] very much in the dark about Duane, but I guess I’ll hear from there sooner or later I hope. The latest letter I had from there was from Sam & E. and it was written Jan. 4. Mom’s letter was Dec. 30 I believe, but I guess I will be hearing soon. I’m just 15 days behind now.

If you can get any dope on the new victory tax I wish you would send it. Just so I could read it over. And maybe – worry you with it. No I’ve washed my hands now of all taxes for I believe I’ve made a mess of things – so I’ll keep out. Unless the exemptions are cut way down I don’t believe we will have much to pay next year because my base pay is only $2000 per year and that is all that is taxable so we probably won’t have to worry with that.

Well, it’s good to get even a V-mail letter. Thank the boys for me – and give each a kiss for me and lots of love from me to you. Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/12/02/im-not-scolding-roscoe/

Pretty well up to date (Gladys)

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Jan 22-1943

Dear Daddy –

Have been writing V-mail this week but thought I would try this again. As far as my letters going by air in the past I am sure most of them didn’t the way you haven’t rec’d them. I wish I could do something to speed the delivery at your end of the line. I have gotten 7 letters this week – The last dated Jan 12 so that makes mine pretty well up to date.

It is sunny this morning and the boys are back in school after being out due to blizzard Tues & snow drifts making travel uncertain. Three days this week school was out. I suppose they will have to make that time up somehow, but school was started early last fall so they could get out earlier in the spring. We still have snow. I started to run the car in the garage and got stuck in the snow – Had to

[page 2] shovel the snow away from the tires. The first sow we had was Sept 25 while I was in the hospital. Clara M. said we would have 25 snows this winter and I am beginning to believe it. Last night the moon was full and it made the snow look beautiful. I wish I had taken a picture of the front yard Wed. after the wind Tues. The snow was blown in drifts and it looked like rock formation. Then the mail man came along and walked across it and spoiled the scenic effect. There are tracks over it in every direction now and it isn’t very pretty. It has been so cold and so much firing there is a lot of soot on it now.

Bill brought us a load of wood on his wheelbarrow. He said he would keep us supplied. He called me Tues night and said he was writing you a letter. They were so glad to hear from you. Arlene is going to review the article in

[page 3] Nat’l Geographic for Literary Club and has asked me to help her out some. I am going to loan her the shells & necklace for display. I gave your Mother some of the shells you sent and gave Betty & Buddy a few. We still have a dish full that we show off when anyone comes who hasn’t seen them. I haven’t mounted the coral yet but have been trying to get an idea how to do it.

In your letter rec’d today you wondered what rationing is like. So far it hasn’t bothered us because I get all the coffee I need and 4 gal gas a week in winter is more than I have used – due to so much snow haven’t traveled much. The meat situation hasn’t bothered us due to the locker and Parttens have promised us another quarter from one they are fattening now. Zells got 300 baby chicks and they are getting almost heavy enough to fry so think I’ll buy a few and put in the locker – if they aren’t too high. I don’t believe

[page 4] the price will be any lower in the spring. I told you before they have a chicken house directly north of their house. He is more like a farmer than any Agent we have had here in the last three. I said something about them living on a farm and Mrs. Z. said the farmers in this county don’t want their agent living on a farm for competitive reasons. Mr. Z. says he is going to have the entire back part of their lot in garden this summer – I think he is inclined to be a little “hot headed” but they have been good neighbors and have gone out of their way to help us. They aren’t the card playing, drinking kind. In fact they don’t even play cards. They have 3 girls and the Mr. wanted a boy so bad he was almost reduced to tears when the last girl was born. Hope I haven’t bored you talking about the Zells but I got started and kept on rambling.

Irene was over Sat. afternoon. She is still talking like she did before you left about working. She seems to be developing a nervous

1943-01-22 Yegerlehner, David 1943-01-22 Yegerlehner, Gladys (Foster) with David

[page 5] complex and can’t stand to be in crowds. She went to see Dr. Cole and he told her if she didn’t get better she would have to rest in the hospital. She said she wrote you a letter – Maybe she told you about her symptoms. She doesn’t look sick but that doesn’t always mean anything. We took some pictures in the den and the one enclosed shows the baby pretty good. He will be 4 mo old tomorrow and if the weather permits we are going to Hubertz and have some pictures made – of all of us. The pictures I took with our camera do very good for indoors but aren’t as good as in the sunlight. If I had a speed Kodak I could do better, but it will be warm enough before long and we can go out in the yard for pictures.

As yet the uniform money hasn’t come. I am going to see Agnes and get the taxes figured out. Have the figure you sent. She says we should file separate returns but I don’t know all about that – Have only talked to her on the phone so far. Will

[page 6] go to her office and get it all straightened out next week.

Florence Puetz called me yesterday. Their baby boy born Dec 13 is growing too. He weighed 6-9 at birth and now is over 8 lbs. She said he is growing faster than Rita did. She goes to Dr. Cole. Said Ray had the flu and both children had had colds. There seems to be a lot of sickness around but that is to be expected this time of year with the weather as it has been.

Going back to rationing subject – what seems queer around here now is the filing stations closed at night – most of them – and John Krull’s restaurant closed. Also Boonies little place by Standard is closed temporarily. Dorothy says they have all the noon trade they can take care of. I suppose they would get some increase from the other two places.

The papers came today but I haven’t read them yet. David is taking a little nap before his 2 P.M. bottle – then he will be awake most of the afternoon – Will be glad when I can take him out again.

Love
Mother

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/11/13/pretty-well-up-to-date-gladys/

Last day for regular air mail (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
1-15-43

Dear Daddy –

Today is the last day for regular air mail to men overseas, so after this I will probably use mostly V-mail. However at the rate you have received my letters I don’t believe they went by air. I will write a few regular & the rest V-mail. Will have to use regular for pictures. It was announced over the radio that the restriction to send boxes out is for Army & does not apply to Navy or Marine.

We are having more “weather.” It began to snow then sleeted a while now it is clear but we have more snow to shovel.

Mark went back to school today but John is still lying around with stiff neck. He has missed two days of school. He seems to feel well otherwise.

[page 2]Dorothy White called this morning and wanted to know if Dr. M. could borrow your microscope. She came out and got it. Dr. M. is buying a new one and has turned his old one in and is temporarily out of one. She said Dr. sent you a box and was wondering if you would get it. I told her now that the Christmas mail is delivered I thought you would get it.

Dorothy wanted me to ask you what it was you used to give Nick when he had the pain in his elbows, etc. You told him it was caused from going out in the cold from the hot kitchen. It was a white tablet. If you can remember let me know and I’ll tell them. So far the Johnson baby has been doing some night crying. Of course coming home in a week doesn’t help matters.

[page 3] I suppose they will get the little fellow regulated after a while. They are a little late with their child experience. We had ours before we had time to settle into a “groove.” Of course David has been good and staying in the hospital 2 weeks I think helped. He seemed to know when to sleep. I see Link is driving their car around with Irene & Jimmy on a sled in back. Bobby Funk has his sled out too. We have had plenty of sledding & skating weather. We just get rid of one snow when another one comes along. I suppose this kind of weather will last till spring since it started at Thanksgiving. I think Thanksgiving was the last time I hung clothes out in the yard. Probably will be some time before I do again.

It is about time for D. to have a bottle & the rest of us to eat too.

Love
Mother

P.S. These letters the boys wrote somehow didn’t get mailed when written.

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/10/29/last-day-for-r…ir-mail-gladys/

Shooting the bull (Roscoe)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

1/3/43
Lt. (jg) Yegerlehner
Receiving Station
U.S. Naval Advanced Base
Noumea, New Caledonia
c/o Fleet P.O.
San Fran Calif.

Dear Mother,

Wrote the Folks this A.M. and just finished a letter to Uncle Wess so if there is anything funny about this letter it’s because I haven’t gotten out of my frame of mind – shooting the bull.

This has been a sort of dull day but still I can’t tell why or how it has differed from yesterday. It did rain at times and that is a little different because it hasn’t for several days. The days do pass rapidly even at that – guess it is because we are busy most of the day and look forward to the show at night. It doesn’t make any difference

[page 2] if the show is good or bad we go just the same – generally get there 15-20 minutes early to get a good seat and wait for it to get dark enough for the show to start. It’s pretty dark here at 7:15 so the show is scheduled to start at 7:30 but doesn’t often until around 7:45. At 7:30 when the show starts here on Sunday night. It is 3:30 AM on Sunday morning. It’s a kind of a game to compare times. At 12:00 noon here on Sun. it is 8:00 P.M. there on Sat. etc. We often say what the folks are doing at home when we are going so & so here. I think I’ve gone over all that before but it just happened to hit me as I was writing.

We’ll be glad to get the calendar from Geo T. and was surprised to hear that you had collected $23.50 from Gilmans

[page 3] that must have been a surprise to you also. Hope more people get the Christmas spirit. We must have about 12 bonds by now give me the number the next time you write – I just sorta would like to know.

I did write the sisters of St. Francis and thank them for their kindness and consideration given you while in the hospital. I had thought of writing them long ago but just kept putting it off.

A letter came today from Joe R, a greeting from the Smith’s in Lafayette and your letter of Dec. 4. Dr. Joe’s letter was written on Dec. 22 so you see it wasn’t as old as yours. He didn’t say anything about his location so if you haven’t told Mrs. R.

[page 4] she doesn’t know. I talked to a Dr. yesterday who had seen him and the place I wrote long ago is still correct but things can change as has happened to so many of us.

If you should start taking hypodermic liver you have a Dr. give you the first shot or two because you might do like Irene S. did when I gave her the Vitamin B so be sure and do that. Try to keep going on oral liver. Did Sherman send you the bill for the oral cold tab. Give them to the boys twice per week. And if they should develop a bad cold 6 per day – 2 before each meal – for only one day – If D. get a cold grease him with camphorated oil and watch his temp. It won’t bother if he does rattle if he has no temperature Take per rectum.

Well, I’m out of time & space
Lots of love Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/10/05/shooting-the-bull-roscoe/

Protected: Christmas in Kentland 1942 (Gladys)

Enter your password to view comments.

This content is password-protected. To view it, please enter the password below.

A Christmas party (Gladys)

1 Reply

Kentland Ind
Dec 21 – 1942

Dear Daddy –

Mon noon – I missed writing yesterday – seemed like I couldn’t get around to it – being Sun I should have managed but I was a little on the tired order from Sat. and tried to sleep in the afternoon while David slept, and last night I went to Funk’s to a party. I had started to Clara Moulter’s in the morning to ask her to stay with the children and met Bob & Dorothy (Vanscoryck) Schurtter. They asked me where I was going and I told them. They said Bob would stay with the children and I must have looked at them funny because they said he stays with Zells’ children sometimes when they go out, so I said, “O.K.” and that would keep Stevie for them sometime. They still live up at Kent. He said he used to take care for children while in college to help pay his expenses. I am going

William E. Funk family - c1960

William E. Funk family – c1960

[page 2] to the band concert tonight and Clara is coming to stay with the baby. He goes to sleep after his 6 P.M. bottle and doesn’t wake up until we take him upstairs to bed. Most of the time I have to wake him at 10 to feed him. If Bill can’t take Bobby tonight Mark and I are going to take him. I am sleepy today because I didn’t get home till after 12 and that was a little past my usual bedtime. The baby slept till almost 5 this morning but by getting to bed late didn’t help me much.

Had a letter from your Mother. I had written her about the contagious diseases, if there were any around. Floyd & Ruth want us to go down Christmas eve & stay till the 27th but I was afraid there might be something catching as your Mother had mentioned Judy Rae having whooping cough, but she said in her letter there wasn’t anything around now but colds. I haven’t decided yet but think we will stay home. I would have to get some one

[page 3] to take care of the furnace and since we are having a real “old fashioned” winter don’t like to venture away from home that far. I sent your folks a year’s subscription to Reader’s digest. Your Dad sent each boy a dollar. Your Mother had left John & Mark a book she bought in Joliet and sent me a table cloth & David a pr of bootees. I rec’d a very nice desk calendar from Prairie Realty. Geo Tilton said he sent you a calendar. I sent you one in the last box I mailed. After all the Christmas greetings come I’ll send you a list from all received. There were two who remembered to send greetings, who still owe us quite a bill. Maybe I shouldn’t think of things like that while reading a greeting – but it does seem a little farfetched – or does it? We received one from Mrs E. in Norfolk – and while remembering Norfolk, Jim’s address is James L. Foster SK2C, N.O.B Ship’s Company, Camp Bradford, Norfolk. I think I sent it before but can’t be sure. You mentioned my writing to Mrs. Walsh – Well I never did get a letter written, kept intending to then you wrote and told me he had been sent on. I really intended to write to her but I write to you and your Mother & mine and to Ruth M.

[page 4] & Ruth Y. so maybe all those will excuse me for not taking on another.

The sun is shining today but if we have more snow it won’t surprise me. This is three weeks we have had snow on the ground without a thaw. I have lost count of the layers but seems like every time the snow gets dirty there is a clean cover falls. I didn’t get the glad bulbs taken up and don’t expect to now. I shouldn’t put out anything that has to be taken up in the fall.

Washburn, Ursula - c1960

Ursula Washburn, c1960

Washburn, Howard C. - c1960

Howard C. Washburn, c1960

The guests at the party last night were Howard & Ursula Washburn, Ellsworth & Doris Wilson, Coke & Red Foulkes, Link & Irene and myself. We played bridge. All but Bill and he served drinks and filled in when Arlene helped the girl get the refreshments ready. It was too late to eat so much and I was careful because I didn’t want to lie awake the rest of the night. They served chicken salad, baked ham etc., celery, olives, pickles, potato chips, nuts & coffee. Of course mention was made about “Doc” liking olives & celery. They all asked about you and I wore the necklace which got a lot of attention. So you were much in our thoughts & conversation if not present – By the way Ellsworth wanted to know if you are taking on weight.

Love – Mother –

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/09/07/a-christmas-party-gladys/ ‎