Tag Archives: James L. Foster

Sunday’s Obituary – Clarence Earl Yegerlehner (1897-2001)

Clarence Yegerlehner was the oldest son of John H. and Lovina (Schiele) Yegerlehner. He lived until the ripe old age of 104. I find it curious that his youngest sibling Floyd, born 14 years after, only outlived him by 5 months. There isn’t much more that I can add to Clarence’s story that hasn’t already been written in his obituary or the biography from the Church booklet. I am also adding a piece that Clarence himself wrote about the Yegerlehner farm.

Transcription of Clarence’s History:

Yegerlehner Homestead History

Clarence Yegerlehner’s History of the Yegerlehner farm

Just recent information tells of David Yegerlehner and wife Magdaline Strahm Yegerlehner with their children Christian, John, and Rosina after leaving Switzerland in 1851, landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Fayette County, Paint Township. Years from 1851-1860 are not known, but in June of 1860 census, they lived in Homes [Holmes] County, Ohio near Winesburg south of Mt. Easton Church. By trade David was a carpet weaver. Migrating west they came to Marion Mills near Patricksburg in Owen county, Indiana. Christian came over in Clay County and purchased 104 acres farm. (Forty acres direct from government and balance in 1860[sic] from those living near by.) David never owned the farm, only a building on the south side of the road for his shop. Christian made boots and shoes on northside of the road. The road then going direct from Clay City to Bowling Green between present house and barn. The other two of David’s children located in northern Indiana near Ft. Wayne. As only seven acres of homestead was cleared Christian had quite a task of clearing the land, John of second generation, purchased the farm. There was still some acreage to be cleared and he spent a summer draining the low lands with tile and changing of branches as low land was only swamps and crooked woods. None of the third generation, seven in number, owned the place, but only two born there and balance grew up and lived there until married and had homes of their own. Clarence, the writer of this history, was of this generation.

Kenneth, his son, was of the fourth generation, then purchased the place. No resemblance today as to previous. House has been replaced, the Swiss-type barn burned and replaced as a modern dairy barn, including silos, loading, sheds, etc. Alan, his son, lives on adjoining farm purchased from his grandfather, Clarence (originally owned by Clarence’s father, John). In all these years (122), it has been father and son working together on both farms. Now still a Swiss decendat [descendant] as of long ago, milk 50 to 60 cows, typical of the Swiss. So seven generations of Yegerlehners make up the 122 years of the old homestead history.

We hope that in future years it will be Luke, Alan’s son born October 1, XXXX, that will finally become the next owner. Then the Yegerlehners name has never been changed in ownership in all 122 years. Seven generations in all.

Written by: Clarence Yegerlehner, August 1982

: Biography of Clarence, p.1

: Biography of Clarence, p. 2

___________________________________________

: July 3, 1942 Envelope

: July 3, 1942, p. 1

: July 3, 1942, p. 2

Letter transcription

Fri.

Dear Mother,

Got lots of mail today a letter from you, Ruth M + Mom – a package from Boonie + wife and a package (carton of cig) from Dorothy. I wouldn’t pay any attention to Dorothy because you know how her stories are. Sometimes they stretch-Don’t let the boys get hold of this. Maybe you will have a brighter outlook after you get the letters this week. I forgot to write Free on the letter yesterday so don’t know if you’ll have to pay for it or not. I remembered it after it was mailed.

I’ll have to write Boonie thanking him for the candy-probably will do that Mon Sun. You can call Dorothy and thank her or go and tell her. You can’t afford to be mad at her now.

It’s been pretty hot and Humid here today no rain but just damp.

Someone called me yesterday Eve. just before I got home and Mrs. E told them to call back later but they never did. I suppose it was Jim-Said it was a man. He’s the only man I could think of. Might be several women? (O yea)

Just had to run down and answer the phone

(page 2) someone wanted to talk to the “nice man”.

Tomorrow I’ll be on duty and may not get a chance to write, but will on Sun again. I won’t be off until 9:30 or so on Sun. That being the night of the fourth I suppose we’ll have lots to do.

It’s about meal time and I’ll get the little slips you sent and mark the amounts to be paid.

That Warren Feed bill seems high. You won’t have to go far back because I paid him each mo. Never did run an account with him larger than one mo. and I didn’t remember buying that much from him the last time he was there. I may have mail ordered just before he came the last time and that would be on that bill. What did you send back.

Well, if I were there for a short time I could figure it out but it doesn’t look like I’ll get to come for a few days yet.

Love Daddy

Wednesday’s Child – Ralph C. Yegerlehner (1918-1918)

8 Replies

Photograph of gravestone by Tonya & Keith Tetidrick from Find A Grave

Ralph C. Yegerlehner was the first child of Samuel Albert Yegerlehner and his wife Esther Mary Zurcher. He lived and died in one day. Samuel was my grandfather’s oldest brother so Ralph would have been his first nephew. My grandfather would have been about 13 years old when Ralph died. Ralph was also the first grandchild for John Henry and Lovina (Schiele) Yegerlehner. There must have been so much joy and anticipation surrounding this birth and it ended so tragically.

Ralph is buried at St. Peters Cemetery on the Clay County & Owen County line.

______________________________________

: June 29, 1942 Envelope

: June 29, 1942, p. 1

: June 29, 1942, p. 2-3

: June 29, 1942, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Mon Eve

Dear Mother,

To begin with-no I didn’t tell Dorothy anything about not moving. I did say under the circumstances it probably would be better if you stayed there-because I might be shipped out 2 weeks before the appointed time and that would be too late for you to travel etc. but I didn’t say the moving deal was definitely out.

Mr. Strole is to get 2⁰⁰ out of the check and that is all. Ira wanted me to let him know when it came in so he could make a collection but that can be forgotten.

I got 3 letters from you today two this A.M. and one this P.M. none Sat. You see the mail is delivered in

(page 2) the P.M. and there is no Sat. delivery so that makes the difference.

Don’t let what people say about us moving or not moving get you down of course it gets the best of one but skip it. Ignore the whole situation. If things look like we can we will.

Dr. Ganey a Dentist recently had a[n] appendectomy-after leaving the hospital he got a 10 day leave and during that time they moved then after he was back 2 days he got order to leave so there you are. Maybe after July 1 the end of the fiscal year we will know

(page 3) something. I haven’t done anything about the flight business because it may not be what its cracked up to be but I still haven’t decided definitely either way.

Haven’t talked to or showed Mrs. E the pictures yet. She got her letter today I saw it in the mail but haven’t got any responses yet.

We didn’t do anything yesterday but sit on the front porch-then read + listened to the radio. Jim went home about 3:00 oclock.

I’ve got to get some laundry this eve. I’m all out of socks.

Maybe I told you this job. There are 12-15 new (jg)s coming in in

(page 4)the next few days. The boys who have just finished their internships-so that might make a difference on what our standing might be.

Well I must get after that laundry and mail this on the way.

Love Daddy

You are the oldest and she needs a man there

Travel Tuesday – Heading to Norfolk

6 Replies

As I transcribe and write today, I feel like I am ending the first chapter in my grandparents’ war story. During the past three weeks, my grandfather has begun his Navy service in Norfolk, Virginia. In this time, he has moved three times: his first nights in Norfolk were at the Navy Y.M.C.A., and then he moved briefly to Granby Street. He has acquired a roommate, Dr. Edmund Lentz, and the two doctors are living in the home of the chatty Mrs. Evans on Magnolia Avenue. My great uncle Jim has finished his basic training at the Great Lakes naval base and has also come to begin his service in Norfolk as a SeaBea in one of the naval construction companies.

The reason that I classify this post as Travel Tuesday is because my grandmother is about to begin her journey to Norfolk. Today’s two letters include last minute travel tips and directions from my grandfather. They eventually decided that she should drive the car down, partially because without the car in Norfolk, they wouldn’t be able to get around. I don’t know if we will ever find out who her traveling companion was, although it was most likely Dorothy Krull, a friend and neighbor from Kentland. Between mailing the car registration back and forth between Kentland and Norfolk, and finally acquiring some type of gasoline ration card, the trip is finally going to happen. I love my grandfather’s final instruction: Bring my swimming trunks along!

Since my grandmother was in Norfolk for a little more than a week, there were obviously no letters written during this time. When we pick up the story again, it will be near the end of June. The Navy was victorious in the Battle of Midway, and things are beginning to happen. My grandparents had a lot to talk about and discuss while they were together in Norfolk. Many of the letters will begin to have more cryptic statements. They definitely had a way of saying things, without saying anything at all (that would offend the censors). Loose lips, sink ships, or so they say.

: June 9, 1942 (7:30 PM) Envelope

: June 9, 1942 (7:30 PM), p. 1

: June 9, 1942 (7:30), p. 2

Letter translation:

Tue Eve.

Dear Mother,

I’m in the car downtown waiting for Dr. L. to have some white suits altered. Hope the card etc. gets there ok. As I have said before I’ll be off Sat P.M. so if you could get here then it would be fine of course I know that you’ll have to be there Thurs. to hear John, but Sun would be a good day to look around.

Keep the gas tank full most of the time after you get into the rationing area because the stations close early and open late and then some may be out.

Let me know if you have time if Dorothy is coming so

(page 2) that I may make hotel reservations.

I didn’t get any letter today but got the extra one yesterday due to the air mail. I’ve sent the last two air mail-don’t know what connection they make.

It is only a short time before 6:00 P.M. and that is the time the mail leaves here for Cincinnata so will get this off.

Don’t hurry but get here as soon as you can.

Love Daddy

: June 11, 1942 Envelope

: June 11, 1942, p. 1

: June 11, 1942, p. 2

Wed Nite 10:00 PM

Dear Mother,

Just received your airmail special and thought I’d better write before so that you would get it before you come. I hadn’t written yet today because I thought you would be coming Fri and I didn’t think you’d have time to get it.

When you get to Washington come thru Richmond. It will be a little farther but you make better time and because you have fewer ferries to cross and less toll to pay.

When you get into town find Hampton Blvd and follow it until you come to Magnolia. Hampton is one of the main roads

(page 2) thru town. I can’t direct you definitely because there are two ferries and it would be different depending upon which ferry you took.

I guess you won’t be here then on Sat P.M. or Sun. It will be Ok, but that would have been time extra. I’ll not make any hotel reservations etc until you get here.

Well, see you when you get here

Love Daddy

Thurs A.M. Bring my swimming trunks along.

Amanuensis Monday – June 8th and June 9th, 1942

2 Replies

Over the last week, my grandfather has continued attempts to make contact with his brother-in-law Jim Foster. Between calling the base and writing letters, he has had no luck. Considering how many people were stationed in Norfolk in June 1942, it is not surprising. And it was about to get more crowded.

Battle of Midway; photograph from Wikipedia and belongs to the public domain

During the last week, the Battle of Midway was fought and won in the Pacific. I don’t know how much they told the men at home on the naval base about what was going on. My grandfather was certainly mum on that point. He does make a comment in the first letter I am posting today about whether my grandmother heard about their big day on the radio. I can only assume he was talking about the Battle of Midway.

I also enjoyed hearing about my grandfather’s landlady, Mrs. Evans. She was apparently quite the talker! Although it sounds like it was pretty miserable experience for my grandfather. After coming home from a long day working at the base, and not being able to have a moment’s peace would have driven me crazy. I had not expected to learn anything about my great, great uncle George this week. Another juicy genealogical tidbit to add to his file “chatty and often repeated himself”. We all know someone like that. By 1942, George would have been around 78 and near the end of his life. George died in 1949.

This week also saw the last of the letters from Uncle Jim for awhile as well as the one letter I have from my great grandmother Emma.

Today I am posting two letters since they are both short.

: June 8, 1942 (7:00 PM postmark) Envelope

: June 8, 1942 (7:00 PM postmark), p. 1

: June 8, 1942 (7:00 PM postmark), p. 2

Letter transcription:

Mon Eve. (postmarked June 8, 1942 7:00 PM)

Dear Mother,

I’ll find out definitely about the gas card tomorrow. By the time this letter gets there I will have written you two others about that gas card. So will let it drop there for the time being.

We had a big day today and will have all this week-since the mass induction on Sunday which you heard on the radio if you were listening. I get mixed up on the programs since this is one hour earlier here.

Who is we that you are talking about coming down. You spoke of a lady who used to live in Norfolk and of course Dorothy has volunteered. So who do you

(page 2) mean?

There has been a storm in the west all P.M. but so far we have only gotten a sprinkle.

I’ve not been able to contact Jim yet. He has been transferred to Camp Bradford(?) which is a part of the base but still I can’t find him. I wrote him last Thurs and no answer. If he doesn’t get any more mail from home than from me he sure doesn’t get [?] from there-

Well, I’ll send the card back air mail and hope you get it in time to get here by Sat. noon but I guess you won’t start that soon-

Love Daddy

: June 9, 1942 (3:00 postmark) Envelope

: June 9, 1942 (3:00 PM postmark), p. 1

Tue 12:00 (postmarked June 9, 1942 (3:00 PM)

Dear Mother,

Enclosed find the necessary card-all you do is show this to the gas attendant. They don’t need to punch it for it is for an unlimited supply.

Heard from Jim this AM I’ve been trying to call him every day. He finally got my letter and wrote.

Will write more this Eve.

Love Daddy

Sunday’s Obituary – Ruth Elizabeth (Yegerlehner) Mutchler (1900-1983)

Saturday’s Surname – Foster

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The Foster Family, by The American Genealogical Research Institite, 1973.

Many years ago I was given a copy of the book The Foster Family from the American Genealogical Research Institute. The book is copyrighted 1973 and it does not specify whether there were multiple printings or additions. I know the book was given to me by a well meaning relative but I don’t remember who at this point. The book has several chapters ranging from “the family name and arms”, “census of 1790” and “constructing the foster family tree”. And before you comment upon my lack of capitalization, I am copying straight from the book. Books like this are great for the novice genealogist, I guess. But even when I received the book, I already knew how useless it was for my own research. Books like this are mere grandiose summaries. They talk big, but they have no meat as they are comprised mostly of lists. And since the book was written in 1973, much of the information is likely inaccurate and obsolete.

One fascinating aspect of the book is the first section “the family name and arms”. It gives a brief history of Europe, which starts laughingly with the collapse of the Roman Empire and the waves of Barbarians sweeping across Europe in the 4^th and 5^th centuries. Wow! Really, how does this help me trace my Foster family? The narrative continues with the Norman Invasion in 1066 and then engages in a mini lecture on the evolutionary nature of names. According to the book, Foster was originally Forrester. The title of Forrester was given by the Saxons to men appointed to guard the forests and to protect the Lord’s hunting rights. Over time the name Forrester evolved to Forster and then Foster. That may be, but how does that help me trace the lineage of one Gladys Foster, born 1905 in Terre Haute, Indiana. Frankly, it does not. There are multiple origins of the name Foster. What about those individuals who “fostered” children? Or, I like this French version “Shearer or scissors maker” from the Old French “forceter”. Regardless of the actual history of my Foster family, I am sure it has little to do with this pompous tourist brochure that now takes up precious space on my bookshelf. I guess it is good for a laugh or two.

Chart of the children of James B. Foster and Lydia C. (Dicks) Foster, in my grandmother’s handwritting

I was lucky enough to inherit a lineage chart that was written in my grandmother’s handwriting that traced her father’s family. The chart names all of my great grandfather’s siblings and his parents. Considering my grandmother never spoke about her father or his family, it is rather fortunate that the chart even existed. My great grandfather was James Edward “Ned” Foster whose father was James Benjamin Foster whose father was Benjamin Coates Foster. And that, ladies and gentleman, is the end of the line, the brick wall of my Foster family. I have traced the line back as far as my 3^rd great grandfather, six generations. That’s decent by some standards, but not good enough by mine. I’ve hit that proverbial brick wall because of those early waves of western migration that brought young Americans from the coastal states to the new territories of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois and the lack of proper recordkeeping.

Benjamin Coates Foster was born April 13, 1797 in Pennsylvania. Yeah, Pennsylvania! No county, just Pennsylvania. On the 1800 census, there were 602,365 people enumerated in Pennsylvania. There were at least 68 heads of household with the surname Foster. (I got this figure from Ancestry so we also have to allow for entries misspelled in the index). The first time I can legitimately find Benjamin C. Foster on a document is his marriage on March 28, 1828 in Lawrence County, Illinois to Belinda Barker. He appears on the 1830 census in nearby Clark County, Illinois where he remained the rest of his life. In 1838 and 1839, there were several land purchases in Clark County. Benjamin can be found on the United States censuses for 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, and 1870 in Clark County. I have also found him on the Illinois State censuses of 1855 and 1865. One of my favorite things that I learned about Benjamin from the 1850 and 1860 censuses is that Benjamin’s occupation was a tailor! For those of you that don’t know me, I am also a seamstress and pattern maker so it is nice to know that such things are in my genes. This is also why I like the French translation of Foster since it has to do with scissors.

Benjamin and Belinda were blessed with at least 9 children, of which only 6 survived to adulthood, and of those only 4 had children to pass on the genes, 2 were male, leaving my 2nd great grandfather James B. Foster the only child of Benjamin and Belinda to have any male children to pass on the surname of Foster.

: June 8, 1942 Envelope

: June 8, 1942, p. 1

: James L. Foster in his sailor uniform. Photograph courtesy of Gerry McCarroll.

I believe this is one of the last letters I have from Uncle Jim for awhile. It is good to know that eventually the brothers-in-law will meet up.

Letter transcription:

U.S.N.C. T.C. Camp Bradford, Ships Co. c/o Camp Allen, N.O.B. Norfolk, VA

Sunday 7 June 1942

Dear Sis-

Just today received a letter from Jake, he wanted me to meet him last night at the Y.M.C.A., mail is not so fast here as you can readily see, anyway I wrote him and I think we will be able to get together soon.

Please let me know when you plan coming for sure I will try to get two or three nights away if you want me to, if that won’t interfere with your plans, maybe we can have a grand party, or something. Anyway I will get to see you at least once, I am writing to find out if Thelma is going to get a vacation, if she does I will have her down here for a week or two. It won’t be in June I am most sure of that, but sometime later.

Hello John and Mark, you should see your uncle Jim in a sailor uniform.

Love Jim

Follow Friday – There’s so much good stuff out there

6 Replies

: June 7, 1942 Envelope

: June 7, 1942, p. 1

: June 7, 1942, p. 2

I am pretty new at blogging. I’ve very quickly discovered that if you have an interest, there’s probably a blog for that. I started my Facebook page for Genealogy Lady last July. This was not my first Facebook page. I have my personal Facebook page and one for my fibre arts business (sewing and knitting). I tried starting a couple smaller genealogy pages, mostly dealing with the descendants of one specific ancestor. I consider them to be my stepping stones. I eventually deleted both of them and combined all my genealogy onto one page. Once I started the Genealogy Lady page, I began to look at who else had genealogy related pages. There are other genealogists, genealogical and historical societies, libraries; you name it! I started liking pages that interested me. It’s basically the same thing with blogging. Once I find a blog I like, I want to come back every day and follow them.

The first blog I ever started to follow was The Legal Genealogist. We all know how much she rocks! Since I am going to be starting Boston University’s Genealogy certificate program in January, I feel like I’m getting a head start on some of the legal issues I might run into as a professional genealogist. Judy’s blog is one that I read every day. I’ve even been brave enough to make a couple comments.

Once I started publishing my blog, I developed a small fan base, i.e. MY FOLLOWERS! It still amazes me that someone actually reads what I write every day, or at the very least, occasionally. I’ve clicked on the links to the people who liked my posts. I’ve found several people who have similar blogs to my own, at least in theme and scope. I now follow about 20+ blogs on a daily basis at this point. Two of the blogs I would like to mention are Masako and Spam Musubi and A Hundred Years Ago.

In Masako and Spam Musubi, Mustang.Koji talks about the experiences of his Japanese American relatives who fought on both sides of the Pacific during World War II. I find his blog is a nice compliment to mine. He gives me another perspective of life during World War II. As I write about the experiences of a country doctor from Indiana, Koji writes about the heroism of his uncles as they served their countries,the prejudices they endured as well as the sufferings of the Nisei and the non military members of his family. As a California transplant, the plight of Japanese Americans is a part of our American history that I did not learn about until adulthood. The subject was not covered much in my Massachusetts history classes.

In A Hundred Years Ago, Sheryl transcribes and writes about the entries from her grandmother’s diary. She posts each entry exactly one hundred years after it was written and then includes a modern commentary of the events. She also draws on contemporary sources to document the diary. I wish I had the forethought to align my grandparents’ letters to the actual calendar days that they were written. Since there are so many of the letters, it probably wouldn’t have worked out in the end.

I’m still looking most days for new blogs to follow. I found a great one this morning from a gentleman in Ireland who writes about the foibles of the English language.There‘s so much good stuff out there that it is hard to stop reading.

My grandfather’s letters are in a bit of a loop at the moment. Several of the same themes are being repeated over and over. My grandmother’s impending visit is taking up a lot of paper as well as the attempts to locate Uncle Jim. This letter did provide me with a bit of medical jargon which was surprisingly easy to interpret. There are about five more letters until my grandmother finally arrives in Norfolk!

Letter transcription:

Sun A.M.

Dear Mother,

Received your letter last night about 9:00 P.M. I’ll try and see what I can do with that card and then send it back – so that you may drive down if you can make good arrangements. You shouldn’t try to make the trip too fast. Just take it easy. Of course I’ll be off Sat. P.M. – but you can get here sun if you can’t make it Sat. You can let me know later in the week. Which ever way you come Telegraph me as to about the time you’ll arrive especially if you come on the train. If you should come in the car and get here during the day come to the house first because you can’t come into the base without a pass.

(page 2) you can get 50 gallons of gas per mo. without an X card. So if you inquired ahead and got a big tank full. Then you would have enough to make it on in.

I haven’t been able to contact Jim as yet. I’ve called out there but they can’t locate him by telephone-And on thurs-I wrote him a letter and still no answer. Maybe he has been transferred.

This Mrs. Ahern was getting Theobromine sod[ium] acetate¹, Ammonium Chloride² and digitalis. If Art still has some you might send some but if not return her money and tell her to see a Dr. there. That probably would be the best thing to do.

In case thisI don’t get this registration card back in time go to Joe and have him make out a duplicate. I may write more later

Love Daddy

Notes:

Information on Theobromine sodium acetate can be found here.
Ammonium Chloride is used as an expectorant in cough medicine. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonium_chloride)

Emily Hogue (Lawhead) Foster

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: Emma Foster, circa 1940s

: Emma with her grandson, John: February 28, 1932 in Terre Haute, Indiana

: Another picture taken the same day; Emma with her grandson John: February 28, 1932, in Terre Haute, Indiana

: Emma Foster with her grandson John, circa 1935-36

: June 5, 1942 Envelope

: June 5, 1942, p. 1

: June 5, 1942, p. 2

: June 5, 1942, p. 3

: June 5, 1942, p. 4

Today’s letter is very special. I believe it is the only letter I have in my collection by my great grandmother, Emma Foster. Chronologically, it falls right after my grandfather’s last letter. The two letters are postmarked the same day. Word is definitely getting around that my grandmother is heading to Norfolk. An added bonus (genealogically speaking) in the letter is that Emma ran into Uncle Wes and Aunt Jessie one night in Terre Haute. Uncle Wes is Silvester Schiele, my grandfather’s uncle. You may recall an earlier post I did on Silvester. His friends and family called him Wes for short. Wes and Jessie must have just come through Kentland on their way down to Clay City from Chicago.

My great grandmother’s story is one that I had to figure out mostly on my own. My grandmother gave me a little information to start with but the rest of the journey was all mine to uncover. Emma was a twin. Aunt Minerva, the one mentioned in the letter, was my great grandmother’s twin sister. One story that my grandmother did relay to me regarding her mother was the story of her naming. Emma Foster was born Emily Hogue Lawhead, daughter of James Henry Lawhead and his second wife, Margaret Allie Rea, on November 14, 1872. The twins were the second and third children of Margaret & James. Margaret was to have four more children, but none survived their infancy. Their oldest child was a boy, Jasper, who was born in 1869. When the twins were born, Margaret did not know what to name them. I suppose Margaret was out of the question as she already had an older step-daughter named Margaret. The story goes that Margaret named her daughters after the first two women who came to visit after the babies were born. I don’t know what Minerva’s middle name is so I haven’t been able to track down her namesake. There was a young woman named Emily Hogue who lived in the neighborhood so there does appear to be some validity to the story.

In 1894, when Emma was 22, she had a child out of wedlock. I have no idea who the father was. According to my Dad’s cousin Juanita, Emma talked about Jesse all the time but she didn’t know who he was. She assumed he was given away. On the 1900 census, Jesse was living with his grandparents, Emma’s parents. If he was given away, it wasn’t very far. Jesse lived with his grandparents and migrated with them to Arkansas. Jesse stayed in Arkansas after his grandmother died and his grandfather returned to Illinois. Another comment made by Juanita in one of her letters was that Emma had grandchildren but they were too far away. Jesse had three children: Alvin, Elwin and Francis. On his death certificate, Emma is named as his mother, but the line for his father is blank. Who knows what happened to this mysterious male in my great grandmother’s life? Was she raped? Did he run away? Why didn’t they marry? I have lots of questions and no solutions for solving this puzzle.

On February 29, 1896, Emma married James Edward “Ned” Foster in Hutsonville, Crawford, Illinois. I would love to say that he was a good man, and was able to accept Emma’s past. I don’t really have an answer to that. What I do know is that their marriage was a rocky one. James was an alcoholic. Over the years, Emma threw him out several times. I assume in the beginning that things were good, but I really don’t know. Love works in mysterious ways, plus it might just have been all about the sex. James and Emma had at least five children. The ones who grew to adulthood were Lydia Allie, Glenn Edward, James Laughead, and my grandmother, Gladys Ruth. Evidence suggests that there was another child Forrest that died young. I have a photograph of a large family grouping. On the back it written: James, Emma, Lydia, Glenn & Forrest. Emma is holding Glenn and a baby on her lap in the picture while Lydia is sitting by her feet . Lydia was born in 1897 and Glenn in September 1900. There is a jump in births before James was born in February 1904. The 1900 census records that Emma is the mother of two living children; this would be Jesse and Lydia as Glenn wasn’t born until after the enumeration. On the 1910 census, Emma is the mother of 6 children, 5 living. The five would include: Lydia, Glenn, James, Gladys and Jesse.

I don’t know where or when baby Forrest died or where he is buried. The family moved back and forth between Crawford and Clark counties in Illinois and Terre Haute during these years. James was a laborer and he moved to where the work was. They were probably pretty poor and couldn’t afford a stone for Forrest’s grave. Both my grandmother and Uncle Jim were born in Terre Haute. After that, I think the family pretty much stayed in Terre Haute. Sometime before 1920, Emma kicked James out for his drinking for good. On the 1920 census, James is not enumerated with the family. Emma’s profession was a pie baker for a Baking company. Cousin Juanita also mentioned in one of her letters that Emma did this along with Aunt Cora. Cora Miller was one of James’ sisters. Apparently at one time, they all lived in the same building (but not on the 1920 census). A couple of the Terre Haute directories after 1920 record James and Emma living together but I think this might have been a smoke screen. Emma and James never divorced. Even on Emma’s death certificate, my grandmother reported that Emma was married.

Emma had a decent life but it was filled with hardship over the years. Any of these events would have broken a weaker person: an illegitimate child, an alcoholic husband, the death of a baby, being a single working mom, her beloved oldest daughter dying young, her grandson being killed in an accident. Her life could be measured by these tragedies but I would rather think of her as my grandmother’s mother, the woman who came to Kentland to help my grandmother while her husband was away at war, during the time after she had the baby (my father). I like to look at her pictures and her elusive smile. Yes, she does look old for her age in most of the pictures, but I look and I see a little part of me looking back at me, and it makes me proud to be her great granddaughter.

In school, Emma achieved a sixth grade education according to the 1940 census. While transcribing her letter I struggled between trying to make the letter readable and making an accurate transcription. If you want to see the actual letter, click on the pictures above.

This letter also mentions that Gladys’ mother-in-law, Lovina Yegerlehner, has not been feeling well lately and that Ruth has been home helping her mother while she was sick. Paired with yesterday’s letter from Roscoe which also mentions his mother not feeling well, that’s a nice bit of documentation from two corroborating sources.

Letter transcription:

6.8.42

Dear children + grandson

Receive your letter this morning. I had to go up to town yesterday afternoon + was walking along + seen a group of folks? standing in front of a restaurant first like that had their dinner, said to myself that look like uncle Wes + stop + look + sure among it was aunt Jessie, Mary Sheperman + some more I didn’t know so stoped + talked to them a litter whin? + they said that they stop at your house + seen you + the boy + that

(page 2) you was going to see Jake next week. Said that they would tell you that way seen me. I have had a letter from James + he never said anythins about seeing Jake yet James has got his insinmet[assignment] + will be there six month or a year he said I sure am glad that Ruth is at home with her mother this week it will help her as much as the medison[medicine]. I thought that I would get down there this week but it has been so hot here it seems to take all of the pep out of me your aunt Minerva is looking for me to come over there + stay

(page 3) a few day but can’t pick up the nerve to go. I am writing you some of her tales of woe. when I got up yesterday morning I felt like going back to bed + giving up the strnge[strength?] + say here lord take me I have a little more pep today. I don’t feel sick + can eat good but is seems like it don’t do my any good hade plenty to eat this is my tail of wo[e] I said to my self this sond like aunt Minera letter.

(page 4)I would like to hear John play at the resite[recital] hope that he comes out first it sure is hot today I hope that you do go + see Jake + get to see James it will cheer him up to see you if I had a place for the boys to sleep they could come + stay with me. I see so many dresses in the window up to down. I told Mrs. Welsere I was going to write + tell you about their that is the seersucker only haha will sign off

Mother love

Wednesday’s Child – Wesley Foster McCammon (1916-1927)

4 Replies

: Emma Foster with her grandchildren, Juanita and Wesley McCammon, circa 1917-1918

: Gladys Foster with her neice and nephew, 1918

: Gravestone for Wesley McCammon and his mother Lydia Allie (Foster) McCammon; Little Flock Cemetery, Shelburn, Sullivan, Indiana, USA

: June 5, 1942 Envelope

: June 5, 1942, p. 1

: June 5, 1942, p. 2

: June 5, 1942, p. 3

: June 5, 1942, p. 4

Wesley was the son of Jesse and Lydia Allie (Foster) McCammon. He died when he fell off the back of a wagon and was trampled to death. His short life was also filled with tragedy. When he was almost three, his mother died. He spent the rest of his life moving back and forth between grandparents’ homes and his father’s house. Jesse McCammon remarried in 1921, and quickly started a new family with his new wife.

My grandmother Gladys was Wesley’s aunt. Part of the time, Wesley lived with my grandmother, great uncle Jim and my great grandmother Emma in Terre Haute. In one of the letters I exchanged with Wesley’s sister Juanita in the 1990s, she talked about how my great grandmother’s sister Minerva wanted to adopt the two of them after Allie died. My great grandmother would not let her. Emma wanted her grandchildren close to her, not over in Illinois where Aunt Minerva lived. It made me wonder, if Minerva had adopted the children, would Wesley have lived? (FindAGrave)

Letter transcription:

Fri.

Dear Mother-

Guess you’ll miss a letter one day because I was on duty and didn’t get a chance to write until about 2300 and that would do no good because no mail leaves the base after that time.

When we are on duty we have to inspect the mess. That is we have to see that things are clean and then we get our own meals there. They serve us meals in a special officer’s mess. They have several colored persons who are in the navy but are training them to be mess boys. Last night at one of the tables across a guy was pouring some ice water to an officer and th a chunk of ice went out with the water and

(page 2) you should have seen the colored boy make a pass for it. The other colored mess boys get tickled and it was a little to break the stiff silence. They really have some service. Meet you at the door-take your cap, pull your chair back and then serve in courses with a finger bowl etc.

The X card won’t do any good because they are calling in all of those already issued and it is doubtful if the Drs. unless they have no other way will g be able to get a card. We had an officer notice to that affect a day or two ago.

So far as I can tell I’d still like you to come down and if you can get here one week from Sat. I’ll

(page 3)have duty on Fri nite before and will be off on Sat. Just like I am this P.M. You had better take a pulman from Cincinatta. And you have to get off the train at Newport News. Rather than Norfolk as I thought. At Cincinatta there are separate gates for pulman and coach passengers so be sure and inquire – they have a man stationed at every gate-And don’t burden yourself with many clothes because there aren’t any places to go without a car. You’ll understand when you get here. I think . Should I get you a room in a hotel or do you want to stay here I’d rather stay in a hotel. If not we would have no time to ourselves. It’s just like pulling teeth to get to

(page 4) our room now. Mrs. Evans has to talk. Has told me about the death of her husband several times etc. Think it over.

I’m going down town to get another shirt or two seems of as if laundry is very slow. And this one is smelling rather badly.

Got a letter from Mom today, said she was up and around some. Well, I’ll wait until this PM. mail maybe there will be something to answer.

I called Jim but couldn’t get him on the phone. So I wrote to him. But I’ve found a way by which I can call him now, going to try to get him to come to town Sat. nite if he can get off.

Just got your Tue letter. The one you started Tue + finished Wed. Guess I have all the questions covered. Will try to keep a letter coming each day.

Love Daddy