Tag Archives: John F. Yegerlehner

With Love Jeanette McDonald (Roscoe)

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: January 22, 1943 Envelope

: January 22, 1943, p. 1

: January 22, 1943, p. 2

: January 22, 1943, p. 3

: January 22, 1943, p. 4

: January 22, 1943, p. 5

Jan 22, 1943

Dear Mother,

Noon chow over and Sick Call over – so now for a period or relaxation. I’ll repeat what I said about the taxes. Pay the last two installments of 1941 and forget about 1942. If there is money on hand buy bonds and those can be cashed in to pay the taxes, when the time comes. Just keep all figures. If you haven’t paid those two installments – do so with a note signed by Agnes M. that the lateness is due to my being out of the states. However, if it isn’t paid and they don’t charge interest for that – I mean 1941 – Just skip it also. Now I’m going to

[page 2] stop talking about taxes.

It’s clear today but we have a rather strong breeze and our tent flaps and bangs and sometimes we wonder if it’s going to stay or go – so far it has stayed.

I got the pictures of Funks OK. and wrote them thanking them for the same. Guess Arleen has told you about it by now. I found out about the Johnson baby several days sooner than about D. I knew about their baby on the 20. And it took at least one full month for D. arrival to be sent to me. Really seemed longer than that.

I still haven’t found out what I wanted to know about the first letter. When did you get mail from me first? The first letter you I wrote you said

Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

[page 3] arrived on Sept. 22. Now on what day did you first receive mail? It isn’t important only curious. Dr. P. got a package from home this A.M. with air mail envelopes, stationary a large candle, pictures and newspaper clippings. I got the C.C. news & Fred scored a blank. Dr. P. got letter pictures of his children of the boys’ girl friends and of his Dad and dog. And also one of Jeanette McDonal on which his wife had written – with Love from Jeanette McDonald. He got the joke but also swore a little too because I think he would rather have had his wife’s picture. It was in a folder with the rest. The folder was about like the one you sent me.

We have plenty of stationary etc so don’t try to send anymore. In fact I think you

[page 4] won’t be able to send anything unless I give you a written order signed by the commanding officer and since I don’t particularly want anything the order won’t be sent.

I’m going to try to write to the boys today. Answering John’s letter I don’t know if Mark wrote or not but I’ll write just the same – he may have written V-mail or his letter might have been waylaid as others have been coming this way.

Everything I’ve sent you you have received except the last package which was sent along the latter part of Dec. It was before Christmas probably you have that by now. If I can find a suitable box I’m going to send the next stuff tomorrow. I’ll describe those things in a later letter after I definitely mail them.

Last night’s show was Carolina Moon

Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

[page 5] not too good. Night before last Joe Penner in The Boys From Someplace. I can’t remember – It was pretty funny. Martha Ray was in it.

Later after the show – got a Christmas greeting from Fischers at Clay City. Your letter sent on from the Sisters and a V-mail letter from Sykes. Sykes letter was dated Dec. 30. So that V-mail is still not as fast as your air mail. I wish some of that Dec. mail would come in of around Christmas time and just before.

Well, it’s way past bed time so must hit the hay –
Lots of love
Daddy
P.S. I’ve written both the boys so if one gets mail and the other doesn’t they will understand.

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/11/14/with-love-jean…cdonald-roscoe/ ‎

Pretty well up to date (Gladys)

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: January 22, 1943 Envelope

: January 22, 1943, p. 1

: January 22, 1943, p. 2

: January 22, 1943, p. 3

: January 22, 1943, p. 4

: January 22, 1943, p. 5

: January 22, 1943, p. 6

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

[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/

A Momentous Decision (Roscoe)

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: January 21, 1943 Envelope

: January 21, 1943, p. 1

: January 21, 1943, p. 2

: January 21, 1943, p. 3

: January 21, 1943, p. 4

: January 21, 1943, p. 5

Letter transcription:

Dear Mother,

Our cool has continued and it is really comfortable – Just got thru taking a bath in the open air shower and reall got cold. I came back and Fred & Dr. P. asked me how it was and I said fine – let them find out for themselves.

I saw an income tax blank today and the surtax starts at 2000 with $260. So try to cut ours below 2000. I believe if you take all the deductions it will cut it below 2000. Don’t forget the insurance – malpractice car Ins etc. All that runs for a year payable in June or July and I left in May so that was that would be 10/12 or what ever the fractional part of the year.

[page 2] I would like for you to figure it whether or not you pay it. Next year the total amount will be 2400 or less and that won’t cost much. So much for that – Only if you do figure it don’t the drugs. The interest – to the insurance co. Interest on house payments. Interest to E. Buck Dave Ream etc. If you have time send me what you can figure the deductions would be. I believe you aren’t interested much in the tax situation but that has to be paid in 3 mo. after we return and that is why I’m interested. And if you haven’t made those other two payments on last year please do because those will all count up.

I’ve explained how these letters are dated several days after writing

[page 3] so that is why the letter you referred to was written on the 29^th and stamped on the 31. You see we write one night – passes thru the censor next day and to our P.O. next day and then to the other P.O. so it’s here for a few days before leaving. And I haven’t been able to figure how your comes this way – very seldom comes – I just heard today that all you will be able to write is V-mail. Really I don’t care if it is V mail just so it’s regular and not too old. However. I ‘m not sure that is only hearsay, but I did hear that there would be no more insured pkgs and no more registered letters.

Now – after the show and while sitting on the hill before the show starts – we always go about 1/1 hour early in order to get a good seat. Any-

[page 4] way while sitting there I made a momentous decision – and this is it. Don’t pay this past years income tax. I mean 1942. As I said before pay the other installments of ’41 but forget 1942 and put the money in bonds we can always cash them in and pay the tax. So forget about the income tax period.

Your letter of Jan 4 came today and I sure was glad you could attend Rotary – wish I could have been there – wasn’t that silly – or was it?? John’s letter of Jan 6 came also as well as one from Wayne W. and one from the Walkups at Earl Park. They seem to be real faithful in their letter writing.

Hope your sinus trouble is better and yes the coat – If you are satisfied I see no reason why I wouldn’t only you didn’t use all

Gladys modeling the black seal coat & new hat – January 1943

[page 5] the money I sent but that isn’t any of my business. You said you were going to send me a financial statement after the first of the year. I hope you include the number of bonds etc. and whether or not you got a strong box – probably you have already written those things but they haven’t come thru yet. I’ll be looking forward to a picture of you in the coat – and THE HAT.

Hope you and D. are better by now and everything is getting along OK. Please don’t worry about me and don’t get fussed up at anything – Don’t drive the car anymore than is necessary because of the tires etc.

Well, I hope our mail will be half-way regular again and I can hear from you often –

Lots of Love
Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/11/12/a-momentous-decision-roscoe/

A new experience (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

MRS R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
IND
1-21-43

Dear Daddy – Your letter of Jan 9 came today after the 10^th – which I rec’d Tues. I won’t try sending the eggs or green stuff. The only reason I sent the coke was because I had good packing, but that was too good to pass by. Should have put in some dry ice. There isn’t any school again today but it is warmer 20°. There is still ice under the snow on our street but the other streets in town are better and the highways are clean. Mark is working with his Christmas tools this A.M. John is just loafing. I wish they could go back to school but probably won’t this week. David is asleep – after taking 5 oz milk & 3 tbsp pablum he was too drowsy to have a good burp. Weighed 13-7 this A.M. The boys are getting a new experience – we have to slice our bread now and they think that something. Both tried and you can imagine what the slices looked like then Mother sliced for them and they thought she was very good. I told you before about creamery butter being so high 50¢ per – so we use oleo. There seems to be a canned milk shortage so I have been trying to get a little surplus because I don’t want to run out. They say not to do that. I wouldn’t for the rest of us but have to think of the baby’s welfare. I couldn’t get carnation so got Pet. The labels read the same. I hear D. so he must be waking up

Love Mother

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/11/11/a-new-experience-gladys/

10 Below Continued…(Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

MRS R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
1-20-43

Dear Daddy – I am writing 2 of these today. They told me at the P.O. I am allowed 3 a day and I felt like writing more today than one holds. In case you didn’t get the other it is 10 below today. Blizzard yesterday and no school. I am quoting again figures I sent several times you asked for. To May 31 – #3120.45 – June 260.25 July 253.28 Aug 33.75 – total 3667.73. Agnes and I will get all the tax business taken care of so don’t worry about it. The uniform money hasn’t come yet. The last box you mentioned hasn’t either. Some of your Rotary friends asked if all you had to do was make a necklace – I told them you do that on Monday evening since you can’t attend Rotary. No letters today but had 5 Mon & 1 Tues. If you get all my previous letters hope you don’t worry about our colds. They boys are all over theirs and as full of pep as ever. The last time John started to sneeze I gave him the oral vaccine as you instructed – six in one day and it worked – cold all gone. I still have a sinus condition but I am able to be up – tho I am not trying to do anything unnecessary – Mother is here and takes care of the kitchen work. David is now taking 13 oz. carnation 16 oz water – 2 ½ tbsp Dextri-Maltose – 1 egg yolk – in formula – 3 tbsp pablum. He has now doubled his weight – at 3 mo 3 wks – is good. Holds on to things now and responds to attention. Took some more pictures today – Will send them if they are good. Will write a real letter next time – so I can ramble more.

Love Mother

10 Below (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
1-20-43

Dear Daddy- No school again today. The blizzard drifted the snow yesterday so the busses couldn’t travel. There isn’t much wind today but very cold – 10 below. Our furnace runs most of the time but we are keeping it well looked after. The boys being home have time to keep the hopper filled and take clinkers out. In case you missed some of my Dec & Jan letters we are having one of the coldest (with more snow) winters in years. It started Thanksgiving and hasn’t let up much since. It is too cold today for veteran skaters. Even Mark would rather stay in than go out today. Yesterday he went to town once to go to the P.O. and said the town was full of transport trucks. The road north was blocked and they were held up here. We saw some going over 24 so maybe they tried another route. It is very bright and sunny today so will try to get some pictures taken. Haven’t gotten to the photographer yet – it is too cold to go now but will try to go as soon as this weather breaks – I still have Jimmy Ed Johnson’s buggy – but I hardly think he will need it yet – He is just two weeks old so guess his mother won’t take him out in this sub weather. David hasn’t been out since early in Dec but there has been so much snow couldn’t push the buggy thru it and it has been too cold to do a small baby any good taking him out. What’s your opinion? Even with a fur coat it’s too cold for me.

Love Mother

Another Blizzard (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

MRS R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
1-19-43

Dear Daddy – Another blizzard and no school today – Probably hard for you to believe we are having such weather. If you get all my letters maybe you will get a fair idea what it is like here. I wish you could see the way the snow is drifted across the front yard today – It looks like rock formation. The boys are playing pick-up stick this A.M. David is asleep. Just had both pablum & milk. Weighted 13-6 this morning. He is holding things now. John calls him the “personality babe” Had a wire from Glen that they have a baby boy named him James L. – They are living in Winnemucca Nev. now. Had one letter this A.M. – Yours of Jan 11 – I am anxious to see the new necklace – The lace box you mentioned hasn’t come yet – Neither has the uniform money. I am taking sulfadiozine for my sinus infection. Have been taking treatments but the thing won’t clear up with spraying & irrigation. Never had such a time with it. The baby’s cold hangs on too and I think it’s because of my condition. However he hasn’t felt bad – and I do hope he doesn’t. Mother is knitting him a pr of bootees. Oh for spring and warm weather again.

Love Mother

Homes - 508 E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, Indiana, 1942-12-20

The house after a previous snowstorm

Tried to get new overshoes today (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

MRS R.S. YEGERLEHNER
Kentland
INDIANA
1-18-43

Dear Daddy – Monday and more snow. There is a thick coating of ice under the snow so it makes walking as bad as driving. I took Mark to school so he wouldn’t get snow all over him – being sick last week from exposure I am going to keep him in pretty close for a while. – Have been to Music Club since writing the first – It was at the M. Church. The first time I have been any place (socially) since in Dec. I still am having sinus trouble but I thought it would lift my morale to go out again. Have 5 letters today – Jan 5 to 9 – The uniform money has not come yet. I will try this week to get some tax figures made. I am going to see Agnes and she will help me. I sent you the figures you asked for in three previous letters. Maybe you will get them some day. I haven’t bought the new dresses yet, but will wait now until spring – since I have a new coat & hat. I tried to get Mark some new overshoes today but couldn’t. He is wearing rubbers but we are having too much snow for low cuts. He wore a hole in the high ones he had. John is wearing your old zippers. All this snow should be good for the grass etc. Will try and write a real letter tonight.

Love Mother

Our street was a sheet of ice (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

MRS RS YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
1-17-43

Dear Daddy – Sunday evening and the family in bed except me and waiting for D. to take his 10 PM before I turn in. Mayrose’s brought Mother up today. The weather was fair for the trip and it is snowing some this evening and when the boys came home from Youth Fellowship said was so slick they couldn’t stay on their feet. I noticed cars going very slow. Our street was a sheet of ice yesterday. The ice is so thick some children skate on it going to and from the pond. I hope it is better by morning as I need to go to town and I don’t want to walk. Since having this sinus trouble I try not to go out in the cold air any more than necessary. It is better this evening. Should clear up soon now. I hope it doesn’t continue indefinitely. John and Mark are both up and going again but John still has a little stiff neck. He was able to take care of the furnace today. Mark is as lively as ever. They have the electric train hooked up in our bedroom and have been playing with it this week-end. I suppose they will leave it there until I get tired walking around it. Mark has been trying to think up some of the things David will get into when he begins to get around. John says he isn’t going to worry about such things. Thanks for the letter about your trip and I might add, you do a good job telling things.

Love
Mother

Last day for regular air mail (Gladys)

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: January 15, 1943 Envelope

: January 15, 1943, p. 1

: January 15, 1943, p. 2

: January 15, 1943, p. 3

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.