Tag Archives: John Krull

A Tussle with the Weather (Gladys)

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September 28, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 28, 1945, p. 1

Fri. morn.
9-28-45

Dear Daddy –

Yours of the 25^th came this morning. If you do get to bring another draft to G.L. I will meet you as before, but I think I can make it by myself or with the family – Since 45 takes us up that way I wouldn’t have to drive 41 – however since 41 is lane part of the way it isn’t bad, but I think I would rather just go on over to 45 from here. I think if you want me to meet you alone J. & M. can get along here with David, but if you think you would get as much time as before I could bring them along – let me know. I am having a tussle with the weather. I hung the drapes from our bedroom out yesterday with the idea of getting them just dry enough to iron, but it rained before they got dry so I just left them out all night. This a.m. the sun was shining so I changed the beds as usual and washed. I hung one tub full out then decided to bring the drapes back in because it was lightly sprinkling then. I hung them and the next washer of clothes in the basement. When I came up it looked like it was clearing but now it’s cloudy again so I am leaving everything hanging where it is.

Last night I went out to Taylors to the A.B.C. class meeting. I didn’t particularly want to go because it was raining but I wanted to see Freda McCarty about some Sunday School business. They usually play Bunco at those parties and that in my estimation is a waste of time. I figured we could transact our business while the rest played and we were doing that when John called

September 28, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] me and said Ruth & Earl were here. I hurried home of course. Ruth said Elder Oberholtzer had died from a heart attack and they were going down. They decided to come this far and spend the night with us. After visiting a while we decided to go down to the Kentland Café – it was opened for the first day – Earl said he didn’t want to eat anything so he stayed here – David being in bed. Ruth & I took J. & M. and went down. The place was pretty full but we got hamburgers & coke (Mark wanted 2 hambs. But I said at that hour one would do). We saw quite a few people we knew. Lucile, Katie and two other women were there. I think it’s going to be a good thing for the high school group. That is really a nice place for them to go. John was cooking – their night cook got sick (or something) and John had to take over. Gladys was cashier but said only after 9 o’clock. I heard her tell Mr. & Mrs. Kiifner that she had lost 40 lbs. I knew she had lost a lot of weight.

– – We have had lunch since I started this. It is still uncertain – that is the weather. One minute I think it will clear then it looks cloudy. Ruth & Earl slept in the den and got up early this a.m. and left without disturbing anyone. David was up early and downstairs before I was awake. After I got up he said why are the “netion blinds” pulled down. I didn’t know exactly what he meant at first, then I said, “Have you been down in the den?” He said he dad. The binds were closed but he had opened them.

I had a letter from the Moores & one from Van Soyc.

September 28, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] Mrs. M. answered my letter the day she rec’d it. She says the school is going to be out Dec. 15, but Van & Dr. W. are leaving now on points. J.B. is going back to school when he gets out to get his Drs. He is now studying French. Barbara was gone last week to visit Mother Moore and J.B. had a boil on his neck. B. said J.B. spent most of the time in sick bay. Had to have the boil lanced. McClard will leave Liberty when the Navy leaves. He has a job with Stevens College in Columbia. I also had a letter from Jane V. – guess I mentioned that on the last page. She gave me their Kalamazoo address. She said, “Van has applied for discharge since he’d like to enroll the first semester at college.” So sounds like he intends to study more too. The officers are eating Sun. dinner at the galley again.

Ruth took 6 towels and wanted to pay me but I told her I didn’t know what they had cost and that I would find out from you (if you remember) and let her know. She was so glad to get them. We still have enough to last a long time. I don’t dare for white towels so I think some of the white ones are going to get a dye bath.

David has gone out to play with Martha. He is pretty good about staying home. He is getting so he will call Martha to come over and play with him and she runs back and forth between yards but he stays in our yard. Do you remember what Mr. Z. said to me that day

September 28, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] in their yard about David going to the ditch? He hasn’t gone yet – – – I went out to check up and decided to see if the clothes were dry – some were and while I was out the weather finally came to a head – we are having a rain shower with some thunder & lightening. Maybe after this rain is over we will get some clear weather. Martha was with us when the rain started so we brought her into the house with us. She is doing things on the magic slate for David. This has been the wettest week we have had in a long time. Just wish we would had had our new shrubbery in last week so it could have had the rain this week to give it a good start. – – I hope now to get this letter finished. I stopped to run the things thru the ironer I bought in and now they are ready to put away. It stopped raining so Martha went home. It is pouring again but not so dark. In fact it is getting very light.

Dick Bower came home yesterday – he has been discharged – He is to be married soon. He was in the P. O. yesterday when I went in the mail your letter. I wonder if he will get his job back.

Shorty Davis and the woman (Frances Smith) work for Arlene were married Sept. 5. Arlene said she heard they had been married but Frances hadn’t said anything the last time I talked to Arlene. Tues. when Arlene attended club she had Louise staying with the children so maybe she had quit then. Arlene has her ups & downs with help. This has been a long drawn out letter and I think I’ll stop now and do something else for a while.

Love,
Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/14/a-tussle-with-the-weather-gladys/

David’s Birthday (Gladys)

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September 23, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 23, 1945, p. 1

9-23-45

Dear Daddy –

The party is over and we have had a little supper. We put David to bed before we ate because he ate ice cream & cake and drank punch and then after refreshments he kept eating candy so I didn’t even try to get him to eat supper. We just had some ice cream & cake that was left – I snitched a sandwich but J. & M. didn’t want anything else. Dorothy came out early – they had to go to Chicago this afternoon – and brought David’s gift. She had Lucile Jones bake him an angel food besides. I put the birthday trimmings on it. I baked one too but it didn’t look as smooth as the one Lucile made. I asked Dorothy about ice cream and since the drug stores are closed Sun. afternoons, she had Betty Lou bring the ice cream out from the restaurant before they left for Chicago. I was afraid it wouldn’t keep in the frost chest if I put it in last night. Arlene overslept so she didn’t get here with her youngsters until the party was nearly over, but since we had two cakes, I sent cake home with her and gave the children their favors. I fortunately found some candy that was wrapped individually and different shapes so it made nice favors. Altogether David received $5.00 and several nice toys and a pr. of corduroys. Lucile gave him a telephone with a dial that works – it looks like a real phone. It was quite popular with all the children. Arlene brought a little pull toy – a wagon with two hares that bob up and down like the push toy I got for him. She also gave him the corduroys. Statons brought a pull toy and

September 23, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] a set of graduated blocks. Dorothy gave him a Mickey Mouse toy that turns somersaults. He likes cards so much and seemed to enjoy his cards very much. Mark gave him a magic slate this morning and he was quite delighted with it. John gave him a card with a dollar. When he saw the bill I said, “What is that?” He answered “Money.” He put his pennies in the birthday offering and planted three flags in the sand. He is so much more grownup acting than the little Smith boy (McCloud) who is just a day or two younger, but David has been with J. & M. whereas the Smith children are younger. I had the boys bring up that old play table from the basement and with a good dusting off and a white table cloth it served perfectly for the little folk to eat their refreshments. Also brought up that old bench and with a covering it served for chairs. Martha, Myra & John Hufty, Jimmy Ed and David had a good time at a table by themselves. John, Mark, Jimmy, Betty & Virginia were seated in the den at a card table and the mothers were seated at the dining room table. I placed the play table by the south dining room wall so the mothers could keep track of the children. Everyone seemed to have a good time. The children played with the toys and the mothers visited. After the rain and cool weather yesterday it was so warm today we stayed out in the yard except when we came in to eat. It has been warmer today than it has been for some time.

Mrs. Washburn in Club President this year and is having the opening meeting at her home in the country. Lucile dropped club so said she would keep David for me. I told her I was planning to go. I kept Karen & Jimmy not long ago and she said she would keep David for me sometime.

September 23, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] Dorothy didn’t get to go to Laf. last week so she said today she is planning to go sometime next [week]. They are serving Rotary Thurs. evening. Nick served them Thurs. noon last time, but they would rather have evening meetings. John & Gladys are opening Wed. this week. I wonder if Rotary will go there. It’s a cinch John will have all the business he can handle – so maybe he won’t want special dinners.

John is doing homework and keeps asking me for words. Mark said he had a headache and wanted an aspirin but I told him I didn’t think he needed one – so he went out of doors and came back in much improved, he says.

So far my thumb is still stiff – It seems to have affected the joint. The allergy is gone and it’s about all peeled off but I can’t bend it very far. I can use it but without bending it much. Jimmy had another attack of asthma and Lucile thinks it was caused by red beans. She said they had chili for supper and that night Jimmy began to stop up – the next day he was in the kitchen and ate two red beans she was preparing for lunch. She said while chewing the second one he began to cry and said it burned his mouth and wanted to spit it out – He had a severe attack after that. In checking back Lucile said they had had beans before another attack of asthma he had.

David was so tired I think he must have gone right to sleep. I haven’t heard a sound out of him since he went to bed. John decided this was a perfect day for the birthday. It has been warmer than any Sept. 23 in the past 3 years. I remember last year it poured down rain in Mo.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/03/davids-birthday-gladys/

Nu-Joy Restaurant (Gladys)

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September 9, 1945, p. 1

Letter transcription:

9-9-45

Dear Daddy –

We had quite an exciting afternoon. The Nu-Joy Restaurant burned to the ground. The fire started in the kitchen and the fire Dept. wasn’t called soon enough, so the story goes. All the fire trucks around here came but about all the good they did was to keep the garage from burning and the Kentland Café building. John & Gladys are back and getting their place ready to open. I suppose they will step up their work to get opened sooner now that the Nu-Joy is gone. The Harlan Parrs were in town and had come out this way so they took David and me down. J. & M. were already down watching the fire. We parked by Childress Station and watched a while, then I asked them to take be back home. There was such a mob gathering I thought I would rather be home. Traffic had to be re-routed out this way to 24. There were cars parked on 24 out past here. Ed J. took John out for another driving lesson this evening and he told John what the Electric Co. had to do when they knew how the fire was going. Ed was on the scene most of the time – until after the fire was really over. I could see smoke for a long time.

Jimmy Ed is much better. I took David and stayed there while John & Ed were driving. Jimmy seems normal. Lucile says he chokes up some at night, but while we were there I didn’t notice any signs of hay fever or asthma. Maybe what was bothering him a week ago is gone now.

Joe Bill Mullen was in church this

September 9, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] with Gloria Blanke and his mother. He has to go back to the hospital for more treatment. I have heard there is to be a wedding, but I don’t know when.

The Foulkes were entertaining dinner guests at the Nu-Joy when the fire started. I think they left before they had finished eating. No one was caught in the fire but Katie told me all they could get out was the money. I heard later that some other things were saved – some 5^ths. One fireman was supposed to have taken 3 cases of beer.

Olene Miller says Emmett wrote her not to send him any more packages, so she things he will soon be coming home.

Lila called me tonight. She said Joe is still in N. Africa. He got his promotion so is now Comdr. She doesn’t know anything about when he will get home and wondered if you knew anything.

Mrs. Glick was at church this a.m. She asked me how soon you were coming home. I told her I didn’t know. Dr. G. seemed to think it would be soon, or something to that effect.

I got the boys started back on their regular monthly allowance again. Mrs. Koon came out Sat. and paid the bal. of the rent $15.00 – so that helps out the petty cash fund.

The Statons were gone from home today and came in on 24 and turned to come up the short street so didn’t see what had happened. You can imagine their surprise when we told them what had happened.

We were up late last night so in order to get the boys settled down early will go to bed myself. Lucile came out late last night to show us Karen’s pictures. She stayed until 11:30. I made a pot of coffee and we ate some of John’s prize cake he baked yesterday morning.

Love Mother

Photograph of the Nu-Joy fire, from the Kentland-Newton County Centennial, 1860-1960. Note the incorrect date!

[Editor’s note: A newspaper clipping regarding the Nu-Joy fire can be found here. Note that both Gladys and the newspaper give the date of the fire as Sunday, September 9, 1945, not September 7th as printed in the centennial book.]

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/05/18/nu-joy-restaurant-gladys/

The Furnace (Gladys)

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September 6, 1945 envelope

September 6, 1945, p. 1

Letter transcription:

9-6-45

Dear Daddy –

The sons one and two are off to school. David is trying to find something to do – I don’t have to look for anything – there is plenty to do, but I am not doing too much. I knitted on Bobby’s snow suit yesterday and got the jacket ready for the sleeves. It was so nice out in yard so after David had his nap we went out and enjoyed the scenery. David plays in the driveway in the rocks. He enjoys that as much as a sand pile. Coco came to see us while we were in the yard. She seemed very glad to see us, and I think she was. They just returned home Tues. evening.

Things are at a stand still on the furnace. The air stopped working and I called Loughridge but couldn’t get Chet. Bun promised to come out and see if he could locate the trouble, but he didn’t come. I called again and he said he was covered up with work and his Dad was out of town. He said to call Monroe or Arnold. I told him since they were going to make the change over I would rather they would come out. I wouldn’t bother with it but I can’t even heat water as it is now. It would click, but the air wouldn’t turn on, so I disconnected the fuse, until someone can look at it. We can get along without hot water until we need to wash.

–Yours of Sept. 2 & 3 came and the regular checks. Also some adv. from Carr Drug, Pit-Morian, M. & R. Dietetic Lab & Sherman. They must think you will soon be back. Hope they are right.

September 6, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] Norma was going to town so I went along – The stores will be closed this afternoon and I wanted to get a few necessities. Tomorrow school will be out and one of the boys can go if necessary. I banked one ck. and cashed the other. Have to give the boys their allowance so we can get back on schedule.

We haven’t heard anything in the past few days about Navy releases but I think the info in the Chicago Tribune is authentic because it is the same as we heard Sat. on the radio, given out by Adm. Denfield, head of Navy Demobilization. So I think something will be done as soon as it is possible. Dolores said so many changes had to be made over night that it will (may) take a little time to get releases started. However if 11,200 is the goal for Sept. someone should be getting theirs soon. I just scanned over the Democrat and see that John Krull has been discharged. They are getting ready to open their restaurant. Also see the Paul Yost is to be discharged soon. I’ll send the papers to you and you can do your own reading. I think you will enjoy that more.

I just checked the bank statement. Our present bal. with the $170 deposited is $369.27 (plus $47). The Laf. Life will have to be pd. this month or before Oct. 7 but you will send some by then.

I talked to Geo. Tilton about the linoleums this morning and he is going to see about fixing them. They split the place where it is bulged – put in cement and weight it down until it dries, then it should stay – and he says shows no mark.

Lucile just called ma and said she was going to cancel her appointment with Dr. Ade next week. She was to take Jimmy down for allergy tests – he has not been so good the past week and she thinks the trips down and the tests would be too hard on him now – I told her too, to wait a while because Dr. Y would probably have an outfit like that and she could get it done right here. She agreed that it would be much easier.

As you advised me, keep your chin up and I love you,

Mother

P.S. Bun just came out and found the trouble – the wire leading to the air was cut so he fixed it and now I have a fire going and soon will have hot water and burn the garbage. He seemed to think they would soon have the oil burners, so I tried to impress him with the fact that he can’t get it in too soon.

David “Anthy” is still wide awake after being in bed since lunch time and it’s now past 2:30. I think he is not going to sleep at all and I did want him to have a nap since we are to go to Funks for a wiener roast tonite. When anyone asks him where Daddy is he says San Franciko. Coco asked him who was who in our group picture and he was very emphatic about, “my daddy.”

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/05/10/the-furnace-gladys/

A White Haze (Gladys)

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: February 10, 1944 envelope front

: February 10, 1944, envelope back

: February 10, 1944, p. 1

: February 10, 1944, p. 2-3

: February 10, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-10-44

Dear Daddy –

Another day without letters from you, but Mon. (7^th) had five. Maybe tomorrow will bring more. Winter is upon us again and at present it is snowing. I am glad the ground needs moisture. It is so gray and overhanging it looks like it could snow all afternoon. It is a very fine snow and will take a lot to cover the ground.

I started washing the kitchen walls this morning. I didn’t try to do the whole thing because I get too tired so I can see definitely where I quit. The dirtiest the walls have ever been. The unfinished walls are needing something but I think they should wait until spring – then some kind of water color. Ed Johnson painted the walls in that house with a watercolor and it looks very good. Lucile said it

[page 2] is washable, too. However, since it is so inexpensive it would be just as easy to repaint as to wash.

I was just looking out the dining room window and without wishing to make you feel badly, wish you could see the scene. It is a white haze across the prairie, a little wind – gently blowing white waves across Zell’s roof. It makes me think of one day while you were still at St. E. and we drove up to Kent thru snow just like this. As far as we could see, white haze. I can see a little squirrel running across the yard now, probably looking for food. I noticed an ear of corn in one of the tall evergreen trees that one of the squirrels no doubt put there. I looked for it again and it was gone.

Last night while preparing supper David had been fed and was on “the loose” – I had set a pan of lukewarm milk on the cabinet and he reached up and pulled it off – It was so

[page 3] funny – seeing him stand there with milk dripping all over him. He didn’t know quite what to do – I was so amused I just stood and laughed to myself – but Mark isn’t very subtle, so he laughed rather loudly and frightened David. Until Mark laughed David was not sure what to do, but then he started to cry. John was so provoked with Mark – he said it might give David some kind of phobia if frightened by the incident. He seemed not any worse for the wear when I got the milk wiped off. He is always reaching up for things. I am glad it wasn’t hot, and from now on I will be careful to push things back so he can’t reach them.

I stopped for lack of subject matter and thought I would rest a while but David soon woke up so I got up and put D. on the toidey, then dressed him and decided to re-arrange the nursery so he could climb up on the couch to look out the window. The couch had been sitting along

[page 4] the north wall. While in the process I saw John coming home. I asked him why and he said can’t you see – the snow I mentioned developed into a blizzard and school had to be dismissed so the busses could get thru. The snow is drifting, so there probably won’t be any more school this week. John said the second semester was dry anyway, and this little vacation is welcome right now.

Virginia Zell is braving the snowstorm to go to the P.O. and is going to take this along so must get it finished. I scanned over the Dem. This morning to glean any news that might interest you – just in passing Frances Moynihan, now Sgt. In W.A.C. is to be married Feb. 11 to a mess Seargent. You remember her – the girl there was so much about when we came to Kent. John Krull was home for Mrs. Ramp’s funeral. He has gone back to Camp but Gladys remained here. She has been staying in Waycross, Ga., ear the camp. I see that the Eilers who married Helen Woodruff is back. I missing seeing anything about his discharge but he has one I suppose or wouldn’t be back here.

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/29/a-white-haze-gladys/ ‎

Holy Terror (Gladys)

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: September 20, 1943 envelope

: September 20, 1943, p. 1

: September 20, 1943, p. 2

: September 20, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 20 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Just returned from a Rotary meeting at the Nu-Joy – Rev. Sudah was the main speaker – also a State fire prevention man was present and gave a short talk. Rev. Sudah shook hands with me and said to remember him to you when writing. He said he was going to re-Christen his little boy (born while you were intern) Holy terror. Uncle Wes & Aunt Jessie stopped this noon enroute home & left some things your mother sent. I wanted them to stay and attend the meeting tonight but Uncle has a bad cough and when he gets in crowds coughs a lot. He would have enjoyed the meeting tonight because Sudah spoke about Rotary International. On the other hand the ventilating system didn’t work and the smoke got in my eyes and my sinus got stopped up so I know it would have bothered Uncle Wes. I told Ira Dixon who was sitting across from me at the table about Uncle Wes. He said it would have been something special to have him present. Bart had Helen along tonight and someone asked him who he went with before – he went stag last time and had a hilarious time (I mean the Country Club party). Bart just

[page 2] ignored the inquiry and pretended not to hear. Two new members received pins tonight – Bob Schurtter (ag teacher) and a Jean Lyons – I haven’t been around enough lately to know whose who in the new people.

You have mentioned twice sending messages by men coming back – To date I have not heard from anyone or received any flowers. So after this I suggest you either save your money or send it directly – I don’t want to sound mercenary but – well I think you understand what I mean. But remember if anyone asks a similar favor from you, keep your promise – I am – sure will.

I didn’t go to the hospital today. Glenn & I plan to go tomorrow. Glenn got the storm windows all hung and is going to clean the furnace. Pauline has cleaned (and I mean clean) the upstairs and cleaned the stairway with steel wool. She wants to work on the nursery tomorrow. I think I’ll take David with us. He was so fussy today I hate to leave him. – He must be cutting more teeth. He drools so much. I fed him before I left for the Rotary dinner but didn’t get him to bed but John puts him to bed. He was sound asleep when I came home. After his 7 P.M. meal he gets tucked in for the night. However he woke me up about – I would say 5:am and was wet & cold – I changed him & put him

[page 3] in bed with me. He woke me again abut 7: I can’t leave him in bed with me anymore and go back to sleep after his bottle (which habit is about over) because he crawls right off. He was so restless today about the only place he would be satisfied was to play in the stove drawers with the pans. I used to allow J. & M. to do the same thing so why not D. Mary P. came for the meat points today & I gave her 988. She says they are going to butcher a hog soon & we can have half of it. Mary said Ruthie isn’t getting along so well. Her ankles swell when she trys to walk & seems she doesn’t walk naturally now – Mary has to have some gall-bladder work done. She went with me to see Cole one time when I took David & Cole ordered her to have X-Ray done. She isn’t feeling so good but says she wants to get Ruthie on her feet before having anything done.

John Krull is home again & he & Gladys were at the meeting tonight. I didn’t ask them anything about where he is stationed or when he is going back.

I am enclosing pictures of Jim, Glen, Pauline, babies & I taken the day Jim & Glenn started back to Norfolk. You can compare babies in the pictures and see our boy is tops.

There is a light frost predicted for tonight. There isn’t much left in our garden it can hurt. I must close so this can be dropped in the mail box.

“Love Mother”

Yours of Sept. 4-7-9 & 11 came today.

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/21/holy-terror-gladys/

A Bitter Pill (Roscoe)

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: August 6, 1943 envelope

: August 6, 1943, p. 1

: August 6, 1943, p. 2

: August 6, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.
Aug 6, 1943

Dear Mother,

Your air mail of July 20 and July 22 came yesterday. I don’t think you are doing wrong when you ask the Red Cross to ask for Jim to come home. Of course by the time this gets to you, you will have made the decision one way or the other but maybe this will help. Anyway I hope so. Requests for me thru the Red Cross I’m afraid would do no good even if they were gotten thru in time. I remember about one month ago when one of our officers go[t] word that his wife and baby died and he is still around with no though[t] of getting relieved. That is just the way with war and of course is a

[page 2] bitter pill to swallow. I suppose I shouldn’t have told you that but maybe it won’t make you feel too badly. However, we all felt terrible around here for a few days.

I’m sorry I can’t offer any suggestions about your mother – Has there ever been a definite diagnosis made? Is it just plain colitis, ulcerative colitis and one other possibility I hate to think of and that is carcinoma? Have you ever been informed? Or are they holding the information from you? Those are questions which you may have answered but the letters just haven’t arrived as yet from you with that information.

The treatment with this bacterial fortified medicine is new to me maybe it was developed after I left home. However, I do remember a treatment similar to that which was obsolete many

[page 3] years ago. I can’t believe that Dr. Cole would be that far behind however.

I hope you enjoyed the Rotary program but from the way you wrote it seems it must have been more of a brawl than a Rotary meeting, but I guess it isn’t out of the way to let your hair down now and then.

I wonder if Gladys K. really feels that way about John or whether it’s an outward show. Fran In knowing something of their past it’s a little hard to believe too much in that type of feeling.

I’m going to write John later today and send him his usual 1.00 for the his birthday present. I suppose it will get there in time.

Well, mother I’m hoping your mother is better and that you won’t have to worry too much about her.

Lots of love
Daddy

Emma Foster with her grandson John, circa 1935-36

Emma Foster (Gladys’ mother) with her grandson John, circa 1935-36

Canning Beans (Gladys)

1 Reply

: July 16, 1943 envelope

: July 16, 1943, p. 1

: July 16, 1943, p. 2-3

: July 16, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 16 – 1943

Dear Daddy,

It is cloudy and thundering and I believe we will get some rain. It has been dry and hasn’t rained (except a little shower this a.m.) for more than a week. Mrs. Zell said if it rained they would get lots of beans now. We have some ready to pick and I suppose I will have to do the picking – Mark has gone out twice but come back each time with an excuse, of some kind about not picking any. It won’t take long to can a cooker full (4 qts) if there are that many to can. I don’t intend to can carrots. There is a method of preserving them raw. Just put them in a heavy jar and cover – leave in basement & they keep as long as they last. So that eliminates

[page 2] that vegetable from the canning list. It is still doing a lot of thundering and a few drops have fallen but no heavy rain yet.

No mail today but didn’t expect any. However this is the third day about the time the mail all gets caught up then it stops coming for a few days, sometimes a week. The last was of July 3. So glad you had rec’d the pictures. If I can get my hands on the negatives Betty Lou took I’ll send some more soon. Dorothy promised to have more made but I haven’t seen them.

I think Mother is getting better, tho slowly. She eats a little better and takes her medicine every meal (before & after). An appetite stimulator and “acidophilus broth” – whatever that is. Have to keep it in the refrigerator and she takes it in milk.

David is having a screaming good time. Is standing up

[page 3] in his bed. He is getting so he doesn’t care to eat every 4 hrs. so think I’ll put him on 3 meals a day. He sometimes gets awake at 6 but I just pay no attention to him so he goes back to sleep and the last two mornings he hasn’t had his first bottle until about 8 a.m. He doesn’t seem to mind at all. He takes more than a can of carnation a day – potatoe, apple saude, cereal, egg yolk, vegetable soup, carrots, peas, asparagus, etc., in turn. I sometimes give him vegetable soup with beef broth. He likes it.

I was surprised the other day. While the Thompsons were visiting Foulkes, Mary came up to see David & brought their David along. She is expecting the stork again. I believe it is due in Oct. Davie doesn’t walk yet. He is short – I don’t believe he is as tall as David and he is 5 mo. older, but what could you expect. They aren’t very tall.

[page 4] The Foulkes had a party on their terrace last night. Seems they have one every night or so – and they always get to vocalizing – With what they have had to bring on singing you can imagine how it sounds up here – not good. I don’t mind, they don’t bother me, but it does disturb Mother some.

I see in the paper John Krull has been sent to a camp in Mich. He was home on furlough not long ago. I think I mentioned it before. The acc’t of Lon Staton’s death was in last week’s paper but don’t think I mentioned it. I have scanned thru the papers but see nothing I think would interest you – anyway if I miss something it will be news when you get the paper.

David seems to be having some trouble of his own. I think he needs to go to sleep but doesn’t want to give up. Just looked in and he is trying to take off a shoe. John is reading and Mark is working on his airplanes.

The water meter was read today & Fred said it was only 4:00 this time – was $6 last. I sprinkled the flowers once this summer – last nite.

Love Mother

A Beautiful Child (Gladys)

5 Replies

: July 6, 1943 envelope

: July 6, 1943, p. 1

: July 6, 1943, p. 2-3

: July 6, 1943, p. 4

: July 6, 1943, p. 5

: July 6, 1943, p. 6

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 6 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of June 19 & 20 came today – the 23-24 & 25 came last week –

We had quite an electrical storm toady – just getting over now – the lightening struck a tree by Clara Molter’s house. I am going to send one of the boys down when it stops raining to see how she is. I imagine it scared her a lot. John was sitting in the living room & saw the tree fall and he was shaken for a while.

[page 2] I send a specimen of urine down to Dr. M. office this morning and then I went down about 11:30 to get a report – The urine was normal – Dr. M. had the idea Mother has chronic nefritis (I think I misspelled that again) but I told him I thought the trouble came from her bowels so he suggested I take her to the hospital for an analysis of her stool. I am going to call Dr. Cole and ask him about bringing her down. Will let you know when I get a report.

There is still enough electricity in the air to make the telephone ting once in a while.

While downtown this morning

[page 3] I saw John Krull – he is home on furlough and evidently from the odor when I passed him, had been absorbing as much as possible. He had been in Mick’s and was going out. Same old John.

We got a washing hung out when it started to rain now everything is dripping – Maybe the wind will blow them dry now. It is quite a bit cooler than it was before the storm. I’ll have to put some clothes on David. He is wearing a sun suit. He is singing now and entertaining himself in his bed. He was so glad to see the boys. He likes to watch the trains go by over by 24.

[page 4] Had a letter from your mother and she hadn’t heard from you for 2 weeks. Sometimes my letters are that long in coming while others make it in a week. 7-7-43 I didn’t get this finished yesterday. Took Mother down to St. E. and saw Dr. Cole – He is having her urine & stool examined and will give her glucose if she doesn’t get her strength from eating. I am to go Fri. and can get a report on findings then. She hasn’t been eating much but said when she was taking sulfasuxadine didn’t want to eat. She is so thin and weak. Will send you the full report when I get it.

David had gone to sleep. Just discovered this morning he could hit a higher note and was hitting it pretty high.

[page 5] yours of June 11 & 14 came today and seems you had rec’d some more pictures. David we think is a beautiful child but I agree with you Mark had him bested. Of course there isn’t a baby we have seen yet that can compare with D. I suppose that is natural.

You were right Hilda & Amelia didn’t work long and as I wrote you before Hilda took her children & moved in with her Mother. Rented her house here. I haven’t heard anything about Ed lately – since they are gone there aren’t any news items in the papers here.

About the money situation – so far we are getting by with a balance but I can’t buy

[page 6] any bonds. I assure you I am not spending any unnecessarily – I bought the bike and that is the only thing that has been spent that we could have done without, but it comes in very handy. The boys are running errands for people so much now that they have the bike, besides for us too. I used the travel money to pay for it. I hear the clock strike half past & and I have ironing to do and then David will have to have a bath & feeding about 11 – so must get busy – but will try to finish this little space. John is out mowing Link’s lawn. He left $1.25 to give him – he doesn’t know yet how much he is to get. Mark is still asleep but I want him to rest – he had almost too much vacation.

Love Mother

Local news (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
3-19-43

Dear Daddy – It is raining and some wind too. March is keeping the tradition. Some weather we have had since last Dec. the humidity is up now since it has been raining. You remember Cecil Duttonhaver (you delivered their first baby). He was killed, while driving a truck this week – his funeral is today. John’s name was in the paper this week – about the essay contest (he won second prize $1.50). I am going to try and get him to send you a copy. He wouldn’t let me read it so don’t know what he wrote. He has been studying ‘Courtship of Myles Standish’. Says it is interesting but mushy. Mark is feeling fine and no after effects of measles at yet. David weighed 7 lbs this morning. I see that Geo Clark had been discharged being over 38 years old now. John Krull has been sent to Tampa Fla. Lloyd Tilton is home. He is going east to an officer training school, Jos Mullen is going to Ft Sills Oka for Officers Training. Emmett Miller has been sent to Ft Leonard Wood – Mo. There are several others mentioned in this week’s paper but I thought you knew these better. I suppose you know Dr. Ash has been sent on from N. C. I heard indirectly he had been & Mrs Ash doesn’t know where he is now. I haven’t any late news about town. Haven’t heard any more about Ira Dixon – Link & Irene aren’t back yet from Mayo Clinic. We are all feeling fine. Just hope John & baby don’t take measles but it has been two weeks since Mark started runny a temp so I am hoping they won’t get them. Finances O.K. – Taxes figured 157.33 in case you missed other letters

Love Mother