Tag Archives: Kentland

Mulligan Boy (Roscoe)

: December 6, 1943 envelope

: December 6, 1943, p. 1

: December 6, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
F.P.O. San Fran. Cal.
Dec. 6, 1943

Dear Mother –

Several letters from you today the latest a v-mail dated Nov. 24. The others were air mail along in the 20 of Nov. and one dated Nov. 6 which you addressed only as Hospital #4 and it seemed to have time finding its way. It wasn’t because of the Navy 133 but because you had omitted the Base part. The thing which was disappointing to me was the letter didn’t come with the pictures. One of the letters explained that you had sent them but they failed to appear – guess they will come along in the next mail. I hope.

I ran into a Mulligan boy today from Kentland. He is a nephew of Jim – The one who used to be on the school board – we used to see him frequently around Nick’s & Kenney’s. I mean the uncle. I didn’t know the boy and he didn’t know me only he said he didn’t think there could be two doctors by my name. We had a long talk. He is a pharmist mate and has been in the same ward I’m in so we had a reunion. His Dad & Mother are separated and he was in

[page 2] Indianapolis so that is the reason I didn’t know him.

The $35 you collected was sure a surprise. Maybe there is hope of a few others coming thru but I doubt if one need expect too much. I received a card from the Joe Mullen family also today – a baby sitting on a chamber – “doing his part.” I’m using it as my pin up girl – you have read lots of such in various papers. This is the first time I’ve become interested – So if you see Mrs. Mullen you can tell her what I have done with her card.

It sounds as if too big or too much clinkers collected in the furnace to cause the pin to break. That happened once while I was there and that was the trouble at that time – Maybe it’s the local coal. Those radiators upstairs just need a little air removed – However Geo. M. will take care of everything so have him come out and give the whole system the regular works ever so often – It will be better in the long run.

Well dear it’s time to say goodnight.
So
Lots of Love
Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/21/mulligan-boy-roscoe/

Joan Manning Candy (John)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

John YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
12-6-43

Dear Daddy:

I haven’t written you for so long that I thought it was time I did.

This evening I accompanied Lucile Woods on her baritone at Rotary. The piano was terrible and it was sour. Helen Hoover played too. Mr. Cast said that there were no piano players in the club right now but that there was one coming on. The dinner was good (Steak) and mashed potatoes. The club gave each of us who played a bag of Joan Maning candy as a token of the appreciation. Those candies are not what they used to be. I’ve been eating some chocol – oops – I’m not supposed to eat that stuff. Mother just told me I’ve eaten enough.

I’ve been getting along fine in school. It doesn’t seem that the first semester is over 2/3 over.

David is doing so many cute things. He wrestles with his stuffed kitten.

For Christmas I am getting a Monopoly board (that is I’ve already gotten it). We got a Christmas tree yesterday. There is a tree shortage so we got ours early. Since it’s still 3 weeks to Christmas we have [not] decorated it yet.

Your son,
John

1935 newspaper advertisement (Image courtesy of Google newspapers online)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/20/joan-manning-candy-john/

No Mail (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
12-6-43

Dear Daddy – No mail for a week. The last dated was Nov. 19. We are having a nip of cold weather again after yesterday’s spring like sunshine and warm wind. David didn’t get much airing today. I wrapped him up and took him with me to town in the car. He likes to go in the car or anyway – just likes to go. John and Lucile Wood played for Rotary tonight. Lucile plays a horn and John accompanied her on the piano. He isn’t home yet and it’s nearly 8: PM. He was wondering if they would be given their dinner. I am gradually getting my Christmas shopping done – picking up something here and there. I haven’t sent Jim & Thelma’s box yet and should get it mailed soon. We are urged to mail all our gifts & cards early. Hope you get yours. I haven’t even looked for cards yet. Arlene has hers ready to mail but she expects to be in the hospital before Christmas. She didn’t go to music club this afternoon – was having some discomfort and afraid to go away from home. Coke went with me – says her brother is in England. Her brother-in-law is in Great Lakes (Chief surgeon). John Ade is in Great Lakes at present. Catherine Ade is a Lt. in the Marines and is in N.C. now. John is home – brought candy.

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/19/no-mail-gladys/

Walking (Gladys)

1 Reply

: December 5, 1943 envelope

: December 5, 1943, p. 1

: December 5, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Dec. 5 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters for a week, but this is Sun. evening, so maybe I’ll get a few tomorrow. The weather was so warm today I took David out for a long walk. Lucile came out with Jimmy and we walked back to their place – Ed took some pictures of the two babies. This is Jimmy’s 11^th month. He and David walk around in the house and have a good time together, just walking, walking. Makes me tired sometimes just to see them do so much walking, and I can’t imagine what it would do for you, unless you have changed your mind about the above mentioned exercise. This paper seems to have a few grease spots on it that keeps the ink from showing. Hope you can make it out. Took David to S.S. again. He jabbers but on the whole does pretty good to be as active as he is. He just isn’t the sitting type. He is just as restless around here. About the only time he wants to sit still is when his is being wheeled around or in t he car. Sometimes he gets a little hard to hold in the car. He says “gog” when he sees a dog and I repeat dog plainly to him but it still has a g sound when he says it. He was so hungry this evening I had to hurry up his supper – Must have been the long ride in the fresh air and sunshine – John stayed home listening to the radio and Mark played out in the yard with his football. Mark’s cheeks were so pink this evening. He needs good exercise in the out of doors. He had been looking pale. We have the Christmas tree up but no decorations on it yet. David likes to touch it but isn’t too anxious to get too close – it sticks him. Mark wanted to decorate the tree as soon as we brought it home but I put him off for a

[page 2] few days. We heard there would be a scarcity of trees so bought this one early. The Grab-it just got them in. So far the other stores haven’t had any.

I went thru our checks for 1943 to see where I had spent it all – In addition to over $500⁰⁰ going on house payments – I bought $131⁰⁰ bonds, $300⁰⁰ piano, $417⁶⁰ loan on ins., $130⁰⁰ Hospital (Mother’s hospital expense was about $250 – Jim helped on that and I figured I paid about $110⁰⁰ – then Mark’s & David’s amounted to about $20⁰⁰). I will send you a more detailed statement later if you want it, I am glad I paid everything by check – even tho it cost me $2⁸⁰ service charge over the year, I can sit down and see where it all went. We live very simply as you know, but that doesn’t make us unhappy. I was amused at John one day. A boy in school asked him if he had seen a certain show. John said no, he didn’t go to shows because his Dad was away and we didn’t have money to throw around. I really haven’t restricted them from going to shows – but our John likes records and would rather put his spending money in something more tangible than movies. I told J. & M. our funds are low now and they both agreed to be satisfied without a lavish Christmas. At present our bal. is about $50⁰⁰ and I have to pay Mr. Monroe yet this month – I think his bill will be about $7⁰⁰.

I hear David making a noise and must go see what he is grunting about.
Love Mother

Our Ins. was $439¹⁷ in ‘43

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/17/walking-gladys/

A Christmas Tree (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
12-4-43

Dear Daddy – No mail since Mon. & this is Sat. Maybe some will come Mon. Just cleaned up after cleaning some in the house. The new heels of reclaimed rubber make marks on the floors and the only things to do is use steel wool ever so often. The marks soon reappear but I keep after them. Arlene wants me to go to town with her. Mark has kept David out in the yard in the sunshine two hours. He is in now and is to stay home while I go to town – He gets a lot of attention when I take him to town but I am a little tired to struggle with him. He is like the men of the family – doesn’t care to shop and gets a little hard to handle at times. We got a Christmas tree yesterday. The Grab-it got a supply in and I think from the way they were going when I got ours they would soon be gone. I put in the holder and it is in the living room untrimmed – however it will soon get dressed up the boys have their way about it. It is very warm today for Dec. I hung out one tub of clothes and they dried very well for this time of year. This weather is easy on our coal supply. I was checking our finances for the past year. I will make a detailed statement and send to you in a day or so. Besides paying off $420⁰⁰ loan we bought 7 – bonds ($18.75).

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/15/a-christmas-tree-gladys/

The Finances (Gladys)

3 Replies

: December 3, 1943 envelope

: December 3, 1943, p. 1

: December 3, 1943, p. 2

: December 3, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Dec. 3 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters for four days but maybe a bunch will come tomorrow or Mon. It is a typical grey wintry day – however not very cold. The checks just came today so must go to the bank and make a dep. I am running low, but will try to give you some idea about the status of our finances when I get thru writing. At least we won’t have to pay int. on Ins. loans this Dec. I paid the balance on the piano today. Had it tuned and that cost $5⁰⁰. I will pay all the groc. bills, etc., while downtown this afternoon. I am keeping all bills paid – that is why I am so short of cash on hand but I would rather not allow bills to accumulate. I am not going to spend much on Christmas gifts this year. There isn’t much use to go shopping – the stores just haven’t the stock for the Christmas trade they had last year. Had a letter from Ruth M. and she wants to either come here or us go there for Christmas. I wasn’t planning to go to C.C. I think it isn’t best to take David away during the cold weather to stay so long. There too would have to get the neighbors to look after the furnace and that is too much trouble to ask of anyone. I think I am going to suggest the Mutchlers coming here, if they can manage their gas situation. I would much rather stay home. Dorothy has asked us to come there for the day, but family comes first and if we can arrange with Ruth will spend the day with them here or there.

[page 2] Leo Sondgerath had a ruptured appendix. He is in St. E. and seems to be getting along, according to the Newton Co. E. Bluford Healy had pneumonia and was quite serious, but is better now. His wife went to Ft. Bliss, Texas, to be with him last week.

David woke up a little grouchy from his nap. It isn’t sunny today so won’t take him out in his buggy. Will go in the car so I can get groceries. I am buying homogenized milk for him at Bair’s now and today is when the fresh supply comes in (Tues. & Fri.). He tries to say some words when we talk. So far we have to guess at most of his words or expressions. Mark is pretty good at interpreting his talk. He is trying to feed himself and I think will soon be able to manipulate spoon from bowl to mouth without too much loss of food on the way. John and Mark played Monopoly last night and had Virginia come over and play with them. I told them no arguments or I wouldn’t allow them to play. They do pretty good.

I saw “Ma” out chasing Jimmy. He wants to stay out and she wants him to go in. He runs and she can’t catch him. She hadn’t been so well, but now that we aren’t out in the yard much I don’t see her much. I think Irene goes to Chi. for thyroid treatment quite often. She isn’t to have an operation but takes iodine. The Factory is building an addition and intend to move the Chi. Plant here. I think the new addition will be almost as large as the original.

I must do some figuring so I can go to town and give you an idea about finances. I hear a plane going over – sounded so low – might have touched the tree tops. Every time I hear one go over I think it might be bringing you home.

Love – Mother

(over)
By the time all current bills are paid there won’t be much balance if any – but maybe next month it won’t be so bad – or will it?

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/10/the-finances-gladys/

Mrs. Plummer (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
12-2-43

Dear Daddy – No letters the last three days. This being Mrs. Plummer’s wedding anniversary I baked & decorated a cake and took David and spent the afternoon with her. She gave me our Christmas gifts today. I will just keep the boys until Christmas then put them on the tree. I have the dining table decorated with Santa & reindeers and the little table trees. It was so warm today it didn’t seem like Dec. I hung clothes out but the humidity was high and the heavier things didn’t dry. This time last year we couldn’t hang anything out of doors. We are all pretty well over colds now. I still have sinus drainage every morning but that is better than having it stopped. The piano tuner is coming tomorrow. He had tuned the piano before it was moved but it needs it again. John really takes a piano thru a lot of hard practicing. J. & M. get their homework as soon as they get home from school so they can play monopoly on John’s board he got for his Christmas gift. I thought if I allowed them to play on it a lot they would soon tire of it and not be so anxious to play all the time. I wasn’t in town today so didn’t gather any news. Lucile was out with Jimmy Ed early this afternoon before I went to Plummers. David & J.E. have a good time toddling around together. I loaned J.E. a pr. of shoes David outgrew. Baby shoes are hard to find now.

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/08/mrs-plummer-gladys/

Report Cards (Gladys)

1 Reply

: December 1, 1943 envelope

: December 1, 1943, p. 1

: December 1, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Dec. 1 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

The first day of Dec. – no mail today but probably will get some tomorrow. It was a little sunny today and I took David out for fresh air. He hadn’t been out this week (Mon. or Tues.) due to a slight cold which was not present today, so I thought fresh air would do us both good. We walked over to Johnsons but they weren’t home so went on over to Krulls. I hadn’t seen their kitchen since they had remodeled. They now eat their noon meal at home every day & Thurs. & Sun. are home since those days the restaurant is closed. They closed up the door that went into the pantry and made another at the south end of the dining room. They now have a bathroom with a shower off their kitchen. It is very nice with built in cupboards, new sink, etc. If you were home I think I would want to finish the room over the garage for the boys, but under the present circumstances I think it is best that we get along as is, but it’s something to plan for. Even with a new house there is always something to do (like finish the basement).

J. & M. brought home report cards today. John had Gen. Science A – English A+ – History & Arith. A – Ag. B+ – Physical Ed. S (Satisfactory) – Band A and Citizenship S. Mark’s grades went down, but

[page 2] I am not surprised. He isn’t quite up to par. I didn’t get him started on vitamins quite soon enough and I think he played too hard thru “their” football season. I set a new bed time for him which is 8:30 and am trying to get him rested some. He and Bobby are upstairs now working on a plane for Bobby. Mark is having trouble with arithmetic now – long division seems awfully hard for him. I have to help him every evening and he isn’t grasping it like he should. I think that is one cause for his present nervousness – he gets impatient about not getting his work rapidly. David is walking around the house playing with a muffin pan and a lid. He went to the stove and got them out of the drawer. We are slapping his hands now to teach him to leave things alone that sit around where he can reach. In the morning when I get up, I have sinus drainage and do some clearing, hacking and spitting. He imitates me. He is at the age where he tries to do a lot of things we do. Of course we think he is advanced for his age, but that’s our privilege.

Dorothy told me today that Ellsworth got a 3 month deferment – that Al is going to quit teaching next year ( he will be retired then) and run Ellsworth’s business while E. is in service. Now that is as told to me and things may change by then, but those are present plans.

I tried to do some Christmas shopping today but didn’t get much done. Got a box to send to Jim. Have a gift for Thelma – an English coin purse Bud K. made.

The weather is turning to the wet order. It is raining some now. Theresa Ann Tubberty just came to get Bobby – she helps Arlene after school. Louise is back but she isn’t able to work like she used to – I don’t know when she will have her baby – She probably won’t stay after Arlene gets back from the hospital and can get along. Bobby said his Mother was addressing Christmas greetings today – She has to get her things done early.

Love Mother

Trying to Tell Me Something (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
11-30-43

Dear Daddy – No letter today but had Nov. 19^th Sat. It was very chilly this a.m. I hung clothes out and they froze by are now. It has warmed up quite a lot. J. & M. are just home from school. David is running around the house enjoying his freedom. He does love to be out of his pen and go places. We are having Shurtters to dinner this evening. Bob thinks he will be called around Christmas. He applied for an Ensign commission. That will make the high school short two teachers. Coke Foulkes called to get your address today. Their brother-in-law is back in Great Lakes. He has been very ill – had Malaria and disintary. I am glad you weren’t ill. I wish you were home but wouldn’t want you to get sick to get back. I think he was gone a year – that being the tour of duty for that area. I saw the proofs of the pictures I had taken of David and they were the best yet. I won’t get the pictures before two weeks so you probably won’t get any of them by Christmas, but maybe shortly after. David is trying to tell me something now but I can’t understand a word – Bobby says he can understand him.

Love – Mother

Enough Gasoline (Gladys)

3 Replies

: November 29, 1943 envelope

: November 29, 1943, p. 1

: November 29, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Nov. 29 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Mon. afternoon – David took an early nap and woke up grouchy – I was taking 40 winks myself when he demanded attention. His nose is a little runny today, but with all of us with a little head cold more or less I am not surprised. I am just having the usual sinus drainage and J. & M. are about over theirs. Under Dr. Cole’s instruction I gave them sulfamerazine and the colds got better. They have started on Vi Delta and of course David has had his oleum percomorph continuously since 5 wks. old. I let David loose but that didn’t work because I wanted to write and do a few other things and when he is loose he has to be watched. I put him back in his bed and it is by the window so he can look out. I gave him a lot of toys but one by one I have heard them hit the floor. He is now shaking the bed. When the coast is clear he can move the bed over the room by shaking the side. He says kitty & dog quite plain now and notices the squirrels out in the yard. I am afraid squirrel will be a little hard for him to say. He is more like John about the chattering and talking early. In some ways he isn’t like either J. or M. – must be just David.

It snowed last night and there is still snow on the ground. It is grey today with some snow falling. It has been so dry and this snow is melting, so the shrubbery will get some moisture.

[page 2] I have watered our new shrubbery this fall because if the evergreen that was replaced doesn’t hold up they won’t replace it. I thought they never would get around to replacing it at all.

I haven’t heard from Floyd & Ruth since we saw them Nov. 1. I don’t know whether he has been reclassified or not. It may depend on how scarce men are to answer the draft quote in Clay Co. Pauline Hiestand thinks Joe will soon have to go because his number is low and the single men are all taken from here. About Paul & Earl – they are on deferments so may have to go in time if the demand is great enough – however Paul was rejected I believe for some cause or another – I couldn’t say for sure what is was. There was a lot said about Ellsworth W. but he is still around – some people think military discipline might do some good in certain cases.

I have had enough gasoline. When I had to make so many trips to the hospital I had to have much more than an A card allowed but I was taken care of by friends. However the ration board here is very generous and when Jim was home he got gas to drive back to T.H. and Glen got special C tickets without any trouble at all to go back to Nevada. I get 3 gal. a week and in ordinary times is all I need.

David is raising a howl so must go see what I can do about it, if anything. He still sucks his thumb but J. & M. keep working on him to stop him. I put a thumb guard on him but he usually gets it off. He isn’t so bad about it unless he hasn’t anything else to do – he is working on it rather strenuously now – he makes a little noise in his throat sometimes when he is sucking his thumb.

Love Mother

P.S. Finances aren’t so good, but I think I can make it O.K. Not much surplus but am keeping bills pd.