Tag Archives: Norma Zell

Paul & Leanna’s Baby (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland, Ind.
Sept. 29 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Sept. 18 came today. Also the letter I sent you Apr. 24 came back and I am enclosing it with pictures I had enclosed with that letter. I had addressed it A.P.O. 43 the same as previous letters then but it was returned with all king of markings on it. This is a beautiful warm fall day. Both David & J.L. are out in Taylor Tots enjoying the sunshine. David just took a short nap after his dinner so I put him out as soon as he woke up. Bobby has been out there entertaining them, but got too helpful around Glen & he sent him away – Bobby pushed Martha Zell out of the trailer (they have a trailer to haul things in that stands over by our garden & the children climb around on it). When told to go home Bobby will say, “I don’t have to.” He has an answer for about anything.

Had a letter from your Mother telling about Paul & Leanna’s baby – She has to have a section done. It is a girl Linda Louise. I have three pr. of baby sox I think I’ll send to the new niece. I bought them to give to Mary McGee Arnott but didn’t get them sent out so have decided to send them to Linda instead. I have changed positions – I am sitting out in the yard with the babies. It has been so seldom this summer I have been able to sit down out here. The yard has been nice this summer but the grass isn’t so good in spots now – that crab grass seems to take the back & west side yards every fall. It doesn’t last long but looks awful while it’s here. John finally quit mowing – said he got the biggest job this summer. Mark’s garden didn’t require

[page 2] nearly as much work as the yard. The garden still has beans, tomatoes & carrots we can use. We have enough carrots to store some for winter. Mr. Zell is experimenting with a tile for their vegetables. Buried a tile and filled it with vegetables. I think I’ll just put our carrots in the basement in a jar.

Glen & I sent with Mrs. Zell to Laf. yesterday. I wrote you a v-mail about it. I called Dr. Cole & he said all he was going for Mother now was giving calcium & sedative. He stopped all other treatment because of no results. They have tried ammonium nitrate to reduce the fluid in her abdomen without any results – Insulin to stimulate her appetite – Vit. B shots for the same purpose. Dr. C. said she isn’t good – I thought she looked a little better yesterday but he said it was only temporary.

Glen & Pauline are getting ready to start home. They have been waiting because of Mother but feel they must get back. Glen feels so bad most of the time. Is all chocked up today.

I saw Dr. Ade yesterday for a throat treatment. My throat feels good today but has been bothering me quite a lot since cool weather. I suppose having strep last winter is the cause of this early attack this fall.

I saw Harold Foulkes in town Mon. afternoon and he said his brother-in-law (the Dr.) is back. He was sent South – somewhere around S. America. I heard that Dr. Flack was back from Panama too. However I have not seen anyone yet myself. Just have heard about them being back.

Thanks again for the roses – the pictures rec’d Mon. & the ck. – which I banked that day. When the roses were delivered & Miss Bergen said they were wired from San F. Mark thought you were there and was all excited about it. I told him how it was.

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/03/12/paul-leannas-baby-gladys/

Sixteen Beautiful Roses (Gladys)

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1943-09-28 (GRY)Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
9-28-43

Dear Daddy – No letters today but had 5 yesterday up to Sept. 18 – rec’d check & pictures. 16 beautiful roses were wired from San Francisco – so someone remembered. I was in Laf. when they came. They are almost the same color as the ones in the flower bed you set out in ’42. They came as a surprise. It had been so long I didn’t think anyone was going to remember you had asked them to send flowers. Glen & I went with Mrs. Zell today to Laf. Mother seemed a little better today but Dr. Cole said it was only temporary because she won’t eat. All he is giving her now is calcium and sleeping medicine. He was not a bit hopeful about her – just said “it isn’t good.” We left the hospital about 4:45 – she was tired and had had enough company. I went to see Dr. Ade again today – my throat keeps bothering me. He said if it doesn’t clear up the best thing to do would be have the tonsils out – I told him I didn’t see how I could now. He knows about Mother & agreed with me that it would be better to wait – so if it doesn’t get better or keeps getting sore I will just go back for more treatments. I spit up mucos all the way home. Seems my throat & sinus were full. – It was a beautiful Indiana Summer day – so warm & sunny. Pauline stayed home with the babies and kept them out in the sun. Zells got 300 baby chicks today – so we can have frys in two months. Chicken raising is their way to help supplement the meat shortage.

Love – Mother

St. Elizabeth's Hospital

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/03/10/sixteen-beautiful-roses-gladys/

First Birthday (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 23 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

David’s birthday & party over. Lucile brought Jimmy Ed, Arlene Bobby & Donnie, Clarice & Myra Jane. The two older Zell girls, Jimmy Staton, a Mrs. Bowen & baby from Kent apts., Mark brought Tommy Britton home from school. We took pictures of the party then I took a picture of David by his cake. He put his hand in the icing just as I snapped the picture but in rolling the roll off it got off the track so part or all of the film may be ruined. Dorothy took some movies of David too. He received $15⁰⁰, a sailor doll, a cat, an elephant, four suits, four pr. sox, a pull toy with Donald Duck on it, dusting powder puffs & two cards. Zells’ wanted to pay the hospital bill when David was there but I said no, so they gave him $10⁰⁰. You sent $2⁰⁰, your Mother sent $1⁰⁰, Statons $1⁰⁰ & Mrs. Plummer $1⁰⁰ – I am going to buy him another bond with all his money. He seemed to enjoy his party very much. I hope the pictures are all good. He had a pretty nice birthday. I weighed him just before bedtime and as close as I could get it he weighed 21 lbs. & measure 30 in. He reaches over and plays with the scale and it’s a hard job to get it correct.

YEG1943-09-23 Birthday party #1

David sticking his finger in the cake icing

[page 2] He gets three meals a day now with a glass of milk in between. Breakfast about 8 0 orange juice at 9:30 or 10 – Dinner at 11:30 – Milk about 3:30 & supper at 7 – I started him on that schedule yesterday & he has done fine on it. It saves a lot of time not to give him that big meal at 3 in the afternoon. He goes to bed soon after supper. Sometimes he cries about it, but usually settles right down. He still sucks his left thumb but not much.

Glen went to Laf. today to see Mother. He says she is so weak she can hardly take a drink of water. I intend to go down Sat. afternoon. Glen thought if we could have taken her to Mayo they might have been able to do something for her. I told him they are just Drs. and with a case like hers I believe Cole is doing everything that can be done. Mother told your Mother she had not felt right for sometime – that I did not know. I knew she didn’t have as much pep when she came back in May but at her age I didn’t think so much about it. I know when Cole first saw her he didn’t think she had a malignancy but didn’t have x-ray done because of her bowel condition. Probably couldn’t have gotten any better x-ray then than they did later.

[page 3] I am at Zells. Mr. is out to a meeting & Mrs. wanted to go out & three girls are in bed. Mrs. Zell has always helped me out when I needed her so I thought I could sit here & write while they are gone. I left just in time to miss washing dishes. John had homework so Mark was to help. Glen is all chocked up this evening. He doesn’t know what to do about going home. He hates to leave now with Mother so low & is about out of money. I don’t believe I told you before what he had been doing – He was a bartender, but got a notice from his draft broad to get into essential work. They had enough saved for him to come on the train but he wanted to bring the family. He got gas to make the trip so that is how they all come. He of course intended to go back much sooner but as Mother isn’t getting any better hates to leave. I hate for him to go too. He says he has a job on the police force when he goes back. He should go because his asthma is beginning to bother him quite a lot. He has been telling tales about what he used to do when he was a kid – things that happened when I was too young to remember about them. He has an art to telling those things. I told him

Chicken Every Sunday

[page 4] they would make a good book and I believe you could write the book if you had the information. What gave me the idea – John was reading a book review from Reader’s Digest & I said I believe Glen’s tales would make better reading. The book I mentioned was “Chicken Every Sunday,” and the true story of a boarding house written by the daughter of the lady who had the boarding house. If you get a Sept. 1943 Digest you will read it.

Yours of Sept. 11 & 14 came today. I am still sending some v-mail, but not as much as air. I saw in the paper that Capt. Dye has returned to Hawaii. He was home for 10 days. That would be nice but I would rather wait a little longer and have you home longer.

Mrs. Plummer came out today to bring David’s birthday gift & John a belated $1⁰⁰ – She gave David a plate, cup, spoon & fork & $1⁰⁰ – I forgot to mention the set before. I hadn’t seen her since before Mother got down but I couldn’t go much of any place all summer.

Arlene is surely carrying this baby well – She doesn’t look any larger than she did several weeks ago or either her dress was clever enough to makes her look small. Donnie walks alone now & weighs 25 lbs. He really is a big boy.

Ruthie sent David the Navy doll so I must write & thank her.

“Love Mother”

P.S. Jim gave me $100⁰⁰ to help with Mother’s expenses.

September 23, 1943 Birthday guests

September 23, 1943 Birthday guests

September 23, 1943 Birthday guests

September 23, 1943 Birthday guests

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/27/first-birthday-gladys/

These Prairie Winds (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 19-1943

Dear Daddy –

Sun. evening & bedtime. Glen, Pauline, the babies & I went to Laf. today. John & Mark stayed home. David was so full of pep he wore us all down. Slept all the way home. He is tucked in now but was so tired from the trip he was a little cross before going to bed. James is a much quieter baby than D. Glen doesn’t know what to do about going back home yet. He hates to leave with Mother so low and feels he should get back to work. Mother looked much thinner today & Fri. and seemed weaker. She wouldn’t eat any supper – Dr. had ordered some new medicine for her and after taking the first dose threw it right up. The nurse brought in another dose at 4 P.M. – There were 4 large brown tablets and I think it was ammonium nitrate. She kept the last dose down but refused to eat at 5 P.M. I looked at her abdomen and she was distended quite a lot. It is full of fluid. Mrs. Zell came over to see about Virginia going to Laf. with us Tues. & when I told her Mother is thinner she said she didn’t think it possible, however she is.

Glen worked on the storm windows Sat. He washed the frames and when he gets the windows washed will hang them. He gets chocked up once in a while but is better than when he first came. He said the window casings should be washed but I told him just to brush the dirt off & wash windows.

[page 2] It was warmer today than usual. Warm enough to be out without wraps & so far since cooler weather wraps were in order. Seems to me we are having an early fall – while driving we can see flocks of birds going mostly south – if that means anything. I told Glen it will probably turn warm after we get the storm windows on. He wanted to know how we got any ventilation after putting all those storm windows on. I told him when these prairie winds blow across here we get ventilation. I told him it was hard to keep that wind out. I suppose they have winds in Nev. but any wind would have to be strong to beat these.

I am sitting on the edge of our bed writing. I came up to get to bed early but it’s past 10:30 and no shut eye yet. I want to get this written. David is sound asleep but a little stopped up – I was a little worried about him having a cold so early in the fall but have decided it is an allergy – here one day & gone the next. He sounds now like he has some mucous in his nose but not enough to wake him up. John is better of his condition. Dr. Van Buskirk gave me a bromide prescription to have filled & I did what you have had patients do – didn’t get it. Dr. Van says John is nervous & needs the sedative for his system but I know John – he is like he has been all his life – his cough is gone and I am not going to give him bromides. Dr. V. doesn’t know our John – just because he squirmed around when he tried to look into his nose & throat he tabbed him as too nervous. Well John is better & no medicine so I guess that is O.K. –

Love Mother

FOS1940s Pauline with James L.

Pauline Foster with James L., circa 1943

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/19/these-prairie-winds-gladys/

Another Chilly Day (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 15 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Another chilly day. The sun did shine and we got a washer of clothes dry. We have to wash every day with 2 babies in the house. James L. is so different from David. James L. will stay put any place. He can be left on the bath table, couch, bed, play chair, Taylor Tot or anywhere – David climbs out of anything but his bed & play pen and has for months. This evening Pauline was holding David and said James L. is much easier to hold. David won’t sit still – just wants to climb all over a person. I often wonder what his Daddy would do about his urge to move around all the time – Maybe just like we do – just try to keep him from getting a fall. I put a pr. of corduroy overalls on him today and J. & M. thought he looked like a boy should look. He still has long hair, but it curls up around his neck & his Mother can’t cut

[page 2] it off – she keeps saying she will give him a hair cut when he is a yr. old. I think I know what Daddy would say – “give that boys a hair cut.”

Uncle Wes & Aunt J. were here enroute to C.C. this a.m. – Uncle has lost 30 lbs. & doesn’t look so good. Has had a bronchial cough that has taken him down.

J. & M. have gone to the fair tonite with Zells. They had grand stand seats. I made them wear wraps. It is so cool they need heavy coats – but didn’t want to wear anything. It’s hard to think it is so cool this early in the fall. Mrs. Zell said today it looked like snow. Of course it didn’t snow but the clouds would look like snow clouds sometimes.

I have to meet Glenn in Laf. tomorrow & see Mother. David seems to have a little cold or it may be an allergy – I can’t tell and I want Dr. Cole to see him. Since John has his fall allergy too or it may be just a cold. This cool weather so early is a good excuse for colds.

Arlene called me today. She hasn’t any help yet and it  keeps her busy doing everything. I asked her to go to Laf. with me but said

[page 3] it was so hard for her to get away now. She has to have everything prepared for meals before she leaves. I really feel sorry for the girl because she isn’t too strong and with this other baby coming has her hands full.

I havne’t had time to get John & Mark down to writing you again but will try over the week-end to get them to. John has a teacher (Band) Clements from Jasonville – He knows Floyd & says he knew of you. He and John had quite a chat one evening after school. I know only a few teachers so far – Al had to hire so many new ones this fall.

My hands are all over the “spell” they had but are tender and burn this evening from running out to the clothes line today. Pauline is cleaning house for me while they are here. She got the little bedroom cleaned today & wants to clean the boys’ room tomorrow. She is a hard worker & clean. A lot different from Norma. She wasn’t much on the work order. She says Glen will take the screens down & put on the storm windows. He wants to wait a few days to see about Mother before they start back. He is much heavier than he used to be. His asthma isn’t as bad now that is it cooler.

It’s about time for the boys to come home from the fair.

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/10/another-chilly-day-gladys/

Almost Gone (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

St. Elizabeth Hospital
Sept. 10 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Am writing from Mother’s room. She had a bad spell this morning. Dr. Cole called me – said he had come in to give her a hypo – was giving her shots of Betalin complex – and when he came in the room she was almost gone – she told me the gas was hurting her so – but he said it was her heart. Anyway he gave her coramin injection as soon as possible and she came to. I met Juanita at the train this morning at 4:25 so we came down together. Dr. said he thought I should come down. I tried to get Clara Molter to stay with David & Dannie – she couldn’t come till noon but Mrs. Zell said she would stay till Clara came. Their two older girls are in school & Mr. Zell could take the youngest girl with him. We got down here about 10:30 – Mother is awfully weak & pale. Dr. Cole is sure she has an obstruction but McClelland says no – However she is bloated and I think Cole is right – there is an obstruction there causing the distention. We went out to get some lunch & of course the Dr. came while we were out. However I think he will be back – says he has two O.B. cases going here today, so I’ll probably see him sometime before we go back home. I called him before we went out to eat and I talked to him over the phone, but I want to see him personally.

It is cool today – a coat feels very good. I hope Chet gets some coal in soon. We have enough to last a while but if this cool weather continues it will soon exhaust our coal supply. I have had an order in for coal – weeks or maybe months, but Chet hasn’t been able to get any. I hear that Harlan’s did have some but I imagine he had more orders than he could fill. I was going to have him send me some but Van Scoyck told me he had me down for coal as soon as a shipment came in so I

[page 2] didn’t say anything to Harlan.

I thought Juanita & I would get the washing done & clean up the house and come down this afternoon but when I got the call this morning – before I was up – we got ready & come one. Dr. Cole said I had better stay all day. I told Juanita I was in the garden yesterday evening and didn’t have time to get all the things gathered that need to be – She said she would dig potatoes tomorrow. There are beans & tomatoes that need to be picked. This cool weather is pointing toward an early frost, if it doesn’t warm up soon. Was almost that cold this a.m. Mark’s garden wasn’t quite what it would have been had he had better supervision – but I couldn’t devote the time I wanted to and as much as he likes to do things he needs someone over him all the time. I told Juanita I felt like we got our seed back. We didn’t have to buy any vegetables all summer, canned more than 30 qt. green beans, so far several qts tomatoes & more coming on. Had some cabbage & onions all summer. Will have carrots to store for winter and tho the potatoe crop wasn’t very good have had potatoes to use along. I found in digging yesterday that the hills didn’t have very many potatoes in them. Mark wants to do things but needs company when he does the. His nervousness is at present is completely gone & he has a better appetite. I believe the tonsils were guilty of that trouble because he runs & plays just as hard as ever and has no reaction, so from all appearances the tonsils were harboring infection.

The new bond drive is on & John wanted me to buy him a bond – or rather give him the money to buy one at school – I told him I would give him his allowance in advance but he said he just wanted it outright – however I think he was just trying me out – I told him he could buy our (yours & mine) next bond for us – he said couldn’t he add another name[?]. I said that wouldn’t be fair to Mark & David. Jim sent your letter on to me – Thanks for all the nice things you said about me – so

Love – Mother

St. Elizabeth's Hospital

St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Lafayette, Indiana

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

X-Rays (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 8 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Aug. 25 rec’d today. If you remember you were discussing personalities and of course the last one was the best. Went to Laf. today to see Mother – also had a little shopping to do. I went with Mrs. Zell and didn’t try to go see Dr. Cole – I just called him from the hospital and he said they got an x-ray – in fact two – and says she has a bunch of gall stones besides an obstruction in the colon. Finally got barium to stay down – couldn’t give an enema – she couldn’t retain it long enough to get an x-ray. She was very tired from all the x-rays today – had one Mon. & another today. I intend to go back Fri. Juanita will be here and she can go along. I can’t go alone with David and now that school is in session can’t leave him with the boys. I took the taylor tot along today and didn’t have any trouble shopping. While in Loebs baby dept. saw Helen H. and her two. She said to tell you hello – she hears from Dan but he isn’t very hopeful about getting home soon. I think she is still living with Gertrude & Forrest.

[page 2] I saw Marie Steinbaugh in the hospital. She has to go and stay for x-ray treatments. She went yesterday and is coming home Sun. she looks fine. I wonder if the treatments are getting results. You know if you rec’d all my letters she had to have one breast removed in the spring or early summer and goes back every few days or weeks (not certain about the time) for treatments.

It is 9:30 – Just sent Mark up to bed. John is doing homework. We were listening to a bond drive program. The President talked & we wanted to hear him – after he finished John turned the radio off so he could study. We got home from Laf. just in time to feed David & put him to bed. I got him a new suit today. It is light blue, made in sailor fashion. It is very “cute” and has a cord with a whistle around the neck. That’s my birthday present for him. Also got a little gift for Mary McGee Arnott’s baby girl. I think about her and how much I appreciated things last year when David came. I think I rec’d more than 30 cards from friends & lots of your patients when I was in the hospital, besides all the gifts.

Mother rec’d a card from Ruth M. today with a dollar for flowers or anything needed. I took some flowers from my astors, etc., & Mrs. James sent her a potted plant. Mrs. Zell ordered flowers sent out in the morning – so I just put the dollar in Mother’s purse until some later date.

Love – Mother

P.S. my hands are better

Emma Foster, circa 1940s

Emma Foster, circa 1940s

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/01/28/x-rays-gladys-2/

Spiders (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 7 – 1943

Dear Daddy,

Yours of Aug. 23 came today. It has been cool today. My hands are in the pealing stage & very tender. This cooler weather makes them very rough & sensitive. However I think in a few days they will be normal again. At least I think they won’t swell again.

Funks came back yesterday. I took the birthday gifts I had for Bobby & Donnie & had a chat with Arlene. She was wearing slacks and didn’t look any larger than three weeks ago. She says she thinks it will be a girl this time because so far she isn’t as large as before. Bobby didn’t have hay fever while they were at the Lake but has a little now. He was out this morning looking for someone to play with. Donnie walks alone now but Arlene keeps him in the pen. He is so heavy (25 lbs.) he broke the bottom out of the pen. Arlene says he is learning to climb and thinks he won’t stay in much longer. I was going to the groc. store so did some shopping for Arlene. She said the lost three

[page 2] of their ration books while away. I don’t know whether they can get replacements or not. Fords were closed – saw in the paper they would be closed Sept. 6-7-8 – for what reason I don’t know – but when we went to town Arlene wanted her groc. from Bairs – and people were crowded in there, (that 5 P.M. rush you can remember) mostly around the meat counter – and for cold meats – Bairs just don’t have much any more but prepared meat. While in there I saw Ruth Dixon and she said it was the first time she had seen David. I noticed Tommy and his teeth are nearly all decayed in front – I suppose the back ones are the same. He is growing but still small. I was introduced to a Mrs. Lyons (living in Barce house). I thought I was back in Va. – when I told her you hadn’t seen David she said “ah declare.” Mrs. Lyons was with Cecil Dixon – Must be a southerner.

I didn’t go to Laf. today, but plan to go tomorrow. Mrs. Zell wants to go and said she would drive their car so ours can get a rest. – however I haven’t driven much lately – to Laf. & back last Sun. – and that was the first time down there in two weeks. I just hope the Dr. will have some definite report to give on Mother.

Jim called last night. He has plane reservations and is coming to Indpls. Sat. or Sun. He will have his tal car taken to Indpls. And will drive up to Laf. from Indpls. & we will meet him there at the hospital when he gets there. He is to call us upon arrival.

[page 3] As cool as it is I wouldn’t be surprised at an early frost and we still have beans & tomatoes in the garden. We have lots of carrots and I noticed Swiss chard that I thought wasn’t going to do anything. There will be enough for a meal or two. I haven’t had much time to go to the garden – went out to see about tomatoes yesterday but didn’t try to pick any – left that job to Mark – I was afraid to touch a tomatoe vine.

Yesterday I was sweeping the spider webs out of the windows on the outside – they had covered the kitchen, dining room & living room windows and found a large yellow spider that Mark & Virginia captured in a jar & took to school. Mark found a black & yellow one on Funk’s shrubbery today and has it penned up in a jar to take to school. I told him to get it out of sight but it is on the desk.

John is doing homework – David is in bed asleep and I feel like I could go to sleep right now. I woke up some time in the early morning – got up to see about D. He was wet so I changed him – he woke up so had to put him in bed with me to quiet him down – he didn’t cry after I put him in our bed but would jabber – so I couldn’t go to sleep until he did – then I overslept – and David was warm and he overslept. It was 8:15 when I looked at the clock – you can imagine the scramble to get J. & M. off to school – J. didn’t recover from the rush all day –

Love – Mother

YEG1943-06 Dunlop Street house

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/01/26/spiders-gladys/

Peaches (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Aug. 27 [26] – 1943

Dear Daddy –

8 P.M. – just finished trying to seal (2 didn’t) 11 qts. peaches. There was a truck around today from somewhere with peaches and I bought a bu[shel] (4.25) believe it or not – They are 8⁰⁰ in some places. In figuring the cost they cost around the same as canned (tin) we buy in the stores but I could save pints. Peaches were 24 pts. A can or half a month’s points for one person. I put seven qts. in the oven and 4 in hot water. Mrs. Zell was canning corn and would have brought the cooker home but I told her wasn’t necessary to pressure peaches and it is for corn. I prepared 12 cans for the locker and got over there to find the place closed (Thurs. P.M.) This I figure is the last Thurs. for the summer our stores will close for the afternoon. Mark went to town and stopped at the P.O. and yours of Aug. 17 was there. If you remember you were discussing other people’s vacations and certain persons being bothered about the draft.

[page 2] I agree with you about both cases. Some people haven’t yet found out what things are all about – guess I had better change the subject – it gets pretty deep sometimes. No use spoiling our letters with stuff like that.

Mrs. R. came last night for a few minutes. She had some pictures Joe sent – they were all working in the pictures, digging, etc. I suppose you know all about such things.

I had sent Glenn a night letter telling them to come and hadn’t heard from them in over a week – I sent a tracer after the wire and word came back that Glenn had started east Aug. 23 so I am looking for them anytime. Juanita has been here since Tues. but is leaving tonight on the 12:16 train – however she is coming back to see Glen (& family if they all come). I was looking for some word from them so I could send Jim a wire. He thinks he can get time enough on a week-end leave to come for a few hours.  I think he is taking a risk because he may not get flying accommodations back and he would have to fly to Indpls. & back from there. I am not going to send him any word until I get some definite word from Glen.

I took a roll of film and had some pictures of your Mother & Dad – and the negatives came back with no prints. I could see the pictures – I sent them to Laf. I had used a smaller film and sent them

[page 3] down there to have them all enlarged. I am going to send them to Hubert and see if he can print them. I couldn’t get film to fit our camera so haven’t taken pictures yet for David’s 11th month. David is changing so much I think since his front teeth show up so good. His smile is contagious and he usually has one. We were eating supper and he was in his play chair and started to climb out onto the ironing cabinet so I slapped my hands together and said “David” rather loud – he sat down and tried to cry but couldn’t. It is so cut to see him pucker up his face in an attempt to cry –

It has been cool today but Mother seems awfully weak. The heat yesterday afternoon was so hard on her. She didn’t eat much today – never does – but seemed less today. I thought possibly Dr. Cole would be up today but no doubt he was tied up at hospitals. Mrs. Roberts says the Sr. Dr. is so busy too. He hardly has time to stop and see her and the children. I am to take Mark to Fowler tomorrow to have the clamp taken out of his hand. I think his cut is healing – but you know how he likes to pick at things – keeps wanting to put new bandages on.

I have been writing this in competition with John, Mark & Juanita.

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/01/03/peaches-gladys/

Teeth Like Yours (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Aug 13 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Another hot Aug. day but a cooling breeze – The upstairs is very comfortable. Just went up to see Mother. She says she hasn’t any pain or soreness in stomach or bowels – but one spot in the bowel is shore – not being a Dr. or knowing too much about the anatomy I would say it is her colin [colon] that is sore. She was a lot of gas but I think that is due to not eating enough solid food. Her diet is more on the liquid order. I feed her the canned foods I give David. At noon I thickened some bouillon and gave you some pudding. She drinks milk every meal. Mrs. Jarrel had a chance to come up yesterday & go back today so she is here. Spent the night and has had a nice visit with Mother. I think your Mother is coming next week. Jaunita is planning to come sometime. I have the idea to let J. stay here and run things a few days and let me get a little vacation – not that I am feeling sorry for myself or anything of the sort but I am beginning to get a little tired and feel I should get away for a change. Dr. Cole said he would take the cast off David’s

[page 2] leg next Sat. – a week from tomorrow – and that will be a relief to me as well as to D. He should be easier to handle then – He is getting a little spoiled as things are now. However he has been very good thru it all. Dr. Cole didn’t make it here yesterday so I suppose he will come Sun. He said either Thurs. or Sun.

Emmett Miller & Olene were at Statons last night – they were going to spend the night and today here but got a call from Emmett’s home to come immediately – his father wasn’t expected to live thru the night. I haven’t heard any further about his father. They think E. will soon be sent out. He is to go to Tenn. next. By leaving so unexpectedly I didn’t get to see them.

Buddy is here this afternoon playing with Mark. Mark had to go to the dentist this P.M. Had one pulled & some fillings. He said Dr. Limp said his teeth are like yours – he can stand to have drilling done – and was he proud to think he is like Daddy about having his teeth fixed. Speaking of teeth – I am going to try & get a good picture of D. now with all his 5 teeth shining – they make him look even cuter – and his hair lays in soft ringlets all over his head – you can imagine the ah’s & oh’s he gets about his hair. Mary Parttens said it was a shame to waste that beautiful hair on a boy but I

[page 3] disagreed with her. I said that was just part of being “David.” Then she said yes it did help to make him cute – She says he is the cutest baby she has ever seen. Listen to the proud mother run on & on.

The detassling camp is broken up – They had some bread left over & Arlene sent the neighbors each a loaf. Bobby delivered. Donnie will soon be big enough to do things. Just think this time next year they should have a baby 8 mo. old.

The breeze seems to have stopped and am I sticky – I had such a big washing today – have to get Mark’s clothes ready to go to camp Monday.

We are to have a black-out next week but think I had better skip lightly over the subject. Just don’t tell anyone I told you.

Mr. Zell has to go with the 4-H group next week – Virginia is going to camp too, Mrs. Zell, Betty & Martha Jane are going to her mother’s so with Mark gone, we should have a quiet time from Mon. till Thurs. When all the children in the neighborhood get together it gets noisy around here.

David has awakened from a nap and John is in talking to him. He should talk early if talking to him will help.

The papers have come this week but I will try to relay the news in the next letter.

Love Mother

Mark (January 1943)

Mark (January 1943)

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/12/06/teeth-like-yours-gladys/