LETTERS FROM THE PAST

This blog is to honor those who have come before us. These are family letters that I have had for years and wanted to be able to share them with family. It's an interesting way of knowing how life was in the past.

Myron F Taylor with 3 of his buddies in 1952. Over the last 20 years I've been working on our family letters. Letters that have been passed down. Including letters from my parents to my great-grandmother. Every letter was saved by my great grandmother and grandmother. I hope someday to either print them or give them to a museum. I am copying the letters–not being able to photocopy all of them. Each letter is in script. I know today very few can read them. I hope you enjoy them.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Hugo Colo Mar 5, 1947

Hugo Colo Mar 5 1947

Dear Mrs. Reader

Our old Friend I will try and write you a few lines. I sure was glad to hear from you. Yes Orvile came to see us a few minutes when they went through last fall. We sure was glad to see him thow I did not recinese him as he was quit small boy when we seen him last. An he seen s happy that day. I sure was sorry to hear that he has past away so soon. Peter and I have never left Hugo so we have been hear in town all the time. Mildred and family are in San Antonio Texas have been there just about seven years. Her husband work as a civle inploy at the Kelly Air field and has a good job so I guess they will be there for some time.

Thursday morning

And I think I will try and finish this letter while Peter is up town and the raido is quit for a little while as he is comeing home to listen to a speech of se kind. Peter has not been so very well this winter but able to be around I really think he does real well for 74 year as he has been working at the basement when te weather permits which has not been very often this cold weather it is snowing just a little again this morning.

We have had a lot of storm and bad weather and cold this winter. I suppose you folk know Mrs. Clarence passed away about a year an a half ago. I never see any of them  There are not a grate maney of the old folk around Bovina as the most of them have passed on  Well I guess I must close as there don’t seem to be much to write any way.

Your old Friends

Mr  & Mrs P. H. Weyenberg


I hope this find you all well.

April 8, 1949 - Naomi Jean

Yakima, Wash
April 8, 1949

Dear Grandma,

Just thought I’d drop a line to let you know I’m still alive and kicking. Don’t mind if the lines get a little crooked, I’m not used to writing on paper without lines. I guess you could tell that. Enough of this gab, its not very interesting.

Mother is down in Wall Walla with Dad and Les & I are staying at Jeannette’s. She took Ken. You knew Dad was working at Walla Walla, didn’t you. They just drove in. Mother says she doesn’t like it down there & she hopes Dad comes back up here. Golly, I can’t keep up with them. Do you think you could. It’s awfully hard.

We’re having our spring vacation now. I visited Central school last Tue. I used to go there. I had a lot of fun. I visited my boyfriend’s (Dan Darden) room in the morning and in the afternoon I went in my girlfriend’s room.

Well I’d better sign off for now. Mom & Dad send their love,

All my love,

Naomie Jean

PS If you see Virginia tell her I’m expecting a letter. I wrote to her a long time ago. Gene too.

(back of letter)

Jay is fine – Marian is sick. All the rest are fine.
Hope to hear from you soon –
Did you get the money?
Had rain two days now –
Love Dorothy


April 11 - 49 - Esther True

April 11 – 49

Dear sis.

Just got your letter today. Glad to hear from you. Sorry you ar’nt so well. I am pretty good. Only my right hand and arm.

Think I told you I had a light stroke last Oct. left my hand and arm so it bothers me. When I use it much it aches. That is what bothers when I write.

I thought I told you when I wrote that I was going to the hospital what it was for. Got my gallbladder out had gall stones. I was only in the hospital a week, but in bed 4 weeks after I came home.

I do all my work but don’t do any lifting. I run the clothes through the machine. Will hang these out and fill the bush and enities the water.

Theodore and his wife was here until a month ago. “Been to her mothers.” Will be back this week.

Am glad you wrote me about Fred. I hav’nt heard from him since I saw him at Ed’s last August.

I have written him 4 or 5 letters but no answer. Letters never came back. Where is he living? Is his address the same?

Sadie wrote me Erma was to be married. Then last week Azle wrote me she and her husband had been there. I think Ed had a stroke last summer. His heart bothered and he could’nt walk. He was under oxygen. He got better and went home I think before Christmas. About a month ago his oldest girl wrote me that he had been in bed a month – said she would write again, but had’nt I wrote to the girl who lives with them but she has’nt written and Eds wife don’t write.

I am sure I wrote Azle what I have written you about Ed. Wish I could hear more from them. He does’nt write.

Our children are all well. Will is’nt very good can’t do to much at a time. You know he will soon be 80. Will sis I better quit. Have to go see about my chicks. Have a 100 2 weeks old.

Love, Esther

P.S. Weather fine with everything green.67 above today. Our garden covering up.

P.S. I forgot to tell you, When we were at Eds one Dr. said what was the matter with his heart. There was a lot in the main veins close to his heart. That worked out.

 He also told s there was a growth I his stomach and he was to old to operate. It may be that trouble has come back. 

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Mar 14, 1984 - Gladys Imperatrice

Mar 14, 1984

Dear Mable,

It was sure nice to hear from you. The pictures arrived in great shape.

Thank you very much I really appreciate getting them, they mean a lot to us.

We are all well hope you are too.

The weather here has been wonderful in the 70’s and the flowers are all blooming.

The obituary you wrote was really nice. Did you want it back? If so I will send it to you.

I don’t have any records of the True family. It would be nice if you sent me the names.

I just had two children a boy Dennis and a girl Phyllis. Dennis is married and has a little girl Samantha age 7. Phyllis is divorced has 3 sons James age 18, Danny age 17, and Earl will be 14 in June. James has joined the marines.

There are five of us girls and our families are all her in Fresno, so when we get together we have over 30 people. We are all real close to each other.

Sorry I didn’t answer sooner.

Love, Gladys


Jan 10 - Bonnie

Jan 10

My dear Mable –

Well I finally found time to write a few lines & send some pictures  our anniversary & house. I love this place better each day. However I could do with a little less zero & below weather & all this snow but maybe next year it won’t be so severe. You wouldn’t believe how much better I feel & look since I got those sick teeth out & new ones in. I feel like a new person so now I’ll have to be careful that I don’t start gaining weight. Be sure to tell me about Forest the next time you write. I haven’t had any news about him for such a long time. I’m sure Wilda has kept you up to date on Dels accident & how sick he was for nearly 2 months. My God what I went thru seeing him thru that ordeal. Sent our government in a Hellish mess. I’m so anxious to find out what will become of that no good Nixson. I never did like him ever when h was Vice President. Last night the horse got Tar into a corner & he couldn’t get away from her & she was pawing him like crazy. He was crouched down in the corner & just petrified. I had to run out here screaming like a wild Indian & waving my arm to scare the horse away so I could get to the dog & rescue him. I got my pants caught on the fence as I climbed it & had to climb it again with Tar in my arms  (he weighs about 90#) I turned him lose & he ran like crazy & got in his house & stayed there & then it got dark. I shudder to think what would have happened if we hadn’t of seen it before the sun went down. She probably would of pawed him to death. Now here I sit waiting for it to get light enough for me to see (the next morning) if he is able to come out of the house. I’m still puzzled as to what the dog did to the horse that made her so mad. They are usually buddies. We are going to take Cinder to have her spayed tomorrow so we won’t have any more puppies. Sure do hope it calms her down. She is so wild & full of life. Well the sun came up & Tar is OK. Am sending pictures of us & one of Lyle Wilda & me. I thought they turned out pretty good. Well tomorrow is my birthday (circle around the number 54). My God I’m really over the hill aren’t I? I feel younger than I did 10 years ago & I know its because I’m happy. It’s been so long that I don’t remember what I wrote in my last letter so I’m afraid I’ll repeat myself & someone will think I’m nuts. Anyway George & Blanche Schuartsferger live here & they told me you helped them when one of their children was born. You probably know a lot of people around here. Does Albert live in Osborne? I looked in the phone book & there is a A W Hacherott and what is hi sisters married name?

We watched Nixon on TV last night & really I feel sorry for him. Guess it isn’t easy for him. I want to have Ray take pictures of the kitchen & livingroom too. I can hardly wait until Spring to work in this beautiful yard & flowers & rock garden. We didn’t have time last summer to do anything except work on the inside. Well I suppose you’re keeping busy now that you’re home again. I’m so glad that you have Shirley & her family. I often think if I lose Del I’ll have nothing but a shack full of dogs & a horse. Well I bette to get ready to go out & feed them or else they’ll leave home.


Love Bonnie

20 July 1965 - Oma Whitson

Tuesday
20 Jul 1965

Dear Mrs. Taylor

Thank you so much for answering my letter and sending the sheet you filled in. I will add it to the White family tree. The chr meant christened and where the mar. was where and where you were married? Yes this is fascinating work. The more you search the more you want to.

The Benjamin White born 24 August 1949 and married Mary Fabs (?) was a soldier of the Revolution. He would be your 4th Great-Grandfather. So you could be eligible to be a D.A.R. I have thought about it some myself. I have a little history of some of these families and it tells of this one being in the Revolution. I am sending a chart of your ancestors. It starts with you and goes back as far as I have it. Alice Miley a second cousin, (first cousin to your father) is also doing some research on this line so maybe she can come up with some more.

I did want your marriage date and place.

Thanks again,

Sincerely,

Mrs. Oma Whitson
Box **
Waldo, Kansas

We have sold our hose in Kinsley and are back in our home at Waldo now.



Letter from Emma Webb

Note: Postmark on envelope is dated Jan 15, 1985 – but Emma dated the letter 1965

Jan 10 – 65

Dear Mable

I haven’t forgotten you, but I have had a bout with the flu and just can seem to snap o of it. Don’t feel so bad, but don’t have any pep. Don’t suppose its old age do you? I’m 85.

We had a real blizzard yesterday Blowing & drifting. I had 18” & 21” drifts in my yard. 17” everywhere. I cleaned a walk way around the house to our drive-way. I’d work awhile then come in and rest awhile. I really enjoy being out and I sure work up an apetite that I can stand as I don’t weigh 100#

Had all the family here Christmas eve, 25 of us. We had supper then our gift exchange and as usual Santa was to good to me. Received a nice robe and gown a vacuum cleaner (& I needed it) cash, 3 bottles of wine, 4 boxes of chocolates home made candy, carmel corn, fruit, 2 jars of home canned beef and all kinds of groceries. I had the dishes done and table back to its right size by 11:30. I don’t let the girls help me clean up as I work off some steam then I can go to bed & sleep. Pat, Normas wife had to work Christmas Day so Norman was cooking their turkey – I had ham for our meat.

Larry is busy, he has cattle, hogs, and 4 horses and prices aren’t good on any of them. He is also helping our neighbor ut up Solar Panels. Have put up 11 so far and also insulated the Catholic Church in Lincoln so he has had to get up early, do his chores and go to work at 8:30 so it keeps him moving. He likes it and it brings him in some cash and that helps.

Don has 4 children Donna married and both are Truckers, Steven & his wife live in Oklahoma, Steven works in oil field. Repair the machinery, they have a little girl, she goes to to-day school Chuck works on a farm, lives in his trailer house in Salina. Sara is a waitress lives at Kanarado, Kansas. Don’s 2nd wife has 3 children, boy out of High School, oldest girl a Senior this year and the other girl in grade school.  Don is working in Salina, servicing these big truckers, Charlene his wife is a waitress in Salina both make good wages.

Norman is still with Kansas Power & Light Salina. They live on their farm south of escott. Pat is assistant manager of a Nickerson’s Farm Restaurant.

David married lives in Topeka just finishing college. Plans to be a coach. Charlotte married lives in Manhattan. Married to an army man they have a little boy & girl.

Mark & Gregory live in Manhattan  going to Kansas State College and John will be a Senior in High School next year. So our family is getting to be grown up.

I’ve been crocheting, have made an afghan for each of the boys, grandchildren & great grand children. A few others & the M. E. Aid for their Bazaar in all 21. Have 2 more started. I do that evenings. I have to keep busy.

Do you live alone? I usually have chores to do, but I don’t buy any calves this year as I didn’t think I could take care of them and Larry has plenty to do without that.

Well I guess I better sign off and get my dishes done and it will be bed time.

Hope you are doing O.K. and that you had a nice Christmas and that the New Years will be good to you.

Love Emma

Emma S. Webb

Tescott Kansas 

July 31, 1978 - Delmer Stuart

July 31, 1978

Dear Aunt Mabel

I hope that things may begin to improve again now that some fo the sorrow has come to pass, butin its passing I know that all persons who have ever had any contact with Grandmother Reeder, has made the gain of a lasting love that shall not end, ever, even though the body is covered and gone, the spirite shall always be.

Aunt Mabel, I hope that I’m not considered out of place by asking for anything, but it may be that there was a small album of stamps, toys, ect, that I had when I was home in LaGrande. Or if I could haveany letters written to Grandmother in the years past.

The letters I would keep for myself, the toys and stamps to be passed on to my children, they may also be some book and photos.

Anything that you might see a way to send, I would be grateful.


I also hope that one day I might be able to visit all of you. In the mean time, Love Always, Delmer Stuart





NOTE: Delmer has since passed, so felt I could post this.