Ken Hodge - Portland July 25, 1984

Portland

July 25, 1984

Dear Lynn & Pat:

Sorry for the long delay in answering your lovely letter, but I had a bit of tough luck, & drank too much and got jack rolled, couldn’t even pay my rent, now I have to pay double next month, of course I could’t get any stamps, I usually have some on hand but.

I won’t say much about myself, but I was in the Army, also a long time in the Merchant Marine, been to all countries but England and Scandinavia lived for ten years in Australia but had to come back to the US in 1964.

I hope you can decipher my damned writing, after all I’m 64 years old but I can still perform whatever.

I’m now living in a hell of a dump, its run down and most of the roomers are exlunatics or corrects sure is a nut house along wit the roaches and noise I manage to survive.

Just where is this town that you are living? I’ve never heard of it before. My home town is Anacortes wish I could see it again.

Well Dear ones this is all the BS I can think of for now. Hope to have better news next time, I’ll be moving to an apt. in Sept. I hope.

Love to you both

As ever, Ken

This won’t be posted till the 1^st anyway.

Woodburn OR - Dec 7 1984 - From Iris & Milton Taylor

Rainier Rd

Woodburn, OR 97071

Dec 7, 1984

Dear Lynn and Pat:

It was so good to hear from you and receive your Christmas Greetings. That is one of the blessing of Christmas I believe, as it does bring friends and relatives closer together May the good Lord watch over you and keep you in good health Take time too, to have good times together and enjoy life to its fullest. This is a fine time now with your plans for a family. May God bless you.

We are both fine and expecting to have a good trip to Mexico Jan 21-Feb 3. It will soon be here so we are already looking forward to it. Yes, I wish you were going too. Maybe someday that will be a thing for which to make plans. Anyway, since we are both getting old, we don’t have much time any more so have to make hay while the sun shines!!!!!!

Milton is losing eye sight but will have a cataract operation in the near future that will hopefully bring back his vision. In the mean time, I do all the car driving and reading for him I try to help him keep up his courage and not get dispondant.  He will be 88 in Jan I just had my 78^th birthday. We are blessed, believe me, as our health is good for being this old.

Well, dear ones, we appreciate your invitation to come your way some time and stay over with you. Yes, I think we can make it but not right away. We will wait for some better weather, perhaps in the spring. But will let you know. Do take care now and remember, take GOOD CARE OF THAT LITTLE ONE IN YOUR TUMMY. HE-SHE IS IN YOUR CARE and needs the best you can give. Our love as always.

Iris and Milton

Dec 19 - 1956 From Mabel - Cousin to Minnie

Gary, Okla

Dec 19-56

Dear Cousin,

Am sorry I am so late getting your letter answered. I was glad to hear from you. We are all well and busy as usual – seems like there is more to get done every year, maybe its ‘because we slow down more as we grow older. I am 66 now, how old are you.

Our dag. Ruby & family still live in Richland Wash, my brother Georges daughter Lahoma lives there too she has 2 girls. George passed away in 1932. My Dad died in 1938 he was the last one of his brothers and sisters to go.

I don’t know just what you wanted to know about your fathers family all I know is that his parents Mason True and Esther Baker (Campbell) True were born in Ohio. Our grandma Esther True was 1 of 16 children and I can’t remember all her brothers & sisters names some were 2 brothers Sylvanus & Bushnell and 2 sisters Rebecca & Sally Amy. I have forgotten the others and the only one of Granpa Trues family I remember was a Dr Austin True who lived in Ohio – Oh yes grandma had a sister named Lydia her married name was Porter, Rebecca’s was Maxwell and Sally Amy’s was Tinkham.

Your father had sisters, Lydia, Rebecca, Sally Amy, brothers William, Lawrence, Sylvanus. I just can’t remember any more and I think that is all. I don’t know where any of Aunt Rebecca’s children are. There is 1 girl & 2 boys left as far as I know. The only one that ever wrote to me just quit writing and I could never get an answer she was old and sickly so I suppose she passed away and no one bothered to tell me. Their family were not very close together and fussed all the time.

Uncle Sylvanus was Mittie & Linnie Trues Dad they are both alive and I hear from Mittie at Christmas she is past 80.

Aunt Sally’s family were raised here in Oklahoma and there is Albert, Finley & George & Lucy left. Mytle passed away last spring.

This is about all I can tell you of course if we could chat together I might be able too tell you some details. I wish I had written down a lot that has been told me. Didn’t your Dad ever talk about his family and as long as your mother lived with you she should have been able to tell you some.

Do you have a picture of your old home near Natoma the one with the family on if you want one I will send you some that I have. Say didn’t you have a daughter named Mabel (your oldest) you never mention her. I just wondered. My step sister lives at Okarke but she never visist me. I also have a step brother in the church home for old folks at Independence MO. I have a half brother, Leslie who lives in San Diego alif. Don’t hardly ever hear from him either. He has 4 children I have 2 boys & 1 girl who live near us. We still live on our farm and don’t do much farm work but chickeys & garden our son farms the land. Hope you have a nice Xmas.

Love from Mabel & Herman

(above the letter – am sending a clipping I found in some paper. )

Jan 1964 - Park Wineland

Sunday

Jan 19-1964

Dear Mrs. Taylor;

I am sorry that I could not answer your letters, and also to Mrs. Winland, sooner.

I am enclosing a copy of a family record that was sent to me by the decedent of Jacob.

I have not been able to connect John 1803 up with any of the other I have on first the emigrant.

However I came across something that might help, and it’s not so far from where you live, altho I do not know exactly the spot.

There was a John Wineland, emegrant that settled in Virginia.

He had a son Peter (the only record I have)

Peter had 8 children

About 1780 three of his sons, John, b. 1769 – Peter, and Christian, went to Morrison’s Cove, PA about 1780.

The emigrant John and his son Peter with the rest of the family’s stayed in Virginia. I don’t know how long, but I am sure they are buried there.

I am enclined to think that he might have landed in the neighborhood of Norfolk. As there were some German settlements in the area south of Richmond toward Norfolk.

If you could find a 1790 census, it might give you something on the way of names.

Thanks,

Park Wineland