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, October 12, 2025

San Jose
Feb 3rd – 27

Dear Brother and Wife:

I am really ashamed of myself for not writing you sooner than I did – I have been pretty busy and have put off writing you folks longer than I should.

Well it has been quite wet here on the coast for the last couple of weeks, the most rainer winter than for a couple of years – but they surely need the rain.

I moved from San Francisco down here last week, to work this city for the company. I think in a week or so – after the people get Xmas out of their heads maby  then they’ll buy some Super Silk Hosiery.

I suppose that you have in a fair sized wheat crop this year? I’d certainly like to be back there and go coon hunting with you old timer – we’d get some no foolin – or we’d know the reason why.

I certainly would like to see you folks – couldn’t you possibly make it out here this summer some time. We could take in some wonderful drives and some beautiful camping and fishing places.

Have you heard from Father I cannot see why he doesn’t write me – I wrote him a letter last fall and he didn’t answer it – I can’t see – I’d sure like to drive back some day – I’d certainly give him a surprise of his life.

Just where in Idaho is Aunt Nettie and Joe located? Is Aunt Mattie and Bob in Loveland Colorado?

I suppose that Uncle Louis is in the same old place and William is still on the farm and, who is keeping house for Grandfather? Uncle George is still in Lomay – I forgot how to spell some of the old towns, I suppose Uncle Fried is on the Ranch out in Western Kansas?

I suppose that you see Uncle Clint and Aunt Mary often as you live near Fair Port do you not?

Now don’t wait to write me as long as I did you folks -Oh! Yes I have a big surprise for you one of these here days I’ll tell you all about it shortly –

Your loving brother

Irvin

San Jose California - 



Irvin Wineland - Portland OR 1927 - New Wife


Portland, Ore
Oct 17, 1927

Dear Bro and Wife,

Well I expect that you think that I have disappeared off the earth by this time no doubt. Well I am here in Portland working like a son of a gun. I am still with the same corporation that I was when I wrote last and have been promoted several times and am just in the eve of another promotion for them which will mean better than a hundred a week for me – also now just hold your breath – both of you – I am also just on the eve of a most wonderful, adventure in my life no foolin – that sweetest little woman in all America is just looking on so sweetly as I’m writing these few lines well we are getting married before the week is out smoke that in your pipe, and if I was there we’d certainly throw a party that you’d never forget for many years to come – I’d have the whole gang cock eyed –

But I happened to meet the most wonderful girl in all my travels – her house is in Canada – “that cold country” but she isn’t – and I’ve certainly fell hard the hardest fall in my life, and I know that she’ll be a great help to me also in my work – I know she’ll be a true pal and partner that’s the big thing.

Write and tell me all the news also all about your selves – tell all the folks helo and that I’ll try and catch up in my correspondence to them.

As ever Your loving bro –

Irvin and Jo

Note: Jo is Joanne E Treichel who had a son, Irvin George “Herbie” Wineland. This marriage didn’t last, but I found out she never remarried and was crazy about Irvin. This is the first letter that tells who his wife was. He was married 7 or 8 times. 



Mabel T Taylor Obit

 My Grandmother - Mabel Thelma Hellem Taylor - 



Irvin Wineland - Separation - Sept 1926

 


San Francisco
Calif

Sept 28 – 26

Dear bro and Wife,

Well Archie old top – I haven’t heard from you for some time. Now write to me here and tell me all the news and about your selves.

I suppose that you had a dandy wheat crop this year. I see all through Kansas that the crops were very good.

I have been spending the summer up in the Mts. For a Big Power Co and have been working in the Office and also had charge of one of their commissary’s- but I’m putting in applications with the standard Oil Union Oil and several Comporters to try and land a two or three year contract with them for duty in the Orient or India or Java if possible, if I cannot make one of them – then I’m going to ship to Australia and land a job with some of the Importers on their Coffee plantations on some Island they pay very good money – you stay 21 months at 250$ or 50 English lbs and they pay you two years times.

Then I’ll come back home for a visit to see you – but not until it got so darn cold there. I came on down to San Francisco you know and maby you don’t that my wife and I have separated. She got so darn contrary that it made my life miserable so we separated – she got every darn thing we had.

I’ll make a stake again and the next time – when I get a divorce from her – I’ll certainly watch my step next time. It’s the only life to live – if both can get along – but it certainly is Hell – if you pull opposite each other – she was older than I too that had a lot to do with us not getting along.

I  muke a good stake and then I’ll settle down some where.

I’d very much like to see you folks – and I wish you all the happiness in the world and may you long continue to live it.

Have you heard from Father lately? And what is he doing and how is he getting along?

How is grandfather White and all the rest of the folks – tell all helo – and I think of them, even if I don’t write.  

Your affectionate

Brother & Brother-in-law
Irvin G Wineland

Gen Del – San Francisco Calif


Irvin Wineland - Oct 29, 1925 - Glendale CA


Los Angeles Biltmore stationary
Postmark Oct 29, 1929

1020 Ruberta Ave
Glendale, Calif

 

Dearest Bro and Wife:

We have been waiting anxiously to hear from you but haven’t heard a scratch since last spring.

How is the wheat crop good I hope.

You ought to see our Police dog – I’ll send you a picture of him soon. He’ll do lots of strunts earry things, jump about to and fro and seak and sit – lay downand to hurl me – you ought to see him scent all around the house – and he’ll never give up till he finds me.

We have a new car now – dodge sport touring brand new! – say boy some car too – about six of us drove to Ventura about 70 miles – in about 2 hours and up the mountain grades in high.

I think maby that next summer if everything is O.K. that my wife – and I and our dog will drive ack and see all the folks and on up in Nebr to see dad.

I’m thinking seriously about quitting the Hotel and go estimating jobs for tile and mantel business I have a good chance to get in a place here in Glendale and start in and learn the business – it’s a wonderful paying work too – a good estimator can work up to 3 or 4 hundred a week.

Have you been duck hunting yet this year? We went up to Ventura a couple of weeks ago – but poor shooting – too many gun clubs have all the best shooting. I got a moland a jack snip also a jack rabbit. I dididn’t get a chance to go deer hunting this year – but I intend to go quail hunting before the season closes.

How is grandfather White also grandfather Wineland getting along? Also all our Uncles and Aunts and Cousins?

I haven’t heard from any one for about six months. If they don’t want to write all right with me – they can’t say that they made much for me and I can always get along with out any of them – I tho’t maby that when I left that Grandfather White was sore about my quitting him. Maby you never knew – well here goes – he was paying another fellow more money than I, for equal amount of work – and Bill – well he was riding the tractor all day so I said the farther you get from your relatives the better off I am – they expect more from you than any one else and pay less.

Well maby I’ll surprise them all when we drive back.

Well write me all about you folks and all the new and don’t fail to tell the folks helo for us.

Wish you folks could see our little 5 room home, we have here – with grape fruit, orange and avocado trees and a fine garden it would make you want to come here and live – adios Senior –

Mr and Mrs. I G Wineland

1020 Ruberta
Glendale Callif