Irvin Wineland - unknown date - last page of letter.

If they should happen to write you asking for my address – just say the last you heard from me that I was in Chicago or Boston. Thanks for writing on a separate sheet Archie as Pear always wants to read your letter – and don’t forget any special thing you want to write to me personally about do the same as you did.

I know that if I don’t get something by March that I’ll probably be up there to find something – I’d like to lease some good prospect to mine as good a price as gold is one could make a few dollars a day and possibly could clean up a nice sum as one is apt to hit some streaks of good pay dirt.

You wrote about drilling for oil – say it costs 50 to a hundred thousand to put up a good oil well – it’s very expensive the bits are diamond bitted and the tools all are expensive. No, I’d rather Trap in winter and mine in the summer or something.

Then one should get locate tere in late summer or early fall to get the most out of trapping you think?

Now don’t wait so long in answering

Love to all, Your Brother Irvin and all. 

I TRUST YOU’LL TREAT HER WELL

I TRUST YOU’LL TREAT HER WELL

WORLD: I bequeath to you today one little girl in a crispy dress…with two blue eyes….

And a happy laugh that ripples all day long, and a batch of light blonde hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.

I trust you’ll treat her well.

She’s slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning and skipping off down the street to her first day at school.

And never again will h be completely mine….

Prim and proud, she’ll wave a young and independent hand this morning, and say goodby and walk with little-lady steps to the nearby schoolhouse….

Gone will be the chattering little hoyden who lived onl for play, and gone will be the delightful little gamin who roamed the yard like a proud princess with nary a care in her little world.

Now she will learn to stand in lines..and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called…

She will learn to tune her little-girl ears for the sound of school bells, and for dead-lines…      She will learn to giggle and gossip…. And to look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy across the aisle sticks out his tongue.

Now she will to be jealous…and now she will learn how it is to feel hurt inside..and now she will learn how not to cry….   No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch steps on a summer day and watch while an ant scurries across a creek in the sidewalk…Or will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn to kiss lilac blossoms in the morning dew.

Now she will worry about important things…like grades…and what dresses to wear…and whose best friend is whose…Now she will worry about the little boy who pulls her hair at recess time…and staying after school..and which little girls like which little boys….And the magic of books and knowledge will soon take the place of the magic of her blocks and dolls.   And she will find new heroes……

For five full years I’ve been her sage and Santa Claus…her pla and playmate…her father and friend…Now, alsas, she’ll learn to share her worship and adoration with her teachers (which is only right)… And no longer will I be the smartest, greatest man in the world….   Today when the first school bell rings, she’ll learn how it is to be a member of the group….with all its privileges, and, of course, its disadvantages, too. 

(No author to this note. I believe it was written by my father - Myron Taylor)

Letter From Bonnie & Del - March 8, 1974

March 8, 1974

My dear Mable,

So glad as always to hear from you & all the news. You mentioned you didn’t recognize people names in the Waldo news of the paper, well Martin Winder is our next door neighbor & his wife died last night. Her name is Gwen & she had a lump in her breast & had it removed 7 months ago but it spread all thru her rapidly. He (Martin Winder) says he is a relative of Archie’s & Albert’s. Seems like everyone around here are relatives of some kind or another. Del, I believe is getting a little better  since the doctor took him off of some much medication.  We got over income tax figured & are waiting for results & also waiting for prescriptions to come back with pharmacist signature so we ca send them in for refund.

March 9

We have our horse boarded out for a month to give our pasture a chancet come back & to give us a chance to get the fence rebuilt where she had it all crippled up & broken down this winter trying to get to the alfalfa. We are building it like this out of one of fours & then yesterday Del & Lyle painted it white. Sure looks nice.

(Drawing of fence was drawn here in the letter)

I just can’t wait until you come down to see our place & spend some time with us. Del has to lose some more weight so he has me on a diet too. I’ve enjoyed the country cream so much since I’ve been here but have given it up to please him because if its here he wants it, too. There are over 100 relatives expected at the funeral for Gwen Monday so already they have called everyone in Waldo 7 told them what food to bring. They called me last night & told me to bring a pie & Mrs. Hubbard to bring a potato salad – Well Mrs. Hubbard was visiting here with us & she would rather make a pie so we switched. I can make a delicious pie sometimes but once in a while they aren’t if I especially want it to be good but my potato salads are always good. I fixed hot bread yesterday & cinnamon rolls & took them over & today I’m fixing a lemon pie but won’t take it over unless the meringue stands up. Sometimes they sand 2” high & other times they just go flat & I don’t know what I do wrong.  I sure learned a lot about cooking down in Arkansas and helped cook for 600 screaming kids at the school house.

Last year when we first moved Gwen Winder told me she had just discovered a lump in her breat & it was extremely sore. Of course I immediately asked her if she could move it around and she felt & said “No.” I had several but I could move them & they just cut them out but the doctor said when you can’t move them they are more dangerous. Anyway, I insisted she go in & see about it. So she did the next day & had breast removed & then they started cobolt every day for 6 weeks & told her she was O.K. but she kept going down hill & I feel so badly because I told her to havei taken care of. It seems to me that once a cancer is cut on it goes twice as fast. Maybe if she would of just let it go she’ be alive today. Anyway I feel badly about it & can’t help it. How is Shirley & family. She was always so cute & I used to tease her so & am so sorry now but it was such fun to do at h time. Wilda’s Bahs wife is going back to Viet Nam for a couple of months to visit er people while he is in some kind of training. Well I better get that lemon pie made & see if it is going to be pretty & see if it is going to be pretty & if not I’ll have to think of something else to take over today. Love & write when you feel like it.

Bonnie & Del

My Son - DEAR WORLD

DEAR WORLD

My Young Son starts to school today…It’s all going to be sort of strange and new to him for awhile, and I wish you would sort of treat him gently.

You see, up to now he’s been king of the roost..He’s been boss of the back-yard.. His mother has always been near to soothe his wounds and repair his feelings.

But now things are going to be different.

This morning, he’s going to walk down the front steps, wave his hand, and start out on the great adventure…It is an adventure ta might take him across continents, across oceans, ..It’s an adventure that will probably include wars and tragedy and sorrow…To live his life in the world he will have to live in will require faith and love and courage.

So, World, I wish you would wort of look after him….Take him by the hand and teach him things he will have to know.

But do it gently, if you can.

He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, that all men are not true.

But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero…that for every crooked politician there is a great and dedicated leader…Teach him that for every enemy, there is a friend.

It will take him, World, I know. But teach him, if you can, that a nickel earned is of far more value that a dollar found….Teach him to learn to lose so he’ll enjoy winning that much more.

Steer him away from envy if you can…and teach him the secret of quiet laughter.

Let him learn early that bullies are the easiest people to ship in the schoolyard…Teach him, if you can, the wonders of books. But also let him ponder the eternal mystery of birds on the wind, and bees in the sun, and flowers on the green hill.

In school, World, teach him it is far more honorable to fail then to cheat. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone says they are wrong…Teach him to be gentle with gentle people and tough with tough people.

Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on the bandwagon…Teach him to listen to all men-but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth and take just the good that siphons through.

Teach him, if you can, how to laugh when he’s sad…Teach him there is no shame in tears..Teach him there can be glory in failure and despair in success.

Teach him to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness…Teach him to sell his brains and brawn to the highest bidder but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul.

Teach him how to close his ears to a howling mob…But to stand and fight if he thinks he’s right.

Teach him there are times when a man must gamble…And there are times when a man must pass the dice.

Treat him gently, World, if you can. But don’t coddle him…Because only the test of fire makes fine steel…Let him have the courage to be impatient…Let him have the patience to be brave.

Let him be no man’s man…Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself.

Because the, he will always have sublime faith in mankind.

This is quite an order, World, but see what you can do…He’s such a nice little follow, my son!

(Author unknown by believe it could be my father – Myron Taylor)

Photo Corrections for ANCESTRY

Over the last couple months, I've found others who have copied my photos and mislabeled them. I have original photos of most of what I'm posting. When I find other's copying them and then posting them as their own or mislabeling them, I'm a little ticked. GAVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DO AND ALWAYS, ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE BEFORE YOU POST THEM.

This photo has been posted as "Alvin H. Wineland, Roxie Ham Wineland and Cary W. Wineland Kirk. INCORRECT! This is my great grandmother, Lizzie White Wineland, Cary W. Wineland, and my grandfather, Archie Wineland. My great grandmother, Lizzie was Cary's first wife and dead at an early age of lock jaw. So, for those who want to have the true name attached to this photo, this is it.

I have tried to correct this photo but the person who took it off "Find-a-grave" has it labeled as, "Proud parent with baby Archie." INCORRECT - That is Archie Wineland holding my mother, Shirley Wineland. I know who my grandfather is and I know who my mother is. So, if you see this photo, please correct it to the proper title. I do not appreciate those who copy a photo off my "find a grave" site and mark it as their own, let alone mislabel it.

This photo is also mislabeled. I can't remember who took it off my "find a grave" site and then posted it as their own. This photo is of my great grandparents, Joseph Carl Matheson, Minnie True Matheson, and my grandmother, Mabel Cleo Matheson. If you see this, please correct it as well.

I have put 35 years into my family history and I don't appreciate those who take my information and publish it as their own. At least give me credit for all the work I have done on these families. As for photos, I'm going to start marking them private to keep them out of the hands of people who can't or won't be considerate of others.

This blog is copywritten and should also be respected as such. I have the original letters and if I find abuse with the letters, I will quit showing them on this blog. These letters are to be shared with family, but not to be published without my permission. I ask the same respect for my photos. I have given permission to those I know are family members. It would be nice if they stated such when the post them on her public ancestry accounts.

Thank you for your respect and consideration. I ask everyone to please correct the photos with the right information, since I am unable to reach those who have published the wrong information.

Happy Genealogy!

Feb 15, 1940 - Ernest Birge

Seymour Manufacturing Company
Incorporated
Scythe Snaths, Grain Cradles
Post Hole Diggers, Etc.
Established 1872
Seymour, Indiana

Feb 15, 1940.

Mrs. Sarah A. Johnson,
1506 Y. Ave.,
LaGrande, Oregon.

Dear Mrs. Johnson:

I received your address through your niece, Mrs. Edward Bruce, and learned from her that you are one of the surviving children of John H. Birge. Our family is rather inclined to be long-lived. I regret that you cannot recall or at least may not have heard the name of your grandfather as I have been of the opinion that your line connects to the line of my great grandfather’s family, your line coming down from Elijah. It is apparent that or father was married several times and according to some information that I have received, you are one of the five children of his first wife, who was apparently Eliazabeth M. Dow. These children as I have them are William J., Charles Dunning, Sarah Ann (yourself), Rebeccah Jane, Eldora Inis. Other children seem to be Helen Hulda, Theodora Delbert, Jerry Edward, John Lewis, David Albert. I have no record as yet to indicate the maiden name of the mother of the five children just named above. I have a record that shows that Joe was a son of a fifth wife and H.J. Birge the son of a fourth wife, but no record so far as to the names of the mothers.

You mentioned in a letter to Mrs. Bruce that you thought there was another son, Earnest, who as a son of the fifth wife. Can you give me any further information as to these families?

I have a letter written to my father in 1860 which gives some information about Elijah and his son, John, but there is nothing very definite in it. I would appreciate it very much I you would kindly give me what information you can with reference to the family as it is only the older members like you who can remember this information firsthand and  am anxious to have the facts recorded for the benefit of any of those who might be interested.

Sincerely yours,

Ernest N. Birge.

ENB:DF

April 19, 1940 - Ernest N. Birge

Seymour Manufacturing Company

Cythe Snaths, Grain Cradles

Post Hole Diggers, Etc.

Established 1872

Seymour, Indiana

April 19, 1940

Mrs. Sarah Johnson,

1506 Y. Ave.,

La Grande, Ore.

Dear Mrs. Johnson:

I thank you very much for your trouble in again writing me and appreciate the records which you have sent me with reference to your family. I have copied these and am hastening to return them to you so that they will not be lost.

Someone in the family, possibly yourself, gave me your son, William’s address and I several days ago wrote him asking him if possible to give me what records he could of your children, as I thought it would be easier for him to write than to trouble you for this information.

I think you must be feeling better and I hope that you are. I judge this from the fact that your letter just received shows very little indication of your being nervous. The letter after you had had your fall indicated that you were not feeling at all well. If I can ever get to 88 years of age I will be happy even if I cannot keep my hand steady enough to write.

I am making some little progress in getting the data on your grandfather Elijah’s family. It is my guess that by the time I have completed the records I will have something over 200 descendants without counting the in-laws who have married into the family. The line to which I belong descending from Elijah’s brother, William, is just about as numerous.

Hoping that your health continues to improve, I am

Very sincerely,

Ernest N. Birge.

ENB:DF