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 40 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

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




Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Irvin Wineland - July 1 1950

Seattle Wash

July 1, 1950

 

Dear Archie:

We rec’d your letter Wed. and have been busy, so didn’t get a chance to write till now.

Say this Korean Business doesn’t look any too good. I think Russua will pawn off commence China troops to help the North Koreans, before she would help out and I think she’s afraid of US giving her an atomic Bombing.

I talked to Mabel to day and I said I’d certainly send some money and all your bonds to you to bank back there. I think Marion and I’ll send a couple of thous and to some bank east of the nets as if this power Key is ever lit Russia will sure as hell bomb Seattle as one of the 1st US Cities and believe me if they started, I’m getting out. I told Brown that I was pulling out for Montana or points east and no fooling.

You better got lived up on something back there and have Mabel and Shirley come there it’s sure lots safer, and get a extra room for Marion & me –

Boeing’s getting a new contract that’s what Bob, he’s Marion’s sisters husband, he said that a plane with 4 stars was at Boeings for two days, Gen Dewit it was I guess that he’s setting Boeings up for more production.  Those fellows working here, if anything starts with be froze to their jobs, and I wouldn’t want that her in Seattle.

Well I was sorry to hear that the crops are not so good there.

We are leaving next Fri eve for our vacation, will either go up in Canada or to Glacier Park, will write you a line at either place. If we go to Calgary will look up George at Bowdin and say helo for all of us.

We are going over to your place this evening as Shirley leaves in the morning with her grandmother for Oregon.

Well take care of your self and write.

Marion said that she’d like a game or two of Pinocle –

 

As ever Your bro

Irvin & Marion

 

 

 


Irvin Wineland - Mar 7, 1925

Postmark: Mar 7, 1925

 

914 C N Benton Way
Los Angeles

Dear Bro and Wife;

Well we moved again, as you see by the address – the next time we move will be in a place of our own. We are going to buy a couple of acres of land near the City and build us a chicken ranch, and then in a year or so I want to quilt the Hotel business and put all my time on our little chicken ranch.

We just got back from the Dog show at Pasadena this evening. We saw them judging the shepherds (German Police dogs) and I have come to the conclusion, after seeing dogs from Seattle, Spokane, San Francisco and all over the Pacific Coast that the Police Dog stands out as the best of them all.

I am going to get a pup pretty soon.

It rained so hard this evening that it was hard driving the car home.

I sure wish that you and your wife was here and could go on the vacations with us this Summer – We’re going way back up in the Sierra’s and then pack in so we can get some real Trout fishing.

I’d rather catch them than any sport a going.

You two had better plan coming out at least by next fall – then we can take in a few days of deer hunting. I want a nice pair of antlers mounted.

As I am writing, we are listening to a nice program on our Radio – we have a four tube Radiala and loud speaker and can hear it all over the house.

Well write and tell me how you and everybody else is getting along – and all the news as I crave news from all of the folks.

Lovingly, Mary and Irvin 


NOTE: MARY WAS HIS SECOND WIFE OF EIGHT

Christmas 1960 - Jo Hogan Salina KS

Christmas 1960

Dear Friend Mable –

Again it’s time to be sending Seasons Greeting to friends and loved ones. Noticed in particular a greeting in a Christmas card – and I quote – Friends seem nearer Dear ones Dearer At Christmas which is so true – and I might add friends like you. We have been friends for a long time – and I never expect to have another one like you.

You and Archie – as I have mentioned a good many times when I’ve written you were the nicest neighbors we ever had.

Today is a lovely day – we have had such nice weather this Fall. We are needing moisture here at present. Should it snow would very likely do little or no good as it generally drifts.

This weather might stay nice until Christmas – then again may be not. Thank you so much for your good letter enjoyed it so much.

Thanks too for the lovely card – conveying the loveliest of thoughts it was enjoyed too and appreciated.

I am so happy for you both that you have bought a home. One your like and in a nice neighborhood. Some time that isn’t so easy to find and I would imagine in a city of Seattle’s size that would be quite true.

By your description the arrangement is nice.

I hope all goes well and that in the not too distant future it will all be yours so best of luck.

You folks done well to get out of KS – and you stayed out – as did Howard & Velma. It’s for sure they wouldn’t have a little home if they had stayed in this cotton pickin state “.— with I guess for the most part it’s poor wages.

I’ve noticed very few people that ever go to the western states never come back to Kansas – but to the states in this section of the country.

Folks you remember that youngster that Aunt Dora took when a baby – by the name of Joe Westhusin – we used to call him “Little Joe.” He lives in Portland Oregon – he was in this section of the country and he and his wife called on us. He is a real estate broker out there.

I’ve been addressing my or guess it should be our Christmas Greetings of course some of them are mine – like to include a few letters in some others some notes – and some – just my name or ours as it so happens to be. Of course Mary has some she sends.

A letter recently from Jerry & Bess – they are still at Myrtle Beach AFB SC. He wrote he was among the few officers that was still there at the base when he came – so he of course is expecting a transfer to some other place.

He is going to school at night – trying to work towards a degree. The Air Force is not sending him he is doing this on his own accord – but of course the AF is providing the opportunity.

Had Shirley’s address this year so I am sending them a card – and I included a letter – not a very interesting one I’m sure – but any way I wrote a bit.

Jerry’s liked Germany a lot and they too went many places of interest.

Believe I’ve mentioned this before – but I think Jerry was at the Hahn AB when there. That may not be spelled right – but perhaps it’s near enough so one would know the base I have reference to.

Yes – Nettie’s son Nyle and family did come to see her this last Summer. Nettie told me they have such a nice family.

She also told me that they still hope some time to have a little boy – but may be that may he just wishful thinking.

So glad to know that Archie’s hearing and is helpful to him and by now hope he is accustomed to it.

Guess you missed seeing it in the Independent – but Ron & Judy have a baby son – was born in September.

Glad to know that your Mother is quiet well – and that she is able to go to California. Nice she can and enjoy herself in the sunset of her life. Know you have mentioned her age – but I’ve forgotten how old – but would imagine she would be past seventy.

Suppose your extra busy – getting your Christmas cards addressed etc.

Nice birthday card and good letter from Aunt Dora today.

She is real well for her many years and is still out on the farm.

Bill & Rita came down to do a bit of shopping Thursday. We are always so glad to see them but he is always so busy so they do not come very often.  Bill is real well I guess – and Rita as usual has her good and bad days.

Hope you and Archie are as well as usual “- so take good care of yourselves. I’ll or perhaps Mary will be mailing you a little package for Christmas.

I hope you like what I am sending and I think you’ll find it useful.

Perhaps this letter will reach you before the pkg does.

Do hope you’ll both have a nice Christmas and that the New Year will be an extra good year to both of you.

Bye for now – Good Luck & much happiness  Lovingly Jo