OH, MR. POSTMAN - LETTERS

While letters delivered by the postal worker may be few and far between these days, it wasn’t that long ago that they were the best way to communicate.  Even after telephones were in every home, the cost of long distance calls tended to dictate the days calls were made, and the duration of those calls. 

When Craig and I first moved to Illinois, I would usually call my mom on a Saturday once a month, or at the most every two weeks.  Even then, I would limit the time on the phone due to the cost.  But a letter, although that’s only a one-way conversation, was much cheaper and I could write as much as I wanted for one stamp. 

When I consider how many Zoom meetings and conversations we’ve had throughout this COVID-19 pandemic, I compare that to the 1918 Influenza pandemic, or even World War II, when the only ways to communicate were by mail or telegram, since few homes had telephones even then. 

My grandparents were the first generations of their families to live in Colorado, so letters were their primary means of communicating with family and hearing the latest news (or gossip) from their loved ones “back home.”

         When I transcribe letters, I type them up line by line, word for word, but here the transcription will not be line by line in order to save space. 

         The earliest letters I have were from John Glover WALLIS to his future bride Lucretia SMITH.  He wrote to her even though they both lived in Marion County, Missouri. For misspelled words or grammatical errors, I usually put [sic] so it is known that I did not make the error as I transcribed it, but John’s letters are full of misspelled words.  

        Most letters are longer than what is here; I tried to pull out what I thought was most interesting.  Some are references to other family members, some are prices, farm conditions, housing, etc.  I hope you find them interesting, too.  Most of these are in my possession, some are typed copies I was given.   

 

April the 20 1887

Mis. Luta I thout I Wod rite yo a letter to tel you I Cant go to Church a Sater day night are Son day I are going up to bakers grae to Church yo must not get mad at me Darling.  I told John Cragmiles that I Wad go With him When he got redy to go and he Wants to go a Satter day I thought I Wad rite and tel yo Wel I Wil stop good by

          Dont get mad
                    Darling

 

[Postmark] 
OAKDALE
    SEP
     22
   1888
     MO

[Envelope]
Oak Dale Shelby
           Co  Mo 

                                                                                                   Septem the 20 1888

          I reciald you kind and Welcom letter last night Was glad to hear from you I thought I Would rite yo a few lines.  ^L^Cutie yo Wanted to know When I Was coming down.  ^L^Cutie I Wil come Down Sonday Morning if yo had rather taulk to me as to go to Curch i Wil Come and if yo Want to go to Curch I Wil go back home and if yo Want to  go to Curch yo Can go if not yo and I can stay and let your pa and ma and rffa go to Curch this Wil suit yo if yo Love me        Wil Lutie Lara and I are having a big time she told me how she talked to the boys she sed she liked

all the boys but she sed I was the best looking of all the fllows Wel Lutie I Wil stop for this time by saing good by Darling girl I Want to kis yo so bad good by Dear girl from

John G. Wallis

          Lutie.s.

 

I wonder of “Lutie Cutie” was his pet name for her and he abbreviated it ^L^Cutie.

September the 28, 1888

Dear friend  I wil ancer your letter Wel Lutie Ella and Mollie Was Married thurs day they married Charley Turner and Wil Taffer.  Wel I ges I wil haf to find a nother girl now.  Wel Lutie ^yo^ asked me if I was mad at yo no I am not mad at yo that was your time and the next is mine.  Wil come by your house Sunday morning I Want to see yo about 5 minets.  then I wil ride on East to see that girl is tand and hansum brave and true her hair wavy dark her eyes is blue I ges yo and mute is all right i ges yo sparkle a lot that is alright i ges. I Wil stop by saing good by

  J. G. Wallis

 

To Iva CHURCHWELL from her mother Lucretia WALLIS

 

                                                                                      Dec 4^th 1911

Dear Children

                    How are you all getting along?  We are all well at present.  Pa & Charley are gathering corn Archie and Monroe went after the things they bought at Mr Neal Bakers sale Pa bought a jersy[sic] calf at the sale.  Johnnie is at school.  Mr Baker is going west for Kerries health.  The baby [Iva’s sister Irene, born August 29] weighs 16 lbs. she is fat as a little pig. 

 and – To Iva from sister Lizzie

                                                                                                              Dec 4, - 11

I stayed at home Thanksgiving but went to a box social at Warren that night.  There were twenty four boxes sold and they brought nineteen dollars and something.  The highest box sold was two dollars and fifty cents.  My box brought one dollar, and I eat with John Burditt. 

         If you don’t know what a box lunch social was, it was a fundraiser, usually for a school.  A young girl would fix up a lunch for two and put it in a box all decorated.  Her name would not be on the box.  Then, the boxes would be bid on by the boys and whoever made the highest bid got to eat the lunch with the girl who made it.  Of course, if a girl wanted a certain boy to bid on her box lunch, she could let him know how hers was decorated so he would be sure to bid on it and have lunch with her. 

 

To Will from his father Francis Marion CHURCHWELL

                          Shelbyville, MO., Mar. 10, 1924

My Dear Willie,

We were glad to know that you got so much nice milk for the children, that with plenty of good cornbread will make them grow like pigs.  The first 15 to 30 yrs. of our married life we feasted on cornbread, meat, milk & butter all home grown, and never went to bed hungry.  Billy, Mamma & I are getting old and feeble, I am totally blind in one eye & can scarcely see how to get around with the other.  Mamma is so lame with rheumatism that she has to use two crutches.  With lots of love & earnest prayers for your success & hoping to hear from you soon, we are very earnestly & sincerely your Father & Mother, Sister & Niece.  (this is written by Mona)

                         

                                            Shelbyville, Mo.
                                                    Jan. 2, 1925

Willie and Family.

Dear, dear, dear Children:

I thank God and took courage when your kind letter was read to me.  I thank God with all my heart to know that you have plenty of fuel and food.  It has been very, very cold here, from 16 to 26 below zero for several days.  The snow being about 6 inches deep, having fallen when it was kind of drizzly and rainy. 

Corn is $1.15 a bushel here.  Wheat about $1.70.  Hay about $18.00 ton.  And yet there seems to be plenty of it.  Cattle from .07 to .10 per lb.  Good hogs about .09 to .11.  Eggs .40 to .50 according to grade.  Chickens .14 to .20 etc., etc.

Oh!  Willie, Iva, Children, our hearts go up to God every day in prayer for you. 

P.S.  We are remembering that next Monday Jan. 5, 35 years ago, our son Willie was born.  

 

To Will’s children from their grandfather CHURCHWELL

                           Shelbyville, Mo., Mar. 30, 1926

Now boys and girls your Grandad is after you.  The great snow blizzard is on here today.  The paper says it was on at your place yesterday, day before & night before that.  Aunt Mona is writing this letter & if there are any mistakes in it, they are hers & not mine, of course.  Now, Children comes the contest, the one that writes me the best letter descriptive of the storm, the condition of food supplies, at the time, and fuel supply, the care of the stock, shelter, supplies, etc., etc., not forgetting the school, prospects for crops, etc., health of the family, in fact, children the one who writes the best all around letter right away will receive a present from me & Grandma.  Let it be short, sweet and right to the point.  I will send one stamped envelope.  You may all send your letters together in one envelope.  Now Children, may God bless everyone of you-young & old-good & bad.  May the good get better & the bad get good, is my prayer for every one of you.

 

                                                                     Shelbyville, Mo.
                                                                                April 11, 1926

Dear Grand-Children:

          Your letters, hugs and kisses were received Saturday evening, the tenth, at 4 o’clock.  We were very proud to receive your letters.  They were so informing and well-written that we were agreeably surprised.  But the greatest news of all was that Francis is a Christian boy.  We all join in praising God and asking his blessings upon all of you, for the great gift, His Son, Jesus, our Saviour.  And Children we were so well pleased with every kiss, every hug and both letters, that we are sending you our check for $ 50. that your father and mother may buy you the things you need; they know best how to spend it.

 

To Iva from her grandmother Martha (Patterson) SMITH

                                                  Louisiana, Mo.
                                                  Dec. 27, 1927

Mrs. Iva Churchwell
Dear Grand daughter

Yours of Dec. 24 has just come to hand.  We were sure glad to hear from you and your family.  Monroe Wallis and wife Stella Leona and your own mama came to see us Dec. 17.  You may know that I was sure rejoiced to see them.  They could not stay long as Stella wanted to get back home for Christmas.  We are still living here close to Louisiana (city in Missouri).  I am feeling better now, you know I had blood poison just from a scratch on my hand 4 years ago, my right hand is shut up and I have had to walk around with a cane but I can walk around in the house now.

I think you named your baby a pretty name and for a good woman (I believe she was named for Iva’s Aunt Beckie (Churchwell) MC CUE . 

Kiss your dear sweet Becky Jean for me. 
                              Love to all
                                        your loving
                                                  Grand mother

 

To Will from his sister Rebecca “Beckie” MC CUE;
a touching letter describing his mother's death

         Clarence, Mo. Dec., 19, 1931.

Darling Brother, sister & family,     

We are so sad & lonely without our darling, Angel Mother.  I know it was a shock to you, and it was to us too.  Mama had been very frail for so long and almost helpless since Aug 7^th when she hurt her back . . .

I didn’t get her up to eat Breakfast with us, as the men, (Walter & Rhodes) were going to the woods to work & left real early.  (Rhodes, Nancy & Charles are with us this winter, had just been here a week when Mama fell.)  After they were gone, I went to her room, got her up & dressed her, helped her in the kitchen washed her & combed her hair, then helped her to the table and stood with my arm around her while she returned thanks.  She ate a good breakfast, after she had finished eating I helped her to her chair in the dining room and placed her Bible & glasses in her lap.  (She always read a while in the Bible before going to her work).  Then I put the quilt she was piecing for Frankie on a chair in front of her.  Then I told her I was going to take Mrs. Blansett’s yeast home.  She lives the 1^st house south.  She said, “Run along honey, I’ll be alright.” (Nancy was cleaning up the kitchen) Nancy said I was hardly out of the house when she asked her to help her in her room to the toilet.  Nancy started to wait for her, but she told her to go on & she would call her.  Nancy stepped in the dining room & left the door ajar, & was waiting for her to call, when she heard her fall.  She carried her & lay her on her Bed & ran to call me, I was just returning.  I ran to her.  She had struck her head against the corner of the cedar chest & cut a small gash in her left eye brow, & badly bruised her left side.  She said, “Oh I know I shouldn’t have tried to walk alone, but I thought I could.  I told Nancy I would call her, but I was just smiling to myself, thinking I would say when I got to the door, “I’m smarter than you thought I was.”  I called the Dr. He examined Her, but could find no bones broken.  She knew everything, but suffered so terriable[sic] we never could take her dress off. Every time we would move her the least bit she would just scream, She couldn’t be turned off of her back, if we tried to bathe her face it would throw her in a nervous chill.  He gave her a shot in the arm, she was soon quiet & seemed to be sleeping, but just as soon as the medicine wore out she would begin suffering again.  We rec’d your letter Wed. Night.  (She fell Wed. morning) I told her she had a letter from you & Mona would read it to her, she said, “Oh, I’m so glad, he is so good about writing.”  Mona started reading & she closed her eyes and never seemed to realize any thing she was reading.  As soon as she came to the sad news of Harold’s accident*, she stopped reading & Mama never seemed to notice it & never asked any thing more about it.  She was so full of ease medicine all of the time it made her drowsy.  About 11 A.M. Thursday Sallie called me to the bed & said she believed Mama was dying.  A great change had come over her.  We called the Dr. & Mona but the Dr. said there was nothing he could do.  She was just so frail, the fall was too much for her.  She passed away Friday night at 10:20 o’clock.  Twice, when she was conscious but suffering she said, “Maby[sic] the Good Lord is going to take me home.”  We know she was ready to go.  We were so sorry you could not come home, but nearly knew you couldn’t after we knew Harold was in the Hospital.  How is Harold now?  We were so very sorry to hear of his accident.  Write to us soon & let us hear from him.

                    As always,
          Your loving sister,
                              “Rebecca”

*Harold Churchwell was in a serious car accident and suffered a broken pelvis and a back injury. 

 

To Iva from husband Will CHURCHWELL

                         Akron, Colo.
   Feby. 7^th 34

I talked to the Dr. and he said there was no doubt but Mildred had the Scarlet Fever when I told him how she broke out … They closed the grade school here in Akron this morning on account of the feaver[sic] and the Dr. said they might have to close the high school …. Tell Mildred the Dr. said she could eat any kind of soup that was made of milk Just so you did not put any meat broth in it.  He said milk was the best thing they could eat as that was easy on the kidneys and he said Scarlet fever caused more kidney trouble than all other deseases[sic] combined. . . . He also said we would ^be^ quaranted[sic]* 28 days from the day the last one in the family took

sick.  I know the boys will like this.  They will take the fever from 2 to 7 days after being exposed.

                    “Bye” “bye!”  Will

 *I remember my mom telling me that her dad couldn’t come home but he would come to her bedroom and talk to her through the window of her bedroom. 

 

To Lucretia from husband John G. WALLIS

 

[postmark]
EMDEN
  APR
   17
  A.M.
 1937
  MO.

 

                                                                                          Fri April 16

Dear Mom,

I am writing to you to let you know I am O.K. hope will find you better. I have my potatoes planted and making some garden I harrowed the ground and lade it off with Buck Skin.   I think I will set two or three hens this weekend.    Stay till you get your visit out or until you feel better as long as you think you are being helped.    I have not got so lonesome yet I have been at home altime.  Write often

          Love From
                        Daddy

 

To Iva from daughter Mildred CHURCHWELL
[typewritten, many typing errors]

                                                               [upper right corner]
                    Lindon, Colorado                           Excuse all mistakes and
                    November 22, 1938                           misses and take
                                                                THEM FOR KISSES AND KISSES

Dearest Mother,                                               

          How is the little Granddaughter:  What did they name her?  What color eyes does she have?  What color hair does she have?  I’m so anxious to see her I hardly know what to do. 

I guess us kids will have to be pretty good now, but I’ve been good tonight so far. 

                                                                      Your Little Day-time Daughter
P.S. Be sure and Kiss the                                  
           little (rat) niece                                      Mildred E. Churchwell
               FOR ME.                                            Lindon, Colorado.
                                                                      c/o Lindon School

 

  [envelope]
Mr. and Mrs. W.T. Churchwell & baby Jean
Shelbyville,
Missouri
Box 114
c/o Mrs. J.B. Johns

  [rear side]
S.W.A.J.K. – Mother
Sealed with A Jamed Kiss
                             
                                                                                                    Woodrow, Colorado
                                                                                                    June 3, 1940.

   Jeepers Creepers!  why don’t you come home?  Calvin and I thought Harold said, a two weeks vacation was all he got, unstead[sic] of months. 

   No important male has come.  Well, well, back again, just got through chasing Rosie and her play-mate back where they belong, and I steped on a bunch of cactus’s[sic] and ramed bout half a dozen in my foot and broke em’ off, I guess, cause it’s hurting like            , no-bodies business. 

   But back to that male business, I meant mail instead of male.  Cause Paul Todds came over to see me yesterday while the boys were gone, and was I ever glad to see him, but then Peder Norbye came and he didn’t even come up to see me, just talked to Calvin and K.C., I’se mad then.  And Vernon never did come, I guess it was on account of Snip probably, as they tell me Snip just got home Saturday and Alice won’t be able to cme home for ten days at least.  I sure pity all bachelors!  (including Calvin and I, Wes G. and his Dad, Vernon and Snip, and Paul.)  But Alice is getting along fine.

   Louise and Glenn got left Saturday about 4, then came by and got Louise’s little dressing table.  WE went up and helped them pack the trailers, etc.

   We took Kenneth over to McPeaks last night and was he ever disgusted at his room all to his self.  It was teriable[sic] inside and the glass was all out of the window . . .

   We took 13 doz. eggs to the store last night at 11¢ a dozen in trade.  The 1^st day we got 46 eggs, next 43 then 31 and we are feeding them good . . .

   Tell everyone “Hello” for me.  And you “guys” have a “grand” time and watch Mother, especially when coming through Nebraska.

I’ll soon be seventeen & maybe I won’t have to bake bread then.HA

As Ever Your
                 Darling Daughter,
                         Mildred

 

To Will and Iva from son Calvin CHURCHWELL

                                                                                            Palmer Lake, Colo.

    March 17, 1941

Dear Folks,

          Well I suppose you thought I wasn’t going to write you last week, well I didn’t write until late and then the mail man didn’t come that day because of storm.  Well I came out here Thursday at noon and have been out here since, but can’t say I like it.  I get up at 4:15 in the morning & milk 10 or 11 cows then work all day at bayling[sic] hay or manure or something else, then at nite I milk 9 or 10, and Get $25.00 & my board, room & laundry.  I am going to get something else as soon as I can.  I am just out of Palmer Lake (east). . . I went in to Franks Sunday with the milk truck & stayed until three o’clock.  I suppose you know Glenn is working at a filling station now on the Pueblo road.

 

To Will and Iva from son Richard CHURCHWELL 

USS Enterprise
          Bremerton, WA
          March 18, 1941

 Dear Folks;

          I was glad to hear that you got moved O.K., and are all feeling better. 

Do you have electricity in your new place so you can have a radio?  Do you have a telephone, and if so what is your phone number?  I might call you up some time.Ha. . . . Tell Mildred I think if Harold N. was going to school up there in place of Lindon, that she would like her new school alright,HA.  So Francis and Etta have another girl.  I’ll bet they wanted a boy this time.  I suppose Marrietta[sic] doesn’t hardly know how to act with a little sister.  I’ll have to write Francis, I guess.

 

                                                                                       U.S.S. Enterprise
                                                                                                    San Diego
                                                                                                    Apr. 10 ’41.

Dear Mother;

…They have been making pictures of the planes this week for another movie.  Movie actors, Errol Flynn and Fred MacMurray were on board the first day.

          I had a letter from Calvin and Frank just after I wrote you the last time.  Frank said he was going to try to get a job in the steel mill in Pueblo.  It would probably pay good money but also be hard work too.

          I want to go see Uncle Ben before we leave San Diego.  I plan on going up there the 20^th.  That will be nice if you folks can all drive down to Uncle Franks. 

          So Kenneth finally got called for training.  Well, I hope he likes it and gets along O.K. 

 

                                                                                      U.S.S. Enterprise
                                                                                                    May 3, 1941

Dear Mother;

We are not allowed to write anything about where we go or do.  So don’t be worried if I don’t write regular. . . . I hope you don’t have any more trouble with the stove gasing[sic] the house.  It’s lucky that you woke up when you did.

I got to go see Uncle Ben alright.  Sure had a good time too.  He reminds me of Papa a lot, the way he talks and laughs.  No, he isn’t married yet but plans on getting married.  Virginia is his lady friend’s name.  She is sure nice and jolly, and they see to think a lot of each other.  She has been married andhas three children.  I got to see her oldest boy, Bruce; he is sixteen.  The other two children are in a home.*  Virginia works at the same Hospital Uncle Ben does. 

We drove around a little Sunday afternoon.  He took me out to some nice orange groves.  I got to pick my first orange from a tree.

He said Uncle Herman lives up near Sacramento Calif.  Their oldest girl got killed not long ago in an accident.** Some of the folks back east mentioned it in a letter, but he said he had not heard from Uncle Herman, so didn’t know how she was killed. 

We have to get our cameras off the ship, so I’m going to send mine home this next week.

Well, I suppose Kenneth will soon be in the Army.  I’ll write him a letter one of these days and you folks can send it to where ever he is.  It’s sure hard now to write a letter, as we can’t say anything about the ship. 

I would like for you to send me Harold’s address if you have it.  I never have got them a wedding present yet.

The next time I go up to see Uncle Ben, I’m going to try to get a picture of him to send you.  He still has his place in Utah.  He said to tell you folks “Hello” for him.

                     Love
                              Your Son,
                              Richard.

 

*Virginia R. LACHNER (1905-1965) & Ben (1892-1978) opened a home for “mentally retarded children.”  She was a nurse; she and Ben worked at the same hospital.

** Herman’s daughter, Cora, died in an airplane crash March 31, 1941, in Seattle, WA.   

 

[U.S.S. Enterprise letterhead]

June 22 -41

Dear Mother;

          Is Papa still working at carpentering?  I guess the girls have been out of school for some time now.  Did Mildred graduate this year or does she have one more?  I should know but don’t remember for sure.

          One of the boys from Otis, that was in my company in training, was over today.  All the fellows we know from Colo. Got together and we had quite a talk.  One boy is from Yuma . . .

                    Love to all,
                    Your Son, Richard
 
U.S.S. Enterprise     
Fifth Division,
c/o Fleet Post Office
Pearl Harbor, T.H. [territory of Hawai’i]

[return address]
R.W. Churchwell
U.S.S. Enterprise
5^th Div. c/o P.M.
San Diego, Calif.

                                                                                                              July 17, 1941

Dear Mother;

          I received your most welcome letter and glad to hear everyone is getting along O.K.  I am just fine, still trying to get a sun tan like these natives, Ha.

          Four of us rented a bicycle apiece last Sunday and peddled around about all day we had our bathing trunks on most of the time, so were pretty red by evening and tired too.  Sure had a good time though.  We stopped at one place to get a malted milk apiece and told the girl that we just arrived from the States and were going to ride our bikes to Hilo.  She acted like she believed us, or at least she figured we didn’t know much about Hawaii.  Hilo is on another Island about 200 miles from Honolulu.

          I subscribed for the Akron Paper.  Got the first copy this week.  Ebby has been sending me the news clippings, so I decided to subscribe for it. 

                                                                                          I must close for now.
                                                                                          Love, Richard

 

                

                                                                                      Pearl Harbor
                                                                                                    Sept. 6, 1941

Dear Folks;

          I would like to be there and get in on some of those berries.  If the girls are tired of them, I could eat their share for awhile.  The last time I had strawberries was up at Uncle Ben’s.

          Mother, I don’t have a Birthday card to send, and you won’t get this letter by the 10^th, but, I wish you a very Happy Birthday.  Sorry, I didn’t think of it sooner.

          One of the cooks got his hand caught in the meat grinder a while back and lost all of his fingers and part of his thumb.  He is going to be discharged with a small pension so the ship’s crew pitched in and gave him $464. . . . He is married and has one child.

 

To Mildred from husband Kermit LAREW

                                                                              Ft. Bowie, Tex.
                                                                                          March 19, 1942

Dearest Wife.

I am on a gang building telephone line. 

Well Honey I don’t know what to tell you to do about coming down here.  I do wish you were here and I expect to be here for a long time at this same post. 

Be a good little girl now and write often. 

All My Love Your Husband

You little sweet thing.  T.O.I.L.  and adoar[sic] S.W.A.K.*

    *To One I Love; Sealed With A Kiss

 

 

Camp Bowie, Tex.
          May 30, 1942.

Dearest Darling Wife,

So you are a lady out of school are you sweetheart?

I guess about the time you dreamed I had quit smoking, I really was.  I quit for 2 weeks and everybody was smoking around me and it smelled so good I took a smoke and it started me all off again.  Darling, I still intend to stop it.  I love you all the more for your little scolding you gave me.  I couldn’t get mad because you are always right. 

 

 

Camp Bowie, Tex.
          June 4, 1942

Honey they paid me $10.00 too much this pay, they didn’t read it right.  They looked at the $6.25 I had comming[sic] and read it 16.25 so I went and told them about it.  The Captain said, “there is one honest man.”  Then he said to me “That was good going, Larew.”  So, I have got the thing straightened now, but haven’t much money.

Happy birthday Sweetheart [6.8], I want you to buy a present out of the twelve dollars I sent this month for yourself.  Honey, I am still out on field maneuvers and can’t get to anyplace to get you anything . . .

Today is my dad’s birthday and I had forgot it until I wrote the heading of this letter. 

 

 

June 7, 1942
Camp Bowie, Tex.

Well Darling come as soon as you can.  Just let me know when to meet you and I’ll do my best to be there to catch you in my arms when you step off the train or Buss[sic]. 

 

To Will and Iva from daughter Mildred LAREW

 

June 14, 1942
          Brownwood, Texas

Well, here I am in fine shape.  My Honey was at the Depot waiting for me. 

 

June 17, 1942
          Brownwood, Texas

Well, here I am situated at last.  I walked yesterday from 8 till 1 and at last found a place.  A girl (teacher) from South Dakota & I meet[sic] up together, both looking for a room so we decided to look together at her request.  We are living together in the niciest[sic] home*.  She will move to another room Mon. morning then I will be alone.  Kermit just got it fixed up so he could stay at nights but he comes out and stayes[sic] till he gets awful sleepy then he goes back to camp.  We sit out on the front porch and “spoon.”Ha! 

 *Many people near military bases rented rooms in their homes to wives of military men.  

 

June 27 1942
          Brownwood, TX

 

I heard from Evelyn [Vawter, her cousin], today, she said Francis, Etta & kids was up last Sunday. I bet Paula is cute now. 

   Heard from Gail & Georgia, they said Jean was staying with them now.  Also that they went over & got our car. 

 

June 30, 1942
          Brownwood, TX

. . . the other night the ladies husband that I work for told Kermit they were to leave here the 26^th or 27^th of July and go to Louisiana for 6 weeks manuevers[sic] and he says you know what comes after manuevers.  This fellow is an officer so we figure he knows what he is talking about.  Also the Sg. that Kermit rides with said last night that they was going to leave the last of this month. 

   Evelyn said Mary Ellen was teaching in D.V.B.S., when is she teaching at their own church on D.B.I.?

   Today Louise is 22 I guess give her a “duckin” in the irrigation ditch.Ha!

                                        Loads of Love,
                                        Kermit & Mildred

 

July 15, 1942
          Brownwood, TX

Dearest Mother, Dad & All,

   I received your swell letter & the money Mon., Thanks a heap!

Kermit is leaving the 23^rd July & goes to Louisana sp for two months, then to North Carolina for two months.  He thinks he will get a furlough then for sure.  

 

July 20, 1942
          Brownwood, Tex 

I got a letter from Kenneth the other day.  Said he was fine as usual.  He is the only one of the kids I have heard from but I have written all except Calvin & Richard.  

 

July 25, 1942
          Brownwood, TX 

Dearest Folks,

   Well, here I am still in Texas.

   I have about decided to stay here till Kermit is moved as I am much closer to him now than I would be if I came home and so many of the boys can’t stand it in Louisanna[sic], that who knows he may not be able too[sic] either.

Louise how do you like the names Betty Ilene and Dean Winfred? Ha! 

 

August 3, 1942
          Brownwood, TX 

I heard from Calvin last week, but he didn’t have that U.S.N.T.S. does that mean United States Navy Training School? 

Yes, Mother I have rec’d four letters & a card from Kermit.  He is a P.F.C. now (Private First Class) that is a $4 raise.  He said the Serg. told him he would be a T Corporal in about two weeks that will be two stripes and a T [drew insignia] on his arm.

   Kermit told me I could go down to Lindon now that Uncle Sam has most of my ole boy-friends – he hopes. Ha!  He is a mechantic^sp^ now.  He tried to be that here at Bowie but they told him to go ahead and drive the truck for awhile.

 

August 12, 1942
          Brownwood, TX 

Harold & Helen want me to come & stay with them, I wrote and told them I’d come but I am about to change my mind about it as I am getting quite nervous again, I guess it is being annoyed with Colita [child she babysits] & strangers so much or something. 

                    Lots of Love,
                    Your Daughter
                    Mildred Larew

B.C.N.U.

     I will leave on the bus either 7:30 a.m. & get there 1:30 p.m. the next day or will leave at 11:30 a.m. & get there the next day at 5:30 p.m.  I intend to leave either Sun. Mon. or Tuesday.  I hope it will be Sun. but I don’t’ expect it will be till Tues.  I am coming on the bus.  I will call you when I get there if I am not too excited. Ha! 

 

To Will and Iva from daughter Mildred LAREW, from the home of her brother Harold and Helen CHURCHWELL after the birth of their first child Harold Richard, October 11, 1942 

Alliance, Nebr.
          September 12, 1942 

Everyone is okay!  Helen’s Mom came in last night & I am in the dog house now. Ha!  

 

Mildred left Alliance Neb. around October 21 and was back in Colorado when Kermit was home on Furlough October 28–November 4, 1942

 

To Mildred from husband Kermit LAREW 

November 6, 1942
          Leesville, LA

I left Ft. Worth at 4:50 and arrived in Shreveport at 11:30 and had to stay in Shreveport until 1:30 then road a buss[sic] here and got here at 5:15 this A.M. 

 

Note in Mildred’s letter album:
“got here in Texas at 6:45 a.m. Nov 26^th Thanksgiving 1942.”

 

To Will and Iva from daughter Mildred LAREW

 

January 8, 1943
         Camp Bowie, TX 

How is Glenn & Louise I would surely love to see Glenda Louise, I bet she is really sweet. 

 

 

January 26, 1943
          Brownwood, TX 

We have moved now into a private home.  We have lived here a week tonight.  When we first moved inhere Kermit says, “Mildred, when I leave now you stay here till you go home as she is just like a mother to you and thinks a lot of you.”  Well I found out later she is just like a mother to me.  Yesterday she had me wringint clothes for her an hour or so.  I told Kermit last night and he said I should never have started to do any thing for her.  She is like a mother! Ha! Ha!

          Glenda is talking now is she?  She really is cute, I know.  I would really like to see her and the way things are looking, I may before long.  As bad as I hate to say it.

          Wed.-morn.  I expect I will be home in two weeks or before as they got orders yesterday to be all ready to go over by the 5^th of Feb. so you know what that means and how can I stand to let him go? 

 

February 11, 1943
          Brownwood, TX 

About half of Camp Bowie is quaranteered[sic] for Spinal-man Jites,^sp^*, Boy, I hope 27^th doesn’t get quaranteed.  Three fellows have died with it and it only got started Tuesday afternoon sometime.  All of Camp Hood is quaranteed. 

   I will be an old married gal for one year Tuesday and I tell you it doesn’t seem possible. . . . Mother the first night after we was married we kneeled by the bed and prayed and I am safe in saying there hasn’t been over sis nights in that year that we haven’t prayed.  

 *Spinal meningitis

Written in Mildred’s letter album:  2.16.1943  We have certainly had a wonderful time together.  And today is our 1^st Wedding ann.  T.N. said Kermit left tonight at 8:00 Feb. 18^th for New York.

 

To Will and Iva from daughter Mildred Larew 

February 18, 1943
          Brownwood, TX 

Well, Kermit left last night at 8 p.m. for New York.  I am going to come as soon as I get my check but if isn’t there by the time you get this letter I wish you would please send me $25. so I can come on home then I’ll pay it back.  Guess I”ll buy a train ticket just to Colo. Spgs. so I can stop and see Bake, Hazel, and Frank’s.  Then come the rest of the say by bus. 

 

To Mildred from husband Kermit Larew
Forwarded from Brownwood, TX to Wheat Ridge, CO

 

[postmark]
Trenton, N.J. 

February 22, 1943 

Dearest Mildred,

I have a cold in my head but otherwise I am well as ever.  The way we are fighting this war now is by not taking[sic] much so you can help us on that if you have heard anything don’t say anything.  I love you and always think of you.  Don’t’ forget to pray, and may God Bless You.

              Yours Trully,
                        Love, Kermit 

 

February 27, 1943

Dearest Darling Wife,

I got a letter from Gail and Georgia yesterday.  They said Jean was in the hospital for an operation for appendacitis[sic].  I guess you are home by now and know that too.  Sweetheart didn’t you ever get that address card or did you go home before It[sic] came I hope you are home safely and that you are feeling better.  I will close and hope to hear from you soon.                             

                                                All My Love
                                                  Kermit

 

                                                                     March 1, 1943

Dearest Darling Mildred,

   Well honey I received two letters from you and one from Paul Strohmeyer today.  I was glad to hear from you sweetheart.  You evidently mailed the first one with one stamp on it and had Air Mail written on it.  I see by the Post mark on the last one that you got home okay.  

 

March 3, 1943

I hope you get these letters before the war is over honey.  I don’t think they are mailing them yet.  There hasn’t been anyone that I’ve talked to said their folks have heard from them.  I was glad to hear Jean is home from the hospital.  Honey, don’t send my camera for I can’t keep it.  

 

March 20, 1943 

I don’t think I can tell you where I am just now so will wait until I get home and tell you everything.  I will close for now honey.  Tell Alice* I said hello.  Write real often honey.

        Sealed With A Sweet Kiss

*Kermit & Mildred developed a code using women’s names to indicate the country Kermit was in; Alice was the code for Africa 

 

March 22, 1943

Dearest Darling,

   I will write you a few lines to tell you that I am in the hospital getting that groth^s.p.^* taken out of my throat.  I haven’t got it done yet.  I just came in here this afternoon.  The natives of this country sure are queer compaired[sic] to the things we are accustomed to.

*microscopic diagnosis of tumor of right vocal cord, fibroma benign.

 

March 23, 1943

I haven’t heard from you since I was in Ft. Dix.  When we were coming over here they issued us some things the red Cross gave us there was a sewing kit, 1 pr. shoe laces, 1 bar soap and a few articles like that.  Honey, I hope we can be together by this time next year if not sooner. 

Well Sweetheart I haven’t got anything done to my throat yet but probably will tomorrow.  If I feel like writing when they get through with me, I’ll write and tell you how I made out. 

Your Hubby,
           Kermit

P.S.  Honey don’t put a lot of X and O and such as that on your mail because if you do it wont go in time of war; See!                                           

 

March 25, 1943
          A.P.O. 668

Dearest Darling Mildred,

Well honey I am still in the hospital, but haven’t got anything done to my throat yet. 

Don’t forget to pray. 

                                                  All My Love
                                                  Kermit

 

To Will and Iva from daughter Mildred LAREW

                                             June 18, 1943
Colorado Springs, CO

Dearest Folks,

   We are all fine.  Etta came home Thursday evening, she has to stay in bed till the 26^th then she can only be up gradurally[sic] so I’ll probably stay here till first of July – then I’ll spend a week with Bake & Hazel so I’ll probably come home about the 10^th some time. 

 

To Mildred LAREW from brother Frank CHURCHWELL 

[postmark]
Long Beach, NY

8:30 20, April 1944

Hello Sis

   I sure had a nice Easter, I went to Hagerstown Md. to see some of Etta’s folks.  Her Aunt Florence had been very sick for a month or more and she passed away Tue. Evening after Easter.  I don’t blame Etta for thinking so much of Md. as it sure was pretty there, some of the trees were in blossom and others were full of buds and the grass was so nice & green.   I would love to have Etta & the girls here with me but it would cost so darn much for them to come up here . . . The rent is pretty high here on Long Island too.  I can get you one of those C.B. pins or not as you see as much C.B. stuff around here as there was at Peary.  That other ensignia[sic] is just to show what I shot on the range. 

                                                                                                    Love to You all
                                                                                                         Your Bro.

 

To Glenn & Louise SHERMAN from Brother-in-law Kermit LAREW 

France – Dec. 14-44

Dear Glenn & Louise,

   I guess it is about time I wrote to you I got a letter from you a good while back, now I got a package yesterday!  We move so much and keep seeing new sights[sic] all the time and if I don’t answer a letter when I first get it, I am liable not to ever answer it. 

   I am still in the same Battallion[sic], but transferred into the Head Quarters instead of B. Co. 

   I hope this mess is finished up before long now, and we can come back home.

   You know, I even got some good reading out of the magazines you tore up to pack those nuts in.   It was the first Western Livestock I had read for a long time. 

                                                                      As ever
                                                                      Kermit

 

To Mildred from husband Kermit LAREW 

Wertheim Germany
Thursday Aug 23 – 1945.

   I have moved again today.  I am now in the Infantry.  Was sent to the sixty-third Division. . . .  This is the 253 Infantry of the 63^rd Division.  The General gave us a little talk this afternoon.  He said, “You are going home now men.”  That sounded good to me.  He said “We will probably leave here around the 3^rd of Sept. for LaHavre France.”  The that will take us possibly a week, then stay there maybe a week, and head for the States. 

Darling, I was not far wrong when I said, “I would be on my way home by the 17^th of Aug.” . . . Darling, we should be home by this time next month.

 

Hitler committed suicide on April 30, 1945; 
the Germans surrendered May 7, 1945.  

Reicholzheim Germany
Monday, Aug. 26, 1945

Honey, I guess this will be my last letter for a while at least.  The A.P.O. is closing here, and I won’t be able to write again until I get to another place where there is an A.P.O.  

          Well Darling, I should be home in about three weeks.  I don’t know yet if I will be able to get a discharge somewhere near Missouri or not, so that you can meet me in Greenfield.  If I can do so I will call Tabor-0485 and let you know.  That is the number I hope, as that is the number I have in my book.

          We are to leave here about the 3^rd of Sept. for France.  I have several pieces of paper money that I want to home to you, from several different countries.  I think I will put some of them in this letter.  I have money from Belgium, France, and Germany.  I have for got whether I sent any to you from Italy or not.  I don’t have any of the Italian money now to send, so I hope you have some of it already.

          I was on patrol this morning, and will be on again after supper to-night.  We just drive around to the different little towns around here, and check with the Burgermasters, or town mayors, to see if everything is going alright.

 

LaHavre France
Wednesday Sept. 12, 1945

   Well Sweetheart I was to have left yesterday but the orders have been changed every day sence[sic] we have been here.  We got here last Friday evening, the 7^th.  I thought there was no use to write, that I would get to the States by the time a letter would.  I wish now, I had written when I first got here.  I intend to call you as soon as I reach the States, honey.

   I think I will be leaving here either tomorrow or the next day.   I am not sure whether we will go to England and then catch the Queen Mary or go directly to the States from here, but I rather think we are going direct from here.

                              Your Lonesome Husband,
                                        Kermit

 

Note in letter album: 

        Have had 323 letters from my Dear

        My Darling left Brownwood Texas Febr. 18, 1943 at 8 p.m. We went to Fort Logan tonight to get him Oct. 2^nd 45 WE sure had a time finding him. 

        He has to go back to camp Sat. 6^th  He is home a civilian on this Oct 8^th 45

Thank you Our Heavenly Father!

 

To Mildred and Dean from Kermit LAREW      
he went to Oakland, California to diesel mechanic school 

CALIFORNIA HOTEL stationary

March 9^th 1948

My Dearest Mildred & Dean,

   I will write you a few lines to-night, to let you know I am missing you an awful lot. 

   We have the diesel motors tore down and will spend a lot of time now studying the blower, and injector and the different small units which make up the engine.  Give Dean a big kiss for me.  It looks like he says hi to me in the picture when I come in in the evening. 

                                        All My Love
                                                  Your Husband and Daddy
                                                            Kermit

 

March 12^th 1948

My Dearest little Family,

   I am anxious to hear from you and find out how you are getting along.  I hope you are okay there.  Just wait a little longer honey, and I will go to the hospital with you.*  I am half done now with the course.  I think I could make out okay on a diesel with what I have already learned. 

                    I love you and ours so much
                              Your husband & Daddy
                                        Kermit.

 *Mildred was pregnant when Kermit was in California.

 

March 15^th 1948

My Dearest Darling,

   It must have been really cold back there to freeze those pipes up.  I hope there isn’t anything else in the house that is likely to freeze and brake[sic].  Honey, you should call the water Dept. about Sat. or before if you think it isn’t too cold and get it turned back on before we go back over there.*  I went down and bought my Pulman**[sic] ticket this afternoon.  I leave here Friday at 8:44 P.M. and arrive in Denver Sunday A.M. at 7:45.  

*Mildred and Dean must have been staying elsewhere, perhaps with her parents

** Pullman is referring to a sleeper car on a train.

        Mom wrote in her letter album, “My Darling got back okay and our little girl was born March 31^st 1948, Kimberly Mildred.  Oh, Darling please never again leave me.  The funny thing was that Mildred would be the next one to leave the family and go on a trip!  Her sister-in-law, Gail LAREW, was going to a Bible conference in Chicago with a girlfriend, but the friend had to back out.  Gail asked Mildred if she would go with her, and she did.  Dean stayed with his Aunt Georgia and Kim stayed with her Aunt Jean.

 

Belair Hotel letterhead
Chicago 

Room 705
11:30 pm Sat. night

Hello My Darling & babies,

          I sure do miss you sweet – wish it were our little family.  Would have more fun, but beggars can’t be choosers. Huh!

          This is a really pretty place the Lake Mich. is in walking distance & so is a zoo.  We are going to Moody Church in the morning and then take our cookies and candy & go to park guess.HA! 

          We really heard a good sermon tonight went to Youth For Christ & was it good an Italian girl was there, a beautiful singer she is too.

          I just finished washing my head & taking a shower & Gail reports bedtime so will tell you more next time.

                                        I miss you Sweetheart,
Kiss the little ones                   Love & Love
for me.                                       Mildred

 

To Willa Jean from aunt Beckie Jean WILLIAMSON, about 1998 

When my parents decided to move to Colo. . . . it was 17 years before she got back.  Mother got to be with her mother a while before she passed away and was there at the time of her death.  I was 10 and was curious about what had happened.  She died at home and I kept thinking how terrible it would be if they buried her and she wasn’t really dead.  I finally asked Mother how they knew she was dead, she said they was sure she was but they held a mirror close to her mouth to see if it would fog over.  She died of T. B. and was ill for a long time.  That really worried my mother, I remember coming home from school one day and Mother had on dark glasses.  I found out later she had rec. a letter that her mother was very ill.  She didn’t want us to know she had been crying.  Grandma was buried on my 10^th birthday, October 11, ’37.  But you will find all of this in Harold’s records I’m sure. 

          No, the farm we moved from when we came to Denver was not ours, it belonged to the Hawks.  The property my parents owned was just south of Mildred & Harold’s place.  That is where he lost it because he could not pay the taxes.  

         I’m so grateful to have these old letters to read.  I have scanned them into my computer and transcribed most of them.  Sadly, I recall some letters I decided to throw away.  I mentioned in My Wallis Family Tree that Uncle Monroe and I were pen pals.  Well, I guess I got in a “pitching mood” several years ago, and threw out all of those letters.  About that same time, I decided to throw out all the letters I had received from my brother-in-law Derald GAUTIER, that he wrote to me from Vietnam.  Shame on me!  I would so enjoy reading those today, and sharing them here. 

 

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