Guy Lindsey's Self-Introduction Letter to 15 Year Old Brother-in-Law, George Stevens Sherwood

1912-0303 – Guy and Dora S Lindsey to Will, Ella Jane & George Sherwood



Guy and Dora Lindsey
 

 Mr. Geo Sherwood

Route 4 Box 31                                                                                      Salt Lake City, Utah

Kendall, Wis.                                                                                           3^rd – 3^rd - -- 12 ---- 

 Dear Brother Geo –

            We are in Salt Lake at last and located at the Helvetia Apartments at 23^rd First West St.  Dora is confined to her room on account of a sore toe – big feet and small shoes.  We are going to comb the city tomorrow for another pair. It took her three days to get the pair she has.  When we left Pocatello we had to sneak out and catch an early morning train as the whole Railroad force was laying for us with a lot of Rice and Old Shoes.  But we gave them the slip.  And we were scared all the way to Salt Lake because I overheard the whole plot.  They were going to shower us with rice and then telegraph to the Chief of Police of Ogden to take us off the train and carry us around the city in an auto with a bunch of old shoes tied all over it and  placards reading – Just Married – We are Married Now – and all such things. But we beat them to it.  And arrived safely. Some of the bunch are coming down tomorrow and I am gong to meet them at the train and we will have a nice dinner at home, then a theatre after.  Dora certainly is a fine little cook.  But let me tell you something confidentially Geo.  She has a sore toe and a Blossom on her nose.  (Here Dora adds – “note, she does not have to cook with either her toe or nose as she can still “feed the brute.”).  (Returning to Guy --)  No apologies, Geo.  She took a cold in Pocatello but is getting along fine now and will be alright in a day or two.  Well, Geo this is all the nonsense I can think of so will close.  Hoping to hear from you in the near future –

                                    I remain

                                                Your New Brother

                                                            Guy

 

Mr. & Mrs. Sherwood                                                                                Salt Lake, Utah

Kendall, Wis.                                                                                                  3—3—12

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Sherwood,

            Having all the interest in the world for the welfare of your daughter, you, of course, want to know how and who she married.  Now to be frank about the matter, I am not a wealthy man and have to work for our living but we are getting on very nicely with fine future prospects in view.  And she will never want for a thing that she can not have. She is the dearest girl in all the world.  I have salary of $90 a month.  But just as soon as we can get to it we are going to take up a ranch over in Central Oregon and go to ranching.  My work isn’t the best in the world as I may be called out at any time and gone for days at a time.  And then there is more or less danger attached to it.  Because I know most every crook and box car robber from coast to coast and they all know me and something may happen some day.  Dora worries so, every time I step out of the house, that I have made up my mind to quit in a very short while.  And we figured that the next best thing would be a good ranch and I have my Homestead right so we are going to use it as land in this country is very valuable.  And will be more so in time to come.

            Well I am a very poor hand to write so will close by stating that Dora will never want for any thing in her life as I am going to protect and take a care of her all her life. I am trying hard to make you understand just how we are but through my awkwardness I am making a very poor out of it.  I believe Dora is writing a few lines also so I will say Goodbye with Love.

                                                Your loving son,

                                                            Guy

Dear Ones All: - I have a strong suspicion that there may be a letter following us down here but when you see this paper you will remember that I am used to that.  Am using up a few old sheets I have left.  You are all cordially invited to visit us in our new home.  We left Pocatello between suns as Guy has explained, but almost everything is permissible in this wild and wooly west.
            Got to Salt Lake at noon yesterday and after lunch started on a mad search for rooms, but this old cripple gave out and Guy had to finish alone.  He rented the dearest little suite of two rooms furnished and I’ll give you a picture of them and the arrangements. 

            We have hard floor with rungs and linoleum in kitchen, lots of cooking dishes and other dishes.  It is so delightful to have our meals at home and not have to eat restaurant truck and I am in love with our little home.  The bath is across the hall and I have use of the laundry on Wednesday.  The dots are trees beside the drive.  We are all unpacked and quite settled and so hopeful that we won’t have to get out and move on an hours notice some day.  Well, we enjoy every day as it comes and like the Alcott’s Little Women make a joke even of a sore toe so you can see that a mere move can’t worry us.

            A serious word dear ones, as Guy is writing to you in serious vein and I know he is far too modest to tell you the best of himself.  Just to my family I must say some tings for you will understand and not think me foolish just because I care. I am old enough, have seen enough unhappiness in the lives of others and enough trouble so I can appreciate just how wonderful and blessed a thing this lad of mine and his love is.  Could you just watch a bit you would understand.  His love is not the kind which spends itself in the vain repetition but so true and steadfast and unselfish.  I marvel a hundred times a day for there seems never a moment when he is not thinking for me and my happiness, guarding me and saving me in every way great and small, indeed it is the remarkable aggregate of small things which make me wonder so. He can always think and anticipate my wants and always be so gentle and patient with me.

           He is clean, clear tho a man whom men respect and like and good women love.  I shall have to be a very good woman and always a growing woman to be deserving of these things and I am sure you will all agree with me that a happiness like mine is above price tho so far as money is concerned I have no fears.  We will have to know each other better in our cozy home than in a mansion.  I think you all understand.

            And now a loving good night to all my home folks and you shall some day know and love the boy as I do.

                                    Lovingly,

                                                Mrs. C. W. Lindsey

May 1907 Letter to George from Grandma in Tacoma, WN

1907-0521 – Grace Gulvin Sherwood to George Stevens & Susan Rosina Sherwood -- when George received this letter he would have been 10 years old. 
 

May 21^st, ‘07

Dear Grandchildren George and Susie,

            I write to thank you for the pretty Easter Cards you so kindly sent me[1] but which I came very nearly not receiving as you didn’t use the right address, so it laid in the Tacoma office till it was advertized and by the merest accident your Aunt Marian happened to glance down the list. You see we are 10 miles from Tacoma and even though we happened to be in the city we wouldn’t think of going to the P.O. as we had furnished all our friends with our right address.  I will send a card which you must put away where you can get it handily for I should be sorry to miss getting any of my letters.  I hope this will find you all well and you must give my love to each and a dozen great big kisses to your dear Papa for me, that will be three for you to give George and three for Susie.  I shall not stop to write much of ourselves as your Aunt Grace Doud[2] expects to come East next month on the occasion of your cousin Grace[3] Pautsch’s graduation from the Beaver Dam High School and she will visit you then, and can tell you all about us better than I can write.  I am not suffering much pain now but I do not get strong at all, am just able to get about the house a little, nor can I use my arm or hand a great deal.  I hope you will write me soon.  Now I will say good bye for this time with lots of love from

                                                            Grandma

Grace Gulvin Sherwood

---

[1] The writer is Grace Gulvin Sherwood, second wife of Richard William Sherwood.  His first wife was Grace’s sister Mary Ann Gulvin.  Grace lived another two full years and died in December of 1909.  She was 10 years old when her sister married Richard and moved to America.  She followed two years later when she was 12.

[2] Grace Doud is Grace L. Gulvin Sherwood, youngest daughter of Richard and Mary Ann Sherwood and namesake of this elder Grace Gulvin who while being her aunt b also ecame her step-mother.

[3] This Grace W. Pautsch, is the daughter of Clara Sherwood, Grace Gulvin Doud’s older sister.  This Grace never married but worked throughout her life. She lived with her aunt, Grace Doud, after CC Doud passed away.   Having all these “Graces’” can be VERY confusing J!