June 30, 1919 --Cousin Grace Plans Visit to George, Billy Phil and Family

1919-0630 – Grace Pautsch to Herman and Susan Sherwood Weber

 

Madison, Wis.

June 30, 1919

 

Dear Folks:

            I received your letter and wish first to extend congratulations to the proud parents and greetings to the very new cousin.  

            Never mind about any lack of exciting entertainment.  I am not exactly a society butterfly so sated with the ceaseless whirl of social events that only the novel and strange can appeal to me.  A quiet visit will mean a great deal of pleasure to me.  As for the baby, I’m past grand master in the art of baby-tending, and love the job. (Recommendations can be had from Mrs. Klatt and son Sherwood).

            I called up the depot this morning and find that I cannot get out of here Thursday evening, or at least not until the unseemly hour of twelve-something, but can get a train out Friday morning at 7:40.  You probably know at what hour that train arrives at Kendalls.  You can look for me then.  If anything comes up in the meantime, so that I cannot come, and if it should be too late to write you, I’ll try to get you by phone.

                                                With best love to all

                                                            Au revoir,

                                                                        Grace Pautsch

 

626 Y. W. C. A.

Madison, Wis.

June 20, 1919 - George Hears from Cousin Grace Pautsch

1919-0620 – Grace Pautsch to William and Ella Jane Sherwood & family

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Dear Folks:

            I received Aunt Ella’s letter and also George’s letter written in April and had hoped to see George when he went through.  But I was unexpectedly handed a two week vacation, beginning the first of June so of course I went home – and George is probably home by this time.  Oh yes, I also got his card write on June 5^th saying that he would be through in a few days.  I was certainly sorry to miss him but hope to see you all soon.

            I am planning on spending the Fourth with you, if it is convenient for you.  I hope they will give me Saturday morning off also so I can spend Saturday and Sunday with you too.  Please let me know if that would be convenient for you, just drop me a card within the next few days so that if you would rather I come some other time, I can make other arrangements for the Fourth and visit you later.

            I left the folks at home all well. Norine was still busy housecleaning and Dad has enough work to keep him busy most of the time.  He was down to Janesville the first of last week attending the Alumni of the School for the Blind. 

            Mary and Ernest and Sherwood, who is quite a boy now, were all well and a letter from Evelyn which I received yesterday reported her and Gene busy and happy.

            Dad’s brother Fred and his wife and two children are planning on spending the Fourth in Beaver Dam.  Aunt Annie may stay longer and keep house for a while so that Norine can go visiting.  I think she (Norine) will come here for a week and possibly run up to see you for a time, but her plans are not very definite yet.

            Don’t forget to just whisper whether you want me or not and if I do come you’ll hear from me again, with time of arrival, etc. –

                                                Love to all from niece and cousin,

                                                                        Grace

 

626 Y.W.C.A.

Madison, Wis

June 4, 1919 - Soldier Cousin Martin Tillotson Comes Home to Marry Ella May Hood

1919-0604 – Bertha Dexter Tillotson to Ella Jane Sherwood

 

June 4, 1919

 

Dear Sister Ella:-

            Excuse the paper that I am using for I have gone to my room, undressed and took this from Mary’s[1] things and thought I would write just a few lines before going to bed.  I am still in Meredith.  Jessie[2] can go Susie (and I take it she is the mother of that fine boy[3]) one better.  She went to the parade decoration day in the forenoon and came home and done some cooking such as doughnuts and cookies, got through at 3 o’clock and at 6:40 o’clock that same day had a fine girl Elizabeth Gladys Weeks. 7 lbs.  Baby was nursing when the doctor got here and the doctor only lives about 5 minutes walk from here.  Pretty good we think.  Both are doing fine.  Martin, my soldier boy, came home with the 26 Div[4] and came to Meredith for two nights.  His father and Gladys’ husband, also Martin’s best girl came here to meet him.  Then after the parade in Boston, Martin came here for two days more then went up home.  How I wanted to go with him but didn’t think I could leave Jessie.  Now I shall go home before long.  Martin and Ella May Hood is to be married sometime in June.  They are waiting for me to get home. Mary is with me and going to school here.  I shall be glad when I get back home.  I have been gone most 3 months, came here March 11 –

            Was glad to hear that George[5] was so near home and hope that this will find him at home and well.  Hope his father will feel better. It must have been a hard blow for him the only boy.

            I am only a short walk from Ursula[6] and have asked her to write to you but she don’t get at it.  Edith is a great fat girl & Ursula thinks that there is nothing like her.  She is smart and a pretty child too and Ursula would work herself to death for her. 

            It is very hot here now.  Well I guess I will go to bed now.

            Write again. Remember me to Aunt Nellie and the rest.  Hope Susie will get up fine. How is Dora & family?? 

                                                            Lots of love,

                                                                        Bertha

---

[1] Her daughter Mary, who was about 10 at this time.  Bertha is Ella Jane’s half sibling; same mother, Ella from Evi Welch, of course, who died.  Bertha from Martin Dexter.  An interesting note is that Martin Dexter married Mary Elizabeth Richardson after Evi died.  Martin’s sister, Rosetta, married Mary’s brother Henry C. Richardson (the one of Civil War fame). 

[2] Another daughter, as is the Gladys mentioned in a couple of sentences. 

[3] That fine boy would be Uncle Bill – William Philip Weber!

[4] World War I - 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade was Activated and Inducted into Federal Service: July 1917 (National Guard Division from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont).   Overseas: October 1917. Major Operations: Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne.  Days of combat: 210. Casualties: Total-13,664 (KIA-1,587 ; WIA-12,077), Inactivated, and returned to National Guard service: May 1919, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee_Division

[5] George Sherwood

[6] Ursula is Bertha’s sister, also a half sister of Ella Jane.  Edith, her daughter, was born in  1911 when Ursula was 45.  In my dad’s notes, he says that Edith was adopted, but gives no specific information.

June 3, 1919 -- Homeward Bound!

1919-0603 – George Sherwood family YMCA Troop Train Service

Front-
June 3^rd – 3:30 P.M.

Just ready to enter tunnel under river to mainland

Homeward Bound

Back-
Dear Home Folks- On the train, leaving Long Island for Chicago.  Two more laps then we will be home. So don’t let Maxine get the asthma or heaves or anything.

Love to All.

George

May 31, 1919 -- William Philip Weber Makes His Entrance

 

Postcard:

May 31, 1919   Dear Uncle George,   Mother says that now I have gone and upset all the plans of the family by arriving unexpectedly at 12:30 this noon I had best write and apologize for my behavior to the dearest Uncle in the world. Of course I haven’t seen you but Mother says you are the dearest Uncle and was almost provoked at me for hurrying my coming.  Perhaps that is the reason she don’t feed me very well but she says she will try to do better.   Only if you want a good feed when you arrive I would advise you to let them know you are coming. Love from your New Nephew

May 31, 1919   Dearest Brother,   We are all doing fine but I was so disappointed not to have you here to greet your little nephew when he arrived but he didn’t give me time to let you know.  Will tell you all about it when you come down but am rather tired now. Your letter of May 25th came but wish it had been you for that would have meant you would have been here for the Great Event.  We haven’t weighed or named him yet.  Love and prayers always and come home soon.  Mizpah.  Your lovingest little sister. Susan

May 31, 1919 -- Postcard Declare Heading Toward Home and Last Thoughts from New York

Send mail now to 108^th Eng. 33^rd Div. Hq. Co. Camp Grant Ill.

Dear Ones All, Just got yours of the 26^th.  We may be here 3 or four days yet,but it can’t be so very long till we are home now.
Love to all,
George

**********************************

May 30, 1919 -- Poem by George

1919-0530 – George Stevens Sherwood to Will & Ella Jane Sherwood & Family

 

Camp Mills, L. I., N.Y.

May  30, 1919

Dear Ones at Home:

Dedicated to my long suffering parents, relatives and all readers afflicted with its perusal. 

A hasty line again this time

A mixture of bum Prose and Rhyme

Back in the office I should be

Instead of writing poetry?

I’ve just dispatched by parcel post,

A souvenir I feared I’d lost

We failed to find the box ‘twas in

And so we believed it to have been

One of those busted in the hold

Or one that overboard had rolled

This knapsack you can surely see

Was made way back in Germany.
Went to war on a soldiers back

Carried his comfort kit and pack

Was left in his haste “Zurich zu gehen”

And after I on his bunk had lain

Was taken as part of my payment due

For adopting his numerous “livestock” too.

Anna Onymous 

            For fear some of you live thru the foregoing spasm, will just add a line of comfort? We are still here so we (I) can’t get home so very soon to afflict you at closer range.  But when I do get there – Oh you barrage!  So cheer up, hope for the best and expect the worst.  I tried to get Ed Schultz over the wire today but failed and can’t get another pass I’m afraid.   Guess you had better send me $20 by the bank draft to:

Corp. Sherwood

Hq. Co.  108^th Eng. 33^rd Div

Camp Grant, Rockford, Ill

and be sure to register letter.  I have less than a dollar left, but it is too late to send any here even by wire.  But I didn’t have much and had a good time anyway. Hope you folks are still O.K., and I’m sure you are or you would wire me.  Gee, it’s great to be back this side of the pond.

                                                Goodbye for now.

                                                            George 

P.S.  Have found Grace’s address.  Will drop her a line when we hit Chi[cago] if I get any time.
                                                                        G. S. S.