1908-0818 – George
Stevens Sherwood to Ella Jane Stevens Sherwood and Susan
In she summer of 1908 George Sherwood, who was 11 years old) and his father William Richard Sherwood traveled out to the Pacific Northwest to visit four of William's siblings (George's aunts and uncles) and his step-mother. All of these families had married while in Wisconsin and later had moved to the Northwest around 1900. Elmer had married Bird (Anna Burdette) Doud and they lived in Bellingham, Washington. Grace Sherwood had married Chester Clarence Doud. They started out living in Buckley, Washington but had recently moved to Tacoma. Marian had married her second husband (first deceased) William L. Binder and they lived in Spanaway, Washington. Samuel Sherwood had married Daisy Maud Spooner and they lived in Lakewood, Washington. Grace Gulvin Sherwood, William's aunt as well as his step-mother, also lived in Spanaway at this time. Her sister had been mother of the first seven children and she was the mother of the last three, two of whom were Marian and Samuel. This was Will's last visit while she was still alive. I was very surprised to discover, just ten years ago, that there were all these "Wisconsin" relatives scattered around the Pacific Northwest . I had no idea during my decades in the Northwest that we had had distant relatives nearby all over the place.
George wrote the following short letter to his mother Ella Jane and his sister Susan while on their trip.
Dear Ones at Home. I
have been trying to swim in the Sound and say it is fun especially when you take a taste of the water unexpectedly.
I went with
Roy[1]
and one of his friends. We had a fine
time. I can stand the water as well as Roy
I think I
can learn to swim in a little while.
We saw some
steam-boats while we were swimming [crossed out] bathing and dressing. We just wore the pants to the suits.
I wish you
folks were here. We went up to a
mountain, Mont Tacoma[2]. I will tell you lots of things when I get
home.
With lots
and lots of love,
Your
son and brother
Geo.
These two boys are the sons of Chester and Grace Doud. Roy (Royden) is on the left and Dick (Richard) is on the right. This photo was taken earlier because Roy was born in 1901 and was 17 at this time to George's 11.
