February 20, 1918 - Dora's Husband, Guy Lindsey, Also Contributes to War Effort

[Dora is on her way to Kendall for Susan and Herman’s wedding]

Dear Father,

            Dora and Margaret will leave here Feb. 28^th at 9:15 P. M., over Rio Grande to Pueblo, Rock Island to Omaha, over Northwestern to Kendall, Wis. 

            I am all broke up over the fact that it is impossible for me to take a vacation at this time, I wanted so much to see you all and be with you when Dora and Margaret were there.

            Last year I planed to see Mother and Father Lindsey when Dora was in Boise.  But I could not get there, owing to business.  And this year has found me head over heels in very important work, that it is impossible for me to leave at this time.  Not that I consider myself better than others, but I know every German and I. W. W.[1] in this field and those who come here are easily picked out, and the Company feel that it would be simply impossible for me to leave at this time.

            I manage to get home once a week to see my little wife and baby, so don’t keep them to long as it certainly is lonesome enough as it is, but will make the best of it until she comes home.
                                                            Yours respectfully,

                                                                        G. W. Lindsey

 [At this time Guy and Dora lived in Castle Gate, Utah which was a Coal Mining and railroad town.  Guy may have been working for the Mine, but he had also been in the past a train detective, working to protect payrolls and merchandise in transport.  The link above at "the Company" highlights is more information on our past visit to Castle Gate while following the adventures of family members.]

Guy and Dora Lindsey a few years earlier

---

[1] Industrial Workers of the World.  The IWW was founded in Chicago in June 1905 at a convention of two hundred socialists, anarchists, and radical trade unionists from all over the United States (mainly the Western Federation of Miners) who were opposed to the policies of the American Federation of Labor (AFL).  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Workers_of_the_World

 

1915-0718 George Welcomes his New Niece

1915-0718 – George Sherwood to his mother Ella and the Lindsey Family

Kendall, Wisc.

July 18, 1915

Dear Mother: alias Grandma Sherwood

            Rec.d your letters all rite.  A couple had to be forwarded from Appleton as you see I got away a little early.  Haven’t heard from either German exam yet and don’t know as I want to very bad. Am glad you are enjoying your self so much, but don’t over do the mountain climbing. 

            Sold nearly 4 doz. Brush sets and averaged real well for the time put in.  Have 14 sets left and think I can sell them in 3 days with fair luck, sometime when haying is poor.  Lodge seems to run fairly well considering the setback and present conditions but wish you were here and Mrs. Campfield would come up too.

            I suppose you are so proud of your 1^st grandchild (yee, that sounded odd) that the 19 year old baby home isn’t in it.  Oh!  well, such is life.

            Went to town with Herman last nite and Susan drove to Lodge. Later I went down the track to Glendale and " [somewhat illegible]" her (nach haus).

            We have been eating peas from the garden (nigh on to a week).  Don’t forget to tell Billie* she’s got an “Uncle George” back east in Wisconsin.

            We have somewhere around 18 loads of hay in now, I think a few more.

            Herman and I walked to church today and Susan and Daddy rode.

            I am somewhat soft and short-winded but get along all rite only when it is extra sultry and hot. 

            As I am a poor correspondent I guess I better ring off as I must send a little special line to Ma and Pa Lindsey and Family and I want something to say next time.

            Write to me again soon as I like to receive letters anyway.

I only set down to rite,

A meager little letter

You think if you have read this far

The shorter ‘tis the better.”

            With lots of love to you all

                                    “Uncle George”

 

 

 ____________

Kendall, Wis

_____July  18

Dear Mother and Father Lindsey and Family,

            I must write you just a line to let you know how pleased we are, and to wish you all continual good health and long life, and the very best of all that life may afford (I suppose Mother and Father Lindsey have that now).  May you all be well and happy when this reaches you.  Am also very glad that Mother or Grandma Sherwood, as she now is, could be with you, both for her sake and yours.

            It must have been especially nice to have both grandmas there.  But Miss Billie*, don’t you let them spoil “your sweet little disposition” this early in life.  I warn you as they will no doubt be sure to try it by petting you too much, to the detriment and at the expense of your Uncle George who has always been the baby of the family till now. 

            But I guess I can trust you to leave my share of the babying to me, or at least all that is good for me.  Anyway, I guess I can get along without getting jealous for awhile anyway.

            Well, I went to sleep last night so didn’t get any farther.

            Must close now as I must go to town. 

Here’s a little ditty in honor of Billie

She came the 13^th of July

This stranger clad so scanty

And best of all, she was my niece

My sister was her aunty.

Dedicated to Billie by

            her

                        Uncle George

*  "Billie" was a generic name that they used for all babies in the family before they were born, gender ascertained, and named.  This "Billie" is Margaret Lindsey, born July 13, 1915 in Tucker, Utah.

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