April 7, 1918 - Dora Returns to Utah & News of Family Loss

Castle Gate, Apr. 7^th

Dear Mother: -- Got home all right and have been very busy sweeping out a month’s dirt so I could step around.  I did not have time to go up town in Omaha and it rained in Pueblo so I did not get anything for sister’s dress.  Had a grand visit at Canon City – of course they wanted me to do all the talking and begin by telling all about the Sherwoods.  Zida and family will go to Kansas for the girls health.  Dorothy is very nervous and Clara has not strong lungs.  Zida herself is not well poised, you remember her old way of flying at one in play and it has grown on her.  It would help both girls is [if] she could be more serene and tranquil.  But they are all loveable just the same.  David has an excellent position as sec. and manager of the Co-op fruit association. They seem to be doing well tho Clara is not at all strong.  It has cost them thousands to keep her up.  Margaret stood the trip well and was very happy indeed to see her papa and Queenie.  She has asked more than I thought she would for grandma and grandpa and when I taker her to see “Bowles.”  One night at Bangor she was going to insist on having Grandpa put her to bed but I told her long stories of how grandpa was feeding the cows and horses and putting them to bed.  Tonight she got a horseman’s catalogue land where there was a picture of blanketed horses at the Fair I told her all about how Grandpa combed the horses and braided their tails and put their nighties on and she went to sleep.  Well dears, I too must get to bed as there is a huge wash tomorrow and no one to “chuck ice”.  We had a royal feast on fudge when the trunk was opened.  Have everything unpacked and put away.  Rather bent the Sabbath, I think. 
            Love to all from all.
                                    Dora

[Now Ella Jane, mother of Dora, Susan and George, adds a note to Dora’s  letter and  forwards it to George]

April 13

Dear Precious Boy.  I’ll write a bit on Dora’s letter and send it along.  By now you will have a letter telling you of Grandma Atwater’s death. [Follow link for her last letters to family and worries about WWI.] We laid her away to rest beside Father Atwater at 2:30 yesterday, then Brother Len ate his dinner and went to La Crosse to a meeting of the La Crosse Co. Liberty Loan committee of which he is a member because he said, “I’ve done all I can for Mother now.  I must not shirk my duty to the Soldier’s and our Country.”  He got back in time to take me to the station for the train that gets here at midnight.  When I started to get off Daddy pushed me back and got on and I went to Elroy with him.  Sending my love to you dear in his heart and hands. How I hope he finds you there.  Grandma Atwater finished a set of five table doilies for Susan the night before she died, sprinkled them and rolled them in a damp cloth saying, “I’ll press these and send them to Susan tomorrow” but died by the bursting of a blood vessel next to the heart, just as she slipped out of bed in the morning. 

                                    Love and love,

                                                Mother           

March 18, 1918 - Sherwoods Write to their Children In Texas

Spring Brook Farm in the winter and after the 1910-12 renovations which added rooms on the west end of the house both up and downstairs and also the upstairs deck and the wrap around porch.  The renovations had been done so that Ella Jane's parents could  live with them, but both had since passed away.  Now the newlywed Susan and Herman would be sharing the renovated home with Will and Ella Jane . 

The home was divided in half with French doors giving some privacy for each family.

.

Monday evening, Mar 18, 1918

At Spring Brook Farm

Dear Children All.

            I hope as I write that you are all together somewhere in Texas, all having such a good time.  Margaret has been extremely cute today.  Daddy did chores and played with her some and Dora and I did the Washing.  Tomorrow will iron and go to Red Cross.  Wednesday Daddy has a load of wood in the wagon ready to take it to Glendale.  [Looks as though letter changed dates here.] Tuesday morning is clear and windy but lots of snow and ice in sight yet.  Sunday we went to Glendale and drove through a lake this side of Rawbergers and then along the Hiss side streets barn. Saturday we visited at Struts.  I am telling some over that I wrote before in case you missed my letter.  Tuesday PM we had Auntie and the girls [Nellie Thompson and Dura and May.  Nellie was Ella Jane's maternal aunt,] come home with Daddy for the day as Dora wished them to be here a day. She said she had a very good visit with them. I found the registry receipt and the no. is 286.   A letter came saying they were about to start for TEXAS.  How I hope you are all having much time together. 

           Right here Margaret wanted my pencil then the ink came out and I have coaxed her to hold the package containing sox and helmet and as it is going to Uncle George she is saying “Oh nice Gusdie to Uncle Dorge” and putting a lot of smacks on it for you.  She has helped write to you too, you see on here. [Little kids scribble]
            We are all getting ready to go to Kendall where we expected to see many at Red Cross that Dora knew and go to Mrs. Robertsons for supper but Lew Moore’s son came down with measles Monday PM and is there so we can not do that.   Alma is taking care of him.
            I hear the team coming so a hasty loving goodbye to each. 
                                                            Mother and ALL 

At the  P.O. Kendall just came from Mr. Butters.  He is just able to walk out on the street a little ways.  Has been ill all winter.  Hardening of Arteries.  Dora and Margaret holding a reception at the Farmer’s and Merchants Bank

            Now I must go and help so again goodbye.  

Daddy is here looking over my shoulder and sending love and best wishes too all.  

                                                E. S.
George S. Sherwood, Headquarters Company, 108^th US Engineers, Camp Logan, Houston, Texas                                                                       

February 3, 1917 - Sister Dora Plans Trip for Sister Susan Nuptials

 

This photo was apparently taken during the time that Margaret Lindsey came with her mother Dora to visit her maternal grandparents Will and Ella Jane (Stevens) Sherwood.  Behind them is "Spring Brook Farm" where Will and Ella lived and where George was born and raised.  Margaret seems a little small for 2.5 years old if this was the March 2018 visit.  This may have been taken at an earlier visit.  I would be happy to be enlightened by any relatives who might know for sure.  Or I could be totally barking up an entirely wrong tree.  I do know that the people on the ends are Will and Ella Jane Sherwood, George's parents.

Feb 3^rd 1918

 

Dear Daddy: - A note to Herman and small books to the “vining folks” [referencing the soon to be married sister Susan Sherwood and Herman Weber] last week pretty nearly wore out my pen so I just left you over till today.  I have to do all my scribbling when busy-body is sleeping.  And I find I’m getting to be a lazy writer. Had a fine picture of George in last nights mail sure do enjoy it. Have written him today.  You and mother would have a lovely “honeymoon” while the “children” are away on theirs.  It is a shame to intrude  but I don’t see how I’m ever going to get there and get my visit over and get away by Mar 12, so I suspect you will find a very matronly daughter and a very busy grand-daughter at least busily engaged in destroying any “honeymoon” dreams you may have.  I’ll defy you to do any “spooning” Margaret doesn’t catch you at.  It can’t be done.  And when she catches you she will tell you very sternly that she (and none other) is your “girlie." We have had little snow and very little real winter weather.  I wonder what a Wisconsin March will hand us.

            Guy is awfully anxious to come East while I’m there but we scarcely dare hope that he can get off.  Doesn’t look so very promising now at least. He threatened last night not to let us go so far away but I know he was not in earnest.  Margaret just now woke and is half awake in my arms.  She may get back to sleep. 

            How she will love you all!  Let’s not plan much work while I’m there (get the “kids” properly married and then visit).  I may not write much the next three weeks.  I have so much to do.

                                    Love to all,
                                                Dora

The sense of humor of this family is fairly well demonstrated as this photo of Ella Jane with her, granddaughter  Margaret Lindsey (I believe) and another unidentified child.  I do believe that that is Ella Jane's handwriting under the picture of herself.

Margaret Lindsey a little older

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.