1915-0530 – George Stevens Sherwood to Will & Ella Jane Sherwood and Susan

1915-0530 – George Stevens Sherwood to Will & Ella Jane Sherwood and Susan 

 

Appleton, Wisc., May 30, 1915

Dear Ones All:

            How are you all today  From the tones of your letters the past few days things don’t look exactly rosy around there now, but I hope the last few days there have been as nice as those here have been for then you must needs be joyful once more.  I hope the corn turns out all rite.  I will be home in a little more than two weeks now if everything goes O.K.  Must positively study all day to-morrow and don’t like the looks of it a bit as I have been having a beastly head-ache yesterday and to-day. 

            And the thot of the spring exams makes me shudder. Will probably send for an assignment of brushes and start work soon after I get home.  Of course the amount of success I have will determine the time I stay at it.  I hope the frost didn’t kill the strawberries and that they will be preparing to get ripe when I get back H O M E.  But half the joy of that magic sentence is now gone, for mother won’t be there.  Well, don’t spoil your trip thinking of me anyway, Mother.  Have a good time and 

Where’re you be,    On land or sea,    Just waft one    Happy thot to me.

From the blueness which seems bound to attack me today I guess I will need a good many such thoughts.  O well, an aching head is not conducive to pleasant dreams, either in bed or out.  I don’t know as there is much news.  Am racing with time to get through my lab work. 

Played four sets of tennis with Rassy yesterday, and I won 3.  Then I skinned off about a third of one finger nail and some skin but the fingernail has straightened out again so it protects the finger pretty well.  After I got the finger properly patched up, a Herman Smith (now a member of the Conservatory Faculty but erstwhile student) played against Rassy and Burdan and again won three of four sets.  Went to “Pinafore” but didn’t fuss.  It was good and they played to a good house. 

Think we will not recite to-morrow in classes as that is legally “Memorial Day.”  It will be a day of memorable study for me if I get all of my back work up I guess.

            Went to church to-nite.  Heard the high school baccalaureate sermon. It was just fairly good.

            It is needless to say that I did not get the fudge which was packed in the grip as it was opened.  All the rest of the clothes and eats have arrived O.K. I believe.

            When do you expect Aunt Clara and when does mother hit the Overland Trail to the Land of the Western Stars.  She must rite to me often or there will be an awful row.

            Well, as usual I have run out of news before I did paper, but it would be a waste of paper to write more so I can only close with lots and lots of love.  I just had company in the shape of Schlitz, Rogers, Irish and Bennet, who gave a passable rendering of “When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder,” “Good night Ladies.,” and “When You Wore a Tulip and I Wore a Red, Red Rose.”

            I will now close again with love to you all again and may God bless you wherever each one may be.

                                                Your Son and Brother

                                                            Geo. Sherwood.

This is a letter George wrote from college.  He was attending Lawrence College in Appleton, Wisconsin. That link in the previous sentence is to Wikipedia article on Lawrence College and shows the photo as public domain.  Lawrence College was founded in 1847 and was the second college to be founded as co-educational.  His "complaint" about his mother is in reference to the fact that his mother would be shortly leaving home in Wisconsin to travel to Utah for the birth of her and her husband Will's first grandchild -- so she would not be home when he arrived. Further, he had been the  "baby" in the family for a long tine and now he was being bumped out of that position. Margaret Irene Lindsey, daughter of Guy and Dora (Sherwood) Lindsey was born on July 13, 1915 way off in Tucker, Utah.  The family penchant for poetry jingles was illustrated in this missive. George's mother, Ella Jane, was known for a multitude of jingles.  At this time Europe was almost a year into WWI but the US was still far away and not yet involved. 

 

                                              

George Sherwood Graduates from High School in 1914

 

George Stevens Sherwood 1914

Graduation from High School

Here is George Sherwood's announcement of his graduation from Kendall High School.  Following graduation he enrolled in college for three years before the War intervened.

The class motto below seems to me to reflect the significant  German background  of many in the community.  At that time Georges family was almost entirely English -- some recent immigrants and some from as far back as the Mayflower (Cooke and Warren).  Later his sister would marry a man of German heritage but who was born in the US.

It is obvious that in spite of there being a small graduating class that the community was very supportive and involved.  There were a variety of events scheduled over five days.

 

And in spite of it being a small class graduating class, it will soon become apparent that George received a firm educational foundation as his eloquence with the English language will attest in weeks to come. This small farming community held education in high esteem.

Young George Sherwood Travels to the Pacific Northwest

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 and his friend or better, that is, I mean the cold.

            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. 

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[1] Royden Doud, son of Chester Doud and Grace L. Gulvin Sherwood (William Sherwood’s sister)

[2] Now Mt. Rainier

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

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[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!

120 years ago today a little boy and second child to Will and Ella Jane Sherwood entered the world. George Stevens Sherwood, like all people left his mark for better or worse in the lives of his peers, his children and the generations to follow.  Twenty one years from his birth he would chronicle his travels and thoughts as he enlisted in the army 108th Engineers, survived boot camp, boarded a ship to "Somewhere in France" and became a part of the American Expeditionary Forces.  His mother and sister saved his letters written to his "Dear Ones at Home" as so many letters began.  One hundred years later we are the beneficiaries of their safekeeping and are given real-time insights into the life of one young man who was a part of the War to End All Wars.  

George's parents, William Richard Sherwood and Ella Jane Richardson Atwater Sherwood met several years after Ella's first husband, Elmer Atwater died in a logging accident at Black River Falls, WI.  The distraught young widow and her infant daughter, Dora, lived with her in-laws, William and Caroline Atwater until she could again face life and hope again for a brighter future.  Dora was about  six years of age when Will and Ella married in March of 1887.  Their first child together was Susan, born in 1894, and two years George was born on December 3, 1896; 120 years ago today.

 

There is no family lore about how Will and Ella Jane met that has been chronicled.  Will's parents had been a pioneering family to this area of Wisconsin after moving to the US from England.  Ella Jane's parent, David and Jane Stevens had both been born in Vermont and  could follow several family lines back through Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts to the pilgrims on the Mayflower.  David Stevens and his parents, Samuel P Stevens and Lydia Eastman Stevens had already moved to Wisconsin to seek their fortune because the rich Wisconsin and Minnesota plains and  rolling hills were a vast improvement over the rocky farmland of Vermont.  In David and Rosina Jane's case of young love, absence did not make the heart to wander.  David returned to Vermont to  marry his bride and took her back to Wisconsin with  him. David and Jane had spent some time in the Trempealeau area of Wisconsin and lived for a long time in Elgin, MN. 

 

The only clue to how Will and Ella Jane met is that in the 1895 Minnesota census of Elgin we see that William Sherwood was apparently working for and residing with David and Jane Stevens.

 

I don't have any idea if the two families had previous friends or acquaintances in common.  Perhaps Will just "fell" into a situation where he traveled to Minnesota and needed a job and learned that the Stevens family needed a worker.  He had a half a dozen siblings and was maybe looking to gain some independence from his family as well.  Whatever the cause, both of them ended up in Elgin, MN in 1885 and by 1887 were married.

George's letters during 1917 to 1919 show the youth and growing maturity of this boy from a region well chronicled by Gustav Telschow's book Those Dear Hills of Home.  It is an interesting read for those interested in the history of this area of Wisconsin. Elroy, the geographic center of Telschow's book is only six and a half miles from Spring Brook Farm.     

 

By the time little George Stevens Sherwood came on the scene, Will and Ella Jane Sherwood owned the fairly prosperous dairy farm in western Wisconsin that had belonged to his family since 1868. 

The farm was known as Spring Brook Farm. The original farmhouse where George and Susan had both been born was a large Italianate style building of two stories, a summer kitchen off to one side and a large cellar underneath.  In this photo you can just barely see both George and  Susan sitting in the yard.

George and Susan were good friends growing up as reflected in their letters to each other before and throughout the war.  He called her his little big sister since she was older but smaller.

Around 1910, the large wrap-around porch and an addition of rooms on the west end of the house had been added to both floors so that Stevens grandparents could move in with Will and Ella Jane as their health declined.  The farm was about 110 acres of farmland, cow barn, grainery and milk-house.  The children had lots of chores and also  lots of freedom to explore and grow.  Susan was born and died in the same home having lived there all of her 93 years.

 

Family was always very important to George and his extended relatives.  After Will and Ella Jane were married they rented the Spring Brook Farm from his parents and they lived there until Richard Sherwood, Will's father, passed away. Later on the Stevens parents (David and Jane) would live with Will and Ella Jane.  When Susan married, she and her husband Herman continued to live at Spring Brook Farm along with her parents, Will and Ella Jane.  The addition made the home a bit like a larger and smaller  duplex, with French doors between the living areas and separate staircases.  When George would write his letters to his Dear Ones at Home, these often included three generations of family.

 

Every soldier at war who can has personal family and friends that support and strengthen them for the stresses of the battle.  And every soldier's family knows the anxiety and fear for their loved one in harms way so far from home. George's letters in the next two years will bring to life his experiences exactly a century ago.   

 

As these posts begin I will occasionally post letters of or about George or other general information about him.  When he actually gets to the point of enlisting, almost all information will be directly provided by George himself.  He is a good writer and I think you will enjoy his perspective on his endeavors and adventures.

  

 

An idea begins -- hundreds of letters from Great Uncle George from before and during his time in WWI.  I plan to post the letters on each hundredth anniversary starting the end of this year.  Stay tuned as the events begin!