Tag Archives: jealousy

April 17, 1938

Stationery from the Hotel Graver, “Homelike appointments with good eats at our coffee shop,” Fargo, ND.

Sunday 4:00 PM

My dear Sweetheart,

Dr. Wakeland came to Mpls Friday morning and Saturday we drove to Brookings for a conference with the committee on cricket and G hop control. Last night we came as far as Watertown where we spent the night and today we drove here. He has a conference with Prof. Munro this evening and I expect to sit in it with him. Tomorrow Mr. Shotwell and Dorward will attend a meeting of our G hop men with me. Dorward arrived at Mpls Sat. AM after Wakeland and I left there. Plan to have him spend a few days in ND to get familiar with G hop control and later in the week I’ll accompany him to Salt Lake City for a visit to the different states out in the N. West. He will have about 8 men in 5 states. We should have been there before now but the other areas were more pressing. We have been shipping bait materials during the past two weeks and by the end of next week we will have delivered the first allotments in all except the N.W. There are now about 60 men working in the field and we expect about 100. Most of the others have been selected and recommended to Wash.

April 17, 1938

April 17, 1938

Since Thursday rains have fallen rather generally over the Dakotas and Minnesota and I believe in the more southern states. About 3 weeks of rainy weather would favor development of G hop diseases and would reduce our job considerably.

The sox, handkerchiefs, ties and the card from the boys were received on the morning of the 14th. I also received ties and sox from Mr. & Mrs. Lewis. I appreciate all of them very much and wish to thank you for selecting them. I am writing a note to Mother Lewis but would appreciate it if you would tell them so too.

This job has kept me in one grand rush ever since it started and I guess it will be that way until the season closes and perhaps for reports then. Nights and Sundays are the same as any other time. Regardless of where I travel, the phone calls and the telegrams reach me. I am sure that you can reach me at most any time through the Mpls office, even if I am not so far from San Antonio.

Wakeland says that he cannot understand Mr. Roberts, and that RA wrote him a memo asking for specific instructions one time. He thinks R.A. should assist him and take responsibility in the work. I told him that R.A. was peculiar at times and that I probably knew him as well as anyone. His judgement is good and when placed in a position where he has to make a decision, he usually does it well. I hope that they get along OK.

Most of the Committees are quiet now and I hope to be aggressive enough so that I am not put on the defensive in this program. I am trying to keep a few steps ahead of them. Many of them are wondering just how far they can go as a state program. They are inclined to take all of the credit just as they have during the past 4 years. My instructions to the supervisors place them under our own office for reports with copies to state leaders. The state leaders have some weak spots which they wish to keep covered and they do not like this. Later, I think they will say that it was all for the best & that they like it.

I received your letter about my visit to Aberdeen and wonder what the letter was like which you did not mail.

I hope that you do not misunderstand about the visit there. I had already written to Mrs. H and told of it when I was at home. I went to Aberdeen because it was Saturday. I wanted to see Mr. Allen of the Dakota Farmer and because I needed to get away from the office strain a while. I was surprised that Evalyn was there and they did not know that I was coming. They were surprised too. I think that you should not feel badly about it at all. The visit was friendly and I think I’ve told you all. At least there isn’t anything to keep from you. I made a friendly visit and that will do until you get here. If you wish to call on them with me, I’ll be glad to take you and the sons. Please forget it.

With lots of love to all of you

Your
Walter.

Separate page

Easter Sunday

Dear Walter White,

Daddy wishes to thank you for the nice big card from you and Lewis on his birthday. He does not feel older and it didn’t hurt a bit when he got to be 44 years old.

All of the snow melted sometime ago and pretty soon the grasshoppers will be hatching. We have about 7500 cars of poison bait and about 100 men to supervise the work in 24 states. It is a big job and Daddy’s telephone rings a great deal.

Will come home as soon as I can conveniently arrange to do so but cannot tell yet.

Love
Daddy.

March 29, 1938

Tuesday Night 3/29.

My dear Sweetheart,

Enclosed herewith are two receipts and a note from Mr. Chamberlain. The difference of 65 cents will be added to the check for next month. He says that he will build the fence with the material purchased and the old fence. I think he will do a good job.

March 29, 1938

March 29, 1938

Things are rushing here in getting estimates of needs, appointments of men, mimeographing of instructions and the worst of all meeting the many callers. If I get through this season without getting “luny” I think I’ll be doing pretty well. Gaddis is in Gulfport now and will go to the West Coast the latter part of the week. He will be here next week. Quarterman is on a trip getting New Mex., Arizona, Cal. Nev. and Utah started on their programs. He will be away most of next week. The traffic men for shipments have not reported yet but we expect approval of their appointments at any time now. We bought some mill run bran about 10 days ago and have been waiting for the market to get right again. Additional purchases will be made when shipping starts and from the smaller mills located near the points needed.

Saturday I drove to Aberdeen and telephoned Mrs. Hulett when I arrived and after I had requested a hotel down town. Evalyn answered the phone and was most cordial. I went down there after I had dinner at the hotel.It was about 8 PM when I got to the hotel and about 8:45 when I got to the house. Both of them were nice to me but I sensed a hard feeling toward me by Mrs. H. She was pleasant but it seemed to be forced. We visited a while principally about people I had known there and then Evalyn and I walked across to Lowell & Mildred Winters home. We visited with them, saw their children and then the four of us drove about town while all pointed out the new buildings and improvements, and they do have some. We returned to the house (Mrs. H) about 11:30 and visited with Mrs. H a while. Both she and Evalyn seem to have learned to depend upon themselves during the past 14 years and both are more practical than when I saw them last. Questions from the Winters about when I would bring my family to Mpls seemed to be most interesting to Mrs. H. and Evalyn. The latter cried some but kept control so as not to attract attention of the others. I think Mrs. H felt just a bit mean then but kept from saying anything. I told them a few little things of interest about your being such a wonderful mother to the children and something about the boys and Madie. The Winters asked that I bring you and the boys to see them when you move to Mpls. I did not hear an invitation from Mrs. H.

Sunday morning I had the car serviced and at noon I took Mrs. H. and Evalyn to dinner down town. Mrs. H. was in a little better humor after dinner but I do not recall a single laugh like the ones of years ago. Amusing parts of the conversation sometimes brought a weak smile. I have an idea that Evalyn had her promise to be on good behavior.

Both Mrs. H. and Evalyn seem older and more practical. They had been in two train wrecks and I was told the details. Neither seemed to show any physical effects but they did collect from the RR for one of them, but Mrs. H. thought that it was not enough.

Evalyn asked questions about you and the boys and made the comment that those boys should have been hers. She seemed to be pleased that I had such a nice wife, wanted to know how large you were and a description. One part of the conversation was that she had built up her hopes that she and I would probably get married and that the bottom dropped out. The trip to Texas was an effort to get things fixed up but it was too late then. She said that Mrs. H. blamed herself for it. Her first marriage was a miserable failure and she said very little about it except that the baby was buried at Sodus NY and the relatives asked about me and why she and I did not make a match. While visiting in the afternoon Mrs. Anderson (the mother of Mrs. Winter) came by to say hello to me. Lowell and Mildred had told her that they saw me. She is quite a bit like Mother Lewis and asked that I bring you and the boys to see her.

Evalyn is married to a Mr. Glenny and lives at Mott N.D. They have been married about seven years and have no children. Mr. Glenny had been married before and had no children by the previous marriage. Mrs. H. and Evalyn take turns in visiting each other and each spends about 3 weeks with the other. All I learned was that she had a nice home, Mr. Glenny was much older than Evalyn and that he has a mercantile business at Mott. The past seven years have been crop failure years and he has a lot of money on the books. Evalyn said that his brother was in partnership but died about a year ago. Evalyn and Mr. Glenny spent some time in Texas one winter, the one before we moved to San Antonio. They stopped at the Gunter and thought the Milam Cafeteria about the best they found anywhere. She went to Alaska on one trip but returned on the same boat, inside passage, before she and Mr. Glenny were married.

The visit was not altogether pleasant but I am glad that I made it. I think they were surprised that I called on them but I believe they were pleased that I did not come to Aberdeen without calling. I believe that is about the story and I hope you didn’t mind.

With love to my wife & sons,

Your
Walter.

August 18, 1925

Jax Beach, Fla
Tuesday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

It is “a great and glorious feelin'” to get three letters in one day, and all from the dearest little girl in the world. Just for luck I inquired at the Gen Delivery in Jax and they handed me a letter from you, one from Wash, and one from a customer down the state. I was surprised to get mail up there, and the peculiar thing, they were addressed Jax Beach. This place went by the name of Pablo for years and only during the past few months have they called it Jax Beach. The postal people don’t seem to get it straight. I left forwarding cards for Dr. White and I so we will get our mail here, if it should happen to go up there.

August 18, 1925

August 18, 1925

Tonight two letters came here from you, posted on the 14th & 15th. Today is the 19th. Gee, but they were good ones. All three were just as sweet as they could be and I’d like to hug you real hard for them. The Jax one posted the 12th, contained a mighty fine set of Kodak pictures. Even the borders indicated that they were of Queens, Kings, or Jokers. They go to show that I was correct in my belief, when I said that you would look good regardless of how you dressed. Claudelle makes a mighty good “George” too, and if I did not know that it was Claudelle I would be a bit jealous. She is getting prettier all the time. By the way, did “George” roll his hose? I’ll be that George didn’t love Martha one bit more than I love Ina. Further, I’ll bet that Martha didn’t love George any more than Ina loves me. I said this for you, for I do know that you love me, Dear. The photos are just as sweet as they can be and I’ve looked at them a number of times already.

You were quite right in suggesting that Dr. White did not admit that he was right in going in the surf at noon. He has begun to talk of going to Texas and I presume that he will go by the end of the month. I can’t say that I’ll be awfully sorry, though it will be a bit lonesome. However, I can anticipate when you are going to be with me, for that is as bright a hope as one could have. Dear, I certainly do love you.

Please don’t expect anything other than friendship between Mrs. Gallagher and I, for there has never been anything between us. I was afraid that you might think that, and that is one reason why I have not seen her but the one time since I returned. She knows that I love you and rather expected that I would bring you with me when I came over this summer. You don’t have to think of anyone coming between us, Dear. I don’t have anything to do with the girls at all, and one would expect that I am a woman hater. You are the only one and goodness only knows how much I want you.

I note with interest what you said about the new contest for an auto. I am glad that you don’t have it to think about just now, and I am mighty proud of your success in the last one. It is an expression of a lot of friendship and admiration, and its value can never be expressed in terms of money.

With a real sweet goodnight, and with all my love, Dear, I am,

Yours forever,
Walter.

P.S. I took the liberty of sending you an umbrella today. I am not so sure that you will like the color, but I was told that it would go with any color.

August 12, 1925 (Ina)

Wednesday Nite
Aug. 12, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

Claudelle and I have just finished our evening walk. We didn’t go until unusually late as she did not return from down town in time. It was almost dark when we started and we could imagine all sorts of snakes and things before we came in sight of the house. Our imaginations were so active that when a poor little innocent grasshopper settled himself peacefully on my dress for a rest I accidentally became aware of his whereabouts by upsetting him with my hand. I gave a hop, skip and a jump that made us both almost think a rattlesnake had me. I hereby resolve never to go out for a pleasant stroll in the pitch dark on a ranch road that snakes like so well.

August 12, 1925 (Ina)

August 12, 1925 (Ina)

No, I didn’t get a letter today. I miss them very much when I don’t get them, but I spend the rest of that day in looking forward to the next when I feel sure that I will receive one.

I love you, Sweetheart, lots and lots and would give so much if I could be with you tonight.

Your devoted,
Ina.

Thursday Night.
Aug. 13, 1925.

Dearest Walter:

Yes, sir-ree, I did get it today and I’ve been happy “every minute” since. Mama, Papa, Claudelle and I were on our way to the Neuces River when we went by the post office and found your letter. It was a good one and made my swim a lot more pleasant.

Even Mama and Papa went in swimming so you know the water must have been tempting. There were about 30 people in and everyone seemed to be having a good time. I thought of you a great deal while we were in the water and imagined that you were enjoying the surf at the same time.

I noted what you said of Mrs. Gallagher. I suspected quite a while ago that perhaps she had a deeper interest in you than mere appreciation for the attention you paid the children. I didn’t blame her a bit because I am “rather” interested in you myself. However, I am not jealous, just because I feel that if you were going to fall in love with her, you would have done it last summer, and second, because I am convinced that you truly love me and I know that you will be true to me. From the description you have given me of Mrs. Gallagher, I feel sure that I will like her, and I know the children are cute. I think it will be nice if you have the little boy down on the beach with you to spend a while. It will be a treat for him and you will enjoy it too.

We appreciated the compliment you paid Thelma Lee and Reitha. They certainly think lots of you and speak of you often.

Lots of love from one who loves you more than anyone else in the world.

Ina.

October 18, 1924

Jacksonville, FLorida,
Sat. Night Oct 18th

My Dear Ina,

I have thought of you a great many times since I received your last letter and would have wired you, but felt that my letter would soon be there. I wrote as soon as I received yours.

I couldn’t believe that you cared for me enough to be affected in that manner, but Dear, it almost makes me shout with joy to know that you do care. You have a great deal of reserve not to have told me before, but may be you didn’t know until then. I usually express my feelings and I guess it would be better if I were more reserved too. I believe I talk more freely to yourself, for it seems to be the natural thing to do. Just seems that I know you so well, and love you so, that I just have to tell you. I want you to know everything and I am apt to hurt your feelings but I certainly don’t want to. If you only knew just how much I do love you I am sure that what I told you about the young lady in South Dak. would not affect you at all. I only wish that you knew whether or not you loved me enough to let me bring you back with me at Christmas, when I will see you. But I want you to be sure and I’ll wait until you know whether you love me that much or not. I only hope that you will be frank with me and tell me regardless of how you feel toward me.

October 18, 1924

October 18, 1924

Your last letter was the sweetest I have ever received and if you knew how I felt, you would feel that someone loved you a great deal.

You can rest assured that I have no intention of going to South Dakota and that I really love you and want you. I’ll see you Christmas and while I would like to have your answer then, I want you to be sure of yourself. Will wait until you do decide.

Had a mighty fine letter from Sis and she is very happy. Wants me to stop over with them when I return from Washington. I will, if it can be arranged satisfactorily. I am not sure about the time I’ll return nor the route either. I want you to know her for she is some sister. She admired your photo very much when I saw her and I know she would love you. I am equally sure that you would like her too.

Write soon, won’t you, for I love you and only you.

Your,
Walter.

October 14, 1924

Jax. Florida
Tuesday PM.

My Dear Ina,

Your letter came today, and Dear, I am awfully sorry that you were so much concerned, and I am writing right now as you requested. I am sorry that I caused you the anxiety, but it is a pleasure to know that you care enough to be concerned over it. It really makes me feel that you do care and I love you for it, though my letter was not written for that purpose.

I have never had any desire to keep anything from you and I simply wanted you to know. The young lady and I were quite intimate during my stay in Aberdeen and I have felt very much like a brother to her, she says father too. I know that she cares for me but I can’t help but feel that it is like she would care for a brother. She has no brothers or sisters, and the mother is mighty jealous of her. The mother did not like it when I left Aberdeen and personally I didn’t care, for I didn’t feel that it was necessary for me to stay any longer. I never promised the father that I would marry his family or any member of it, though I know he was in hopes that I would care enough for the daughter to make her my wife. When I was there she did not go with anyone except myself and on one occasion the mother reminded me that I did not give her a chance. I hope she has had chances enough since I left, though I doubt if she has gone with anyone else.

October 14, 1924

October 14, 1924

When I wrote to you last the daughter told me that they were planning a trip South next summer but were waiting for an invitation. What could I do but invite them, though I doubt if they will even consider coming. You can be assured, Dear, that I have no intentions of going to Aberdeen. Should the Mother die suddenly, the girl would probably wire me and as a sense of duty I might go under those conditions. Here’s hoping that she doesn’t die. I certainly intend to see you Christmas. I am looking forward to it. It seems an awful long time since I saw you.

Must go to dinner now, but I wanted to write you a little tonight anyway.

Lots of love
Your
Walter.

October 10, 1924

Friday P.M.
Oct. 10, 1924

Dear Walter:

Your letter came this morning, and somehow it gave me the queerest feeling. I have read it over six times already and still I can’t quite understand everything you said in it. You don’t know how much I would give for an opportunity to talk with you right now and find out just exactly what you meant.

Of course you understand that I refer to what you said in regard to your lady friend in South Dakota. I want you to understand that I don’t blame you in the least for trying to keep your solemn obligation, and admire you very much for your loyalty to your promise given the father, but I thought you had done everything you could already. Since the young lady and her mother are financially comfortable as you explained to me when you were here – unless you promised the father that you would marry the daughter, I can’t understand what else you can do to fulfill your obligation. Somehow, I was afraid I detected a tone in your letter that might indicate that you were still a little uncertain as to whether or not you really loved her now. If you are, please tell me. I believe every word you say, and you don’t know how much I appreciate your telling me the things you do. I hope you will not ever hesitate to tell me, whether they will hurt my feelings or not, because uncertainty is worse than the cruel facts. Of course you know I understand that there are secrets in lodges, and I wouldn’t think of being so unreasonable as to want you to tell me those.

October 10, 1924

October 10, 1924

You are not going back to Aberdeen, are you? Every time today that I have thought of the possibility of you going back there and falling in love with the young lady, I have actually gotten weak – and I have been thinking of it (or rather, your letter) all day. It took my appetite, and I just couldn’t get my mind concentrated on my work at the office. I didn’t think I had a spark of jealousy about me, but this letter certainly sounds like it, doesn’t it? I don’t know what it is, but I didn’t know before that I cared so deeply. I want you to know that I don’t feel hard toward you at all, because I don’t.

There are three things that would make me a mighty happy girl to-night, and they are: If I knew you would not go to Aberdeen, if I knew you would not ever fall in love with the young lady from South Dakota, and if I knew positively that nothing would happen to keep you from coming here Christmas.

Walter, I hope you will not think me unreasonable, and hope you will not misunderstand and feel hard toward me for anything I have said in this letter. I just couldn’t help but tell you.

Won’t you please sit right down and write me some kind of a letter right quick?

I don’t mean to be jealous; I don’t mean to be unreasonable; I don’t mean to be – oh, I don’t know what I mean.

Anxiously,
Ina