Tag Archives: South Dakota

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.

June 19, 1925 (Walter 9pm)

Uvalde, Texas, Friday Nite 1925

My Dear Ina,

It is now about 9 o’clock and I have just returned from a little drive. I took myself out for a ride. Mrs. Hollifield says that I look lonesome. You have no idea how much I miss you nor how very much I would like to see you tonight. Seems like an awfully long time since I saw you, and I am wondering what I will do this summer. Your mother seems to miss you so much too. I would have gone out there again tonight but I don’t want to wear out my welcome.

June 19, 1925 (Walter 9pm)

June 19, 1925 (Walter 9pm)

I haven’t heard anything more of E. and Mrs. H., and I presume that I will not hear from either of them again. If I do, it will probably be in the nature of a “balling out.” By this time they probably realize that such a procedure does not get anything, for they have failed in the past. Mrs. H. is naturally of a domineering type and as long as I was in Aberdeen, I never crossed her. E has an idea that she can get anything she goes after, and I don’t believe there is another person in the world who would have come to Texas (without knowing where they were going) except herself. She had an idea that she would give me a surprise visit and that everything would be fixed up. Please understand that she and I “severed diplomatic relations” several months ago and that in the meantime I have not heard from her. Had three letters from her mother and I have told you about them. My answers were anything but polite, and she said they made her sick. I did not sympathize with her in either of them. She always feels so sorry for herself. I wonder what she will tell her friends in Aberdeen as they will ask about me, but I’ll not let this worry me. Most of them know her as well as myself.

I guess this is enough of my experiences. I wanted you to know and I feel better when I have told you. Please don’t let any of it worry you, for I love you more than I can tell you and nothing will come between us. I am mighty glad that we understand each other and that it is possible for me to see you again after this happened. I am sure that you will feel all right about it when you know all about it. If it is not clear in a letter, I can tell you when you return. Remember that I love you and only you and that nothing will come between us if I can have anything to do to prevent it.

With a real sweet goodnight and assuring you that I am real anxious to see you again, I am, with all my love, Dear,

Your
Dove

P.S. As you leave there Monday AM I would not have time to get another letter to you.

June 19, 1925 (Walter)

Uvalde Friday A.M.

My Dear Ina,

I did not write you last night as a letter would not go to San Antonio until this afternoon, so I waited until this morning. You don’t have any idea how much I missed you last night and in fact ever since I left the camp. I certainly enjoyed your letter this morning and it came at a time when I wanted one. I realize how difficult it is for you to write while there and I appreciate your efforts and the fact that you missed the hike in order to write to me. It was mighty sweet of you, Dear.

June 19, 1925 (Walter)

June 19, 1925 (Walter)

Have something to tell you but please do not let it worry you, for you are everything to me. Mrs. H. and Evalyn went to Dallas and E. wired me from there yesterday A.M. I ignored the telegram. In the afternoon I had another one intended for me at Regan Wells. She said that Bishopp advised her to wire me up there. He evidently thought that I had gone up to help Mr. Laake during Brundrette’s absence. She stated she was anxious to see me and wanted to know if they should come to Uvalde. I answered it “would advise you not to come to Uvalde.” Don’t let this worry you, Dear, for you have already known about everything. They thought I was in Dallas, and I had no news that they were coming. I don’t believe they will come down here, but if they do, the reception will be a cold one for them. I have not heard from E. for several months when we busted up, and have only had the letters from Mrs. H. which you know about. When I answered them I was very plain to her in telling her that there could never be anything but friendship between E. and I. I will probably get a letter telling me how mean I am, but I have gotten to the point that I do not care how mean they think I am. I cannot be courteous to them and have them feel that I am through.

Will write you again tonight. With all my love,

Your,
Bird.

November 16, 1924

Wash. D.C.
Sunday Nov. 16th.

Dear Ina,

It was nice of you not to be offended when I failed to write regularly. I have been rushed and am yet on the go. I thought it possible to get through here so that I could attend the Southern Med. Assn with Dr. Kirby-Smith at New Orleans, but it is too much. Am preparing a preliminary report for the meeting which will be read by Dr. K.S. when he gives his report.

November 16, 1924

November 16, 1924

I cannot tell you just how long I’ll be here but probably a couple of weeks or longer. I have not yet started on the sections of skin which were removed at Jax, and this is a long tedious job. As soon as I complete this part of it, I will go to Dallas. Have shipped lots of material there and hope to have the causative thing isolated so that I can make some detail studies of it when I get down there. This part of the work will have to be completed before I will know definitely just what I shall work with when I return to Dallas.

I have had quite a few letters from South Dakota and I know that the young lady really loves me, though for a long time I thought it was more like the love of a brother and sister. I want you to know about it though it isn’t pleasant to tell you about it. The fact that I lived with them and knew them so well probably accounted for the fact that I felt this way about it. I guess she felt so certain that we would be married that the situation became more like that of a couple who had been married for years or similar to a brother and sister who lived at home. She took everything for granted and in the meantime I felt that we were drifting apart. When I left there, the mother was very bitter toward me, simply because I didn’t stay there. The young lady, however, wanted me to do what I thought best.

That was the situation when I met you, and I have to admit that I fell pretty hard for you. Had you accepted when I proposed I know that I would not have kept up the South Dak correspondence. Since then the young lady has made me believe that she loves me, and there is no doubt in my mind. The mother has also written and she feels quite differently toward me now. I do love the young lady though at the time I met you, I felt that it was more of a brotherly love. You see I had been about the same as a father and brother to her for a number of years, and came to feel that way, rather than as a sweetheart. I want you to know just how it stands before you discover whether or not you do love me.

I have no plans to be married at the present time and under the conditions I believe it best to let a little time help me. It is a question of life time happiness and I don’t believe in rushing into it until one is certain.

I feel that I know her too well and that I do not know you well enough. I trust you will see it as I do and will understand that I have no secrets, but want to be fair and above board with everything.

Write me here for I will be here for at least two weeks.

Always,
Walter.

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

October 7, 1924

Jacksonville Fla
Oct 7, 1924.

Dear Ina,

Was delighted to get your letter this morning, though sorry that you had felt blue. Since you had intended writing to me the night before when you were blue, I wonder if I was in any way responsible for your unpleasant state. I certainly hope not.

October 7, 1924

October 7, 1924

It was interesting that your teacher friend came over from next door to tell her troubles. No doubt she feels pretty blue, but since she falls in and out of love so easily, the shock would not be so great as to one like yourself.

Dear, you will remember that I told you of my lady friend in South Dakota and that I felt that neither of us knew whether we loved one another because we were together so much. That I felt that we were more like brother and sister. Since I have known you and have fallen so hard for you, I have written to her very little and then such a letter as one would be apt to write any acquaintance. When I left South Dakota the mother was quite bitter toward me for leaving and assured me that she was going to break up all relations between the daughter and I. She was quite mean and I have had no idea of ever seeing her again. The mother seemed to feel that it was convenient to have a man about, and I came to feel that any man would do as well as myself. Though I did know that the daughter cared for me to some extent, but felt that it was due to constant association and living in the same home with them.

The father and I were very good friends and before he passed away he asked me to look after them. I located there and lived with them for five years. Then, having felt that my promise to him had been fulfilled I thought it best to return to my original vocation.

Recently the mother and daughter have been awfully nice and the mother seems to have had a change of heart toward me. She has written to me and I have also had some good letters from the daughter. The mother lost her sister a short time ago, and the daughter feels that she has only her mother who is getting older all the time. To some extent I still feel obligated toward them to an extent to see that they are getting along all right. I can’t help but feel that it is pity and the constant association with them.

I felt that I should tell you about it for I do not want to keep anything from you. I’d rather you would know and especially before you have found that you loved me. I certainly don’t want you to ever feel bitter toward me for anything, and there is absolutely nothing which I would keep from you, except lodge work. You can understand that it cannot be told, or at least your father will know.

I hope you will believe me, Dear, and will not think hard of me. I want you to know everything even though it may be displeasing to both of us. True happiness is based on a good understanding.

My work has been keeping me going and it will be a while before I go to Washington. There are too many cases coming in just now and I have lots of work going. If Dr. White is going to be in Washington all winter there will be no hurry on my part.

Write me here and I’ll let you know before I go up there. In any event, the letters would be forwarded promptly.

I have some very interesting cases here just now, some who have hundreds of lesions and can barely walk. Am planning on some treatment tests as soon as the chemicals arrive, which should be today.

I hope to have a letter from you soon, Dear, & I trust you will not feel hard toward me. I love you and had to tell you about it, though it might have been better had I kept it to myself for a while longer.

The trade for a ranch is very interesting and it should be easier and more profitable for your father. It sounds good to me, though I know it will be difficult not to be able to use a curling iron. She won’t mind that after she puts up her hair on curlers for a few times. The hot iron isn’t especially good for hair anyway.

WIth love,
Always,
Walter.