Western Union telegram, received at Uvalde, TX.
MINNEAPOLIS MINN JUN 6
MRS W E DOVE=
222 WEST MESQUITE ST
FURNITURE ARRIVED AND NEARLY ALL PLACED IN LIVING ROOM TODAY. WHY DONT YOU COME UP AND SEE ME? COULD DADDY LEWIS DRIVE HERE IF SO WOULD BUY HIS TICKET WHEN HE WANTS TO RETURN PLEASE WIRE AND LET ME KNOW IF I SHOULD MEET YOU AIRPORT OMAHA SATURDAY WITH LOVE=
WALTER.
June 6, 1939
Postcard from the Railway Express Agency, Uvalde, TX.
You are notified that 1 trunk forwarded by you on 12-9 1938 addressed to Elvira White 267 N. Grove St. Uvalde Tex., charges $5.93 remains in this office undelivered because no funds to pay charges.
Storage began 12-19-38 at rate of .50ยข per mo.
May 31, 1939
Apparently Madie’s sister wasn’t able to pay the shipping on the trunk after all. I have no additional paperwork about this, but assume that Walter and Ina picked up the tab.
Stationery from the Hotel Graver, Fargo, ND.
Easter Sunday*
Dear Daddy and Mother Lewis,
Dr. Wakeland (Mr. Roberts’ boss) and I arrived here by auto about 4 o’clock. We have conferences tonight and with our supervisors tomorrow at the college. Yesterday we met with the extension folks at the South Dakota College at Brookings. We drove to Watertown, spent the night and arrived here this PM.
April 9, 1939
Small grain (oats, wheat, barley and flax) is coming up and during the past 3 days we have had some general rains. If it rains about 3 weeks we will not have so many hoppers to poison. The diseases develop during rainy seasons.
We are shipping bait materials in most of the states now, and after Mr. Dorward and I go into the Northwestern states we will ship up there. Dorward arrived Sat. and will meet me here tonight. I expect to go with him to Salt Lake City about the latter part of the week.
The birthday gift was appreciated very much and I want to thank you for sending it. It happened that I needed just what you and Ina sent and I’ll wear them soon.
With love,
Walter.
* To determine the date of Easter for any year, you can use the Easter date finder at Ancestor Search. It’s handy when transcribing correspondence from people who weren’t very good about dating their letters.
Railroad stationery from the Burlington Route, “The National Park Line.”
Saturday Night
En route to Denver.
Dear Sweetheart,
Dorward & Dr. Wakeland are with me and we meet with Colorado cooperatives tomorrow and Monday. I hope to leave Denver Monday night for Minneapolis and should get home Tuesday night. So far our conferences have been fairly satisfactory and we hope that things develop as they are being planned. You probably noticed that the House passed the bill for 2 1/4 million and that the Senate is going to insist on $5,400,000. Just how it will come out remains to be seen. We are planning for the full amount. You already know my personal views on it which I keep to myself. Dorward may go on to Amarillo. I am reducing my trip that much.
March 5, 1939
RA was with us for most of the week and seems to have his program worked out in considerable detail & with most every move approved. He sends his regards to the family. Said he saw Mother Lewis at Uvalde Xmas.
With love to all of you,
Walter.
Stationery from the Hotel Bozeman, in Bozeman, MT.
Tuesday PM.
Dear Sweetheart,
Dr. Wakeland left a few minutes ago by bus for Bozeman and Dorward and I are staying here until tomorrow. We meet Wakeland there tomorrow PM. R.A. has been here and he seems to be very active in getting his work organized. In fact they are about through and we are just beginning. I am not going to Amarillo on the 7th but will return to Mpls from Denver and I expect to leave there the night of the 6th.
February 28, 1939
So far I have not seen Fred B but Dorward says that he saw him. Parker is cordial and we have had some good discussions on ‘hoppers, but no mention of Fred. Both the cricket project and mine proposed to change state supervisors for Montana. I made mine stick and I am using Westlake who served with us as a district man last year. The cricket project is keeping their state supervisor but under protest. So far I have gotten everything I asked Dr. Mills for, including Brumkow[?] to be in charge of the migratory area in the eastern part of the state.
The meeting at Bismark with Dr. Eversael and the College folks was satisfactory. We had dinner with the legislators and this did not get either of us anything except to become acquainted.
I am getting fed up on conferences so it was a relief for Gaddis to tell Wakeland that I was needed in Mpls badly and should return there from Denver. Wakeland has a careful approach and the ability to talk in a low voice for a long time. If endurance in conferences means anything he will come out OK.
With love to all of you,
Walter.
Walter is still working on grasshopper control, with the government-funded effort now gearing up for a new season of spreading arsenic-laced baits across the heartland. Notes on the back of this sheet suggest that the project needed more spreaders, and also some photos for publicity. I trust that publishing the old addresses and phone numbers of people who are most likely long dead won’t offend anyone, but if you can articulate a legitimate gripe about this please contact me.
February 14, 1939
Stationery from The Piedmont train, New York-New Orleans.
En Route NO to Atlantic City
Dec. 26, 6:30 PM
Dear Ina,
Made a direct connection at NO and will arrive Phila about 530 Monday AM. The other train gets there about 2-1/2 hours later. This is early but will put me in Atlantic City at 820 instead of 10:40.
December 26, 1938
The stub for a water bill is enclosed. I am sending a check with other end of it to water board & you should list $1.16 in your check book. Thought I had paid it but found that I had not.
There were only a few people on the SP and tonight this train is not crowded. The 10 o’clock train from here seemed to have a lot of reservations.
Hope Lucien & Avis are visiting with you at home and that all enjoyed the rest of the visit at Uvalde.
With love to the 3 of you,
Your
Walter
Uvalde, Tex.
Nov 5 – 1938.
Mr. & Mrs. Dove,
I am just coming to my self after the shock of my sister Mada. Don’t seem like it is true. We are so sad. When you called over the phone Sunday morning and said she was sick, I knew she must have been low sick then, so I began to worry and cry. Sent my mother a telegram in New Mexico. Could not find her so the next day which was Monday, I sent a special to one of my friends asking for her to find Mother for me and tell her Mada was low sick. So just as I mailed the letter and come back home, the telegram boy came. I opened it and just saw the word died, and it like to killed me, just made me sick.
November 5, 1938 (from Elvira White)
I prayed so hard for her to get well, but the Lord’s will was done. She was my sweet sister. I loved her so much, and my children was just crazy about her. Just don’t know what we are going to do without her. We are full of sorrow. Had letters from friends in San Antonio and said they were crying about Mada. Oh, she was so sweet we’ll never forget her. She will always cling in my heart as long as I live. When my mother did get the news, it made her sick, and she is not feeling so well now.
Mr. and Mrs. Dove, I want to let you know that we highly appreciate your kind deeds, and all the good you did for Mada, when she was sick. God will bless you some day, after we read your letter we understand that you done your best to save her. We feel like it is true. Oh, she could have been saved if she would let some one know her trouble. Poor child, maybe she didn’t know she was in that fix. I am sure.
I am sure you all were out of lots of money, if I was just able to pay some of that. She did not have any insurance in Uvalde. She did have at one time, but she got out of it. When she was in S.A. she joined the Tennessee insurance. It is found in the Travis Building in S.A. but if she didn’t keep it up, well she will not get any thing at all. Did you look in her room? Well, the Tennessee man will be in Uvalde next week and I will ask all about it. If there is any money in it, you will get it. We will be glad to do that. I will see what I can do about it and let you know at once. Mada looked so sweet, you had her fixed up so nice, and that made us feel so good. You and Dr. Dove have been highly praised by all, white and black, for the shipment of Mada’s body, and has been highly appreciated by the entire family. Her father took the bill over when the body arrived. Don’t know for sure just what it cost. Let me know what you all’s bill was in your next letter.
I will look for Mada’s clothes when you have time to get them together, and send to me. Did she have a trunk? She said she was paying on a coat, did she ever get it out? Mrs. Dove when you send the trunk charge on this end and I will pay it out. I feel like you all have done more than your part. I will always remember you and Dr. Dove, also pray that you will have good luck all your days. When you are in Uvalde let me know, I’ll come to see you.
Wish I could take Mada’s place with you all. Talk about me to your little boys so they will know me. Maybe that I can help you in some way. I always enjoy talking with your mother.
Answer soon,
Elvira White
267 N. Grove St.
Uvalde, Tex.
Sadly but unsurprisingly, Madie’s TB took a turn for the worse, and she died shortly after diagnosis. Walter and Ina covered her funeral expenses and arranged to have her body shipped home to Uvalde, TX. The document collage below tells the story.
October 25, 1938
Ina and the boys, and their longtime maid/nanny Madie Johnson, made it to Minneapolis just fine in June. The family settled into their new apartment on Fremont Ave. and the boys presumably attended the nearby elementary school. In October, however, Madie became ill with tuberculosis. Walter and Ina notified her family, as in those days the prognosis for this condition was grim.
Uvalde Tex.
Oct. 24 – 1938
Mrs. Dove,
Dear one, just a few lines to let you know that we got the news about our little sister Meda, and we are very sad, just don’t know what to do. But we know you are doing your best for her. That is the way we feel about it. O, we are praying for her to get well. Meda loves you and your little Boys. Please do your best for her that we may see her alive. May God bless you, and my sweet little sister. Please let us hear from you soon and just how she is getting along.
Meda’s sister
Elvira White
267 N. Grove St.
Uvalde Tex.
October 24, 1938 (Elvira White)