Tag Archives: family

December 24, 1930

Dec. 24th – 8PM.

My dear Sweetheart,

I am mighty sorry that I cannot be in Uvalde tonight. I can imagine that W.W. will get quite a thrill out of his first Xmas. I don’t know whether I made it clear just why I couldn’t come or not.

December 24, 1930

December 24, 1930

The pigs which fed the infected mites have been showing low degrees of temperatures and no swellings. We are transferring the infections to new pigs for swellings and localization of Rickettsia so that they can be demonstrated. Of three pigs receiving blood last night, two are already running higher temperatures than any of the others. I am anxiously awaiting these developments. I feel that we have the dope, but we want to nail it for all time. I haven’t phoned Shelmire of these developments. He will be over tomorrow A.M. for more transfers and I’ll spring it then. He has been pretty blue. We have nine animals on which infected mites fed and six which received injections of infected mites. This does not count the tests made with an animal which proved to be an uninfected pig.

We cannot get as many pigs as we need at present. We have been promised a bunch on the day after Xmas. These will be about right for our more recent infections. It will take a few days for them to develop symptoms. It looks like it may be near the 1st before I can get there. I want to come as soon as possible. I think we should leave before it is time for Mother and Daddy Lewis to move. Have you said anything to them about Claudelle returning with us? Have you talked to Claudelle about it? She would be a lot of company for you. I could give her some stenographic work to do, and her living expenses would not cost her anything. I think it would be nice for all of us (Claudelle, you and I) if she returned with us. If she goes it will be necessary for us to ship some of the things but that would not amount to very much.

I certainly do love you Honey, and I am mighty sorry that I cannot be there for tonight and tomorrow. With all my love, and looking forward to seeing you, I am,

Your
Walter.

December 13, 1930

Saturday Night.

My dear Sweetheart & Buddy,

Yours of Friday AM came this noon. I note that Daddy Lewis is up to his old tricks yet. The trade sounds like a good one. From what you tell me of the location it seems OK. It should be close enough to the High School, in case the apartments are not rented to year-around residents. If three apartments are rented now, the chances are pretty good.

December 13, 1930

December 13, 1930

We have not yet had our lien fixed up. I am figuring with a loan man for the Savings Bank of Detroit. His proposition is a 10 year pay at the rate of $12.50 per month on each thousand. This includes prin and interest and there are no other renewal charges. There is a brokerage fee. At this rate our house would almost pay out from the rent. This would seem to be OK if we made a trade for something else or if we sold. I am investingating other propositions. I think I have time enough to do so.

My first series of experiments are not yet giving results. I fed the mites on a pig about the time the fever was subsiding. Since then I used another animal just about the time he came down with fever. Tonight I am feeding a third lot on an animal just beginning the fever. This will make three series of experiments, two of which should give transmissions. The first lot may come through. For they sometimes go about 12 days before they come down. I am pushing it all I can for I am anxious to complete the work.

Jimmie writes that there is no hurry about returning but that he misses us. Says Mr. Hall makes it pretty embarassing at times. Bruce says that Hall is running true to form. Looks like another Abbott in some ways. Hope we can find out about him before it is time for his wife to return. I have a lot of sympathy for her, but that does not make the lab work go as it should.

With lots of love, Honey, I am

Your
Walter.

December 11, 1930

Dec. 11, 1930 5 PM.

My dear Sweetheart,

Your letter came last night. I hope you received my check in the next letter. I neglected to enclose it. Had a letter from Mother today. She thought it was nice that W.W. and you could come and visit at Uvalde while I am here.

December 11, 1930

December 11, 1930

Night before last I took Mrs. Laake to dinner and to a movie. She had me eat breakfast with her yesterday morning.

Mr. Wells is leaving tomorrow morning for grub work in Colorado. Dr. Stochick went out there several days ago.

Dr. Bedford just returned from Paris this PM. He gave a talk on endemic typhus last night.

Am sorry that I did not include the spring with W.W.’s swing. Guess I overlooked it in packing.

The pigs are not all normal but the symptoms are not yet exciting. I hope they will hurry up and get sick because I want to see my family. Love and lots of it,

Walter.

December 2-3, 1930

Tuesday Morning.

Dear Honey Bird,

Yesterday I sent the little swing for Buddy. Today I am posting the Xmas cards. The latter came this morning. Also, I am forwarding a letter from Baltimore and am enclosing one from AK.

December 2-3, 1930

December 2-3, 1930

Yesterday morning I had breakfast with Mrs. Laake. As yet I have not had a chance to take her to dinner. She was invited out yesterday and again today.

Got a supply of mites from Oak Cliff Sunday PM and another lot yesterday PM. Am getting some to feed on the pig sick with typhus. Shelmire will be out this afternoon.

Am expecting news of your trip to Uvalde. I thought of you the whole trip, except when I was asleep, and I hope that you made it OK. Perhaps I’ll get a letter today.

With love,

Your
Walter.

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 1930 [sic]

My dear Sweetheart,

Your first letter and also one from Claudelle were received just as I posted a letter to you. A second letter was received from you today. Thanks! I am mighty glad to know that our son is getting along OK. Shelmire says that he wants his son to be a good quarter back on the team and that he should not be as large as Walter White. He thinks Walter White should be large enough to play “center.”

Have been feeding mites until it is getting old. Have been using a non infected strain on an infected guinea pig. When these are 7 to 10 days older I’ll feed them on a “clean” pig. Some are to be used for other inoculations and fixations. We, also, have another strain of mites brought in from Henderson by Mr. Somier. We will try to feed them on a clean pig.

This A.M. Dr. Bedford phoned that he had a patient from near Fort Stockton. Bruce and I went down to see him. He was a sheep man. He had a large number of sores which resemble Delhi Boils or Baghdad sores. I don’t know what they are. This man’s brother-in-law will be in tomorrow. We expect to try and find some trypanosomes. I don’t care to go out to Fort Stockton to study the origin. There are about 12 persons affected in this manner. It looks like we are getting our share of the human side of entomology. Bruce is trying to learn something on the reservoir of relapsing fever, which originates from tick bites in caves.

I appreciate Mother Lewis’ thinking of me when she made a chicken pie Sunday.

Am trying to locate your pin. I am quite sure that it did not drop when you gave me your watch.

With all my love to W.W. & yourself, and the folks.

Your
Walter.

May 25, 1930 (PM)

Sunday Night

My dear Sweetheart,

I am at the PO now. Received some wonderful news and I managed to get this stationery to tell you about it. Bish sent a blank along which is to accompany his recommendation for me for the grade of Senior Entomologist at $4600 per annum. Can you feature such a jump. I expected a pretty good one but I did not anticipate this much. I am jumping the whole grade of Entomologist $3800 to $4500. This is an increase of $75 per month – Whoopee! I’ve pinched myself to see if I am awake. I’ve tried to figure if there are any loop holes. I guess not for he undoubtedly knows that he can get it through as he would not try in writing without this assurance. Bish is all right.

May 25, 1930

May 25, 1930 (PM)

With love and lots of it,

Walter.

Please be careful about mentioning it. You know how such news reacts on others in the service & even those out of the service. Tell the immediate family if you like but ask them to not mention it outside. I don’t believe I’d tell the figures to any except Daddy & Mother Lewis & Claudelle. Don’t tell Walter White even.

$4,600 in 1930 equals a little over $63,000 in 2012. Walter White is their first son, who was less than a year old at this point.

May 15, 1930

Walter’s current project is figuring out the etiology of endemic typhus (Rickettsia typhi). He suspects – correctly, it turns out – that rat mites are vectoring the pathogen.

Thursday PM.

My dear Sweetheart,

Your letter and the pictures came this noon. The pictures are very good and I am mighty glad to see them. Will keep them for the Baby Book. Walter White seems to be holding his own with so many new people.

May 15, 1930

May 15, 1930

I am enclosing a letter which was received from Mother today. Uncle Henry lost the little boy we saw at Sibley, La. I’ll write to him and to Mother tonight.

Yesterday Dr. Bedford brought his addition to the manuscript. It is very good for a rough draft but there is some duplication of information. This noon I had lunch with him at the Athletic Club. We plan to go to Longview and nearby places next Thursday PM. They have had quite a few cases of typhus. We want to determine whether or not rat mites are present. He wants to test samples of blood for typhus reactions (Weil-Felix test).

Mr. Somnier painted the gables of the house and the front of the garage. Today he is mowing the lawn and cutting the weeds in the back yard. The place is changing quite a bit. Perhaps this will be an added inducement to get the Mrs. to return to her husband.

With all my love, I am

Your Walter.

May 14, 1930

Walter’s next assignment will be studying the sand flies (Culicoides spp.) that are major pests in the coastal areas of the Southeast. He and Ina are figuring out the logistics for their pending move to either South Carolina or Georgia.

Wednesday A.M. 5/14

My dear Sweetheart,

It is difficult to tell you just what we should do. As much as I dislike the idea of being separated from you and Walter White, I am in favor of making it as comfortable for both of you as possible. I do not like the idea of leaving you in Dallas while I am in the Southeastern states. You could have everything delivered but you would be alone at night. I could get Mr. Somnier to let his oldest boy stay out there but it would be a responsibility to look after him. I think Mrs. Bucklin would be glad to stay with you but she would get on your nerves. Mrs. Chamberlain would be a lot of company and congenial.

May 14, 1930

May 14, 1930

If you wanted to stay in Uvalde until I get things located in the S.E. states it would be too much of an imposition on Daddy and Mother Lewis. They are going to have some anxiety over Thelma. They are going to have some visitors from Mississippi in June.

I am not sure but that it would be wise for me to come for you as we had planned. Then we could bring Claudelle and Daddy Lewis back with us. This would save Claudelle a little on her travel to Oklahoma. Then when you and I drive to Charleston or Savannah we could stop with Ethel for a little visit, also at my home if you care to. What do you think?

If you let me know just what you would like to do I’ll try to see it your way.

This PM Mr. Somnier is going out to our house with me to fix back steps, roof, gate, and paint the gables of the house. Will also paint front of garage.

With lots of love,
Walter.

October 13, 1928

The Mackay System – Postal Telegraph – Commercial Cables

ROXIE MISS 13

W E DOVE

CARE BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY DALLAS TEX

PAPA DIED LAST NIGHT WIRE ME HAMBURG WHEN EXPECT TO ARRIVE WAITING FOR YOU

REVA DOVE.

October 13, 1928

October 13, 1928

Obituary

T.W. Dove Dies Suddenly

T.W. Dove, aged 61, substantial resident of Franklin county for more than forty years, died of an illness of the heart, at his home near Hamburg, Mississippi at 3:00 A.M., October 13, 1928. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. T.W. Dove and three children, Revah Dove of Hamburg, Mrs. W.M. Prince of Philadelphia, Miss., Walter E. Dove of Dallas, Texas, two brothers and two sisters, E.B. Dove of Roxie, Miss. and Rev. J.C. Dove of Baskin. La., Mrs. W.M. Womack of Quentin, Miss. and Mrs. J.M. Gill of Little Springs Miss. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Eugene Farr and Rev. W.A. Green, at Hamburg Baptist church and the remains entered at Williams cemetery, Hamburg.

June 24, 1927

Friday PM. The Lab.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Was mighty glad to get your letter of yesterday and also a letter from Mother Lewis. You don’t know how much I miss you, Dear, but I want you to get out a good visit with Mother Lewis and all.

June 24, 1927

June 24, 1927

I am enclosing a letter from Sister which was addressed to both of us.

Today I made application for a renewal of our first lien on the Owenwood home. I think it will go through OK at 6-1/2%. It is for a five year period with yearly payments of $250 during the first four years. This will make it $3000 at the end of 5 years. This amounts to the same thing as the plan I mentioned, except that this is on a yearly payment plan instead of monthly. The rate of interest is the same as the other insurance Co. 6-1/2%. Will have to bring the abstract up to date and pay for an examination of it by an attorney, but would have to do this anyway if we renewed with Harper at 8%. The application goes to Denver before I’ll get a reply.

Today I collected the rent for the house. I had gotten down to my last dollar, so it came in handy. Brought the laundry home today. If you need some money, let me know.

The Bishopps have not yet sold their home. They plan to leave for Wash. during July. It will probably be after the middle of the month before I can come to Uvalde. I want to do some work down there which will keep me there for a while at least.

I am getting the manuscript in pretty good shape and I expect to send it to Dr. White pretty soon.

I hope you are feeling good and that the folks are also feeling OK.

I love you just lots and lots and I’ll be happy when I get my family together again.

With all my love,
Walter.

June 22, 1927

Wednesday A.M.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I intended to write last night but Alvis came to the house just after dinner and I spent the evening driving with him in his car. His girl, Miss Ina had to study for an exam. Yesterday, Gingell received a telegram from Helen that she arrived in Wash. OK and that Mrs. Gingell met her at the station. Gingell & Mr. Ahern left the city this AM. I spent Sun. & Mon. evenings with them. Had dinner with them Sun. & they had dinner with me Monday.

June 22, 1927

June 22, 1927

The past week has been a mighty long one. Seems that you have been gone ages. Your letter of last night helped a lot. Am glad that Mr. & Mrs. Slats are planning to live in Uvalde. It was probably a surprise to Mr. & Mrs. Parman that we are going to move to Uvalde. Bishopp should have told them. It won’t affect the work of either of us since each one will have his own problems.

I love you, Sweetheart and I want to see you just as soon as I can. It will be sometime yet though.

Your
Walter.