Tag Archives: money

July 18, 1925 (Walter)

Jacksonville Florida.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Gee! but I would like to be with you now. The recollections of the two months at Uvalde are so vivid and of such importance and pleasure, that I feel I would give most anything to spend this evening with you. I always wish for you, Dear, but there is a special reason tonight. The week’s work is over and I naturally want to talk with you, but I wonder if there is anything that we have not discussed that should be talked over.

We met Dr. Arius at the park a few minutes ago and congratulated him on being elected State Health Officer by the Board of Health. He was not permanently given the place, but will no doubt get it as the Board are placing him in charge. When he had talked about this, he told of the family and his nine years of married life. Said they had never had a fuss and that both of them were determined that they were not going to have one.

July 18, 1925 (Walter)

July 18, 1925 (Walter)

This interested me and I asked how he accounted for it, just as though it was very unusual, and I do believe that it seldom happens that way. He said that it was due to a complete understanding before they married and of keeping such an understanding of one another. He says that if there is anything that a couple will not discuss nor understand of one another, that sooner or later things happen to cause friction. He was not married until he was in the thirties and when he found the girl to be his wife he couldn’t understand why she had not married before then. The feeling and general trend seemed to be so much like that of my own case, Dear, that I couldn’t help but tell you about it. From what he told me I can’t help but feel that my circumstances are very similar to what his had been. I can’t see any reason why we should not be equally as happy and congenial, and you don’t know how much I wish for the time to come so that I can have you with me always. I don’t know of anything on which we have not had an understanding and if you are happy I know that I’ll be happier.

There is only one thing that I know of which we have not discussed fully, but I believe that each of us understand. I wish that my income was sufficient so that I could support you in more style, but I believe that I can give you comforts and conveniences which will make favorable conditions for happiness, and I believe that you know about them and about what to expect of me. I haven’t heard anything lately regarding a promotion, but I am in hopes that my salary was increased on July 1st. Bishopp intimated it, but did not tell me for sure. I had not asked for it, and with him I don’t believe that asking was necessary at the present time. I rather expect that it will be effective for $2600 or possibly $2700*. It is a most peculiar thing that I mentioned my salary to you when I had known you only a short time, and that we exchanged experiences we had had with others. I have often thought of it and why we did this. It seemed as though we understood each other very early in our acquaintance and, Dear, I have loved you ever since then. There was a slight tremble in your voice when you told me, and I wanted to hug you so much and tell you that I loved you. That was the time you would not even let me hold your hand for a second when I told you goodnight. It was sweet of you, but it didn’t seem just right to me then. But you were right, and you don’t know how glad I am that everything came out all right. We are going to be happy and I am not going to have a fuss with you. I’ll call you “Mama” when we seem to be approaching such a point. We will be frank and open about everything and if there is anything you want to know which I have not told you I want you to feel free to ask me. If it hurts I’ll tell you just the same. I believe I have told you most everything, or at least everything I could think of and I had no mental reservation of any kind.

Our clinic closes Monday night, and we expect to be here until the latter part of the week. Then we will no doubt go down to the beach for the rest of the time while Dr. White is here. I want to make good use of him, for it is like having a University along to have him with me. I hope that it will be possible to get him down here in the future for a short while each year. He has been an old bachelor so long that he has set ways of doing things, but these ways are good ones at that. I hope that I will not be so much that way that it will annoy you, for I want to make you happy and if I can do this I’ll be a mighty happy human.

Remember that I love you, Honey, and that you mean everything to me. I want you and I am going to try and make you happy.

With all my love,
Your,
Walter.

* Equal to $33,000-$34,000 in 2011.

September 12, 1924

Friday Evening
Sept. 12, 1924

Dear Walter:

Your nice long letter came yesterday afternoon, and it sounded so nice that I’ve been happy ever since. It was the kind that made me feel like I had been talking with you, and that’s the kind I like.

You said you didn’t care much for posed pictures, but I am sending you two anyhow since I promised you quite a while ago that I would. I didn’t know which one you would like better, so I thought I would give you one of each pose. Guess you think I’m very fond of having pictures made of myself, but, when you get too many, just let me know, and I’ll quit sending them. Ordinarily I dislike very much having my picture made, but you seemed to want some, so I did it.

September 12, 1924

September 12, 1924

Last Friday morning about six o’clock Mama, Papa, Claudelle and I started to San Antonio in my car and returned that evening. We had a very pleasant trip even though they were working on the roads a great deal, and we had to detour several times.

We unworthy Uvalde people received a wonderful blessing today in the form of a good rain. Can you imagine such a thing in Uvalde? It had been such a long time since we saw anything of the kind that I imagined I saw a shocked look on the faces of some people in town when the drops began to fall. We are having a slow rain tonight, it is so cool and pleasant, and it’s just an ideal night to sit and talk. You don’t know how glad I’d be if you were here right now.

Mr. Bishopp must not have received Mr. Parman’s letter until he returned to Dallas because he would have, of course, mentioned it while he was with you. I hope he has it by now, and will feel that it is absolutely necessary for you to come to Uvalde. It seems most too good to be true, but I can’t help but half way believe that he will.

Walter, you said you are sorry you haven’t more to offer me in a material way. The fact that you are offering me your true love is what makes me happy. If you had worlds of money and offered it to me without love it wouldn’t appeal to me. I have never had wealth, but still, I am happy most of the time, so what more could a person ask than happiness? I am glad you haven’t lots of money because so many young men who have been reared in wealth lack the ambition to get out and try to amount to something. You have accomplished lots already, and are so ambitious that I admire you a great deal more than I would one who had worlds of money and no ambition. I am glad you are just like you are. In other words, I’m glad you’re you.

Did you celebrate Defense Day today? We made a brave attempt, but it was not a wonderful success on account of the frequent showers. We closed the office from ten A.M. until two P.M., but we worked most of that time since they were unable to have the parade etc.

By the way, I talked to Mr. Shirley the other day and he said he would like very much for me to be his deputy at least until my term is up with the Independent School District on the First of April. I was delighted, of course, and consented.

I appreciate your telling me to ask you anything I would like to know. If there is anything, I will ask you and I want you to feel perfectly free to do the same by me. I have confidence in you and feel that you are not trying to keep anything from me. If I should ask you questions, I have confidence enough in you to feel that you will tell me the truth.

It is getting late now, so goodnight and pleasant dreams.

Sincerely,
Ina

January 12, 1918

Mineola N.Y.
Saturday Jan. 12, 1918

Dear Mother and Papa,

I am enclosing two Liberty Bond receipts which I neglected to enclose in my last letter. I have also paid five dollars when I subscribed for the bonds, which leaves a remainder of $75 to be paid. The interest makes it $76.

January 12, 1918

January 12, 1918

I would advise that you send the first check to Sanger Bros., Dallas, Texas, for $55.85 on about Feb. 1. About March 1 send one to the City National Bank, Dallas, Texas for $76. On about April 1 I would like to have you send Mr. W. E. Kennedy, 4309 Elm St., Dallas, Texas a check for $53 (Fifty-three dollars). He has just wired me the money and I am giving him my note due about April 1. He is a good Masonic brother of mine and this loan is returning a favor (I have loaned him money and he has paid it). He did not delay in the least when I wired him for the amount. I knew that he would send it. I am writing him and will tell him that you will mail a check for me about April 1.

All of our baggage is on the boat and we expected to leave before now, but have not. I understand that we go soon. I am going to cable you when I get across just to let you know that I landed safely. I want you to write sister as soon as you get the cablegram and let her know. Will wire to Hamburg.

There will be $75 dollars deposited at the City National Bank, Dallas, Texas at the 1st of each month and you should sign your checks Mrs. T. W. Dove.

With love, and kindest regards to all, I am,
Always your,
Walter.

Write me once each week and address me

Lieut. W. E. Dove
121 Aero Squadron
New York, NY
A.E.F.

A.E.F. means American Expeditionary Forces.

Jan. 9, 1918 12 o’clock

Mineola, L.I. N.Y.
Jan. 9, 1918. 12 o’clock.

Dear Mother,

This may be another surprise but I think that I will be on my way to France within two days, possibly tomorrow. Today I had charge of some trucks hauling the equipment of my squadron to the port of embarkation. I understand that we leave tomorrow.

I am enclosing a witnessed copy of my application for insurance and you should keep this until you receive the policy. Two copies of this have been sent to Washington, and they will send you the policy. The premiums will be deducted from my salary. The insurance is in force as soon as I mailed the application and it is good no matter what the cause of my death might be.

Jan. 9 1918

Jan. 9 1918

I am having an allotment made you from my pay. They should send you seventy five dollars of my salary each month. I want you to keep this for me, and pay my insurance premiums in the Capital Life. Also I have two debts that I want you to pay. There is no hurry about either as they both know my condition. One is for uniforms and clothes at Sanger Bros., Dallas, Texas, amounting to $55.85 (Fifty five dollars and eighty five cents). Send them a check sometime before March 1, enclosing the statement I am sending in this letter.

The other bill is a last payment on my Liberty Loan Bonds. I have two hundred dollars worth at the City National Bank, Dallas, Texas but at present I owe them Seventy. Please pay them this amount and hold the receipts I am enclosing. Also keep the receipt they will give you. I have not had my bank book balanced but I think I have drawn about all of my money from the bank.

I do not owe anyone else any money as I have not received any from Mr. Miller at Natchez, and could not get in touch with Mr. Pool at Dallas. So I do not owe either of them any money. I do not see why Mr. Miller did not wire me the one hundred, but he did not. I have managed to get along fine without it as I received my December pay OK.

I have brought lots of heavy clothes, another quilt, and am pretty well supplied for service abroad. You should not worry about me as I will not be fighting, but will have charge of some trucks in shipping supplies for the Aviation Service. Possibly I will have an office and will see to the loading of the trucks. I am greatly pleased with my assignment.

You cannot expect to hear from me very often at first as it will take about one month for a letter to reach you after I have written from there. The censors will read all of your letters to me and all of mine to you. I will write every week after I arrive and you should hear from me once each week. I have arranged to telegraph you when I arrive abroad so that you will know that I landed safely. My telegram will be sent through Washington so do not be frightened when you find out that I have telegraphed. I may telegraph you every now and then just to let you know that I am all right.

I have been assigned to a new squadron for service abroad and your letters should now be addressed very plainly to me as I write it:

Lieut. W. E. Dove,
121st Aero Squadron,
A.E.F.
New York, New York.

The postmaster at New York City will know where the mail goes and will send it OK. In case anything happens to me you will be notified by the government. Unless you receive a telegram from them you may know that I am getting along all right.

It is getting late and I must close. With lots of love and regards to all, I am, always your,

Walter.

P.S. I have not received any packages from you to Leon Springs but think they will be forwarded to me.

The $75.00 will be deposited with the City National Bank, Dallas, Texas in your name (Mrs. T. W. Dove). It will be there by the 5th of each month beginning Feb. 5 and continuing until one year expires.

Walter.