To begin the new year I want to share with you a long letter written in 1931 by our grandmother Inga and grandfather Carl. I have the original, now on yellowed binder paper, in their own handwriting. Although I can't remember who gave it to me, it is a treasure that might soon fade with age. So I am rewriting it as best I can, interpreting where I can, words I am unsure of. I am not correcting the spelling or punctuation errors to best portray the actual letter. (I made a few spelling correcttions where it was necessary to understand the intention) I have chosen two different fonts as close as I could come to the original handwriting style of each of them. I hope you enjoy the letter as I am sure it was part of the original round robin letters started, I think by Thelma Olsen. The letter shares information about each of the Christopher kids in 1931. If anyone out there has other letters in this series, that could be shared with all of us, let me know and I can put those on the blog as well. If you want to see the orginal, I can try to scan it, but its very hard to read. You can come visit me though and see the orginal plus other artifacts I have, pictures, etc. you might also enjoy.
Medina, North Dakota, March 29, 1931
Dear Mother, Sisters, and Brothers,
Received the letters Friday. Enjoyed them very much, sorry to hear you
been sick Gus hope you soon will be well again, your being lucky to get along
with out a doctor’s care for so long.
You have a nice little store. The snaps were so good, but you sure look
different then when I seen you last and
Bessie is nearly as fat as I am I
think she must eat to much ice
cream. Thank you Thelma for writing. it was just as good as getting a letter from
you. It must be a pleasant place to live
out there in winter. ..may be hot in the
summer. Ive been having a very nice
winter till last week had a real old time blizzard. it is warming up a little now. We had a lot of snow in November there never
was so much snow in Medina that I now of, we had to do some skraping hear
too. Jan and Feb were nice so the winter
did not seam so long.
Well, Mary, I was sure glad to see the
picture of you and William. You both
look happy. Your letter was very interesting. I wish I could write letters like the
rest. Well I must write about the
children. I have not any pictures that
was taken lately, but will have some next round.
Glen Arthur was 27 last Jan 7 had 1 ½ high school. He did not want to teach so did not finish He
is a farmer has farmed Mrs Gleason’s a
few years. Has his own Ford and a
partnership tractor with Carl. He has
worked in a garage, run tractors etc.
Now he has landed that carrier job
Will carry the mail on Monday Wednesday and Friday’s. a Star Route west
of town. Will commence April 1st
so I don’t think he will farm this year.
Alfred Clifford was 24 March 24 born on Palm
Sunday. He finished the 8th
grade when he was 14 been working in farm mostly also training horses. He worken now the Equity Creamery at
Jamestown from June 1 till Dec 19 when he got sick with Rheumatism abut the
same as he had twice before he was in
bed two weeks this time so it was not so bad as before anyway he has gone out west again now . had a chance to work in the creamery this
spring he think it is to damp
there likes to be out doors in the sunshine so he is
trying something els again he is at
Buffalo, S. Dak now.
Roy Willard is nex was 20 last Aug He finished Medina High School in 1928 also
had 3 months at the A.C. at Fargo worked for the Bell Telephone Co about 3
months, was out in the storm last fall…..they had the crew
tied together with a long rope. Ther truck got staled and they had to walk
three miles back to town that was near Lamore(?)
N. Dak. He has work on farm and out threshing
in the fall, was to Edgar Neb last year. He want to go to small colage as soon
as he can. Should have before but been rambling around to much.
Ruth Lillian was 18, August 10th
so you see Roy and her are twins but 2 years apart. Ruth will finish high school this spring. She
is going to take up nursing is going to
train in Bismark N. Dak. May not till
next fall.
The twins, Lauren Ivan and Lester Carl were
16 last Aug they are healthy and strong
have worked out some. They should
go to high school but I guess they will be just plain farmers.
Kenneth Orvin was 14 last Sept 7 I think Bessie remembers that when she was
trying to be at two places at once Kenneth finished the 8th grade at
xmas time had had just one study History
so just went 1 day he is the only one in the family that got
black hair.
Otto Vernon was 12 Dec. 19 and is an all
around big help where he is needed the most. When Ruth is not home, he helps me
peel spuds, etc. he is in 6th
grade.
Robert Norman is 10 years old today is not much for work yet can do quite a few things anyway he is the 4th at school.
Doris Esther will be 8 years June 10 is
growing tall and slim she is in 3rd
grade at school.
Donald Edwin will be 6 Sept 10 and then he starts to school. He is a healthy boy and quite large for his
age. Was sick a week or so this winter
with kind of a flu the rest of us had it
to
(Well that is the bunch) Hear is some
news George Kapp was married to Mrs.
Albert Bast two weeks ago. Gus and Mary
remembers him he lived south of town
near his brother Willis. And now his wife has a nice farm too and he is happier
still she is a real jolly woman so they should get along just fine. Kletts store burned this winter he has started a store again in BucksWater
Hotel on the south side where she had the restaurant.
Well I started to write news and forgot to
tell my age. I am 48(born June 28, 1882)
Carl was 55 on March 20.
I
hope mother gets this for Mother’s Day think it would please her more than anything
else we could send.
I guess I did not write down the year the
children were born so here it is:
Glen Arthur
Jan 7, 1904
Alfred Clifford March24, 1907
Roy Willard
August 10, 1910
Ruth Lillian
August 10, 1912
Lauren Ivan
August 5, 1914
Lester Carl
August 5, 1914
Kenneth Orvin Sept 7, 1916
Robert Norman March 29, 1921
Doris Esther
June 10, 1923
Donald Edwin
Sept 10, 1925
I hope this will find everybody well and
that we all will write a letter even if there is so many blots as I made. I think I will have to get a new pen
Love to all from Inga and Carl
Love it! Thanks for sharing and keeping the records for us!
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