Remaining Treasures

This should wind up the contents of the 'Treasure Chest' from Oregon.

First is this little nugget. It's the sort of thing a family researcher hopes for everyday - a hidden piece of information that hadn't been found before or confirming a fact.

While it appears to be a tiny bank book of uncle 'Babe's there are no financial entries other than a $300 deposit on August 30, 1920 which was subsequently crossed out.

The real find was a couple pages further where he recorded departure and arrival dates for what seems to correspond with his trip back East.

Notebooks, Bank Book, Dictionary, Wallet and Log Book of timber sales

A sample page from the previously mentioned log book of timber sales - 1915,1916

Railroad Schedules

A stack of Christmas Cards

Beekeeping Periodicals

 A catalog of pharmaceuticals 

A flyer on Sheep Dip 

 and A Map of Oregon

The town of Wallowa - col. 6, row 5

Just One More

This letter from Grandpa Will was tucked in with a stack of Christmas cards.
He wrote it after returning from his trip to Oregon following Aunt Maggie's death.
My Dad and Grandpa Will took a Greyhound bus to Oregon earlier in 1947 (can you imagine?), I believe Grandpa made the second trip by train.

(click the pic to enlarge)

(letter transcribed below)

A new granddaughter, Vivian Ruth.

Butler, Pa

Aug 27 1947

Dear Brother Babe

I arrived home OK on the 15th. The folks were very much disappointed when you didn't come with me and hope you decide to come soon.

Ruth was back in the hospital when I got home. She has a baby girl. Is back home now, doing fine.

Ralph is going to be married next month. Bob is starting his house; has the walls up. So I am going to help him build it. 

We want to build three this Fall. One for Bob, one for Ralph and one for James.

We are well as usual. Hope this finds you well.

Will close for for this time hoping to hear from you soon and hope you decide to come soon.

With Love and regards from all

WHB

Family Losses

Will and 'Babe' were now the only living siblings.

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Aunt Ruth wrote to 'Babe' on behalf of Grandpa Will wanting to be sure he knew that his brother Ed, sister Cora and sister-in-law Grandma Belle had all died died within the first six months of 1949.

Settling Up

Grandpa Will settles a debt and encourages his 'bro' to come to Butler. 

(click the pic to enlarge)

(letter transcribed below)

Grandpa Will had received a letter telling him that 'Babe' had broken his leg and was in the hospital.

Reed visited Butler and went to pay for the ad when he returned to Oregon.

Butler Pa

Jan 15 1948

Babe Dear Brother

I received your letter in regard to you being in Hospital. Am very sorry to hear of your bad luck. Hope you will soon be out and ready to come to Pennsylvania. I have been very busy since I got home helping the boys build their houses. We built three.

Reed Sutpline was here to see us late in fall. I gave him .58 cts to pay for an ad in the paper. He went to pay it and they said David Couch had paid it. So I am sending it to you. The Banks here don't take checks for less than $1.00 so you can either use it or give it back to him.

This leaves us all well and hoping you are still on the mend. Write us soon with best wishes from all 

Your Bro

And on a Sad Note

Moving into the late 40s. Aunt Mag had died a few weeks prior to this letter.

(click the pic to enlarge)

(letter transcribed below)

Note that Mary Whitlock has married and is in Chicago.

2012 Orleans St

Chicago, Il

July 6, 1947

Dear Uncle Babe

I sure was sorry about Aunt Mag. I don't know if your address is LaGrande or Wallowa so I'm sending a letter to both places. I'm glad uncle Will got to come out there and I know Mama wishes she could have come but Mama isn't well and her age is against her. She has a girl to help now but the girl isn't very strong and won't stay if she has any extra work to do, so Roy & I don't go home much. Walter has to stay at home on account of his bad heart. They don't have much to live on. Well I hope you are well and getting along all right

Best Wishes, your niece

Mary (Whitlock) Griggs

Another Cousin Heard From

This letter was sent by Mary Whitlock who was the daughter of the oldest of the Barnett siblings, Cora Lee (Barnett) Whitlock. And I would venture to say it is written to Bernice Turner who has been part of previous posts.

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(letter transcribed below)

Apparently Aunt Maggie's financial setbacks had begun.

She mentions not knowing 'their' address.

By this date Cora (Akers) Barnett 

had remarried to Rudolph Peterson.

I would take a guess that Mary was left-handed. (takes one to know one ;)

Riner Virginia

Sept. 17, 1932

Dear Mrs. Turner

Mother received your letter sometime ago and is unable to answer it, as she has something the matter with her hands, also kidney trouble and doesn't feel well. Roy, Walter and I have written to Aunt Mag since but she seems only to have gotten one letter I sent by air mail.
We are awfully sorry about Aunt Mag and I think my brothers will try to help her. However I had planned to spend the winter in New Orleans, LA. with my brother. Roy and Walter were going to give me this trip, but they said if I could spend this winter with Aunt Mag and help her for my board & room it would be cheaper and I don't imagine my clothes would be so expensive either as I went to New Orleans. I'm just crazy to come west, do you think Aunty would have any place for me as that I could get a job out there. My brother said he could come after me in his car in the Spring.
Is Sadie going to school this fall? I'd sure love to see her, don't know their address so I'm enclosing to aunt Cora a letter in yours.
Aunty says your daughter is in normal this year. I had two years at normal but my salary would be cut from $85 to $63 so I'm not teaching.
I go over to cousin ???'s about every week. Mary and Katherine have gone back to the D.C. to work they have good positions. Mary is certainly attractive. Katherine isn't pretty as Mary but she is attractive too. Both of them have splendid taste in clothes.
Guess I better close as its getting late. Mother sends her love to all of you

Sincerely yours

Mary Whitlock

Christmas Invite With a Restriction

You will remember from A.B. Turner's letters that he and his wife were separated. Reading between the lines I have the impression she was back East and A.B. was asking 'Babe' to do what he could to get her back to Oregon. And we know that he helped that happen.

I also got the impression from the the tone of A.B.'s letters that he was remorseful for something. That coupled with hints and stories over the years about Will's family leads me to believe it was related to drinking.

(letter transcribed below)

(click the pic to enlarge"

Note Bernice's  reference to no "moon"

1711 Washington Ave

Dec 22nd, 1930

Dear Babe,

We are sending you a remembrance for Christmas. It isn't much but will let you know we thought of you, Hope you get it o.k.

Come out and eat Christmas dinner with us.

I got a 10lb 'Turkey' today. We are having some real winter, the last day or two. Burnett is still working on the Hotel. Come Christmas if you can.

Wishing you a Happy Christmas without any "moon" ha

Regards from Turner Family

Bernice