Charlie letters

October 31, 1918

(From Richvale, California)
(To Camp Lewis, Washington,
Supply Co. 76 Inf.)

Dear Soldier Brother Charlie:--

I received your most welcome letter yesterday, and will now enjoy writing to you in reply to your letter, we got those three pictures of you sent safe, and they sure make me feel like I wanted to be right with you, I sure hope I will see you before you go across.

Albin, Esther, and Lucina just went up town to get Lucina's sister and her husband and two kids, they  come from Montana today on the four o'clock from the north, they intend to live here I think.  Harry Peterson hired the man to run his Rumley(?).

We are having one glorius time cutting rice about 50 acres left on the 160 and then about 2 days cutting at home will wind her up, even though it has been awfully tough  Albin and I have cut almost our share out west already, Oscar has had awfully bad luck, he has tried it all over the whole field.  We clear it all up as we are going we're driving five and tonight we decided that we must put on some more pep so I guess well have to drive six head of stock if they don't pull it we will just have to lay off till it gets dry enough, the west side is left, next to Landis and he just stopped pumping yesterday, so we still got some fun of coming. Today I took 7 pictures but have to take five more before the roll is full I have a double size roll this time 12 pose instead of six, I snapped one of Axel when I told him to look at that hair on the lense of the camera, and I got him pretty.  I was so close that I could not see more than his face.

Well there are many threshing machines going now the roads are hardly passable out west we get hung up on the some of the ruts most every time we go over that road.

Mostly all schools are now closed, a program fortnight, Halloween eve was all planned but they stopped it.

Axel is now reading your letter I rcv'd yesterday.

Bob Risley is not working for Oscar now, he started to work for him and then it rained one day and he went to Chico and when Oscar wanted him he found out he was working for the Chico Construction and getting $5.50 per day.  I think we will give Axel $4.00.

I heard Gilbert Magnuson is drafted and Forster(?) Norman and Anton Wilson, and lots of other fellows we use to know.

Say if you can possibly get some more pictures taken of yourself please do so as that is one sure thing that we will always remember you by, when you are in France, I will send you as many as I can get ready I don't get to be on many of the pictures because I have to operate the camera, but I guess you won't miss much by that.

Well I better stop this nuisance while I can.

Tell Walter Hello if you see him, I should have wrote to him long ago but I don't get time or get around to it tomorro Fri we have been cutting rice two weeks and have put in good long days every day.  Well if you cant read all of this, I believe you got me skinned.

Yours Sincerely,
Brother Richard

Ans Soon or sooner --

January 19, 1918

December 20, 1918

(From Richvale, California)
(To Supply Co, 76 Infantry, Camp Lewis, Washington)

Dear Chas.,

Will tonight drop a few lines to you.  I have not wrote to you for quite a while, so will try to tell you how we are making it, we are in good health and hope you are also.

It is raining tonight, the rest of the folks went to Chico today in the Ford and are stuck down by Ernest Grille(?).  Albin & Dad just come home, but Albin went back right away, now they all come in they had to leave the bar, and walked home, probably we won't get it home all winter now, I think I'll go down right away and try to get it out. 

(Dec. 21)
Well today the sun is shining and the north wind a blowing, it looks like we may have dry weather for a while anyway.

We still have some rice to cut don't know, now if ever we will get it sowed since the wind is blowing at the rate of 2.40, just pulled home again yesterday from the 160 we've been out a mucking adobe for a few days got both wheels on sleds, talk about a circus, get some of these eastern guys out here, and I think one squint at it, would be sufficient to lay him out, don't hardly dare to ride any of the horses because they can't pull their feet out and fall down all the time, well I spose you remember what it is when it is wet.

I just sent to Sears Roebuck & Co. for a phonograph this morning it costs $67.00 and then I got about $6.00 worth of Records.  I wished I would have sent for it before so as to have it for Xmas but anyway by New Year's I'll have some music going.

I don't know if any of us will go down to the cities for Xmas or New Year's yet or not.  Axel is still here but will leave for Frisco tomorrow-morning.  I sure wished you would come home soon, by the way it looks to me, they are not turning them loose so awfully fast.

I have just one more picture take then I'll have another batch of them made ready right away.  The one is a double sized roll 12 exposures instead of six, I will send 1 of each kind to you.

Albin sent you some presents yesterday so be sure and look for them, I think he said he sent a pocket knife with chain and a box of candy & some cigarettes.

When I mail this letter I will pick up some kind of do jiggers and send something as a little present for Christmas, it won't be much but it will be enough so that you will know I haven't forgotten you to have a Merry Christmas.

From Richard Peterson

Answer Soon

P.S. You can see where Albin has been figuring and writing on this page. ----->