Charlie letters

February 19, 1919

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

Dear Bud: 

Will just write a few lines to you tonite as I have nothing else to do, and anyway I know you like to get mail.  I have no news as usual.  Well we are all well, and hope you are the same.  It rains here almost every night, so it is awful wet around here, won't get out of here with the jitney for some weeks.

We are Farming Rice now a days in full swing, Axel and I am running the old mill we have farmed about 900 sax with it, & Albin & Oscar are running the new mill they are farming our own rice, but have only gotten started.

Our turkey trial which was to be February 17th was postponed until in April sometime no date has been set.  Old Reams claimed to be sick on that day, and dad saw him the next day in Gridley so the that looks pretty crooked but he is a wise old owl allright.  Dad was in Oroville that day but there was nothing doing about our trial, but he heard a trial of Mrs. Eva Martin used to be a Lash(?) of which I will send with a clipping from the Bee about it.

J.T. Holly was arrested some time ago and a butcher and a Bar Tender in Gridley, put up the bail and he was released, but is again under arrest.

Rolland Lindberg came home Sunday I was up when he come of the train he knew me alright, but didn't get much of a talk with him, he said that he saw you about 5 weeks ago, He sure has changed some, looks like a Captian.  And Alfred Stratton,  Harry Peterson's Engineer came yesterday.  It's to bad that you don't get your discharge, Every-Body sure was raring to see you back, when they found out that you were coming home in a week or two.  What became of Les McClogin(?) did he get his discharge?  He never writes any more.

We haven't been out to the rice field for about 2 months, but I guess it is all there, it don't worry me.  It is awful hard to get any rice land this year we have only got the 40 north of the house so far and that is for sale so we may not have that the first thing we know.  Harry Johnson -- Blanche's husband died last Tuesday & she was pretty sick to, both Mr. & Mrs., Dahlstrom are on there way back east.  P.J. Lofgrew is pretty low to he has been sick for a few weeks, he is hardly expected to pull through.

Well now it is bed time so will close.

Sincerely your Brother Richard

"Write soon as you can."

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. ----->

June 14, 1914

(From Funk, Nebraska)
(To Richvale, California)

Dear friend Chas.,

I feel a little like writing a letter this afternoon so I'll try to write you a few lines.  We had one inch rain this Friday night.  This rain came in time to help the oats along.  The leaves, a few of them started to get red but now the oats is looking quiet and well except most of it is quite short. The wheat is getting filled in fine, Everybody expects to cut their wheat with a binder so that isn't very short.  The corn certainly grows now days.  Some corn is a little weedy otherwise it's fine.  I suppose you have heard that Anna is sick in Thyphoid fever.  She has been sick for 5 weeks and you can't say any better yet.  Maude Eckloff has been here nursing all the time.  Otherwise we are all well.  Carl is home now.  He is organist this summer while Bergs are out in the eastern states.  So you have already bought some more land, I'm afraid you are getting rich to fast.  Last Thursday they had 4 inches of rain, and some hail north of the River, in Kearney and Grand Island, so it nokked down their wheat.  Herman has been here now, we went out eating some cherries, and it rained a little so we nearly got wet but it has quit now.  He's in a hurry because you know it's Sunday night, so he has to go see his girl a while.  You aint as bad as that yet are you?  Elmer says I should tell you to tell Albin to write to him once in a while.   I have to hurry because it's soon time to go to church, or rather to  choir(?).  Next Thursday we are going to have our picnic, then is when you ought to be here.  Methodists had theirs Friday.  The Stars played Keene(?), Stars Beat something like 14 to 8.   The Stars win nearly every game they play this year.  I will come out there to the World's Fair if I get rich enough by that time, but I doubt that tho.  I'm afraid I would have to walk out and without eating also.  Oscar Morteson(?) has bought and old threshing outfit, so he intends to make enough money to get married next year.  Both Maude and Dazarig(?) tells me to greet you.  That's all I have time for so will have to quit.

Your friend,
Emil Gustafson

Write soon.