August 22, 1918

(From Richvale, California)
(To Camp Lewis, Washington)

My Dear Soldier Brother,

I will again try to write you a few lines, received from your postal.  Every Body is fine only Marie and Madaline have the whooping cough, they came home last Monday from Wheatland.  Did you get my other letters you never said whether you received them or not.

We got some pictures of Hilda yesterday they sure are real good, the boys say that she looks like me so no wonder but what they are good ha, she sure looks big she wears her dresses clear to her shoe tops so it makes her look like 18 yrs instead of 15.

Aunt Emma lefted yesterday for Richmond she was here a week & at harvest she & Axel are going to try and come to help us.  She said she would do the cooking so then I can do whatever I want to, don't know wether I will be able to work in the rice fields or not but shall try.  Hope you can get off for harvest Albin & Mr. Erickson are going to try and see what good they will do to see if they can get you & Walt off.

Mabel Peterson & Erickson's were here Sunday to see your soldier picture.  Nearly every person in R. has been here to see it.

In the Dyer Cafe in Chico is the picture of Art P., Metzger, John K.(?), and Albert H.  They all look very sad except Art, there isnt more than about a hundred boys on there picture.

Rick is helping Oscar haul hay today. Albin is irrigating M'tains.  Dad is patching sacks.  I guess you know just about what I am doing.

Mabel P. has left the hotel now and is staying with Rosie P. in Chico, from what I here she is going to work for Dahlstroms this winter.

Swimming is nearly over now the water is rather cold.

You ought to be in R. now, several pretty girls dropped in, a sister to Pete Swenson and Mrs. H. Rystroms has to sister here, and all of Jeps(?) relatives are on the way here.  There is 2 or 3 girls there, they are coming in Fords so there must be several coming.

Dear Brother I must close.

With love to you from your Dear Little Sis. Esther

Hope this letter will find you well & happy and as strong as ever.

Ans. soon

Comments

[Dick Moody]

Greetings:

Do you know the unit that your great grandfather was assigned to while at Camp Lewis? I have an 8x20 framed photo labeled "A" Company 76th Infantry 13th Division Camp Lewis October 1918. If your grandfather is in that unit, I would be happy to send you a high image jpg.

Dick Moody

[Norm Gustafson]

Hi! I'm Norm Gustafson, G.Gson of John M. Peterson (Swan's brother) in Nebraska. Do you have info about Swan, or the church they built (I show location as "Marquette, Nebraksa")?

Norm

wngus@hotmail.com