Charlie letters

August 8, 1918

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

Sunday P.M.

My Dear Brother Chas.

I will answer your letter which was received the day I left for the mountains, we -- Chas Fish(?), Lucina(?), Rick, and myself just came home a few minutes ago, it seems rather hot here for it sure was cool in Coutolenc, nearly all the people are leaving Coutolenc Today and Tomorrow so it sure will be a lonesome place.

Dad is still up to the Springs, don't know when he intends to come home.

Monday P.M.

The boys desided to go to Chico last night so I will try and finish your letter now.

I have such a terrible cold I can hardly talk.  I caught it the first night in Coutolenc. 

I sure would like to see you in your uniform, hurry and have your picture taken, I am still waiting for a picture to put in my locket, How's the watch?

Today is Lucina's birthday, so I suppose I ought to get over and see her a while.

Madaline came home the next Monday after you left, Mr. Stephens went to Hayward the same day as you left and made them come home with him, but I haven't saw Madaline since I came home from Coutolenc.  Albin and Rick went after peaches today, wish you were here to eat peaches and cream for supper.  ha, ha

Chas Fish(?) bought a camera and took a picture of the Ford as it was packed to leave Coutolenc and us four kids were beside the Ford and we tried to get the star-flag on the picture too, and if the pictures are any good I will try and get you one.  We got a beautiful Star flag for the front door it is larger than the one you got, and has fringes and has a picture on it which means something about the artillery (I don't know what).

Oh, yes!  The watermelons are ripe now, shall I throw you one?  and they are very good.

Tomorrow Chas F(?) and maybe Roy are going to help the boys pull watergrass, Oscar went to Chico today and is going to get some little boys to help him, hope they are good looking ha, ha,

I suppose I ought to end this letter for you will have more than one to read - by the rate you said you were writing.

Hope you are feeling fine, take good care of yourself.

With Love, from all,
Esther

Be sure you write soon for would be glad to here from you every day. 

Oscar's brother Victor, the one who was supposed to come to Richvale left for training camp the 26th July in Iowa.

Bye Bye.

haven't seen anybody since I came home but shall tell all Hello from you.

October 26, 1918

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

My Dear Soldier Brother.

Read your card, & letter which Oscar ans'd.  Rather looks like my pen is no good so I have try lead pencil.

Its sure nice to get letters from you more than any one else (only write often or if possible).  We just got a letter from Victor last evening he says he will be moved soon to some eastern camp he thinks.  Lots of boys from Camp Dodge from Overton(?) that are to be moved to Camp Kearny he says.  he only wishes he could go there too so we could come & see him then. 

Oscar is cutting rice everyday.  He started out west Wed. and finished at home first.  Albin and Rick started (Thurs.) today.  Axel(?) is shucking for them.  We have an old fellow He's awful slow thats what O. says.  he's tried to get one more with no luck. 

Oct. 24  We are having just lovely rice weather here now which is sure a blessing.  had three days of wind from the north so it drying fine.

I am still patching sack between times we sure get up early now.  They leave for the field at 6 o clock & get home at 7 o clock.

Is your Camp still under quarantine?  Hope you are as well as we are.  Only 2 cases (of Spanish influenza) here I think.  Mrs. Meredith & some people at the Experiment(?) Station.  I think it must be pretty well checked by this time. 

The school in Biggs closed up and all picture shows in Chico.  I heard there 29 cases in Bigg and 100 cases in Chico.  I sure spread it seem only a short time ago we first heard of it in some eastern camp I think it was.

If we save this crop it might be possible to take a trip to Nebr this winter.  Oscar sure loves to go and of course I can't help but like it.  Having a home like he has and folks, its no wonder, we don't know what it means at all the way were brot up.

There are Nebr people here visiting Joe Kumberg's(?) Mother and Sister Esther.  Don't know if I told you before.  Say how is Walt & what is his address.  You must write & tell me things of course I read some of the folks letters.  I seen the little pin you sent & sure a beaut. most made me jealous of her things but I guess it no danger.  I'm quite used to that.

From Mabel.

How did them pictures turn out I sure like to see them

January 24, 1916

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

(Letterhead of Scandinavian Mutual Insurance Company of Kearney, Phelps, Dawson and Harlan Counties)

Friend Charlie:

I am going to write you a few lines tonight, So you will know that I'm still alive.  How are you out there.  I suppose you have lots of rain now days.  I've read in the paper of floods in southern Cal. but they maby dont reach as far north as Richvale, I hope not.  Now is when you ought be out here, and skate, we've had dandy ice, but now its been warm weather a few days, so the ice was not hard enough to skate on in the evenings or afternoons, but it seems like it will be colder weather tomorrow.  We are done picking corn now.  How did it go with your threshing this year, did you get done in time for the rain.  How much does it make per acre?  The best wheat out here is worth $1.02 now.  The Elevator men cant get cars enough so people can haul as much as they want to.  We have been shelling some corn but it is too warm weather now, so the corn gets tough and wet.  and people cant get rid of the corn because the Elevators are all filled up.  We have been working with shoeing horses today so we can haul wheat on the ranch(?) roads.  last Wednesday we were on funeral, Alberts little boy was buried, he was around 1 1/2 years old.  Tomorrow Edolf Carlsons baby is to be buried.  Theres people sick pretty near all over around here this winter.  Measels and Lagrippe mostly.  Havent had much time to hunt rabbits this winter yet, been out three times.  There seems to be more coyotes around here than it used to so I think people could have great sport if they'd put up a (?).  Do you have may Geese and ducks out there now.  We had quiet a few out here this fall, I didnt have much time to hunt but I shot 13.  I'm running out of news now and I might as well quit for this time.  Write me a line as soon as you have a chance.  Greet the rest from Your Friend
Emil Gustafson

November 10, 1918

(From Funk, Nebraska)
(To Camp Lewis, Washington)

My Dear Soldier Brother:

Will answer your most welcome letter which I received this Fri eve.  Many thanks for the letter and pictures.  I sure was glad to hear from you.  I would not answered so soon but as I do not know how long you will stay on one place I will answer now so my letter will be sure to reach you.

We are having such nice weather here now.  But a couple of weeks ago we had quite a snow storm.

In Funk school, churches and all places for public gathering have been closed for three weeks on account of the flue*.  It was opened Fri at 12 oclock.  So today we had meeting at church.

Last Thurs in Funk they said the war was ended and the church bells rang almost an hour.  The next morning we found out it was only a false report.

So you think you are going across to help them get the Kaiser.  Sure wish I would have a chance to see you before you go.  But it does not seem to be any so I'll have to be satisfied any way. 

I must close and if you have to go across I wish you a safe journey over there and home again.

With Greetings,
Hilda (Peterson)

*From Wikipedia:  "The 1918 flu pandemic, commonly referred to as the Spanish flu, was a category 5 influenza pandemic between 1918 and 1920 caused by an unusually severe and deadly Influenza A virus of subtype H1N1. By far the most destructive pandemic in history, it killed some 50 million to 100 million people worldwide in just 18 months, dwarfing the bloodshed due to World War I (1914-1918). Many of its victims were healthy young adults, in contrast to most influenza outbreaks which predominantly affect juvenile, elderly, or otherwise weakened patients."

January 12, 1914

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

Dear friend Charlie,

Now I have been thinking about writing you a letter so long, so I'll have to do that tonight.  Thanks for the letter and card.  It certainly was fun to hear that you are getting settled down and start to like it better now.  I hear you have all work you want out there, I dont suppose you ever have time to hunt.  Elmer and I hardly have time to hunt neither but ever once in a while we take time.  When Joe Lind came from Wahoo after Xmas, Dave came along out, They are hatching(?). Colhouse(?) and his family went to Wahoo the day before Joe and Dave came.  Dave hunts jack rabbits nearly every day.  There is lots of work with the cattle this winter, hawking fad(?) every day. 

Ludwig Bengtson told me, you wrote to him and said you, had been along in a wreck where 9 persons were killed, Is that so, next time you write tell me a little about it. 

We had a kind of party here one evening, about 30 persons were here, but we did not have very much fun because it was to many people to play any games.  We have been away on parties too, to Gust Petersons, there we had a fine time, after all the fun we took pictures, but I havent saw any yet.  Do you ever go on parties out there or dont they have any girls out there so you can have any fun.  I hope you can have fun out there once in a while, otherwise I cant see how you can like it. 

Next Friday evening we will have Luther League when they will elect new oficers, then is when you aucht to be here and get a nice job.  Do you ever see any coyote out there.  We see one once in a while out here.  I hope there will be a wolf hunt out here soon so I can get one.  Louis Hansen will have his sale Jan 28.  Mother is busy now, she is going to make carpets for Julius.  She's all afternoon to rig her fixen(?) up.  Elmer said I should write that he's going to Albin's letter soon.  The children spoke better this year than ever before in Xmas program.  still they hadent practised once.  Was you at any Xmas tree(?) last Xmas? Did you go waiting any time?  We were away nearly every day one week, but that soon stopped.  We had some fine slaying (sleighing?) during Xmas but the snow is soon off now.  Joe and I fell down in the mud, with the motorcycle and bent one pedal about straight up.  but the engine worked just as good for that.  I'm short on news now so I suppose I'll have to quit.  Duzenia says I should greet you, from her. 

From your friend
Emil Gustafson

Write Soon.

August 22, 1918

(From Funk, Nebraska)
(To Camp Lewis, Washington)

Friend Chas.,

I was sure glad to get your card, I didn't even know you was a soldier untill I read it, but I've thot of you many times and wondered why you never wrote.  I thot you was soldier, I don't know if I ever will be, but things look like I might some day.  I'm going to register next Saturday.  Carl has been in France over one month.  How about Albin where is he?  Now something about whats going on around here.  Things dont grow fast around here now, but the corn sure ripens fast, some fields are ready to cut (illegible?), we drove one(?) trip(?) with the corn(?) finder(?) but we thot it is too green yet.  wheat averages nearly 10 hv(?)  around here, the pastures are quiet dry, the hay short, not much alfalfa this year, and too dry to plow now, we have about 80 acres left.  Willie Nelson you know, Nils Nelson, Millie has already left camp, he wasnt there more than two weeks.  Allin Nelson is there now.  When you answer this tell all about your experience in the army and what kind (illegible?) you have in the D. B. Answer as soon as you can. 

From your friend Emil G.

June 20th, 1915

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

Friend Charlie,

Now I've waited so long to write, so I'll have to write you a few lines tonight, I've even forgot which one of you boy I owe a letter first.  but if this aint right just write me again and I'll know next time, and I'll answer sooner than I did this time.  First I want to let you know that we have lots of rain this summer, weve had somewhere around twenty inches of rain already since spring begin, so the ponds are full of water, all over, and theres water across the roads on several places between here and town so we cant use our auto if yet it is fine roads elsewhere.  but I suppose that will sink away if it dont come a hard rain too soon again.  This afternoon Elmer, Zek(?) Lind, Victor Nelson, and I were down in Clauses pasture boatriding but It didnt get very good the long grass polks up through the water so one fellow can hardly move it with four in.  There's so deep water all way the whole mile so it nearly goes over a persons(?) rubber boots.  There quite a few ducks around here and also many mud hens.  The corn isnt big enough to be cultivated decent, on account of all the rain.  but the wheat and oats is fine where the ground aint too low or where they have had hail.  We havent had any hail yet, around Willcox, south east of Funk, and east of Holdredge there's been hard hail.  Its got easy to hail this year so we may get ours anytime.  Our picnic will be held July 1.  You ought to be here then.  How is everything in Cal?  I would like to go there this year but I dont think I'll have the time and money.  "Elmer says, tell 'em that I'm still alive, I'll write some time."  Duzenia(?) is in Wahoo at present, She's been there on Lillie Linds wedding.  How soon will I get to hear of your wedding?  Is Albin married yet?  How is Richard coming along?  Was to the Farmers Union Picnic the other in Verbacks grove, had a pretty good time, Do you play in a base ball team this year?  Greet all of 'em from me.  Write soon and let me know about everything.

Your friend
Emil Gustafson

January, 19__

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

Friend Charlie,

Thanks for card and was glad to hear from you.  we are having winter weather now.  come out and you can have all the skating you want.  So you have literary(?) season out there now.  Its the rainy season out there now is it not.  Through picking corn hoping to hear from you soon. 

From friend
Arno(?) Nelson(?)

November 1, 1914

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

I must now ans your card I recd some time ago I am busy husking corn &(?) I tell you it surly is as it all lays on the ground I am all alone home this winter so Ill have plenty to do well I suppose next year you will be going to the exposition or how?  Ive been thinking about going there if I can get somebody to go with but I dont know yet if I will or not.  Well every thing out here is dry as usal nothing doing at all well as there is a limit to my wind I must quit.

Write soon
Your friend
Ernest S.

[I remember how those old "I've fallen and I can't get up" Life Alert commercials used to crack me up because of this card.  I wonder if the Life Alert ad people had this card too?  -Karla]

More information:  hobble skirts

March 1, 1914

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

Dear Friend Charlie,

I think it is about time for me to answer your letter.  We have had fine weather now for a few days but last sunday we had fearce weather, Still I didn't need to suffer much, when I didn't need to do more than shorse(?).  It was worse for those who had to go on your Grandmaws funeral.  Father helped to carry so he and Julius went along to Funk, Elmer, Mother, and Duzenia(?) were over to Wallen's only.  I stayed home by the stove.  Muddy roads east and west but north & south they are fairly well, all snow just kept sliding over them, it blew so hard it couldn't stop.  but it stopped in the stubble fields by all those Russians thats better.  Some water in the ponds, but the ducks havent come yet so that does any good.  Well nearly all to church this morn.  Elmer & Grandmaw were home.  Elmer has a pretty bad cold at present.  This afternoon I have stamped 30 of Juliuses wedding invatations.  that's all he had home so couldnt stamp more.  He's going to be married next week on thursday, 12 oclock March 12th.  So you see pretty soon it will be only Elmer and I to do the work.  Next Spring, during summer I suppose Carl will be home to help.  Bussy every day, very few days we are busy doing nothing.  The wolf hunt held in the hills ended up with seven wolves, but I didnt get any, The man who made up the wolf hunt, layed in dry creek which went thro the pasture where the rounded up.  (??) shot wolves with a big rifle, he said then he shot three but now they claim he shot six.  We had with wind so we had the poorest chance.  was over to your old place and got that kane(?) stack the other day was just two big loads.  The only implements over there now are the disk and the plow.  How do you like plowing in Cal. or havent you got started to plow, before the last rain.  Have you had any storms where you live this winter, See in papers they had som had storms in Los Angeles and around there but probably not as far north as you any time.  You dont want to box and wrestle too much out there.  I believe when you weighed last you had money in your pocket you know all those silver dollars weigh quiet a bit.  But I beat you in that.  Have to quit now and eat supper.  From your friend Emil.

Now it is monday morning.  Duzenia(?) and I rode with J.E. Lind(?) up to church, was quiet cold last night, blew from the south.  Last saturday the people northeast, out around Nelson's, should surprise Nels Nelson's.  Clause(?) had bidden them to come over to his place for supper, and the surprise should be in the evening, but, Nelson said they knew of it, Clause knew nothing of the surprise when he bid them com over.  One of Nelsons boys stayed home because they that shore(?) they would come.  They are packing their cars today will leave tomorrow or wednesday.

Write soon about everything.
Emil