Every Once in a While It All Comes Together

So let me tell you what I've been struggling with:

It all started with a letter, this letter.  Again, I transcribed it exactly as it is written, which is with no punctuation and bad spelling

Brooklyn Mich

Jan 3 1932

Dear Illdah

I am going to write you a few lines and tell you about Grandma as I carried your letter and box to her tonight.  I knew from the sound of your letter you do not no the conditions Grandma has been failing all summer she was taken with a bad cold about a month ago which finely ended in bronchitis and she was taken down in bed about two weeks before Xmas and was very sick she is better of that but is in a very weakened condition and her mind is is weakening planely saying I don't think she will ever get over this unless there is a change for the better soon I don't think she will last over 2 or 3 weeks.  I maybe mistaken she has a strong constitution but she is an old lady and I could see she had failed since I was over there a few days ago.  Uncle Claude goes to work at 12 and works until 11 at night before he getts home.  Aunt Kate works in Jackson all the time but Grandma has a wonderful nurse and has the best of care night and day this lived with me 11 mo and helped me care for my sick folks and I no she is wonderful.  Grandma tried to taste of your fruit but it was hard work I don't mean to frighten you I am only telling you my opinion of her and that is I don't think she will ever get well and she is determined that she isn't going to and that don't help matters any I was glad you wrote her for she was anxious to hear from you well I guess this is all for this time

Yours Truly

Jennie A M???s

So while I'm trying to extract data, this is my reasoning:  first Illda is spelled wrong.  I'm thinking that by 1932 most of the kids in America have gotten a little education, but even with a limited amount of learning, one usually gets the spelling of family names correct.  Right?  Then she says, "...tell you about Grandma..."  not YOUR grandma.  But grandma, like that is how she thinks of Elizabeth Moore.  Then she refers to Elizabeth Moore's son as Uncle Kate.  Since Elizabeth Moore and Leman Austin had three children, that would make Jennie a daughter of Dennis and Minnie (which she's not as they only had Illda) or Wilbur and ????

Jennie who wrote this letter had handwriting that looks mature to me, perhaps late 20's or early '30s.

Claud and Kate had 2 daughters: Neva and June.  But they wouldn't refer to Claud as uncle.

So this is a new mystery for me to obsess about.  

Illda Martha Austin

I haven't started working on this old gal yet.  I'm still trying to track down Dennis Austin's brothers, Wilbur and Claudie. Besides, there is only so much writing that you can do when you don't know anything.  Besides Wilbur and Claudie, I will be doing a little research on Fred Smith, who was an evangelist.  Dennis Austin became pretty serious about religion due to this guy. 

But today I'm laying down information on Illda Martha Austin.

This is what I know:

Illda Martha Austin was born on 15 March 1895 in Toledo, Ohio.  She died 14 November 1985 in N Fort Myers Florida. 

She was the only child of Dennis Austin and Minnie Daniels Austin.  They had been married quite a few years when Illda came along.  She was the only child. 

She once told me that she only went to school for one day and that it tramatized her so badly, her mom didn't make her go back.  When she decided to go to nursing school, they nursing board informed her that she had to have at least an 8th grade education.  So she went back to school and got her certificate in about 6 months. 

Before the nursing, she trained under her mother as a milliner. 

I remember my grandmother.  She actually lived with me for about a year after Cleo died.  She loved to hunt but most of all, she loved to fish.  She was a decent cook, could fry fish like nobody's business and had a knack for sweets.  She always had a horned toad as a pet -- even as a granny.  I guess it reminded her of her years spent in Texas.  She was a gardener of flowers and vegetables and ran Hughes Market with Cleo for 40 years.  She liked to play cards and play games.

From now on, when I remember a story that she told me I'm going to put it down here.  She told me that she was a nurse at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  I need to do some research and find out if that was a Catholic hospital.  Anyways, while she was there, a woman gave birth to a 14 pound baby boy and then the women died.  Illda told me that they nurses hid that baby in and around the hospital until the child was 6 years old.  I thought that sounded pretty terrible and she said that that child had 14 mothers who loved and adored him.  She never said what happened to him.

Here is my transcription of a letter that Illda wrote to her Grandmother Elizabeth Austin and Grandfather Leman Austin.  The spelling and punctuation is exactly as written, but I did take the liberty of breaking it into paragraphs.

Denver Colo.,

          Saturday night

          My dear grandparents:

Both your letter and card rec'd today.  And I thank you so much for the rembrances.  But Grandma why did you do it?  You had already given me my birthday gift.  But never mind I will put it with my fund. 

I have something to tell you. Guess.  I told you the undertakers were after me.  So I gave them Mr. Wood's address + told them to try him just once more.  + if they couldn't get any satisfaction to let me know + I would take care of it.  So yesterday didn't Opal my step sister, call me up and say she had just rec'd a letter from her father, saying to tell me not to pay one cent as he was coming + would settle as soon as it gets warm.  Well between you + I dears it can't get hot any too quick to suit me.  I surely hop he (paper torn) But it's almost the same old story over every time. 

So here are my plans as I have made them.  Save every cent I can.  Stay here till he does something.  If he fails I can just hand them over the money and come.  If he pays it I can use the money to come on.  A girl has no show against a man of that kind.  And I haven't seen him for most a year + a half.  We never know where he is. (Page torn) Denver is headquarters for him.  He has plenty of money to travel all over the globe. But not enough for this. 

Did I tell you Edna Kelly was very ill + is still.  Organic Heart Trouble.  They don't expect her to live.  And she wanted me to come so badly.  Now she is better + so I've promised to stop over a couple of days on my way home to you.  My only real home now. 

And Grandma I am so sorry about that awful indigestion.  Have you (paper torn) tried "Pape's Dapepsins"?  They are splendid.  We were never without them.  And one night last winter Mamma had an acute attack + all we could get from the drug store was "Bellans".  Well they stopped the pain + relieved her of all that awful gas.  They are a compound of charcoal + pepsin.  They help me, too.  And now do be careful + not over do it.  When I come I will do it all the (paper torn)  You and Grandpa are just to rest and give me your orders.  I just love to work + it will be such a change.  Only I must hurry and get a job, pretty soon after I get there, because when I get there I won't have a cent left.  Grandma thank you so much for those stamps.  No, I won't send anything back.  But sometimes I put stamps + on envelope + forget + send it away + that you had done so, too.

I think that's lovely of you to offer me my ticket to come + I appreciate it even if I don't act like it.  But you can see that isn't whats keeping me.  Never mind.  I've got a hunch that it won't be  much longer.

This is the end of the letter.  On the top of the last page, there was a sentence or two that was ripped through.  The only thing legible is the signature, which Illda signed as Dennie's Girl -- which is what I believe her gran called her.  

Again with the Dennis Austin

So I'm spending most of the day trying to get myself organized.  Do you know it was a lot easier keeping ones records organized before the advent of computers.

I an gradually getting the family letters transcribed.  I pour over each and every one of them trying to extract any little tidbit of information.  This one mentions "Griff" who I'm pretty sure is a first cousin.  The date is June 21 93 which would have been before Illda was born. 

Just to remind you, I did the transcribing.   I corrected no spellings or punctuations.  I only broke the letter into paragraphs for easier reading.

Toledo June 21^st  93

My dear Parents bro + sister

I rec’d the postal asking why I wasn’t well I am ashamed of it but it is work and sleep.  I am afraid two sleep too much, but it is so hot the sleep I get don’t do me very much good.  Still I am just as fat as ever.  I wish you could see my new fishing rig.  It is a beauty.  I shall be over in August to try it.  It hardly seems as if I could wait until then but I suppose I’ll be obliged to.

What nice weather this is.  How are all the crops looking?  I just feel I could lay under an apple tree for about three days without sleep or eating.  Well suppose you all are just as jaded only you have good sleep and 8 or 9 hours at one time.

How did Claud enjoy himself when he was down?  Griff is down this week.  We have some new curtains.  I got Min a nice guitar and next week she will have an organ for a birthday present. 

Well I am getting along quite well for a green horne.  I had a little bad luck last Saturday night.  I was nearly into Marshall.  It was very foggy.  I felt a little jar.  We had run into an extra that had broken tow and that not sending a man back far enough puts all the blame on them.  I was sorry too for it smashed my engine and their caboose very badly.  No one  was hurt.  I was very glad of that.  My head man and eng’r + fireboy all jumped.

I shall not wait before writing again.  I think I shall go to a lake Sunday.

Well I shall close for this time.

Hoping you hear good ______ full of everything coming your way.  I am ever your son and bro

D Austin

Dennis E Austin

Still working on my great grandfather, Dennis E Austin.  When I first started doing family tree research, all I basically had was my grandmother's name Illda Martha Austin  and a large envelop full of letters.  It was the letters and the little bits I gleaned from them that sent me on my way.  When I was trying to figure out which Dennis Austin was mine, this letter was the one that determined it.  Claudie is Dennis younger brother.  Just a brief mention, but it's there.  Again, I transcribed the letter myself and didn't correct any spelling or punctuation.  I did break it into paragraphs for easier reading.

11 am Sunday June 19-10

My Dear Parents:

We rec’d your Dear letter + was so glad to hear you were both well.  I am sorry you are feeling so blue though Mother. And for your own sakes you should try and throw it off.  For don’t you know anytime you can’t live in old Mich in comfort – you still have a home and care coming in the only Houston Tex.  Now please don’t forget that while I live you will always find me ready to make this good too. 

I expect to buy two more lots soon + if on any of the 6 vacant lots you would like to have a garden the whole year round with a cow and chickens + fruit why I guess we could find a chance to put up a nice cozy 4 room + bath cottage + you won’t need to have the blues at all for I am by myself I could make a painter out of Father I know.  With your chickens eggs + milk @ 10 cents per quart + garden I don’t believe you would ever feel but what you had plenty.  I can’t imagine what the matter can be up there for I feel that Claudie should be all that three boys would be to you located right next door as it seems to me when I feel how far away I am.  I am going to write him today although he has not answered my last letter + I don’t want to wait any longer.  I shall take it myself to talk to him just as an older Bro has a right for I know that he little appreciates the natural responsibility that is his + would be mine were I located so near you.

I have never asked you nor have you told me our your deal in the place where he lives + I cannot think he would do anything but right by you, and if it is anything of this nature you must tell me + If I cannot advise I can at least have the chance to help you.   I wish so much I could have a good visit + help you to see the bright side.  I am glad to say that I don’t have the sour stomach I used to have.  I think the climate + being busy all the time that I just work, eat + sleep + don’t think @ all.  I have been rushed some for the last two weeks, but tomorrow I put on another man + get caught up a little.   There is lots of work in sight + now that I am by myself = free to look after it I can make much more than I could with a partner.

I got up this am @ 5 + done my garden work befor the sun got up.  I tore out root and branch 8 hills of cucumbers that were bearing fine.  I bet there was a wash tub full of all sizes on them but I had to take them in ten armfuls + put them around the peach plum + fig trees in the chicken yard, then I took the sickle and went after the tomato vines + I pruned them sure so a little more sun could get in.  I have 8 tree tomatoes that stand up nice + the fruit has a chance to ripen.  All I have to do is drive a stake + tie the stalk to it.

I wish you could come to dinner today.  Roast veal new potatoes green corn sliced tomatoes sliced onions + cucumbers.  Ice tea.  But no pie or cake.

Now I happen to think when is that note due + do you want it renewed with int at 8 per.   Write and let me know in your next letter more about your business affairs  + also if your int with what you raise on the little place keep you.  I don’t know but it seems to me that when I see men with no business ability with the price of $200 lot with a $600 cottage on it + sell the whole thing for from $1500 to $1800 that there are better things than digging.  That’s why I am t???g into lots any time some one wants that particular location.  I will finish paying for them in a lump sum + negotiate a loan with the lumber Co + double my money + get 8 per cent on the bal of purchase price even if one has to hold the lots the int + taxes are not ¼ of what the regular rise in price is.  When $1 a foot is tacked on to them regularly twice a year helps some.  Well I have written a whole lot + said nothing + I must save a little room for the women folks so I will say good bye – try to cheer up.  With best love + kisses to you both I am always your Dennis