Christmas Letter 1934

What follows is my transcription of a letter written to Grandpa Lavery from his mother in 1934. He was living in Kansas City. Spelling here is as she wrote it in very faint pencil. She mentions Art Saburn who was Aunt Betty's husband.



This is where the older Laverys were living when this letter was written in Mountain Grove, Missouri.

Dec. the 12th

Dear Charles,
Just a few lines to let you know we havent forgotten you. We shure were disapointed when you kids ditent come for thanksgiving dinner. Why ditent you let Shirley come any ways. I had 3 big fryers. They weaight from 6 to 8 lbs. a pease, so we had plenty...(the rest of this page is missing)

...we had a swel dinner try and come for xmas dinner and bring those emty egg boxes you have. Charles can you get Dad a pair of shoes. he wears 7 1/2 bloocher style. Betty got me a pair. the ones I have I got 3 years ago the first of Sept. Thanks ever so much for the things you sent us. I was about out...(again, the rest of the page is missing)

...not a thing in the house and not a cent to get any thing with. got a letter from Lenora last evening and she ditent send any thing. we have very little wood left and cant get any more. were siting here freezing, Art gives Jim 6 a week but it takes all that for food. do you want us to save you eggs, the pullets are starting to lay, I think Betty will take 4 doz. I dont know wed do it it wasnt for Art. he is doing more for us then our Family. he got us a stove for 40th weding aniversary. Charles please help us what you can now, when the chickens are laying good we can get us a bite to eat for the eggs. this wil be hard to read. I am standing by the stove half froze. wel I must ring off with best wishes from all.

Mother

Headstones

Michael Joseph Lavery

August 2, 1867 Carfin, Bothwell, Scotland

November 23, 1945 Kansas City, Missouri

Buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Kansas City, Kansas

Catherine Mary Lavery

birth name, Mary Katherine Schmiemann

June 24, 1874 Terre Haute, Indiana

July 28, 1935 Kansas City, Missouri

Buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Kansas City, Kansas

These stones are located at the west end almost to the fence in a low lying area of the cemetary.

Grandpa's Parents and Siblings Part One

Michael Joseph Lavery

Katherine Schmiemann Lavery


Grandpa (Charles) with his parents, Mike and Katherine

Charles on right with unknown friend

Grandpa's Parents and Siblings Part Two

Betty, Katherine (Schmiemann), Mike Lavery

Grandpa's sisters, Lenora, Marguerite, Betty

Grandpa's mother, Katherine.

Again, Katherine (Schmiemann) Lavery.

Letters To Home From Fort Riley 1918

John Francis Lavery 1895-1919
This photo was from his mother's locket

This is the text from two letters that Grandpa's oldest brother, John, sent home to his sister, Ann, in Pittsburg, Kansas when he was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas in 1918.

Ft. Riley, Kans.
Sept. 10-18

Dear Sis--
Read both Lenora's and your letter today. Sure glad to hear from you as these were the first news I've had of home a long time, almost a week, tell them not to send any soap as I got some here but to send the dish towel and soap case you know what I mean one like you girls have in your room or on on the same order, tell Pa to get off of that walking the floor and worrying his head off, for I'm O.K.

Saw Francis Keegan Sat Night and he told me about Francis Cassidy. Charlie Ferns is up here. He is stationed in the barracks next to mine, he's registered but they haven't sent him home yet, Believe me Ann there sure are a bunch of cripples up here in uniform, limited service men. Tell everybody Hello & good luck, Well write soon & often for I do like to hear from you, With Love
John
Group E.G.M.O.T.C.
P.S. Tell Lenora M.O.T.C. means Medical Officers Training Corp.


Ft. Riley, Ks 9/15-18

Dear Sis--
You might think you write crazy letters but I don't. Well here it is Sunday again my second one here but seems like a million years since I've seen you. Well here's hoping it isn't very long untill I do see you. Well Ann tell Charles & James to study hard at school and to stick to it, not to be a fool like I was. Here's a penny for little buddy. Tell him I don't get as many here as I did at home, (in many ways)

Paul Byer's one of the fellows that came here from Pbg. got a box from home last night, Fried Chicken and Devil's food cake, believe me we made short work of it. Made me think of home, but what's the use, Well how's everybody at home, well I hope, I'm O.K. I expect to be transfered anyday now as some of them that came here when I did have been assigned to company's. Well write soon, has Lenora forgot how to write.
Your Loving Brother
John
Group E.G.M.O.T.C.


Shortly after John sent these letters he caught the so-called Spanish Flu. This was the peak period for the Flu Pandemic of 1918 and Fort Riley was ground zero for it in the U.S. By the time he recovered from the virus the war had ended. John was briefly stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana before he was sent back home to Pittsburg. Kansas. He went to work at a brass foundry and while working there he took ill from the fumes and died in September 1919, his lungs no doubt weakened from his bout with the flu the year before. Although John never went overseas I still consider him to be a casualty of the war.

John mentions eating fried chicken that was sent from Pittsburg.  If you read the Flu entries above you see it is believed to be avian in origin.  I can't help but wonder about this.

NOTE: John mentions Francis Cassidy and Charlie Ferns in the first note. They are first cousins of his father, Michael Lavery, or John's first cousins once removed on the McLean side (Michael's mother).  Due to birth order situations they were closer in age to John than to Michael.  I hope that is not terribly confusing.