Union Neb.
Nov. 6th 1918
Wed. 4:30 p.m.
Dear Friend Gene: Your letter of Oct. 15th reached me today, was glad to know you were able to write. I hope your many other letters have reached you by this time.
Miss O’Donnell is the only High School teacher at Union that was there when we gratuated [sic]. Crozier & Anderson still teach Adeline Bischof from Neb. City teaches grammar room. A Miss Whitford from Arlington Neb. Is the Supt. And a Miss Holgard teaches English course. Bill Banning, Upton & Mc Carthy are on school board.
Election is over. Think everything went Rep. This year for a change. Todd was running for float rep. again & Bill Banning for Lt. Governor. We haven’t heard for sure they were defeated.
Gene we are all anxious to know how badly you were hurt, and if you shall be alright soon. No one around here knows for sure and you are such a brave lad that you don’t even tell us how you are.
Did you know Vivian Everett was married. She married Geo. Rhodes from Howe Neb.
Robert Roddy is in France, also Clyde Lynde. His address is Battery F, 75th Artillery C.A.C. A.E.F. It might be possible you could see him by writing.
The Spanish Flu has certainly been sweeping thro the country. Sherman Austin had it the worst around here. Schools were closed and Union school is the only one opened now.
Mama talked to Grace Applegate today. They were all well. She also had a letter from Clee this wk. They had escaped the Flu this far.
Luty is still at Washington, D.C. Durwood is at O.T.S. [Officer Training School] but probably won’t be there much longer.
The newspapers report wonderful success in France and I certainly am proud of it. And believe Germany can’t hold out much longer. We will get thro husking corn this week if weather & men hold out. Everyone is getting thro so early this year.
Forest Frans has never been wounded that I know of. He & Kemp Frans were both real sick & left in England, but they are well & I think in France now as that Forest wrote home telling about seeing Frank Mead, Frank Wolfe & several of the Union boys. Almand Taylor is in France. Think he drives a car.
Gene if you’ll send us a permit we would be glad to send you anything you want. You know we get more sugar now so could make candy. Please don’t hesitate as we are more than anxious to do what little we can do.
Conditions here are much better than about the sugar and flour.
There isn’t anything going on here at all on acc’t of the Flu. It is real bad at Neb. City.
Ed Fahrlander was home for a few days last week, also Emil. He weighs 201 lbs. so is some fleshy soldier. All of the Swans except Mr. Swan had Flu. All of Austins except Mary & Mr. A had it. Roy came home from Calif. Lemuel Barritt went to Omaha to S.A.T., he just got to drill 2 days & they sent him home as he registered in June so was too old. John Pearsley & Ralph Everett are up to Lincoln to S.A.T.C. John had Flu but guess he is getting along O.K. Wm Mueller is up there and was awful sick but is much better now.
Dorothy is staying in Union now so its pretty lonesome here for me, although Dad has been keeping me real busy. Have helped herd cattle, make corn cribs and most anything else that is to be done. Learned more the last few weeks that I’ll be on farm than in several years before.
Gene, I would be glad to hear from you anytime and I trust you are much improved by this time. Don’t forget to send the permit if you want me to send anything.
Your Friend:
Elma M. Hall
Union, Neb.
Nov. 15, 1918
Friday 7:20 P.M.
Dear Friend Gene:
Hurrah, I hear you are back in the States and I’m mighty glad for your sake and your Mother’s. I hope you have escaped the Flu. Namoui [Naomi] Mougey came down with it today at Union Schools. She had a high fever all day yesterday so guess the rest of the kids are certainly exposed.
Durwood [Lynde, Elma’s fiancé] was commissioned Wednesday so of course I feel mighty proud of him. He was 5th in the list of 122 that graduated so guess he got a good grade.
I have been working at the bank all day making out receits for the United Work Fund. Will have to go back tomorrow. Union certainly is a dead place. No excitement whatsoever. Ellis Larue is about the only young person I saw. Angie & Fannie McCarroll were back working in the bank.
I suppose you hear [sic] about Ross Jay. He died with the Flu and was brot back here & buried last Wednesday.
We have our sale a week from today. I’ll sent [sic] you one of the bills. Maybe it would help pass away a little of the time by reading it. We expect to move some time after 1st of Dec. Haven’t just decided yet.
Luty is still at Washington D.C. He is certainly tired of that hole.
What did you do to help celebrate peace Monday. Union put on a big parade School children, Red Cross etc. Mrs. Sim Upton drove old Queen in parade. Had a sheet over horse with big Red Crosses on it. Then we all met down in front of Frans store. Had speaking by Mr. Todd, prayer by Rev. Morrison of ME church, then Crede Harris, Ward Cheney, Rev. Thorn, gave talks and Little Helen Graves sang a couple of songs. Also school. Just as that was over a train load of soldiers went thru Union so every one went down to train. We also burned the Kaiser.
At Nehawka they burned the Kaiser, made a lot of those Pro-Germans dance around the fire so close that it burned them, and also make speeches. Guess they celebrated about right.
We are anxious to hear about the battles you were in and about your illness if you are permitted to tell us. Have heard so many different things so am anxious to know.
I have a girl friend that married a soldier. Al Cox at Hampton Va. I don’t know if that is very far from you or not. She lived at Lincoln. Think maybe she knows your mother. She is Winnie McIntyres niece.
Nettie Stanton is still teaching school this year over here at Sciota. Mary has a position of some kind in Omaha now.
Edith Frans is working in at Frans Store this week. She isn’t teaching this year.
We are anxious to hear from Jessie. Haven’t heard from her since the first of the week.
What is Paul’s [Applegate, Gene’s older brother] address. We want to send him a card for Xmas. I hope you’ll be well soon and can come home. You surely will get your mail now.
Your Friend,
Elma M. Hall
Am sending you a few old Platts. Papers.
