Dear Dick & Dad:- Just a line to let you know we’re O.K. We took Burch up to the lake with us Sat. and Ruth and he are staying for the week. I’m batching [as in being a bachelor]. We are having a large window put in the north side of the living room at the cottage, taking out the two small one’s and having aluminum siding put on over that old paint job. We thought Burch would be able to help the carpenter a little besides giving him a change of scenery for awhile. We are only going to put the siding on the one side this year hope to finish the job next year. Ruth bought drapery material and took her sewing machine along so she could make the drapes while she was there. Burch is feeling O.K. but says time passes slow. He said staying at the lake brought back memories to him of the time they lived at Baltimore. Believe it or not Ruth got him in shorts.
[page 2] I received a letter from Lois today, says they are living in a tourist cottage for the time being and that the kids really enjoy the water. Ken went back to Chicago on the 14th and Bill was away in New York State some where. She also said their things from Germany had not arrived yet.
Have you heard anything lately from Rena? I just called Elise to see if she wanted me to write you anything and she said she had a wonderful letter from you and that she tried to answer it, but the words just wouldn’t come. She will try again later and said she and Kate are going to come up as soon as she gets a few detail ironed out. I suppose legal details in regards to his death.
How is the building project coming along and where are you building it? I’m about out of news so will close for now. Love H.O.
P.S. I’ll try to mail you Eastern Star material so be on the look out.
Just a line to let you know we are OK, only getting good and tired of this winter weather. I’m glad you folks don’t have to endure it as we do. If my summary serves me correctly I believe we’ve only had about 5 days above freezing since the first of December. Day before yesterday the temperature got up to a screaming 33º. I thought I was going to have sun stroke. It has really been miserable working at the shop this winter all the snow and ice has made is so wet and sloppy in the shop, it seems like we get a new coat of about 2 or 3 inches of snow a couple of times a week just enough to keep it messy all the time. According to the paper we’ve had 23 inches so far this winter. It even snowing now with 3 to 5 inches predicted.
[page 2] The shop is hard to heat and keep warm one day we weren’t able to get it over 42º in the shop. I have been wearing so many clothes I can’t hardly walk. And just one more grip and that is a lot of these drivers can’t get their cars started on the cold morning so we get blamed for all their troubles. “Enough bitchin'”. We mailed Kens Christmas packages to him on January 23rd so far we haven’t heard if he received them or not.
We got a letter form Bill today saying he was in the States, had been in Washington and Boston, was on his way to Colorado Springs and then back to Chicago. I suppose to see Ken for a day, he also expects to spend a day here either the 5th-6th or 8th of Feb. If he gets here we will call you so you can have
[page 3] a chance to exchange a few words ad hear his voice. We are really thrilled and looking forward to seeing him, it is a surprise to us and I know it will be to you. So we’ll just sit close to the phone waiting his call.
Did Ed Shepard get down there yet. Dick Rodenfels is leaving Sunday for Miami. We would just love to come down believe me.
Burch is O.K. he says I haven’t seem him as we haven’t had him up since Christmas. The weathers been so bad we just don’t go
[page 4] out unless it’s necessary.
Ruth just got in from her Rebecca meeting and said they about froze to death down there tonite I guess the heater isn’t large enough or sumpin. Ruth took an extra sweater but couldn’t keep her feet warm. Well here I go on this stinkin’ weather again so guess I’ll close shop for now.
Love H. O.
P.S. Send me the recipe for making Pawnhouse. I still got the pigs feet and don’t know what to do with them.
Just a note this morning while I’m finishing my breakfast. Ed Sheppard has been down for a couple of days, went home yesterday. He is looking real good and has gained some weight. Says he will be going down to your place some time between now and the first of the month. He and Ruth went down to see Burch while he was here. Burch is O.K. and doing fine. We have gotten rid of some of
[page 2] our snow. The temperature has been up in the forties the last couple of days. Hope we don’t get anymore SNOW
I got some pigs feet down in our freezer, send me the recipe for making P.H. how do you spell it. (Ha Ha).
We are both O.K. and hope you are the same –Time to go too work. Love H.O.
Mrs. Herman O. Shepard 1012 Hartford Worthington, Ohio
Dear Egghead and Dad:
I know now why you call yourself Egghead, you dated your last letter November 8 and I know you’re not nuts, but it helps a lot ha ha. We will be looking forward to the fruit as I only have about four left. I’ve been eating a lot of them. I’ve had a nice little cold for the last few days and I think a lot of fruit juice is good for a cold. Ruth called Al Maddox today and told him if she wasn’t home for him to set the baskets in the kitchen, so they won’t freeze. It was snowing when we got up this morning and it’s still at it 7:30 PM about 6 inches on the ground now. I took the pictures out of our front living room window at 4:30 PM just to give you an idea how snow looks, look at the drift on the house across the street. It’s up even with their porch floor, our driveway is clean out to about the front of the house from there to the street it’s about 2 feet deep don’t know if I’ll be able to get it out in the morning or not. I borrowed the Polaroid camera from Steve to take a few shots to see if I would like to have one. From the results I don’t believe I’ll buy one they don’t seem to be good sharp pictures. The picture of the group although you won’t be able to tell one person from another was taken last night. Martha Star, Ruth and I had a party for our officers and their husbands. We held it at the Linworth Methodist Church. Ruth and Martha prepared all the food at our homes and then we took it over to the church and serve there. Of course I got in on the dishwashing as did Ken, Martha‘s husband. Ocea Patman and Martha’s mother did their share and as far as I know everything went off well. Our officers presented Martha with a solid brass tray about 14 to 15 inches in diameter and me a metal tray with mahogany finish trimmed with chrome I don’t know what I’ll use it for unless I get a job in a restaurant serving tables.
We haven’t heard anything from K.W. But are looking for him to be here for the holidays. I received a letter from Ben Hott (he is the one that moved to Bayshore Gardens) he says there is a lot of work around Sarasota doing home maintenance, painting and etc. Said the field was wide open, in other words a handyman or jack of all trades, he said he was going to look out for me, maybe he’s got something in that kind of work. What do you think? He said he made $95 one week doing that kind of work. I would have to have a truck, ladders, spray painting outfit, steam cleaner etc. or about $3000 to be fully equipped to handle most of the jobs that would be available. I’m going to write him for more details and information etc.
Have you got your Christmas shopping done? We haven’t even started or even bought our cards yet. Ruth has been busy with Job’s Daughters and this party we had last night, next week we have a regular meeting Wednesday night and installation of the 1961 officers next Saturday night. By the time we squeeze in the Christmas shopping and all those details it will probably be another nightmare for the next two weeks. This about winds me up for now so till next time, so long.
Happy to hear you are settled at the cabin. Just be sure that you don’t start any more construction jobs. I’m rather sorry to hear that other people are building at the beach I had the idea but you know how it is.
Lois is probably written you about her coming over. I think she will leave Ohio just after October 1. At least that is what they tell me here.
We have a brand new three bedroom apartment in Kaiserslautern. It is the nicest I’ve seen in these parts. We will probably move on the base next spring.
The beer and food taste so good here I have a hard time keeping my waist line down. I weigh the same I did when I left Ohio 200 pounds.
We will send you some pictures when Louis gets the camera over.
Enjoy your vacation north and I hope that Florida is warm this winter. I’ll try to write next month, although my pen isn’t very long!
It’s been so long since I’ve written, maybe I can get this one to you before you leave Tuesday. We are looking forward to seeing both of you and hope you have a safe trip north.
We have our last eastern star meeting next Wednesday night before summer recess, maybe you can make it. I’ve been working on the boat every chance I get, still have many things to do i’ll try to enlist dad maybe he can speed me up a little. I didn’t realize I was getting myself into such a project.
I am enclosing a couple of dollars for you to bring me a few jars of Damson Plum jam (Deep South Brand) if it isn’t too much trouble.
We were up to our cottage at East Harbor last week and for the first time this year, between rains it took me a day and a half to cut the grass. Everything was O.K. up there and all her friends were O.K.
Had news from Birch that he is improving and even has an offer of a job at the golf station in Westerville if he is able to take it. Well Ruth is scratching a note. So till next week when you arrive.
Dear Dick and Dad:- I’m a little late in letting you know we received our fruit OK, it came last Tuesday and is so good, what kind of oranges were they? You can send some of those any time you want to. I got a kick out of the three kumquots from our tree. Somehow I thought they tasted better than the others, or was it my imagination. All the fruit arrived in excellent condition except the kumquots, so as much as I love them I don’t suppose you should try to send any more as about a fourth of them had spoiled.
We had a busy week last week only one night that didn’t involved either one or the other of us in Lodge work or both of us at the same time.
[page 2] That night we went up to see Burch the first we had seen of him since New Years day when we had him down here. He seems to be doing a little better about the drinking but we’re afraid his memory is to far gone. He just doesn’t remember anything and has lost all track of time, he dosen’t know weather its June or December. He received his first check on January 5th and we are trying to help him straight out his affairs but there just isn’t enough money to go around all his obligations. Hes let his affairs get into such a mess that I don’t have much hope of ever getting it all straightened out. We are not going to give him any money but will see to it that he has food and clothing or anything else that is necessary and will try to visit him as least once a week.
[page 3] I’m tryingto stave off a cold as of now Ive got a sore throat and some of the symptoms of the (BUG) so wish me luck. Ive taken asprin all day and eat all the fruit I can hold. We were out to Ruths folks today and I took a nap for about three hours out there.
Well we had our first meeting last Wednesday night and I got by but believe me there is room for improvement about the time our year is over I’ll be about ready to start.
We are suppose to have candidates at our next meeting Feb 10th so on that night about 9 PM say a few extra words for me. We have our school of instruction next Sat. night and after that the inspections start. Ours will be April 28th say a few more words on that night to.
[page 4] Edw. asked if we knew of anybody that were going to visit you next month and we told him as far as we knew there wasn’t anyone, he said he would call you before he came down so he could make arrangement for you to meet him.
How is the Chevy doing? I see your old one almost every day and Jack is real pleased with it. He had his operation and is back to work now. Our work hasn’t been as heavy this winter as usual because we have really
[page 5] had a beautiful winter so far only one or two minor snows. Even have the gareage doors open most of the tome. If we can get by for the next six weeks I think will have it made.
We are going to miss going to Florida this winter but are looking forward to Canada next summer. I think well try to make it early in the season.
Well thats about all from here for now so write us a line when you find the time, and thanks again for the wonderful fruit Love Ruth & H.O.
I am keeping my promise to tell about all the women in my tree by working my way back in time, starting with my great grandmothers. It has been a while since Charlotte Hatch, but here is my second one.
She was known by family and friends as ‘Dick’. What can one say about Dick. Most of what I know about her has either been told to me by her granddaughter, gleaned from looking through all the old family pictures, researched, or heard in one poorly recorded interview from about 1982. The person that I recollect was what you would call a ‘character’. She very short statured, loved cocktails, and wore awesome eyeglasses when she was older.
This is her life, as well as I have been able to piece it together.
Rachel started her life journey September 19, 18881. She was the second child, and second daughter, of Osborn and Eliza (Stackpole) Hays, and had been named in honor of her grandmother, Rachel (George) Hays. Osborn and Eliza would eventually have 10 children together, but from what I recollect hearing, Rachel was always her father’s favorite.
‘Dick’, as she became nicknamed by the family, grew up in Grant Township, Wetzel County, West Virginia. In fact her family lived there their whole lives, farming, and making a living off the land. She was a tomboy, and always had a preference for boys to keep company with. I guess she didn’t have much use for girls. The hills and landscape that she grew up in probably made for great exploration and tomboyish proclivities.
This is the typical landscape in Wetzel County where she grew up.
As was typical of children during the time she was growing up, she only went through the 8th grade2 in school*. Which means she was about 14 when she was done with learnin’. As the Hays family had settled in the Pine Grove area of Wetzel County, it would seem likely that Dick attended the Pine Grove School (although we don’t know that for sure). It was known in its early years as Free School.
Of course over time, as is wont, she got older. Then along comes William Atkinson Shepard, a newly minted teacher who recently arrived in Wetzel County, having received his teaching certificate from a Normal School, (although at this time we don’t know which one). Family rumor has it that this is how Dick and he met. It is not likely that they met because he was her teacher, because he would have been about 16 years old or younger in order for that to happen, which is doubtful. So it is possible that they met when she went to pick up some of her younger siblings from school. Maybe the locals took turns having the new teacher to dinner to get to know him, or they met at church or a local festivity. We might not know the exact how of it, but she definitely took a shine to him.
A quote from Dick’s son William:
My father, William, had received “higher education” beyond the customary 8th grade and attended normal school which prepared him to become a teacher. He taught in several places, and I think his last was in Jacksonburg, where he taught several of my aunts and uncles (Hays). He met and married Rachel Ann here.
–William A. Shepard, Dick’s son
They were married by the Rev. Reid of the M. E. Church in New Martinsville, Wetzel County, on March 9, 1907.
Their marriage license.3
Their first child, Herman Osborn Shepard, was born November 28, 1907 (pretty much 9 months later). That was fast work.
The birth was a hard one for Dick, as Herman was quite a large infant when he was born and Rachel was a small woman. Her injuries were such that Herman was raised by Dick’s parents in his early years, so that Rachel could recover her health. The doctor’s also told the couple that she shouldn’t have any more children, as the next one could kill her. This news must have put much stress on their early years of marriage. Decent birth control was not readily available to folks then like it is now.
Her husband was working in the steel mill in the town of Parkersburg by 1910, and possibly sooner. I imagine a school teacher’s wages were not all that great to raise a growing family on, so he decided to try for better wages. However, by 1912 they had moved to Ohio and were living in Columbus, where William started working as a clerk for the US Post Office with the rail road. He continued in this line of work until he retired in the 1950s as a supervisor. This job, no doubt, helped the family get through the depression with less damage than those around them.
Rachel was a typical woman of her time. She stayed at home, raised her child and kept the home. For other income they bought properties and made money renting the lots, or homes. It didn’t make them rich, but they were able to buy a home in Florida to retire in, and land in Canada to make their summer vacation spot. (A spot that is mentioned many times in family letters.)
1919 might have been an especially tense and worrying year for Dick and Dad, because Dick found out she was pregnant again. She was due in late December to early January. And on January 4, 1920 she delivered a healthy baby boy, William Atkinson Shepard, jr. Dick did okay too. There was no long hospital stay to recover from the delivery, so she was able to give junior her undivided attention, and she had her 13 year old son to help. This would be the last child that they would have though, possibly the second pregnancy caused problems we are unaware of–and Dick didn’t share that part of her life with her children, or grandchildren.
I believe this is Dick and Herman with the family dog.
The Shepard family moved over the years in and around Ohio. In 1920 they were in Pickaway County, in 1930 it was Franklin County, in 1940 Delaware County. But no matter where they moved, Dad was always working for the US Postal Service for the railroad, in fact he told his sons that when they were older to get jobs working for the government, because they were the most steady and secure. One of them heeded his advice.
Dad, William, jr., Dick, Herman.
Over the years they visited with family and friends (Dick was remembered by others as a very gracious and hospitable person), built their own cottage, from scratch, on Thessalon Lake in Canada, (and went there often to fish and barbecue), then they retired to a cute little house in Safety Harbor. The cottage in Canada they sold in the 1960s, and Dick gave the money from the sale to her sons.
She was quite a pill, was Dick. I, no doubt, don’t even know a single percent of the shenanigans she could get up to. The only story I vaguely remember hearing happened shortly after her eldest Herman, started dating his future wife, Ruth Kring. Apparently Dick, (no doubt with malevolent glee), decided that Ruth needed taking down a peg or two, because she somehow made sure that they conveniently ran into an old girlfriend of Herman’s. I guess that’s how she kept herself busy while Dad was at work.
When Dick and Dad moved to Florida to officially retire, Dick kept busy with the Woman’s Civil Club and her Order of the Eastern Star Safety Harbor Chapter (No. 173).
MOVIES AT WOMAN’S CIVIL CLUB HALL NOV. 7TH On Monday, November 7, at 8 P. M., a program of free movies at the Woman’s Civic Club Hall will present the Rich Plan __ Frozen Foods. Attendance will give the Commercial Award credits. Light refreshments will be served gratis. Movies of the Cape Coral Development, near Ft. Myers will also be shown by Mr. Jerry Flynn… The new members received at the meeting of October 14 are: Mrs. William Shepard…Members please add these names to your Blue Books. Several former members expect to attend the Club meetings this year.
SAFETY HARBOR CHAPTER 173, ORDER OF EASTERN STAR, INSTALLS Mrs. William A. Shepard was installed as Worthy Matron of Safety Harbor Chapter 173, Order of the Eastern Star…in ceremonies recently held at the Masonic Temple here… Mrs. Shepard stood under an arbor made of fresh red roses while Thomas Peasley, Past Grand Patron of the State of Maine, sang, “How Great Thou Art.” Mr. and Mrs. Herman Sheppard, son and daughter-in-law of Mrs. Shepard, came from Worthington, Ohio, to be present for the ceremony and Shepard presented his mother the gavel she will use throughout her term of office.
O.E.S. RUMMAGE SALE MAY 4TH The O.E.S. will hold a rummage sale Saturday, May 4, in the lot next to Clark’s 5&10 store. Anyone having clothing or other items they don’t use bring them to Mrs. Rachel Shepard, 305 7th Ave. N., or the day of the sale.
Ashley Chapter 147 members heard comments by Mrs. Bess Evans, past matron, on her attendance at a meeting of a Florida chapter of Order of the Eastern Star. Mrs. Evens’ sits, Mrs. Rachel Shepard, is active in that Florida chapter, Safety Harbor No. 173.
1975-04-16 Marion Star, Marion, Ohio, p26
I don’t know what Dad did, when he retired. Maybe he walked to the ocean and fished everyday. He was the quiet type, at least when we were around, so one never knew what he got up to.
Dad and Dick showing of their catch of the day. Probably in Canada.
At the cottage on Thessalon Lake.
Dick lost her husband on April 19, 1973. They had been married for just over 66 years. (Unfortunately, our family was overseas and unable to attend the funeral.) She was a widow for 13 years before she died April 27, 1986. I heard tell that she spent many a Friday evening at the local bar flirting with all the old widowers after Dad died. As I mentioned before, she did enjoy cocktails.
Dick at home in Safety Harbor, Florida 1970s-1980s. Must be 5:00pm!
I have an audio recording (be sure to download it) that I have had digitized of Dick talking to her niece Evelyn Conning (1980sish). It is about 30 minutes long, and is of very poor quality. The interviewer definitely wasn’t a professional, and there were no questions asked that I would have asked. But it beats having nothing. Too bad we don’t have one of Dad, apparently he told great stories.
I am very glad that I was able to meet my great grandmother, and I was at an age that I can remember her these many years later, even if only vaguely. I definitely remember her voice, and hearing it on the audio recording helps to bring back those fond memories of my visits to their house in Safety Harbor, Florida. (You can read my post on their house here.)
*Here is a great web page that gives an excellent synopsis of rural schools in the latter part of the 1800s: http://www.heritageall.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Americas-One-Room-Schools-of-the-1890s.pdf. ————————— SOURCES: 1. Rachel Hays birth entry, 19 Sep 1888, General index and register of births, Wetzel County, West Virginia, page 74a. Parents O. Hays and Eliza Hays. 2. 1940 US Federal Census, Genoa Township, Delaware County, Ohio details; SD 17, ED 21-17, Sheet 3A, Enumerated April 4, 1940; household 48, home owned [by parents], not a farm, lines 33-34 . What is the highest grade finished is one of the questions on census. 3. W. A. Shepard and Rachel Hays marriage, 1907; Marriage Record, book no. 13, page 180; West Virginia, Wetzel County, Clerk of the County Commission.
August 27th 1959 Dear Egghead:- From the shores of Lake Erie and the banks of the Scioto:- now how’s that for a fancy take off? Here I am back at the Salt Mine. I left Ruth up at the cottage and will go back myself Sat. afternoon. today was my first day back to work, and was it ever hot, the temperature here and at the lake has been in the 90s for over a week now. Although it did cool of at night up at the Harbor. I am forwarding you a few letters that I picked up at the Post Office after I got home yesterday. I received you letter of the 20th and also one from the Dept of Lands and Forest. Thanks for
[page 2] your trouble. I’m going to write the dept. and inquire if that lot could be zoned for commercial or resort purposes if so what steps would be necessary. I’m going to check these items before I send any money. I suppose you know all the details about the purchase as you arranged it for me so I’ll not go into those details. Dick Rodenfels just came back from up there, said they had a good time camping out etc..but the fishing wasn’t so good He was telling me about all the camping areas that have been made-since I was up there. Sounds like
[page 3] they’re making it too easy for these campers that like to rough it. Ruth and I had a good time up at the lake, caught a lot of fish-blue gills and perch, have several in the freezer so we’ll have a mess or two when you come home. We also found a new spot to fish for blue gills out in the lake it just west of Lakeside along the shore will have to tell you more about it later when you come home.
I went out to check on Ruths mother last night and she recovered from her attack what every it was but is still having the pain in the stomach and back, she’ll probably
[page 4] go up to Dr. Jenning office for an examination and xrays next week. I didn’t get to talk to Unk and Elise yet but from the sound of your letter you must of had some trip to Reception Lake.
As Ruth said I should have listened to you about that bump on my cheek bone, you and her both are giving me the devil, the thing swelled up about the size of a banty egg and sure made me look lop sided, but the doctor wouldn’t lance it for me while it was infected, he gave me penacillen shots for the infection and I have to go back later to have the source of the trouble removed. The swelling is all gone now and I suppose I’ll be going back to him some time next week.
[page 5] It not serous as he says its an enlarged skin (pour?) that became clogged and couldn’t drain just filled up and became infected.
We’ve had other troubles also I’ll list a few. Cost me $57.00 for parts to get our car fixed. The garbage disposer almost fell out of the sink (you know it was leaking) the durn thing rusted out and I couldn’t get a part for it in the city of Columbus, had to order it from California and it hasn’t come in yet, that’s been 2 weeks ago I ordered the part and thats going to cost about $15.00 I got my new teeth and had to have some of my lowers
[page 6] ones filled that was $90.00 and the thing I grip about the most here is the real estate tax, I just got that paid for the last half year and that was $175.85, bought 4 new tires for the car and so on. You’ll get a kick out of this one, when I came home yesterday Ruth had taken my door key off my key ring and I didn’t know it until I tried to unlock the door, so I had to cut the screen out of the guest bedroom window and climb in that way. Boy I’ll bet Ruths ears were burning about that time as I was hot to trot. You know what I mean.
[page 7] I’m also enclosing a letter we received from Iva and Roy Buchanan its self explanatory. I haven’t seen Burch or talked to him yet as he wasn’t at work today and when I checked his time card he hadnt only been to work 2 day since I started my vacation on August 13th. I don’t know what his trouble is and unless he comes into the shop I wont have a chance to check on him until Sat afternoon after work as I’m going to be busy tomorrow night on De Molay work etc.
[page 8] well its after 11:PM so think I’ll fix myself a good stiff drink and go to bed. I’ll be thinking about you when I drink it. As you notice my pen went on the blink also. Love to all Herm
22 July 58 Dear Dick and Dad I was happy to hear from you. And to know that everything was alright. Be sure that neither one of you do any lifting or hard work. I wish I were with you to enjoy the quiet and to fish. It is anything but quiet in Europe these days.
Yes, I have an apartment, or rather, I will have one soon. It is being built and is near completion. Lois and the children will probably leave Worthington between September 10th and Oct 10th.
I hope Kenny can have time to visit before Lois leaves. We cant be sure about anything for a few weeks. Then Lois should hear something definite.
[page 2] My work is keeping be busy, but I have seen some of the country. It is much like Ontario. Pine forests and streams. The towns are small. It has been cold most of the time. About 50 degrees today. And it rains most everyday.
I had to buy a car here so that I could get around. And when Lois comes, our Chevrolet will be a month behind her. As long as we live in town (Kaiserslautern) she will need the car anyhow I bought an old 50 Desoto. It may be 2 years younger than your Chevy, but it is old.
I haven’t heard much from Kenny, but he is like me when it comes to writing
[page 3] Germany is as nice as everyone described it. the people work hard, yet they seem happy. The houses are nearly all built of concrete block. As soon as Lois brings over the camera, Ill send home some pictures. they go in a lot for heavy food. Potatoes every meal I had sauerkraut and smoked tenderloin tonight. It was good, only they boil the sauerkraut until it is tasteless.
Well, its about time for the bed. Ill have to get up early to fly tomorrow. Take care of yourselves – you are the only parents I have Your Son Bill
jen's ancestors 