Letter from Zela Fry Railsback to Charlotte GIBBS Fry August 1918

My dear cousin

  Well I have made my trip to town and back, had lunch, ao will now try and write a little to in with papa's letter.  I wasn't much surprised to learn that Erle had joined the army, as it seems that all our boys are being calle, and now that the new "man power bill" has passrdit seems that there will be very few left.
  Walter has two nephews in France, a son of each of his sisters, and this new law will take his youngest brothers only child, a boy of nineteen- I tell you it looks pretty bad to all of us--The last 12 of class 1 from this county, are to leave about Sept. 5th.
  So far, our son has been granted exemption, as he holds the position of "expert accountant and credit man" with five others under his supervision--

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  H was here for a part of his vacation with his wife and het two sisters--One is the wife of Major Van Uranken, who arrived safely "overseas:, while she was here with us.  He went across in 10 days-- Lottie, it hardly seems possible that this war can last much longer, if all we read in the papers, is true-
  We were indeed sorry to learn of Ethels loss- and please extend to her our loving sympathy-- Do you realize that I do not know her last name, or where she lives? I remember there were two girls, Cora, I think, and Ethel, but that's all I do know.  We have never had one word from any of mamas people since her death, not even from her brother, Rude,right here in California- Papa told you of his visit to Aunt Rosa-He left here July 21st and returned Aug 20th so had quite a visit- I only wish he had stayed longer, as the weather is beastly hot at present- I almost sweat my fool head off-

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  We expect Aunt Rosa to come up here this fall and stay with papa when we (Walter & I) go on our yearly trip- Don't know just when that will be, but not until all the fruit is out of the way-Our peach crop was very light this year, but prunes and raisins are looking first rate- All we will have to contend with will be early rains-
  We got a new seven passenger car in May- It's a Willys Knight, and we like it very much- Have made two trips to Stockton since getting it-but did not see cousin Bill either time-They also have a car now-
  Well Lottie I never expected to write so much- and so I'll stop-- I will write Erle soon, and if he can get a furlough I want him to come down here to see us--

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  Now keep up your courage and hope for the best- I surely think this will all end before very long-
           Our love to you all--
                              Your loving cousin---
                                                    Zela R.
                 
 

Letter From Samuel Archibald Scott Aug. 31st 1918

On August 31st Samuel A. Scott wrote a letter in reply to one written by his niece, Charlotte GIBBS Fry to Samuel's daughter Zela FRY Railsback.

 Grangeville, Calif
Aug. 31st 1918

Mrs. Lottie Fry

  My dear niece.
      Your very welcome letter of Aug. 16th to Zela was received several days ago, and as Zela has been quite busy and the weather so hot she don't seem able to get to writing to any one.  We were quite surprised to learn that your son Erle was at Camp Fremont and as your aunt Ninas daughter, Mrs. J.C. Mitchell and her daughter, Mrs. Thomas Patterson of Hamilton City, Cali. were in Oakland at the time we got your letter.  I wrote to them and asked them to go down to the camp and find the boy and let him know that he had some one near him who was related to him altho they had never seen him.  But when my letter arrived in Oakland they had gone to their home in Hamilton City which is about 299 miles north of Oakland and on the Sacramento river

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in Glenn county.  I have not had a letter from them but a neighbor of ours was in Oakland last Sunday and called up their hotel and was told they had gone to Hamilton.  I would like to make the trip to the camp and see the boy but it is so far and I am really not equal to the effort as the distance the way we have to go would be nearly 300 miles.  Zela will write him and will also answer your letter in a short tim.  W have had a week of very hot weather, the mercury rising everyday to 98º to 100º.  We usually have a good breeze every afternoon but since this hot spell set in we have had no wind and the nights have been hot which is something very unusual.  Yesterday I had a letter from your aunt Nina Coder of Ashland, Oregon and one from your aunt Rosa Remington of Ocean Park, 20 miles from Los Angeles and on the sea coast.  They are strangers to you and of course you can feel but small interest in them.  They are the

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two girls younger than your mother.  Nina was 73 yrs. old on Aug 19th and Rosa was 70 on Feb 2nd last.  Your aunt Eliza would have been 78 and I claim the palm so far at 82 on Feb 24th if I live to get there.  You did not tell us in your letter, the name of your mothers post office, whether in city, town or country and what kind of alliance she formed.  Please let me know her address and I will write to her, she may be interested to hear from some of the family.  The Ricketts tribe has utterly ignored me since your aunt Carrie passed away as I have not had a line from any of them.  They were never charable with the crime of letter writing unless they had an axe to grind or a favor to ask.  But you are not interested in this.  I was down south to Ocean Park and spent most of the month of August with your aunt Rosa, her daughter Daisy Sterrett was there for two weeks and then she returned to her home and husband at Jerome Junction, Arizona, Sterrett is engaged with an oil co. there.

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Zela will write some and include with this.  My health is good but I am troubled with dizziness which unfils me from any steady employment.  I make my home with Zila and husband.  I take but little interest in life since your auntie departed this life and am unable to see what purpose I am kept here. altho I should be and am blessed with good health and have not an ache or a pain and can and do read ordinary book print without the aid of glasses.
 We regret that your cor crop seems doomed to failure as what is a great dependence throughout all the middle west. California is blessed with abundant crops of all kinds raised here and prices are good.  Now if you will forgive this rambling missive I will not affhe?? you any further.  With best love I am affectionately your Uncle S.A. Scott