Cousin Emma: Jan. 24, 1926 Duluth, Minn.

Dear Friends,
How was your week? Mine was kind of busy. With having Monday off made the week kind of feel shorter, but. I have to work on Saturday, bummer. But I have to do what I have to do.
Here is the next letter which is from his cousin Emma who was living in Duluth, Minn.

As always here is what it says:

                Duluth, Minn.
                 Jan. 24, 1926
Dear Howard:-
             I sometimes
am a long time in
keeping my promises
but then it is better
late than never.
   Have you had
any fudge since
Christmas. How
did you feel the next
day.
  I sure was tired
on Monday on Monday

when I got back up
here but I worked all
day just the same.
There sure was enough
work waiting for
me to do.
  Well, I am back
on my old job again
and it seems like
home to be there.
   How is your
Mother? Greet her
for me.
  We are sure having
a cold spell up here

now but we have
very little snow.
I hope it warms
up a little soon.
  Next Tuesday night
we are going out to
Gustafsons for a
skating party. There
is a nice big rink
right near their place.
I know we will
have a good time.
We saw the picture
"The Vanishing American"
It sure is a wonderful

picture but it certainly
is sad.
  We are going out
to the Swedish Methodist
Church to a young peoples
Rally this evening and
it is almost time to
go so I will have
to close.
  Don't forget to plan
on coming on coming
up this summer.
       Write soon
Hello- Am  With love
             Emma

This is the first letter from her. The others were postcards.
The picture she mentioned, "The Vanishing American"  was a silent film from 1925. It was based on a book written by Zane Gray.

It's about Indians and the unfair treatment they got from the white man. An Indian hating agent named Booker convinces an Indian named Nophaie that if he gives the white man the best horses to fight in the Great War that afterwards  Indians will be treated better. He lied. Nophaie is taught to read by a woman called Marion. After the Great war is over the Indians go on the war path. Booker and Nophaie both die. Nophaie dies in Marion's arms. That's why she said it was sad.
I wonder if they have ever thought of making another version of this one. I think it's something that should be considered.

Not a whole lot else in this letter. I wonder if how long she lived in Duluth?


Here are a few random pictures for you to see.

The one on the left is Grandpa. I don't know who the other two are or what the occasion was.

 No idea who these people are. But if you notice the third guy from the right might have a military kind of uniform on. Maybe it's Uncle Thomas.

No clue who this woman was. On the right side of the picture it looks like the side of an old car, maybe.

Well that's all I have to share with you today. I hope you have a good weekend. Mine will be shorter then I would like but, that's life.
So till next time.
Your friend,
Sandy

Mary Kauer: Jan. 19, 1926 Rib Lake, Wis.

Hello Friends,
How was your weekend? Mine was good. I think I mentioned I was going to a kind of family get together. it was a nice. I even got a copy of a family tree. I have to study it when I get a chance and share a few more things with you from it that you might enjoy. but that might have to wait till I get my line more memorized for the play I will be in. I'll tell you more about that another time.
Anyway here is the next letter from Mary. It's a little longer then usual. 6 full pages.

Here is what it says:

                  Rib lake, Wis
                   Jan. 19, 1926
Hello Howard:-
    Are you almost
snowed in or can you still
get around. This is a peach
of a snow storm we're
having today. If you were
anywhere's  near I'd show
you how to play snow-
ball and wouldn't I have
you begging for mercy.
Cause I'm a good straight
shot at it.

I dreamt of you last nite
and you said, "Well,I'm com-
ing over Tuesday eve." This is
Tuesday but if you go as
far as Swanson's tonite
you'll be doing fine.
I was home last Sunday
but it was and was up at
Fuch's in the afternoon. Marie
& Henry Niggeman were there
too so I rode back with
them at nite. They say the
roads out their way are

awful. That makes it hard
on the fellows going to
the cat farm.
  How are Thomas and
Edna getting on? I wish
them good luck. Or did
you cut him out? When
did you say Thomas's birth-
day was? I hope it isn't
past yet because I want to
send him a birthday greeting
Mother's & Dad's silver wedding
is the day after tomorrow

but they are going to cele-
brate it next Sunday. Mrs.
Hipke told me I could go
home Sat. afternoon if I
wanted to. Maybe she's used
to celebrating two days
at a time. Just wait till
you're married 25 years. I
bet you'll have gray hair
 and wrinkles and you'll be
swearing at the kids for
running around and wasting
so much money and breaking
the car. But if I ever see

you or hear you growl-
ing I'll remind you of
the days when you were
young and foolish.
Maybe I'll send you
one silver teaspoon for
your 25th anniversary.
Say, who do you think
I got a letter from last
week? From A.M. But he
only wanted to know when
the masquerade was. he
didn't come in, tho.
There's going to be another

one here the 2nd of Feb.
I guess I had
better quit now. This
letter is longer than
any I ever wrote. I should
write one to my cousin
in Canada yet but one a
day is enough.
So long and lots of
good luck and________
          from Mary.
P.S. What's the joke on Edna
& Thomas? Can't it be written?


This was  I think her longest letter to date.  it sounds like there was a lot of snow or snow storms happening at the time.  Thomas must have been seeing Edna at the time. I wonder how long they saw each other?
I wonder what kind of get together they had for her parents silver anniversary.
I wonder what kind of joke it was that had to do with Edna and Thomas.
History that will never be known.

Here are a few random pictures for you to see.
These pictures were too big to fit in the scanner so I had to take pictures of them.

 This is a picture of the Johnson homestead. I think the people are Grandpa's parents and maybe Grandpa and Thomas.

This is the Sunnyside School no.8 Ogema about 1908. I think Grandpa and Thomas are in the front. Maybe.

I think this might be a church in Ogema. But I don't know what year. This is when people always wore their Sunday best.

Now before I go I would like to share a picture I took at the family get together.

This is most of the cousins.Children from Grandpa and granddaughters of his brother Nels.
It was a good time for all that were there.
I'll share a few other picture in the future.

Well that's all I have time for now.
I hope you can drop by again.
Till next time.
Your friend,
Sandy

Lillian L. Jan. 15, 1926 Marquette Mich.

Hello Friends,
I hope you had a good week. Now hopefully the weekend will be be just as good.
There will be a get together this weekend for the Johnson clan. One of my aunts put together a book of genealogy of the Johnson's. i should hopefully be able to get some questions answered about some people I mention that are related. I'll keep you posted.
Here is the next letter which is from Lillian L. I've shown you one other letter form her awhile ago.

This is one of those extra challenging ones that I will say sorry if I get it wrong in typing it up.

       Marquette, Mich.
            Jan. 15, 1926
Friend:---
Howard Johnson:---
   Recid yaun
so long time ago
so am taking time
to scribble a few
lines be/4 time goes
too scarce. It sure
takes me time to
write a few lines.
I've been out
of work for one day
on account of my illness
haven't been feeling
just O.K. But am
felling better now
at least I hope I do.
A person has to be
sick sometimes, they

can't be well always.
This is my first
day for a year and half
since I been real
sick. Glad thing
I had to be away only
one day.
    The weather
is cold at present.
I imagine the same
there. I'm glad
Spring will be soon
again. Then probably
next summer will
take the brother to
Wisconsin if ever-
thing goes well might
a long. My friend &
I are going home
for summer & stay
for a while.

I'm tires of this
restaurant already
It gets a person
nervous to work
on customers, es-
pecially some of them
when the're crabby
& smart. But we
have lots of fun tho.
You can see different
sort of people all
the time. Oh hay
at summer it keeps
a person busy all
day long. I guess
about 3 more months
is enough.
 Well I hope
you are having
a nice time for
the New Year.
We go home

mostly every nite
cause It's so cold
& the guys in Marq-
uette are mostly all
married men.& tuffs
My friend is outside
of town so I stay
home.
I bet you would-
nt know me if you
saw me, cause I weigh
141 pounds & I'm grown
till Mrs. Rasi that I
weigh 141 pounds &
am only 17 years old
Same weight hey! eh
 Well, I'll have to
close, wish you good
                 luck.
      Yours truly
           Lillian
            Launett

I did the best I could to copy it but it was a challenge.
What did I learn? She's 17 years old and weighs 141 pounds. I don't know to many women now a days that would write that about themselves. She works in a restaurant. I wonder who her "friend" outside of town was? I wonder if Grandpa contacted her very often. And how did he meet her.
History that has faded from all memory.

Here are a few random pictures for you to look at.

No idea who this is. It was taken in Providence R.I. at 2491/2 Westminster St.

 Another person I have no idea who it is. It was taken at Gibson Art Galleries in Chicago.

No idea who they are. I thought since it was taken in the winter time it fit with the time the letter was written.

Well that's about all I have for you today.
Enjoy your weekend. Most people will have three whole day off. I just hope mother nature cooperates.
Your friend,
Sandy

Mary Kauer: Jan. 11, 1926 Rib lake, Wis.

Hello Friends,
I hope your weekend was as good as mine. My youngest daughter got married. So I'm now a mother-in-law. We kept it small, yet still open. There were no dramas that I know of. This week I will be puppy and guinea pig sitting. I hope they don't provide the drama I have avoided this weekend.
Here is the next letter from Mary:

As always here is what it says:

                 Rib Lake, Wis
                 Jan. 11, 1926
Hello Howard:-
   I don't know whether
I'll b be able to write a letter
tonite or not. it was so
hot up here that I got a
headache and now I'm sleepy
so if I make too many mistakes
it's not my fault. I can't
even think of anything to
write. I washed my hair
today and I guess I

washed out all my common
sense. But I guess I'll be
all right by tomorrow morning.
Because they say (Early to bed
and early to rise, makes a man
healthy, wealthy, and wise.
  There's going to be a masquerade
here Friday evening and Mrs. Hypke
is busy making suits for Mrs.
Bogumill and Wilma. They are
going to be dressed alike in red
suits with long tight pants
and red caps with black tassels.

I wish it was summer so
more of the kids from the
country could come in.
Then I'd mask, too. But I'm
going over to look on, any-
how.
  Well. I hope you have
a good time at Swanson's.
But don't make Thomas
jealous again. All at once
he'll light into you and
you'll be going around with a
black eye. And say kiss
Inez for me when you

see her, will you?
By the way the wind blew
today it doesn't look as tho
you could come over again
Even if you are a big Swede
I guess the weatherman - thinks
you wasted enough gasoline
this summer.
  Well, so long, I guess this is
a pretty long letter, isn't it?
I hope you can read it.
   Good nite and good
luck from Mary.

 Not a whole lot here. I wonder what the occasion for a masquerade was. I also wonder what the two women were trying to be.  They sound like they would have looked very interesting.
I like the comment of washing her hair and washing her common sense out.
And of course the old saying. Who has not heard that one many times before?

Here are a few random pictures for you to see.

I thought I would share another wedding picture since my daughter just tied the knot this last weekend. I do not know who they are.

I don't know the occasion for this picture. The only one I know for sure is Grandma. She is the one on the right.

 This one was taken when Grandma was was a lot younger then the one before.

Well that's about all I have for you this time.
So enjoy your week.
Your friend,
Sandy

Mary Kauer: Jan. 5, 1926 Rib lake, Wis.

Dear Friends,
I hope you had a good week. Mine was quiet before the major excitement. My youngest daughter is getting married. So it will be a very busy one.  I'll fill you in sometime in the future but for now I'll share with you the next letter from Mary. The first letter from 1926.

As always here is what it says:

              Rib Lake Wis
              Jan.4, 1926
Hello Howard:-
   well, since you prom-
ised to write first I guess
I'll write, too. it's early yet
and I don't know what
else to do. I spose I had
better go to bed. Five hours
sleep in two nites isn't
very much, is it? Say, I'm
using the pencil you got
from Thars but of course

you can't blame the
pencil for the scrawly
writing that I do.
  Have you seen your (little
sweetheart) since Sunday? Don't
tease her too much, you
know that's hard on a
person. All at once she'll
quit you and then, what
will you do? Then it'll be
too late to cry.
How did you feel this
morning. Did the boss fire
you for falling asleep on

the job? Wouldn't I laugh
at you then? I overslept
and didn't hear the alarm
at all. Mrs. Hipke woke
me and said, you better
get up, it's way after six.
Well, it didn't take me
very long to get up and
get breakfast. By that I
forgot all about being
tired.
How did you get home?
Were the roads all icy or
could you drive without

saying your last prayers
every minute.
Well, so long and good
luck from       Mary
Wilma is laughing so
much I can't write anymore

It sounds like the two of them still hang out together. But she still mentioned a sweetheart. I wonder if he was still seeing Rose. Or was it a distraction trying to make it sound like he was involved with someone other than her.
And you thought today was complicated. They had their own drama back then.

Here are a few random pictures for you to look at.

I don't know who they are. There is writing on the back but it's hard for me to make out. Maybe you can .

This is my cousin Jenny at age 11. It will be her birthday on Sunday.

No idea who these people are. Boy it sure looks more clear on the computer then the actual picture itself.

Well that's all I have to share with you today. I'll be a little busy this weekend. You know with a daughter getting married and all.
So till Tuesday. Have a great weekend.
Your friend,
Sandy

Mary Kauer: Dec. 30, 1925 Rib lake, Wis

Dear Friends,
I hope you had a good weekend. It was on the cool side and drizzly off and on Sunday to top things off.
This next letter, from Mary, is the last one from 1925.

As always here is what it says:

            Thursday, 12 noon

Dear Howard:-
       Thanks a lot for this
I think it's just jade Mrs. B.
says no one will be able to
steal my stationary now. She
brought the box up and she
said she wouldn't go until I
opened it. My writing is awful
here but I'm standing so don't blame
me.
John left this morning as he
has to be there tomorrow.
How is your cold now? Any
better or must I come and be
your nurse for awhile. I spose
Emma Roseen is gone by this
time or you could get her.

Ma was in here a few minutes
this morning. She said Anton
S slept all day Monday and all
Monday nite. He went to camp
Tuesday morning. Joe went Monday
but Mary S. was here yesterday
and she said Hank Becker was
home from camp and he said Joe
was so tired Monday evening that
he went to bed without supper. Well,
I was pretty tired myself. I was
getting dizzy already.
  I think I had better quit and
wash the dishes now or I'll get fired
oh say Mrs. Hiphs wants to come
back and stay up here but Clara
says Pete won't have it. Gee she'd
have a fit if she saw how things
go up here. Well so long love from
                                             Me.


Grandpa sure like to buy stationary for the girls that write him. But I think he spent more on Mary because it is personalized.
I wonder how long all these people were at the camp? Joe must really work extra hard if he was so tired.
I know I'm still not spelling the one name right, hopefully  soon I can get it spelled right, so bare with me.
Gee I wonder what kind of things went on there that might cause someone to have a fit?


Here are a few random pictures for you to see.

This one was to big to scan so I had to take a picture of it. At the bottom is a phrase in Swedish which translates to  "Praise the lord my soul!" As for the age of this one I think it might be from the 1890's, maybe.

 On the back it says, Aunt and Uncle Johnson. No idea who.

In honor of planting season here is a scene from a time gone by. I wonder who they are.

Well that's about all I have to share with you this time. I hope you will stop by on Friday for another post and the beginning of 1926.
Your friend,
Sandy

Mary Kauer: Dec. 26, 1925 Rib Lake, Wis.

Hello Friends,
I hope you had a good week. I did. Looking forward to the weekend. I just hope it's not to rainy. We need the rain but just not too much at once.
Here is the next letter from Mary:

As always here is what it says:

            Rib Lake Wis
             Dec. 26, 1925
Hello Howard:-
   How did you enjoy
your Xmas? Was Santa
Claus very good to
you or did he pass
you up? Margaret and
I played Santy here.
We went to church at
midnite and then
trimmed the tree
afterwards. It was about
4.30 when we got thru,
then we wake up my
little brother and of
course we had to stay
up and play with his
toys for awhile.

Pa got him a big tool
outfit and he's been
carp playing carpenter
ever since.
We were over to
Schneider's yesterday evening
but were home already
by 12.30. That wasn't so
bad, was it?
  Say I think I'll have
to quit writing pretty
soon cause the mail
carrier will soon be
around pretty soon. The
kids are making such
a racket that I can't
write decent. Any mistakes
that I make are not
my fault.

Say, I have a couple
of verses in my autograph
already. Rosie, Margaret
and Anton wrote in it
and Joe wrote 2 in already
I show it to you ( if I
see you again.)
  Well, so long and
good luck from Mary
P.S. It seems good to
be home where I can
be as lazy as I want to.
  Write to me this
week, will you even if I did
tell you not to.

It sounds like she had a good Christmas.
I wonder what kind of things the others wrote in her book. I wonder what Grandpa could have written in her autograph book.

Here are a few random pictures for you to see.

This was taken in 1971.

This was taken spring of 1945. Thomas had power put in.

This could be four of Grandpa and Grandma's children. No idea what year it was taken.

Well that's about all I have for you this time.
I hope you have a good weekend and stay warm. it's suppose to be on the cool side here this weekend and the next week. That's May in Wisconsin. It could be on the warm side and cool side all in the same week.
Till next time,
your friend,
Sandy