Paul E. Rudy Biography
To my Son, Paul E. Rudy, by his
Daddy. I leave this diary hoping that
some day you will enjoy knowing the things you done when you were a
baby.
I am making my first entry in this book on Sat. eve. 10:30 PM Jan. 27,
1940. So all things entered here between Sept. 11, 1937 until Jan. 27,
1940 are from memory. And I hope Son that you will always live clean &
follow God. Regardless. As I always believe in Col. 3:-17 Rom. 8:-28.
And Son if I pass on into eternity, why I want you to always look after
Mother. And my wish and prayer is that you will be a True Minister of
God.
Daddy
“Forward” Col. 3:-17 Rom.
8:-28
Dear Son,
You would probably like to know the following, you were born at Sat.
11:35 AM Sept. 11, 1937 in 2nd floor front room at 517 Calder
St. Hbg, PA Dr. Morris Silver was the Dr. & those present were your
grandmother Rudy, Uncle Ernest Bordner, Kay L.M. Miller & myself. (Kay
was your nurse) And you gave a real shout and sure flailed your arms
around when you were born. The way you rec’d your name was as follows.
Before you were born everybody thought sure you would be a girl. But I
prayed to God and I promised Him if you were a boy I would name you Paul
after the Apostle Paul. Also that I would live a Christian life myself
and by the Grace of God bring you up following in footsteps of Jesus and
hoping that God would call you into the Ministry. For your
information you were dedicated to the Lord in the Mission that I had in
first floor of 517 Calder St. (as Dad was also a Minister.) by Bro.
Melvin Potts on Sept. 19, 1937 and he preached the most beautiful
dedication I believe was ever preached. And I would like to ask you to
always hold Bro. Potts dear to your heart. Now a little about Mother &
myself. I met your Mother at a Forest Fire Warden picnic and took a
liking to her (in summer of 1936.) At that time she was not saved but I
prayed & told God if it was His will for her & I to go through life
together that He would Save her {and son she is the most wonderful wife
& Mother that any man & child ever had.} and Thank God it was not long
until she was saved. We were married in Lancaster on Nov. 19, 1936 by
Bro. Benj. B. Adams, (a Bro. Minister) at his home at 241 Beaver St.
Lancaster. Witness Kay Miller. Mother was 19 yrs old and I was 44 yrs.
Old. Dad was saved Aug. 17, 1933, Baptized water Sept. 3, 1933 and
Baptized by Holy Ghost Dec. 10, 1933 with the evidence. Mother was
saved Aug. 15, 1936, Baptized in river Aug. 8, 1937 (4 weeks before you
were born), and Baptized by Holy Ghost Jan. 1938 (with the evidence.)
You also have a stepsister to my first wife. She was married and her
name is Jeannette Fox. Dad has been in Forest Protection service since
1923. as an Inspector. and was left out Jan. 1940 and told they would
only give me a couple months work a year after giving my best years to
the State. So Son, avoid Politics through life as they are rotten. You
and Dad became close Pals right after you were born as Mother took sick
and Dad was too sick to work so he stayed home with you & Mother. You
never did do any creeping & never used your play yard much as you
started to walk on your feet by holding when you were about 6 ½ mo. or 7
mo. old. And walked by yourself at 11 mo. You climbed up the stairs
when you were 11 mo. & 3 weeks old. up to Kay’s apartment on the 3rd
floor. When you were 1 yr & 4 mo. old & we took you to church you would
get on front seat & get a book & how you would sing. And if Dad was
preaching you would be up on platform behind pulpit or back in
congregation & how you would preach. At home you would climb on a chair
& get a book & sing & then bow your head or get on your knees & pray &
then you would stand on chair & preach. At bedtime you could think up
more excuses so Mother would not take you to bed. You had a wonderful
memory and were also one of the best boys at night. You liked to see
the horses going up & down the street & liked to be out. Also like Dad
to take your pictures. Liked electric trains & all your toys. Liked to
go to Grandma Rudy’s to play with Patty & Carol. Also to talk on
telephone & to play radio. And how you could ask questions. Every time
Dad came home after you were 2 years old I was greeted by this request
from you (Give me something Daddy.) One day in Jan. 1940 at Noon a
group of Colored children going home from school & a couple got to
fighting and the rest to hollering and you opened front door and stood
on front step and made your fists go around & hollered I’ll fight kids.
I brought you home a little puppy on Jan. 26, 1940 up until today you
hve not decided on a name for it. Mother put you to bed tonight about
7:30 or 8:00 O’clock and it is now 11:00 so I am going to quit writing &
go to bed and my daily prayer is that God will keep & guide you. P.S.
We have had cold weather since Dec. 27, 1939. It has not been any
warmer than 28 above zero. Mostly between 4 below & 10 above it is
about 8 above tonight & by the way some unusual news down through
Georgia, Alabama, Florida & the whole South had from 1 to 22 inches of
snow this week of Jan. 22 & from 13 below in Alabama & Tenn. & Georgia
to 20 above at Tampa & Miami, Florida. Well that is all for this
writing & May God Bless you & Mother. Good night. Signed Daddy Jan.
27, 1940
Jan. 30, 1940 11:30 PM
I am writing this time while
listening to a speech by the President of U.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt on
the 2nd anniversary of the March of Dimes for the benefit of
those suffering from Infantile Paralysis which was held on his birthday
& all receipts & all dimes sent is for the good cause. Well Son I fell
down on the job this last couple days. But here goes for some things on
the morning of 28th. You were awake at 7:30 AM & of course
at 8:00 o’clock I brought you down stairs. Nothing much happened on the
28th. You ask most every day, where is Jesus, where is sky &
Moon. And always say your prayers, about the same on the 29th.
But today you & Dad took Jeannette up to her house at Rockville, and
then went down to Capitol to office of Forest Protection in room 410
Educational Bldg. The girls in the office all thought you were some
boy. Eliza Smith liked your Blue Eyes, Mrs. Adeline Frazer (also a Red
head) liked your red hair. Anna Mary Mumma put you on her lap & left
you play with the typewriter and Mary Carney did the same & also gave
you a handful of lead pencils & 1 red pencil. You did not like to ride
in elevators. You hated them. We walked down the steps and you said I
was to get gas in my car & told me you would give me the money for gas.
Early this AM while the carpenter was fixing the kitchen ceiling you
sure was busy in the tools & well we had a nice day. You were a good
boy, went to bed about 7:30. So will close todays diary & May God
watch over you & Mother
11:55 PM Daddy
Romans 8:-28 Sunday, Feb. 16,
1940
Well Son it has been 2 weeks since I wrote anything but here goes. As I
am writing, you are standing o a chair and leaning on table helping me
to write and as you will notice on top right hand corner of Page 9 and
on the right side of Page 11 is what you have written. Dad has been
listening to the Church Programs on the Radio and at Present the Southernaires are on. You know Son they have been singing some of
Stephen Fosters Melodies. I love them as I think the tune’s of his
songs & also the words appeal to anyone who loves music such songs as
Swannee River, Old Folks at Home & Old Black Joe. You are now writing
all over Page 11. Some day you will look at your baby letters. I still
believe you will be a real child of God and an Evangelist. And I pray
that you will love and play music. You watch your chance & dip
pencil in ink. {You can see your writing at 2 yrs. & 5 mo. of age. You
wrote this while I was writing on Page 10. At top on Page 13 you wrote
This is your diary.} About a week ago we started to teach you to
say the Lords Prayer. And now you sure like to say Our Father and you
will ask us where is Kingdom come? & where is Temptation? & where did
Evil go? On Feb. 14 Wednesday we had about 18 inches of snow in this
vicinity and the storm covered the entire East & there were over 100
deaths. Cars stalled & everything tied up for 2 days. It took 2 days
to get the main highways open and many of secondary & rural roads not
open on this the 5th day. The railroads were tied up for
about 22 hrs. It looks like more snow today or to-night. You are now
busy talking to Mother about your bicycle. Well son don’t know much
more to write so I will close for this writing at 12:30 A.M. & May God
Bless & Keep you in Service.
8:00 P.M. Feb. 28, 1940
Well son I am listening to a Gospel program over Hbg. Station W.K.B.O.
Well last night I took you to bed and I said I did not feel good so you
put your arms around my neck and kissed me and said feel better daddy?
You done this 3 times and then said your all right now ain’t daddy? You
are pretty strong for your age. You get a shovel and climb into your
express wagon and let on you are unloading coal. You also get the
shovel and shut your eyes and sing hymns and let on the shovel is your
Guitar. I pray to God & believe He will spare my life until I can hear
you Preach and that you are old enough to take care of yourself and
Mother. Well son it is still cold had another show about 3 in. Monday.
I forgot to say you have named your puppy Pot Pie. You went to
bed tonight about 7:30 but you were awake at 6:00 AM talking to Daddy.
Well son I don’t know anything else to write just now so I will close
until next time & May God watch over you tonight.
Daddy
Romans 8:28 Sunday, June
9, 1940
Well son once again been a long time since last entry but Daddy has been
quite busy with the Forest Fire season & other things such as getting
cars, flowers & so-forth for Memorial day. You see the Sons of Veterans
of Civil War have 22 cemeteries to take care of. You are playing with
your fleet of toy autos on the davenport as I am writing & listening to
the Southernairs on the Radio. This old world is in a turmoil with the
War in Europe and people running wild and forgetting God. Well son
about you. You are getting big & sure like to climb. Can talk most
anything & sure can take care of yourself as you are not afraid of any
kids or in fact big people. Have a nice temper but that’s ok. Summer
is here now. By the way we are holding prayer meetings each Wed. &
Sunday in our home & there have been 3 converts in 4 meetings. Kay is
going to open a Meeting in Marysville on June 16. She says she expects
you to preach there some day. Well it is warm out to day & sun is
shining bright. You are now crying Mother made you come in for not
listening to her. Well I will close for this time & May God Bless You.
Daddy
Monday, Sept. 3-1940
Well Son Daddy has been neglecting his writing again. But here I go
again. Well Dad bought another car. A 1935 Chev. Coach and you always
like the rear end. Well son every thing now is War in Europe. Germany
with Adolph Hitler seem to have won over everything in Europe except
England. They are now having wars in air, both countries bombing
cities. Well to get back to Paul Rudy, you are still growing. You now
gather the children of neighborhood either in house or outside and have
them all get down on knees & then you Pray. You then sing and Preach.
The other day you were at table and was Praying and you said Oh Lord
make Mamma better so she does not have to bother with the Doctor and
make us all better Christians. Then the other morning you said to me
Daddy when God takes Mamma why Jesus will open door for Daddy & Paul
won’t he? You told us all Jesus was building you a big house and all
the kids could play with you and you wanted to go get a ladder in garage
and climb up to Jesus. Well Son I still have Faith that God wants you
for an Evangelist. Some folks say how do I know whether you will be a
Preacher. Well all I know is that God in Heaven promised me that
anything I ask in Faith believing (14th Chap. of St. John)
will be given to me. You make all of us laugh when you call mother.
You will yell Ida hey Ida or else Hon oh Hon. And each morning you
stand at top of steps & yell Ed. Hey Ed. Daddy, come up & get me. You
& Dad are getting to more Pals than ever. We are always together. Some
times you get a little bad & Mother or Dad must give you a whipping.
Last night we were all to River to see the fire works at end of Kipona
day in Hbg. & it was wonderful & you sure enjoyed the display.
Well Son don’t know anything else but will still always say God Bless &
Keep you & use you in his work. 11:00 P.M.
Daddy
Sept. 9-1940 6:30 P.M.
Well here goes again. Well Son on Sat. Dad was driving you & Mother to
first look for a house & then take you to Wild wood to the zoo to see
the monkeys. Going up Lewis St. at Noon & our car & anther car operated
by a Mrs. Edna Rockefeller of Hbg. RD2 collided at 3rd &
Lewis. Mother was driven under the dashboard & you were wedged head
first under the right front seat & as I looked why Mother was falling
back on the seat & she would of crushed your head & probably killed you
and Dads legs were wedged under dash back of steering column but God
sure took care of you as he helped Dad to reach over & grab seat & pull
you out with out you being hurt at all. Mother had her head, right
shoulder, right foot & left knee injured & is now confined to bed since
Sat. under care of Dr. Morris Silver. Dad had a hole knocked in left
kneecap & bone bruised bad. When Uncle Dutch & Aunt Peg got you &
Mother to grandma Rudy’s house on Sat. why you told Bess that we had an
accident & car was wrecked but Paul was not driving Ed was driving.
Sunday you were coming down stair steps backward & fell nearly all way
down on your head but God still was taking care of you as you were not
hurt. On next page I have an article cut from Evening News on Monday
Eve. Sept. 9-1940. Well Son I still can say Romans 8:-28 also thank God
that you were not hurt & also that Mother was not hurt any worse as she
could have been killed. The other lady had her nose & mouth injured.
It will cost at least $100.00 to fix up Dads car & about same for other
car. Well I will write more later but until then Amen & May God still
keep & Bless you.
Daddy
Sept. 8-1940
*** (The following is a newspaper clipping that was attached to the
journal) ***
2 Motor Police Students Hurt
Two students at the State Motor Police Training School, Indiantown Gap, were injured early today when their car struck a stone wall along the William Penn Highway, just north of the Clarks Ferry Bridge. They are john O’Brien, 22, laceration of the forehead, and Edward L. Urdan, 22, possible fracture of the left shoulder and lacerations of the left arm, elbow, wrist and fingers of the left hand. Both live in Pittsburgh. Physicians at the Polyclinic Hospital said the youths reported they were on their way to the school when the steering wheel failed to function on a curve. When their car turned on its side in a collision in Route 443 late Saturday afternoon, Mr. And Mrs. John David Heikes, Sr., and their son, John David Jr., 5, of 2636 Lexington street, narrowly escaped serious injury. The child was treated at the Polyclinic Hospital for a bump over the right eye. William Harris, Jr., 23, of 1812 North Second street, was treated at the same hospital yesterday for minor injuries. His car struck a pole at Sixth and Division streets.
Three persons were injured Saturday in a collision at Third and Lewis streets, between cars operated by Edward T. Rudy, 47, of 517 Calder street, and Mrs. Edna P. Rockefeller, 58, Harrisburg R.D. 2. At the Rudy home today it was said Mrs. Edward Rudy, 23, was confined to bed with a head injury and bruises of the right foot and knee, that Rudy suffered a laceration of the knee and bruised leg, and that Mrs. Rockefeller suffered injuries of the nose and mouth. The Rudy’s 3-year-old son, Paul Edward was uninjured when thrown to the floor. (Note: Here Edward wrote “Thank God” with a arrow pointed to the last line.)
Mrs. James Wualey, 41, of Yonkers, N.Y. was treated for a bruised right temple at the Harrisburg Hospital. She was hurt when a car stopped suddenly in the Jonestown road, throwing her against the dashboard.
*** (End of newspaper article) ***
Wed. Sept. 11th 1940
Well Skippy today you are 3 years old. Seems but just a short time that
you had the whole house in an uproar. I don’t think I shall ever forget
that day. I was your nurse and when the Doctor said the baby was a boy,
I believe I was more than glad. Some how I always liked boy babies and
I found out later that you sure was all boy. Paul this is not only your
birthday but it is the 3rd year your Uncle Ernest and I have
be going together. He took me to Church the evening of the day you were
born and we have been going together ever since. And I know Uncle
Ernie thinks you are just about perfect. Paul if any one ever tells you
that you were the worst boy on Calder St. you tell them Aunt Kay says
you were next to the worst Ha, Ha. I have proof for that, one night
when you were 6 months old we took you to Church and in one of your red
headed tempers you Hit Aunt Kay in the nose till it bled, so what, you
are a bad boy, I guess you don’t remember How I fought with your daddy
to let you keep your Curls. Well I did and then we decided we would cut
them at home, so I kept some of them and now have one in a locket with
your picture. Just last night I gave you a bath and you had the
crust to ask me if I knew how to bath you, why didn’t I bath you when
you first came to town. Laid you on the bathroom floor, why on the
floor? Why because you would not stay put on my lap. Paul God has been
good to you. I have heard you pray when we would drive home from Church
before you could talk plain and I have heard you preach and this desire
of my heart is that you might be the means of many souls being saved.
Just get all your badness out now when you are a child because when you
grown up you will have to put childish things aside. And so today my
wish for you is that God watches over you and keeps you ever near the
cross. Hair of red. Eyes of blue who could keep from loving you,
always deep with in my heart There’s a love that’s just for you, Friends
will come, and friends will go, But this one thing I’d have you know,
I’ll be Always loving you. Written as a remembrance for your 3rd
birthday, By your Aunt Kay who love you more then you can know just now.
Sunday. Sept. 29-1940
Well son just a few lines today to record something that happened at
Carsonville on Friday, Sept. 19, 1940. You (3 yrs. old) and your uncle
Dean (6 yrs. old) took Tippy the little dog and started out to hunt
rabbits. They found you about ¾ mile from house in a cornfield. You
told Dad that night I was to buy you a gun to shoot rabbits. You are
getting to be a big boy and Very Bad. ha, ha. Well Son the 2nd
War in Europe is getting larger & larger. Just as God predicts they
have forgotten God and He say All Nations who forget God shall perish.
This war is not only as some see it, but it is mostly a War between God
and the Devil. Men in Power in Nations and taking place ahead of God.
People worshipping men like Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini and forgetting
God. Even here in America it is the same. People can set in shows &
dances & ball games by the hour but cannot give God 15 minutes. Can
give the Devil in dollars and hate to give God in pennies. Sunday
movies & so forth. But son here is a truth if the so called and
professing Christians and Church members would stay out of Hotels,
Movies, Dance halls why there is not enough of others to keep those
places going. Well so long for this time and may God Bless & keep you.
Daddy
Sunday Oct. 27-1940 5:15 PM Rom.
8:-28
Well Amen. Well son for the last couple days we have been getting
things ready to move to a 100 acre farm 6.3 miles East of River road in
Fishing Creek Valley. If it be Gods will I will buy it for you &
Mother. For some day Dad is going to leave you here to take care of
Mother & I know you will. And then it won’t be long until I meet
you in Heaven, Amen. You sure have been a little pest the past week or
so tormenting about every minute of the day and half of night. I guess
you are just full also of the excitement of moving. You want pigs,
chickens on the 100 acres. Whenever you talk about it you call the
place the 100 acres. It is cloudy and dreary today. About 3:30 Uncle
Ernie took you, mother and Lincoln Miller for a ride up to Grandma
Bordners. Right after noon Dad helped at Memorial Services of Commander
Rhoads the last member of Post 58 G.A.R. who was buried on Friday. He
also was the last white Civil War Veteran in Hbg. Well son I guess
this is all for this time. Except I wanted to tell you that you talk a
good bit about the 100 acres and say that you will have to show all the
pigs in before you go hunting rabbits on the 100 acres. Well so-long
old Pal until the next time & May God Bless you. Daddy
Dec. 29, 1940 9:45 AM
Well Son here I am again. Well we moved on Oct. 28, 1940 and you have
sure had a big time out most of the time playing in the run beside the
house. I forgot to tell you before but the owner of this house is a Mr.
Albert Allen an Insurance man from Hbg. We have 3 banty chickens & two
other kind. One of them a big white rooster that looks like the
Democratic Party Emblem rooster. You are now playing on the floor with
a lot of little houses and chairs & so forth out of the x-mas tree
yard. And Dad is listening to the Radio Program called Wings over
Jordan, which is on from 9:30 to 10:00. At 10:30 we will listen to the
Southernaires Gospel singers. Mother don’t feel so good this morning so
she is still in bed. You received some nice things for x-mas. A couple
toy trucks a fire chief auto that you ride. It is 4 ft. long 15 in.
high. Story books, Airplanes – anti air craft guns, clothes & so
forth. Dad was very bad sick from the 1st until 26th
of Dec. with a bad ulcer in my stomach but I changed Doctors & Dr. E.A.
Nickodemus of Derry St. who had cured me many years ago gave me the same
medicine again. It contains Silver Nitrate and was anointed & prayer
made & I am much better. On x-mas eve we were out singing carols at
Marysville. Well Son we don’t have much money & it is a hard struggle
to keep things going but by Grace of God we will pull through and I will
be able to be here at least long enough to take care of Mother & you
until you are big enough to take up where Dad left off. Not only to
take care of Mother but also the work of God in the Ministry. For Son
don’t forget and Dad knows, that any other life except that of a child
of God is no good. It ruins your health, causes you trouble, may send
you to prison & even the electric chair & finally to Hell. So live a
Christian & then some day we will all meet in Heaven at the feet of
Jesus, Amen. And always remember Son that you have the one of the best
Mothers that ever existed. Well as usual you want to play with all the
things out of the x-mas tree yard except the ones you should have. In
other words you want to play with the ones that are breakable rather
than with the unbreakable ones, but any other way would not be you. But
that is ok anyhow. Well it sounds as if Mother is about getting up now
at 10:15. Well I guess for this time I will close. But I will add that
during the Program of Wings over Jordan and the Program “The Church of
the air” which is now on the air, you also helped to sing & are now
repeating the Preachers words who is now speaking. You just found a
little cross in the x-mas tree yard & you came to ask me if that was not
the kind of cross they hanged Jesus on. Well so long & God Bless you
until next time. Dad
Sunday May 18, 1941 2:30 PM
Daylight saving time
Well Son it has been nearly 3 months since the other entrance. But you
have been growing and full of tricks, you sure to like to torment. Am
glad to say this that you still sing hymns & hold services. Your Uncle
Ernie was drafted into the Army on March 17 and was given a disability
discharge on May 17 and today he has taken you & Mother & Kay up to
Grandma Bordners. It is clear, cool and very windy today. This has
been one of the worst Forest Fire seasons we ever had, there were 2400
fires in state from April 1 to May 6 and 1400 of these were from April
24 to May 6. Very dry all over Eastern part of country. Well the
country is in an awful state, wars, pestilence, trouble & spiritual.
Well you had a nice Easter and we are still living in Fishing Creek
Valley 6.3 mi. East of River. The banty hatched out 4 peeps yesterday.
You sure figure out things, I don’t know how but you tell stories
of airplanes, tanks, bombs, guns and camps & 1st Sgt’s. Well
Son you & Dad are real Pals. I am listening to Rev. Musser’s Hymn Sing
on station W.K.B.O. & a couple children are singing “This World is Not
My Home.” They just finished singing “Farther Along.” Well Son two
boys are now singing “The Gospel Ship.” Well Son Dad worked hard this
spring. I was actually on the fire line 87 hrs. at one time. 63 hrs. &
57 hrs. & 49 hrs. at others without any sleep or rest, but there is
something about fighting forest fires after it gets into your blood you
cannot get it out. Well today is “I am an American Day” all over the
U.S. and when we think of Europe why we should be glad we are
Americans. We bought you a sailor shirt and Son you sure look good in
it. Well you sure like to work and also to stay up late at night. Of
course you don’t steal that. Well, will close for this time & May God
Bless & keep you. Dad.
Sunday, Jan. 25, 1942 3:15 PM
Well Son, it has been a long time since the last entry and a lot has
happened. We now live in Hbg. again at 1944 State St. The reason we
moved is because the water at Fishing Creek was bad. You could not
drink it and when you washed in it, why your skin broke out in sores and
Mr. Allen has fooled around all summer and does not seem to care whether
we have any good water or not. Here in State st. we have bath, furnace
& a fairly nice yard. We moved here on Nov. 28, 1941. You sure like
the bathtub. You get blocks & toys in and play with them. You have a
dog called Skippy and you and her have lots of fun. You have a nice
playroom here. Well, Kay & Ernie now live at Marysville. And these are
terrible times, on Dec. 7, 1941 Japan attacked the U.S.A. at Pearl
Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands. Killing about 3000 American Sailors &
Soldiers, sinking the Battleship Arizona and destroying many planes &
damaging many other ships of our fleet. Now, America is getting an Army
of 7,500,000 together. We can only buy very little sugar and lots of
other things. Today you are contrary as all get out. This past week
has been like spring, but today it is cloudy & getting colder. Looks
like maybe snow. You are learning to sing a lot of Hymns & Old
Revival numbers. “I feel the fire burning”, “Swing low sweet chariot”,
“Steal away”, “Shall we gather at the river”, “Farther along”, “Has the
light gone out of your soul”, and many others. You like to play in the
cellar and root out my toolboxes and get into everything. Uncle
Clifford & Aunt Alma live with us and have a nice little bay girl
“Frieda.” Mother has just given you a book for you to color pictures.
We had a nice X-mas. Well we are soon going to get ready to go to
church at Marysville. The Union Deposit Prayer band is going to be
there tonight. Well I will close for this time, but will make more
entries than I have been & may God Bless & Keep You and I still have
faith that God is going to give you the desire & then call you as an
Evangelist.
Daddy Ed.
July 1, 1942 4:50 PM
Well Son, Dad is getting lazy or something in my entries. Well, lot’s
has happened since the last entry. The entire world is at War with each
other except a few small Nations. The U.S. is training many men. Every
man from 18 to 65 years of age has registered for Defense, about
45,000,000. We now have gas ration and cannot buy auto tires. At this
time, most everything seems to be going the way of the AXIS Powers, but
not for long. The great trouble is the most of people have forgotten
God and if America even expects to win, they will surely have to get
back to God. Well, you are still growing and you like to drill and play
bandleader and you can do both. You are out now playing with Dean
Bordner, your uncle. Well, we have had a couple blackouts in Hbg. that
is done in case of air raids, as they expect them here. As you know,
Harrisburg is considered the 18th vulnerable city in U.S.
subject to attack. We have the steel works, the Railroad & Traffic
bridges in Hbg., Army training camp at Indiantown Gap, Air Depot at
Middletown. The Old Hbg. Academy has been taken over by Army as a
School for Pilots. The Farm Show Bldgs. are used for an airplane
mechanics school, also Carlisle Medical school. Then Mechanicsburg and
Chambersburg have large ammunition dumps. All in the Hbg. area and the
big reception center at New Cumberland where all the enlisted and
drafted men are sent to be classified and then shipped to different
branches of the service. America has lost hundreds of cargo ships &
quite a few Naval ships and thousands of men so far, but the Pacific
fleet has given the Japs a couple very bad lickings lately. I just
bought you a set of books called the Book of Knowledge this week that
cost $89.50. I hope you always like them and they help you. You still
like to play in cellar and also to preach, and are still stubborn. You
also sure like ice cream. Well Skippy your dog was Mamma to a couple
little doggies and then we had to kill her as she got fits and had broke
her neck and could not eat or drink, but she sure liked you. But you
have one of her little puppies. A little dog and his name is Spot, and
you and him sure have lots of fun. There is no play end to you. You
hate to even take time out to eat, sleep or go to toilet. Well, Dad had
some bad fires this spring. One fire on 2nd Mt. 9 ½ miles
long from 1 mi. West of Manada Gap to ½ mi. West of Raush Gap. And from
Stony Creek to Blue Mt. Another in Blue Mt. 3 ½ mi. long from
Indiantown Gap West 3 ½ miles and from North to South side of Mt. Caused
by exploding shells from Soldiers in training. Many times while
fighting fire The men and myself had to quit fighting fire because of
Trench Mortar, 75 and 50 m.m. shells falling and exploding where we
were. Dad was on the fire line from April 22 until May 1 with only 7
hrs. sleep. I then went out again to fire on S. side Peters Mt. near
Y.M.C.A. Camp on the morning of May 2 and was on this fire until eve of
May 3. 175 acres again went in another fire, which started below the
one above and burned into it on Peters Mt. on May 5-6. The fires at the
Gap burned about 15,000 to 20,000 acres. It has been raining nearly
every day for last 4 weeks. Dad is not feeling very good whenever I
drink much coffee it puts my stomach on the bum. You and Dad are
still great Pals. You often go along with me when I go away. Well, we
see lots of soldiers & trucks pass our house. It is on the main highway
to New York. Well, this is about the longest entry yet, so I will close
for this time and May God Bless & Keep you for His Service.
Daddy Ed.
Nov. 11, 1942
Well here I am again, left things slip for 5 months. While I am writing
this you are crying. You are getting to be one of the most bull headed
and contemptible child in existence. It does no good to talk to you.
Your Mother is sick and you are contrary. Lots of things are
happening. The U.S.A. has attacked the axis powers all over the world.
Here at home, we are expecting anything from air bombings to gas and all
kinds of sabotage. Dad is an air raid warden, Drill instructor and
County Chief of Forest Fire service all in Civilian Defense. You have
still a good memory and when not in one of your bullheaded moods, are
about as swell a boy as there is in the world. You sure like guns and
can do the Manual of Arms also quite a few things in foot drill. It is
a little cool today but the weather has been warm so far. Kay now works
in the P.R.R. as a train hostess in Phila. Div. Bro. Owen Eyler is now
living with us. When you talk to Kays boss, you call him the big shot.
They are drafting into the Army. They have 4,500,000 in now and expect
9,500,000 by end of 1943. You sure don’t miss anything. You saw
pictures of soldiers with bayonets on their guns, so you get knives out
of the knife drawer and try to fasten them on your gun. You call
yourself my deputy Forest Fire Warden and like to go to fires and often
go along with me on my trips. Just now I don’t know what to say except
you like to play in cellar, and sure like little blocks to play with.
Well, I don’t know anything else just now so will say so long until next
time and May God still watch over you and some day use you in His
Service, Amen.
Dad.
Feb. 14, 1943
Well son here I am again. You are getting to be a very nice boy. Still
love to play with airplanes and Army equipment, and sure have a good
memory. You are a very loving boy, when you go to store with money, you
always bring Mother something home, even when you only have two pennies,
you spend one for her and come in and say here Honey is something for
you. We had your picture taken in Soldier Uniform (Chaplain of Air
Corps Uniform) in Jan. You brought Mother home a new Pocketbook for a
Valentine present. What do you think, you & Dad went to shoe store,
bought you new pair of shoes and then went to 5 & 10 cent store and when
I bought you a parachute, why Dad forgot your new shoes and when we went
back, why they were gone, so we had to get you another pair. Now days
on account of this War, you must have ration stamps for coffee, sugar,
gas, shoes, and before long most everything you use. You cannot buy
butter and no sliced bread. This is a terrible War and all caused
because all nations have forgotten God. People have time for everything
else except God. You and Mother are now in on the studio couch and you
are as usual pestering her as you are about the biggest tease I ever
knowed. Always teasing or pestering someone. You sure do play nice by
yourself. You play for hours with your planes and toy. The other night
Mother was sick and had terrible pains in her side and you prayed and
asked the Lord to make her better. And you know, the Lord sure answered
your prayers, for the pains all left. Son, you have the most wonderful
Mother in the world. Always stick to her and care for her. You were
vaccinated in Jan. and never minded it a bit, even when you tore the
scab off. Last night you gathered up your toys before going to bed.
That was the first time, and when you got to bed you said “Dad, I did a
good job didn’t I?” And when I said yes, you said “boy, that was a
miracle.” You asked me yesterday to teach to you be a Forest Ranger
when you grow up, and I sure will, for we must all do our best to Save
the Forests. The reason they are so beautiful is because God grows the
forests. Dad was on a fire at Indiantown Gap and fought fire without
rest or sleep from April 22 until May 1. Again on fires on Peters Mt.
from May 2 to 4 and from 5 to 7. And about November, it started to take
effect on me. Dad’s heart got a little bad, also my blood pressure.
Then on Dec. 1, some soldiers ran into the back of Dad’s car and caused
him to be all stoved up and also concussions of the brain, but only a
slight concussion. Then in first week of Feb. Dad had to get all his
lower teeth pulled. Sometimes when Dad falls asleep, his old upper set
of teeth slide down and then you tell me I look like a groundhog. You
sure do not like to wear shoes. When you are in the house you never
will leave shoes on your feet. When you start acting the fool, you
never know when to stop. Well son, I will have to close for this time.
Always remember to Pray and stay right with God. And will write more
later. With Love & God Bless You.
Daddy
Year 1958 Entered Feb. 12, 1958
10:30 AM
Praise God “Amen” Feb. 2, 1958
In answer to Prayer my Son Paul and wife Gloria were saved at services
at home of Bro. & Sister Braxton, N. Cumberland RD (2-2-58) It was a
happy time for me, Glory to God. They started to work in Harvest field
and on Feb. 9 they presented their son Robert James to the Lord in
Dedication. And Praise to God I had the Blessed privilege of performing
the Dedication Services. They also had talked to Neighbors & friends
and brought 27 others to Eve. Services. Paul has now gathered together
a group of young folks that Play instruments and sing, (“Praise the
Lord”)
Well Son, just remember the Devil and all his imps will try to
discourage you and tell you what is the use. But just remember Rom.
8:-28 and know that God always tries His Children and Tests them out.
But hold fast. Well the mailman just dropped some mail in, so I will
end this & read the mail. I still know & feel God is going to call you
as an Evangelist to take up after me & Probably Bobby to help you,
Amen. Dad
