Letters from Grandpa 4 January 1916

Box 162
Elko, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley
1020~15th St.
Modesto, California

Dearest Miss:~
Of all the exciting things!!! Snow ~ wow! ~~Snow in Modesto surely was exciting but here dear it's very unusual to find anything else. Just a few nights ago we saw the thermometer register 20[degrees] below zero and only last night we had a fresh coating of several inches of the "beautiful." Every day now they are harvesting the crop that nature grows,~ice. Sleighing and skating are grand~~and should you get "spilled" you'd not be bothered with mud. The ground is frozen for perhaps a foot and a half~~Oh this is a lovely country dear~~at times, but this doesn't happen to be one of them. 

In a day or two,~about Thursday or Friday,~we expect to "pull up stakes" and try again to get to Midas. We will stop at Battle Mountain at least long "enuff" to see what's doing in our line~if we can get there. As I told you once before you'll know when we land. Should there be the least doubt dear send the letter to Elko, and maybe you'd better answer this one there. That address will always reach me and 'twill not take much over a day longer.

In your letter dear you asked me a question I've already answered. And by now you have that letter so know what I did~besides think of you~New Year's Eve.

Please deliver the following to Mrs. C.W. M., dear~~"Regards received for which many thanks and a sincere wish for a very Happy 1916 New Year~~and a' hundred more."

The picture hasn't materialized yet~When I get it I'll send you one but must exact a promise that you'll return it, if I don't consider it a good likeness in exchange for one I do. Is that a bargain?

Awaiting a hasty reply, I am
     Always yours,
          Frank
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Carlin, Nevada,
January 4th,
~1916~

Letters from Grandpa 1 January 1916

Capitol Hotel
W. C. Hancock, Prop.
Battle Mountain, Nevada
F.H.R.


Miss Allene S. Kelley
1020 15th St.
Modesto, California

Dearest:~
Let me join in and help you shout hurrah. That was a "start" and a very agreeable one you gave me. I'm so glad you're not going back to Huntington Hall~~awfully glad~~painfully so, dear, because somehow with all your apparent cheerfulness I seemed to be able to see a sadness in your manners. Maybe not exactly a sadness but something akin to it. It seemed to me that you were putting on a cheerful appearance for the sake of your aunt and uncle's feelings when something told you dear you were going to be unhappy at Huntington Hall. Dearest, you mustn't suffer that way in silence. Confide in the ones directly concerned and you will avoid a lot of unnecessary sorrow.

My telegram this morning showed you that I wasn't far from Elko last night. Drove up from here in the little car yesterday afternoon and after eating a whopping big dinner I proceeded to get into evening clothes for the Fifth Annual Firemen and Enginemen's Ball given in Elko.
There were about six of us, only, in full dress in the crowded hall but in spite of the unusual formality I felt very ordinary and had a grand time. If tho'ts could be bro't out in reality you'd have been there dear 'cause I had time and did think of you quite often.
And to think of all my useless worrying~~so afraid I'd have to spend the one evening of the year in a little old frozen up mining camp! Well I'm grateful, dear.

When I sent the telegram this morning~just as I was starting back to this place it was snowing and I had the pleasure (?) of driving the twenty one miles in a small sized blizzard. The little car worked nobly tho' and I came thru' without a stop, in an hour and five minutes~~and these roads are not boulevards, either.

I'm so glad you're going to take up music. Practice, dear, like everything~won't you? I'm asking you to. And you ask me to keep you posted as to my whereabouts. An unnecessary request dear. You'll know all the time as soon as I do myself.

With love dear,
Yours
Frank

Address~~
Carlin, Nevada

January 1st, 1916~
~~~~~~~~~
P. S. I'll be here for a few days more.
~~~~~~~~~
P. P. S. Don't you dare "make fun" of this stationery. It's Carlin's best.

Letters from Grandpa 1 January 1916

Letters from Grandpa 27 December 1915

My Dearest:~
If that little card in the frame conveys your tho'ts,~and I believe you selected it and sent it because it did,~I'm happier than when I received your picture. Every little message or remembrance from you dear just adds to my happiness, so you mustn't think the picture is any the less appreciated.

And I'm so glad you were pleased with the contents of the package I sent. Needless to say your wish that I could have been in Modesto was my wish but I suppose~yes know~if I had been there I'd have been just as scared and shy as I was at H. H. [Huntington Hall-ed.] Maybe I'll overcome that trait of my nature some time.

Tomorrow we,~Dr. Whitesides my partner,~ and I expect to start to Midas, (via Golconda) Nevada. It's a little mining town about 150 miles from here. We will take our instruments etc. and remain in the camp as long as we are busy,~maybe a week and maybe six.

I hate to leave Elko even for a little while but duty calls and necessity demands. You bet Elko is a nice little town dear~at least I think so. Wide streets? Why the main business street is so wide you almost need a telescope to see across.

It isn't a mining town altho' there is considerable mining going on around here. It is the county seat of Elko County and it's [sic] principal resourses [sic] are ranching and stock raising.

We are on the main line of two transcontinental railroads, the U. P. and S. P. so are supplied with two express companies. We also have the Postal telegraph service besides the Western Union. Telephones, electric lights, in fact almost all modern conveniences.

Will write or wire you, dear soon as I reach Midas, but in the meantime don't you wait~address me there~I'll get the letter.

Just think, in Midas New Year's Eve! Well it serves me right but that doesn't relieve the agony of going to bed with those tho'ts. Will have to do it tho' cause it's past midnight

Always yours
Frank
~~~~~
December 27th, 1915~

Letters from Grandpa 20 December 1915

Box 162
Elko, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley
1020 15th St.
Modesto, California

Allene Dearest:~
Had I known~really known~how happy I was going to be I never could have waited for this morning's mail. You got my telegram so know I received the picture O.K. but you don't know what I did the first thing.~~I went to the jewelry stores~all three of them and bought, what I tho't, was the neatest little sterling frame. And now your picture, dear, is right on my dresser where I can look at it and into those great big beautiful eyes of yours whenever I go into my room. And, oh but it is a perfect picture!~Such a characteristic pose and your own natural expression, excepting perhaps the usual trace of a smile. I am pleased Allene, almost beyond comparison. Even the card that accompanied it has been taken care of.~It's in the frame~behind the picture.

Now for a little exciting news about myself~~~ My Los Angeles proposition is all off. I've gone into partnership with a dentist!! We had lawyer draw up contract [sic] yesterday and will sign it today.

You may and may not have known it dear, but I followed this line, in partnership with another fellow for four years in this state and we made plenty of money, so I almost know what I'm doing. We will open up offices here in Elko just as soon as we can get our furniture shipped in~probably about the middle of January. We will, in the meantime,~make a professional trip into one or two of these neighboring little towns (villages or mining camps). We're going to start right after Christmas.

I was pleased, dear, when I read that part of your letter in which you said "the L.A. proposition didn't sound encouraging" to you, pleased to note that you took interest, at least enough to make intelligent comment. Do you know, about half the time, (putting it mildly) a girl has got more business sense in a minute than a man has in a month? Lots of times tho' she won't impart her knowledge till too late.

By this time your homecoming is ancient history~ you've see everybody in the village,shaken hands, been to parties and pink teas, huh? And weren't "auntie" Helene and uncle Will glad to see their "little" girl!!~~Not any more so than I'd be. Tell them I haven't forgotten them,~ that I said "hello."

Will close dear, thanking you for the dearest Christmas present I ever got.

Yours
   Frank
~~~~
Elko, December 20th,
~~~~1915~~~~

Letters from Grama Sunday 4 June 1916

My darling Frank:

I am so happy! So perfectly happy that I almost burst with joy and expect to wake at any moment and find that I'm still dreaming. I never knew such a state of bliss existed or that such love was in store for me. I'm afraid to breathe for fear something will happen and spoil it all. Really, dearest, you don't know how hard it is to keep my secret and I'll simply have to let it out pretty soon or just explode. I want to talk about it all the time and it is all I think of. Poor Hazel just pesters me to death asking questions and I think she pretty well guesses the real state of affairs altho' I deny everything. When Mariam talks about her plans I simply nearly die wanting to tell mine & it's just awful not to.

I feel so dreadfully important now and almost like I had done something wonderful for the whole family is so lovely to me. I told both the grandmothers yesterday & they are so interested & happy too. They both think you are splendid and feel I've made a wise choice. I feel so too & I love you so much more than you know.

Yours forever Allene

Letters from Grandpa 12 December 1915

Box 162
Elko, Nevada

Miss Allene Kelley
Huntington Hall
South Pasadena
California

Allene Dear, of course I really and truly want a picture of you--and that's only half of it, --I've wanted one ever since I first saw you, altho' I tried not to show it then, so don't keep me waiting unnecessarily. I'll be watching every mail.

The advent of "your" burglar was exciting. He was a very rude fellow,~maybe he wasn't taught any of the common rules of etiquette.~ In fact, I don't think he was else he wouldn't have forced himself into ladies' apartments~and then to have helped himself to the ladies' valuables,~a terrible breach!! I'm sorry for Mrs. Coolidge and the others who were so unfortunate as to possess burglar enticing wealth. You must tell Mrs. C. that in case the Pasadena and Los Angeles police are unable to capture the culprit she should call on "K.C.B." of the San Francisco Examiner. He can do anything.

And talking of surprises,~would you be surprised if, after all the planning I've done, I didn't go to Los Angeles and into that business? Well I don't know for sure yet, but I've had four business propositions here put to me lately and one of them looks like a winner.

It's very apparent that some of my friends don't want me to leave Elko~~and some others do. Just think too I had all arrangements made for leaving today. I'll know whether I'm going to stay or not about the end of the week,~as soon as I can see a party who is leaving San Francisco, not "Frisco," today. He stops in Reno a day or two before coming here. And when I know you'll know.

I won't be able to see you before you go home for the holidays dear but I can think of you and that'll help some.

I hope you have the bestest time ever at your dance etc. the 16th and, if it wasn't asking too much, I'd request you to devote one number to me.

Yours,
Frank

Elko, Nevada
December 12th, 1915

Letters from Grandpa 6 December 1915

Return address on envelope:
F. H. Russell, C. E.
Surveyor and Draftsman
Wells, Nevada

Written on stationery from:
Commercial Hotel
W. M. Doyle, Prop.
Elko, Nevada

Say Little Girl, if I get lazy spells, as you call 'em, and forget to write, it won't be to you, 'cause, if necessary, I'll take a couple of days off to answer your letters. I "kind-a" like to have my compositions (first, or second grade) readable, but sometimes it's pretty hard to make 'em so. And if neglecting to write to you dear, might cause you to never speak to me again,~ and if that is the only thing that will cause it~well I'm resting very easy.

It looks as tho' I'll not be able to make Los Angeles in time for your dance, dear, and I'd give almost anything to be there. I think I can drive from here down in five or six days,~weather conditions being favorable,~so if we can start before the 10th or 12th I'll wire you. Of course it will be just bad luck if I miss you, that's all.

When you go home for the holidays how long will you stay? You'll be back the first week in January, won't you?

Well, that won't be such an awful long time tho' it may seem an eternity to me.

And if "Bon soir" means something nice, please say it in english (sic) dear~

Always sincerely

Frank
December 6th,~1915~

Letters from Grandpa 30 November 1915

Return address on envelope:
F. H. Russell, C. E.
Surveyor and Draftsman
Wells, Elko, Nevada

Written on stationery from:
Commercial Hotel
W. M. Doyle, Prop.
Elko, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley
Huntington Hall
South Pasadena, California

Allene Dear:-

Every day since Thanksgiving I've tried to write to you and it seems as tho' I must have used up about all the stationery in town, but thanks for the fact there is still a fair sized stock of it still on hand here in the hotel. Do you know, dear, I'm the "funniest" fellow. There are times--days, weeks, even months--when I can't write to save my soul. I can't tell what causes it myself and it makes me so mad I just swear like sixty at myself. Well I guess I've just passed thru' one of those spells,--I'm in hopes it's passed away anyhow.

Your letter from Huntington Hall saying you were going to San Diego to be away five days wasn't received, dear, till Thanksgiving morning, and 'twas written on Monday so I didn't have time to reach you by letter there, even if I could have written. The postal was received yesterday. Day before yesterday I got a dandy letter from Mrs. Maze and of course I'll answer it as soon as I can. Gee, she's a dandy lady,~I "sure" like her.

Did you have your fill of Thanksgiving goodies? I certainly did and it took me about two days to "overcome my error"-(apologies to Mrs. M.)

You want to know if it really is so cold here. Well you bet it is,~there's snow and ice everywhere!! I'll be away from it tho' pretty soon. I'm going to leave Elko for good~and I hope it's for better, or rather, best.

Took my old Huiton [sp?-ed.] back a short time ago and as soon as I get my business straightened out here I'll drive it to Los Angeles. Expect to get started in a week or so.

Did you enjoy the San Diego fair? Beautiful buildings and grounds, but more like a park than a fair, I tho't.

I'm expecting a letter from you in the morning, dear, telling me you received the candy I expressed to H. Hall to so's to reach there and you Thanksgiving Day. Of course you didn't know it was coming so didn't stay "home" to receive it when it arrived.

Guess I'd better stop writing or I won't have anything to tell you when I answer that letter so, good night dear.

Sincerely yours
Frank


Elko-
November 30th ~1915~