Letters from Grandpa 17 March 1916

The Brown Hotel
Daniel Morrison, Prop.
Eureka, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley,
Modesto,
California

Dearest, can you realize that I sat up till the night was half gone trying to comply with that unnecessary request of yours for a chummy letter? And this morning the result of my efforts is on it's (sic) pokey way to you. I called it an unnecessary request Allene because every spare moment I have-(yes and lots of others too are devoted to tho'ts of you dear)-seem to be yours. And it's a pleasure to know you appreciate them and ask for even more. Somehow or other as I look back and think of my last night's letter it appears labored and stupid, but as I've already told you, it's on its' way and anyhow it was the best I could do.

The train arrives here this evening and leaves for its return trip in the morning. The conductor for accomodation (sic) will carry letters etc. to Palisade so by giving him this letter dear you'll get it about the same time as the one that went out this morning.

In one of your letters, one of the three I got in yesterday's mail, you speak of having had a headachy (sic) attack followed by "tummy" ache and "kinda" blame the hot weather and here I am blessing the hot days but I'll cross that word out dear and substitute damn if you find they are really the cause of your trouble. I don't want you suffering all the time and so if praying will do any good~say dear I'll get down on my tender shin bones and stay there till I wear out everything on the points of contact.

Who is Erma dear, and where is the ranch and is there a rural delivery there? You know I don't like these compulsory lapses in our correspondence a darn bit and if you get away from civilization too it's going to be simply~~well you say it dear. This old place hasn't even got a telegraph now and messages have to be phoned and that means that almost everybody else gets 'em before the parties to whom they are sent.

Well we will leave here next Saturday, I'm very sure, so after Monday you'd better send the letters to Elko. The last mail we will be able to get will be that which leaves Palisade Wednesday morning. The service here is the worst I ever saw and these old timers who are sitting around here dead but don't know it~~~~~~~~~ (six hours later-a patient interrupted)~~~~~~~~keep hanging on believing there's a better time coming and I guess there is for them but it won't be in Eureka.

The patient who interrupted dear was Mrs. Breen, the district judge's wife. The family are very good friends of mine. I've known them for a number of years. Mrs. Breen is the greatest woman I ever saw. It seems as tho' she can't do too much for us. Every time I come to Eureka and stay any length of time she will send one of the children down every day or so with a fried chicken, a pie, or a cake or something equally palatable and say but you should see us dear. We just sit ourselves down in the handiest place, usually the middle of the floor, and go to it like hogs. And she enjoys it,-and so do we.~~Gee but I like Mrs. Breen.

There's a dance here tonight and I'm going. Going to take Eileen-(I wish it was Allene)-and Thelma. They wanted to go so I told their mother Mrs. Breen I'd take them. Eileen is about sixteen and Thelma is a couple of years younger. If it was anyplace else, I'd feel like grandpa in a nursery but guess it'll be alright here.

With all my love dearest and wishing again it was you I was taking I'll close.

Ever your own,
Frank

St Patrick's-1916
Eureka, Nevada

Letters from Grandpa 9 March 1916

The International Hotel
Austin, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley,
Modesto,
California

Dearest Mine: Your aunt hasn't got a thing on me at all. I don't know what I did to her that she should take such a liking to me nor do I know what she did to me that made me like her so well. Anyhow it's apparently a mutual admiration which I shall do all in my power to maintain. And if her message of love hadn't accompanied the remark that she didn't write because she was afraid the reading of her letter would take up too much of my valuable time, I'd have taken it to heart and been pretty sore. And I'm very grateful to both her and your grandmother for their kind message. Tell them fair exchange is no robbery and I reciprocate, eye for eye, dollar for dollar,~love for love.

I should like to meet your grandmother dear, I'd like to see "you all," but time is such a slow traveler when you're anticipating something pleasant,-and oh, how it flies at other times!~~This is going to be a long summer for me dear, but I'm hot going to let any grass grow under my pedal extremities~~or other parts of my anatomy. We've decided it would be greatly to our advantage to stay on the road all summer. By this scheme we are getting acquainted with the country and people, advertising our work with practical demonstrations and reaping an immediate pecuniary harvest, all of which, especially the last, are very necessary. When winter approaches we will be all fixed (I hope) so we can go right into our office home.


Your letters of yesterday and today were brief dear but didn't I tell you once before that it was unnecessary to apologize for that? "Short but sweet" is a fitting remark, or comment, on them, and I love 'em short or long.

Ever yours
Frank

Austin, Nevada,
March 9th, 1916
--------------------
Address next to Elko
--------------------

Letters from Grandpa 7 March 1916

The International Hotel
Austin, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley,
Modesto,
California

Allene Dearest, Your promised  fat one was received today as per schedule. In it you speak of getting my letters earlier in the day, but two days after they are written. One of those days is lost between here and Battle M't'n. And in your post script you sort of prod my memory regarding some very important questions you asked me a month ago.

I remember very distinctly dear of telling you that I had some plans for the future but that I couldn't tell you what they were--nor even consult you regarding them--as the time and the place were not right.

First dearest I want to ask if the important questions weren't regarding these plans and then that you be patient and wait;--will you, Allene?

So you'd be extremely jealous if I worked over girls or women patients, huh? Am glad to hear you say that dear but you'll have very little cause for any feeling of that kind as most all our work has been and is on men. Anyhow I'm not stuck on working on nervous touchy women. Doc. W. seems to like it and it "goes" with me fine.


Business is still good tho' no big jobs on hand.

Anxiously awaiting your reply dear to find out if I'm on the right track regarding those important questions and to hear what answer you will give to my requests I am,

Your ever sincere,
Frank

Austin, Nevada,
March 7th 1916

Letters from Grandpa 4 March 1916

The International Hotel

Austin, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley,

Modesto,

California

Allene Dearest, The storm is still on. It's work, work, work and I like it, 'ceptin' it doesn't allow me much time to talk to you,~nor to anyone.

So you think two hundred is a lot for one piece of work! Moore and I got five hundred for a single job here in this town--and the patient died a year afterwards!

"'Tis a small world after all." To think your dentist should have been born in Austin. I hope the place looked different then. It's surely a delapidated [sic] place now.And bye the way "Doc" Grove doesn't need to "puff up" with his display of office furniture, fixtures, appliances, etc. (You didnt [sic] say that he does dear.) but anyhow his "finest office in Modesto" or "the most up to date"~well Elko's goin' to have something pretty classy.

I think perhaps I was joshing dear about getting flustered but I do know I'm awfully anxious to see you.

All the love I've got is enclosed herewith for you dear.

Ever yours

Frank

Austin, Saturday P.M.

March 4th 1916

P.S. There is no incoming mail here Sundays nor outgoing Mondays so the second day after receipt of this you can expect a blank~~~

Letters from Grandpa 20 December 1915

Note: I apologize that this is out of order...I found it unfinished in my drafts just today!


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 [a] lawyer draw up [a] contract 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 time 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 etc., been to picnics, parties and pink teas, huh? And weren't "auntie" Helene and uncle Will glad to see their "little" girl!!~~not any more so that 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 Grandpa 2 March 1916

The International Hotel

Austin, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley,

Modesto,

California

Well Dearest here it is eleven thirty P. M. I quit work just an hour ago and came down stairs and one of the boys tackled me for a game of pool. Well I beat him. Have been working on the deliberating patients' case.

I landed him with a compromise of two hundred and ten. We'll finish him day after tomorrow then maybe I'll have more time and will be in better condition to write. As it is God knows my back is about broken and I'm all out of sorts and all in but the shoestrings.

But anyhow you wrote me a dandy long letter which I got today. You told me about Mrs. Maze getting fat and I've got nothing more to say. If you want to take on weight, well it's up to you dear-I've nothing more to say about it.

With all my love dear I'll say good night and leave you alone.

Always yours

Frank

March 2nd

Letters from Grandpa 1 March 1916

The International Hotel

Austin, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley

Modesto,

California

Here it is nearly eleven P.M. Dearest, and I just finished work.

My deliberating patient will be up to see me at ten in the morning,-about the time I finish with this first one. I'll "land" him.

Last night I was so tired when I finished work I hardly knew what I was writing. And in your letter you told me about your headache and your left ear burning like sixty and I didn't even tell you I was sorry, dear, when I was all the time. Now today's mail brings another letter telling of more suffering, but I'm glad it's all over and the little mole is gone.

You're sure some goer when you start if you always to the rounds as you did this time.

Don't know why you didn't get a letter Monday cause I wrote Saturday and Sunday too and that's doing pretty well--for me. Sunday's was mailed in Battle Mountain.

Aw, thunder dear, I can't write tonight,-it just won't come out of me, so buenos noches.

Just yours,

Frank

March 1st

[On the back of the last page:]

Now my left ear is burning-I wonder if it is a forerunner of a "call" you're going to give me, afc of this excuse.

Letters from Grandpa 29 February 1916

The International Hotel

Austin, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley, 

Modesto,

California

Talk about work, Dearest--I got up at 6:30 this morning and our sheepherder patient came in at nine. We'll [sic] I worked over him all morning and since then have been making the bridgework. The upper jaw will be one solid piece of gold. I just finished putting it together,---its [sic] nine forty P.M. I will cement it in the mouth in the morning. Will finish the balance of his work tomorrow and will then "nail" the other fellow. I tell you I'm pretty tired-didn't notice it till I came down stairs-but I'm anxious to get that job done.

Got two letters from you today dear. One was for'ded from Golconda. Telegraph comes in pretty handy and from tone of your letters, it has "saved my bacon" several times. I try to keep up my end of the correspondence dear but sometimes it's awful hard to find time or material, so must resort to the wire. 

Now what have I done to call forth a "roasting" from your auntie and you?

No I've never read any of Hiteliens' works so you'll have to tell me about "Bella Donna," if you want me to know.

Alright dear,----if possible----I'll take your advice and not get discouraged, or feel blue, or worry, or "nuffin." And I'm glad everything is going to be lovely and you're sure of it and that you are all much interested and are very fond of me and especially you dear, so I'll accept the stacks of love you've sent and look for more.

Always yours only

Frank

February 29th, 1916

Letters from Grandpa 19 February 1916

Box 162, Elko
Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley,
Modesto,
California

Allene Dearest:-

Aboard the train for Elko Wednesday I wrote you and when I arrived I gave a small boy a whole nickel to take the letter over to the P.O. We stayed overnight there,-just long enough to get ourselves groomed a little and attend to some business matters relative to our offices, automobiles, and "Moore." The last mentioned is on the fire, cooking and I am awaiting developments.

Expressed you a box of candy which I hope didn't get all mashed in transit. Returning on the train Thursday afternoon I penned some more and told you I'd try and write again that night, but dear it was out of the question. And the next morning, yesterday, before we could get our things unpacked there were three patients waiting. Well we peeled off our coats and went to it. Worked without a stop, excepting for a hurried lunch, until after five o'clock and then started in after supper and put in about two hours. Promised to finish the one patient by ten o'clock this A.M. Missed it one hour only.

That's the reason my girlie didn't get a letter yesterday and I'll bet she's getting awful tired writing when she don't get any replies. I don't blame you, dear, when I fail to hear from you for a few days, when conditions are like they have been, but I'm disappointed every time I go to the P.O. and don't get your letter.

Think we will be here another week and then we'll go to Battle Mountain and Austin. Don't expect to stop in B.M. Change trains there and take narrow guage [sic] up to Austin. Am sending you a little R.R. map which I've marked up "a bit."

Oh, did you like "The Clausman," dear? I saw the pictures of it and it was fine. I never read "Michael O'Hallorhan," but if it is like "Corporal Cameron" or any other of Ralph Connor's works it's certainly going to get me. Here I have your letter of Thursday the 10th,-the morning after the "Five Hundred" set-to,-and when you were all excited about the case you had on a married man: It's not only disgraceful but provoking  and besides dear I'd rather you'd not have room for "cases" on any other than me. Your confidence in me dear shows me that you were not sincere with the case at hand, so I'm not too jealous.

You say you had a good time at the Winter Garden that night? Did you like the new (?) styles of dancing you saw? I'll bet it was some kind of tough ragging that was demonstrated. Isn't it ridiculous the way some of 'em dance? And after all I think the old fashioned waltz has 'em all beat.

In another of your letters you said something about eating worms cause nobody loved you--you'll have to recall that remark dear--right away quick. And now you weigh 126 1/2, golly!! I'll bet I've lost about that many since we went to Midas. Am glad you've got 'em, dear, since it pleases you so much, but I haven't any to spare so when you get thru with them send 'em back--P.D.Q.

I didn't get any letter from you yesterday or today dear so just for that-take this-It's more'n four pages anyhow.

Always yours
Frank

Feb. 19, 1916

Letters from Grandpa 16 February 1916

Box 162, Elko,
Nevada


Miss Allene S. Kelley
Modesto,
California


Dearest:- The section foreman's note to the roadmaster "Off again, on again, gone again, Finnegan," would almost fit our visit at Midas.


We have found, dear, that our initial visits are not howling successes, financially, but it is gratifying to learn that the return ones are more profitable. We were in Midas just a week and while we made a little better than expenses our main accomplishment was the acquaintance of the majority of the population. And a couple of confidential and reliable tips that we would get three big jobs of crown and bridgework the next time we went in to the camp; these were given us yesterday morning as we were getting into the stage.


You know, dear, it makes a fellow feel "kinda" good when he learns that patients are pleased with his work and that they boost for him.


Last night when we got into Golconda found several days work waiting for us. Three big jobs and two others which we haven't examined and estimated. So taking it "all in all" I think the sun is going to shine very brightly for us. I think we will "make" Austin, Eureka and Wells before we return (for any length of time) to Elko.


I can account for all your letters,-got the last two, Sunday's and Monday's, this morning at Golconda. And the one that went astray, Allene, Jan. 17-to Midas, I got in Midas yesterday morning.


Golly dear, it's sure nice of you to just keep right on writing every day when my replies have been going so irregularly-and sometimes not at all. I'll pay you back tho' dear, someway, sometime.


We had a tough trip down yesterday. The first relay,--or stretch of about 16 miles,--was in sled, then we changed to wagon and it was a terribly heavy drag. Snow, ice and mud all mixed. The outcome of it was we didn't get any thing to eat from 7 a.m. till we arrived at our destination at ten P.M.~~and it was some cold after the sun got out of sight. Say but we didn't do a thing dear when we finally did get into that Hot Springs Hotel. We each (5 of us counting the driver) took two big jolts of whiskey and then made tracks for the dining room. Don't think there was a one in the bunch who tho't about washing his face and hands first. Well when we had satisfied our ravenous appetites, and it took some bulk to appease them, I "kinda" separated myself from the others and got the key to the "No 1" plunge and--well I did it. When I got out and went to the room there was old Doc in bed. He was all in.


This morning we got up and found the six o'clock train accomodatingly [sic] late. Our general appearance being rather shabby and that business I have to attend to in Elko, we decided to "hie ourselves hither." Now we are on the train. Don't know where Dr. W. is but I'm back here in the Pullman with you dear. Oh, if it were only a reality!! But maybe_______! I'm one who lives in hopes.


I'm not attempting to answer your letters herein dear. This is just a tale of woe. When I get more time (alone) I'll be with you, deeper in tho'ts-if that is possible.


Anyway dear I'm always
Yours
Frank


Feb'y 16th 1916.

Letters from Grandpa 4 February 1916

Box 162
Elko, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley,
Modesto,
California

Again, Allene Dearest, your letter is early. It came on this evenings [sic] train and of course I won't get any tomorrow morning to pay for it,~ but maybe I'll be rewarded again tomorrow evening. Here's hoping.

I guess you've guessed it dear when you guess fate is "agin" us. It's alright with me tho' so long as we are kept busy and out of mischief.

Our "Midas" has all those gold crowns in his upper jaw and electric headlights on a dark clear night are not to be compared with his illumination. Our Midas has the old King Midas backed clear off the board.

Of course, dear, we can, and do do porcelain work. Can't make porcelain inlays on these trips, account of that work requiring an electric furnace, but crowns and teeth we can supply. For crowns and bridge-work gold is stronger and more durable and we always advise our patients to take it for that reason. Of course if they want porcelain we give it to 'em, in fact we give 'em anything they want, ~ if it's within reason, or possible.

That's too bad about your gold crowns showing when you laugh dear. Maybe some of these days I'll be able to show you what I can do in the way of changing them to porcelain. I should say I don't advise gold in the anterior teeth, altho' I, myself, have "a plenty."

You bet that one is a good picture of you and I'm going to keep it right in my pocket where I can take a look at it whenever I want to, and I want to now, so wait a second. You're unchanged dear; you're just as sweet looking as before.


Tell me what the S in your name stands for and don't tell me it's Samanthy or even Sophia.

With love dear I'm
Always yours,

Frank

Fish Day~~~~
February 4th 1916

[Editor's note: The "S" in my grandmother's name stands for "Simmonds."]

Letters from Grandpa 1 February 1916

Box 162
Elko
Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley
Modesto
California
Box 686

Old Pluvius,~or whatever they call him,~Dearest, is bound to hold us here. This is the day I told you we were to start for "Red House" and this is the day we had a continual snow storm.

Anyhow it's an ill wind that blows nobody good. We landed a patient today for a full mouth of gold. Put gold crowns on every tooth in his head. 'Twill take us about three days to finish his work and maybe by that time we will,~~but the next time you hear about it will be a telegram saying we've started. I'm not going to count on our getting started again.


Am glad you liked the "snow" pictures dear but the one at Golconda is not snow. That's frost on the trees. It forms during extremely cold nights and drops off as soon as the sun strikes it~almost.

So you only weigh a hundred and twenty two~~and a half? How tall are you dear?

And I was just going to ask you to send me  another picture of yourself~one that I could carry in my pocket. Hurry 'em along Allene, cause I can't wait,~that is, I'm very impatient.

With love dear, I'm
Just yours
Frank
~~~~~
Tuesday, Feb. 1st,
1916

Letters from Grandpa 30 January 1916

Box 162
Elko, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley,
Modesto,
California

Dearest Girl o' Mine,

I'm still on the job,~ the teeth didn't cook too much and the patient is "tickled to death" with the work. A pleased patient is our best ad.

But what I'd like to know dear, is who is to blame for my failure to get a letter from you dated the 27th? Yours of the 26th came yesterday, accompanied by one from your aunt, dated the 27th, and the one this morning was written Friday. Now dear, you have forbidden my scolding and to prove my lovely nature I acquiesce in your favor~~this once; but you surely can't object if I tell you I'm disappointed when there's a day missed. I want one for every day even if they are not received for three or four days, if (again) then they come three or four in a bunch. I'm selfish dear, but can't help it, nor do I want to, where you are concerned.

Gosh! Sell that beautiful home! Do you really believe he will,~or wants to? Seems like a shame to even think of it,~but if he gets his price~~! And you haven't any idea where you might go? Well dear, should the deal go thru' and you leave Modesto all you've got to do is to tell me the new address and when the time comes I'll get there.

All the weather prophets around here say this last storm is the last big one we'll have for a while and if that's the case we will be at our destination in a few days. Was talking to the stage driver last night, the fellow who had that terrible experience (he's alright now) and he says "they'll be able to get us thru' in a few days, about Wednesday." They are driving stock etc. over the road now to break it. When we get there, dear, the triweekly mail service and the uncertainty of stage lines out here will put a damper on our daily missives but we can write a few lines daily anyhow. Now that the time is drawing near and we have been away from Elko so long I hate to go up there to that old mining camp, but what can a poor man do?

With love dear, I'm always yours                                    
Frank

Sunday Afternoon,
Jan. 30th, 1916