March 10, 1924
To: Nancy Brown
From: Edna Tullar
Edna Tullar is making arrangements to purchase a box of candy from her cousins. She is certain that her nephew, Robert Carlson, will love the candies more than anything else. She is also updating her cousin on the activities of her family, including the desire to visit California to see her nephew, Donald Carlson, who is begging for Edna and her husband, Jack, to visit. She also mentions her Aunt Kate Crawford, her cousin, Jessie Crawford Eck, and wonders when Jessie’s daughter will marry. Edna is concerned about a growth on her son, Ted’s, neck. It had been growing for six months and seemed to be affecting his hearing. After a thorough examination and x-ray, it was determined to be a stone in the gland and needed to be operated on immediately. Although it is not a serious operation, it is a tedious one that will take about two hours with nothing but local anesthesia. Poor Ted is worried sick over it. Her other son, Frank, is traveling for the week and will be missed. The company is doing very well and Frank brings in most of the business. Edna is bringing Nancy up to date on her sisters, Kit, Lizzie, Lulu and Bird. Lulu and her husband, Ed Witte, have had a struggle this winter. His insurance business has not been doing well and it has created financial problems for them. In the midst of all this trouble, Aunt Kate wrote and wanted to visit Lulu. Lulu never answered the letter; however, Edna filled Aunt Kate in on Lulu’s situation. Aunt Kate could appreciate the position Lulu was in for she had been there herself. Bird & family well.
Monday Morn March 10-1924
Dear Nancy
Your good long letter came this A.M. and I am ans. right back for I am going to city and I will enclose money order for $3.00 and tell you the card box, will be all right. I am sure now if this amount isnt enough, you be sure & tell me, for if I can afford to do this, I can pay the price. I know Rob.[1] will like the candy more than anything else I can afford to send him & he can share it with Melisse.[2] Mrs. Fraser called me up Friday, said they had just gotten a letter from you, said she had called me before, but could not get me. Well I will admit that I am some what of a gadder[3] & possibly I might have been away from home. She will have news to tell you when they ans. He is to be retired this yr. & their Calif. _____ theirs. So you can see how nice it will be when we all get there. Sure you can go with Jack[4] & I and we will all find something to do when we get there, keep house for Don,[5] he is begging us to come in every letter he writes. I tell him to get married & have a home of his own. He say “no wedding bells for him.” Now Nancy you will just have to plan on coming to us this summer for you must visit the Frasers once more. We expect to go to Wis in June & on our way back we will stop over a day & you come on home with us. Now if the girls have Dorothy[6] this summer they can spare you for a while. Isnt it just fine Dorothy is to be so near you and I am so pleased for her. I guess she is as old as you & I were when we were married[7] – & age don’t mean anything. It’s just how sensible they are, and I am sure she has is that all right. That is a mighty fine start. We didnt have that either did we? I cant tell, Nancy, how Uncle Harry worked father[?] for. I was going to say $50.00 when I first thought, but I am not sure. $50.00 was a lot of money in those days. Is he up to something more now? When will Jessies[8] daughter[9] get married. Aunt Kate[10] wrote me about her engagement. Also I hope she will do differently than the other one,[11] get a better man I mean. We are a little worried and worked up at our house. Ted[12] has had a buncle[13] on his neck for over 6 months. Pearle[14] and all of us have tried to have him attend to it. Well he asked his doctor at factory about it & he could not tell him much, but advised Ford Hospital for thorough examination. It has kept growing & seemed to affect his hearing so last wk. he went – had Xrays & all. They tell him it is what is called a stone in his gland. Said from neck down he was perfect – physically – but this must come out immediately or would cause cancer. So next Sat. he is to be operated on & while it is not a serious operation it is a tedious one about two hours & nothing but local anesthesia done from inside & can work much better when one is concious. Poor Ted, never a thing before this matter with him. He is about sick over it & I do feel sorry for him. When we think of all the operations you have had for your self & family this seems silly but just the same I cant help but wish it were over. Ted will be 39 next Monday. He said he would clebrate in Hospital. I am so thankful they are fixed so it wont mean much to him in a financial way or if Ted has to stop work for a while. Pearle is spendid about it & wants everything done right, no money spared. Frank[15] has gone to Lansing & those[?] town for a part of the wk. We are lonely with out him. Factory doing spendidly – biggest months income in Feb. they have ever had & Frank brings in most of it but Chester[16] is doing well by him & Frank seems quite contented and happy he is getting to be such a big fellow. Dear Hannah & Ethan.[17] How I wish I could go to them when they have such a long lonely winter or they could come to me. I am going to write Hannah & very soon. Did you ever hear how Madge[18] came out with her suit? It would be so much easier if Bessie[19] could live near Lela[20] and it is fine they mean so much to each other. Oh I know how it is. Kit[21] and I were just that way & it was so hard when Kit was married & went away. She never was Kit again to me and then after Louise came she was so near and dear & we used to visit and talk like sisters and now I am so far from them all. Poor Lizzie[22] has a nice new house, new furniture, new Buick car and was sick in bed with no one to do a thing for her. They have done splendidly in a financial way but Lizzie says she can not make C.S. make him well any more & is so tired trying. Lulu[23] & Ed[24] have had a hard struggle this winter. Ed in insurance business for him self & not doing much. Lu wrote me at Xmas time said they were in debt. She had no shoes, hat or gloves not much else. Could I send $50.00. Well I had a Xmas fund of $50.00 so I sent her $35.00 then wrote to Lizzie & Bird.[25] Lizzie sent her $25.00, Bird $10.00 & a hat & I sent gloves & stockings. Well after that they got $1,000 from Ed’s mothers estate so they will fly high for a little while but Lu has gone to taking borders. Just in the midst of all this trouble Aunt Kate wrote & wanted to visit Lu. Well Lu never ans. the letter, said she was to near crazy but I told Aunt Kate some thing of situation & told her Lu would write someday. I guess Aunt Kate can realize the position Lu was in for she has been there herself. Bird & family well. Donald, her second son, has been in Seattle but comes home this mo. Carol[26] in Normal school, now home. Nancy, send some more of your cards.[27] Bird wants one & some more I know I want to send to. Well I must ring off. Do hope Lou[28] get so he can come home. Poor fellow, such a home & he has to be away.
Lovingly
Edna
Nancy you might send this to Hannah & Ethan it will tell them about Ted & girls. I’ll write you a card as soon as Ted is opered on.
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[1] Believe this is her nephew, Robert Carlson, whose birthday was March 17. He had lived with the Tullars at the time of the 1920 Census
[2] Melissa P Keiser, who married Robert on August 4, 1920
[3] To move about restlessly or with little purpose
[4] Edna’s husband, Jackson Tullar
[5] Believe this is her nephew, Donald Carlson
[6] Nancy’s granddaughter, Dorothy Recoschewitz
[7] Dorothy was engaged to Joseph Langmayer; she was 20 years old. Nancy was 20 and Edna was 22 when they were married
[8] Jessie (Crawford) Eck, Edna’s cousin
[9] Believe this is Katherine Eck, although Katherine did not actually marry until 1944
[10] Katherine (Atcheson) Crawford, widow of Hiram Crawford Jr. who was Edna’s and Nancy’s uncle
[11] Edna is referring to Jessie Marian Eck, who was married to Charles Meiss
[12] Edwin Dale Henry, Edna’s son by her first husband
[13] Edna appears to be referring to a carbuncle
[14] Ted’s wife, Pearl (Shelly) Henry
[15] Franklin Tullar, Edna’s son by her second husband
[16] Chester Wagner Tullar, Edna’s brother-in-law and President of the Tullar Envelope Company
[17] Nancy’s sister and brother, Hannah (Keith) Towne and Ethan Keith
[18] Madge Allen, granddaughter of Edna’s & Nancy’s Uncle Edwin Crawford
[19] Nancy’s daughter, Bess (Brown) Recoschewitz
[20] Nancy’s daughter, Lela (Brown) Mueller
[21] Edna’s sister, Katherine (Crawford) Birkland
[22] Edna’s sister, Melissa (Crawford) Smith
[23] Edna’s sister, Lulu (Crawford) Witte
[24] Lulu’s husband, Edward Witte
[25] Edna’s sister, Cynthia (Crawford) Carlson
[26] Carol Carlson, Bird’s daughter
[27] Presume she is referring to business cards for Nancy Keith Candies
[28] Lela’s husband, Louis Mueller. Lou had previously been hit by a streetcar and sustained a brain injury. As a result he would have seizures. Lela was able to care for him at home in the beginning but had been admitted to St. Mary of the Hills in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Crawford/Comfort Family Letters 
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