Today I sorted both the letters and the postcards by date, the latter only roughly. As it turns out, Henry would use postcards as stationery then mail them in an envelope. Most of the envelopes are gone, and many of the cards are marked as subsequent to the first page, so I still have to match those up to the original "first page". Even so, a picture of him during this time is beginning to emerge.
After I closed the blog last night, I found out that Henry and Camilla are buried in Bellevue Riverside Cemetery. Mom tells me they had a gun salute from both sides of the river at his funeral. Camilla took care of my mother for the first twelve years of Mom's life while her mother, Marion MacLennan Lahr, worked. So Mom heard some family stories. She also told me it wasn't Henry who lost an arm and was an inventor. It was Camilla's father, John Wesley Knaggs, who lost an arm in the Civil War. That explains why Henry has both arms in this picture.
Mom also told me that Henry and Camilla were neighbors growing up in, I think, Bay Mills, MI, but it might be Bay City. She said that John Knaggs owned a lumber mill, so if Henry worked as a doctor at one, it was probably his father-in-law's. If I can track down the lumber mill, or get Henry's death certificate, that should help. I'm sending off for that, and his military service record, now that I know when and where he served.
That also takes me back to when the military picture I posted yesterday was taken. If Henry was in WWI in 1918, he would have been 43. He looks a lot younger in the military picture, so maybe he did serve in the Spanish-American War, even if it does conflict with his time in medical school. I'll have to look into that further. If they were childhood sweethearts, it makes sense that Camilla's picture is joined to his. Also, I don't see any evidence that he went to basic training, only to Medical Officer's Training Camp. If he re-enlisted, that would explain it.
Just trying to sort all this out in my head makes me cross-eyed. I also just got a new scanner, courtesy of my loving husband. The one I had isn't nearly good enough for the sheer volume of what I have to scan in. Speaking of which, here is the first post card.
8/9/18
Dear C.(Camilla)-Arrived on schedule. I think it is about the dirtiest ride known. Am about to go out to camp. Met a couple nice fellows from Olivet. Will write more later. Mac
He signed almost all of his letters and cards "Mac". The post card is of General Bragg's Headquarters, Missionary Ridge, near Chattanooga, TN.
The next letter that is dated is from August 17. There are a number of postcards with no date that may fit into the gap.
Camp Greenleaf, Ga. 8-17-18
D.C.: Spectacles and handkerchiefs arrived OK on Saturday. Your letter is the only one I have received so far. I presume children are having a good time at Fishers Lake.
I completed my course in gas drill today and received certificate for same. It is some course covering a period of one week. No one is allowed to miss it. I went through the gas house this morning. That being the final test.
I haven't anything much to do but work and work some more. I haven't planned on getting pass for this week but will do so next week. Sunday I act as OD (Officer of the Day) or house dog for the barrax[sp]. My duties consist of staying on premises, keeping water tank filled and iced and barking every time a stranger approaches. I do not leave the building except that I place a substitute in charge. They tell me that gas week is the most difficult week of all. I just ran from one drill or lecture to another with no time for study. I will get a copy of songs that are popular here and send them to Helen.
I had some postal photos taken today. Yours probably will not get to for about one week as I do not get them til next Wed.
Faith has discovered an easy way to keep from being spanked. You tell her that maybe that would work with mother but father is another matter.
After arriving I discovered that sheets for cot can be purchased at [2M] for about a Dollar. Outing flannel blanket is only one I have used. Weather has been about as Mary described it in Florida. My skin has been wet for one week.
Have you received any money from Howe Pierce? If not keep after him as he probably has money at present. Mrs. Brady will gladly pay her bill any time though recently made. Next pay day get after Jas. Westwood acct. Put on a long face and tell them you must have.
Well so long wifekins and kids Did you receive pass.
Helen is his second daughter, aged 11 at this time and a flute player. Faith is the youngest, aged 4. I'm starting to see he had a sense of humor. I'd have been surprised if he didn't, since our family seems to have always had a strongly humorous streak running throughout. On this I'll close.
After I closed the blog last night, I found out that Henry and Camilla are buried in Bellevue Riverside Cemetery. Mom tells me they had a gun salute from both sides of the river at his funeral. Camilla took care of my mother for the first twelve years of Mom's life while her mother, Marion MacLennan Lahr, worked. So Mom heard some family stories. She also told me it wasn't Henry who lost an arm and was an inventor. It was Camilla's father, John Wesley Knaggs, who lost an arm in the Civil War. That explains why Henry has both arms in this picture.
That also takes me back to when the military picture I posted yesterday was taken. If Henry was in WWI in 1918, he would have been 43. He looks a lot younger in the military picture, so maybe he did serve in the Spanish-American War, even if it does conflict with his time in medical school. I'll have to look into that further. If they were childhood sweethearts, it makes sense that Camilla's picture is joined to his. Also, I don't see any evidence that he went to basic training, only to Medical Officer's Training Camp. If he re-enlisted, that would explain it.
Just trying to sort all this out in my head makes me cross-eyed. I also just got a new scanner, courtesy of my loving husband. The one I had isn't nearly good enough for the sheer volume of what I have to scan in. Speaking of which, here is the first post card.
8/9/18
Dear C.(Camilla)-Arrived on schedule. I think it is about the dirtiest ride known. Am about to go out to camp. Met a couple nice fellows from Olivet. Will write more later. Mac
He signed almost all of his letters and cards "Mac". The post card is of General Bragg's Headquarters, Missionary Ridge, near Chattanooga, TN.
The next letter that is dated is from August 17. There are a number of postcards with no date that may fit into the gap.
D.C.: Spectacles and handkerchiefs arrived OK on Saturday. Your letter is the only one I have received so far. I presume children are having a good time at Fishers Lake.
I completed my course in gas drill today and received certificate for same. It is some course covering a period of one week. No one is allowed to miss it. I went through the gas house this morning. That being the final test.
I haven't anything much to do but work and work some more. I haven't planned on getting pass for this week but will do so next week. Sunday I act as OD (Officer of the Day) or house dog for the barrax[sp]. My duties consist of staying on premises, keeping water tank filled and iced and barking every time a stranger approaches. I do not leave the building except that I place a substitute in charge. They tell me that gas week is the most difficult week of all. I just ran from one drill or lecture to another with no time for study. I will get a copy of songs that are popular here and send them to Helen.
I had some postal photos taken today. Yours probably will not get to for about one week as I do not get them til next Wed.
Faith has discovered an easy way to keep from being spanked. You tell her that maybe that would work with mother but father is another matter.
After arriving I discovered that sheets for cot can be purchased at [2M] for about a Dollar. Outing flannel blanket is only one I have used. Weather has been about as Mary described it in Florida. My skin has been wet for one week.
Have you received any money from Howe Pierce? If not keep after him as he probably has money at present. Mrs. Brady will gladly pay her bill any time though recently made. Next pay day get after Jas. Westwood acct. Put on a long face and tell them you must have.
Well so long wifekins and kids Did you receive pass.
Yours affect,
H
Address Cpt. H E M L Camp Greenleaf, Ga
Bat. #5 Co 19
Helen is his second daughter, aged 11 at this time and a flute player. Faith is the youngest, aged 4. I'm starting to see he had a sense of humor. I'd have been surprised if he didn't, since our family seems to have always had a strongly humorous streak running throughout. On this I'll close.
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