One letter is dated September 20, 1920 and the other September 30, 1920. One letter is undated. The undated letter appears to be first in the sequence, and is labeled Saturday morning. Since it is after John was born on September 13th, it is probably Saturday September 18. In the last letter Martha says she is not feeling well but attributes it to something like the flu. Unfortunately, on October 25, 1920 she would die of uremia and nephritis. It is possible certain pages of the letters should be with other letters as the copies may have gotten shuffled along the way. I did the best I could to get them in order.

Betsy Denker Strand sent copies of these three letters to various relatives in 1993. Betsy was the 2nd daughter of Marie and was not born at the time of these letters. The note from Betsy is also below.

Dave Jordan

I just recd your second letter, and I am so glad you are well. It don't matter, now little the boy is, he is here and will grow, he has lots of place and time. Just before your letter came, I talked with Alett. Grace was here yesterday, she bougt real doll?, honey cake, and spise Cheese. I sent you one also a piece of cheese, if you keep it in the icebox, have lots of paper around it, for it allways smells, and before you eat it (cut all the edge of. I go downtown now.

I done all my work yesterday and the house is nice and clean. Alette said to buy you little boy a nice sweeter (good you told me in your letter, sise No.1 , so I was going to sent the 2 yr. old sise. Well Marie you give the Baby a pretty name, but I dont care much for Jack, but suit yourself. I am glad you have such nice peopel around you, if you wish I could sent you some nice speculties . Ps let me know. Pa wants to know if John is not glad with his boy, because he don't write but me know he is terrible busy, if only the Office don't close You don't write if the Baby looks like Nancy.

I will write again Monday. I know you will take care of yourself.

Now nice of the Dr. wife to take care of Nancy.

This will be all so I have to go now. With all our love and kisses for Nancy dear. Where do you lay the Baby boy? Did you ecpect a boy?

Write soon. You must give the Dr. wife a piece of you tulband put lots of butter and the Honey cake as it so dry also on the tulband keep booth in the breadbox.

Do you nurse the baby? and does he take it good, tell me all about it and don't forget.

• This letter is presumed to be the first in the sequence, although it might be the second. Unlike the others, there is no Mailing Envelope and no Complete Date. The letter is not signed. It is presumed that the date is Saturday September 18, 1920. The letter also mentions she will write on Monday, which turns on to be September 20 which is the next letter.
• See a scan of the original Letter 1.
• An attempt has been made to transcribe these letters exactly as possible using the original spelling and grammar to provide a sense of how the author spelled, wrote and said things. It may be harder to read, but it provides a better sense of her. Occasionally various words could not be made out and guesses were made.

• Speculaties must be the famous speculaasjes, a Dutch spice cookie thinly sliced and made with finely chopped nuts.
• If you wish to add comments about the above letter, please contact Dave.

Postal Stamp:
Chicago
September 20
7 PM
1920
ILL.

Mrs. M. V. Denker
219 State Str.
Alma, Michigan

Chicago September 20 1920

Dear Marie, John and Babys

As always, in a hurry. Just recd, the little pink Announcement. Did you really expect a girl? Six poinds, is plenty, he will grow. I hope you are well, you tulband must be dry by this time. The Honey cake is dry allready, but keep it in a damp place, and put on lots of butter when you eat it, thats what we do. I sent you a little Baby dress and hope you like it. I also bougth a little sweater and sent it to Aletta House sise 1, but it is very little and it will fit him just now. Anna just called me xxx?. What you need for the Baby. I said maybe a pair of warm leggins and a cap, but Anna said it is up to you. She was thinking of giving you a buggy robe like she give to Alletta, so let us know, she is waiting for anomer? Name. Marie I hope you are all well. Write me a letter and tell me if you have plentie nurse for your Baby and if he takes it good.

I am looking for a letter all the time. Grace was here yesterday with Jim for Supper. We were talking of a certain Baby Boy, 2 yrs old, she said he was so terrible big and weighed 30 pounds. Well I said Nancy was 28 when she was her, write on a little slip if this is correct or am I mistaken Has she got her cy? and stomach theel?

Mom

• See a scan of the original Letter 2.
• An attempt has been made to transcribe these letters exactly as possible using the original spelling and grammar to provide a sense of how the author spelled, wrote and said things. It may be harder to read, but it provides a better sense of her. Occasionally various words could not be made out and guesses were made.

• The date of the letter, September 20, 1920, was a Monday.
• The "six pound he" referred to is John Allan, Nancy his older sister is two years old.
• I believe the Anna she referred to is probably the wife of Martha second son, Arthur.
• Not sure who the "certain Baby Boy, 2 yrs old" she is talking about.
• If you wish to add comments about the above letter, please contact Dave.

Dear Marie, John and Babys

I hope you will get this letter before Saturday. It is 8 o'Clock, and I will mad it ugtharmay?, before 9. We were glad with your letter Monday, but I really had no time to nite any sooner. Alett went home Monday nigt in a yellow cab and I went along. Alett felt bad, for she had a her terrible cold, also the Baby . It is real cold now, but the heat we had lately was allmost onberable . I hope they give you heat for you need it.

I sent the doll, and sweeter out yesterday, also a can full of cookes, that little blanket I put in, I sent for dear little Nancy, lay it under her bedsheet, and no rubber sheeting, it is to cold, and this will keep her warm all nigth, and as long as she is kept warm she will not wet the bed. Be sure Marie, and sent the tulband pan back, (not the pieplate) and the box Pa made, because I am trying to get arms for the other doll and then I will try and sent it in the same box. I hope we get a letter this morning, Tuesday, and yesterday I was sick with a headach and a severe cold, Pa had his last week also Adrian , but today I feel better. We have a nice fire in the kitchen. Well Marie I will try to write you again Monday, I am allways so busy tomorrow Mrs Doletsek will be here, I have to do some Ironing today

I am glad you have had a good nurse. How much do you pay her? Tell Nancy I put her little tea pot in the box. I hope you like the cookies, give some to the lady, who is so good for Nancy. I supose John is very busy now, tell us something about little Jack, is he good? also if Mrs Pennel has a other boy and how about the Lady with her 3 girls, has she a boy now?

This is all, a big hug from Mom

Lovingly
Mother

let me know now, What the little boy need. Anna said: You can figure on 3 1/2 it is just the same to her, what you want. We have not heard of Marguerite yet she went home a week ago. I hope you write soon.

We are glad with our little grandson and hope he will grow up nice and strong

Goodbye all
Lovingly
Mother

• See a scan of the original Letter 3.
• An attempt has been made to transcribe these letters exactly as possible using the original spelling and grammar to provide a sense of how the author spelled, wrote and said things. It may be harder to read, but it provides a better sense of her. Occasionally various words could not be made out and guesses were made.
• The date of the letter, September 30, 1920, was a Thursday.
• The baby referred to in the sentence about Alette and her cold is most likely Alette's son Harry Schodrof.
• The Adrian referred to was most likely Martha's third son born June 22, 1889 and about 21 at the time of the letter.

• Martha refers to a having a headache and severe cold in this letter. She died on October 25 of uremia, an excess of urine in the blood and characterized by headache, nausea, and vomiting. Her death record indicates that the condition lasted 28 days or from about September 28, pretty close to the time frames Martha mentions above. Most likely she did not know then what she had and attributed it to the flu. On October 13, Dr. Al. Vanderkloot, son of her cousin Bertha, began diagnosing and treating her.
• If you wish to add comments about the above letter, please contact Dave.

• Go to the Tanis Story Outline
• Go to the Vanderkloot Story Outline
• Go to the Tanis Initial Page
• Go to the Vanderkloot Intial Page