Pvt. Oliver Bilhorn
36722705 1813
N. Kedzie Ave.
Co. C. 3rd Tng.
Bn. Chicago Ill.
Camp Wheeler,
Ga.
U.S. Army
J.C.B. Chicago, Ills
1813 N. Kedzie Ave. April
28 – 1943
Chicago,
Ill.
Dear Oliver:
I was so thrilled to hear your
voice Saturday night. Glad you will not be sent overseas. Hope you continue to
keep well as the climate in Georgia.
I imagine it will be getting much hotter as the Summer approaches. It keeps
quite cold here and I still have to keep a fire in the dining room. Our Easter
service was good for our small church and there were ten in S.S. and Mrs. Bragmus, Iversome, Grey, Mr.
& Mrs. Ostergoard, Catherina and myself in
evening. Offering including your $5.00 for all day $28. Magnus just told me
Laurier Ott had lost his two legs; they were run over
by tank. It might not need investigation as the Walls are gossipers and know
about everybody’s business & more too. I paid Tockles
the $10 out of $20.00 you owed them and will finish the rest next week. She is
a shadow and may die anytime. Bud, they told me he was not taken because he was
cross-eyed. I do not think that is the reason. Some boys are going around
saying that you are coming home soon on furlough. So the block captain’s wife
told me they were planning to have a meeting of the block then. They have not
put up the flagpole yet. They are way behind, regular old fogies. “What is
everybody’s business is nobody’s” is the old saying. Donald Ross is gone
to Elmhurst for
a vacation. He left me a good supply of coal to last while gone. I want to go
over to Church if I can and clean the piano and keys and get a tuner. Chester,
his boys August Garleff used your car for Sunrise
meeting and then stopped at Church and lifted the piano to the platform, I also
want to go downtown to get me a spring coat as my plush one is too heavy now.
Edna wrote that Raymond and his Wife were coming here to see me. I am not able
to accommodate them as I have so much to do and alone will never get it done. I
have a regular conservatory in front A pot of red roses about 50 in blossom
from Edna’s two pots Easter lilies from Xenia, 9 in blossom and a box full of
assorted flowers from Chester besides all my own others. The yard is looking
good. Chester seeded
the two front plots last Saturday. I cannot find the sprinkling can. When it
gets warmer I’ll look in the little shed. Also the fork etc if they were at
Church, some one has taken them but I will take another good look when I get
there. The special delivery with your Easter offering came after the postman
had been here for last time before Easter. I am having trouble about DC Cooks
supplies. Did you not have any last Sunday? They sent a big bill for supplies
which were paid for long ago in advance I also paid for the April quarter. You
must have some new staff of workers. Mrs. Barrett (Mary) wants to be remembered
to you. I will send some cookies etc in a day or so.
I just got back from Church. Some
one is helping themselves to many things I find, but I cannot understand it. I
do not want to tell Chester
as he once said, “it looks as if he took things”. I am afraid the piano will
cost a good deal to have if fixed. So many keys do not sound well at all. I
opened the top and the keyboard, thinking perhaps the inside felts having been
soaked may be dried and enlarged, I do not know. Time will tell. I am sorry you
met with such an adventure with those ungodly fellows on Easter. Well if you
cannot say anything your manner of living may condemn them. It seems as though
their kind predominates everywhere. It is what the Bible tells us of the last
days before the Coming of Jesus. I had a 2nd letter from Donald Prindiville the 27th F.G. Sergeant. B. Jefferson
Barracks. M.O. Fred Roloff called on telephone. He has
gone again
April
29th
Miss Imlah has been dead
one year from today. Mrs. Grey looked and dressed like a beggar. The home (Old
Peoples) paid me what I paid on her insurance for 11 yrs and I sent them her
two policies. Now she wants them from me, she said that she paid her insurance
for years and the home was paid for her admission by some rich ladies. I do not
know how she found out. I certainly am not giving her anything more. The Kopp
family I think want some money from her for staying there so much. Today is
very cold and dark it feels like snow may fall – Your letter from Easter Sunday
just came Glad you were able to attend services. Hope
you do not get the measles and that you still have a chance to become an
assistant Chaplain.
I feel pretty good but still not
able to get rid of pains in my limbs and arms. Probably it is lack of
circulation. The pain in my right chest is helped somewhat when I rub on Vaporub. The Christian Boy was returned as unclaimed
addressed to LeRoy Schmuldt.
Xenia phoned
she had a very sore throat. Mrs. Maggraff took my gas
and electric bills to pay with hers. Hope this war soon ends
God bless & take care of you
With
Love Mama B