This past summer my mom gave me several more family history related items. There is an undated letter addressed to my mom from her paternal Grandmother (Effie Bender Lawbaugh). The half sheet of paper is hand written on both sides of the paper. My best guess for dating the letter is the late 1960’s to the early 1970’s.
There are several references to other family members is the letter. The first is to Uncle Ben (Effie’s brother). The second is a more vague reference to “your Uncle”. I believe this is one of my mom’s maternal uncles who lived just east of a town that is mentioned.
The focus of the letter is the non stop rain/tornadoes in Kansas and the resulting flooding. It may have made national news with the way my mom’s Grandmother is talking about it. The towns that are mentioned are all in the middle of Kansas generally North and West of Wichita.
I apologize for the long transcription. I think it is important to include exactly how the letter is written to get a feel for the whole thing. The spacing and line break also tell a story. Here is a transcription of the letter:
Dear Sheryl –
I know you all been reading
about the tornados we have been
having. there were 24 tornados in
the last 2 day – cause cold air from
the North + hot air from the gulf –
there has been 5 to 10 ins. of rain in
all parts off the State all rivers are
flooding in every part of state
been raining for 48 hrs – or more
Little River was hit bad and
North I think you Uncle lives
just North of Little River. been
trying to get Uncle Ben but
phones all down, he lives just
2 blocks west of the Post Office –
don’t know if they are in trouble
or not – Rice County was hit
the hardest of all – but they
had tornados in all parts of
state. Not going to Eugenia
for a while, hope you and
friend could come out love
to have you. Janice is home
not got a job.
the river behind your house
at Pratt – is all under water
not heard but probly. got in
your house again. I’ll always
call it your house
just a note to tell you about the
Kansas storm in last 2 days still
Raining = all my love
Grandmother
