11/30/1925 Letter from Ted Surdez

c/o Dewey Surdez

Skidmore Mo.

Nov. 30, '25

Dear Little Pal:  Well here I am in Mo.  Came down here yesterday and we are going to work tomorrow.  The corn sure is good.  The job we are going will last about two weeks then I think we will head tward S.F.  Dewey and Bernus think it is rather strange that I am going back to Dakota this time of year.  So you know they are

kiding me a lot.  Bernus says I am the funniest guy she ever saw.  She says I always get serious but it usualy turns out to be a huge joke.  But I told her this was different.  So you see I have spilled the beans.  And they took it up right away.  Now they think I am going to get married xmas.  "Well I wish I was."  Most of the girls that I used to go with down here are married

except the one that I went with steady and she isn't here.  So you need not worry about losing me.  Well you wouldn't need to any way, even if they were all here and a lot more.  Because I only think of one girl now and she is the best in the world "Doris."  Dewey has a radio but no loud speakers so Norman and I each have a set of head phones on listening to jazz music while we write.  It works pretty (over)

good except that it makes us kinda homesick for our sweeties.  These folks sure were glad to see me.  And it seemed rather nice to see some of my old friends again.  But I would be ready to leave now if the corn was all picked.  But I don't think it will be so lonesome after we get started working again.  Doris I realy haven't been with any girl since I lift and don't intend to be.  And I trust that you will do the same.

Sure are having fine weather here.  I hope it stays this way for about two weeks.  Then, o boy won't we travel north.  Well I'll say we will.  Norman is realy homesick as this is his first time to get so far away.  He sure can pick corn for as small as he is.  We have been picking just the same amount every day.  He says I am the first guy that ever kept up with him.  And he is also the first one to stay with me.  So you see we get

along fine together.  We picked seven hundred bushels apeice in six days when we were in Iowa.  So you know we were steping right along.  How did your mothers sale turn out?  Good I hope, Have you heard from Harry?  Well dear I must close as I am out of some thing to write.

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                                                                    Yours Forever
     xxxxxxxxxxxxx                                                                             X    Ted.

P.S. - Tell Les there is a lot of corn here if he comes right away but in another week jobs will be rather scarse.  You can call him and have him come down.

11/25/1925 Letter from Ted Surdez

c/o Gus Swenson
R.R. 2

Villisca Ia. R.2

Dear little Pal:  Well we have landed a job at last but we are only about to the Mo. line only about eighty miles from my brother.  We were almost in the notion of turning back when we found this job the corn is all picked between here and Sioux Falls, but they say there is plenty south of here.  I think we have struck a fine place at least they seem nice and I know they feed good

(2)

because we had a swell (sic) supper.  We are just a mile from town but it is only about as big as Renner, and we are only three hundred and twenty miles from S.F.  The corn sure is good here but they havent any elevators so we will have to shovel .  We didn't leave Sioux Falls until four oclock that evening and got in Storm Lake about ten.  Just had two flat tires on the way down.  How did your carnival turn out?  I suppose you made a lot of money.  Is Harry back yet?

(3)

Well I wouldn't advise any one to come to Iowa to pick corn because there isn't much corn left any where that we've seen.  I think I will try and get down to see Dewey while I am this close but will try and be with you Xmas.  Well I cant think of any thing to say except that I love you more than ever.  But I don't suppose that is very interesting so will close.  Answer real soon.

                                                                                       Yours Only
                                                                                       Ted
                                                                        xxxxxx

Ted at Dewey's (Skidmore, Missouri)



OUT WEST by Doriz Zilpha Sisson



Harry Sisson and Delia Johnson Sisson
(September 11th, 1898)

While I was still at Kennedy's I got a call from Lawyer Owens to come in on the next Saturday. He had a letter from my Dad stating that he and Mother had never been happy and he would like a divorce, to "talk to Doris--she would understand". Yes, I understood alright. I told the lawyer about us hearing how Lula Barber was out there, too and certainly did not take my Dad's side. We decided that Mother should see Dad, so I bought a Ford coupe, and mother, Maude, who was about 8, I think, Lorraine and I headed for Wyoming in my little Ford. We set a little wooden yeast box on the floor at Mother's feet that Maude was to sit on. That wasn't a very good place for a kid as she couldn't see much and I think she was on Mother's lap most of the time. What a trip. None of us had even been in the Black Hills, leave alone mountains. And we had little money to spare. One night Mother and the girls slept on benches in a community log cabin and I curled up in my car, best way I could. We were half scared to death going from Black Hills to Sheridan. The roads were not good like they are now. One place we met another car just as we came around the mountain, and met another one with two older men and a lady in it. The road wasn't very wide, and I couldn't see how we would meet. Both stopped and the men had the woman drive close to the edge against a young tree--sappling--and they, hanging onto the tree held the car there and let us drive to the inside! When I got to Sheridan I was so fearful I didn't think I'd dare drive home again. But Clifford and Marie Clark soon got me over that. They got their friends and really took me for rides on mountain trails. Their fast driving in the country scared me stiff. At first I'd just yell! After I got used to it I loved it.



The Sisson Family - Lorraine, Harry, Delia, Maude, Doris (Sheridan, Wyoming - 1925)



Harry Sisson (center) - Chef in Veteran's Home (Sheridan, Wyoming 1925)

We were there and Dad and Mother made amends and made plans for the next year. She and Harvey were to farm another year, till spring. Then Clarks and Mom and the kids were to join Dad in North Dakota, where all would go into farming again. And so we started for home much happier.

Mother wondered why she didn't hear from Dad after several days. Finally she did, he said he couldn't go through with it--he wanted "out". Then he had suit for divorce delivered on their wedding anniversary! But lawyer Owens took her side and said he'd really hurt Dad if he didn't buy the old home in Colton for Mother. He did, and Mother moved the next spring, after having her farm sale.

Doris and Lorraine (Colton, South Dakota - circa 1913/1914)