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.

11/27/1925 Letter from Ted Surdez

                                                                                                               Nov. 26, '25
                                                                                                               Villisca, Ia

Dear Doris - Well how is my little girl today?  I am just fine.  We didn't work this afternoon it has been raining here about all day but is clear now.  We sure had a swell feed today.  Going to an old time dance tonight but I would jas as leave stay home as I don't think we will have much fun.  I am looking for a letter from a girl I love tomorrow and hope I am not disapointed.  We will

get through here this week so send my letters to Skidmore Mo. and I hope there will be one waiting for me when I get there.  I kinda hate to leave this place as these folks are sure nice.  There's a boy here the same age as my self and he is in the same condition that I was a year ago only he can't use either of his legs.  I have been helping cary him from one room to another and lots of little things like that.  He and I have

got to be real pals.  He is taking electric treatments and he says they are helping a lot.  So I think I will try it when I get enough money, "If I ever do."  Has your gum drop been down to see you lately?  And how are you and Oscar getting along.  Well I must close as supper is ready.  Be a good little girl and write to me every day.

                                                                          With lots of love
                                                                                      Ted

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)



11/24/1925 Letter from Ted Surdez

c/o Gus Swanson

R.R. #2

Villisca Ia.

Nov. 22

Dear little Pal - How are you this evening?  I am just fine but it is rather cold down here.  This sure has been a long day.  Norman and I went hunting this morning, got four rabbits, and awful cold.  This sure is a fine place to board and they are real nice people "all cluckers."  They all laughed at us for building such big wagons but we don't have any trouble filling them as the corn is sure big.  We can pick a hundred a day without half trying.  There were a lot of girls here today but they looked like trash to  me.

(2)

Sure wish I could be with you tonight.  And I think Norman is about half homesick but I guess we will just have to stand it.  These folks have been kiding us about our girls a lot.  They mailed our letters for us yesterday and found out your names so now they call us Doris and Perl.  But you know how much that bothers me.  Well I must close as it is bed time so be a good little girl and write every day.  xxxxxxxxxx

                                                                                                               As B 4 Yours

                                                                                                                        Ted