12/14/1925 Letter from Ted Surdez

                                                                                                          Skidmore, Mo.
                                                                                                             Dec. 14, '25
                                                                                                                 7am

Dear Doris -

Well it is snowing this morning and I am rather mad.  We were figuring on geting through tomorrow and going to S.F. Wensday.  But it is hard to tell when we will get through now.  I was sorry to hear that you got hurt and hope you are all right now.  My knee has been bothering me a lot lately but it feels pretty good this morning.  I gave it a hot bath last night.  Norman and Dewey went hunting yesterday but I stayed home

all day and sat by the fire.  Went to bed about 7:30 last night and got up at 5 this morning and now we can't work so I guess I will go back to bed.  I would rather start for Sioux Falls this morning than any thing I know of but these folks have been so good to us I think we had ought to stay and help them finish.  I wonder what is the matter with Les.  We have been looking for him every day and he hasn't showed up yet.  Is he still at Kennedy's or (-over-)

has he found some more corn to pick?  I have a chance to get my old job back if I want it, and I would take it if you were here but I would die if I had to stay here all winter with out seeing you.  But I realy don't know what I will do up there all winter.  I don't suppose one could buy a job now and it is a long time till spring, but I suppose I will get by some way.  Well I must close as news are scarse and it is almost mail time.

                                                                          xx     Yours only,
                                                                 xxxxxxxx           Ted

                                              xxxxxx
                                              xxxxxx

"The 'I’m Not Jealous and I Don’t Care' Game" by Dione M. Surdez (November 2007)

Doris at Grandma Flodins (1925)

The I’m Not Jealous and I Don’t Care Game

Ted taunts

Doris flaunts

Songs of other lovers sing back and forth

Ted axes

Doris waxes

Her red top gumdrop came calling again

Ted whispers

Doris wanes

She would rather not hear about lurking hens

Ted discerns

Doris confirms

Loving is mutual even from so far away

Ted portends

Doris amends

Wedding bells may ring yet the sensation is sooner faint

12/12/1925 Letter from Ted Surdez

Skidmore, MO

Dec. 11, '25

Dear Little Pal --

I am awful tired tonight but will try and stay awake long enough to let you know I haven't forgotten you.  Listen Doris it made me feel awful bad when I got your last letter to think that you are losing faith in me.  I know I should write more often but it is not so easy for me to write every night, for we have been working hard and are always ready for bed about as soon as supper is over. 

So I hope I don't get any more such letters as that last one.  I sure have been feeling blue today.  I felt like quiting my job and going to S.F. then I thought that would be a foolish thing to do since you don't trust me any more.  But just the same I will be in S.F. some time next week if nothing happens as we will be through here about next Wednesday, and I don't think we will pick any more corn after that.  Then I shall give you a good hug and kiss.  (-over-)

Altho I think a good bawling out is what you deserve for writing such a letter.  But I will forgive you as I know how you feel as I have felt the same way all day myself.  So please forget all this nonsense and keep right on loving me for I love you more than ever and will love you more than that when I get up there.  I can't keep my eyes open any longer so must close both letter and eyes.

                                                                                                Yours Only
                                                                                                      F.A.S.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Dear little Pal" by Dione M. Surdez (October 24th, 2007)

Dear little Pal


Are you actually little?
Or, are you little to me?
You are a woman.
I am a man.
I should be bigger than you.
                                    But, am I?

If I address you as little
                            will it help me feel better?
Do you consider it a term of endearment?

Certainly you are dear.
That is without question.

And, a pal, you are to me.
Do you hope that you can be more?
 
In the meantime, I will speak of small things -
Little bits of conversation.

          Thank you for your letter.
          I’m glad you made it to Sheridan.
          I hope that you feel better.
          Please be careful traveling back again.

Perhaps this will build our trust.
Perhaps this will become more.
Or not.
I am not yet sure.

          I will write of my work.
          I will write of the weather.
          I will write of your eyes.
          I will write of your letter.
          And, I will anticipate each one.

As Ever Yours Only

Could that be any more clear?

12/05/1925 Letter from Ted Surdez

                                                                                              Skidmore Mo.
                                                                                                                 Dec. 5, '25

Dear Doris - Another day of bad weather and nothing to do so will try and kill a little time by writing a few letters.  Yes I think I have been getting all your letters as I get one every day.  And they sure kid me about it too.  It sure is cold here today and there is a little snow on the ground.  So we are going to wait until Monday before we start work again.  Went to a dance last night but didn't have any fun.  The music was poor and the crowd was dead.  Outside of that it was pretty good.  Norman came very near going north today but I talked him out of it because I knew it would be foolish to leave all this good corn when I have no job in sight up there.  But he sure is home sick.  And I guess I wanted to go about as bad as he did, but I knew that wouldn't be a very wise thing to do.  Please excuse this big blot.  I was pushing on the self filler and didn't know it.  So you can take it for a big smacker.  My old girl called me over long distance today and wanted me to come up and see her but I told her I didn't have any way of getting there.  O well I can't be waisting my time and money on her when there (-over-)

is such a long winter and a girl like you waiting for me in S.D.  So your red top gum drop was down to see you again was he.  Well it sure is too bad you were not home.  But don't worry he will be back.  Well you know what happens if you ever go any where with him.  Now I guess it was foolish of me to say that as I know you wouldn't do any thing like that.  Well little Pal news are scarse when I write so often so I guess this will be about all for today.  We are going to stay in town tonight and I am going to take Bernus and Eloise to the show as Dewey has to work.  O boy I am getting some real good stuff over the radio just now.  Do you remember the song that was sung on the night of Oct. 3 on the streets of S.F. by a group of women riding on a truck.  Well that is what I am listening to just now and it sure sounds good.  It is coming from station K.S.O. now if you can figure out what those letters stand for.  You will know what sort of people are doing the bradcasting.  Well I must close as it is geting late and I have to go out to the farm and take care of my mules.  So by bye, keep writing every day.

                                                   Yours Till Concret Walks
                                                                       Ted.

12/04/1925 Letter from Ted Surdez

Skidmore MO

Dec. 4 '25

Dear Doris - Well we are having some winter today it started raining yesterday afternoon and turned to snow last night so we are loafing today.  We have a real good place to work.  Just a mile from where I used to work.  The guy I used to work for is all through picking corn so I am using one of his teams and wagon.  The corn is real good here we are geting about a hundred and ten bu (bushels)

a day and we haul it about a mile and a half so we only put in about six hours a day in the field.  We have about seventy acres to pick yet so I guess that will last us till xmas.  Any way we are going to S.F. when we get through here.  I only got three letters from you yesterday.  You see two of them went to Villesca and were forwarded down here.  We are going to a dance in Skidmore tonight.  Don't suppose it will amount to very much as it (-over-)

is a club dance sort of an invitation affair.  One of my old girls got married yesterday now isn't that sad "Yes I guess not."  We've been having a lot of fun with a couple kids in Skid.  They've been wanting to step out with us ever since we've been here.  They've been asking Dewey about us and he told them we were just dieing to go with them.  Now you should see the way they parade up and down the street when we are in town and they are only about fifteen.  So I think they had better

stay home with their mothers a while don't you.  So Les and Loraine are getting rather thick are they well I guess we will have to spank both of them if they don't behave won't we.  I suppose Les is about throught at Kennedys.  Wish he was down here now as there are a lot of good jobs open.  Well dear I can't think of anymore to write so will ring off hoping there is a letter in town for me now.  Am going down in a few minutes and see.  Don't forget me.

                                                                           "Yours alone"
                                                                                            Ted

"Tantamount to Ted" By Dione M. Surdez (October 10th, 2007)



Ted with Dewey's Daughter, Gwendolyn



Practically practical

Seemingly structural

Romantically rueful

Work first, then love



Seasonally sensationed

Momentarily relationed

Overly creationed

Send money, then love

Holy pursued

Sinfully construed

Passionately perused

Praise God, then love

Grammatically skillful

Dramatically senseful

Chromatically fruitful

Come home, then love



 

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

"Love in Harvest" by Dione M. Surdez (September 5th, 2007)



Ted (second from right) and Workers

 Yellowed papers

            Torn and brittle

            Pencil smudges

            Ink marks



Midwestern romance

            Hobo

            Schoolmarm

            1920’s economy

Absent parents

Dead and drunk

            Boy of boys

            Girl of five

Discontented past

            Implausible future

            Running against where

            They once came

Endless journey

            1,000 years

            12 months

            30 days


Loves intentions

            Sent a-courtin'

            Passed down

            Hand-to-hand

Afflicted hearts

            Incomprehension

            Trickling tragedy

            Persists







08/24/1925 Letter from Ted Surdez



Dear little Pal:

Just a few lines to let you know I got your letter and was glad to hear that you got there O.K.  I am sorry the way things turned out but I guess it cant be helped.  I haven't much time this morning.  Am writing this while waiting on breakfast and please excuse this paper as it is the best I could find.  I have been pretty good since you left went to dance at Renner last saturday night.  And it rained so we all came home about ten oclock.  I think I will go to Kennedys barn dance tomorrow night.  Well breakfast is ready so must close answer real soon as I think of you every minute.

                                                                As Ever Yours Only

                                                                          Ted

LIFE BEGINS by Doris Zilpha Sisson (September 1924)

As I stated before, I came to Kennedy's to board in the fall of '24.

George Sisson brought me out from town, and I left my suit cases, it being a Saturday, and then went back with him to spend the weekend with Grandma Flodin's. When we got to Kennedy's there were a couple young fellows there who had come in from Kansas.  They were Floyd and Lester Surdez.

I learned when I came back out Sunday night that they would help with stack thrashing, and then pick corn. Kennedy had a threshing machine and they worked for him.

That was really a difficult fall for me--away from home, a school teaching job that really worried me for fear I wouldn't do it well enough. But all the patrons were so nice to me, and cooperative that I needed not have been so worried. The county superintendent walked in on me one day when I was teaching the primary grades the poem, "September," and each day as they learned a verse, we tried to picture it in our minds; then each child drew and colored what he "saw." At teacher's institute a couple weeks later she told the group about it and made generous comment. I got over my fear of a "county superintendent", and she became a very helpful friend.

As before stated, I was engaged to Gerald Tyler at this time, and though I got letters from him regularly, I was lonesome, and homesick at first. Ted kept asking to take me home, so I let him, but we didn't really date. He still was seeing Miss Snyder, who had taught here the year before, and boarded with Kennedy's. She came down just a couple weeks after school started and so Molly Kennedy had a house party (we danced on the enclosed porch) so she could see her old friends and pupils and so I could meet the parents. Clyde Langloss called square dances and I got to dance most of the time. Johnit Erickson was there, just looking on. I thought he was sure a nice looking guy and gave him "the eye", thinking we might get acquainted. But he was too bashful. When lunch time came Snyder and Ted wondered whom they might get for my partner. Then she suggested Oscar Schjodt, so I ate with him. Snyder stayed overnight with me, and she told me about the people and students, and helped me out quite a bit. I liked her very much.

One weekend Ted went to Madison to visit Snyder and while sitting in a rocker visiting with her and her Mother he got a terrible pain in his leg. He had bumped his knee when picking corn and they thought at first that was it. He got so bad that they had him put in the hospital there. The doctors didn't know just what it was, and let his right leg draw-up til the heel touched the hip, and there it locked. Learned later it was polio, but it seemed to be the only case around at that time. One day the Doctors and nurses, after putting him to sleep, forced it out straight and put a cast on him from waist to toes. They had put it out of joint and didn't even know it. The suffering he went through was terrible--and away from folks or relatives, and no money to pay hospital bills. A friend, Royal Siegried, whom he had met down here, since he had worked in the neighborhood, lived up there; that is, his folks lived on a farm near Lake Madison. Royal asked his folks if he could bring Ted there, and they generously said "yes". She told me-later that she wondered if she would ever pull him through. He was out of his head most of the time, and everything she tried to feed him, he just shook his head and said "salty."  She was at her wits end, for she knew he MUST eat. One day she made him some Iemonade, thinking he should have some fluid, and he drank and drank. She said she nursed him back to normalcy on lemonade.  So he was up there all fall, into the winter, and Les didn't go back to Kansas. He stayed and worked for Kennedy.

Christmas time came and Gerald came home and wanted me to go back to Mankato with him and look at apartments, so I did. I stayed at friends of his, the Peppers, and of his brother and wife, Ray and Georgia, who had moved to Clinton, Iowa, that fall. I came back in time to go on down to Kennedy's on Saturday before school was to start again after Christmas vacation. And here was Ted. Les had asked if, instead of taking pay for his work, he could work for his and Ted's board. Ted was still in the cast but could get around with crutches. We all had fun that winter; they played "pitch" and taught me to play, and we played most every night. The neighbors, also, got together for cards, playing "500" which I learned, too. Once in a while someone would have a "house party."  This meant dancing to someone's fiddling. These parties were at Siemonsma's, their cousin's the VanDer Waude's, and a few other places. Josephine started to school that year, and Don was in the 7th grade.  Ted had a difficult time getting a job that spring, because there were some things he couldn't do. However, he painted Kennedy's barn and hauled manure for Oscar Schjodt. Then, that summer he hired out to Baynard Cornue for $3.00 a day for days he could work. He ended up working every day that summer.

In the spring we started dating, and I soon knew it was all off with Gerald, and wrote him so. Ted had a Buick roadster, and took me home week ends, and came after me on Sunday, but not for long for this was only an 8-month school.

I went to summer school at Madison again, Ella Anderson and Esther Lickness, being in with me in light housekeeping rooms. I had bought a Ford coupe through Uncle Ira, and drove it.