Letter from Edwin S. Martin to John D. Martin 10/30/1922

Last letter from my father– He died in November 1922

Ewing Hall 

Cedarville, Mich 

Saturday night Sep 30/1922

Dear Son,

I just read yours of 28th with <enclosures> and thank you for <>. I handed the <> for the Madam to her immediately and looker over the <> <> ad with approval– Billy and I were talking of those <> but I put off decision until I would get to have time to look over carefully Sean Raehiek and <Moutgemey> <Ward> building supply catchings I had sent for on Billys suggestion– these have come now and I will look them over soon.Thank you again about the <Sines> <Bros> <>– it <> right out I was <overdrawn>. The U. S. <> <> certificate <> <> letter I had a <copy> of forwarded to me. It cant interest me just new as my main interest just new is to keep from overdrawing. I will do as you say about that <> of brick that is here for you. Am glad you got your strike settled over if you did have to advance the wages and that you managed to get some can supplys “a half loaf is better than no bread”. And that– at least– you got “started to making brick last Monday.” I am sorry can supply is not better to the coal mines but its what I expected.The price being down– on coal– to about 400 should help you with <Sines> <Bros>. I note your fine weather there and we have been having grand weather here. <Thermom> on front porch 72 today and I had a dandy swim at 5 pm after a hard days work including walking to Cedarville and to Joe Griffins after <>. These <swims> here have had a very bracing and good effect on me and I <> now to try my best to get a “swift plunge” just as long as the weather permits. You remember I <> all ready at Ocean City by <> right up to <Xmas>. We dud have a good white frost– “<> snow”– here <then> about 10 days ago. We are glad that you and that other poor hay <fellow> <> Bill> have had no returns. Also glad that <work> on <> <> goes so <> and will evidently be finished by winter. Also very glad Ed <Cunan> is working for you– he is an old friend and I esteem him highly. Also very very glad that all your <> are so well and all going well. Speaking of trying to keep from <> my bank <> Leads me to mention here to you that sometimes this place <> appear to me to be an <> <lookway>– and worth it of <>

With me this year there were first Billys bill for painting and attention to motor boat and <new> boats– new wood shed and gas shed– sawing stumps and <> <> labor $240.00 Jakes oven $70.00 <> about $40.00 for 3 <yrs> expenses here and back home… I just gave Mr Sheppard <> <> $194.00 my (⅕) share of <> Buckeye Dock– you understand <> of us own it and have <> to pay and others pay <> $5.00 or 10.00 a piece!! The 5 <> are on <> – myself – Mr J. H. Sheppard <of> <> and <Managers>. And I am getting in Kitchen wood now that will cost <50 or 100> . And I will have a considerable bill to pay Ron Patrick for a new propeller in the motor boat. Besides this I have spent over $200.00 cash I <> it here and there on other things. The biggest of them being of course the new cottage roof thats <> me in the face. This smashed <> <> costs me not only some money but no end of time and trouble. I <> my legs off to get them at Cedarville– proper size <>– then I took them to Longs myself and then I had to go to Longs after them. Then there was the tieing up <mailings> to and we have sworn off on this a dozen times. When I took them to Longs I <> alone in the boat and Long did not answer my horn so I finally worked my way into his dock so hes <> tone had its onto <> that I <> ricks a plenty getting in <tent>. Monday I had the Meadows and Mines young and Mckinenin besides myself and I had a hell of a time getting to his dock tent <> – besides the water had gone down very low – finally Long did what he should have done <> – took the ladies in his boat to get in and to get out but only after a long siege of getting me to try both with all of them in my boat. He had been <booing> and was awful stubborn. To make a long story short I lost my propeller– the last