Sara Frances Philomena Hodges Van Brocklin

  General Notes:

The following letter was type-written by Sarah to her sister Louise two weeks before she died on October 19, 1920.

Creighton, NE- October 3, 1920.
Dear Louise, I intended writing to you so many days last week, but somehow did not accomplish my dire purpose. I suppose you are moved by this time.

This is Tuesday, and I have accomplished so little. I planned on getting my ironing done before this. I washed last Friday and haven't the ironing done yet. I did not attempt to get it done Saturday. It is such a poor day to iron. I had a batch of tomatoes to do up, I made preserves, sliced pickle and chow chow, but that does not seem to be regular work. I am doing more canning this year than ever before, and still have not so much compared with lots of people.

We went to Bloomfield fair last week. It was a pleasant day for the trip. We only took Louise and Beth, the others were in school and then went to Florence's. We take a trip nearly every Sunday somewhere, and the roads are good, and the weather has been pleasant since the cold snap. I hope that fixed your hay fever.

I do not care for Fannie's letter back. She is very well fixed financially, and satisfied with her husband and his family too. I was amused about the way she spoke of her aging. It was such an old expression. It is hard not to be well any time, but especially when one has a family. I am quite strong, but still I do not feel that I am very well. Do not however, worry about me. It will do no good and I hope we both have enough philosophy to accept the inevitable. I shall let you know if any thing serious is wrong with me. Will will not even think that there is. As if that would make it so.

I wish the girls were more robust. Margaret is so little for her age. I think she is a little fleshier now. She has some such odd ways, and is so fussy about what she wears, how her hair is fixed, and so forth. They seem to get along quite well in school, though Margaret does not get commended on her reading. Louise said when she got done reading the other day, Sister said, "Good articulation." She asked me what Sister meant. Margaret has been praised on her penmanship. They are about even in Arithmetic, but both slow on catechism.

Wilma is mopping the porch and kitchen, bent as all children on doing something extraordinary. I was about to do it, when she asked, so I let her. She appears to be doing nicely with her school work. She likes to show me her papers when they are perfect, and if they are not she usually does not want to show them.

Have you heard from Roy lately? I have not written to him, nor have I heard. I intended to write for his birthday. Beth is two years old tomorrow. She is sweet to her mother. She talks quite a good deal. Tries to say many things that we can not understand.

I plan on sending your package about Friday so you can have the chicken for Sunday. Thought you might like it better then.

Now I must close and send this by Margaret. When the children make noise I make so many mistakes (on the typewriter). Love from all. Sara

Sara was 44 years old when she died.

Note: Wilma Van Brocklin Sukup used this same typewriter for many years. At the auction, her grand daughter Cheryl Sukup Kahl (Daniel Clay Sukup's daughter) purchased the typewriter as a keepsake for $20.00.

Sara married William Jacob Van Brocklin, son of Daniel Van Brocklin and Elizabeth Krause Van Brocklin, on 6 Jun 1910 in Belleplaine, SD. (William Jacob Van Brocklin was born on 20 Dec 1882 in Verdigre, NE, died on 23 Dec 1958 in Omaha, NE. and was buried St. Ludger Cemetery in Creighton, NE.)