World War I - Letter from Uncle Tom

Corporal "Tom" Willis Depicts Life on the Western Front

John Murphy of Au Sable Forks, boss machine tender for the J. & J. Rogers Company, is in receipt of the following letters from Corporal Thomas Willis, who has been on the western front for a considerable spell:

Co. F, 303d Inf

A.P.O. 773, A.E.F.

Dear Friend Jack:

Just a few lines to let you know that I am well and hope this letter finds you the same.  Well, Jack, I was certainly glad to hear from you also to get the address of the boys.  I probably won't ever have the luck to run across Wilfred but I wrote him just the same.  I like it over here all right.  Of course I am not a very good Frenchman but as long as a fellow has the money he is all right.  We are in a good part of France at present; the climate is pretty warm and for the last few weeks it has rained a lot.  We do not have nice large barracks and nice spring cots over here.  We sleep in what they call billets.  The billet I sleep in is pretty comfortable.  We sleep in one side of the barn and a few rabbits and chickens and a nice little mule in the other side.  About time to get up in the morning the mule will start braying and there is no more sleep.  I have seen quite a bit of England and quite a bit of France and if Germany does not throw up her hands pretty soon I will probably see what there is left of Germany.  There is lots I would like to tell you about my trip but will wait and next summer I will be back and while we are waiting to turn a reel of muisc {sic} paper I will tell you all about it.  I will in the army one year the 22d of this month, and in that time I have had one hell of a good time and I wouldn't have missed what I have seen for anything.  There is only one trouble over here:  if you want to visit a nearby town you have to walk, but we do not mind that now.  Well Jack, how are all the fellows in the mill, and what is old "Smut" doing? I suppose he is fooling with the speed wheel every time the machine is running good.  I wish he was over here.  I would like to see him in uniform carrying a rifle and a pack.  Tell him to write to me as he owes me a letter.  I guess I will close for this time hoping to hear from you soon.  I remain,

Your friend,

Tom

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Eugene Duprey - Death Notice

AUSABLE FORKS MAN, 85, DROPS DEAD IN WOODS

Eugene Duprey, 85, of AuSable Forks, dropped dead at a woodlot in Swastika yesterday shortly after noon.

State police of the Keeseville substation said that death had been attributed to a heart attack.

The elderly man had accompanied a son, George, to the woodlot, state police said.

Troopers assisted in removing the body to the Quirk Brothers Funeral Home.

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Published in the Plattsburgh Press-Republican on Wednesday, November 6, 1946.

Eugene is my maternal great grandfather.

I am sure there is an obituary out there; however, the newspaper I believe it would be in, The Adirondack News-Elizabethtown Post, does not have 1946 microfilmed.  (Very sad about that~~but that's a topic for another post!!)

I am still hopeful that a cousin out there may have it.  So Cousin at least once removed, if you do have the obituary, please contact me!! Thanks :)