Frank "Happy" Stegemann letter to Estella Wilferth - January 1, 1918
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[January 1, 1918] Camp Funston Kansas January 1st [1918] Sweetheart Estella its more than 2 weeks since I've heard from you and I'm at a loss to know why you haven't answered my letters cause I mailed you three or four. I do know that something is wrong cause I'm saving the mail for Sanning and he received a letter from you today. I was thinking maybe you were sick but since you wrote him one I know you are not and I think now that you have just quit me cold and I certainly can't think of anything Ive done that would make ou feel that way all at once. As I said I was saving Sannings mail that means he is not out of the detention camp yet. I havent had a letter in a week or more from anyone untill today I rec'd a card from Hilda and one from Mr. Goff. The 1st day of 1918 and Im dissaponted the very first thing and if the rest of the days will be like this one Im sure Ill sure have a time of it this year. Altho Ive been dissaponted before I can say that this time is worse than any Ive ever gone through. I am not on any detail today so I have time to explain a few things which Ive
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[page 2] wanted to tell you for a long time. It may be that you will not be interested but anyway I think you will. Do you remember with what kind of a spirit I gave you that ribon? Well girl listen I thought at that time that you would be glad to have it for that reason I gave it to you I wanted you to have it so that if I never came back youd have something to remember me by. Before I ever thought of that you would miss me when i was gone I did Love you Estella and Im not ashamed to say so again for I do. This however is not a sign that you will allways like me and I say again Ill never forget you. Someone has said something about me again and I had allmost expected just this very thing. We never gone into anything but what someone caused hard feelings somewhere. I've wrote 3 or 4 letters in the last 2 days and when Id read them over Id burn them just because they were a sorry affair and this one will be something like the rest of them but Ive waited so long and I must write you this one letter anyway. When Paris Brennecke comes back he never said anything about you and I asked him if he had seen you, never said anything of you tho just said he had seen you and that was all he said. Now Estella Im not angry at you or any one Im just sick and blue because you have quit me in such a manner where I do not know what for. I do not care where Im at Ill allways think you are my girlie anyway and Ill continue to call you that no matter where you are or whose sweetheart you are
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Listen you keep that ribbon and when I go to Kansas City I'll send you some other little remembrance if you will take it just as a remembrance of the boy who loves you We will not be here long girl and this world has funny ways and Im sure on one of those roads that lead to a point where its man to man. When Im away will you at least think of me as your friend? Im writing a letter again today as tho Im crazy and I know you will think so. This is an Ideal New Years day its just like on a spring day and there are certainly many visitors in camp today Ive seen more passing by the window than Ive seen in a month in an hour now. Last night at a quarter of twelve the fire alarm was sounded and we all had to get out of bed we must do that everytime an fire breaks out in camp. I don't know if its just because Im blue that makes me think that today is the lonesomest day Ive spent in Camp Funston. After going to church this morning I took a walk thought maybe I could sleep but no and now I am writing again. Maybe you didnt receive the letters I wrote you but surely you must have.
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[page 4] If you havent I thank you again for the box of candy you sent me Im sure if it was sent with the spirit it was rec'd it sure was sent to make me Happy which it certainly did. I also wrote that I couldnt send you any present cause we were still under quarantine. At that there isent anthing to be bought here now cause the exchange of our Regiment is also closed for Invoice. Estella wont you please write and tell me what is wrong. Im not sure but just anxious to know and dont you be afraid to tell me of anything caused you not to write. Id certainly like to know and I think you know me to well that Id repeat anything you told me. Listen girl I do not ask you to Love me if you don't but Ill Love you just the same wether you do or not and Ill ask you again if you will accept a little token of rememberance from the boy who has gone away. Im serving now to help win the war and when I return Ill not come with a dishonorable discharge take that from me if I return to my old home and Love. Anyway Ill have dreams of you for when I was home last time I had the grandest time Ive ever had and those days will not be forgotten. Im only wondering if days like those were around Thanksgiving 1917. will ever come again. A New Year has dawned again and who knows where we will be at the dawn of the next. So Ive turned a leaf and now I will say that when this year passes again to a new one no one will say Happy is the same old fellow. No there will be no regrets from now on and Ill take mine as they may seem fit.
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[page 5] I have lots of ways I can imporve and this I will try and do. We are free to go to Army City or Ogden to shows now and lots of them go but I havent felt like going anywhere lately and I spend my time in reading and study. Writing some also you are the first Im writing to in 1918 and I shall wonder from who Ill receive my first letter. Sweetheart if I may call you that yet? Will you tell Hilda that she will not hear from Oscar Ott for awhile he is gone from here. He told me to tell her that he would write her when he got settled in his new camp wich I dont know yet wich one. How do you like my scrawl with pen? This is one of the first letters wich Ive wrote with pen for years. Did you have a good time Christmas and how about today? Wishing you a Happy New Year wich I had almost forgotten and hoping to hear from you real soon telling and explaining why I havent heard from you. Now don't you be afraid of telling me for Ill not get angry at anything you may tell me. This letter amounts to 3 or 4 again for writing one of these pages is
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[page 6] Just like 2 or 3 of an ordinary tablet. Seen Al Schnieder and a Wilbers Boy from Wardsville was here this morning they are leaving again tonight I think We are going on the range again tomorrow and Ill have to do the marching for 19 of them shooting. I must close for today for this may be tiresome and listen Estella burn all of my letters for some one may find them and laugh at me for writing such letters wich I know they will if they ever see them. Do that for you may make fun of these also and I assure you that they mean just what they say Im carrying 2 of yours with me day and night and Im proud of them too. Hoping to receive an answer from you at once I remain with Love Happy. PS In reading over the letter I see where I said that you might laugh at them also well Id not care if it is only you and I don't think you would do anything of the kind. Have you heard anything of Hubert Lauf? Did I tell you I seen him a day or so before he left if he did? I havent heard a thing but we will find out for Louis Prennerbe are going to his Barracks tomorrow night.
Details
| Title | Frank "Happy" Stegemann letter to Estella Wilferth - January 1, 1918 |
| Creator | Stegmann, Frank W. |
| Source | Stegmann, Frank W. Letter to Estella Wilferth. 01 January 1918. Wilferth, Estella (1896-1978) Papers, 1912-1962. C3035. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO. |
| Description | In this January 1, 1918, letter to Estella Wilferth, Frank "Happy" Stegemann professed his love for Estella and voiced his concern about not receiving any mail from her in weeks. He reflected on the past year and speculated what the new year will bring. At the time this letter was written, Private Stegemann was stationed at Camp Funston, Kansas. |
| Subject LCSH | Love-Letters; Camp Funston (Kan.); Quarantine |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | C3035 |
| Contributing Institution | The State Historical Society of Missouri |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the State Historical Society of Missouri: 1020 Lowry Street, Columbia, Missouri, 65201-7298. (573) 882-7083. |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. |
| Date Original | January 1, 1918 |
| Language | English |