Ruth Meredith Cares for Sick Family as a Senior at Austin High

This was 1926, Ruth's graduation time.  In the picture Ruth (left) is shown with a dear friend, Irene Hertel, who was bit older and also close to Ruth's mother, Lottie.  Irene's mother had died.

Ruth (19) had a cold early in February.  When it was ending, Jimmie (14) came down with the "Grip" (also known as LaGrippe) on Feb. 12 and their mother, Lottie, was laid low with it on Feb. 16.

Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1926 - "Mamma sick, got the same thing as Jimmie, Grip.  I had to stay home.  (Mamma wasn't sorry she let me) and be nurse, housekeeper & cook & shopper for two patients.  Papa called up at noon.   I'm tired now."

Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1926 - "Called Doctor.  He came at 10:35.  I'll probably have to stay home all week.  I've been busy between Jimmie & Mamma all day.  Had to shop this afternoon.  I'm getting to be some cook.  Wanda didn't call."

Thursday, Feb. 18, 1926 -  "I'm all tired out.  So's Papa.  We did the family washing tonight.  Doctor came again.  Jimmie got up for supper.  Haven't heard from Wanda.  It's no cinch caring for two sick people, cooking, washing dishes & clothes, shopping, etc.  After this I want some excitement and thrills!  Washed hair."

Friday, Feb. 19, 1926 - "Cleaned house while taking care of my two patients.  Had to go to the store this afternoon.  Went to choir practice.  Had coffee & sandwiches after.  Kough brought me home in Ford Sedan.  Patients better."

Ruth was anxious for her close friend, Wanda, to call because she was supposed to have a date.  As it turned out, Wanda's father would not allow her to go.

 In those days, the doctor did come to the house to see sick patients, as you can see from the story.  As late as the 1950s I recall a doctor paying a housecall when I attending Oak Park High and had a strep throat.

 "Kough" is one of the boys at church.  Ruth liked others better, but would sometimes take a ride from Kough.  She has yet to meet the man she would marry.

A small part of this and the picture are in Pieces of a Life.

Ruth & John Home from L.A. Vacation, August, 1977

Ruth and John Kellogg were 71 and nearly 78 when this picture was taken in Clearwater FL in 1977.  They were enjoying friends at Horizon House as well as son Ken and his family: Nellie, Phil and Roger.  Ruth also kept an eye on her mother, Lottie Meredith (90) and her brother, Jimmie (66), who also lived nearby.

Sat., August 6, 1977 - "We're HOME again.  A brief summary of the 2 weeks are on notebook paper herewith enclosed.  We had no trouble making connections with the 2 AIRLINES, but National was an hour late getting us to Tampa.  Again - we had much good food on planes plus a Jackie Gleason - Burt Reynolds movie.  We found 67 degree weather on our walk from United to National Buildings in Los Angeles Airport, but felt good.  Didn't like seats so when they let off a lot of passengers in New Orleans we got 2 good seats for the hour trip from there here.  

Had to take old Airport Limo as J. told Whitley Limo to meet us on the 5th, as was on our schedule by Oceanic Agency!  Their mistake.  We discovered it in Los Angeles Airport boarding ticket - stamped Aug. 6th!  Big lot of straightening, washing clothes, looking at mail.  Dan's brother, Joe, died Aug. 1st!"

As I perused this diary, which has both 1976 and 1977 in it, many little errors popped up in 1977 - such as repeating information within the same entry or in two different entries.  Maybe this is early evidence of the dementia that gradually appeared.  Should the Kelloggs have realized from other paperwork that the trip ended on Aug. 6, not Aug. 5?  We'll never know...

Dan's older brother, Joe, died suddenly at the age of 55.  We and the 3 girls, Lynn, Cindy and Kate, went to The Field Museum that day, Aug. 1, to the King Tut exhibit.  Dan had a strange sensation while were were eating a little later and soon afterward we learned that Joe had died.  This diary entry was not in Pieces of a Life, nor was the picture.

Around Valentine's Day, 1928, With An Engaged Ruth Meredith

In her 1928 diary, Ruth mentions that she and John Kellogg were engaged on Oct. 19, 1927, which is earlier than I had thought.  The picture shows Ruth in 1928 in a cloche and
fur-collared winter coat with a beaded purse.  She was in Chicago, but I don't know where.

February 12, 1928, Sun. - "Church with John.  We took snapshots this afternoon.  Took long drive.  After supper we strung beads.  Bed 10:30.  'Lincoln's Birthday' ."

February 13, 1928, Mon. - "Monotonous day!  Raining!  Bright spot - John came to supper and we poked fun at each other.  Didn't do anything worthwhile tonite.  Looked over old valentines."

February 14, 1928, Tues. - "More rain!  Got valentine from Wanda.  John is buying mine tomorrow.  Just answered Esther's letter.  Pay day!"

February 15, 1928, Wed. - John bought 1 1/2 lb. box of chocolates with a bit of verse, entitled 'A Dumb Man's Wail'.  Good.  We saw 'The Loves of Carmen' in the movies tonight.  Also good."

February 16, 1928, Thurs. - "Got my new swivel desk chair this morning.  Tonite I washed my hair.  Florence & Clyde were at same show last night.  Now to read.  I must write Wanda soon."

February 17, 1928, Fri. - "Snow!  John over to eat.  Teased me about something he has in hiding place till 19th, which is our 4th month of engagement."

February 18, 1928, Sat. - "Papa drove me around and I did Mam's shopping.  She has stiff neck. Mama stayed home & the rest of us went to the show in Papa's car."

February 19, 1928, Sun. - "John gave cast aluminum percolator for 'hope chest'.  John & I went to Oak Park church with Papa.  Took snow pictures & then took long walk together."

Ruth doesn't mention that she is working now at Ward's.  The little clues are "pay day" and the swivel office chair.  Florence worked there too and Clyde was her steady beau, who married her in 1930.  I'm not sure who Esther is - maybe a work friend.

I'm guessing that Ruth and John went to a Methodist church on the 12th, which was his faith, and then to Oak Park's First Baptist on the 19th.  Ruth was raised a Baptist, as was her father, Jim Meredith, who was from Berrien County MI.  Ruth and John finally chose to go to Austin Baptist Church when they married in 1929.  It was the one Ruth's parents had been attending since at least 1922.  Ruth and John switched to the First Baptist in Oak Park when they moved there in 1941.  By then they had 2 children: Kenneth and Diane.