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By March, they still owed $51.45 to the hospital where Fred was born.
The Renter in Fallon
Leonard Ellis wrote on Aug. 11, 1936, about the ranch in Fallon. He wanted to know if Lyle would like his pay in hay left on the ranch or in cash. He would pay him from the third crop of hay, as the first two went to pay farm expenses. He would like to build a fence between Lyle's farm and Johnson's for pasture. Johnson had agreed to help pay half as soon as the boundary was determined. He said it had been a bad year for their garden and chickens. Much to Lyle's dismay, he also wrote that he had to kill their old dog. "She got sick, so I helped her on her way." Lyle's family knew that was not the case.
But most of their memories of Fallon were good. They made friends there who wrote to them for years. And each Mother's Day, for years, Lyle and Dallas sent flowers to the ward in Fallon, for they knew the flowers there would not be in bloom yet.
Sacramento is the Place
California agreed with Lyle and Dallas, so they went back to Fallon on April 23, 1937. Dallas stayed on their place there and prepared to sell out and move, while Lyle went back to San Diego to work awhile longer. He had traded in his old car on a 1930 Model Ford sedan.
Then she came up to Sacramento, where Lyle's brother Lawrence and sister Lavonda were living. Lyle grew very lonely without her. But he had to stay in Fallon and harvest a final crop. Then he sold the farm and their car, and moved to Sacramento, in late October of 1937.
Before he joined her he wrote: "My darling sweetheart and babies, Dear if I hurt you and made you feel bad I am very sorry indeed. If this be the case I humbly ask your forgiveness, but I have been so far down in the dumps, 'so far,' that I didn't think I would ever come out and that is the reason I wrote the way I did sweetheart. You or nobody will never know how much hell I have went through mentally since you left me alone. Tonight I am all by myself. I just cannot let my thought run?
"I dream about you at nights and think about you all day, every day, but things look a lot brighter now and everything is going to work out O.K. Dear I hope to have you in my arms either the 26th or 27th of October and get myself a big hug and a countless number of sweet kisses. Boy, o boy, I can't hardly wait. Those will be some of the happiest moments of my life, honey girl. Tonight when I come home and didn't get a letter, well I can't explain to you how I felt sweetheart. Please write to me every day.
"I hope and pray that Fred is better and that you and Vern is well and happy. Received a letter from mother today. She said that Lavonda was in Sacramento. Is she staying with you or Lawrence and Velma? Lover, the reason that I can't come now is that I am on a deal to sell the ranch and if I make the deal I do have to stay here till the first of next week. But don't tell anybody that we even think we are going to sell it till we know for sure. Will let you know how things work out as the days drag by. Dear, I told Hiatts, Halls and all your friends hello, and they said to tell you hello back and ask me how you are getting along every time they see me.
"Darling, I love you more than I can ever tell you. There is only one human that I couldn't live without
and that is you. May God bless my dear family with health and happiness and keep them in safe keeping till we meet. I pray day and night, darling, please buy your self some shoes. Also buy plenty to eat. I will send you some more money the 21st. Tell Lawrence and Velma hello, also Lavonda, if she is there. This letter is written from a sick and lonely heart to the best and sweetest woman and wife in the world."
After Lyle and Dallas moved to Sacramento they sent flowers to the church in Fallon each year for Mother's Day, as the flowers there were not yet blooming, due to the high altitude. They continued this for many years.
Del Paso Heights
They had just enough money to buy a home on 5 acres in North Sacramento, 8 miles out of Sacramento, now called Del Paso Heights. But they had no transportation, nor money, except for monthly payments received for things they had sold.
Working in Willows
Despite the depression, Lyle soon found work in a dairy in Willows, which was a remote area, northwest of Sacramento, from where he wrote on Nov. 21, 1937, "On this dairy we milk 106 cows. I milk them all with the De Laval milking machine and there are 2 men that does the stripping. Then I take care of the milk house and do all the washing. The other fellows gets the cows in the barn, feeds them and the calves and cleans the barn." Working there meant living away from home while Dallas took care of their home.
Clarksburg Foreman
Lyle worked in various dairies to earn a living, including one year the family spent in Clarksburg, where Lyle served as foreman and Dallas the cook for a dairy. At this time they were supporting Lyle's father, James Uriah, who lived with them as well. The summer of 1938 or 9, Lyle parents and Lavonda and her children and Leona were visiting.
Money was tight and Lyle inquired about any openings in the woods with Blanchel. Also, Clyde owed them money which he was unable to pay. Mrs. Ellis, the new owner of their farm in Fallon would send their money as soon as her husband was paid for working at a mine.
In Oct. of 1939 until mid December, he and Dallas took in Blanchel's two step-children, Ted and Vanell.
On June 8, 1940, they helped bury Blanchel, Lyle's brother who had been killed when a tree fell on him. The next day a Coleman Family Reunion was held at Lyle's ranch in Clarksburg, according to Aunt Leah. She said 31 people came and that many pictures were taken.
On June 17, 1940, Lawrence, Darral and Jack (Vasco) were helping Lyle bring in the hay. Vern had just graduated grade school and would begin high school in the fall. Aunt Leah had recently returned home after a 3 day visit.
Courtland Dairy
On Feb. 10, 1941, Lyle was working for a dairy and living in Courtland, CA. He apparently was speaking of his orchard, as he wrote that the continual rain was putting him more "in the hole" each day. He had 4 cows which help them keep going. He wrote, on Feb. 27th: "I may work in the woods if I don't land in the army. We will be in war by June if not before."
Family Troubles
On May 24, 1941, his father wrote in sympathy for Lyle's family's "grief and troubles. No one to share with you, Dear Son." "More than I can explain in words I am praying without ceasing for your behalf, trusting our Heavenly Father will bless and relieve you of your burden. has only and bless you all with health peace and happiness and a prosperous journey all the remains of life as I know you are worthy MORE
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