Single Life to Benedict - Part 5 - Things Take a Turn

Picking up the story of Alfred Moehlmann in 1927 living in Jasonville, Indiana. In March child number four, Alfred William Moehlmann, Jr. "Tuney" was born.

"But alas, near tragedy befell us.  Mom didn’t get along very well after Tuney was born and finally got bed ridden in November.  She got serious and Dr. Osborn made arrangements to send her to the hospital in Terre Haute.  I had to make quick arrangements for this emergency.  First the children, Jane to Aunt Annie, Aunt Tress took Harold, Avery stayed with Grand-ma Bovenschen, my mother came and took charge of Tunney.  We already had Mildred Bledsoe hired to do the house work.  An instant change from the breast to bottle milk for Tunney who was 8 months old wasn’t easy.  Just befor Thanksgiving Day she had surgery, performed by Dr. Jett.  She didn’t respond as she should and about a week later Dr. Jett called me and wanted 2 persons to come to the clinic to have blood typed for Mom would have to have surgery again the following morning.  Mr. Bovenschen and I went up and were typed both at the clinic and the hospital.  My blood was the same type as Moms but Mr. Bovenschen was different.  Dr. Jett told me he thought we should have a special nurse for her, which was soon arranged for.  Mom didn’t need a blood transfusion.  It was a long hard siege and we didn’t get to bring her home until in January.  Moms folks were all so cooperative which sure was appreciated by me, but the hardest lump I ever swallowed was when Aunt Annie asked me if the worst should happen to Mom if she could have Jane.  A few days after Mom got back home we began getting our fold together.  My mother went back home but we kept Miss Bledsoe to do the housework. 

I changed jobs the summer of 1927 and took a position with the Thomas Sales Co., - local Ford Agency, in August.  It was the year that the last Model T was made.  We had a few on hand when I started working there but I had plenty to do for books and records were in bad shape.  Mr. Thomas also had ½ interest in the Duncan Motor Co. (Ford) at Clay City and he also had the sub-agency at Worthington.  I had a girl helper at Jasonville & Clay City and Cletus (Red) Herron was in charge at Worthington. 

Ad from the Jasonville Ledger 

A year or so befor I took this job I wrote on a Railway Mail Clerk examination and had a grade of 87.7 plus 5 for military preference.  The Depression was already started, mines worked very little and money was getting tight.  The new model A didn’t come out until late 1928.  We got very few cars and the summer of 1929 Mr.  Thomas sold the Jasonville Agency and also his interest in the Clay City franchise.  I worked for the Jasonville folks and also supervised the Bookkeeping Department for the new owners at Clay City.  The new set-ups did not click – a combination of bad management and the effects of the depression.

Alfred W. Moehlmann's letter indicating the Railway Postal Clerk exam was taken 23 Apr 1927
from Moehlmann Family Coillection

Early in 1930 Paul Fry saw me in Linton and asked me if I would consider a position of bookkeeper for him at his Ford Agency.  I was interested and when I told Mom she was elated for she didn’t like living in Jasonville.  Salaries were low, I only received 35⁰⁰ per week and we were having a hard time breaking even and our bank balance was slowly swindling away.  We rented a house on F street N.E. and Mom was happy to be back in Linton.  I learned a lot from Paul Fry as a business man.  He had that something, business instinct that made him successful.  To him a dollar was worth one hundred cents and he saw to it that he didn’t loose a single cent of it on transactions or trades.  He was one man that knew every phase of his business and could spot a leak as soon as it happened.  Business was bad, but somehow Paul Fry could still operate in the black.  We had a small organization.  Rea Reed was Parts Department Manager; Hubert Heaton was Salesman; Claude Sipes, shop foreman; Lester (Red) Uland, mechanic; George, porter.  We worked long hours 7 am – 8 pm. But we all worked in harmony.  I would handle the Parts Dept. in the afternoon so Rea Reed could sell cars.  Later this cooperation paid off for me from Mr. Reed."

This is the ad that ran when Paul Fry took over the Linton Motor Sales:   

   Effective today, the Forld Motor Company has appointed Mr. Paul Fry, local business man, as dealer to succeed the Linton Motor Sales in this territory. Mr. Fry will operate his business under the name of PAUL FRY SALE AND SERVICE in the building until now occupied by the Linton Motor Sales.

   Mr. Fry regards his business of sellling and servicing Ford products as a very real service to the community and commits himself and his organization to a strenuous and willings effort to deal happily with all.

   We invite you to call upon us and to make our place of business your headaquarters for your convenience.

   We will, as soon as possible, have Ford products on our floor and invite you to see the new and improved models. 







So Alfred is out of the filling station business and back to bookkeeping, but still not far away from automobiles.  Although he has the Railway Clerk exam in his back pocket. 

There were several other mentions of the Moehlmann family in the newspapers during this time. This was a very interesting one for me.

William and Gesena Bovenschen had married on March 26, 1891 and were celebrating their 38th wedding anniversary.  Two of their children - Anna and Helen - were married on March 26th as well.  So Anna and Carl Kramer were celebrating their 18th anniversary while Alfred and Helen celebrated 8 years of marriage. Until I saw this announcement I never realized there was a significance to the date that Alfred and Helen chose. 

I love how small town newspapers print the gatherings of its citizens.  This dinner was given by Alfred's aunt, Gertrude (Tendick) Cerar.  Gertrude's sister Sophia Nolting and brother Diedrick also attended as well as John's brother, Jacob Cerar. I don't know if or how Matt Hagaman is related.

As Alfred mentioned, the Depression was already beginning. We will have to see if it has an impact on the Moehlmann household.