Courting Miss Nora - May 22, 1918, Camp Sevier, S.C.

Tom's company moved from Camp Jackson, near Columbia, to Camp Sevier, near Greenville, S.C.  His brother John's company went to Europe earlier in May.

May 22-18.

Dear Nora.

Guess you think I am not going to ans. your letter, but you know we have been moving to Camp Siver and believe me, it’s a job too, but we got here all ok and I like the place fine so far but don't know yet how I will like the camp. Lots of difference in this place and C. Jackson. Jackson is the best fixed camp, I think, but you know we are living in little tents up here and I like them fine.  It’s cool in them (over)

 

My address is the same only you put Greenville S.C.

[May 22, 1918 - page 2]

but don’t guess we will stay here long and we might stay here all the summer.  We can’t tell one mo. where we will land at the next in the Army.  Order changes so quick.  I wonder what you are doing for yourself these hot days?  It awfully how hot it is down here now and guess you all are having some real hot weather up there long now.  I am working hard to get the co. straightened out but we are getting along all right now.  I worked all day last Sunday and 

 [May 22, 1918 - page 3]

Sunday before and I don’t like that neither but we can’t help ourselves or we wouldn’t do it.  ever thing worked too.  It’s because we had to move.  They wanted us to get ready just as quick as we could and I had to help make four thousands boxes to pack up in.  Say have you all worked in your corn yet.  Guess you have been working very hard this long week.  Wish I was up there with you.  I could enjoy myself one more time in life.

[May 22, 1918 - page 4]

I hope the day will soon roll around when I can spend some of my hours with you and I would like to spend them with you all the time. ha ha! And hope the day will soon come when I can.  It would suit me very much indeed.  I think this war will soon wind up shop so any way don’t you, Nora.  And then we poor boys can come home with glad tidings to our people.  You know I have been lucky not to cross  over before now don’t you think so.    (over)

[May 22, 1918 - page 5]

Guess John has gone over.  I haven’t heard anything from him in over 5 or 6 weeks and I don't know where he is.  I hope the poor boy will come back safe in the wind up.  Tell your sister I said a big hello!  to her.  Sister they is six large theaters and a very good little town in this camp and believe me I am taking them in too.  They have good shows on ever night and day.  And we are not but four miles from the city.  We can have a big old time down here.  Wish you was here tonight.  We would go to the show.  Please pardon me for not ans. your letter sooner.  I have been so busy.  I didn’t write no one at all.  I must close and drop a few lines home and to my other friends.  Be a real good girl.  Listen I rec’d your flours and was real glad to the pleasure of receiving them.  They was just beautiful and I kept them long time.  Ans real soon and don’t do like I did wait mo. Ha.  I am with very best wishes your true friend
                   Mech. W. T. Snider

Courting Miss Nora - May 5, 1918 "It is so hot down here"

Tom is still in Columbia.  He mentions:

• It's hot!  I checked the newspaper and it was 86 degrees on May 5, 1918, which is hot with no fan or air conditioning. (1)
• Della Kilby was Nora Delle Kilby Dancy (1897-1993).  In the 1920 census, she was a school teacher in Wilkes County, N.C. (2)  Tom was born in 1892, Nora in 1900, so Delle was their contemporary.
• Greenville, S.C. was the location of Camp Sevier, which Tom and his brother John were sent to train before being shipped to Europe.

 

May 5_18

Hello! Miss McNiel -
I rec’d your nice letter today and like usually I am always glad to hear from you.  I wonder what you are doing for yourself? I wonder if it’s very hot up there yet.  It is so hot down here I am sleepy this morn.  I can’t write so you can read it. "Listen" I am coming up

[May 5, 1918 - page 2]

first of July to stay fifteen days.  My Father got me a furlough and you know I am some Proud of that and you know I will get time to come down to see you lots. I can’t hardly wait until the time comes to come up. Say has Della Kilby come back home yet? She said their school would close first of May.  Wish I could see her.
 

 

[May 5, 1918 - page 3]

I was over town yesterday and got some little tricks and I met some good looking girls.  We are going to be in Greenville first of June. and wish I knew where. I would like before I land.  I hope they won’t call us any faster for I am going to come home one mo. after we get up there. John says he is going to France real soon. Well I will go in about three months I heard and we may go sooner.  It’s hard to tell. We can't tell from now on where we will stay at for the orders changes so fast in the army.  I hope to be out of this man’s army soon and carry you to Winston. I am with very best wishes your true friend
Excuse bad writing please. Mech W. T. Snider

References:

(1) "Weather Bureau" Monday, May 6, 1918; State (Columbia, South Carolina); p. 2.  http://GenealogyBank.com

(2) Year: 1920; Census Place: Reddies River, Wilkes, North Carolina; Roll: T625_1329; Page: 11B; Henry C. Kilby household; Enumeration District: 181; Image: 437. 

Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010

Courting Miss Nora - April 25, 1918 "I like army life very well so far if they wasn’t any war."

Tom writes again from Camp Jackson.  On his latest furlough, he AGAIN didn't see Nora.
Well, we know how the story ends (they marry in April 1919).

                             April 25-18

Hello! Miss McNeill.
             I was so glad to hear from you again.  I just thought that you had forsaken me but altho I found out better. Ha.  I was sorry that I didn’t come down to see you when I was up but when I come up again I will make it all up.  I am going to come up the fourth of July if I can get off and guess I can. To be sure I would like to join with you all on your trip.  Wish I could have been there.  I know I could have enjoyed myself fine.  I always have wanted to go with you, & when you come out at P.H. church [Pleasant Home Baptist Church] I thought that you was the best looking girl I ever saw in life.

[April 25, 1918 - page 2]

and I didn’t think then that you would go with a boy or I would have gone with you if I could.  Ha.  I certainly do hope the time will come when I can go with you ever Sunday. I have got a new house and lot in Winston-Salem, but I had to go off and leave it. But if I ever get back in civilian life I am going to get married and live right the rest of my life and now do you believe me at all.  “Ha.  If I can get anyone to have me and I hope that will be soon and I think it will with the prospects now. Don’t you hope that this war will soon come to an end. Soon or later I will be out of this old army.  I like army life very well so far if they wasn’t any war.

[April 25, 1918 - page 3]

Listen we had a old time party hear in the camp and I and two other boys out of our Co. made music for them to play by and believe me we sure did have a nice time. They was bout fifty girls and was a one as good looking as you are. "Ha" When I am far away from you somewhere in France I ask that you always think of me and pray that I have a chance.  To leave home was hard the hardest thing of all but I am no slacker when I hear my country’s call. To be at home with my friends is happiness that is true but I cannot see the enemy down the read white and blue. Ha. Some day in the near future

[April 25, 1918 - page 4]

this great conflict will end and the soldier boy who likes you will come back to you again.  It is the duty of ever girl who is left behind to remember always the boy she loves who is on the firing line. Do not respect a slacker.  They deserve not even a chance. The boy whom you should honor are the boys who go to France.  I did not want to leave home for I am goin’ to risk my life.  I am a true American and uphold the Stars and Stripes. Will close as I am in a hurry. I could sit here and talk to you until day and then could have something new to tell you but I have got to ans. some more letter. But rather write to you than any of the girls.  So be real good. Ans. soon. I am with very best wishes your true  W.T.S.

Courting Miss Nora - April 7, 1918

W.T.'s brother John was inducted into the U.S. Army in Wilkesboro on March 30, 1918.  The first month, he was assigned to the 16 Company 4 Training Battalion 156th Depot Brigade and sent to Camp Jackson, South Carolina, for training.  Tom had been in Camp Jackson over 6 months (since September 2017). 

    April 7, 1918

Hello! Nora –
           I saw John Sunday and was with him nearly all day. I think he wrote you a letter. He is liking all right so far but what are you going to do now for a fellow while he is a way. Wish I was up there so I could come to see you ever Sunday.
            Ha

 

 [April 7, 1918 – page 2]

I did hate to leave home but I had it to do tho’. I am sorry that I didn’t get to talk to you any while I was up.  I had a whole lots to tell you but maybe I can soon get off again soon to stay longer.  Will you stay at home all the summer.  I will send you a good picture when I get them. That one I sent you won’t not very good.

[April 7, 1918 - page 3]

It is raining hard down here today and I am not doing anything much.  Wish I was up there to your home. Say Nora we boys went fishing Saturday and you bet we sure did have one more good time.  We caught lots of fish too.  Wish you could bin long with us.  I and  John is going over town next Sat. if he get his uniform but we won’t go with any of the girls.  I will see that he don’t go with any of them.  They sure is some good looking girls over town but none like you.  Don’t you get married while John is in the army. Ha.  I am with very Best wishes your true friend.
Mech W. T. Snyder

Courting Miss Nora - March 15, 1918

W.T. is still at Fort Jackson, S.C.  I just love his first sight of an ostrich at the Columbia Zoo (page 3).

On page 5, he heard the other boys, such as his brother John Snyder, won't be drafted until the autumn.  But John was inducted into the U.S. Army in Wilkesboro on March 30, 1918.

The W. A. Bumgarner family (page 6) were Nora's uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. William A. Bumgarner, who had 2 sons and 2 daughters.  Mrs. Bumgarner was Mary Alice McNeil, Nora's father's sister, called "Aunt Alice".

                  March 15, 1918
Hello! Miss Nora -
     Will take greatest pleasure in answer to your letter.  Was more than glad to hear from you again. Say Nora, I wonder, didn’t you get that large picture I sent you.  If you didn’t, I sure will send you another one, but hope you got it.  They wasn't very good tho'.  Now you send me one of yours.  Say, Miss Nora, I am coming up next week and I will

[March 15, 1918 - page 2]

bring my Kodak box and we will have some pictures made and I can get one of yours that way. Ha. The reason I didn’t get off last week.  They was two of our boys all ready and our Captain won’t [wouldn't] let but one or two out at a time.  I think I can get off next week. Hope so any way.  It [has] been real hot weather down here but guess it [is] not so very hot up there yet. The woods and grass are green.

[March 15, 1918 - page 3]

It looks like real summer time down here.  The girls out in their white dresses.  Wish you could see be down here and see the boys drill some time.  It [is a] sight in the world how many boys they are here just the same size and all the time ready for form and believe me we have fun too.  I and my church went to Columbia Park last Sat. Eve. and believe me we sure did have some more fun. We taken some pictures.  I will send you one when they get back if they are good.  I wish you could see that Park.  Believe me they sure is something in there to see. Large Deer and camel.  arich to [Ostrich too]. ‘Bout the size of a mule with feathers on them and wings too.  I never saw such things in all [the] days of my life.  Their neck are ‘bout long as you are - 5' long or 5½.

[March 15, 1918 - page 4]

to the prettiest place I ever saw.  When the war is over we will go through, Nora, and take a good look as we go long.  And the long river is nice too.  They have got steam boats on it and the longest bridge I ever saw.  The soldiers down here sure do see lots of fun over town with the girls.  The whole town is lit up at night with gas and believe me it sure does look good at night.  I am glad the

 [March 15, 1918 - page 5]

boys up home do not have to go away to camp until next fall.  Guess John is some glad of that.  I am for him anyway.  I wish the war would come to a close so all of us boys could go back home. I want to see home so bad I can’t hardly wait until next week comes.  Are you going to look down the  road this time.  Guess you won’t for I didn’t come the other time.

[March 15, 1918 - page 6]

I hope I won’t fool my folks this time.  My sister sent me a large box of apples and believe me I sure did eat apples. They was fine.  I would like to see Mr. W. A. Bumgarners folks.  I sure did enjoy going to see them always when I would come home from W.S.  Tell your sister a big old Hello and the rest of them too. I can leave Columbia one Eve. and get home the next day late. Wish you was down here to go to the moving picture shows with me ever Wed. and Sat. nights.  They are good and something new  ever night.  I would give anything most to be with you.  I could enjoy myself fine I know. Tell your Father I have got some thing very funny to tell him.  So I will close for this time.  Hoping to hear from you again soon. I am with Best wishes your true friend. Mech. W. T. Snider

Courting Miss Nora - March 2, 2018

Even though 6 months have passed since W.T.'s last letter to Nora (that I have), he's still in Camp Jackson, near Columbia, S.C. as a private in the U.S. Army. 

March 2, 1918
Hello!  Miss Nora-
          I rec'd [received] your letter all ok and was real glad to hear from you again. I wonder what you are doing for a little bit of fun.  I am having a good time tonight making music.  Wish you was here.  I could play better I know.  I sure do want to come home.

[page 2] Guess maybe I will get to come next week or I am going to try and get a pass any[way].  And if the captain will let me come look out down the road and you  will see me coming. Ha. You know it's bad to be a way from home especially in in the camp in war time. I did want to see old John before he went away but guess he will be gone before I get to come home. Tho' don’t differ when he goes.  I will see him. I can get off long enough to visit him most any two or three days at a time. Tell your Pop to raise ever thing he can to sell for it going to take something to run all the soldier.

[page 3] Ever thing is so high [expensive] down here.  It [is] a sight in the world and what will it be next fall.

Say Nora I sent one of my large pictures home.  They cost ten dollars a doz.  Wish you could see one. I am going to have one half doz. more printed and I will send you one.  So be a real good girl.  I am yours.
Mechanic, W. T. Snider

Wiley Thomas "Tom" Snyder drafted for World War I

The first of three drafts was on June 5, 1917, when all American men between the ages of 21 and 31 had to register for the draft.   Here is Tom's draft card:

Tom registered in Winston-Salem as Wiley Thomas Snyder.  His card lists his age as 21 and birthday as January 29, 1896.  [This is incorrect - he was actually 25, born January 29, 1892.]  Tom’s address was Devonshire in Winston.  He was a machinist at R. J. Reynolds’.  He was single with no dependents.  He was medium height, stout, with blue eyes, and light hair.  He signed the card “W. T. Snyder.”   His photograph is below -- I guess this is how "stout" looked in 1917!

Tom was inducted into the Army in Winston-Salem on September 18, 1917.  He was a mechanic in Company D, 1st Battalion, 321st Infantry, 161st Infantry Brigade, 81st Division (the “Wildcats”). He was immediately sent to Camp Jackson (now Fort Jackson) near Columbia, S.C., for training.  

The first group of soldiers had already arrived at Camp Jackson on September 5,  so he was in one of the first groups there.  Upon arrival at Camp Jackson, no matter what time of day or night, the recruits were lined up, given a bed sack, and taken to a field with a straw rick and told to fill up their bed sacks.  Then they marched back to camp, got a sewing kit, and had to sew their bed sack closed.

The men lived in tents and had to cut timber and build barracks and other buildings.  Supplies were lacking, especially uniforms and guns.  Company D started target practice using wood sticks instead of rifles.  Every soldier was issued a gas mask and taught how to use it because WWI was the first war in which poison gas was used as a weapon.

Tom spent eight months at Camp Jackson.  Below is a photograph  of him in his uniform, probably taken around February 1918. 

Background for this post is from R. Jackson Marshall III, Memories of World War I: North Carolina Doughboys on the Western Front (Raleigh: Division of Archives and History, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, 1998).

Courting Miss Nora - Sept. 27, 1917

My grandparents Wiley Thomas "W.T." Snyder and Nora McNeil met in their native Wilkes County.  He had picked her out and was waiting for her to become old enough to marry.   But then he was drafted when Nora was 16.  These are the letters he wrote to court her.  They married one month after he was discharged from the Army.

I will post every war letter that I have.  Clearly, some letters are missing.  Tom’s first letter was September 27, 1917.  There is a five-month gap until the second letter on March 2, 1918.  

Spelling was not standardized until the 20^th century.  Tom signs his name Snider sometimes and Snyder other times.  His spelling is sometimes creative yet it is easy to understand his meaning.

Following his original letters, I've transcribed each page.  I corrected some spelling and punctuation for clarity.  My notations are in [square brackets].

-------------

  [The first letter was postmarked Sep 29, 1917, Columbia, S.C., Jackson Branch.]

                    Miss Nora McNiell
                           Millers Creek
                                    N.C.

                            Sept 27, 1917

Hello!  Miss Nora.

How are you living?  I guess you can imagine how I am living.  I am at Camp Jackson, Columbia, South Carolina, I am sorry to say.  I am liking all right so far.  You’re going to have my picture made and I will send you one.  You know I will look good in my uniform suit.  The camps are seven miles long and five miles wide and one quarter of mile from the care line.  And believe me they sure is some soldier boys here too.  I wish you could see us in the

[page 2]
fields drilling it the whole eight miles sq.  And see bout ten thousand soldier boys in there drilling.  It sure does look good.  You ought to come down and see us drill.  It would be a show to you.  I am ‘bout to get struck on mighty pretty little girl down here from Columbia town.  I am coming up on the first furlough get and I will come to see you and your sister before I go back but now don’t you and John be married before I come. Ha.Tell him I am still alive. Ha.

[page 3]

Address is
Co. D. 321st Inf.
Camp Jackson
S.C.

Say Miss Nora, be a good girl. Live good life.  Marry a good Husband and make good Wife.

Tell your Father I am much same boy now and at service.  Wish he here.  He would open his eyes.  I get the blues sometimes and get with some the boys and get to singing and I am
all right.  So write me a line and tell me the news at Millers Creek.                      
(over)

[page 4]

I will haft to close.  I would like to write more but I have got to go to the Y.M.C.A. yet tonight. It not for wish you was here to go with me.  So I will close as I am in a hurry.

         Sincerely   W. T. Snider

        P. S.
          Excuse all bad ritting and take all mistakes for good luck. Be a good girl. By.