Edwin S. Blanke 
Light, Arizona 
October 17, 1917 

Dear Brother Theodore:- 

Received your letter yesterday. We hated to sell the cattle too. One was the 
first cow we bought and always milked her, but they were getting poor. When I 
rounded up the bunch I found one nice big cow dead. That made me sel1 a few 
more. I have to build before I go to New Mexico. We sleep outside and it's 
getting cold. Maybe you had better wait until next summer, as sleeping outside 
now is not the best. We got from 30 to 35 quarts of milk all summer per day, but
now we only get about 5 quarts a day. Be sure and come next summer though. I am 
going to put up the outside shell of the house now, but we will be able to live 
in it. Am inclosing $51.00. The one dollar is for postage on the things you 
sent. Send all you have, any kind. We can use them all. We can't buy any clothes
if we build, as it will take every cent I can get. 

I hope you will pass the examination next spring. If you can send $25 November 
4th, I'll let you know when to send the other. December 4th will be alright. 

Best wishes to all of you. 
Your brother, 
Edwin 

(Ed: Mamie, who later assumed the name Mary Julia, was born Mamie Draves. The 
last name was sometimes spelled the old way, Drews. While very young, she was 
adopted by the Herman Hellers. Her sister, Grace, was adopted by the Leahy 
family. This next letter finds the Draves family living in Hemet, California, 
where they settled around 1915, or perhaps even before that. Refer also to the 
letter dated 11-03-24. Mamie was in need of surgery to repair damage caused by 
Gordon's birth in 1920. Many of the relatives were aware of this and made 
frequent reference to the needed operation over the next 10 or 15 years, but 
apparently it never was performed. Lacking the operation, intimacy with Theodore
never resumed. He was driven by a very strong sense of obligation to provide for
his family, but chose to live away from home for most of his remaining life.) 

(IR: Mamie and Grace's adopted families are attested in FamilySearch, but I
could not confirm the name 'Dode Draves' in the 2021-04-30 letter.)