My Grandfather, Aldred Erskine

Aldred Erskine was born at Superior, Douglas, Wisconsin on 30 January 1896 (1). He completed grammar school on 30 June 1914 (2)  Four years later, on 5 June 1918, he registered for the Draft during World War I. (3) Aldred served in WW I as a cook and was assigned to Camp Kerny, California (4). At the end of the war and while waiting for his discharge papers, he wrote a letter home to his Aunt. The letter (5) was dated 28 February 1919:

Dear Aunt:
Received your kind and ever welcome letter and was glad to hear from you. Am in the best of health and hope these few lines finds you the same. I haven't heard anything about my discharge yet, I expect to be out within a month anyway. I sure do wish I were home, this kind of life sure gets tiresome. I got a letter from home the other day, they are all well, only wishing I were home with them. It sure did make me feel blue when my brother left and nearly all of my friends from around home have gone also, well I guess my turn is coming some time. I signed the pay roll yesterday, expect to be paid Monday. When we are discharged we get $60 paid too us by the Government, that will help out a little bit. The time seems to pass so slow here waiting for my discharge to come, but sure will injoy [sic] it when I do get it. The Knight of Columbus are moving over close to us, they are moving in one of the mess halls just a few steps from my tent. It is nearly time for the mail to go so will close as ever yours.
Your Loving Nephew, Aldred
P.S. Give Jossie and all the rest my best regards. Love to all.

Two months later, on 24 April 1919, Aldred was honorably discharged (6). After his discharge, he returned to Provo, Utah and met a young lady named Frances Berniece Hartley. They were married 28 December 1920 at Provo, Utah (7) and then moved to California.

Aldred and Frances raised their family in Burbank, California. Aldred was a police officer for the City of Burbank (8). In 1935 he completed his Scout Master training and was awarded a certificate for the training (9). Unfortunately we do not know if he ever served as a Scout Master in the local community. He completed his WW II Draft Registration in 1942 (10), so we find him in both the World War I and II draft registration records. He loved the pies his wife made and often brought home his coworkers from the Police Department to enjoy a piece of pie. On 1 November 1951, Aldred officially retired from public service as a police officer for the City of Burbank, California (11). His monthly retirement benefit was $183.10, which continued until his death in 1964 (12).

My grandfather, Aldred Erskine, had a full life. I will forever be grateful for the lessons he taught me through the way he lived his life each day. Honesty will always be my special memory about grandpa.

Citations:
1) "Wisconsin, Births and Christenings, 1826-1926," FamilySearch, Erskine, 30 Jan 1894.
2) Mendocino County, California Board of Education, Pepperwood District Grammar School Diploma of Graduation for Aldred Erskine, 30 June 1914.
3) "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," FamilySearch. 
4) United States War Department, Certificate in Lieu of Lost or Destroyed Discharge Certificate for Aldred Erskine.
5) Aldred Erskine letter to his Aunt, 28 February 1919, Letter to "Dear Aunt", privately held by Fran Jensen, 2025.
6) United States War Department, Discharge Certificate for Aldred Erskine.
7) "Utah, County Marriages, 1887-1937," index, FamilySearch, Aldred Erskine and Frances Berniece Hartley, 1920.
8) City of Burbank, Office of Chief of Police, Los Angeles County, California, Aldred Erskine, certificate of appointment to police officer 27 January 1930.
9) National Council Boy Scouts of America, Verdugo Hills Council, Elements of Scoutmasterhip-Part 1 Diploma, 4 Dec 1935.
10) "United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," index and images, FamilySearch.
11) State of California, Board of Administration, State Employees' Retirement System, City of Burbank, retirement notification for Aldred Erskine, police sergeant, 1 November 1951.
12) State of California, Board of Administration, State Employees' Retirement System to Aldred Erskine, 5 Feb 1952. 

Grandpa Taught Me Honesty

My grandfather taught me to be honest. As a young child I remember being a passenger in his car and on our way home to my house. On the way he stopped at a local store to buy something. We were in the car ready to go and he noticed the change the clerk gave him was too much. Grandpa said he needed to go back into the store for a minute to return the extra change, so he walked back in, returned the extra change, and then took me home. I don't remember how old I was, but the memory of hearing him tell me that the clerk gave him too much change and then watching him return to the store to give the extra change back is as vivid today as it was over 50 years ago. A small moment in time for me, but a very valuable lesson was taught that day. I will always be grateful for his good example of honesty.

Brothers Separated for Twenty-five Years Reunited

My grandfather Aldred Erskine had an older brother named Cyrus Melvin Erskine. Sometime after Cyrus filled out his World War I registration card in 1917 he disappeared. No word, no connection was made with Cyrus for a long time. The story in the family is that Cyrus was declared legally dead after he had been missing for about 25 years. I have not found an official death record to verify this part of the story, but today we know more about Cyrus because of the newspaper record that documented his sudden return to the family. My mother had this newspaper clipping in her scrapbook. Her father, Aldred Erskine was a police officer for Burbank, California. One day when he was at work, Cyrus showed up to surprise him. Here's the full story from the newspaper account:

Burbank 

If Police Desk Sgt. Aldred Erskine could duplicate at will that expression of suspense, surprise and joy that he enacted spontaneously last night, he probably would be snapped up by the movies. His eyes popped, his mouth flung open as if moving automatically on hinges and his face turned pale momentarily as he looked up from his desk at police headquarters to peer into a smiling face that seemed familiar. Suspense across his face faded to surprise and then joy, "Cy!" exclaimed Erskine as he hopped off his chair and lunged forward to clutch an extended hand.

Clutches Extended Hand
It was the hand of Cyrus Erskine, a brother the police officer hadn' t seen for twenty-five years. The story goes back a quarter of a century when the four Erskine brothers - Aldred, Cyrus, John and Thomas were living in the family home at Richmond in northern California. The eldest of the four, Cyrus, a young man then, decided to go east. He settled at Dallas, Tex. Later he moved to Miami, Fla., where he engaged in the real estate business during the Florida boom.  

Address Lost 
Meanwhile, the other three brothers, now grown, moved from the family residence. Cyrus left Miami. Addresses were lost and correspondence, previously only occasional, ceased entirely. Last fall Cyrus decided to return to the coast. On Christmas day he arrived in San Francisco , hoping to find his brothers somewhere in the bay region. Thumbing through the telephone book, he found the name of Thomas Erskine at Richmond. Not sure that was his brother, he telelphoned. A few hours later the pair was reunited at Thomas' home. Aldred and John, the latter a resident of Glendale, soon received word that the "long, lost" brother, feared dead, was very much alive.

Arrives Without Warning
 John drove north during the week-end to see Cyrus. He returned last night and without any previous warning dropped Cyrus off at police headquarters, and the third of the series of reunions followed. A sheet metal man, Cyrus has decided to settle here, and seek employment in the aircraft industry. He is making his home for the present at the police officer's residence.

Research To-Do

• This Blog post was originally posted on 25 Jan 2012. Updates were made in 2025.
• The date and name of the newspaper is unknown. Aldred retired from the police department on 1 Nov 1951, so this brother reunion was before that date. I expect to be able to find the article in the local Burbank newspaper. 
• 1910 Census 
• 5 June 1917 WW I Draft Registration, residence listed as Oakland, Alameda County., California
• 1920 Census, residence unknown
• 1930 Census, residence unknown 
• 1940 Census, residence unknown
• 1950 Census, residence was Long Beach, Los Angeles Co., California. Wife was listed as Jessie B.

Longtime Burbank Police Sergeant A. Erskine Dies

     Aldred Erskine, 68, a Burbank police sergeant for 22 years before his retirement in 1951, died Sunday in Sepulveda Veterans Hospital.  Born in Superior, Wis., Mr. Erskine was employed as a machinist at Hydro-Aire Corp. for the last 10 years.  Mr. Erskine joined the Burbank Police Department on Jan. 27, 1930. His first duty was on a motorcycle followed by assignment to the patrol division. In 1937 he was appointed sergeant. A Burbank resident for 32 years, Mr. Erskine resided at 1718 Landis St.  He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Burbank Second Ward.  He was a veteran of World War I.  Mr. Erskine leaves his widow, Frances B.; a daughter, Mrs. Dorothy Elaine Johansen of Lake View Terrace; four brothers, Charles C. of Burbank, Thomas of Richmond, John of Ontario, and Lawrence of San Jose; and nine grandchildren.  Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Eckermans Funeral Service Chapel.  Interment will be in Glen Haven Memorial Park. (Obituary clipping obtained from his daughter Dorothy. Date of publication and newspaper is unknown.)

     Aldred Erskine was born 30 Jan 1896 at Superior, Douglas, Wisconsin. His parents were Charles Clarence Erskine (1868-1933) and Minnie Steffens (1873-1940). Aldred had seven brothers: Cyrus Melvin, Thomas Francis, Miles Maywood, Charles Clarence, James, John Milton, and William Lawrence; and two sisters: Evaline Dorothy and Minnie May. Aldred became a certified deputy for the city of Burbank, California on 30 Jan 1930 and retired on 1 Nov 1951. He died 31 May 1964 at the Veteran's hospital in Sepulveda, California. Burial was at Glen Haven Memorial Park.