July 8, 1943
Went back to work with tools
The entries this month are much shorter and further apart. I hope this means that Merton is keeping busy.
At least now though it seems that he is doing something in his profession. Speaking of which – looking at the 1940 US Census records we can see Merton’s profession is listed as Carpenter in the Building / Construction Industry
[Image Extract – 1940 Census Merton]
Looking back to the 1930 US Census he is listed as a Carpenter as well.
In the 1920 US Census however he is only 16 years old. Looking up to his father Louis Ivy Young, look what we can see…
[Image Extract – 1920 Census – Louis]
Yup – it runs in the family… though I have a hard time cutting a straight line.¹
In 1943 and 1944, my Grandfather Merton Young traveled to Greenland while working for the Merritt-Chapman & Scott Company. He wrote a brief diary of his journey and this is a piece of that story.
Next Entry – July 16, 1943
¹My father was an engineer and pretty handy with tools as well. Looking at the census record’s for Louis’s father reveals that he was a mariner in his earlier days and a Railroad Station Agent in the later. I know within the family heirlooms we have a railroad pocket watch and in researching for this blog post I immediately wonder if this belonged to him. I will keep you all posted on this as I find anything out.
Dan the railroad pocket watch did belong to your Great Great Grandfather who worked on the railroad. It was given to you by your Aunt Louise, (I believe that was her name) a week or two after you were born because you were the first male child to be born in 30 years as I recall and they wanted you to have it.