Milton Reinhardt was the illegitimate son of my great-great Aunt Elizabeth Reinhardt[1].  Milton was born on December 5, 1900[2], and to Elizabeth’s credit she kept him and raised him.  I haven’t found a birth certificate for Milton.  His death certificate lists a William Reinhardt as the father[3], however I doubt there was ever a William Reinhardt that fathered this child.  It was well known among family that Milton was the “illegitimate” son of Elizabeth.  Illegitimate was a term used then to describe a child born to an unwed mother. On the 1910 census Milton is listed as living in the same household as his mother and grandparents, but is listed as the son of the grandparents not the grandson.[4]  Perhaps the truth was known among family members, but not to the outside world.  I think if neighbors and acquaintances knew this it might have been the talk of the town in 1900.  So perhaps it was kept quiet.  I found a letter that Milton wrote his mother on July 8, 1917 from Chicago.[5]  His mother was living in Ottawa, Illinois at that time.[6]  I am attaching a copy of the letter in this post.  I don’t know how easy it will be to read. So I will transcribe it here.

Chicago, Ill

July 8, 1917

 Dear Ma,

 Received the letter with the two boxes.  I was at Municipal Pier today with Doc and Ralph and had a fine time.  I’ve got a $3 Brownie Camera it’s a good one and took 12 pictures.  I was in the big music hall listening to a concert and I met Charlie Rude.  I took his picture a couple of times.  Ralph and I are going over to Charlie’s Tuesday eve.  I was at Madison, Wisc. working with Al.  I didn’t take anything because he paid my expenses and had a good time.  Agnes wants me to stay awhile and take a ride with her and Charles.  Did not here from Brownie yet.  Are all the bunch working .  I suppose I’ll have to loaf around again when I get back.  I don’t know for sure yet what day I’ll be back.  Ralph is coming down in a few weeks and try to get a job.  I hate to go back to Ottawa.  That pier certainly is great.  There’s about 2000 soldiers on the pier camping.  Charlie Rude says would do better if I worked up here this summer.  I wish I had more money to get films.  I haven’t got much left to spend.  Will write soon and keep Kaiser tied up.  Don’t borrow the wheel.  Tell Tom to answer that letter.  Well I guess that’s all I can say.  Ralph comes over nearly every night so it’s not dull.  Write soon.

                                                                           With Love,

                                                                           Milton

I tried to transcribe it as written with mistakes and all.  Every time I tried to write this story I would get sidetracked tracing the people in the letter.  Agnes is Elizabeth’s sister[7] and I wonder if he was staying with her, it sounds that way.  Ralph is Milton’s cousin[8].  My grandmother, her brother Ralph, and her sister were all near or the same age as Milton.  My grandmother loved Milton.  She thought the world of him and described him as a “wonderful boy”.  I do not recognize the other names in the letter.

The family story goes that Milton returned to Ottawa, Illinois and fell doing some kind of work.  He told his mother he didn’t feel well and soon after that died.  However, his death certificate tells a different story.  Apparently, he died from Pulmonary Tuberculosis with contributory cause of Pneumonia on March 28, 1918 at 17 years old.  Much too young to die. [9].  His mother married in 1920 at age 39.  Aunt Liz as I knew her lived to be old and died when I was 19 years old.[10]  She had quite a colorful and secret life.  Someday I will write about her life before and after Milton.