Mr. and Mrs. Potter said they never got the report card from the Home.  They would like his birth certificate also.
  And they wish to know if they can purchase some insurance for him.
  Think they may take his brother from the home this Spring.

    4 shirts
    2 p. overalls
    1 p. pants
    1 coat
    1 cap
    4 p. stockings
    2 P. shoes

    1 sweater

Leeds, Iowa. Sept. 29, 1943  
 
 
 
Dear Madam:
 
In regards to my boy Jessie will say that Mrs. Potter passed
away Sept. 21st, and just about the last words she said was
to try and keep the boy.
 
I am going on trying to raise him like a man.  I don't think
you can get a neighbor or any of the lodge people to say
anything against us as I own my place now. He is all I got
left.  I can show you in Mrs. Potter's hand writing where
she said to keep the boy so if you will give me a trial at
it I will try and prove to you.
 
Hope this is satisfactory.  Let me hear from you about it.
 
 
                       Yours truly,
 
                       R. H. Potter
 
                       50th St. and N. Rustin
                       Sioux City, Iowa
 

October 4, 1943  
 
 
 
 
Mrs. Den Todd, State Agent
Ida Grove
Iowa
 
Dear Mrs. Todd:
 
 Mr. Daines has just received a letter from Mr. R. H.
Potter of 50th Street and North Rustin, Sioux City (Leeds),
Iowa, with whom Larry Eugene Peterson was placed February
10, 1943 which indicates that Mrs. Potter passed away
September 21 and that about her last words were "to try and
keep the boy".  Mr. Potter is begging the we permit him to
keep this child with him.
 
 Will you please make a call at the Potter home and see
what the situation is.  Be sure to have a talk with the boy
alone and see how he feels.  It might also be well to talk
with those in the community and with the teachers concerning
leaving this child with Mr. Potter.
 
 We will be interested in receiving three copies of your
report on this case.
 
      Very sincerely yours   BOARD OF CONTROL OF STATE INSTITUTIONS          By  
EN; om                          Ethel Nichols,      Superintendent c Davenport                  Children's Division
d.Div. P. S.
 

Mr. Potter was not at home but a neighbor came over and reported
to us that Mrs. Potter passed away and was buried a week ago last
Friday.  Mr. Potter as in town looking for a housekeeper. Mrs.
Potter asked that Mr. keep the boy (before she died.)  This home
is in the country and nothing about the place is picked up or in
order.  The Potters evidently thought a lot of the little boy.
It does not seem to be too good a prospect as a home for the boy.
We talked with him at school tho' and he said he liked it out
there. We asked if he helped Mr. Potter cook now, and he said no
they didn't have much to eat now--that Daddy just put some potatoes
on to cook last night while he went out to do the chores.

Boy looked nice--had on green sweater. Nice personality.

  Friendly.

DISCIPLINE
 
 
 
 
 
 SCHOOL  (Give Grade)

 We visited with the teacher. She said the boy does fair in
school. She said he needed a lot of training which she wondered
or rather doubted a housekeeper could give him.  She said too
that Mr. Potter wanted to keep the boy.  She was afraid he would
be too good to him and not teach him some of the things he needs
to know. She said the boy was nervous and excitable.

  Helps feed chickens etc.

  Seems to be having a good time with the other children
at recess.

  Appeared healthy.

  Not able to decide just yet what is best to do in this
case.  It is so soon after Mrs. Potter's death.

[Note by author;  This was retyped from the original document as closely as possible.  As you will see on the following page, this report was made out prior to Mrs. Todd the Sate Agent receiving notification from Mrs. Nichols, Superintendent of the Children's Division, Of the Board of Control, as to the death of my foster mother.  Though not real apparent, at the time of this visit Mrs. Todd would begin to have negative feeling towards my foster father as to why he hadn't notified the orphanage of my foster mother's death, which in reality he had done.
    I doubt if this negative feeling was even apparent to Mrs. Todd or anyone else involved.  Negative feelings can effect one's judgment.  Mrs. Todd was the primary person in all of that which follows for it is from her judgment and hers alone everyone makes their decisions.]