Merry Christmas To Grace Baldwin From Irene Ockerson

Posted on December 26, 2014 by Annieoakley

Here’s an absolutely wonderful Christmas postcard from 1906 that has a good luck theme. It’s not the first that we’ve encountered having what would today seem to be the unlikely combination of yuletide and luck: Here’s another great example. Anyway, I guess we could describe the central design of this card as a Christmas ornament: It’s of a silver four-leaf clover suspended inside a round flattened silver piece that has a horseshoe design imprinted on it. Fastened at the top is a long red ribbon done up in a bow, unfurling and artistically framing the ornament. The cursive “Merry Christmas” greeting is embossed in green, and the background in tan with a greenish hue shows a subtle diamond-shaped or lattice-work style pattern. A very elegant card! The clover is the most heavily embossed and is especially beautiful. The postcard is signed on the front by the sender, Irene Ockerson, who mailed it from Red Oak, Iowa, to “Miss Grace Baldwin, Santa Cruz, California.”

Irene Ockerson was born in Iowa, about 1878, of Swedish-born parents Daniel J. Ockerson and Christine (Olsen) Ockerson. The 1880 Federal Census for Red Oak shows Daniel, age 42, occupation Laborer, Christine, age 34; their children Carl L., age 10, Florence, age 8, Irene, age 2; and sister-in-law to Daniel, Hannah Olsen, age 24, born in Sweden. Carl, the oldest child, was born in Illinois, while the girls were born in Iowa.

So, Irene would have been about 28 years old when she sent this postcard to Grace who would have been age 31. The 1900 census for Santa Cruz, shows Grace, age 24, born in California, November 1875, occupation School Teacher, living with her parents and brothers at 155 Locust St. A quick look at city directories shows Grace living at this address at least through 1917. The ’17 directory shows she was teaching at Mission Hill School. The 1900 census shows her living with her parents, who are age 53, born in Massachusetts, Fred D. Baldwin, occupation Farmer, and Mary A. Baldwin; and younger brothers, Arnold M., age 17, occupation Messenger Boy, and Rosco R. Baldwin, age 16 and in school.

From the multilingual back header, and the fact that it’s a divided back in 1906, we see that this card was not printed in the United States. Stamped in blue, above the header, is “Stone Lithograph.” What a wonderful thing to have a description of how the card was made actually included on the card; this is the first postcard, marked as such, that we’ve come across. See this Wiki entry on lithography for a detailed description. The publisher initials on the bottom left appear to be “B.K.W.I.” However, according to the excellent website The Postcard Album, this is publisher Brueder Kohn of Wien (Vienna, Austria). What appears to be the initial “I” is actually the Latin “1” which indicates the downtown Vienna postal district.

Lastly, we won’t go into any searching for a prior owner of this card, but we see that it was once in the collection of a Mr. Peter Barrale, who must also have treasured it.

Divided back, embossed, used postcard. Postmarked December 19, 1906 from Red Oak, Iowa. Publisher info: B.K.W.I. No. 2651. (Brueder Kohn, Vienna, post office 1.)

Price: $20.00

Sources: Year: 1880; Census Place: Red Oak, Montgomery, Iowa; Roll: 357; Family History Film: 1254357; Page: 310C; Enumeration District: 145; Image: 0621. (Ancestry.com)

Year: 1900; Census Place: Santa Cruz Ward 3, Santa Cruz, California; Roll: 112; Page: 20B; Enumeration District: 0090; FHL microfilm: 1240112. (Ancestry.com)

Santa Cruz County Directory, 1916-1917. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.

Lithography. n.d. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithography. (accessed December 26, 2014).

“Postcard Printer & Publisher Research.” The Postcard Album. Web accessed December 26, 2014. [http://www.tpa-project.info/html/body_identification.html]

A Merry Christmas To Mr. Frank Paul

Posted on December 25, 2014 by Annieoakley

Here’s a lovely card with Christmas bells and holly, and “framed” scene of a home at sunset in winter. I like how the greeting is two-toned in red and gold, and the rustic (this word is starting to be used a lot here at Laurel Cottage) gold border, which does not appear to be meant to represent birch bark, but reminds me of it nonetheless. The card is addressed to: “Mr. Frank Paul, Kimbal & Wabansia Ave., Chicago Ill.”

The sender wrote: “Merry Xmas and a happy New Year to you and the bunch. A. F. Kreft. P.O. Box 1414. Vancouver B.C.”

A.F. Kreft was found on the 1911 Canadian Census for Vancouver: Albert F. Kreft, born in the United States, November of 1878 or ’79, year of immigration 1910; wife Martha, born December 1884, also in the U.S., year of immigration the same. Arthur’s occupation is difficult to read (photo bug? ha ha, nooo…photo eng? Yes.) The 1910 U.S. Federal Census for Sheboygan, Wisconsin shows this couple, both born in Illinois. Albert’s occupation is listed as Photo Engraver, and he is working for a photo engraving company. His WWI Draft Registration card (1918) shows that at that time he and Martha were living in Chicago, his middle name is Frederick, and he was working for the Columbian Engraving Company. Martha’s maiden name is Laser per an Ancestry.com family tree reference, which is funny since decades later engraving is often done with lasers.

The addressee was found on the 1910 census for Chicago: Frank Paul and wife Rose, both born about 1844; and their children, Frank, Jr., Tony, Josephine and Joseph. All born in Austria, year of immigration 1888. Frank is a saloon keeper, Frank Jr. (age 22) is a bar tender, Tony (age 17) a bookkeeper, and Josephine (age 15) a milliner, working at a store. (Wow, every one is working except for the youngest, who is thirteen. Of course, Rose is working in the home.) The house number is not given but appears to have been on N. Kimball Ave. at the cross street of W. Wabansia Ave.

Divided back, embossed, used postcard. Postmarked December 19, 1912 from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Publisher unknown.

Price: $15.00

Sources: Year: 1911; Census Place: Vancouver City, Vancouver, British Columbia; Page: 5; Family No: 46. (Ancestry.com)

Year: 1910; Census Place: Sheboygan Ward 3, Sheboygan, Wisconsin; Roll: T624_1739; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 0111; FHL microfilm: 1375752. (Ancestry.com)

Registration State: Illinois; Registration County: Cook; Roll: 1504078; Draft Board: 84. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. (Ancestry.com)

Year: 1910; Census Place: Chicago Ward 27, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T624_271; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 1211; FHL microfilm: 1374284. (Ancestry.com)

To Ella From Ed

Posted on December 23, 2014 by Annieoakley

Divided back, artist-signed, used postcard. Postmarked December 23rd, year unknown. Circa 1915 – 1916 or 1919 – 1921. Publisher: Stecher Lithograph Company, Rochester, New York. Series 726F.

Price: $15.00

“Merry Christmas

Your Christmas be a happy one

Bestowing for your good

Much merryment and rare content

Just as a Christmas should.”

Here’s an adorable little lady in mid-19th century dress, carrying presents and a wreath made of holly. Besides the wreath’s berries, the ribbons and bows are in red, as is her bonnet’s ostrich plume, and the card’s border. Next to her, on our left is what appears to be the artist’s logo; it’s quite unusual, and is nothing resembling a signature. We’d presume it to be from the artist, as the publisher logo appears in the bottom left corner of the card, showing a copyright mark for Stecher Lithograph Company, Rochester, New York.

This is another card in the Alice Ellison Collection, and is addressed to “Miss Ella Ellison, 1314 F St, Sacramento, Cal.” The postmark year got left off in the cancellation process, but shows it was sent from Auburn, California on December 23rd. We have others that were sent to Ella at this address between 1915 and 1921, but since the stamp is a one-cent, the estimated date would be 1915 – 1916 and 1919 – 1921, as during WWI the stamp price had been raised to two cents.

Unknown artist logo for publisher Stecher Lithograph Company.

Merry Christmas To Mrs. Louise Franzel

Posted on December 20, 2014 by Annieoakley

This is an intriguing postcard: The sender wrote her message in German in very small writing, starting at the top of the bell, and continuing on all of the holly leaves. I think the message needs to be translated by someone fluent in German, as the writing is just too small to make out without one being already familiar with the language. It starts out “Liebe Louise,” (Dear Louise.) After that, yikes! But how very skillful of the sender! On the card is printed, “A Merry Christmas,” and then the sender wrote, “for my dear friend Louise with love from Emma.” The top right holly leaf contains the address, “New York, 1[??] W. 45th St.” Too bad the full street number got smudged.

Searching for Emma in the city directories on Ancestry.com in Manhattan, with a keyword of “W. 45 St.” and with a street number in the 100 range, did not bring up any matches. The next possibility would be to search for the Enumeration District for the census records of 1900 or 1910, for W. 45th Street. Fortunately, there is an excellent website that helps us narrow down the EDs. Click here to search the site. Searching for 100 – 199 W. 45th St. in Manhattan shows eleven EDs for the 1900 Federal Census and ten for the 1910. So, without knowing the exact street number, it would be a long and tedious search process, unless one were to get lucky and hit on the right ED early on. We’ll leave the search for the sender then and move on to the addressee: “Mrs. P. Franzel, 323 Marguerite Ave, Portland, Ore.”

This one was easy: Peter and Louise Franzel and their daughter Louise V. Franzel show up at the above address on the 1910 Federal Census for Portland. They were not living at that address on the 1900. The couple are listed as born in Austria, Peter in about 1869 and Louise in about 1879. Daughter Louise, who is ten months old, was born in Oregon, about June 1909, as the census was taken in April. Peter’s occupation is Cement Contractor, his immigration year is 1881, and the couple has been married about three years, so they must have been married in 1906, since the card is dated that year. A search for the marriage shows the date as October 30th. Finding Louise’s maiden name was a little tricky, as it turned out there was a typo for her first name in the index, showing “Souise.” But she is Louise A. Kisswetter. (A correction was submitted in Ancestry.com.)

Undivided back, embossed, used postcard. Publisher unknown. Outgoing postmark December 24, 1906 from New York, New York. Incoming postmark December 28, 1906 in Portland, Oregon.

Price: $15.00

Sources: Year: 1910; Census Place: Portland Ward 7, Multnomah, Oregon; Roll: T624_1288; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 0187; FHL microfilm: 1375301. (Ancestry.com)

Oregon State Library; Oregon Marriage Indexes, 1906-2006; Reel: 1; Years: 1906-1910. (Ancestry.com)

A Christmas Wish

Posted on December 17, 2014 by Annieoakley

Divided back, artist-signed, used postcard, embossed border. Artist and publisher unknown. Postmarked December 16th, year unknown. Sent from Dover, Massachusetts? Circa 1910 – 1920.

Price: $15.00

“A Merry Christmas and a

Happy New Year, Your Pockets

full of Money and your Hearts full of Cheer.”

Here’s a stunning card; the colors are gorgeous! (I love the pale pink and orange variation of the upper background.) It shows a mother, father and daughter, all very fashionably dressed; time-frame about mid-19th century; on their way, with wrapped presents in hand, to bring the above good wishes and cheer for Christmas. This appears to be an artist-signed card that would have been produced from a painting or drawing (how to determine the artist’s media?) however the signature, at the bottom right, is not readable. The family has that look of being “caught on camera,” as if this were a photo. As for the date of the card, the postmarked year is missing. Hopefully the addressee’s information will be able to reveal a likely time-frame. The card is addressed to: “Mrs. L. Estelle SinClair, Pleasantdon, California.”

According to the 1920 Federal Census, Louise E. Sin Clair, born about 1883 in Massachusetts, was married to Rutherford F. Sin Clair, born about 1882 in Canada, occupation carpenter. They were living in Pleasanton on Pleasantree Avenue at this time. The 1930 census shows the couple have an adopted 8-year-old son, Gordan Sinclair, born in California. On the 1930 Rutherford R. is now listed as Frederick R. Sinclair, (a very common occurrence for the middle and first names to show up as switched around at various times) and his occupation is building contractor. The message from the sender reveals, heart-breakingly, that Estelle had lost a child, and that Cora was offering her support and caring wishes, would write a letter and was also sending a little present. Per the 1910 Federal Census the couple was residing in Pleasanton, so this postcard is probably from about 1910 – 1920.

The couple’s record of marriage shows that Frederick Rutherford Sinclair and Louise Estelle Jewett were married September 1, 1909 in Ipswich, Massachusetts. The groom was born in Scotch Ridge, New Brunswick and his parents were Dougald B. Sinclair and Margaret Babb. The bride was born in Ipswich, and her parents were Stephen Jewett and Mary E. Hall.

Sources: Year: 1910; Census Place: Pleasanton, Alameda, California; Roll: T624_72; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 0153; FHL microfilm: 1374085. (Ancestry.com)

Year: 1920; Census Place: Pleasanton, Alameda, California; Roll: T625_92; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 207; Image: 369. (Ancestry.com)

Year: 1930; Census Place: Pleasanton, Alameda, California; Roll: 112; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 0340; Image: 131.0; FHL microfilm: 2339847. (Ancestry.com)

“Massachusetts, Marriages, 1841-1915,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N4FH-FCL : accessed 16 December 2014), Frederick Rutherford Sinclair and Louise Estelle Jewett, 01 Sep 1909; citing p 464 no 63, Ipswich, , Massachusetts, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 2,315,509.

Lake Louise, Laggan

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Annieoakley

Divided back, Canadian, used postcard. Publisher: J. Howard, A. Chapman, Victoria, B.C. Number or series 1180. Incoming postmark dated December 22, 1908. Sent from Alberta, Canada.

Availability Status: SOLD

These Mr. and Mrs. O. F. Henning postcards have a real knack for finding me! I keep discovering that I have more of these. I believe they may have all been in the same postcard dealer’s collection, but in that collection there are thousands of cards. After the cards are bought, the seller organizes them all into state or country categories, or themes, like holiday or teddy bears, or what have you, so for that reason the cards from the same family tend to get separated (akkkk!) So, it’s remarkable that I seem to keep picking out the ones that happen to be addressed to this couple. This one of Lake Louise will be the sixth in our “Dr. Oswald Henning Collection.” And the reason I chose it is because I have a fondness for Lake Louise, though I’ve never been there; and also because you don’t see as many older Lake Louise cards.

Anyway, this is addressed to Mrs. O.F. Henning (Helen Muirhead) at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, and shows a woman in a rowboat out on the lake. The sender wrote, “Christmas Greetings” and signed it, “E.J.M.” It looks like the type that would have been produced from a photograph, as it seems these normally don’t come out with an extreme amount of clarity, but it’s still lovely.

A Wikipedia entry describes Laggan as the former name of the hamlet of Lake Louise. Lake Louise was named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta (1848 – 1939.) She was the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and the wife of John Campbell, who was the 9th Duke of Argyll, and who served as Governor General of Canada from 1878 – 1883. If you didn’t already know, you probably correctly guessed, that the province of Alberta was also named after Princess Louise. Laggan, built in 1890, was a station along the Canadian Pacific Railway route.

The card is postmarked from Alberta in December 1908, the outgoing date being difficult to read. But the incoming date to Fort Sheridan, Illinois reads December 22.

Last but not least, we happen to have a beautiful trade card showing a drawing (or some type of print) of Princess Louise. This was the first posting here at Laurel Cottage Genealogy and definitely one of my favorites. It’s just gorgeous.

Sources: Lake Louise, Alberta. n.d. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Louise,_Alberta. (accessed December 10, 2014).

Alberta. n.d. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta. (accessed December 10, 2014).

Teddy B.

Posted on November 15, 2014 by Annieoakley

“Hello Little Bessie. I just happened to think that this was your birthday. So I am going to send you Teddie picture. He was very tired when he had it took he had been climbing the Mts that day. from your sister Lena”

Addressed to “Miss Bessie Ellison, 26th & Cheyenne Ave, Pueblo, Colo.”

This one has two postmarks: the outgoing from the sender’s location at Copperfield, Colorado on October 11, 1907, and the incoming to the Pueblo, Colorado post office, the next day. And what a wonderful postcard – sure, Teddy is pretty rough looking by this time, but isn’t he cool! (And does he remind you of Teddy Roosevelt? It’s just that when we see these old timers we think of the original teddy bears and their origin. Or he might remind you of an early Smokey the Bear – because of the hat.) The message is adorable, too.

The eagle publisher logo on the back of the card is for the publisher identified as Illustrated Postcard, who were located at 520 84th Street, New York, NY according to the excellent website Metropolitan Postcard Club of New York City.

Divided back, heavily embossed, used postcard. Postmarked October 11, 1907 from Copperfield, Colorado and October 12, 1907 at Pueblo, Colorado. Publisher: Illustrated Postcard, 520 W. 84th Street, New York, NY.

Price: $10.00

Source: Metropolitan Postcard Club of New York City. Web accessed November 14, 2014. [http://www.metropostcard.com/publishersi.html]

If You Are Not A Bear

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Annieoakley

Divided back, used postcard. Postmarked June 14, 1907 from Chicago, Illinois. Publisher: Tower M & N Company, New York. Series or number 97-6.

Availability Status: SOLD

“The children too

must have a pet –

If you are not

a bear you

may be one yet.”

Here’s another postcard in the Dr. Oswald F. Henning collection, showing an artist’s rendering of two absolutely adorable bears, dressed in clothing with ties and hats. The one has his arm on the other one’s shoulder and is confiding the above verse. There is no message or signature from the sender, and the card is addressed to: “Mrs. O.F. Henning, Fort Sheridan, Illinois.”

A Bird In The Hand

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Annieoakley

Divided back, used postcard. Postmarked August 16, 1925 from North Attleboro, Massachusetts. Publisher: L.F. Pease, 258 Laurel St., Buffalo, New York, List no. 311.

Price: $15.00

” ‘A bird in the hand’ is worth two on a card.

But a word on a card is better than none:

So here are two birds and a very few words

And that’s doing better than some. – L.F.P.”

Another charmer from publisher L.F. Pease: This is the second postcard that we have from them, so far, and shows two rather adorable crows wearing eyeglasses, each at one end and gazing down at the beautiful green banner with the above verse. The card is addressed to: “Mrs. Jessie Laier, 180 Aspen Rd, Swamkscott, Mass.” And the sender wrote:

“Dear Mummie, don’t come after me Wed. they are going to have a concert Saturday at the chapel. Barby.”

The 1930 Federal Census for Swampscott, Essex County, shows the same street address as the postcard, and the Laier family: Carl C. Laier, born about 1887, occupation purchasing agent for a printing and lithograph company; his wife Jessie E., born about 1888; daughter Barbara E., born about 1915; and son Carl R., born about 1918. All are natives of Massachusetts.

Source: Year: 1930; Census Place: Swampscott, Essex, Massachusetts; Roll: 903; Page: 15A; Enumeration District: 0280; Image: 1027.0; FHL microfilm: 2340638 (Ancestry.com)

You…Why Don’t You Write

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Annieoakley

Undivided back postcard, postmarked August 23, 1907 from Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania. Publisher unknown.

Price: $15.00

Here’s another from 1907, and one of those ones that are just as great on the front as the back. The front shows a print in dark blue of an Indian wearing a blanket and a headdress with two feathers. His back is facing us, and he is walking toward several teepees. The background is tan, yellowed more now with age, and with the word “You” to his left and then “Why Don’t You Write” on his right. Talk about straight and to the point, eh? Just like the last post.

The back shows the beautiful pen and ink type drawing of the mail carrier running to deliver the postcard. One of the best postcard backs ever!

Addressed to: “Miss Lillie Dundor, Womelsdorf, Penna, Burks Co.”
and on the front of the card is written “May G.” who is the sender.

Lillie Dundor is likely the Lillie K. Dundor born November 2, 1881 in Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania, daughter of Darius W. Dundor and Amanda Kurr (from Lillie’s death certificate showing she died in West Reading, PA in 1955.) The 1900 Federal Census taken in Womelsdorf shows the parents, and Lillie Katie Dundor, and Lillie’s younger sister Beulah Annie. This 1900 census lists D.W. Dundor’s occupation as Physician. The 1940 census shows Lillie as single, head of household, owning the residence at 15 High Street, in Womelsdorf; living with her are her sister, brother-in-law, niece and a boarder: Beulah D. Hackman, Charles K. Hackman, Betty V. Hackman, and Charles F. Schaeffer.

Sources: Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963 [database on-line].

Year: 1900; Census Place: Womelsdorf, Berks, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1377; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0025; FHL microfilm: 1241377 (Ancestry.com)

Year: 1940; Census Place: Womelsdorf, Berks, Pennsylvania; Roll: T627_3436; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 6-114 (Ancestry.com)

Laurel Cottage Genealogy

Genealogy Services, Old Photos, Postcards, Trade Cards, Etc.

Category Archives: Postcards Used

Merry Christmas To Grace Baldwin From Irene Ockerson

A Merry Christmas To Mr. Frank Paul

Registration State: Illinois; Registration County: Cook; Roll: 1504078; Draft Board: 84. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. (Ancestry.com)

To Ella From Ed

Merry Christmas To Mrs. Louise Franzel

A Christmas Wish

Lake Louise, Laggan

Teddy B.

If You Are Not A Bear

A Bird In The Hand

You…Why Don’t You Write