Alfalfa Farming Family On The North Smoky

Posted on March 13, 2016 by Annieoakley

Divided back, used, Real Photo Postcard. Postmarked February 2, 1909 from Wallace, Kansas. Artura stamp box.

Availability Status: SOLD

A beautiful young family on a Real Photo Postcard in 1909: Their names are unknown, but there’s the dad and mom, the daughter, maybe about four years old, and son, guessing about two, all very nicely dressed. I love noticing the details on the clothes: the mom’s ribbon-trimmed vest, the ruching at the shoulders (well, I think ruching but apparently the definition is debatable – not going there…) the lace, the neck bow for the boy (that towheaded blond), the contrast of the dark suit for the dad, the photographer background of muted flower/foliage scene, not to mention the expressions on these four…..In any case, they wrote the following note to their friend, Steve:

“Feb 2nd, 1909. Come and see us now you will have a nice ride from Jennings to Goodland we will be 14 or 15 miles south east our place is right on the north Smoky 40 acres alfalfa land about 9 – 12 ft to water. Well Good Bye.”

Yes, you can see that above technically it really says Feb 2st, after the 1 got changed to a 2. Details details, always good to notice! The card is addressed to:

“Mr. Steve Wennihan, Kanona Kans. Decatur Co.”

In looking at a map of Kansas with the directions we’ve been given by the senders, we find their new location to be northwest of the town of Winona (middle left part of the map below). There’s the northern part of the Smoky Hill River, and you can see the town of Goodland (G is cut off) at the red airplane mark at Highway 70. It must have been a beautiful place, and we wish this family well from our vantage point here in 2016, hoping they had long, happy and prosperous lives.

The postmark on the card appears to say Wallace, which is located further west on Highway 40. And if you keep going you will come to Sharon Springs, which in August of 2013 became famous for having the biggest sinkhole in Kansas appear almost overnight, near that town. Click to see the Youtube video.

Getting back to the addressee: He is found on the 1910 Federal Census for Altory, KS as Steve W. Wennihan, born Missouri about 1877, occupation Farmer; with his wife Gertrude E., born Colorado about 1891; and their son Virgil D., born Kansas about 1908. Altory is about four miles east of Kanona.

Update: Per a comment on our “Contact” page, Steve Wennihan died in 1940 at age 63 (info from Dan Davidson, great-grandson).

Sources: “Map of the Smoky Hill River in Kansas” Google search. Map courtesy of National Geographic.

Walton, Charles. August 4, 2013. “Massive Sinkhole Opens in Sharon Springs, Kansas – 200 Feet Across and 90 Feet Deep.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPMMAsbWtCk (Accessed March 13, 2016)

Year: 1910; Census Place: Altory, Decatur, Kansas; Roll: T624_437; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 0008; FHL microfilm: 1374450. (Ancestry.com)

Glenwood Stoves And Ranges

Posted on February 28, 2016 by Annieoakley

Trade Card for Glenwood Stoves and Ranges. Sold by L. L. Crosby. Circa 1890s. Lithographer: J. Ottmann Lithography Company, New York.

Price: $7.00

This is the second stove trade card that we have so far; there are sure to be more. The front of the card is a beautiful lithograph by the J. Ottman Co. of a lovely smiling brunette wrapped in a large blue head scarf (makes you think warmth) and states “Perfect with a faultless record.” On the back:

“Glenwood Stoves and Ranges! The Glenwood is indispensible to progress in cookery as well as comfort and convenience in modern housekeeping.

Sold by L. L. Crosby, Putney, VT.”

Tinsmith, Leslie L. Crosby

The seller is Leslie L. Crosby, and we find his marriage record online: On September 19, 1889, he married Jessie R. Underwood in Putney, Vermont. Leslie was born in Waltham, Mass to Ariel Crosby and Marion Weston. His occupation at the time was Tinsmith, his age 25, so he was born about 1864.

Waltham, Mass city directories for 1884 and 1886 list Leslie L. Crosby, Tinsmith, at address Bacon corner of School, and “bds do” is “boards ditto” so presumably working and living at the same address. Surprisingly, not much else came up on Leslie in online searches. So, on to Glenwood…

We see a very similar to ours, Glenwood stove model at Sarah’s Antique Stoves. Scroll down to their 063 Glenwood H 1893 entry. (Wow, one could instantly fall in love with antique stoves. Such beauty!)

Glenwood stoves and ranges were made by the Weir Stove Company of Taunton, Mass. See the Good Time Stove Co.

Always looking in ads…

In newspaper advertisements “Glenwood Ranges” are starting to be mentioned around 1883 but “Glenwood Stoves and Ranges” not mentioned as such till around 1887. Here’s one of the latter that appeared in the Sacramento, California Union-Record July 8th.

Jumping ahead about thirty years, a Kingston, New York ad that appeared February 13th 1917 in The Kingston Daily Freeman. With that caption you’d wonder if the temperature had dropped to negative 16 degrees that winter.

Last but not least, for more on Wier see the Wikipedia article Old Weir Stove Building. The old Weir building later housed the Rogers Silver Company. Photo (public domain) by Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger). This building is on the U. S. National Register of Historic Places.

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Sources: Original data: State of Vermont. Vermont Vital Records through 1870. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts. (Ancestry.com)

W. A. Greenough & Co.’s The Waltham and Watertown Directory, 1884. p. 54. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995).

W. A. Greenough & Co.’s The Waltham and Watertown Directory, 1886. p. 73. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995).

“Stoves For Sale – 063 Glenwood H 1893.” (sarahsantiquestoves.com) Web accessed February 28, 2016.

Good Time Stove Co. (stoveprincess@goodtimesstove.com) Web accessed February 28, 2016.

Santa Ana Register. Sacramento, California. Friday, July 8, 1887. p. 2. (Newspapers.com)

The Kingston Daily Freeman. Kingston, New York. Tuesday, February 13, 1917. p. 3. (Newspapers.com)

Old Weir Stove Building. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Weir_Stove_Building. (accessed February 28, 2016).

Acorn Stoves & Ranges

Posted on November 22, 2015 by Annieoakley

Trade Card for Rathbone, Sard & Co. and Acorn Stoves & Ranges. Circa 1886. Lithograph company: J. Ottmann, New York.

Price: $20.00 Size: About 3 and 7/8 x 4 and 1/2″

A white veil or a goof-up?

You’ll notice the “waves” in this trade card – it’s not laying completely flat, but still an exceptional card: showing an image of a Victorian Era auburn-haired beauty, in a sumptuous red gown trimmed with white lace and beads (or faux pearls?) wearing a long, large-beaded necklace, draped several times over, and with a cross pendant. (I keep thinking Madonna in the eighties). One of the best things is her headdress of oak leaves and acorns (love it!) She appears on a pale background of green leaves and acorns over red. But wait – what is the white part flowing from her left ear to shoulder? How funny – did the artist change his design and forget to fix it, or could it be meant to represent a veil flowing from the headdress? Hmmmm.

Almost a century

Acorn was a popular brand of stoves and ranges manufactured by Rathbone, Sard & Co., a very successful firm that had gone through a couple of name changes in it’s earlier decades; the company appears to have lasted until around 1925. It was started by Joel Rathbone, between about 1827 and 1830 in Albany, New York, appearing under the name of Heermans, Rathbone & Co. in newspaper ads for 1830. According to A. T. Andreas’ History of Chicago, Vol. 3, the partner, Mr. (John) Heermans died in 1830. Although, an online Ancestry.com tree includes a biography of Joel Rathbone (1806 – 1863) that indicates Hermans (Heermans) died in 1829, and provides further background information – that Joel started as a clerk for his brother Valentine Rathbone in the grocery business, and as early as 1827 was in business under Heermans, Rathbone & Co. Below is an 1830 ad from The Onondaga Standard. (Newspapers.com)

Firm name Rathbone, Sard & Co. established in 1873

In February of 1873, an ad ran in the Chicago Daily Tribune (Newspapers.com) showing the dissolution of the co-partnership, John F. Rathbone & Co. to the formation of co-partnership Rathbone, Sard & Co. According to the ad, this change took place in Albany, January 1, 1873.

The brand Acorn was not found in any ads prior to (the officially-named in 1873) Rathbone, Sard & Co. And there are a number of different trade cards for the company currently found online; our particular beauty above, is extolling the virtues of “The Eastern Acorn for 1886” advertising it as, “The most Successful and Deservedly Popular Surface Burning Revertible Flue Stove on the Market.” Design-engineered for cleanliness, comfort, ease of use, and efficiency; the description includes details like the fact that the body of the stove was constructed from the best Russia sheet iron.

Sources: Russia iron. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia_iron (accessed November 22, 2015).

“Joel Rathbone” and “Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs.” Ancestry.com Public Family Trees. (accessed November 22, 2015).

The Onondaga Standard. 15 Sep, 1830: Wednesday, p.1 (Newspapers.com)

Andreas, Alfred T. History of Chicago, Vol. 3. pp. 483-484. Chicago: A.T. Andreas Co. 1886. (Google eBook).

Chicago Daily Tribune. 22 Feb, 1873: Saturday, p. 1 (Newspapers.com)

Torrance, Pat. History Cast in Iron at the Old Stove Works. Sept. 12, 2011. (Patch.com). Web accessed November 22, 2015.

Minneapolis Beauty By A. Larson

Posted on September 28, 2015 by Annieoakley

Cabinet Card. Circa 1884 – 1905. Photographer: Anton Larson, 313 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Price: $15.00 Size: 4 and 3/16 x 6 and 7/16″

This Cabinet Card shows a photo of a very poised and lovely young woman, probably a resident of Minneapolis, though we couldn’t know for sure. What immediately draws our attention is the large round brooch fastened at the collar. This is “an image within an image” kind of thing (love that) and it shows what appears to be a painting on porcelain of a young girl wearing a bonnet. The piece is bordered with a row of, I believe the term is “brilliants” or what we might call rhinestones, today. It would have been a favorite piece of jewelry, no doubt, and deservedly so. A row of interesting-looking metal buttons runs down the front of the woman’s close-fitted jacket or bodice of the dress (if this was a one-piece outfit.) White lace shows from underneath the stand-up collar; the collar’s points being just slightly turned down near the brooch. Her hair is side-parted and swept up with a little height at the back, adding an extra touch of elegance.

The photographer is Anton Larson, whose career will be explored a little more in the following post, but he worked out of the 313 Washington Avenue South address starting around 1884, according to city directories, and through at least 1905.

Scottish Lass Trade Card

Posted on May 23, 2015 by Annieoakley

Victorian Era trade card. Washington registered trade mark. Circa 1889 – 1890s. Condition: Poor, regrettably, due to top middle piece having become torn away from the whole; creases in top and bottom left corners; top right corner missing.

Size: 4 and 1/2 x 6 and 1/2″

Price: $7.00

A beautiful red-haired lassie in Rob Roy MacGregor-Black (?) plaid skirt and jacket, and a tam-o-shanter with red wings, holds a peacock feather-designed fan. She is posed standing on a path in the forest, with her arm draped protectively around a lamb, who rests just next to her on a grassy ledge. Girl and lamb are looking off to their right. The design ends up to be a little comical – it appears that the lamb wears a little pointed hat (!) but really that is just the bonny lassie’s arm showing through her sleeve – her long sleeves being slit almost up to the shoulder. Very stylish!

At the bottom of this Victorian Era trade card is the wording: “Washington.“ And then in smaller print, “Trade Mark Registered.” What is meant by Washington? Our best guess is that it’s one of a series of cards for each state in the Union. Washington became as state November 11, 1889.

Out In The Old West

Posted on May 17, 2015 by Annieoakley

Divided back, Real Photo Postcard, unused. Circa 1907 – 1915.

Price: $18.00

If this one doesn’t look like a publicity photo for an Old Western movie or t.v. show, then I don’t know what does. It’s a great Real Photo Postcard, no names or photographer name, but what a beautiful shot! Yes, the younger woman is a little washed out due to the sunlight, I believe, but we can still see the delicate high lace collar she wears along with some type of small brooch. The young man’s hat in particular, with the shortish squared-off crown and short brim: I’m not sure what type it is, some might say similar to one that General Robert E. Lee wore. (This after looking online through lots and lots of hat photos.) We also note the young man’s pin-striped long jacket and perhaps silk tie. The older man appears in wire spectacles, sack suit, and small bow tie fastened at the removable collar. And there’s the matriarch of the family, seated in a beautiful wooden chair. She looks like she may be the mother of the younger woman, or perhaps mother all three, since we don’t notice a wedding ring on the older man’s hand. And, as a whole, the poses of the four and their expressions, with the sunlight reflecting off of the bare tree branches, especially beautiful reflecting off of the windowpanes, the rustic wooden porch railing and the mountains in the background….

A Smiling Couple

Posted on April 19, 2015 by Annieoakley

Divided back, unused Real Photo Postcard. AZO stamp box. Circa 1907 – 1918.

Price: $5.00

I’m thinking that this couple are man and wife, and of Swedish descent. I asked my husband and he said he just had the impression that they’re from one of the Southern states. Funny how peoples’ impressions differ so widely. Of course, there is no way to know the couple’s background unless by some miracle (stranger things have happened) someone recognizes them. But they took a beautiful photo whoever they were, and look quite contented. More than likely that is their home in the background. I like the woman’s striped apron (if that is what it is) with her gingham blouse, and the twinkle in the man’s eye, as he sits with his arm around his wife. And isn’t it always nice to sit down after a long day’s work?

The photographer is unknown also, as seems to be the case with most Real Photo Postcards. This card has one clue though: the embossed capital “A” at the right lower corner. Hopefully, we’ll come across some others with this mark that do show a location.

Nightlife

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Annieoakley

Divided back, unused Real Photo Postcard. Mexico, circa 1941. Kodak Mexicana, Ltd. EKC with Sello stamp box.

Price: $3.00

I love this candid photo. What a great expression this guy has! It makes you happy just to look at him – his carefree, confident grin caught for the camera, as he walks down the street. The year is about 1941, and the place, presumably a city somewhere in Mexico. We see several others out and about, and some advertising, though the ads would be difficult to completely decipher. The back of the card indicates “Kodak Mexicana, Ltd.” and the stamp box shows EKC and Sello. Playle.com identifies this stamp box as being from 1941, and we can see the clothing and hair styles fitting this general time frame. The guy on the right wears a double-breasted suit jacket. The main subject of the photo in suit and tie wears a thin mustache….But that smile!

Aunt Mollie

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Annieoakley

Dates: Circa 1880 – early 1900s.

Top photo scanned on blue background: Oval photo size about 4 x 5 and 1/4″

Bottom photo including mat size: About 3 and 1/4 x 4 and 1/2″

Price for the pair: $15.00 or for one $8.00

Here’s an interesting photo of a lovely young woman named Mollie, and she was somebody’s “Aunt Mollie” per the writing on the back. The photo was found without the frame it was once in. Her outfit reminds me of something one might wear on stage. The collar is very unusual with it’s heavy notches, and if you look closely it doesn’t appear to go all the way around. Was it something the photographer used for some reason – maybe he decided her outfit needed something extra at the neckline? Her coat or jacket also is unusual. It looks like it might have been leather; we can see that the back was in a lighter shade. To the just off-the-shoulder sleeves were sewn…hmmm…a soft crinkly fabric, or was that yarn or some type of long haired animal fur? I’m imagining she played a “lady Robin Hood” in a theater production, a benevolent highway woman. (Wonder how hilariously far off this thought is!) But there’s a kind of a medieval look to her clothing style.

Possibly a relative

This next photo was found in the same bin (somewhere on the Central Coast in California, Salinas or Gilroy perhaps, now I forget and I should have written it down.) For some reason I first thought they could be the same person, but looking at the photos later, I wonder why I even thought that (!). However, the two could be related. No name or photographer name on this one, but whoever she is, she’s very beautiful and in a much more traditional high-collared white lace blouse.

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.

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