A candid shot of five cute kids, bundled up for the October weather in about 1915: The photo for this postcard was probably taken in or near the town of Boring, Oregon, according to the postmark on the back. Though the postmarked year is partially missing, the most probable date is 1915 (with help from city directories.) The sender’s note may have been written by the children’s mother; if so, she is Esther, and seems to be a relative of Elsa Nilson, the addressee.
“Am wondering if cousin Eric arrived last week and how is he, am so anxious to see him also Aunt Mina[?] asked nearly every day if we haven’t hear from any of you. We are picking spuds now. Uncle will soon be through dring [drying]. Esther. With lots of Love from All to All.”
Addressed to: “Miss Elsa Nelson [Nilson], 901 – Montana Ave, Portland Ore.”
The 1915 city directory for Portland, Oregon is the key to finding family info on Elsa. It shows: Elsa M. Nilson, occupation stenographer. Anna E. Nilson, student at Reed College. Nils I Nilson, farmer, and wife Emma Nilson, living at 901 Montana Avenue.
The name Nilson is sometimes seen in online records for this family written as Nielson. Elsa M. A. Nilson and her younger sister Anna E. C. Nilson are the daughters of Swedish immigrants Nils I. Nilson and his wife Emma. At the time of the 1900, 1910 and 1920 Federal Census the family was living in Beaverton, about 10 miles southwest of Portland. Elsa would have been about 22 years old when she received the postcard from Esther. But who were the kids in the photo? A Wisconsin marriage record was found for an Nils Nilson and Emma Carlequist, dated 1891, which could be a match, since the 1900 census gives their marriage year at about 1890, but nothing was found linking the Carlequist name to Carl or Mina that are mentioned in the postcard (or sender, Esther.) Mina could be Mina Lilja, wife of Gustav H. Lilja; the couple was living in Boring in 1910….
Real Photo Postcard, Used with writing. Postmarked October, Circa 1915 from Boring, Oregon.
Price: $5.00
Sources: R. L. Polk & Co.’s Polk’s Portland City Directory, 1914. Vol. 51. p. 1067. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995)
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Polk’s Portland City Directory, 1915. Vol. 52. p. 893. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995)
“Wisconsin, Marriages, 1836-1930,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRG9-V4R : accessed 25 November 2015), Nils Nilson and Emma Carlequist, 12 Oct 1891; citing reference Vol 1, P 362, N 82; FHL microfilm 1,275,494.
Year: 1900; Census Place: Beaverton, Washington, Oregon; Roll: 1353; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0147; FHL microfilm: 1241353. (Ancestry.com)
Year: 1910; Census Place: Beaverton, Washington, Oregon; Roll: T624_1291; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 0265; FHL microfilm: 1375304. (Ancestry.com)
Year: 1920; Census Place: Beaverton, Washington, Oregon; Roll: T625_1505; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 403; Image: 773. (Ancestry.com)