I recently received an envelope - from a very kind lady
- Cindy Hawley - from South Dakota. (Thanks Cindy!)
Apparently the envelope and its contents were
found in a dumpster at a local nursing home.
On the outside of the envelope:
"Illinois relatives of Mother's in Polo, Illinois.
The Johnstons visited by Grandmother and Aunt Libby
around 1880"
The envelope contained the following items:
1.Two certificates from the Department
of Education
dated Toronto 13th Aug. 1887 - and Aug 11, 1886
(exams were held in "Simcoe") for a
Lydia E. Hagerman.(She was the d/o
George Hagerman and Mary Middough
- both are buried Bookton Cemetery, Windham Twp.
Norfolk Co. Ont. Lydia was born abt. Abt. 1870 and m Freeman
Martin(no dates or locations, but after 1891).
2. An informative postcard (no date on stamp).
The front of the card shows the Bookton Ont. Post Office
(see photos below)
Addressed to:
"Miss Ella Martin,
551 Russel Ave.,
Milwalkee, Wis.
(Ella Martin was a d/o Lydia E. (Hagerman)
Martin and Freeman Martin).
Note on postcard reads:
"Dear Ella
I received your card and was pleased.
All the folks around here are quite well.
This is myself on the stoop.
(meaning - I presume - on the face of the postcard)
I am still running the store although not as well
as I have been. Remember me to your mother and Father.
(signed) Mrs. McIntosh".
3. Picture of a woman.... (looks like) the
photographer is a "C.M Bown.. Rochell & Sterling").
On the reverse is written in pencil
"Dr. Mary Johnston
Millidgeville and Baltimore, MD"
4. Picture of a young man...
on the back (printed on the photo)
" D. McLeod, Artist, 490 3rd Street, Sterling,
Ills".
In the same handwriting as above is
" Will Johnston (school teacher) brother of Mary Johnston."
5. Picture of a young man with violin..
on the reverse (in print)
"From Cavert's Gallery of Art, Sterling, Illinois."
Written in pencil (same handwriting as above)
" Ben Johnston?"
6. A picture of an older man...
with an "elongated" head :~(
- date written on stamp - (looks like) - "Sept 15, 1864"
....Printed on the back
"S. S. Johnston, Photographic Artist, 84 Mason Street,
Polo, Ill."..
There is no handwriting on this photo.
Photos of above Johnston family
7. A picture of three elderly ladies ...
with no notation whatsoever.
Appreciate all the help I can muster to
help solve this intriguing mystery..
Any information you may have regarding the above
would be most appreciated
(E-mail address below photos)
E-mail
