Iowa Wild Rose
When I come across dusty old postcards with faded stamps, browning ink, and hurried messages written in cramped handwriting, I can’t resist picking up at least a few of them. I’ve passed them by enough times to know I’ll feel guilty later if I leave them lying there, forlorn and forgotten.
Anyone who has read my blog posts knows I love to tell family stories, whether they were my people or not. Someone wrote messages on these cards decades ago and in doing so, have given us a glimpse into their lives; perhaps to a moment no longer remembered by anyone still living.
For these postcard vignettes, I won’t go into the detail I have on other posts, such as those for the ongoing 1882 Autograph Book series, but I do want to open the book of the past to the page where these people took the time to pen a message and mail it. It probably brought much joy to someone back home to find it waiting for them in the mailbox.
Today, I’ve chosen this beautiful postcard. At 115 years old, it’s still in amazing condition.
The card was sent from John Christian Ehlers to his wife Dorothea Marie Sophia Henneike Ehlers on September 21, 1909. They were married October 12, 1892. John was born in Peoria, Illinois in 1866 to Dorathea Sengpiel and Heinrich Friedrich Ehlers, both of whom were born in Germany. When the card was mailed, John was one of five surviving children of the ten born to his parents.
The front features a photograph of the State Capitol in Des Moines, an illustration of the Wild Rose (the State Flower), and a poem which reads:
Iowa’s Flower the Sweet Wild Rose,
Is the fairest flower that grows
It decks her rich domain
Where peace and plenty reign.
John was on a visit to Paton, Iowa; probably a family visit. According to the 1910 census, John’s widowed mother Dora and widowed sister Anna Louise Ehlers Keeney lived in a house on Paton Street in the small community of Paton. John’s mother passed away March 9, 1920. His father passed on September 26, 1880.
The card is postmarked September 21, 1909 at 5 pm in Paton, Iowa. It is addressed to Mrs. J C Ehlers, Cissna Park, Ill R.F.D. #1. For those not familiar with the abbreviation, R.F.D. stood for Rural Free Delivery. It was an extension of the U.S. Post Office that offered mail delivery to outlying homes without charge.
Following is a transcription of the message. I have left all grammar and spelling intact, but have inserted periods to make reading easier.
Dear wife
Jist arrived all safe and sound. got here at 10-20. I stoped at McCormick(?) took supper with them. dident go up in sitty for montgomery ward. Bilding closes Bout 5-30 o’clock so I wouldent of got in anyway. met dan in town and got down to the House for they Sent me Here. are all well as can an Hope you got home all rite. i Send Birtha in Englewood. am going to Sister mary from here. Best love to you all. John Ehlers
The Mary mentioned by John was his older sister Mary Henrietta. She was older than John by eleven years. Mary Ehlers Eckhart’s usual residence was in Boone, Iowa, so John is likely indicating he will travel on to Boone when he leaves Paton.
In 1947, Mary had been living in Paton for five months when she died on October 6. She was 91. Her husband, Jacob, had passed in 1890 at only 48-49 years of age.
John C. Ehlers died on September 14, 1960 at 93 and his wife Dorathea died August 21, 1945 at 75. They are buried together in St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Woodworth, Iroquois County, Illinois.
I grew up in Hubbard, Iowa, not far from Boone (although I haven't heard of Paton). We had both Ellers and Heinekings in our town and I can't help but wonder if there is a relationship?
How lovely to have such an old postcard. It is interesting that the US Post Office had such a great service delivering to rural homes for free, reducing their isolation. I would love to send more ‘real mail’ but the cost of the stamps as well as the cards is prohibitive.