Acts of genealogical kindness

[Mike_E]

So out of the blue I get an e-mail via one of those connection services, and I quote,

I have a postcard that was sent by Lidia (yes, that is how she spelled her name) Peterson to her step-daughter Mary (who married Ira B. Sprague) in 1911. I was about to list it on eBay because it is a real photo postcard of the road going into Welton, but I always do research on the card, the sender and the recipient before putting the card up for auction. If you are inclined to keep family mementoes, I would be happy to send it to you free of charge, but please let me know soon so I'll know whether to sell it or not.

I am not related to you, but am an amateur genealogist and I noticed that Lidia's family roots went back to Hull, England, which is interesting because my grandmother was from there. My great-grandfather was captain of a fishing trawler and his parents sold boots and shoes on Hessle Road.

Needless to say, I leapt at the chance of getting my hands on it, and today it arrived in the post. I have e-mailed them to say thank you, but don’t think I should post their name on here without prior permission, I hope that one day they may stumble across it and know how touched I was to receive their original e-mail and the effort they went to to unite this card with a family member.

You may wish to chip in with reading the card, I’m missing a few words

My Dear Mrs Sprague

Just a line to say we
Are all well and the
Dear baby is getting xxx
Fat – and xxx she is
So dear xxx the xxx
xxx. She began to walk
alone last week and is
quite forward of xxx the
xxx after xxx is fine

Love from R to all
Lovingly LP


Lydia was living in Welton Iowa in 1900 with her Husband Christian and 3 children, Ruby 12, Irene 11 and Dorothy 3 years old.
In 1910 Lydia still lives in Welton, different house with her Daughter Dorothy listed as 12 years.

Now we get to the postcard sent in July 18 1911, who is the baby? Dorothy’s? Who is only 13 years old and the child is walking.

Moving on 9 years to the 1920 census, We find a Guy Maltas married to Dorothy aged 23, listed with a daughter Margaret aged 13, Lydia is also in the household

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x119/K1200Rider/RoadtoWeltonIowa.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x119/K1200Rider/RoadtoweltonIowaback.jpg

[Neil Wilson]

Mike
I make it as follows

Dear baby is getting real
Fat – and cosy she is
So dear every one loves
her

I will leave the rest for someone else |help|

[bumblebee]

I think it says 'quite proud of it' not 'quite forward' - and I think the baby may be 'rosy' not 'cosy'

Bumblebee

[bumblebee]

Is the last sentence 'the weather here is fine'.

Bumblebee

[Mona]

Just a line to say we
Are all well and the
dear baby is getting real
Fat and rosy she is
so dear everyone loves
her. She began to walk
alone last week and is
quite proud of it. The
weather here is fine

[Mike_E]

Thanks all,

I knew another pair or 4 of eyes would crack this. Thanks for looking. Now to find Mary and her Husband in the census records and add those into the melting pot.

[Susand]

Hi Mike,

There are some terrific people in the world.

i think the message reads

just a line to say we are all well and the dear baby is getting real fat - and xxx she is so dear every one loves her. She began to walk alone last week and is quite fond of it. The weather here is fine.

May more kind people come your way,

Susand

[coops46]

The missing word is 'rosy'. The 'r' is the same as that in 'real' in the previous line.

Russell

[Tikira]

I feel so proud of people that go out of their way to help others!
You must feel so grateful to these people,and I know that I would prefer something like that to be kept safe for following generations by a member of Lidia's family. It is a beautiful picture, but the words on the back are what it is all about for family historians.

I did a similar thing with a beautiful postcard of twins taken in the early 1900's. This card was in my grandmothers possession, as her sister had babysat these children. By chance I met a lady who was researching these children, and as they had been raised separately, the family thought there was not a photo of them together. The photo was lovely, but it needed to be in her family history, so I gave it to her.

She was thrilled, and I hope she will continue the chain of "Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness", and do someone else a small favour.