Duffield/Sisson Postcards No. 10

This is the tenth in a series of postcards from 1908-1914 discovered last year in the Sierra Madre, California home of Warren Brown after his death. The collection of memorabilia found was saved by Warren's grandparents and passed down. Warren was my husband’s cousin and we are the proud holders of the collection today.

Warren’s mother, Edythe Grace Sisson (1897-1978) was the daughter of Edith Amy Duffield (1864-1926) and Charles Herman Sisson (1868-1927).

Charles was the recipient of the postcard featured in this post.

Daniel Boone Monument - Frankfort, Kentucky.

Defaced by Relic Hunters

Above the monument there is some writing added, hard to read, but it looks like,

"Let me know if there is much _____"

Postmarked April 27, 1909 in Frankfort, KY

Addressed to:

Mr C.H. Sisson,

#408 Marcey St

Ottawa,

Ill's

Frankfort KY

c/o F.M.I (?)

4-27-09

Hello Old Boy

how are you? This leaves me fine

How is work up there by now?

your Friend

ET Thurmond

Now I had no idea who this ET Thurmond might be so a quick search on Ancestry.com gave me a bit more information:

Elmer Thomas Thurmond was born in KY in 1886 to Jefferson Davis Thurmond and Lydia Monroe Harrod. His father was an evangelical minister, but Elmer chose the profession of carpentry. Later in 1909 he is living in Joliet, Illinois and working as a carpenter. By 1921 he had married a local girl and started a family. Eventually, the young family headed south and settled in Miami, Florida.

Charles, twenty-two years older than E. T., would have indeed seemed an "old man". He was also a master carpenter and a member of the local Masonic Lodge. Charles was born and raised in New York before the family moved to Ottawa, Illinois. To my knowledge he never lived anywhere else, nor can I find evidence that E.T. Thurmond had ever lived in New York or Illinois prior to 1909. I cannot say for certain how these men knew one another, but the only common denominator I can find is the occupation. Perhaps young E.T. apprenticed with Charles or they could have met as Masons at some time. It does appear that Charles may have sent word back that there was, indeed, work to be found "up there" since E. T. came soon after and lived in Joliet for a number of years.