Duffield/Sisson Postcards No. 43

Postcard number 43 in this collection features the Nickel Plate Depot in Hammond, Lake County, Indiana. Here is an excerpt published in 1897 from The Intelligence, Vol. 17 , page 397:

"A trip over the Nickel Plate between Chicago and New York or Boston

 is decidedly entertaining and pleasant. Leaving Chicago, the trains

 pass through an interesting part of the city, especially the commercial

 centre, thence through Hammond, Ind., across the fine prairies

 of Indiana, to the enterprising city of Fort Wayne..."

It goes on to tell of the marvelous sights and experiences as the train travels the rest of the way to either Boston or New York. A quick search on google brought up loads of sites featuring this exact same postcard, now in the hands of collectors across the country. That tells me that there were a lot of postcards purchased as travelers passed through this area. Most of the postcards in my collection are rare enough that I only find one or two, if any, when I do a similar search.

Nickel Plate Depot, Hammond, Ind.

This card is from a collection of postcards dated between 1908 and 1914 that was found in the Sierra Madre, California home of Warren Brown after his death in 2015. Warren’s mother, Edythe Grace (Sisson) Brown (1897-1978), was the daughter of Edith Amy Duffield (1864-1926) and Charles Herman Sisson (1868-1927). Charles and Edith were married in Ottawa, Illinois in 1895. They remained there until the early 1920s when they moved west to Los Angeles, California. Their collection of memorabilia was passed down to Warren, my husband’s cousin, and is now in my possession.

The Stiles family were neighbors and very close friends of the Sissons in Ottawa, but moved late in the summer of 1910 to Hammond, Indiana. George Stiles married Carrie M. Aussem in 1891. Son Milan Arthur "Art" Stiles was born in 1894 followed by Teddy Aussem William Stiles in 1897. The family moved to Hammond because of son Teddy's health and remained there for several years. This is a note from Art to his "Auntie" Stiles in October, 1910.

Postmarked October 7, 1910 in Hammond, Indiana

Addressed to:

Mrs Chas Sisson

Marcy St

Ottawa Ill.

Hammond, Ind.

10/6  1910

Auntie Sisson.

Ted is about the same

He has had no convulsions 

since 1 AM to-day

The Dr say ever hour

that they are kept away

the better his chances

Let those know of

the old neighbors

that may be interested

Will let you know when there is a change

Art.

I know that Teddy survived his affliction and went on to live a normal life and have a family of his own. I'm still curious as to the nature of his illness and why the family was forced to move to Hammond. Perhaps there will be more information in postcards to come since this is only about halfway through the collection.

Duffield/Sisson Postcards No. 42

Postcard number 42 revisits the Stiles family in their new home in Hammond, Lake County, Indiana. George Stiles was born in 1866 in Massachusetts and moved with his family as a child to LaSalle County, Illinois. There he married Carrie M. Aussem in 1891 and they began their family. Son Milan Arthur Stiles was born in 1894 followed by Teddy Aussem William Stiles in 1897. While living in Ottawa, the Stiles were neighbors of Charles and Edith Sisson. Carrie and Edith were very close friends and their children called the other woman Aunt. In 1910 the family moved to Hammond and remained there for several years, welcoming son George Jr. in 1913, before finally settling in Chicago by about 1917.

View in Harrison Park, Hammond, Ind.

Postmarked September 30, 1910 in Hammond, Indiana

Addressed to:

Mrs. Chas. Sisson.

408 Marcy St.

Ottawa.

Ill.

Dear Friend,

We are about

settled. I have a 

bad cold & Teddy

is getting along

nicely. I dont seem

like home but

I guess I will have 

to get used of it.

Give to the girls my.

Lovingly Mrs. Stiles.

upside down across the top she added her address:

47 Doty St.

Hammond, Ind.

Without being completely whiney, it's still clear that Carrie isn't loving Indiana so far. She must miss the house she was used to and all her friends back in Ottawa. The family moved because son Teddy was very ill. I'm not sure if there was better medical care there, or the climate was different, perhaps. That part is still a mystery. But I'm happy to see that he was doing well.

This card is from a collection of postcards dated between 1908 and 1914 that was found in the Sierra Madre, California home of Warren Brown after his death in 2015. Warren’s mother, Edythe Grace (Sisson) Brown (1897-1978), was the daughter of Edith Amy Duffield (1864-1926) and Charles Herman Sisson (1868-1927). Charles and Edith were married in Ottawa, Illinois in 1895. They remained there until the early 1920s when they moved west to Los Angeles, California. Their collection of memorabilia was passed down to Warren, my husband’s cousin, and is now in my possession.