Duffield/Sisson Postcards No. 44

Masonic Temple, 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 and Carrie Stiles had two sons; Milan Arthur "Art" Stiles was born in 1894 followed by Teddy Aussem William Stiles in 1897. The family had moved to Hammond because of son Ted's health and remained there for several years. This is a note from Ted to his "Auntie" Stiles in October, 1910.

A card featuring the Masonic Temple may have been chosen because of Mr. Sisson's association with the lodge in Ottawa. Teddy would have knowledge of Charles Sisson's affiliation and, perhaps, his own father was also a Mason. This temple was the first in Hammond, Indiana, and had been recently completed. 

Postmarked October 13, 1910 in Hammond, Indiana

Addressed to:

Mrs. Chas Sission

408 Marcy St.

Ottawa,.

Ill.

Dear Auntie

Am sitting

up now. Hope to

get to school. Nurse

went to night.

Hope you people

are well.

Ted.

P.S.

Write and tell

me when they get

another case of beer

Ted recovered eventually and went on to live a normal life and have a family of his own. Whatever the illness, it was serious enough to force the family to move and employ a private nurse. The reference to another case of beer is a mystery. I think it hinted at an inside joke and showed that even in his sickness, Ted Stiles maintained a sense of humor.