An Easter Postcard from Grandpa

Easter postcard from William Edward Chesney 

to his granddaughter, Ruth Mary Chesney

 

 And he wrote his message upside down!

 

Postmarked May 12, 1916, this postcard is from the 100+ year old postcard collection of Ruth Mary Chesney that is now in my possession - Linda K Morgan Clark - one of Ruth Mary Chesney's daughters.

This is a priceless card! Even with the message written upside down! It’s the only written document from my gr-grandfather William Edward Chesney (my mother's paternal grandfather) that I have ever seen, let alone have in my possession. (there is another card that is undated card that has his signature only)

Here it is turned around so I could read it. I’m left to wonder if it might be the only written correspondence my mother ever had from him. 

 

To my dear grand daughter You will please excuse me for neglecton you in failing to write your kind pretty card of April 22 I was vary mutch pleased to get a mesage from you when you are so young in years hope you will not git discor -aged from my neglect. Be ? eased to that we are well with love in our hearts for all our friends. Opal is wip the dishes Hetty is washing them. Aunt Mary is in Holt_ selling books or solisiting for books. Now dont foget to wr -te gain & tell your pa to writ it is raining all day today. May the 12-16 Your G.P. Lecomten, KS Love to all               

I love the “news” he includes and I get the distinct impression that there was a close bond between the 6 year old Ruth and her grandfather. This card is so important to me and is the reason I transcribed it verbatim -spelling and missing words and all - to preserve the contents.

NOTE: 

• Opal is Opal Alyce Chesney, daughter of Frank Evans Chesney and Grace E. Judd. She lived with her grandparents after her mother died. She would be 12 years old at this time. She wrote a few postcards that are also in the collection. (more about Opal in later posts)
• Hetty is Hetty Jane Chesney, daughter of William Edward Chesney and Ruth Ann Evans. She is 38 years old at this time and unmarried. However she married the next year.
• Aunt Mary is Mary Elizabeth Chesney. She is 44 at this time and never did married.
• No grandmother, Ruth, is mentioned because she died 3 years before the date of this postcard.
• William died 2 years after he wrote this card.

P.S. Ignore the 1920 Christmas Seal stamp on the postcard. Mom apologized for having “played with the cards too much” and sticking the seals on them. Attempts have been made to remove some of them.