Real photo postcard of three Native American boys at school in Walnut, Illinois.
1909. Ephemera. A cyanotype photograph postcard sent by Ella S. Lemmon to Wesley J. Ott, franked Walnut Illinois June 21, 1909. Ella S. Lemmon (5 Apr 1849, Dublin, Maryland - 9 Jan 1916, Walnut, Illinois) was a beloved teacher at Indian schools. Her obituary on Find-a-Grave quoting the Walnut Leader, Friday, January 14, 1916, states "Teaching was her life work, begun near her home in Maryland and continued here for many years, five years in LaMoille and nearly seven years in the Indian school in Nevada." On the card, Miss Lemmon addresses Wesley J. Ott of Walnut; "Kind Friend; I send you a picture I took of three of my nice Indian boys. Take good care of them as I always did. But you may make them work. it is good for them and all of us. Your friend, Ella S. Lemmon" Wesley Josiah Ott (21 Jan 1836, Frederick, MD - 19 Jan 1929 Walnut, Illinois) came with his parents to Illinois in 1857, where they established a store & post office known as Ottville. A miller, he worked in flour mills in Peru & Princeton IL and in 1876 opened a firm in Walnut "Ott and Hockenberry", which engaged in milling and coal carrying and which he retired from in 1918. One can imagine that these boys, if sent to Walnut, would work in the one of those businesses. His only child was Mrs. Verna Burress. Miss Lemmon has signed her name on the front of the card as well. Very good condition. Item #25515
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