On the right side of the image WLT and Kate can be seen with two of their daughters and one grandchild.
Once again I’m sifting through this mountain of Sutton/Thomas artifacts that I have been mining for over a year. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll have to admit many of these items are fascinating in their own right. They are even more so collectively for the intimate view they provide us into the lives of a couple of prominent Maplewood families of the 19th and early 20th centuries. And I haven’t even gotten to the love letters yet.
Included in this treasure trove are all of the letters William Lyman Thomas wrote to the woman who would become his life partner, Kate Sutton, from the time he met her in 1867 until they were married 2 ½ years later in 1869. These are fascinating to read. So far I have scanned only a couple of dozen.
They are all in their original envelopes, many with the original stamps. They run from June 1867 until the end of March 1869. The amount of time it will take to digitize these is a lot. So far I’ve not been able to put in the time. Any suggestions on how to accomplish this would be appreciated. This is a very rare opportunity. I would hate to miss it.
For the twenty somethingth time, I want to thank the descendants and members of the Sutton, Thomas, Grumley, Hayes, McConnell and Shelton families for sharing with us their family treasures.
Among the many fascinating things loaned to me is this photograph of a family reunion. There is no accompanying information so we are left to guess just whose family is it? It is in the most beautiful frame. Plaster oak leaves on wood with a brass looking finish. (Sometimes my guesses as to what is happening in some of these vintage photos falls way short. I think this is one of those times. Since posting this image, the family descendant, who allowed me to copy it, informed me that her family has always thought it to be an image from Emma Thomas’ wedding day. Since this fine lady is a direct descendant of Emma, I’d say that is highly likely. That may be Emma and her betrothed, William Grumley, standing a little to the right of center. If it is a photograph from her wedding day, doesn’t it seem unusual that she and her family are over to the side and not dead center? Since Dad, William Lyman Thomas, is probably footing the bill for this extravaganza, wouldn’t you think he’d be likely to be in a more prominent position than next to a tree with a man who can’t keep his eyeballs still? DH 7-1-2019)Here is a look at it removed from the frame. It is a fairly large image so you might not be able to see it that well at the low resolution I have to use to post these images.On the left side of the image are three African/American women. As I have mentioned local historic photographic images of the members of the black community are difficult to find. I’m happy that these ladies were included in this family portrait.On the right side of the image WLT and Kate can be seen with two of their daughters and one grandchild. One married daughter’s name is Ella T. Smith who has a son,Frank. The other married daughter’s name is Sarah W. Walton, wife of James D. Walton whose boy is named Lyman. Which is which I’ll not speculate. I suspect that the seated and mustachioed fellow with his arm around the boy is one of the husbands. Perhaps the other husband is standing beside the other daughter? (Or that may be Emma in the long white dress with her new husband, William Grumley, just to the left. DH 7-1-2019)I suspect that Bartold Hall might have been at Bartold’s Inn and Grove. Sunnen Manufacturing now occupies that site on the SE corner of Manchester and Hanley.This may have belonged to one of WLT’s daughters.
I must have gotten too close again. Looks like Fred was the man to beat.When this was printed J.D.Walton either is or would be Sarah’s husband.A ticket to ride.I can’t say for sure who this ticket was for. I’d guess WLT.
2 COMMENTS
watching old movies I have heard about a girl’s dance card. I do not know if I have ever seen one. I always wondered what it was but now I see it is a diary or keepsake of the evening and who you danced with.
The train ticket is a neat find. I had a great grandfather from St Joe, Mo who was involved with the trains. Enough so that one of the perks was my older brother and I rode the train from Kansas City to Chicago for free with my Great grandparents and grandparents. I was maybe 6 and my brother maybe 8. I recall being fascinated by the train but to this day do not remember where we stayed, what we did, how long we were gone.
Again, it makes me wonder how much stuff has my family tossed thinking it is an old piece of paper that means nothing to anyone anymore. I know it is hard to know what to keep and how to keep it but someday folks will be amazed at seeing it again.
watching old movies I have heard about a girl’s dance card. I do not know if I have ever seen one. I always wondered what it was but now I see it is a diary or keepsake of the evening and who you danced with.
The train ticket is a neat find. I had a great grandfather from St Joe, Mo who was involved with the trains. Enough so that one of the perks was my older brother and I rode the train from Kansas City to Chicago for free with my Great grandparents and grandparents. I was maybe 6 and my brother maybe 8. I recall being fascinated by the train but to this day do not remember where we stayed, what we did, how long we were gone.
Again, it makes me wonder how much stuff has my family tossed thinking it is an old piece of paper that means nothing to anyone anymore. I know it is hard to know what to keep and how to keep it but someday folks will be amazed at seeing it again.
Very cool – a lot of history
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