Ada and Wynn Mighell: Letters from Uncle Maleohu P. Thomas. 1901. (Letter 1 of 3)
Click on the first image to open a PDF containing a compilation of pages from all three letters.
These are letters written to Ada and Wynn Mighell from their Uncle Maleohu P. Thomas. They were mailed from Schoocraft, Kalamazoo County, Michigan in 1901.
Ada and Wynn Mighell: Letters from Uncle Maleohu P. Thomas. 1901. (Letter 2 of 3)
Appaloosa Mule Postcard: Will A. Johnson, Sr., "The Spotted Mule King", Sugar Grove, Illinois
Photo is from the 1940's. Six mule hitch owned and displayed by Will A Johnson Sr, Sugar Grove, Illinois, a collector of appaloosa mules. Said to be the only six appaloosa mule hitch in the world at that time.
Ashe & Finley Families Photo Album: Postcards
POSTCARD TRANSCRIPTIONS (Partial transcriptions due to cropped postcard and illegible handwriting.) August 1919 (?) To: Miss R. A. Ashe, Sugar Grove, IL From: R.F.D. How are all at the Grove? All are able to be around. Got done thrashing Saturday night. If the weather is good, the ring will finish this eve. I looked for the Stroddar Dayton all day Sunday. I would see you come in my mind. Aunt Ineoy ********** Little Mary and Chuck Olmsted ********** This was taken in the cornfield...Jamie is on the load of corn and the men on the load. ********** To: Miss Kittie Ashe, Sugar Grove, IL From: R. F. D. Dear Kittie, Received your card this morning. All are well. Daisy was home yesterday. Isabell called to see Mrs. Henry Sunday. She said they work fine and dandy. Nothing up this way but...cherries. ********** July 14, Year(?) To: Miss Kittie Ashe, Sugar Grove, IL From: R. F. D. Dear Kittie, Nice and cool this morning. All are well getting to cut barley today....This picture was taken at Cortland. I think it is good. Nothing else this way... ********** LETTER TRANSCRIPTION November 14, 2006 Dear Ruth Frantz, I thought you would like to know: Ashe Road was named after the Ashe Family who owned a farm on that Road. The Ashe name ends with an "e". I'm sorry we don't have much history to pass on to you. Hopefully, someone in Sugar Grove can remember the family and add more information. I'm glad the photos have a home - the original album was in tatters and there was no protection for the photos if left in that old album I had to put them into protective plastic pockets. Eve Finley (John Finley's wife) Hinkley, Illinois
Bolster Family: Rhoda Bolster. July 5, 1916 Postcard
Postcard Postmarked July 5, 1916 Return address: 254 Bew Ave., Aurora, Illinois To address: Mr. Clarence Bolster, Sugar Grove, Illinois I guess you know who this picture is of. Too bad we can't see you better but that's the way you wanted it. Pretty fair for an amateur tho, isn't it? Love, Miller Label: Lyle Bolster, Manufacturer Representative, Architectural Products, 3N 188 W. Mary Lane, St. Charles, Illinois 60174
Booth Family: Postcard from Alice Smith to Ethel Booth from the Octagon, Mt. Mansfield, Stowe, Vermont. July 26, 1949.
Handwritten Inscription on Postcard: Please do not think I have forgotten you but have really been a lot of difficulties. Do want to see you and talk. Where are you going for August? I'll be back at 1116 Sunset after August 1. Have had a wonderful 2 weeks here at the Frapp Family Music Camp. You should really take it in some vacation and all the side things we have had. Yes, I went up the ski lift. I take you saw Mrs. Duffield at Chinese[?] Course. I hope to see her when I return. As ever, Alice Smith. Addressed to: Miss Ethel Booth, Russ Hall, State Teachers College, Montclair, New Jersey Postcard stamped: July 26, 1949 Printed: At the OCTAGON: Top of the world's highest aerial chair lift. Mt. Mansfield, Stowe, Vermont
Booth Family: Postcard to Ethel Booth from Grace with photo of Launch Party from B.S. taken north of Oregon, Illinois.
Handwritten Inscription: Dear Cousin, I guess if I wait to write a letter, it will be longer than ever, so I'll just send you a card. Why wouldn't your wirte once in a while? I have a cold that has made me nearly sick so much so that I had to go the M.D. to get something to break it up. I am keeping house now while Mama is helping paint. The crowd you see on the other side is a launch party from this years B.S. It was taken 8 miles north of Oregon[, Illinois]. No more room so goodby. Grace.
Cooper-Needham Blacksmith Shop: Postcard to Mary Dugan from Ina
The Cooper-Needham Blacksmith Shop was built in the late 1800s at 214 Main Street. POSTCARD To: Mrs. Mary E. Dugan, Big Rock, Illinois Dear Mary: Two days I've been ready to come down there but both times someone has come. I guess C. and I will have to come some evening if I have no other way. I shall be very busy from now on. Can do more if we ever know what we are going to do. Just now we feel lost. I hope you are better. I had Eva cal one day so I'd know how you were. Couldn't use my horse until last week, so icy. ~Ina Postcard was not postmarked. US Postage was "Two Cents".
Judd Family: Working on Steam Engine Tractor
Letter from Peleg Young Bliss to Nathan Young. June 4, 1843.
Peleg Young Bliss writes in his letter to convince Nathan S. Young to come to Sugar Grove and bring his family from Strafford in Vermont.
TRANSCRIPTION OF LETTER WRITTEN BY PELEG YOUNG BLISS Sugar Grove June 4, 1843 Nathan, I received your letter April and glad to see that you are on the move from Strafford. If you have made up your mind to leave for good, all that I can say is just pack up and move if you can persuade the family. The family to come west, all that I can do for them I will after getting here, and I think if they are just landed here once that they never would think of old Vermont again. As for the matter of living, it is much easier done than in the State of Vermont. I hope that you will pack up and come in one week after you get this. As for the journey west, I think that the best way for you to come is by water. Come to Whitehall by land and there take a line boat for Buffalo. You can make a bargain much cheaper for a whole family than for one. Board yourselves, and you can come [ ] perhaps on line boat that you can so as well to get boarded. But [ ] your passage through to Buffalo and then by steam boat to Chicago you can come cheaper to board yourselves than board on steam boat. Just put up a lot of [ ] at Buffalo. It won’t be a very pleasant piece of [ ] to the women to move, but it won’t last long. Just say to them that it will be a move for life if they will come, that they never will be sorry. Pack into as small compass as you can. Fetch all that you can and not have it too bulky. When in Chicago, I will meet you and convey you on to home that may ever last, I hope. Sampson Brown and son arrived here about two weeks since, and it only cost them from Vermont to Chicago by waters twenty dollars for both. They boarded themselves [ ] including board and all. The sooner that you come, the better. No mistake. If you have anything that you can turn into a pair of [ ], they will be a good article here on a double wagon. Nate, if the family won’t come, you come anyhow. Don’t fail of coming this summer. I hope that you will all come. Write what day that you will be in Chicago, and I will meet you there. Mrs. Bliss and family are all well. Yours, Peleg Young
Main Street Scene: Town Hall, Normal and Industrial School, and House at 185 S. Main St. (1910 Postcard to Edgar Snow)
Postcard to Edgar Snow from M.M.H Postmarked "ANR & Rockford", November 11, 1910
Postcard to: Mr. Edgar Snow, 1201 W. Stoughton, Urbana, Illinois Dated: November 10, 1910 Well, what is the matter down there? I've been wondering what has become of you; didn't know but ht maybe you had dropped off the earth. Does this scene look natural to you? We are all busy and well. News scarce, nothing much doing just now. M.M.H.
McCannon Family Postcard: Willis McCannon. 1914.
Postcard is among the McCannon Family Photos. Adjacent portrait in the collection depicts the same child and is labeled "Frank & Willis McCannon 1914"
McCannon Family: Postcard, Children playing in the snow. 1915.
Pictured: Frank McCannon, Willis McCannon, and John McCannon
Postcard addressed to Mrs. W.C. Willis, Aurora, Illinois Dear Folks, Hope you are all well, and that Katherine is all OK now. Ben is in [?] now. Tied a comforter yesterday. Well must close. Aren't my boys getting big? Love, Bena [McCannon]
Mildred Mighell: Letter to Family. 1909.
TRANSCRIPTION OF LETTER FROM MILDRED MIGHELL Addressed to Master D. Stanton Mighell, c/o W.C. Mighell, Sugar Grove, Illinois Cassopolis, Michigan July 29, 1909 Dear Folks: Are the oats all cut yet? When are you going to thrash? Is everything all right out at the playhouse? Is Albert home from Aurora yet? I suppose he had a fine time. Is Verne Eby still with you? How is little Margaret? Grandma directs all of Uncle Percy’s mail to the County Clerk’s Office. Grandpa sent me a book of Colorado scenes, too. I am very much about the new books and know that I shall enjoy them very much when I come home. Are they poetry or prose or mixed? I was extremely pleased to get a letter from Stanton and I will write one all to his own little self soon. I have written letters to Grandma M. and Flossie and sent cards to Miss Dalrymple, Maver, Mary and Nellie, besides those to the boys. Flossie has sent me a card and so has Mary. Also Miss Dalrymple, and Grandma M. sent me a letter. I have a new piece. It is a Kulan Sonatina. A Sonatina is an easy Sonata, and a Sonata is the hardest kind of a piece there is. It is the first piece of classical music I have ever had, and Miss Paul says I ought to be proud that I have done so well. She says I am a worker (which is the first time that remark was ever made of me). Miss Paul is on her vacation now so I will probably go to Schoolcraft next week. Sunday, Uncle Herman and I went over to Diamond Lake and took the steamer trip around. It looks much the same as it did three years ago. Tuesday afternoon, Mrs. Carr and Mrs. Bessie Carr Hill called. Mrs. Hill wished to be remembered to you and said she wished she could see you. Yesterday was the hottest day of the season; the thermometer at 90 degrees at noon. We had quite a storm this morning. Well, goodbye with love to all, Mildred Mighell
Miller's Store / Pool Hall and Sugar Grove Train Depot: Main St.
Main St. looking north with Miller's Store and Train Depot located on the right.
Letter from R. Ogden Hannaford to Sugar Grove Historical Society dated Sep. 24, 2001 (See pictures to read letter)
Postcard from Francie to Alice Myrer. April 9, 1909.
Postcard of Sugar Grove: To Linda Christian from Bob, 1952
Stamped July 30, 1952, Sugar Grove, IL Handwritten Note: To: Linda Christian, Seville, Ohio Linda, I am having a good time here. But it would be better if you were with me. I sure miss you a lot, so you know how much I like you. Have you still got my ring, I hope so? I will be seeing you Sunday afternoon. You are still going out with me? Bob