Divided back, used postcard. Postmarked September 23, 1907 from LaSalle, New York.
Price: $12.00
This postcard is a good clue for anyone searching for more on the John Jacob Russ who is the addressee on the card or more on the history of the Carborundum Company of Niagara Falls, NY. It’s addressed:
“Mr. John Russ. Dutch Carborundum. Dusseldorf Werke. Reishotz Beenrath. Germany”
The card is sent from Anna, and she could be John’s sister. John’s parents (and Anna’s) are proving rather time-consuming to locate. (There’s an Anna Salzmann (wife of Louis Salzmann) in Niagara Falls in 1910 who has a son named Clarence. Could this be Clarence on the postcard? Could be but let’s not say for sure. A very adorable image though, and Anna writes:
“A Basketfull of Happyness with Love from all. Anna. we’re all well and Happy. Clarence has had a sick spell with his teeth but is better. everything is the same here the weather is cold. got your letter will write soon.”
From his passport application dated February 23, 1907, John J. Russ was born in Niagara Falls, NY on December 17, 1874. His father was a naturalized U.S. citizen. He is accompanied by his wife Friedericke, and children Lillian, Clara and Frederick. John is a foreman for the Carborundum Company of Niagara Falls, NY.
John’s WWI Draft Registration in 1918 shows he is a department superintendent with Carborundum, and lives in LaSalle, New York. There’s no official city or town of LaSalle, NY on the map today. Per a Wiki entry, the city of Niagara Falls annexed the village of LaSalle from the town of Niagara in 1927 (The city of Niagara Falls and the town of Niagara are next to each other.)
Sources: “Corborundum. Our History.” carbo.com. Accessed August 13, 2017.
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 – March 31, 1925; Roll #: 29; Volume #: Roll 0029 – Certificates: 26301-27000, 12 Feb 1907-04 Mar 1907. (Ancestry.com)
Registration State: New York; Registration County: Niagara; Roll: 1818603; Draft Board: 2. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.
Niagara Falls, New York. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_Falls,_New_York (accessed August 13, 2017).