We're two sisters who are craft book publishers and found ourselves in the midst of an avocado grove. We bought this house where we planned to conduct our publishing business and in the deal got 4 acres of avocado trees thrown in. Now we're not only publishers but ranchers as well! This blog is all about avocados and anything else that strikes my fancy.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Walter Fout and Friend - Sepia Saturday



This isn't one of my relatives. I actually purchased this photo. I love it because it shows the two friends in their working uniforms (a trend back in those days). It's signed Walter Fout on the front with this message on the back:


This is addressed to Mrs. John Fout (Walter's mother). I wonder how it got to her since there's no address, not even a state unless that last squiggle means Ohio. And the card appears to be from Bessie. Maybe she's Walter's wife. Did they leave their "kid" behind.

The message reads:
Hello Mother here is Walter and his partner as they pack lime. don't you think it good. Ask Henry is he knows who it is. ans (answer?) soon Bessie (?). How is the kid getting along.



Walter's draft registration card was listed on Ancestry.  His name was Walter Samuel Fout and 55 at the time this card was issued. He died at age 74. His wife Bessie is listed, too. Amazing what you can find on Ancestry. It really makes these people from the past come alive.

 
And below is a photo from his yearbook. Matching this photo to the one above, I think he's the one on the left, don't you?


I used this photo to create several artist trading cards (little works of art which are playing-card sized and used to trade with other people - this was a real trend the last few years).



I hope Walter and his partner won't be mad that I used their photo for these cards. Somehow I think they would like the idea. They look like two real wild and crazy guys.

To see more Sepia Saturday, click here.

17 comments:

  1. There is a Liberty, Ohio not too far from me! I'm sure Mrs. Fout was thrilled to get the photo of her son and coworker. I think a lot of things were addressed like that...especially going to a small town back then. No other info needed except a name and city/state.

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  2. In 1910, Walter and Bessie were living with her father John Montague in Crawfod, Wyandot, Ohio, and their two small sons Kenist and Glen. he describes himself, most satisfyingly, as a laborer in a lime plant! The 1900 Census of Van Buren, Darke, Ohio shows that Walter was one of at least six children of John and Fanny Fout. By 1910, the Fouts senior had moved to Arcanum, also in Darke County.

    Thanks for sharing this intriguing postcard, so easily verifiable from census and other records.

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  3. You are a real detective. I'm amazed at the information you retrieve on people - and yes, these two do look like wild and crazy guys. I love the artist trading cards you've created. Now I won't be able to pass up those baskets of post cards you see in antique stores - I had no idea they could be so interesting.

    I think Walter and partner would be honored to be featured in your blog!

    Do you think their clothes were white to start off with?...or are they caked up with lime. Can you imagine how hazardous to the health working in such an environment was - before anyone knew about protecting the skin and lungs. Yet he lived until aged 74.

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  4. That is a wonderful card. You would have thought that lime packing was a dangerous job - especially in those days before health and safety regulations. But Walter seems to have made it to a good age.

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  5. Back then street addresses weren't needed in small towns. It is possible they didn't even have a street address.

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  6. My first thought was that they were bakers as they looked just like that in the small bakery in the village where I was born. Being white with flour would be hazardous as well but not like lime.

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  7. I'm with Bob - I thought they were bakers. Very creative trading cards! Jo :-)

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  8. Dare I say it? Walter and his buddy were just a couple of cards.

    Very nice little cards

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  9. LOL@tattered and lost's reply...very cute :)

    Great photo and I'm with Bob I thought they were bakers.

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  10. You are too funny! I burst out laughing when I got to the cards. I think they would have loved them. Thanks for doing the research too; it made for an especially interesting post.

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  11. I was surprised at how much effort you went to to find out more about a person you didn't even know who wasn't family. And then I realized that I do the same thing! It must be the family historian in us, right? An interesting post with the additional treat of your artist trading cards!

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  12. I'm sure they wouldn't mind! That's why they took their picture to show off! Great post! I love researching too!

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  13. Fabulous postcard! Very poignant that they decided to get their photo taken in their work clothes. Pity that their knees are in focus but their faces are not.

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  14. It's a wonderful postcard, it's a mystery how the postie knew where to deliver it though. I like the wee cards you have made from this one.

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  15. It is a wonderful photo and you honored it by actually finding out the people in the photo. It is an amazing world to find people that you don't even know.I really like your trading cards.

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  16. i Love Your Cards! Yes,I'm Sure They Would Have Aproved.A Good Bit Of Detective Work!

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  17. Fout family from OhioApril 8, 2011 at 10:02 AM

    I enjoyed your "article". Thank you. I actually found it while doing research on my family. I'm from Ohio, my last name is Fout, and my great grandfathers name was Walter Fout. I'm just not sure it was the same Walter. I'm going to do a bit more research on that.

    Very cute cards btw!

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