Vedia Eggleston’s Postcard Book – The Rest of the Postcards

This should be the last of the postcards from Vedia Eggleston’s Postcard Book. They provide more glimpses into the past century.

Veda was in Malad, Idaho in 1914, apparently was staying with her sister Rae. This card is from a friend Charlotte with news of social events.

May 3, 1916, this card was sent from Afton, Wyoming to Aunt Veda in Malad, Idaho.

This is an earlier card sent in 1910 when Vedia was still in Afton, Wyoming.

Vedia’s sister, probably Lottie, sent this card to Vedia in 1914 when she was in Malad, Idaho.

Another card from Vedia’s sister Lottie and sent in 1911 to Afton, Wyoming.

This card was sent from Deweyville, Utah in July 1913, It is from Veda’s sister.

This card was from Veda’s sister Florence sent in April 1916 to Veda in Malad, Idaho.

Vedia’s sister Rae from Tremonton, Utah sent this card to Veda in Afton, Wyoming. The postmark is Mar 15 and this card being green with shamrocks, it appears to be for St. Patrick’s Day.

Virginia Dewey, daughter of Connie Dewey, sent this card to her Aunt Veda.

Addressed to Mrs. John B. Jones in Malad, Idaho, this card was sent to Vedia in 1916 after her marriage. It is from her sister Clara in Afton, Wyoming.

Sent from Deweyville, Utah on September 25, 1913, this card was from Vedia’s sister.

A card from a friend Vera in Deweyville, Utah. Veda was back in Afton, Wyoming. She had probably made friends with this Vera while visiting her sister Connie in Deweyville.

Another card from Vera in Deweyville, Utah.

This card was sent to Vedia while she was in Tremonton, Utah in 1910. She was probably with her sister Connie, since her sister Clara says to tell Connie hello.

Vedia’s sister Rae sent this card to her from Afton, Wyoming. Veda may have been in Sandy, Utah.

 

Vedia Eggleston’s Postcard Book – More Postcards

Vedia Eggleston’s Postcard book contained over 100 postcards when Donna purchased it. Some cards had already been removed and sold individually. It was quite a collection and gives us some idea of how popular and prevalent it was to send these cards to friends and family. It was very much like texts, tweets and Facebook posts we send today to keep in touch and share updates on our lives.

This card was sent from Edith in Afton to Veda who was in Malad. The postmark appears to be 1915.

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Birthday Postcards to Vedia Eggleston

Vedia Eggleston was born July 17, 1897 in Afton, Wyoming. She was the daughter of Orson Hyde Eggleston and Mariett Farley.  Vedia received many postcards in her early life. She preserved these in a Postcard Book which was miraculously acquired by the family some years ago. These are Birthday postcards to Vedia.

Happy Birthday to Vedia!

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Easter Greetings from Vedia Eggleston’s Postcard Book

As Spring began to bring new life back to the earth and people prepared to celebrate Easter, festive greetings were sent through postcards to friends and family who were away. These cards from Vedia Eggleston’s Postcard Book contain Easter Greetings.

Easter Cards from Sister Lettie

This card was sent to Vedia in Afton from her sister Lettie with wishes for a good time on Easter. The postmark is smeared, but appears to be 1914 from Deweyville.

Easter Postcard Easter Postcard 1914

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Vedia Eggleston’s Postcard Book – Early 20th Century Valentines

In the early 20th Century Valentines were sent thought postcards to special people who were far away. Vedia Eggleston’s Postcard Book contained several Valentine postcards.

To My Valentine

 

to my Valentine

 

Vedia’s sister Lottie was good to remember her on Valentines Day. The written messages were not very newsworthy. They were probably continuations of other conversations sent through postcards and letters. The intent was to keep in touch. A a colorful card with a message was a special remembrance.

Veda from Lottie Valentine greeting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My poor heart To Veda from Lottie

The First Christmas in Jackson Hole

The First Christmas in Jackson Hole was celebrated with elk steaks, doughnuts fried in bear grease, music and dancing.

The Wilson & Cheney Families

Sylvester Wilson had settled in Emery County, Utah in 1877 at a place that became known as Wilsonville. After almost 12 years in this drought stricken area, Sylvester Wilson decided to move and start again somewhere else.

Sylvester Wilson

Sylvester Wilson

Mary Wood Wilson

Mary Wood Wilson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sylvester and his family left Wilsonville at the end of May 1889. The group included Sylvester and his wife Mary, 9 unmarried children (the youngest being three) and two married children and their families. Mary Alice had married Selar Cheney August 10, 1879. They had four children, but one died before they left. Ervin had married Mary Jane Davis June 26, 1888 and she was expecting their first child as they left. Their son James was born September 12 in St. Anthony, Idaho.

The family left Wilsonville with 5 sturdy wagons and about 80 head of cattle. They also had at least 20 race horses, which Sylvester had taken as partial payment on their Wilsonville property. The trip to St. Anthony, Idaho was over 400 miles. They averaged about 10 miles per day, trailing their livestock.

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Vedia Eggleston’s Postcards from Far Away Places

Vedia Eggleston’s postcards, like many of the time, were the way to keep in touch with family and friends who had moved away or were traveling. They were kind of an early 20th Century Social Media – only much slower than today. They also were a good way to let you know of places where friends were and you were not. From the commercial side, postcards were good marketing tools. Cards with photos of exciting or historic places were used to encourage tourism and pride in local sites.

Vedia Eggleston’s Postcard book contained a number of cards from various places in the United States. Sometimes the places that the cards were sent from was not the place indicated by the photograph on the card. Cards may have been purchased at one place and sent from another. Or possibly cards from some places could even be purchased at home. More postcards from places closer to home are shared in another post.

Friend Kathryn in Madison

Let’s start with Madison, Nebraska, since Vedia received several cards from there in 1912. Apparently Vedia had a friend Kathryn who had moved to Madison. Vedia was not as good at keeping in touch as this Kathryn was. She repeatedly asked why she had not heard from Vedia.

Madison

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Vedia Eggleston’s Postcards from Nearby Places

Postcards were an easy and inexpensive way to keep in touch with family and friends in a time when there were few telephones and no internet. In the early 20th Century they were like Social Media, sharing bits of news and often short messages in between longer letters. They were written on postcards showing familiar scenes or with simple greetings. Vedia Eggleston’s Postcard Book contained postcards from nearby places where friends and family lived. Other postcards from places further away are shared in another post.

Some from Home in Afton, Wyoming:

Taqbernacle, Afton, Wyoming

This is the Tabernacle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Afton, Wyoming, Vedia’s home town.

Postcards Afton, Wyoming

Vedia to sister Connie Dewey

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