Lorraine, Kansas, is a small city located in Ellsworth County. It was founded in the late 19th century, with its origins tied closely to the expansion of the railroad and the settlement of agricultural communities in central Kansas.
The town was named after the region of Lorraine in France, reflecting the heritage of some of its early settlers. Over the years, Lorraine has maintained its rural character, serving as a local hub for farming and community life in the area. Currently, 137 people live in the community.
A picture postcard sent to Mrs. Pet Miller in Lorraine, Kansas, on August 2, 1909, shows a steam-powered threshing machine on the front with seven or more crew members. The card was mailed from Ellsworth, Kansas, by Mrs. J.F. Baker. A handwritten message inside reads,
“Dear Mrs. Miller
Well we are here. Just made it by the skin of our teeth. The boys on the engine came to meet us. See my white dress and said they could hear my feet rattle, so good bye!
Mrs. J.F. Baker”
Mrs. Pet Miller was the wife of Peter Daniel Miller. Early on, he went by the nickname of Pet, as an advertisement for funeral supplies shows. Mrs. Miller’s real name was Ida. She was born in Germany in 1857, and Peter was born in Wisconsin in 1858. The two married in 1898.
Pete and Ida Miller owned their own business for a short time in Lorraine before selling out and moving to Manhattan, Kansas. At this point, he was a traveling salesman for automobiles and farm equipment. The couple had two boys, Arthur and Edward. Peter died in 1928 at the age of 70, while Ida passed away in 1936. She was 77.
Mrs. J.F. Baker was the wife of Joseph Francis Baker. Her real name was Maria Catherine Kennedy. Married in 1899, the couple moved around the state before finally settling in Nemaha County. They had four children, Clara, John, William, and Paul. Maria was evidently just arriving in Ellsworth when she picked up the postcard.
Although they lived in Missouri, Joseph Francis Baker might have been on a threshing crew, as his wife’s message suggests. She was undoubtedly just visiting town, perhaps cooking for the boys.
These crews, made up mostly of young men, moved about the country harvesting farmers’ grains and corn. Tired of all the traveling and sleeping in wagons of hay, Joseph eventually settled down and purchased his own farm in Nemaha County.
J.F. Baker was born in 1858 and died in 1927, at the age of 69. Much younger, Maria was born in 1876 and died in 1945. She was also 69. They’re both buried at St. Francis Cemetery in Nemaha County, Kansas.
The picture postcard that Ida Baker sent to Ida Miller is quite rare. I was fortunate to be able to find it.
I like to write junk... 