Dear Cousin Mary:
I don’t know whose turn it is to write yours or mine. I never received a letter from Francis. I just returned from my vacation of two weeks which I spent in the country. This picture was taken while there on the farm. It is very cool here though we did have very warm weather. We need rain. How are you all? I expect the children will soon be out of school. We are well. Mama has been working hard, cleaning house, working garden, etc. I have been busy working since I came back to make up for lost time. How are all the children and everybody? Write soon.
Irene
Irene (born Irene Louise Ehrhardt) was Mary’s first cousin – their mothers, Christena and Eva, were sisters.
Nearly twelve years younger than Mary, Irene was born January 25, 1890 [1], the daughter of Charles Ehrhardt and Christena Specht. She had one brother, Edward Sebastian Ehrhardt, born December 7, 1888 [2].
According to her memorial page at FindAGrave.com, Irene died August 18, 1961 and is buried in Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Decatur, along with her parents and brother. Her memorial page also cites a newspaper obituary dated August 20, 1961 as follows:
Irene was born in Decatur [Macon County, Illinois], the daughter of Charles and Christine Specht Ehrhardt. She had been in failing health for several years. She was a retired legal secretary and had also worked for Houran’s Florist.
[1] Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007. [accessed 8 Nov 2015]
[2] Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
Original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. [accessed 8 Nov 2015]
This is an uncropped copy of the front of the postcard:
And here is the back:
