George Schenk

Falls in Canyon Creek

~ Lark

The picture on the front of this photo postcard was taken by George Schenk.  Canyon Creek, formerly called Georgetown, was a gold camp and is located about 6 miles northeast of Marysville.

Falls in Canyon Creek
Falls in Canyon Creek, 1898. Mary G. Rumping Schenk Schaffer Riordan Photograph and Personal Papers Collection

This is the back of the photo postcard, with a note written by Mary.  It appears the note may have been written in two parts, since “Falls in Canyon Creek” is written in green ink and the remainder is written in black.  I think Mary may have gone through her photo collection in later years and made a “best guess” at dates.  And in this case, the “1898” date may be incorrect – assuming this photo was taken with the Kodak camera that was introduced in 1903 for the purpose of allowing amateur photographers to take and mail personal photographic postcards like this one.

Falls in Canyon Careek_back
Back of “Falls in Canyon Creek, 1898”. Mary G. Rumping Schenk Schaffer Riordan Photograph and Personal Papers Collection

Only one girl in this world for me

~ Lark
George Schenk head shot_vignette Mary Rumping head shot_2_vignette
Another letter from George Schenk to Mary dated April 30, 1897, while he was living in Belt, Montana.  This letter appears to cover three different writing episodes over two days.  Spelling, punctuation and capitalization are as seen in the original letter, except for edits I made as necessary to clarify meaning.

April 30 [1897]

Dear Mary,

This is Friday and I have just finished the dishes and fixed up the bed and the house so I have nothing to do but write.

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Because I am your father . . .

~ Lark

I was hoping to find a Father’s Day Card somewhere in my great grandmother’s collection but had no luck.  I did, however, find this lovely page in her daughter’s autograph book.  Her daughter, Georgiana Frances, was nicknamed “Georgie” when she was young.  Georgie’s father, Mary’s first husband George Schenk, died on October 31, 1915, when Georgie was only 14 years old.  Seven days before he died, he signed her autograph book.  He had been sick for two years with tuberculosis so it seems quite likely he knew he was dying when he penned this note.  He was only 38 years old.

Dear Daughter Georgie . . . signed by Your Loving Father, George Schenk