The following scanned JPEG files are from some old Isely photographs that I recently brought home from my Mother's home in Brawley, California.  They were originally in the possession of her parents, Merrill N. & Mildred Myers Isely.  I have included all images of those in Merrill & Mildred's generation and before:  I have not included images of subsequent generations.  Following is a list of the images with a description.  The notes on the photographs often appear to have been written many years after the photographs were taken, and appear to be in the handwriting of my Grandfather (Merrill), my Grandmother (Mildred), or my Mother (Mary Frances).

 

Glen E. Hermsmeier

San Marcos, Texas

January 2003

 

01--Rebecca Colett  (Nickerson)--Second wife of David A. Nickerson and stepmother to Frances E. Nickerson (Isely, Wells).

 

               R Collett (Nickerson) 01--Caption on back, "Rebecca Collett Nickerson . . . step grandmother of                          Merrill Isely"  Studio is Rogers, 106 E. Douglas, Ave., Wichita, Kas.

 

               Collett Relatives 01--Caption on back, "3 Collett Sisters at Turkey Run . . . left Aunt Ellen . . . 2 Aunt                Hanna . . . 3 Aunt Lou . . .Relatives from Ohio"  Studio is Butterworth of Wilmington, O.

 

02--Elise Dubach  (Isely)--Wife of Christian H. Isely.  Her story is told in "Sunbonnet Days", by Bliss Isely.

 

               Elise Dubach (Isely) 01--One of three photographs in an evelope with the following undated note                        from Bliss Isely:  "Dear Merrill, In case you do not recognize the pictures, the handsome                            lady is Grandmother Isely at the age of 19.  The fierce soldier is Grandfather Isely in 1861.                               The children in the family group are your father at aboput the age of 5, Aunt Alice, and                        Aunt Jo.  A Merry Christmas to you and yours.  Bliss"

 

               Elise Dubach (Isely) 02--Caption on back, "Elise Dubach Isely"  Studio is Chase of Hiawatha,                        Kansas.

 

               Elise Dubach (Isely) 03--Caption on back, "Elise Dubach Isely"

 

               Elise Dubach (Isely) 04--Caption on back, "Elise Dubach Isely"

 

03--Bliss Isely--Son of Christian H. & Elise Dubach Isely.  Noted author.

 

               Bliss Isely 01--Caption on back, "Bliss Isely"

 

               Bliss Isely 02--Caption on back, " 58 yrs . . . Bliss Isely"

 

               Bliss Isely 03--Caption on back, "Bliss Isely"

 

04--Charles C. Isely--Son of Christian H. & Elise Dubach Isely.

 

               CC Isely 01--Caption on back, "C.C. Isely"

 

               CC Isely 02--Caption on back, "1939 . . . CC Isely"

 

               CC Isely 03--Caption on back, "C.C. Isely" (probably 1945)

 

               CC Isely 04--Caption on back, "C.C. Isely-1945"

 

               CC Isely 05--Caption on back, "C.C. Isely-1945"

 

               CC Isely Family 01--Caption on back, "September 1924 . . . C.C. Isely family"

 

               Mrs CC Isely--Caption on back, "1945 . . . Mrs CC Isely (Almeda)"

 

05--Christian H. Isely--Husband of Elise Dubach.  Born is Switzerland, raised in Ohio, Civil War veteran (Union).  Early settler of Brown County, Kansas, with brothers Fred and Henry Isely.

 

               CH Isely 01--One of three photographs in an evelope with the following undated note from Bliss                           Isely:  "Dear Merrill, In case you do not recognize the pictures, the handsome lady is                               Grandmother Isely at the age of 19.  The fierce soldier is Grandfather Isely in 1861.  The                       children in the family group are your father at aboput the age of 5, Aunt Alice, and Aunt                   Jo.  A Merry Christmas to you and yours.  Bliss"

 

               CH Isely 02--Caption on back, "CH Isely"  Studio is Chase of Hiawatha, Kansas.

 

               CH Isely 03--Caption on back, "Christian H. Isely"  Studio is Baldwin Studio of Wichita, Kan.

 

               CH & Elise Isely 01--Caption on back, "Mr CH Isely & Elise Dubach Isely"

 

               CH Isely Family 01--One of three photographs in an evelope with the following undated note                        from Bliss Isely:  "Dear Merrill, In case you do not recognize the pictures, the handsome                            lady is Grandmother Isely at the age of 19.  The fierce soldier is Grandfather Isely in 1861.                               The children in the family group are your father at aboput the age of 5, Aunt Alice, and                        Aunt Jo.  A Merry Christmas to you and yours.  Bliss"

 

               CH Isely & Brothers 01--Caption on back, "The three Isely brothers . . . Left to right . . . Henry Fred                      & Christian"

 

               CH & Fred Isely Families 01--Photo is back of postcard addressed to "Mrs. Sopha Isely . . .                         Fairview, Kans."  Message is, "Dear Mrs. Isely, I want to congratulate you on the return                       of your birthday.  May you be kept in health and in peace for many years to come.  This is                   not a birthday card but I thought you might appreciate it.  Your pastor, J.A. Hunsicker"  It                            was not sent through the mail.

 

06--David D. Isely--Son of Bliss Isely.

 

               DD Isely 01--Appears to be a newspaper clipping.

 

07--Dwight Isely--Son of Christian H. & Elise Dubach Isely.

 

               D Isely 01--Caption on back, "Dwight Isely"  Studio is Livingston, 110 E. Douglas Ave., Wichita,                               Ks.  ("Beatrice R." is also written on back)

 

08--Frank C. Isely--Son of William H. & Frances E. Nickerson Isely.

 

               FC Isely 01--Caption on back, "Frank Isely"  Studio is Livingston, 110 E. Douglas Ave., Wichita,                               Ks.

 

               FC Isely 02--Caption on back, "Frank Isely"

 

09--Frederick B. Isely--Son of Christian H. & Elise Dubach Isely.

 

               FB Isely 01--Caption on back, "Fred B. Isely"  Studio is Chase of Hiawatha, Kansas.

 

               FB Isely Family 01--Caption on back, "Dear Aunt Sophia, This picture will show you how much the                         children have grown since you visited us.  Merry Christmas and love for all.  Fred.                     Fayette, Missouri . . . Top of Mt. Manitou . . . Aug. 1917"

 

               FB Isely Family 02--Caption on back, "Xmas 1924 . . . Frederick B Jr. 12, Ralph D 15, Harold, Marian,                  Fred, Mary"

 

               FB Isely Family 03--Caption on back, "The F.B. Isely family . . . Xmas 1924 . . . Taken Xmas Day in                       Fort Worth Texas . . . Frederick Jr 12 ys old . . . Ralph D  15."

 

10--James W. Isely--Son of Christian H. & Elise Dubach Isely.

 

               JW Isely Family 01--Photo is back of an unmailed postcard.  Caption on front, "James Isely family"

 

11--Lydia J. Isely (Wellman)--Daughter of Christian H. & Elise Dubach Isely.

 

               LI Wellman Family 01--Caption on back, "Mrs. Lydia I Wellman and children . . . Fred, Paul . . .                Alice, Manly" (top, left to right, then bottom, left to right)

 

               Wellman Family with Elise Isely 01--Caption on back, "The Four Generations . . . Elise Dubach Isely                      great gradmother . . . (Lydia) Jo Wellman grandmother . . . Paul Wellman father . . . Paul  Jr.                          baby"

 

12--M. Alice Isely--Daughter of Christian H. & Elise Dubach Isely.  Twin sister of William H. Isely.

 

               MA Isely 01--Caption on back, "Alice Isely"  Studio is Reed.

 

13--Merrill N. Isely--Son of William H. & Frances E. Nickerson Isely.  Congregational missionary in Turkey.

 

               MN Isely 01--Caption on back, "Merrill N. Isely . . . Age 9 weeks."  Studio is Sawyer, 112 E.                               Douglas Ave., Wichita, Kan.

 

               MN Isely 02--Caption on back, "Merrill N. Isely--Born 1894"

 

               MN Isely 03--Caption on back, "Merrill N. Isely" (no date, probably about 1900)

 

               MN Isely 04--Caption on lower matte, "Merrill N. Isely . . . 1918"  Studio is Fred H. Reed, 119 E.                   Douglas Ave.,  Wichita.

 

               MN Isely 05--Caption on back of folio, "MN Isely . . . 1928"  Stamp of folio, "A portrait by JE Purdy                         and Company, 145 Tremont St., Boston"

 

               MN Isely 06--Caption on back, "MN Isely . . . In Turkey . . . c. 1939"

 

               MN Isely 07--Caption on back, "1961 . . . Rev. Merrill N. Isely . . . Office of Communication for, The                United Church of Christ, 289 Park Avenue South, New York 10, N.Y."

 

               M & M Isely 01--Caption on back, "Lovers . . . Mildred Merrill Isely"

 

               M & M Isely 02--Photo is back of an unmailed postcard.  Message on front is "Leaving Turkey . . .                           1961"

 

               MN Isely Family 01--Caption on lower matte is "Mildred and Merrill Isely . . . Henry (Bill)  Mary                     Frances . . . 1936"  Studio is Purdy's of Boston.  (The actual date is more likely around                   1928)

 

               MN Isely Family 02--Photo is back of an unmailed postcard.  Message on front is "Mother's Day                Greeting . . . May 14, 1939 . . . Much love from us all . . Mildred, Merrill, Caroline, Bill,                     "Muffin""

 

               MN Isely Family 03--Caption on back, "1939 . . . Gaziantep"

 

14--Merrill N. & Frank C. Isely--Sons of William H. & Frances E. Nickerson Isely. 

 

               M & F Isely 01--Caption on back, "Merrill and Frank" 

 

               M & F Isely 02--Caption on back, "Frank & Merrill"

 

               M & F Isely 03--Caption on back, "Merrill & Frank Isely . . . South yard . . . 1616 Holyoke Ave. . . .                Wichita Kansas"

 

               M & F Isely 04--Caption on back, "Frank and Merrill Isely"

 

               M & F Isely 05--Caption on back, "Frank   -   Merrill"

 

               M & F Isely 06--Caption on back, "At the farm in Brown Co. . . . Frank and Merrill"

 

               M & F Isely 07--No caption on back.

 

               M & F Isely 08--Caption on lower right matte, "Frank and Merrill Isely"  Wichita studio name is not                          readable.

 

15--Quentin H. Isely--Son of Charles C. Isely.

 

               QH Isely 01--Caption on back, "Lt. Quentin H. Isely . . . 1945"

 

               QH Isely 02--Caption on back, "Lt. Quentin H. Isely . . . 1945 . . . Son of C.C. Isely""

 

16--William H. Isely--Son of  Christian H. and Elise Dubach Isely.  Twin brother of M. Alice Isely.  First Dean of Fairmont College (later Wichita State University).

 

               WH Isely 01--Caption on back, "WH Isely . . . Ottawa . . . 1892"  Studio is E.H. Corwin of Ottawa,                Kansas.

 

               WH Isely 02--Caption on back, "Upper Left, Merrill Boomer (for whom Merrill Isely was named) . . .                         W.H Isely Middle lower row . . . 1890 about"  Studio is Parker's of Ottawa, Kansas.

 

               WH Isely 03--Caption on back, "Wm Henry Isely . . . Commencement 1891"  Studio is Martin, 226 S.                     Main Street, Ottawa, Kansas.

 

               WH Isely 04--Caption on back, "WH Isely sitting . . . Earnest Starkweather . . . 1892"  Studio is The                        Little Gallery, "Round the Corner", Ottawa, Kans.

 

               WH Isely 05--Caption on back, "WH Isely . . . Cambridge . . . Harvard . . . 1892-3"  Studio is Pach                  Bros of Cambridge, Mass.

 

               WH Isely 06--Caption on back, "HW Isely . . . 1905 about"  Studio is Baldwin.

 

               WH Isely 07--Caption on back, "HW Isely . . . 1906"

 

               WH Isely 08--Caption on back, "Dean WH Isely 1907"

 

               WH Isely 09--Single leaf apparently torn from a book, no additional notes on back.

 

               WH & FN Isely 01--Caption on back, "Ottawa College Play . . . "Bazaro" . . . Father Mother Leading                  Parts . . . WHI Frances Nickerson . . . Ottawa 1893"  Photograph is brittle, possibly on                          metal.  Frances E. Nickerson is lower left, William H. Isely is lower right.  I also question                       Grandpa Merrill's date--both his parents were in the Ottawa U. class of 1891, so the date                       may actually be earlier.

 

               Ottawa U 01--Ottawa University Class of 1891.  Frances E. Nickerson (Isely,Wells) is row 3, column                     1; William H. Isely is row 3, column 2.  Printed on back is "W.H. Martin, Leading                                 Photographer, Ottawa, Kans.  Duplicates of this or any other photo made in these rooms,                   at reduced rates."

 

               WH Isely-Ft. Riley 01--Caption on back, "Pictures . . . Fort Riley . . . 1906 . . . WH Isely"  The small                item between the photographs is a 1914 calendar.

 

               WH Isely-Ft. Riley 02--Caption on back, "WH Isely . . . Fort Riley, Kansas . . . 1906 . . . National                           Guard"

 

               Ft. Riley 01--No caption.  (another in the 1906 Fort Riley series)

 

               Ft. Riley 02--Caption on back, "WH Isely . . . 1906 . . . Fort Riley . . . National Guard"

 

17--Isely Family Groups

 

               Isely Family 01--Caption on back, "Charles Isely, James Isely, Bliss Isely . . . Fred Isely, Dwight?,                              W.H. Isely"  (top, left to right, then bottom, left to right).  Studio is Maynard Bros.                    Portraits in Sabetha, Kas.

 

               Isely Family 02--Caption on back, "Iselys at Springdale Picnic Grounds . . . July 4, 1901? . . . Near                      Morrill"

 

               Isely Family 03--Caption on back, "Paul Wellman, Frank Isely, Merrill Isely, Frederick Wellman"                            (left to right)

 

               Isely Family 04--Caption on back, "Paul Wellman, Merrill Isely, Frederick Wellman, Frank Isely"                     (left to right)

 

               Isely Family 05--Caption on back, "Summer-1922 . . . Iselys . . . Harold, Robert, Ralph, Charles, Philip                    . . . Gene, Thornton, Quentin, Frederick" (top, left to right, then bottom, left to right).

 

               Isely Family 06--Caption on back, "Frederick I. Wellman & . . . Frank & Eunice Isely"

 

18--Mary McClung (Myers, Green).  Mother of Mildred Myers (Isely).

 

               M McClung (Myers,Green) 01--Caption on back, "Mary McClung Myers . . . Oct 1900"  Studio is                              E.A. Leon, Artist of Kansas City.

 

               M Myers Family 01--Caption on back, "Merle   Mary   Ruth   Mildred . . . Myers . . . May 26, 1906"

 

19--Mildred Myers (Isely, Nute).  Wife of Merrill N. Isely.  Congregational missionary in Turkey.

 

               M Myers (Isely,Nute) 01--Folio is stamped "A portait by J.E. Purdy and Company,  145 Tremont                               St., Boston" 

 

               M Myers (Isely, Nute) 02--Caption on lower right photo, "Mildred Isely . . . 1961"  Studio is                               Harvard Studio, 669 Boylston Street, Boston, Mass.

 

               Ruth & M Myers 01--Caption on back, "A Merry Loving Christmas to Grandpa from the girlies . . .                            Dec. 10-96. Kansas City . . . Ruth Myers 3 1/2 yrs . . . Mildred Myers 1 1/2 yrs"  Studio is                           Hansford, 542 Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas.

 

               Ruth & M Myers 02--Caption on back, "Dec 5 1903 . . . Ruth & Mildred Myers" also in pencil,                   "Aunt Gertrude" (recipient of the photo?).  Studio is Burdsal, 124 N. Main St., Wichita,                               Kan.

 

20--David A. Nickerson.  Father of Frances E. Nickerson (Isely,Wells).

 

               DA Nickerson 01--Caption on back, "David Nickerson . . . father of Frances E Nickerson Isely-                 Wells"  Studio is Rogers, 106 E. Douglas Ave., Wichita, Kas.

 

21--Frances E. Nickerson (Isely, Wells).  Wife of William H. Isely.

 

               1626 N Holyoke 01--Caption on back, "1626 N. Holyoke . . . Wichita, Kans."

 

               FE Nickerson 01--Caption on back, "Frances Nickerson . . . Isely Wells . . . about 1891"  Studio is                              E.H. Corwin of Ottawa, Kansas.

 

               FE Nickerson 02--Caption on back, "Frances Nickerson . . . Ottawa 1891 . . . From Wayne Parker,                  son of W.H. Parker . . . Via E.E. Parker? . . . Verda's Story . . . Frances "Maybe I should                  have been nicer to him""  Studio is Matrin, 226 S. Main Street, Ottawa, Kansas.

 

               FE Nickerson 03--Caption on back, "Frances Nickerson Isely Wells on left"  Studio is W.H. Martin                   of Ottawa, Kans.

 

               FE Nickerson 04--Caption on back, "Frances E. Nickerson . . . Isely--Wells"  Studio is E.H. Corwin                  of  Ottawa, Kansas.

 

               FE Nickerson 05--Caption on lower right matte, "Frances Isely-Wells"  Studio is Fred H. Reed, 119                       E. Douglas Ave., Wichita.

 

               FE Nickerson 06--Caption on lower right matte, "Mary Nickerson Isely"  Studio is Reid of Fort                        Worth.  (her given name was Frances Elizabeth Nickerson)

 

               FN Isely Family 01--Caption on back, " MN & FC Isely . . . Mother 1909 Probably . . . 1626 N                Hoyoke . . . Wichita"

 

22--C.B. Wells--Second husband of Frances E. Nickerson (Isely, Wells).  He was a minister.

 

               CB Wells 01--Caption on back, "1930 . . . C.B. Wells"

 

               M Wells (Cronin) 01--Caption on back, "Marion Wells Cronin"  Studio is Pollenger Studio of                          Wichita, Ks. (daugher of CB Wells?)

 

23--Unknown

 

               Unknown 01--Caption on back, "Rt. Mary Frances McKay . . . Lt.  S Kimmings?"  Studio is                              Butterworth of Wilmington, O. (studio is the same as Collett Relatives 01)

 

               Unknown 02--Probably Merrill N. Isely about 1897.

 

 

 

 

 

I've also included scans of the following photographs:

 

Mary F. Isely (Hermsmeier)--Daughter of Merrill N. & Mildred Myers Isely.

 

               LF & MF Hermsmeier 01--Caption on lower left matte, "March 1949"  Studio is The Henson Studio,                   Minneapolis, Minn.

 

               MF Isely (Hermsmeier) 01--Caption on back, "Mary Frances Isely . . . Aintab Spring 1925 . . . 2 yr 4                   mo."

 

               MF Isely (Hermsmeier) 02--Caption on lower right matte, "Mary Frances Isely . . . 1944- . . .                             Graduation from KSU College"  Studio is Newburg Studio of Minneapolis.

 

               MF Isely (Hermsmeier) 03--Caption on lower right photo, "Lots of love to Grandmother and                               Grandfather from Mary Frances"  Caption on lower matte, "1940-Grad from Newton Mass                      HS"  Studio is Alfred Brown of Brookline, Mass.

 

               MF Isely (Hermsmeier) 04--Caption on lower right matte, "MF Isely . . . 1947"  Studio is Univerrsal                       Studios.