500,000th Visitor To This Website!

Yesterday, this website had its 500,000th visitor.

That’s pretty exciting news.

Since 1999, I’ve been writing and talking about Sears Homes. In August 2010, I started “blogging regularly” at this site. And then in June 2011, a new topic appeared: Addie Hoyt Fargo. She was my great Aunt, who died under very suspicious circumstances in Lake Mills, Wisconsin in 1901.

Apparently, folks share my interest in these topics, and for that, I’m very grateful.

To learn more about Sears Homes, click here.

To read about my beautiful aunt Addie, click here.

Interesting in learning more about the rich and complex funeral customs of the late 19th Century? Click here.

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Addie Hoyt Fargo and Anna Hoyt Whitmore were sisters. Anna Hoyt was my great-great grandmother, and the Hoyt family moved to Lake Mills in the early 1840s.

Addie Hoyt Fargo and Anna Hoyt Whitmore were sisters. Anna Hoyt was my great grandmother. The Hoyt family moved to Lake Mills in the early 1840s. Anna was born in 1866 and Addie was born in 1872. In this photo (taken about 1889), Addie is on the left.

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This picture was taken on Addies wedding day in February 1896. Was this photo taken on the same day as the first photo shown above (with the cape)? I dont think so, but its hard to know for sure.

This picture was taken on Addie's wedding day in February 1896.

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This photo, taken in 1894, really showcases Addies elegance and sophistication. She came from a wealthy family.

This photo, taken in 1894, really showcases Addie's elegance and sophistication. She came from a wealthy family.

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I love it that theres a mink *in* her hat.

I love it that there's a mink *in* her hat.

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A photo of Addie in her bedroom at the Fargo Mansion (Lake Mills) in the late 1890s.

A photo of Addie in her bedroom at the Fargo Mansion (Lake Mills) in the late 1890s.

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This photo was taken in the early 1890s in Lake Mills. It was titled Addie and her pony. I found it at the Lake Mills Library.

This photo was taken in the early 1890s in Lake Mills. It was titled "Addie and her pony." I found it at the Lake Mills Library during a research trip in November 2011.

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A photo of Addie

As shown in this photo, Addie was a snappy dresser.

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To read about Addie’s exhumation, click here.

To learn more about Sears Homes, click here.

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5 Comments

  1. David Natalie

    I have what I believe may be a Sears kit home, The Chelsea. I have several photos if you are interested in having a look.

    The home was built around 1910 in Clinton, Indiana.

    The house sits approx 1/2 mile from a major rail road. I have not been able to find any stamps on the trim pieces I have removed.

    Thanks,
    David

  2. Sears Homes

    Yes, I’d love to see a picture of your house. Send it to me!!!

  3. Jan

    Congratulations to you on this milestone number visitors!

    I have always enjoyed my visits to your website and I especially loved all your writings about your dear Aunt Addie as you untangled that mystery.

    Best wishes for continued success!

  4. Dale Wolicki

    WooHoo! Congrats! from from your friends in Michigan!

  5. RITA MORRIS

    I was looking for information on my family members in Lake Mills (Rueckert, Michaelis, Gericke, Pohlmann) when I came across something that caught my eye. Rachel Rueckert is listed as the daughter of Martha Fargo.

    This led to my researching Martha and led me to your site. I don’t have any idea of how this information came to be, because as far as I know, my mother is the daughter of Henry and Flora Rueckert (life-long residents of this area).

    If you could shed some light on this, I’d be very thankful. My mother was listed as being 39 at the time, and Martha was 67.