A visit to Southern California was not considered complete without a sight of Cathedral Rock.1

Figure 2: Cathedral Rock, La Jolla, Cal. by M. Reider Publisher (front and back)

“Cathedral Rock, La Jolla, Cal. by M. Reider Publisher,” postcard, ca. 1909, in author’s private collection. The postcard is from the author’s mother’s estate and was probably purchased at a Southern California garage sale or thrift store between 1983 and 2010.

Transcription of Figure 2:

Back:

My Dear
So much mental work
am so busy will send
you letter soon. Was
glad to get yours. Every
thing you send always
gives me a new thought
for my work. Glad you
could meet Mr. H.
Loveingly [sic]
[signature] Jennie E. Rutherford

Postmarked 11 October 1909 from La Jo[lla], Cal.
Mrs. Mary H Butterworth
100 So Elmolino [sic]
Pasadena
Calif.

Mrs. Mary Field (Hammond) Butterworth

Mary Field Hammond, born 1869 in New York, lived in 1870 and 1880 in her father Spencer Hammond’s household. 2 She married William Alexander Butterworth on 25 February 1895 in Asbury Park, New Jersey.3 In 1900 and 1910 Mrs. Mary H. Butterworth was enumerated at 100 South El Molino in Pasadena, the same address on the postcard.4

Mary and her husband were interested in gardening. Mary wrote to the Asbury Park Journal in 1902 to correct a misconception about the rarity of plants.5 Her husband spoke in 1934 before the Horticultural Conference of Southern California.6

Mrs. Jennie E. (Marrs) Rutherford

Jennie E. (Marrs) was born in about 1879 in Colorado.7 She married migrated to California with her husband James Taylor Rutherford.8 She was not enumerated with an occupation in 1900 through 1940 in San Diego County.9

In 1930 Jennie was identified as a Christian Scientist practitioner.10

Conclusions

The writer was Jennie E. (Marrs) Rutherford and the recipient of the postcard was Mary Field (Hammond) Butterworth. The women were separated by ten years in age and a hundred miles distance in there residences in Southern California. They corresponded through not just this postcard, but also through letters. Jennie says in the postcard message that Mary was offering ideas for her work. They had likely corresponded about a Mr. H. The final salutation, “loveingly,” suggests a friendship rather than a business relationship.


  1. “Famous Landmark Destroyed,” Cathedral Rock, The Pittsburg Press (Penn.), 16 March 1906, p. 5, col. 1; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/142167034/ : viewed 5 December 2023).
  2. 1870 U.S. census, Wyoming Co., N.Y., pop. sched., Pike Twp., page 281 (stamped), dw. 93, fam. 97, Mary R. Hammond in Spencer S. Hammond household; digital images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6799-SFK : viewed 6 December 2023); showing NARA microfilm publication M593, roll 1119. 1880 U.S. census, Wyoming Co., N.Y., pop. sched., ED 211, Warsaw Twp., p. 9A, dw. 98, fam. 106, Minnie K. Hammond in Spencer S. Hammond; digital images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YB2-94K1 : viewed 6 December 2023); showing NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 948. “Married,” Mary Field Hammond and William Alexander Butterworth, Asbury Park Press (N.J.), 25 February 1895, p. 1, col. 1; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/436898917/).
  3. “Married,” Mary Field Hammond and William Alexander Butterworth, Asbury Park Press (N.J.), 25 February 1895, p. 1, col. 1; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/436898917/).
  4. 1900 U.S. census, Los Angeles Co., Calif., pop. sched., ED 113, Pasadena Twp., 8th Pct., sheet 11B, dw. 272, fam. 280, Mary H. Butterworth in Wm. A. Butterworth household; digital images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-XC5S-6MY : viewed 6 December 2023); showing NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 91. 1910 U.S. census, Los Angeles, Calif., pop. sched., ED 299, Pasadena, Ward 3, sheet 1B, dw. 23, fam. 23, Mary H. Butterworth in William A. Butterworth household; digital images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRV6-QZP : viewed 6 December 2023); showing NARA microfilm publication T624, roll 86.
  5. “Green Roses Not Uncommon,” The Journal (Asbury Park, N.J.), 20 June 1902, p. 5, col. 6; digital images Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/436764493/ : viewed 6 December 2023).
  6. “South Invites Guests to See —-Billboards!: Horticulturalists Rap ‘Marred Highways’,” W. A. Butterworth, The Pasadena Post (Calif.), 23 January 1934, p. 3, col. 6; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/622288731/).
  7. 1870 U.S. census, Boulder Co., Col., pop. sched., ED 113, Caribou Twp., p. 6B, dw. 1, lines 8-12 (printed), Jennie E. Marrs in David Marrs household; digital images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YYX-SL4 : viewed 6 December 2023); showing NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 89. The census taker incorrectly numbered dwellings–starting from 1 on each page. They also numbered individuals rather than families.
  8. “La Jollan Dies 26 Hours After Wife Succumbs,” obituaries James Taylor Rutherford and Mrs. Jennie E. Rutherford, San Diego Union (Calif.), 29 December 1944, p. 5B, col. 2; digital images, HeritageHub (https://infoweb.newsbank.com/ : viewed 6 December 2023). Identifying Jennie’s maiden name and marriage.
  9. 1900 U.S. census, San Diego Co., Calif., pop. sched., ED 178, Guatay Twp., sheet 6A, dw. 124, fam. 124, Jennie E. Rutherford in James T. Rutherford household; digital images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DCWQ-ZT5 : viewed 6 December 2023); showing NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 99. 1910 U.S. census, San Diego Co., Calif., pop. sched., ED 143, San Diego, Ward 1, sheet 13B, dw. 344, fam. 347, Jennie E. Rutherford in James T. Rutherford household; digital images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRFC-1HT : viewed 6 December 2023); showing NARA microfilm publication T624, roll 94. 1920 U.S. census, San Diego Co., Calif., pop. sched., ED 288, San Diego Twp., sheet 3A, dw. 65, fam. 78, Jennie E. Rutherford in James T. Rutherford household; digital images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GR6H-KC : viewed 6 December 2023); showing NARA microfilm publication T625, roll 131. 1930 U.S. census, San Diego Co., Calif., pop. sched., ED 118, San Diego Twp., sheet 1A, dw. 4, fam. 4, Jennie E. Rutherford in James T. Rutherford household; digital images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GR4N-3M9 : viewed 6 December 2023); showing NARA microfilm publication T626.
  10. 1930 U.S. census, San Diego Co., Calif., pop. sched., ED 118, San Diego Twp., sheet 1A, dw. 4, fam. 4, Jennie E. Rutherford in James T. Rutherford household.
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