Bliss Native Herbs

Paul Christiansen - Patent Medicine Salesman

Postmark: COLUMBUS NEBR MAY 6 130 PM
Wm Brunken
Lahoma
Oklahoma 

While I am not able to transcribe and translate the German script of the message, I do see the names "Minnie" and "Charles Grossnicolaus". Also, the signature is "Paul Christiansen".

Who's Who

• "Wm Brunken" is William Leopold Brunken.
• "Minnie" is Minnie Christina (Petersen) Grossnicklaus, wife of Charles Grossnicklaus.
• "Charles Grossnicolaus" is Charles Frederick "Charley" Grossnicklaus.
• "Paul Christiansen" is Paul P. Christiansen[1][2][3].

Story

Apparently, Paul Christiansen has sent a picture of himself with his vendor rig to my grandfather, William Brunken.

The side of the buggy includes several word sets: "BLISS NATIVE HERBS".  "PAUL CHRISTIANSEN PLATTE CENTER, NEBR" and "ASK FOR A ----". From the 1900, 1910 and 1920 US Census records, Paul Christiansen was a vendor of patent medicines[1][2][3].

What is the relationship of Paul Christiansen to William Brunken?  I have found two indirect connections:

1. In the 1900 US Census, Paul is a boarder in the home of Will and Anna Lambrecht in Lost Creek Township, Platte, Nebraska[1]. In the Census record, the Will Lambrecht house is next to the house of Andrew Petersen, brother of Carsten Petersen, Sr.  And, according to the 1899 ownership map of Lost Creek Township, Platte, Nebraska, Andrew Petersen's property adjoins that of his brother of Carsten Petersen, Sr. which is where William Brunken's wife, Clara Marie "Mary" (Petersen) Brunken, lived until she married.
2. In the 1910 US Census, Paul is a boarder in the home of Otto and Emma Mueller household[2].  Emma (Petersen) Mueller is the sister of Clara Marie "Mary" (Petersen) Brunken, wife of William Leopold Brunken to whom this postcard was addressed.

This still leaves several questions. Why did Paul Christiansen send this postcard to William Brunken?  And, what does Paul say about Minnie and Charles Grossnicklaus?  The answers to these questions will likely be found from a translation of the message on the postcard.

Date

The postmark is May 6, but does not give the year.  Probably after 1910[4].

Location

Near Platte Center, Platte, Nebraska.

Notes

1. The 1900 US Census (June 8, 1900)  includes a Paul Christiansen who is living as a boarder in the home of Will and Anna Lambrecht in Lost Creek Township, Platte, Nebraska. He is single, age 44, born April 1856 in Germany, can read, can write, can speak English. And, his occupation is agent for patent medicine. 
2. The 1910 US Census (April 15, 1910) includes a Paul P. Christiansen who is living as a boarder in the home of Otto and Emma Mueller in Grand Prairie Townships, Platte, Nebraska. He is single, age 54, born in Germany, immigrated to the United States in 1885, is naturalized, speaks English, and his occupation is salesman of patent medicine. 
3. The 1920 US Census (January 1920) includes a Paul Christiansen who is living by himself in a rental in Platte Center Village, Lost Creek Township, Platte, Nebraska.  He is single, age 63, born in Germany, immigrated to United States in 1880, naturalized in 1884, can read, can write, speaks English and his occupation is peddler of medicine.
4. William Brunken moved to Lahoma, Oklahoma in 1910.  And, Minnie Christina Petersen and Charles Frederick "Charley" Grossnicklaus were married 26 Apr 1911.