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Writing on back reads: "Mr + Mrs L.E. Crouch and ?
Rockville, Conn.
Jennie Castello - Crouch
(Given to me in 1920)"
In this photograph, a windswept trio stands outside a farmhouse. The couple on the right are identified, while the third man at the far left remains a mystery.
Jennie Castello, the woman in this photo, was born in Wahoo, Nebraska, around 1875. She was the daughter of Irish immigrants William and Elizabeth Castello. William, a farmer, immigrated to the United States in 1857 and soon after served in the 17th Regiment of the Ohio Infantry during the Civil War. Jennie had six siblings: Thomas, Carrie, Willie, Minnie, Ida, and Johnnie. Sadly, both Willie and Johnnie died in childhood.
In 1904, Jennie married Lawrence Egbert Crouch, a laborer and mill worker. Lawrence was born in New York around 1879. In the 1910 census, Jennie and Lawrence are living with Lawrence's mother, Elisabeth, and his step-father, Henry Kelsted, in Tolland, Connecticut. By 1920, they were living on their own.
According to the inscription, this photograph shows the couple's home in Rockville (the census records say they lived in Tolland, though the two towns are so close together either could be accurate).
The couple never had children. Lawrence passed away in 1951, after which Jennie stayed with friends Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Hill. Jennie was eventually moved into the Rockville Convalescent Home, where she passed away in March 1969. She was buried at North Cemetery in Tolland.
Jennie's obituary states that she left behind no relatives, but I hope she still has family out there that might like to have this photo.
If you know who this may be, let us know in the comments!