Nettie Follett, Oberlin, Ohio 1870's

Henrietta Jeanette "Nettie" Follett was born in Licking County, Ohio in 1848 to dairy farmers Katharine Vansickle and Eliphalet Follett. She had 3 older brothers- Dwight, Lewis, and Howard- and 3 younger siblings- twins Fanny and Frank, and Will. Nettie was 13 when the Civil War began. All 3 of her older brothers enlisted with the Union army as soon as they could. Her oldest brother Dwight joined the 22nd Regiment, Ohio Infantry in September 1861, though tragically he died in a St. Louis Military Hospital in 1862. Lewis and Howard both survived the war.

Source: A History of Cleveland, Ohio 
by Samuel Peter Orth, 1910

The Follets believed in a good education for their children, not only for their sons but for their daughters as well. Nettie, along with Frank, Fanny, and Will, attended Oberlin College. Oberlin was the first co-educational college in the United States, admitting its first female students in 1837. Nettie attended Oberlin between 1865 and 1870 in the "Ladies' Department," where she would have earned an education equal to her brothers'. At Oberlin, Nettie met Carlos M. Stone, a law student. They were married in 1872.

The couple soon relocated to Cleveland, where Stone started a private law practice. He later became a common pleas court judge and in 1879 was elected prosecutor of Cuyahoga County. In 1899 he ran for the Republican nomination for Mayorality of Cleveland, though he lost to Bob McKisson. He is described in the History of Strongsville, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, as being an honorable man with a strong sense of character. Nettie is mentioned only briefly in the book, along with their two children, Ruth and Katherine.

Map of Euclid Heights
Source: Cleveland Public Library Digital Gallery

Their first daughter, Ruth, was born in 1875. Their second, Katherine, was born in 1883. The Stones had a very comfortable life in Cleveland. In 1900 they were living in Euclid Heights, a fashionable, upper-class neighborhood (which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places). When Carlos Stone died of pneumonia in 1908, he left everything to Nettie. Her daughters were still unmarried and living at home at the time, though Ruth had taken up a job as an editor for a magazine. In fact, Ruth would never marry and instead worked many different jobs, including as a secretary and the manager of an office building, until she retired. In 1920, 68-year-old Nettie was still living in Euclid Heights at 2820 Edgehill Road, along with Ruth, Katherine, Katherine's husband Frank Ray Walker (an important architect in Cleveland), their son Richard, Fannie Writner (Nettie's personal nurse), and John and Elizabeth Fehon (a Hungarian couple who served as the family's butler and maid).

It is likely Nettie died sometime in her 70's, as she does not appear in the 1930 census. Unfortunately, I could not find an exact year.

If you know who this may be, let us know in the comments!

Kate Kennard, St. Louis, Missouri 1881

Kate Kennard was born in 1863 in St. Louis, Missouri. She was the daughter of Edmonia Cates and Dr. Thomas Kennard. Dr. Kennard was a prominent physician from Maryland and the Treasurer of the St. Louis Medical Society. He was the son of Dr. Thomas Kennard Sr, also a prominent Maryland physician. Edmonia was the daughter of a lawyer.

Kate had one sibling, an older brother named Bates, who was born in 1862. In 1879, when Kate was 16, her father died of cirrhosis of the liver caused by Hepatitis C. Just a month after the death of her husband, Kate's mother, Edmonia, was admitted to the Missouri State Lunatic Asylum, where she would remain until her death. It is unclear exactly why she was admitted. During this period in history, it was unfortunately common for women to be diagnosed with "hysteria", a type of mental illness that we might diagnose today as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or any number of other conditions. An 1854 document from the Missouri State Lunatic Asylum lists "loss of husband" as a possible cause of insanity.

While Bates stayed in St. Louis, Katie went away to Kennedyville, Kent, Maryland to live with her grandmother, Jane Kennard, her aunts Kate and Virginia, her uncle Frank, and their many servants. In Kent County, the Kennards owned multiple large properties. It's possible that Kate stayed at "Elmwood," or the "Home Farm," which was "especially noticeable for the size and excellence of its residence and outbuildings and the beauty of the size of its lawn, yard, and garden." The house there was a brick building with 15 rooms and had "an unusually large and well-arranged vegetable and flower garden," an apple orchard, and a peach orchard, as well as a large barn. This is all described in an 1883 newspaper advertisement written by Kate's uncle, Henry C. Kennard when the family was trying to sell the properties.

The last few times I can find mention of Kate is in the 1890s, when she is visiting friends in Winfield, Kansas for their weddings. She visits Winfield again in 1915, still unmarried at 53, for another wedding. After this, I'm not sure what happened to Kate Kennard. It's possible she finally married and changed her name, or moved somewhere completely different. Maybe I can find her family one day and they can tell me!

If you know who this is, let us know in the comments!

Theodore Philip Starke, Norfolk, England 1890's

"Faithfully yours
Theodore Philip Starke"

Theodore Philip Starke was born in 1865 in Buxton, Norfolk, England to parents Robert and Frances Sarah Starke. Robert and Frances had 5 children, of which Theodore was the youngest. Robert Starke was a police sergeant and later, a superintendent of police. Frances Starke also worked, making and selling straw bonnets. Theodore's oldest brother, Henry, followed in their father's footsteps and became a police constable. Theodore, however, had different ideas for his future. At age 16, he was already working as a pupil teacher (or student teacher), though I can't find that he ever actually became a teacher. Instead, he seemed to find his calling in reform movements and organizations.

In 1891, at age 26, Theodore is living in St. Peter Mancroft at the boarding house of Sarah Hughes. During this time he is working as a secretary for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Also known as the NSPCC, the Society was founded in 1884 to address child abuse and neglect and successfully campaigned for Parliament to pass the first UK law to protect children in 1889. The NSPCC still exists today.

Later that year, in the summer of 1891, Theodore married Sarah Anna Warren. They had 3 children but their daughter, Dorothy May, born in 1896, was the only one to survive past infancy. In 1911 the Starkes are living in Buxton at 10 Queen's Crescent with Mary Ann Warren, Sarah's mother. Theodore was now working as the organizing secretary of a temperance society, the United Kingdom Alliance.

His daughter Dorothy married Ernest H. Clark in 1925. After Theodore died in 1939, his wife Sarah went to live with Dorothy and Ernest on their farm in Shropshire until her death in 1959.

If you know who this may be, let us know in the comments!

Hazel E. Worsdell, Carthage, Missouri 1900's

The back reads:
"Hazel Worsdell
To Helen Farley
From
Great Aunt Alice
Clarence Farley's Wife
Helen's Mother"

Hazel E. Worsdell was born in Carthage, Missouri on March 16, 1893. Hazel was the youngest child of Elizabeth and William Worsdell. She had a brother and sister, Ralph and Rebecca, who were both much older than her. Her father William was a preacher from Ohio, the son of English immigrants. The Worsdell family seemed to have relocated often as Rev. Worsdell moved from church to church. In 1905, he was preaching at a church in Byron, Kansas when he suddenly fell ill and returned to his family in Vermont, Illinois. Hazel lost her father a few months later when she was only 12 years old. Her mother, Elizabeth, moved Hazel and her sister Rebecca to the nearby town of Eureka. Here Elizabeth worked as a dressmaker to support herself and her two daughters. Rebecca's health soon began to decline. The family struggled financially and eventually sold their house and most of their belongings before moving to Henry, Illinois. Rebecca died there in 1906.

Hazel, now with just her mother, moved again, this time back to Missouri. In Sedalia, Missouri, Elizabeth and Hazel lived with Elizabeth's sister, Augusta, who was also a dressmaker. As soon as she was out of school, Hazel began working as well. At 17, she was working in the office of a printing company and in 1911, at 18, she was working as a clerk at a Chasnoff's department store. That same year, she married Clarence Newton Farley. According to a newspaper article, the engagement was announced at a party Hazel had with her friends from the department store. Hazel is described in the article as "a pretty and well-liked young lady", while Clarence is described only as being "employed at the Globe Clothing store." They were married on September 17, 1911.

In 1912, the couple moved to a farm in Green Ridge, Missouri, but returned to Sedalia in 1917. Clarence worked as a postal clerk in Sedalia for 34 years (and also apparently raised American chinchilla rabbits as a hobby.) During this time, Hazel and Clarence had four daughters: Grace, Helen, Ethel, and Lillian. Sadly, their youngest daughter Lillian died in 1950 at only 26.
According to the writing on the back, this photo was once gifted to Hazel and Clarence's daughter, Helen, by a "Great Aunt Alice"- an older sister of Hazel's mother. Helen lived with her parents for many years and did not marry until later in life.

Hazel Worsdell Farley passed away in 1969, age 76.

If you know who this may be, let us know in the comments!

Granddaughter of Mrs. S.P. Garner, Lincoln, Kansas, 1900's

The message addressed to Mrs. S.P. Garner reads:
"Me age about 18

Hello Grandma
can you guess
who this is?
Wish I was back thair
to help eat those peaches

Mrs. S.P. Garner in 1939,
age 94. She lived to be 99.

and charries.
Goodbye dear Grandma
ans soon."

Mrs. S.P. Garner, this young woman's grandmother, was born Sarah Permelia Spurgeon in West Virginia, 1845. She married William C. Garner, a Civil War veteran who was also born and raised in West Virginia, in 1869. They moved to Lincoln, Kansas where they lived for many years. They had 7 children: Charles, Viola Irene, Harry, Phoebe, Linley Darwin, William, and John, though I don't believe all of them lived to adulthood.

According to the newspaper article on the right, Mrs. Garner had 13 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. The young woman in this photo is one of her many granddaughters, though it is unclear which one as she is not identified.

If you know who this girl or her grandmother may be, let us know in the comments!

Father Joseph Wonderly and Students, Peru, Indiana 1920's

The writing on the back reads:
"High School Girls
Top Row: Thelma Gilbert, Antionette Lewis, Theta Johnson, Genevieve Withers, Gertrude Brennan
Second Row: Joan Carrol, Hazel ???, Thelma ???, Father Wonderly, Martha Frances, ???
Third Row: Lucille Damica, Georgianna Wagner, Catharine Richmond, Alice Crume, Selene ???
Bottom Row: Mary Kruntzer, Mildred Gillen, Margaret Cade, Mary Kammel"

Joseph S. Wonderly was born August 26th, 1895 in Huntington, Indiana to John and Kate Wonderly.
Joseph suffered many losses as a child. His mother died in 1902 after giving birth to Joseph's youngest brother, Robert. His older brother, John, died of tuberculosis in 1914 and his father, a respected locomotive engineer, died in 1919.

Joseph Wonderly in his high school yearbook.

Joseph went on to attend St. Mary's Parochial School, St. Joseph's College, and Mt. St. Mary's Seminary of the West. He became ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Aldering at Fort Wayne, Indiana on June 10th, 1922. He took a foreign language course at Maryland University and intended to do missionary work in China, though I have found no record of him ever doing so.

I believe this photograph was taken during Father Wonderly's time in Peru, Indiana, between about 1923 to 1928, when he taught at the St. Charles Borromeo School. The school was founded in 1922 by the Sisters of Providence from St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Father Wonderly then set out for Texas around 1929. In Pampa, Texas, he was a pastor at the Holy Souls church and taught at the Holy Souls Parochial School. He lived in Pampa until 1940, when he returned to his home state of Indiana. Rev. Joseph Wonderly died in Indiana in 1976, age 81.

If you know who any of these folks may be, let us know in the comments!

William Dorsey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1870's

The inscription on the back reads:
"Presented to me by his
daughter, Sarah Dorsey,
during my visit in their
home at Colorado Springs
June 6th 1906
S.K.J"
Though the name of the man in this photo is not written, I believe it is William Dorsey of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

William Dorsey was a prominent minister of the Society of Friends, a merchant of the firm Benedict Dorsey & Son, and was a founder of Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. He was born on October 18th, 1810 to parents Benedict Dorsey and Mary Johnson. Benedict was a merchant and with his son ran a china store, Benedict Dorsey & Son. In 1834, William was married to his first wife Elizabeth Knight. Sadly, both Elizabeth and William's father, Benedict, died in 1841. In 1842, not long after his 32nd birthday, William was married again to Susanna Haydock.

An article from the Evening Telegraph, November 11th, 1869

William was a member of the Building Committee for Swarthmore College, which opened in 1869. On the day of the school's official opening, Dorsey gave an address alongside Lucretia Mott, a fellow Quaker and an activist for abolition and women's rights. When William Dorsey died in 1874 at age 63, his obituary was published in newspapers across the country.

From his first marriage, William had two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. With Susanna, he had Sarah. Sarah lived with her sister, Elizabeth, in Colorado Springs for many years. She was an active member of several groups, including the Needlework Guild of America and the Women's Advisory Board of the El Paso County Horticultural Society. In 1906, the same year her sister Elizabeth died, Sarah presented this carte de visite of her father to an "S.K.J". I wonder who those initials belong to?

If you know who this may be, let us know in the comments!

Annie Clark and Thomas Glenn Newell, Minnesota, 1883

This photo of Annie and Thomas Newell is a copy of an earlier tintype from the 1880's.

Thomas Glenn Newell was born in St. Clair, Michigan in 1858. His parents, Samuel and Marion, were Scottish immigrants. Samuel was a weaver and a farmer but became a doctor later in life. From Michigan, the family moved to Canada, and then to Minnesota. While he was in his early 20's, Thomas lived with his sister Marion and worked as a telegraph operator until 1883, when he married Annie Clark.

"Rosanna" or Annie Rose Clark was born in Lake City, Minnesota in 1861. Her parents, William and Margaret, were Irish immigrants. Annie was the second eldest of ten children. She married Thomas Newell when she was about 22 years old. This photograph is likely their wedding portrait. Together, Thomas and Annie had 8 children: Thomas, Raymond, Anna, Lillian, Octavia, Yetieve, George, and Theodore. While in Minnesota, Thomas worked as a dentist.

According to a newspaper article I found, in 1902 the eldest Newell son, Thomas, accidentally set fire to the family home while lighting a stove. Mrs. Newell was badly burned on the face and neck while trying to smother the flames and the younger children were forced to jump out of an upstairs window. Luckily, all survived.

If you know who this couple may be, let us know in the comments!

Dave and Lizzie Roussy, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1900's

This lovely young couple is Dave and Lizzie Roussy.

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Holtz was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in 1882. She was the daughter of  Frederick Holtz, a farmer and Civil War veteran, and Anne Maria Geiger. Both parents were German immigrants. Lizzie had 3 older siblings: Christian, Hermina, and Herman. On May 16th, 1901, Lizzie married David John L. Roussy.

David was born in Switzerland in 1878 and immigrated to the United States in 1892. In Wisconsin, he worked as a steward at the Milwaukee Club. The Milwaukee Club, established in 1882, is an exclusive club for businessmen that still exists today. It was during his time as a steward that he served in WWI. He later worked as a shipping clerk, and as a woodworker.

David and Lizzie had 3 children: Marie Jane Evalyn in 1903, Depierraz in 1908, and Nathalie in 1917. (Depierraz is an unusual name. I haven't been able to find it anywhere else. I wonder if he went by Pierre?) Depierraz married Rosella Berns in 1927, while neither Evalyn nor Nathalie ever married.

If you know who this couple may be, let us know in the comments!

Nicholas Feo, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1940's

This very dapper looking man is Nicholas Feo, born in Williamstown, New Jersey on July 8th, 1906. His parents, Philip and Julia Feo, were Italian immigrants who arrived in the United States in 1901. Not long after his birth, the family moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where Philip worked as a bartender. Nicholas had one sibling, a younger brother named Peter. I wonder if it is one of Peter's children who wrote "Uncle Nick" on the back of this picture?  Nicholas married Philomena "Mamie" Di Carlo in 1940. He died in New Jersey in 1980.

The photographer, Sebastian Faragalli, was also Italian American. He operated his photography studio on Passyunk Ave in the 1930's and 40's.

This photo postcard was found with the picture of Uncle Nick:

Here is a rough translation of the Italian writing:

"Lorella Elena on the right is 16 years. Sitting is Giannina, 18 years. And I, Feo Francesco, am 13 years. ?? 1940. We wish you a good Easter to all. Good Tidings. Greetings to all- Your Cousin Francesco Feo"

Though I couldn't find any record of Francesco, Giannina, or Lorella Elena Feo, I would guess they are Nicholas's cousins writing to him from Italy. The photo appears to have been done by an itinerant or traveling photographer because it was taken outside- you can see the dirt ground and the edge of the backdrop.

If you know who this family may be, let us know in the comments!

Laura A. Wilson and Elizabeth Cheney, Christian, Illinois 1860's

Laura Alice Wilson was born in Ohio in 1853 to Abraham Wilson and Nancy Watkins. Her mother died that same year. Laura was raised for many years by her grandparents, John and Emma Watkins. On September 24th, 1874, Laura married Charles Wesley Cheney in Illinois. They had three children: Nellie J., William Glenn, and Nuna Florence. In 1883 the family moved to McPherson, Kansas. After the death of Charles, Laura lived with Nellie and her husband, Dr. George R. Dean. When Nellie died in 1903 at the age of 27, Laura moved in with her youngest child, Nuna, and her family. Not long after, she moved again to live with her son, William. In the years before her death, she was living in a boarding house with two other women. She died in 1939.

Elizabeth Cheney, Laura's stepmother

Laura's father, Abraham, was a blacksmith and Civil War veteran. He married 4 times in his life. His second wife was Elizabeth "Lib" M. Cheney, who he married in Christian, Illinois in 1860. His third wife was Jennie, and his fourth was Ada L. Roby in 1880. In 1900, Abraham, who was deaf and suffered from dementia in his old age, was killed after being struck by a train.

If you know who this family may be, let us know in the comments!

Lydia Strobridge, Merrill, Wisconsin 1887

The inscription on the back reads:

"April 15th, 1887
Lake View
for
Susan Gilbert"
In different, probably more recent handwriting, it says:
"Nancy's great, great
Grandmother
Strobridge"

Lydia Jane Kline was born in Pennsylvania on May 31st, 1834 Pennsylvania to John and Lovina Kline. She had many brothers- James, Johnson, Joshua, Daniel, and Edward- and one sister, Mariah. In Wisconsin, Lydia married Cyrus Strobridge, a man who worked several different jobs throughout his life: He was a postmaster, a tavern keeper, and a lumber dealer. Lydia and Cyrus had three daughters: Sarah, Lyberty, and Franc. Lydia died in 1897 at the age of 62.

If you know who this may be, let us know in the comments!

George E. Douglass, Columbus, Ohio 1880's

George Douglas was born on July 27th, 1859 to Mary Elliot and William Douglas. He grew up in the county of Northumberland, England with his siblings Mary, Robert, Elizabeth, and Hannah. Though I can't find an exact date, George's father died sometime before 1870. As the eldest son, George worked as a coal miner to help support his family while his siblings went to school.

In 1882, the Douglas family moved to the United States. George's mother and siblings settled in North Lawrence, Ohio, while he went on to live in Columbus. I wonder if the photographer of the photo, J.M. Elliott, was related in some way to Mary? It might explain why they chose to go to Ohio. George probably had this portrait done not long after he arrived in Columbus when he would have been 23 or 24.  He married Myness Edgar in 1891 and their only daughter, Alma Ruth, was born in 1896. For much of his life in Ohio, George worked in the telephone industry, first as a clerk and then as a "repairer". He died in 1922 at the age of 62.

If you know who this may be, let us know in the comments!

Mariella Wood, Marshall, Texas 1890's

Mariella (sometimes spelled "Mary Ella") Wood was born in 1886 in Marshall, Texas to parents Martha and Samuel E. Wood. She was the eldest of 6 children: Joseph Glen, Ruby Ackert, Samuel Eldred, John Robert, and Mattie Callaway. In December 1900, Mariella became ill with what was thought to be "a cold and some congestion". She died suddenly on December 10th at the age of 14, most likely from diphtheria. Tragically, the Wood family also lost 4-year-old John Robert just a week later from the same illness "after a painful and difficult operation had been performed as a last resort". I can only imagine how Mr. and Mrs. Wood felt during all of this.

There is also a second name on the back of the photo: Naida Adams. I'm unsure why this woman's name is on the back of this photo or her relationship with the family, but I do know she was living in Marshall, Texas around the same time. She was born in 1898 and would have been 2 at the time of Mariella's death. Naida's story is just as tragic. In 1921, the same year she married her husband, Ernest McClaren, she died in childbirth. It's possible she was a friend of the Wood family and the photo was given to her as a gift.

If you know who this may be, let us know in the comments!

The Laner Brothers, Fayetteville, Arkansas 1927

The back reads:
"Laner Bro's Shoe Shope
N.W. Corner Block and Center
In basement of Eason Building
1927
L -> R
Monroe LANER
Nichols "Nick" Hopper (15 or 16)
Julius LANER

-?
Wiley Holt"

Julius Laner, born 1868, was a Swiss shoemaker who lived and worked in Esculapia, Arkansas. As late as 1925, his business was simply referred to by his own name. With his wife Alice, Julius had three sons: Julius A., born in 1905, Monroe, born in 1907, and Aubrey, born in 1910. Julius passed down his trade and his shoe shop to his two eldest sons, Julius and Monroe, who renamed the business "Laner Bros". The shop was located in Fayetteville, Arkansas in the basement of the Eason Building, which is also known as the Old Bank of Fayetteville (the building has since been restored and was added to the National Historical Register in 1994). 

Julius A. married Golda Reeves, a telephone operator, in August 1924. They had one daughter, Susan, in 1936. Monroe lived with his brother until he married Emele Colwell in 1941.

Nichols "Nick" Hopper was born in 1913 to Ernest and Ethel Hopper. He was an apprentice to the Laner brothers at the time this photo was taken and is later listed in the 1940 census as a "cobbler".

Wiley E. Holt was born in 1908 to Wiley and Edna Holt. He worked as the shop's delivery driver.

If you know who any of these folks may be, let us know in the comments!

The Berquist Family, Chicago, Illinois 1900's

The back reads:
"Dad, Edd, + Maggie
My Great Grandfather
Berquist
Uncle Edd Berquist
Maggie Berquist"

This 1900's cabinet card is of Solomon Berquist and two of his children, Edd and Maggie Berquist.

Solomon was a stonemason from Sweden. He and his wife Johanna had eight children in total: Frank, Edward, Charles, Henry, Barnhart, Alfred, Thomas, and Margaret. Margaret, or Maggie as she was called, was born in 1885. She married Boyd T. Culver, a mason, in Minnesota in 1913. They had two sons, Edward and James.

Edward W. Berquist, or Edd, was born in 1869. He married Emilie Gartz in 1896 and they had two daughters, Alvina and Ruth. In Chicago, Illinois, Edward was employed as a "pipeman" in the fire department- apparently "pipeman" is slang for the firefighter who handles the "pipe", or hose. His bravery as a fireman was noted several times in the Chicago Tribune, including this mention of a daring rescue in 1904:

Emilie Berquist died in 1918 and Edward was cared for in old age by his daughter, Alvina, and her family.

If you know who this family may be, let us know in the comments!

Elizabeth Francis Chatham, Leona, Texas 1850's

The inscription on the back reads:

"Elizabeth Frances Chatham
(Feb. 18, 1839-Dec. 1905)
aged 18

Married William Rufus Rhodes
(Oct. 28,1823-June 1899)

June 24, 1862
at Leona, Leon County, Texas"

Elizabeth Francis "Bettie" Chatham was born on February 18th, 1839 to parents George and Cenia Chatham. If the inscription is correct and Elizabeth was 18 in the photograph, it would have been taken in 1857. In the 1860 census, Elizabeth is single and living at home with her parents. William Rufus Rhodes was the co-founder of Chatham Machinery Company along with Col. R. K. Chatham, Elizabeth's brother. I think this is probably how he and Elizabeth met. According to the inscription, she married William in Leona, Texas in 1862, though several documents indicate that her first son, Albert Marshall, was born in 1859. I wonder where he was in 1860? Elizabeth and William went on to have 4 more children: Sally Emma, Henry G., Sidney Earle, and Edith Maude. Elizabeth was an active Christian Scientist and held many meetings at her home. She passed away in 1905.

If you know who this may be, let us know in the comments!

Daisy B. Smith and Family, Shelbyville, Illinois, 1880's

I have multiple cabinet cards of this young woman, Daisy Belle Rowell, showing her at different ages.

As I mentioned in my last post, Daisy was born in 1876 to Alma and Orange Rowell. Though she was born in Vermont, she moved with her mother to Illinois after her parents separated and spent most of her childhood there. While living in Shelbyville, Illinois, Daisy married Llewellyn "Liew" Smith, a carpenter. Daisy was 18 when she had her first son, Kimber, in 1894. She had her second son, Carl, in 1896. If you'll remember, I briefly mentioned Kimber and Carl in my post on Rev. Crews and his wife. Daisy and Liew went on to have two more children, daughters Mabel and Lois.

Kimber and Carl Smith

In June of 1898, Daisy, her two sons, and her mother, Alma, went back to Vermont to stay with family. They lived with Alma's step-mother, Julia A. Hastings, her widowed half-sister Rhoda Woodcock, and Rhoda's son Van for a year before moving permanently to Oklahoma.  Alma passed away in 1901.

As an adult, Carl Smith became a safe salesman and later worked in a cash register factory. His brother Kimber took a rather different route. He became a musician and toured the country in a C.A. Wortham show, a traveling carnival. In 1920, Kimber married Zylpha "Zip" Ardis Johnson, another musician, though I don't think the marriage lasted long. In 1930, Kimber is single and living with his parents. He also served in both WWI and WWII.

Daisy Smith died in 1938 at the age of 62.

If you know who this family may be, let us know in the comments!

Alma Rowell and Family, Shelbyville, Illinois 1880's

The back reads:
"William Howe
Alma Rowell
and Daisy Smith
when age 4 yrs. old"

Researching this group of family photos has proven to be more challenging than I expected considering all the information written on the backs! Here is what I know so far:

Alma Almira Hastings was born in 1848 in Vermont to parents Daniel M. Hastings and Mary T. Munn. In  July of 1865, she married Orange N. Rowell, a farmer (This is the first time I've ever seen "orange" used as a first name! In 1870 they are living in Orange County, Vermont and he was born in Vermont, so perhaps he was named after the county?). Alma and Orange had their first child, Fred, in 1869 and their second, Daisy, in 1876. Not long after Daisy was born, Alma and Orange separated. I can't find a record of a formal divorce, but Alma moved with Daisy to New Trier, Illinois sometime between 1876 and 1880, leaving her husband and son in Vermont. In Illinois, Alma and Daisy (listed, for some reason, as "Anna") lived for some time with distant relations: Benjamin and Mary Munn, their daughter Persis and her husband Henry Moore, Persis and Henry's children, and Almira Munn. I imagine it was a crowded house!
                                 

I believe this is the Munn/Moore family, from left to right:
Emma Moore, Benjamin Munn, Persis Moore, Almira Munn, and Edward Moore

I'm still unsure about who "William Howe" is and if he's even the man in this photo. It's more likely that the man is Orange Rowell, except that I don't believe he was ever in Shelbyville, Illinois, where the photo was taken.

I will continue Alma's story in next week's post, where I will focus a little more on Daisy.

If you know who this may be, let us know in the comments!

Rev. and Mrs. E.K. Crews, Shelbyville, Illinois 1890's

This is a cabinet card of Rev. Edward K. Crews and wife, Elizabeth. It was found with a group of family photos that will be the subject of my next few posts. Though they are not directly related to the rest of the family photos, it seems as if they were considered part of the family.

Edward was born in 1863 in Illinois and was the son of Irish immigrants Edmund and Catherine Crews. As a teenager, he worked as a sawmill hand. In 1883, at the age of 20, he married Elizabeth. Edward became a reverend as well as a teacher and taught well into the 1920's. Reverend Crews had no children of his own but certainly baptized many others. According to the inscription on the back, Crews baptized "Kimber and Carl", and "Kimber" was even named after him- I'm guessing that's what the "K" stands for! I'll talk more about Kimber and Carl in a later post.

If you know who this couple may be, let us know in the comments!

Young Men in a College Dorm, 1890s

There aren't any names on this photograph, but there are a few fun details that offer insight into the everyday life of college students in the 1890s-1900s.
In many ways, it's not unlike a college dorm you might see today: Socks are draped over the mirror, books and notes are strewn about, and a photo of a friend is on display. Photograph trading was extremely popular amongst young students at the turn of the century. I've seen pictures of dorms in which entire walls were covered in photos!



There are two pennant flags that appear in this photo: One draped over the mirror, and the other hanging above a door in the mirror's reflection. I hoped I would be able to find out what school it belonged to, but my research turned up nothing. Does anyone recognize it?




We can see a few of the things these young men might have done between classes. In the bottom left-hand corner, beneath the table, is a stereoscope, which would have allowed them to view double images in  "3D". Just behind the young man kicked back in his chair is a bicycle, and between the vanity and the window is what appears to be a gun with a bayonet. Music was also a popular form of entertainment that would have no doubt been provided by the man with the violin.
These young men were also conscious of their looks. In the top right-hand corner, we can see a shelf of various hats and on the vanity sits a clothing brush, which was necessary for keeping their suits neat and clean.

If you know who these students may be, let us know in the comments!

Herbert Brandon, Bradford, Pennsylvania 1880's

"Little Herbert Brandon"

Herbert L. Brandon was born in 1882 to Herbert R. Brandon and Etta Ellison. Though born in New York, Herbert was raised in Ohio with his aunt and uncle, Charles and Anna McKinney. In 1912, Herbert married Gladys C. Dennis. The couple lived in Texas, then moved back to Ohio, where Herbert worked as a manager for the National Supply Co., which sold oil well supplies. He died in Bradford, Pennsylvania in 1938.

If you know who this may be, let us know in the comments!

Nellie Frances Pease, Worcester, Massachusetts 1880's

The back reads:
"Nellie Frances Pease
(Ellen)
Father's sister.
He had two sisters-
Ida Elizabeth Pease
and Nellie"

Nellie Frances Pease was born in 1861 to parents Edward and Theda Pease. Just as it says on the back of the photo, Nellie had two siblings: Ida Elizabeth, born 1867, and Edward Emory, born 1869. This picture looks like it was taken in the 1880's, so Nellie would have been in her early 20's here. She died in 1891 at the age of 30.

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Archie and Wife, Los Angeles, California 1910's

The back reads:
"I will send you a picture
we had taken one night.
Now don't laugh but if
the rats are bad just
stick this up and they
won't bother any more
I went down town
one night and met
Archie when he got
off from work and
?? we running around
and first dropped in and
had a half dozen made.
While waiting Archie
was not feeling well. I think
the work is rather hard on
him. God my face is so large
but thought I would send
you one so you
all have something to laugh
about. ha! ha! Write soon."

The AZO stamp box on the back of this photo dates it between 1904-1918, most likely the 1910's based on the clothing. The only name we have here is "Archie", presumably the man in the picture, who is posing with a woman who we can assume wrote the inscription on the back. We may not know the identities of these people, but we have a few interesting clues. Archie's pin reads "Los Angeles Railway 2398" and his cap reads "conductor". The Los Angeles Railway was a streetcar system that operated between 1901 and 1963.

If you know who this couple may be, let us know in the comments!

W.E. Hall, Alliance, Nebraska 1890's

There were no names, dates, or locations on this photograph other than what is seen in the picture: "W.E. Hall Meat Market". By searching through old newspapers, I found that the W.E. Hall Meat Market was located in Alliance, Nebraska. The man in the photo is likely Hall himself, along with his wife and children.

William Ellsworth Hall was born in Carroll, Iowa in 1864 to parents James and Sarah Hall. In 1884 he married Catherine Luella Banks and the couple had 4 children: Minnie, Mignon, Ward, and Vivian. In the 1900 census, William Hall is listed as a "cattle raiser". Hall died in 1901, probably not long after this photograph was taken. According to the Alliance Herald, the meat market was acquired by Edward S. Wildy in 1902. Catherine went on to become a dressmaker and died in 1938.

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Sadie M Kopf 1910's, Kansas

This photo does not provide many clues other than the name, but I believe the Sadie M. Kopf here is Sadie Marie Kopf of Kansas, born 1904. She married Roy Dennis Self, with whom she had five children. In this photo, Sadie is wearing an unusually long knit cap- I've never seen one like it before!

If you know who this may be, let us know in the comments!
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You may also have noticed the new "donate" button at the top of the page- there's no pressure to donate! This is simply so that I might have an easier time buying photographs this year and so that I can post more regularly. Even just a couple dollars is helpful! :)

Grafton Porch 1890's, Johnstown, Pennsylvania

         

I've decided to start off the new year with a baby photo!

This little boy is Grafton Porch, the son of Annie Lehrman and George Porch, a physician. Grafton was the youngest of four children. As an adult, he became a druggist and married twice, first to Priscilla May Ross (who died of pneumonia in 1925), and then to Opal Miller. He went on to serve in both WW1 and WW2.

If you know who this may be, let us know in the comments!