Jennie and Lawrence Crouch, Rockville, Connecticut, 1910-20s

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!

Ruth Gordan McArdle, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1860s

Ruth Gordan was born in Ireland in 1798. Her husband was William McArdle, born in 1787. They had at least two children: Arthur, born in 1830, and James, born in 1839. Church records show that James was baptised in Drumgoon, Ireland, giving us a clue as to where the McArdles were living at the time.

Sometime after James's birth, the family immigrated to America. This was likely a result of the Great Famine that devastated Ireland from 1845 to 1852. During this period, more than 1 million people left Ireland to seek a better life in the United States. Once in the States, the family settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where there was already a large Irish population. William died there in 1859, aged 71, and was buried in Cathedral Cemetery.

In the 1860 census, Ruth is living with her sons, Arthur and James, Arthur's wife, Ann, and two grandchildren, Ruth and Charles. Both Arthur and James are listed as blacksmiths. Living next door is Michael Smith, an Irish drayman, and his family. By 1870, Ruth had moved in with the Smiths and was working as a domestic servant for the household. It is unclear what led Ruth to leave her home to work for her neighbors. Without a husband, Ruth may have struggled to support herself, especially once her sons moved out. The census tells us that Ruth could neither read nor write, so her employment options were limited. 

Just two months after the 1870 census was taken, Ruth McArdle passed away at age 72. Like her husband, she was buried in Cathedral Cemetery in Philadelphia.

If you recognize Ruth, please let us know in the comments!