Bertha and Nellie Farrington, Kansas, 1900s

The two young women in this cabinet card are identified as Bertha and Nellie Farrington.

Bertha and Nellie Farrington were the daughters of Sarah Scrivener and Martin Van Buren Farrington. Nellie was the elder of the two, born in Kansas in June 1881. Bertha arrived in November 1883. They had one older sister, Carrie; George, a brother born between them; and two younger sisters, Maud and Edna. There was also Lloyd, a brother who died in infancy.

In 1900, the Farringtons were living in Mulberry, Kansas. Martin, a veteran of the Union army, supported his family as a farmer. He had come to Kansas from Illinois in 1872 and married Sarah there in 1880. In November 1900, just months after the census was taken, he died at home at the age of 65. In this photo, one of the sisters wears a button with a portrait of a man. Often, these were worn as memorials to someone who had passed. If the button was worn for their father, this may be a clue as to when the photo was taken.

In 1902, 21-year-old Nellie married Delmar L. Pickard, a farmer and carpenter. They lived in Taloga and later in Kinsley, Kansas, and had one daughter, Gladys Opal, born in 1904.

On September 27th, 1905, 21-year-old Bertha married Delmar's brother, John S. Pickard, in Clyde, Kansas. According to The Clifton News, the wedding was held at the home of Bertha's mother, where 30 guests gathered to witness the ceremony. "The bride looked very beautiful in a white silk dress," the paper reported, and "A number of useful gifts were received." Tragically, the marriage was to be cut short. Bertha died at home on October 16th, 1907, at the age of 23. Her funeral was held at her mother's home, just as her wedding had been a few years before. Her obituary in The Clyde Republican noted that "her life was devoted to her home and relations and her loss will be keenly felt by the dear ones left." It includes a quote by poet William Cowper: "Domestic happiness- thou only bliss of paradise that has survived the fall." She was laid to rest in Pleasant View Cemetery in Vining, Kansas.

Over the next few years, mentions of the close-knit Farrington and Pickard families dotted the local papers. "Sunday J.S. Pickard entertained for dinner Mrs. Nellie Pickard and daughter, Gladys, Miss Edna Farrington, and George Farrington..." the correspondence section of The Richfield Monitor noted in August 1910. Nellie traveled often to nearby towns to shop and visit with friends and family.

In 1940, Nellie and her husband were living in Cotopaxi, Colorado, where Delmar was a timber worker. According to his 1942 draft card, Delmar was employed by the Works Progress Administration (or "Work Projects Administration" as it was known between 1939 and 1943). Delmar passed away just a few years later in 1945 at age 66. He was buried in Hillside Cemetery in Kinsley, Kansas.

After her husband's death, Nellie returned to Kansas to live with her brother, George, and his family. She eventually moved to Harrison, Arkansas, where her daughter, Gladys, lived. Nellie passed away there in 1972 at age 91. She was buried in Hillside Cemetery beside her husband.

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

Sylvia Wisehart, Clayton, Illinois 1900s

Writing on the back reads:
"Sylvia Wisehart(???) Taken at Clayton, Ill."

In this Real Photo Postcard from the early 1900s, Sylvia Wisehart of Clayton, Illinois, sits in a rocking chair while perusing what looks like a fashion magazine. She is casual and comfortably dressed, and one might assume this is a candid moment if not for the sheet hung up as a backdrop. I have to wonder who snapped this photo and what the sitter thought about it.

Sylvia was born Sylvia Harriet Johnson in Adams County, Illinois, on August 12th, 1886. Her parents were Eli Bishop Johnson, a farmer, and his wife, Josophine. Eli was a veteran of the Civil War, having served with the Union Army in the 2nd Illinois Light Artillery as a young man. Eli and Josophine had eight children: Julia (b. 1868), Charles (b. 1870), William Lyman (b. 1872), Loren (b. 1874), Solon (b. 1875), Francis Marion (b. 1878), Cyrene Eli (b. 1881), and Sylvia. By the time Sylvia was born, her only two sisters, Julia and Loren, had died. She was left the sole girl in a family of boys.

In 1903, at age 16, Sylvia married 28-year-old Albert Franklin Wisehart. Their first child, Eli Bishop, was born the next year. He was followed by Luella Violet in 1906, Theresa Josephine in 1908, and Delma Catherine in 1910.

At 20, Sylvia lost her mother. At 31, she lost her father. At age 33, she suffered yet another blow. On January 22, 1920, she gave birth to twins. Her daughter, Albertha Mae, survived, while her son, Albert Franklin, Jr, lived only two days. 

By the time she was 40, Sylvia was already a grandmother. Her husband, Albert, died in 1935 at age 60, leaving her a widow at 49.

Sylvia Wisehart spent the entirety of her life in her home state of Illinois. She lived to be 84, passing away on December 15th, 1970. It is remarkable to think how much life she lived in those 84 years, and how much she would have seen the world change around her.

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

John Henry King, Beatrice, Nebraska 1890s-1900s

Writing on back reads:
"John H. King
Workshop on South La Selle St.
Beatrice, Ne."

At the time of his death, John Henry King was one of Beatrice, Nebraska's most prominent and respected citizens.

He was born in 1839 in Indiana to Samuel Alfred and Nancy King. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, 22-year-old John enlisted with the 7th Indiana Volunteer Infantry and served until September 20th, 1864. Five months later, in February 1865, John married Susan Hollett. The couple had six children: Charles Free, Olive Bell, Della Pearl, Fannie Bird, James Otto, and Kale Algada, who died at 12 months.

The family moved to Beatrice, Nebraska in 1882, where John worked as a carpenter. In this photograph, he can be seen in his workshop near the family home on South La Selle St. surrounded by the tools of his trade. John was also a city councilman and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. 

The Kings lost two of their children four years apart. Their daughter, Della, passed in 1897 at only 24. In 1901 their oldest son, Charles, died after suffering from "Bright's Disease," the historical term for kidney disease. John's obituary notes that following the death of his son, he had been "worried considerably," which may have led to a decline in his health. 

In February 1902, John fell ill with the flu. He died at home on February 14th at the age of 62. His obituary describes him as "a hardworking, industrious man" who was "honored and respected by all who knew him."

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

Minnie Hoerger and Mabel Hoerger Buck, Sutton, Nebraska 1900s-1930s

Writing on back reads:
"Fudge party at University- 1901
Mabel L. Hoerger on floor
Minnie Hoerger end at right"

The first of two photos of the Hoerger sisters shows them with friends at their university in 1901. The room is full of fun details, like a collection of cabinet cards and a picture of what appears to be a cat in a top hat. They are having a "fudge party" in which students (usually young women) enjoy treats they've smuggled into their dorm rooms. These parties were popularized at women's colleges such as Vassar and Wellesley in the 1890s. An 1897 article from the New York Tribune explains that a fudge party is best enjoyed "when a dozen or more girls are congregated in a room, sitting on sofa cushions spread out on the floor in a mystic circle around an alcohol stove, from which the odor of ‘fudge’ rises like incense." (Atlas Obscura has a fantastic article all about fudge parties!)

Mabel Louise Hoerger, seated on the floor in this photo, was born in Sutton, Nebraska in September 1879 to Frederick and Katherine Hoerger. She was the eldest of their three children; her sister Minnie (seated at the far right) was born in December 1881, and her brother William was born in 1884. Their father was a prominent businessman in Sutton. According to his obituary, he had an interest in the Sutton Creamery, Sutton Lumber Co., and Sutton Exchange Bank, and was Vice President of both the State Bank of Sutton and Sutton Telephone Co. He was successful as a hardware merchant and well-connected, which may have allowed him to provide a college education for his daughters- something that was inaccessible to many young women at this time.

The Hoerger sisters attended the University of Nebraska, where I assume this photo was taken. Also attending the school was a young man named Ralph Buck. According to a small newspaper clipping I found, Ralph and Mabel were both members of a campus club for students from Sutton. They married at the Hoerger family home in 1905 and went on to have one daughter, Kathryn.

Minnie never married and worked as a schoolteacher. The two sisters seemed to have remained close, as they are frequently mentioned together in the society articles of The Sutton News. Minnie especially was quite active in her community and was a member of more clubs than any one person could possibly have time for. These include, but are not limited to: the PEO Sisterhood, the Congregational Ladies Aid, the Red Cross, the Fortnightly Club, the Bay View Club, the Congregational Mission Society, and the World Friendship Society.

Writing on back reads:
"Dec 25-'33"
Left to right: 
Mrs. Susy Z. Buck
Minnie V. Hoerger
Kathryn L. Buck
Mrs. Mabel H. Buck"

This second photo was taken on Christmas Day, 1933. Seated at the far left is Mabel's mother-in-law, Susy Buck. Between Minnie and Mabel sits Kathryn, Mabel's 19-year-old daughter. Kathryn went on to graduate from Nebraska State University, just as her father, mother, and aunt had, and worked for the Nebraska Public Library Commission.

On December 28th, 1940, Ralph Buck died at age 62 of a heart attack in his home. 

Minnie Hoerger died at age 88 on August 10th, 1970. Her sister Mabel followed three years later, passing at age 93 on February 14th, 1973.

If you recognize this family, let us know in the comments!

Jessie Park Barlow and Charles A. Park, Friend, Nebraska 1900s

Jessie Park (Barlow) 
Charles A. Park

According to the writing on the back, this cabinet card is a portrait of Jessie Park and her brother, Charles. They were two of Rufus and Martha Park's five children, which included Harvey, Charles, Susanna, Jessie, and Clyde. 

Charles Andrew Park was born in Illinois in August 1873. He became a missionary and later a minister for the First Christian Church. He married Lilly May Liebendorfer in 1899 and the two had four children: Dorothy, Charles, Stephen, and Genevieve. 

Jessie Margaret Park was born in either Kansas or Illinois on February 3rd, 1878. In 1907, at age 28, she married Moses Thorpe Barlow in Alexandria, Nebraska. The ceremony was conducted in the family home by her brother Charles. Moses was an officer in the army who had been living in the Philippines for the past eight years. For a period after their marriage, the couple lived together in the Phillippines. Their son, Erle, was born there in 1908. Upon their return to the United States, they settled in Baltimore, Maryland, where they would live for the rest of their lives.

Moses passed in 1934 at age 55. Jessie passed away in 1956 at the age of 77. They are buried together in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. 

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

The McIntire Family, Corydon, Iowa 1890s-1900s

Top, Left to Right: Ella, Florence, Emma

Bottom, Left to Right: Walter, Laura, David

Around the turn of the century, the six McIntire siblings gathered for a portrait in their hometown of Corydon, Iowa. From here, their lives would lead them down different paths to marriage, divorce, children, and difficult times to come. 

Their father, Samuel McIntire was a farmer, born in Illinois around 1850. With his wife Sarah, he had two sons, David Clarence (born 1877) and James Walter (born 1878), followed by four daughters, Ella Mary (born 1880), Florence Nellie (born 1881), Emma Louisa (born 1884), and Laura (born 1888). After Sarah passed away in 1890, Samuel went on to marry Mary A. Richardson in 1895. Samuel passed away in 1907.

The eldest McIntire, David, made a living as a farmer, just as his father had. He married Florence Sutton in 1899. With her, he had two sons, Everett and Lloyd. In 1900, his sister Emma is also living with the family. David passed away in 1905 at just 28 years old. 

In 1900, the second McIntire son, Walter, is working as a farm laborer for the Cutler family in Union, Iowa. He would go on to farm his own land in Wayne County, Iowa. In 1909 he married teacher Grace Johnston. With her had four children: Verda, Twila, Leo, and Marvin, who died at just two days old. In 1922, Walter died of influenza at 44 years old. 

Ella McIntire married in 1897 to Charles Dorrah, a carpenter. The couple had eight children: Lennie, William, Walter, Ernest, Mabel, Robert, Everett, and Claude. They seemed to have moved often, first from Iowa to Kansas, then to Minnesota, where the family farmed. The Dorrahs would eventually return to Kansas, where Ella lived until her death in 1950 at 70 years old.

In 1900, Florence McIntire is living with her aunt and uncle, Thomas and Minerva Murphy, in Center, Iowa where she is attending school. In 1907 she married Benjamin Smith, a waiter, in Spokane, Washington. Florence would eventually divorce her husband and become a public health nurse. In 1930 she is living in Shelton, Washington as a lodger in the hotel of George Yamamoto and his wife, Shezuko. Florence worked as a nurse for 25 years before she passed away in Shelton in 1955 at 73 years old.

Emma McIntire married Thomas E. Lewis, a baggageman at a depot, in 1903. They had five children: Lawrence, Harold, Helen, Jack, and Raymond. Emma passed away in Los Angeles, California in 1962 at 78 years old.

The youngest McIntire, Laura, seems to have been raised separately from her siblings in the home of John Peter Sallman and his wife, Mary. Why exactly is unknown, though a note attached to her on Ancestry states that she "had a temper and was hard to get along with." I don't have any other details on Laura's early life. In 1919, she married Lewis B. Oakes, a carpenter, in Spokane, Washington. The couple would soon divorce. Laura took in lodgers at her home in Pasco, Washington in order to support herself. She continued to be a landlady until she passed away in Seattle in 1949 at 62 years old. 

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

Bettie and Phil Stroud, Temple, Texas 1900s

"Aunt Bettie and Uncle Phil Stroud"

Philip Stroud was born in Conway, Arkansas on August 17th, 1854. He was the youngest of Lucinda Stroud's 5 children. I couldn't find a record of Philip's father, as I believe he died when Philip was very young. His widowed mother, Lucinda, supported her family by working as a farmer.

In 1880, Philip married Calista Elizabeth Owens, who I believe is the "Aunt Bettie" in this photo. Calista was born in Tennessee in 1857 to G.W. Owens. She married Philip in Arkansas at age 23. The couple settled first in La Crosse, Arkansas, where they lived with Philip's sister Margaret and a niece. Philip was mainly employed as a farmer. In 1892, he was appointed postmaster to the nearby town of Lunenburg. 

The Strouds went on to have a total of 6 children, though only 3 would survive to adulthood. Their oldest, Georgia, was born in Arkansas in 1883. Gillum, their only surviving son, arrived in 1888. Meldia was born just a few years later in 1891. 

By 1900, the Strouds had relocated to Temple, Texas, where Philip again worked as a farmer. In 1902, Georgia Stroud married J.H. Cooper. In May of the next year, she passed away at just 19 years old.  The grave of the Stroud's oldest daughter bears the inscription: "Our darling one hath gone before, To greet us on the blissful shore."

Gillum married Emma Davis in 1904 when they were both 16. The couple had 2 children.
Meldia married James Finis McSpadden in 1910 at age 18. They had 3 children.

In June 1914, Philip and Calista moved to Wayne, Oklahoma. Philip soon fell ill. According to his obituary, "his sickness was of three weeks duration in which time he suffered much from the malady, cancer..." Philip Stroud died on August 16th, 1914 at age 59. His obituary reveals how deeply he was loved and respected by his community. It notes that Philip was, among other things, "an honest man," someone whose "generous nature...tender regards...charitable and sympathetic disposition had won the love and respect of all the good and tender in the community." 

Calista lived another 12 years until February 1926, when she fell ill with pneumonia. She passed away at age 69.

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

Marjorie Long Bishop and Ida Brant Freeman, Rahway, New Jersey 1900s

"Marjorie Long      ?       Ida Brant Freeman"

Only two of this wonderful trio are identified. The gentleman in the middle with the fancy hat and umbrella is unfortunately labeled with only a question mark. I was, however, able to find out a bit more about our ladies here.

Marjorie Long was the only daughter of Nathaniel Long and Jennie Brant. She was born in February 1888 in Rahway, New Jersey. Her father Nathaniel was an electrician at a time when electricity in homes was still fairly new. The family's home in Rahway was just 4 miles from Roselle, New Jersey, which in 1883 became the first town lit by electricity as part of a demonstration by Thomas Edison. 

The Longs lived with Jennie's sister, Maggie Brant, her husband, Lindley Freeman, and their daughter, Ida. Ida was born in July 1882, just 6 years older than Marjorie. Though they were cousins, I have to imagine the two girls grew up as sisters. 

Maggie Brant died in 1893 at just 31 years old, leaving her husband a widower and Ida without a mother at age 11. Lindley and Ida continued to live with the Longs while Lindley worked as a painter. 

In 1908, 20-year-old Marjorie married Edward Bishop. Edward worked as a freight manager for a steamship. Together they had two sons, Robert and Everett. 

Ida, meanwhile, got a job as a maid for the Dennis family in Marlboro, New Jersey. She continued to work as a maid for many years. In the 1940 census, her occupation is listed as "practical nurse" and she is lodging in the home of a Mr. and Mrs. Crawford. 

Marjorie Long Bishop lived to be 75 years old and passed away in October 1963. 

Ida Brant Freeman passed away 5 years later in 1968 at age 86.

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

Pansy Niver, Caton, New York 1900s

Pauline "Pansy" Eola Niver was born in Caton, New York in 1888 to blacksmith Abner Niver and his wife Mary. Pansy was the only girl among three boys- Clay, Cloy, and a younger brother, Drexel. Another brother, Grover, died as an infant. I believe this photo, taken sometime between 1904 and 1907, may show the interior of the Niver family home in Caton. A few details tell me this is taken in a home rather than a studio: the natural light creeping through the window shutters, the framed photo on the wall, and the large family Bible sitting amongst other books on the side table. 

In 1907, 19-year-old Pansy married William E. Beaman (sometimes spelled "Beeman.") William worked for the New York Central Railroad. Together they had two children. Their first son, Niver, was born in 1911 and was named for his mother's maiden name. Drexel, named for Pansy's brother, was born in 1917. That same year, Pansy's mother Mary passed away. In 1920, William, Pansy, and their sons are living with Pansy's widowed father, who continued to work as a blacksmith in a repair shop. 

By 1930, Pansy and William had divorced. William remarried and remained in New York, while Pansy moved with her sons to Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. Here, she worked as a waitress and took in boarders.

Niver served in the Coast Guard Reserves during WWII before becoming a successful reporter. Niver was the city editor of the Waterbury American, a Connecticut newspaper, when it won a Pulitzer Prize for journalism in 1939. He went on to write Fat Man in a Phone Booth: Notes Off a Newspaperman's Cuff, a collection of comedic stories from his time in journalism. Later he left journalism to serve as California Governor Earl Warren's publicity director. Drexel, like his brother, also served during WWII. He married Jane Hamberger, with whom he had six children.

Pansy passed away on November 1st, 1954 at age 67. At the time of her death, Pansy's last name is listed as "Wagner" and her death certificate notes that she is married. Her obituary, however, mentions no husband, only her sons and her two surviving brothers. 

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

Linnie Lawson and Her Sister, Stephenville, Texas 1900s

"Aunt Lennie Lawson + her sister."

This is a photo of Linnie King Lawson and one of her sisters, probably Mahala King Walker. Since they're not labeled, it's hard to tell which sister is which. Any guesses?

Linnie Esther King was born in Mississippi in June 1882 to parents Allen and Rebecca King. She was one of 7 children, including her older sister, Mahala, younger brothers Thomas, Allen, Fernandes, and Andrew, and a little sister named Ursula. The family lived together on their family farm in Stephenville, Texas. Mahala, also sometimes called Ollie, was 4 years Linnie's senior. I believe that by the time this photo was taken sometime in the early 1900s, both sisters would already have been married.

In December 1901, 18-year-old Linnie married Winfield Scott Lawson. The couple lived in Thurber, Texas, and raised 3 children there: Mayme, Doy, and David. 

Mahala married William U. Walker in June 1907. They lived in nearby Stephenville and had 7 children, one of whom was named Linnie after her sister.

Linnie's husband Winfield, who worked as a truck driver, was drafted into the military in 1918 at the start of WWI. His draft registration card describes him as "stout" with brown hair and brown eyes. Their son Doy worked in the oil fields as a young man, while David assisted his father in his trucking business.  Both sons went on to serve in WWII. After her husband passed away in 1937, Linnie lived with her daughter, Mayme, Mayme’s husband, Maynard, and their 3 children. Linnie Lawson passed away in 1949 at age 67.

Mahala’s husband, William, worked various jobs to support his family. In 1910, he is listed as an artist, specifically a landscape painter. Mahala meanwhile is working at a feed store. In 1920, William is a miller at a flour mill. In 1930, his occupation is listed as “laborer” in the crude oil industry. In 1940, at age 66, William is a farmer. He passed away at home in Stephenville in 1954. Mahala lived another 20 years before passing away in 1974 at age 97.

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

Graduating Class of St. Vincent's Academy, Detroit, Michigan 1904

 

The 8 young women in this photo are the 1904 graduating class of St. Vincent's Academy, a Catholic girls' school in Detroit, Michigan. The academy building was constructed in 1897 as part of the St. Vincent de Paul church complex. Many of these girls are the daughters of Irish immigrants, while some made the journey from Ireland themselves.

Genevieve Stapleton was born on December 22nd, 1884 in Borrisokane, Tipperary, Ireland. Genevieve, or Jenny as she was sometimes called, was the last of Patrick and Mary Stapleton's 10 children. She was just 6 years old when the family immigrated to the United States and settled in Detroit, Michigan. Sadly, her father Patrick passed away in November of that same year.  Genvieve attended St. Vincent's Academy and went on to become a teacher. She continued to teach in Detroit for the rest of her life and lived with her older sister, Anna. She passed away in 1955.

Helen Ryan, born in 1887, was the only child of Denis and Anna Ryan. Her father was a manufacturer of knitted goods. In 1910, Helen married Walter Quinlan at St. Vincent's church in a gown of white lace over silk and a tulle veil adorned with sprays of orange blossoms. The couple settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where they raised 5 daughters. She passed away in 1960 at age 73.

Catherine Monahan, born July 1886, was one of 7 children. Her parents, Patrick and Ellen, both emigrated from Ireland to the United States in their teens and early twenties. Patrick worked as a grocer to support his large family, including his sister-in-law, Mary Moran, who also lived with them. After graduating from St. Vincent's, Catherine became a teacher. In 1915 she married William J. Burns, with whom she had 8 children (a family just as big as the one she grew up in!). At the time of her death in 1983, Catherine had 27 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

Frances Lahey was born in Michigan around 1887 to parents John and Frances. John, like Catherine's father Patrick, worked as a grocer to support his 7 children. He was also the son of Irish immigrants. Like many of her peers, Frances worked as a teacher after graduating from school. In 1913, Frances became a nun and joined the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In 1920, she is teaching at a parochial school in Akron, Ohio, while living in a boarding house with several other teachers (who were likely other nuns teaching at the same school.) By 1930, Frances had returned to Michigan to live and teach at St. Mary's Catholic School in Mt. Clemens. At some point, Frances took the name Sister Florence Louise, which she went by for the remainder of her life. Sister Florence became the head of education at Marygrove College in 1938 and served as dean between 1938 and 1945. She passed away in 1967.

Ann Markey was born in Detroit on March 2nd, 1886 to parents James and Mary Markey. Ann, like nearly all of her classmates, came from a large family. She had 8 siblings- 2 older and 6 younger. Ann's youngest brother, Harold, eventually became the pastor of St. Vincent's. After graduating, Ann taught for a while before marrying Henry J. Brennan in 1913. The wedding was held at - where else?- St. Vincent's church, where Ann walked down the aisle in a gown of white charmeuse, lace, and pearls, with an ivory prayer book in hand. She became the mother of 7 children. Ann enjoyed entertaining and spent her summers at Port Huron, Michigan. She passed away after an illness of several months in 1948 at the age of 62.

Emma Quirk, born in Michigan in February 1880, was the youngest of James and Mary Quirk's 9 children. Emma's father was an Irish immigrant who worked as a laborer and sewer inspector. Unlike her peers, Emma mainly studied music at St. Vincent's. After graduation, she began teaching piano and harmony out of her home studio. I wasn't able to find any record of Emma beyond that point. Her father's 1916 obituary notes that he is survived by 3 daughters, all of whom are nuns in the Good Shepard Order, so it's very likely that Emma became a nun and possibly changed her name, making her difficult to find. 

Margaret Cohen was born in Detroit on November 24, 1884, to parents Michael and Jennie Cohen. Michael, the son of Irish immigrants, worked as a factory foreman. Margaret had one older sister, Frances, who graduated from St. Vincent's in 1901. Both girls went on to become public school teachers and lived at home to care for their parents. Frances passed away in 1939, followed by Margaret in 1943.

Catherine Walsh was born in December 1888 to Irish parents James and Ellen Walsh. She was one of 5 daughters, as well as 3 other siblings who passed when they were young. After her father's sudden death in 1909, Catherine and her older sister, Bessie, worked to help support the family. Bessie found a job as a saleslady, while Catherine worked as a seamstress at a dress shop. In December 1910, Catherine married William Demeck, a machinist at an auto factory. The couple had 2 children, Norman and Mae. In 1932, Catherine filed for divorce from William, listing the reason as "non-support." In 1938 she married Ole Erickson, who she divorced the next year due to "cruelty." I lost track of Catherine after this point, so sadly, I'm not sure where her story ends.

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

J. Woodward Sutphen, Long Branch, New Jersey 1900s

James Woodward Sutphen was born in Monmouth County, New Jersey in 1884 to John H. Sutphen, an architect, and his wife, Elizabeth. He had one younger sister, Gladys, who joined the family in 1890. As a young man, Woodward worked as a butcher before becoming a chauffeur for a private family.

Outside of work, Woodward's real passion was ice skating. He was an avid speed skater and a member of the Saratoga Skating Club of Brooklyn. A 1907 article in the Daily Record (the local paper of Long Branch, New Jersey) mentions that Woodward, like other local skaters, learned to race on Shrewsbury River. In February 1908, 24-year-old Woodward competed against 60 other skaters in the United States skating championship at Verona Lake. According to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, nearly 6,000 people were present for the event. "The weather was chilly," the paper noted, "and the wind that swept down from the hills...was decidedly brisk." Despite the conditions, Woodward came first in both the one-mile and three-mile races and became the United States speedskating champion.

Woodward, far left, practices at Saratoga Park, 1908

In 1915, Woodward married Miss Grace Reilly. Grace was working as a bookkeeper at Jacob Steinbach's Department Store when she met Woodward. According to a wedding announcement in the Daily Record, the wedding came as a surprise to many. After the wedding,  the couple promptly set off for a honeymoon in Canada. The article also notes Woodward's various medals from Montreal, Quebec, Pittsburg, Saranac Lake, Verona Lake, and St. Nicholas Rink. 

Woodward served in the First World War and worked as an inspector for the Army Motor Transport Corps. In September 1919, a victory celebration was held in Long Branch, where he and 35 other men (and one woman) were presented with watch fobs and certificates by the mayor to thank them for their service. That same month, Woodward and Grace's son, Robert, was born. In 1920, the family is living in Manhattan with Grace's mother and siblings. It is possible that Woodward and Grace separated at some point in the years following, as they are living apart by 1925. In 1930, Woodward, now working as a mechanic, is living at home with his parents, sister, and son, Robert. It's unclear when the couple officially divorced, but in 1940, Woodward married Myrtle Gravatt. 

Myrtle and Woodward remained together until his death in 1949 at the age of 65. His obituaries all made sure to note his brief but successful career as a speedskater. 

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

Chancey George Horton, Wichita, Kansas 1904

Chancey George Horton was born in 1903 in Valley Center, Kansas to parents George Arthur, a farmer, and Annie Laurie Horton. He was one of 6 children: Mary Constance, the oldest, was born in 1901, followed by Chancey in 1903, Julia Sibyl in 1905, Myrtle Helene in 1911, Lawrence Calvin in 1914, and finally Bill in 1919. They all grew up together on the family farm in Grant, Kansas.

Chancey lived a short but full life. The Valley Center Index, the local newspaper, reveals the many days he spent visiting friends and attending parties. He was athletic, participating in football, basketball, and other sports. He was a debater and an orator in school, a "representative in reading," and in his senior year, won the scholarship for the Valley Center High School class of 1922. Upon graduating high school, he entered Normal Training with the goal of becoming a teacher. 

His obituary notes that around 1922, Chancey attended a revival held by pastor and composer Rev. William M. Runyan and was converted. He joined the Methodist church and became the president of the Epworth League at Valley Center (a Methodist association for young adults), as well as a Sunday School teacher. After graduating from Normal Training, Chancey found work as a teacher near the town of Jetmore, where he met and became engaged to another teacher, Alta Hendrickson. He went on to teach in Park, Kansas until he grew ill in spring 1924. A note in the Valley Center Index from March of that year mentions that a Mrs. Hammers is teaching in his place as he recovers from an illness. Chancey passed away at home on April 21st, 1924, at the age of 20. 

Alta Hendrickson, his fiancee, never married but continued to teach and eventually became a county superintendent. 

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

Amanda Tonn and Carola Harning, Wisconsin, 1906

 

"My dear Carola,
Why haven’t I had a
line from you. I feel
slighted. How is that dude?
Agnes has been wanting to
write to you every day! She
is so busy with her music.
I presume you have heard
of Katherine’s illness. I do hope she will
recover. She is so sweet. I go to Lake
Pewaukee Wednesday P.M. Shall stay
till Oct. 1st. Isn’t this a B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l
likeness of Yours Sincerely, Manda Tonn"
-Sent September 3rd, 1906

Carola Harning, to whom this postcard is addressed, was born in Wisconsin in 1888 to parents Charles and Adaline. She was the second of three daughters, with older sister Oriel and younger sister Edith. Carola grew up in Menomonee, Wisconsin, where her father ran a farm. By 1910, 21-year-old Carola and 18-year-old Edith are both working on the farm with their father, while Oriel has married and left home. Edith eventually moved to Milwaukee, where she worked as a clerk in a bookstore. Carola stayed home with her parents. Neither she nor Edith ever married. After the deaths of their parents, Edith moved back in with Carola to help her manage the family farm, with help from their cousin, Harvey.
Carola Harning passed away in 1971 at age 83.

So who was Manda Tonn? Were they school friends?  Two other girls are mentioned in this postcard, Agnes and Katherine, which could help in finding Amanda. Here is my best guess:

I believe the Manda in this photo is Amanda Tonn, born in Wisconsin about 1885 to parents August and Julia Tonn. The Tonns had several children, which made research a little confusing. I know of 10, though there may have been more. By 1900, August and Julia were divorced, which can't have been an easy decision with so many children to care for. It seems that some of the younger children went to live with older, married siblings, which was the case of Agnes Tonn, who is living with her older sister, Helena, and her family in the 1900 Census. I might guess that this is the Agnes Amanda mentions who wanted to write to Carola but was busy with her music. Agnes and Carola were the same age, so it makes sense they would be friends.

In the 1905 Wisconsin State Census, Amanda is 20 and working as a servant in the home of Joseph and Martha Gabes. In 1906 she sends her friend Carola this postcard from Milwaukee, mentioning that she plans on visiting Lake Pewaukee, a popular vacation spot of the time that featured an amusement park and hotels. As someone who spent much of her life working, this must have been a special trip.

Amanda appears again in the 1910 Census, now living with her older brother Edward, a streetcar motorman, and his wife Emily. She is about 25 and has gotten a job as an office clerk. Just the year prior in 1909, her younger sister Agnes died of tuberculosis at the age of 21. After this,  Amanda appears only a few times more in Milwaukee city directories over the next few years, working as a cashier, clerk, and secretary among other things, before disappearing after 1921. 

It is possible that Manda married and changed her name, making her more difficult to find in records. I wonder if she and Carola remained friends throughout the years?

If you know who either of these girls may be, let us know in the comments!

Paul and Aline Masson, Elkhart, Indiana 1900s

 

Writing on the back reads:
"Paul, Aline Masson, 2 friends +

Gene Brown"

This lovely photo captures a group of children on a fishing trip down by the river. There is no location on this photo, but I believe it was taken in Elkhart, Indiana. The boy and girl on the left are Paul Homer and Aline Georgia Masson, the only children of Joseph and Edna Masson. Joseph, a baker, immigrated from France around 1890 and married Edna just two years later. Paul was born in 1899, followed by Aline in 1903. Baking was not Joseph's only occupation- in the 1914 Elkhart city directory he is listed as a "vulcanizer," or someone who works with rubber, and in a 1930 directory he is listed as a bookkeeper.  

Paul worked as a baker with his father until he was married in 1923 to Gaynell McDaniel. In the 1930 census, he is working as the manager of a motor supply house. Around this time, Paul and Gaynell daughter, Shonnie, was born. The family moved to Chicago and lived in Illinois until Paul's death in 1970 at age 70. 

Aline married Charles M. Ulery when she was 18. The couple had two children, Kathleen and Joanna. They lived with Aline's parents in Indiana for many years before moving into their own home. The family eventually relocated to Dallas, Texas. Aline passed away there in 1978 at the age of 75.

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

Amanda Hansen, Sheffield, Illinois 1890-1900s

                                                  

Amanda Nielsen was born July 4th, 1881 in Lolland, Denmark, to Hans and Anna Nielsen. She had one older sister, Christina, and two brothers, Chris and Peter. Christina emigrated to the United States in 1885 when she was 20 and settled in Sheffield, Illinois with her husband, Hans Carlsen. The rest of the Nielsen family arrived in the U.S. in 1890, when Amanda was 8. They joined Christina in Sheffield, where Amanda would live for most of her life.

On February 6th, 1901, 20-year-old Amanda married farmer Peter H. Hansen, also an immigrant from Lolland. They had one daughter, Leora, born in 1907. Leora seems to have been a well-loved girl. Upon her engagement to Ernest LeBahn in 1929, her friends held several parties in her honor. Leora wed Ernest in the Lutheran parsonage of Manlius, a nearby town, and they soon set off to start a farm of their own.

In combing through newspapers, I was able to catch glimpses of Amanda and Peter's life together in Sheffield. I found that Sheffield had a thriving community of Danish immigrants who arrived in the 1870s and 80s, and who in 1894 built themselves the Danish Brotherhood Society Hall. According to a 1935 article in the Moline Dispatch, this "one-story frame building...touches the history of practically every Danish family whichever lived in Sheffield." I have to imagine Amanda and Peter gathered here with friends and family often for the various "weddings, silver and gold wedding celebrations, Christmas programs...and dances galore," held at the Society Hall. In 1926, Peter and Amanda celebrated their own silver wedding anniversary in the hall. By 1939, when the Hansens celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary, the Society Hall had been sold, converted into a tavern, and moved to a new location. A Dispatch article notes that the Hansens held a large party at their home instead. 

Peter farmed until about 1931 when the Hansens moved from their farm into town. Following a long illness, he passed away in 1950 at age 75. Amanda lived to be 78, passing away from a heart attack in 1960. At the time of her death, she had two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

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

J.C. Trader and Mrs. Lizzie Goolsby, Horton, Kansas 1902

“Taken May 30. 1902,
Received June 15. 1902.
Mr. L.C. Trader and Mrs. Lizzie Goolsby”

Emma Elizabeth Fries, or Lizzie, was born November 20th, 1879 in Speiser, Nebraska. She was the second of George and Rhoda Fries’s five children. In May 1898, at age 18, Lizzie married Howard Goolsby. That September, Howard was participating in a jackrabbit chase when he was thrown from his horse. His injuries proved fatal. Howard died at just 20 years old, leaving behind a pregnant Lizzie. Their only son, Howard, Jr., was born in December. By this time, Lizzie had returned to live with her parents and siblings in Speiser. 

Lizzie remarried in Horton, Kansas in 1903 to Louis Charles Trader, who worked as a railroad shopman. It seems that this photo was taken before their marriage, which may explain why Lizzie is labeled as “Mrs. Lizzie Goolsby” rather than by her new married name. Their first child, a daughter named Mary Elizabeth, arrived in 1907. Sadly she fell ill with pneumonia and died at just 9 months. In 1908, Lizzie finally had another healthy boy, Charles.

As a young man, Howard decided to take after his step-father and began an apprenticeship as a railroad shopman. Charles worked as a farm laborer and eventually as a carpenter for Chevrolet. He would be the only one of his family to leave Horton, moving from Kansas to Texas with his wife Evelyn in the 1940s. I believe it's through Charles that this photo ended up here in Texas, where I found it in an antique shop.

Lizzie remained in Horton for the rest of her life. During her time there, she was an active member of the Horton Methodist Church and the Rebekah Lodge. After their boys left home, Louis Charles continued to work- the 1940 census lists his occupation only as "labor," though he was by then in his late 60s. He passed away in 1955 at age 89. Lizzie joined him in 1967 at age 88. Her obituary noted that at the time of her death, she had one grandchild and three great-grandchildren. She was buried with Louis Charles in Horton Cemetery.

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

Minnie Sand Hemmle, St. Louis, Missouri 1910s

Minnie Sand was born in Missouri in 1860 to German immigrant parents Heinrich (or Henry) Sand, a farmer, and Anna Margretha Todt. Minnie was the fourth of Henry and Margetha’s eight children. By 1880 the family had moved from Missouri to Loraine, Illinois. Minnie, then 20, stayed home with her mother and sister, Margaret, while her brothers Barney and Albert helped their father on the farm. Margaret’s obituary notes that she went to a “rural school” near Loraine, and I would guess Minnie attended as well. 

Ruth Hemmle, 1912

Minnie married Edward S.F. Hemmle in 1885 when she was 25, and the couple settled in Neosho, Missouri. Their first son, Irvin, was born in February the next year. Ruth was born in 1896 and Edward Jr. arrived in 1901. Edward supported his family in different ways throughout his life, including as a clerk at an electric company and as a coal salesman. In 1910, his occupation is listed simply as “Own Income,” which according to the 1910 Enumerators Instructions was put down for “all persons who follow no specific occupations but have an independent income upon which they are living.” In 1910, the family may also have been supported by 24-year-old Irvin, who, though still living with the family, was now married and worked as a clerk at a wholesale grocer. 

In 1913, the family relocated to St. Louis. It’s hard to tell if this photo was taken before or after the move- perhaps Minnie wanted a photo in their new St. Louis home. She seems comfortable in her home, surrounded by photos of friends and family. 1915 quickly became a difficult year for the Hemmles, as both Minnie and Edward lost their mothers. They then tragically lost their daughter, Ruth, who was only 18. I wasn’t able to find more on Ruth’s death, only that it was “unexpected.” A poem was published in the Times in April of that year,  “In memory of Ruth E. Hemmle, who died at St. Louis, Mo., Feby. 11, 1915.” A line of the poem says “Her sister met her at the gate, While father, mother, and brothers must wait,” referencing a fourth Hemmle child who may have died young. 

After suffering from tuberculosis, Minnie Sand Hemmle died on July 23rd, 1917 at the age of 56. Her funeral was held at the family home in St. Louis before she was buried in Salem Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery. 

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

Alice VanDusen Haehr and Family, Providence, Rhode Island 1900's

"Alice Heir nee VanDusen
Mother's Sister
in New York City
Clarence Nichols
Aunt"

Alice Mary VanDusen was born in New York in 1859 to Ezra and Lydia VanDusen. Ezra was a farm laborer from Canada who married Lydia after the death of his first wife Lorrinda in 1854. From her father's first marriage Alice had two half-brothers, Charles and Adelbert. Ezra and Lydia went on to have a total of 8 children, including Alice's older sister, Josephine, and her younger siblings William, Amelia, Frederick, James, Hobert, and Ida. (Ida would eventually marry Clemon Nichols and I believe she may be the "mother" referred to in the inscription.) The family lived together in Pittsfield, New York. 

Alice married William Haehr, a lithographer and the son of German immigrants, in Chicago on June 30th, 1894. (I wonder what brought Alice to Chicago?) From there the couple settled in Providence, Rhode Island. Their only child, Margaret, was born in 1901. William continued to work as a lithographer in Providence and judging by this photo, the family lived comfortably. Sadly, Alice died in 1912 at age 53 and William was left to raise their young daughter on his own. In the 1915 Rhode Island state census, William and 14-year-old Margaret are living with a housekeeper, Lillian Perry, and her son Robert. In 1925 Margaret married John S. Barry and William, now in his 60's, moved in with his daughter and son-in-law. He finally retired from his life-long work as a lithographer in his 70's. 

William Haehr passed away in 1944 at age 82. He was buried with Alice in Cranston, Rhode Island.

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

Mrs. Henry Dearsman and Daughters, Ohio, 1900's

Writing on the back reads:
"Mrs. Henry Dearsman
Faye
Alice"

Before she was Mrs. Henry Dearsman, she was Ada Lucinda Garrett. Ada was born in Seneca County, Ohio, in 1877 to parents William and Elvira Garrett. She was the second oldest of the Garrett children, with one older sister, Viola, and four younger sisters, Estella, Mabel May, Nellie, and Hazel.

In 1895, 18-year-old Ada married Henry Dearsman, the son of German-born Adolph Dearsman, a respected farmer in Seneca County.

This photo was likely taken in the Dearsman home in Adams Township around 1901. At Ada's shoulder stands her eldest daughter, Faye, born November 22, 1898. In her arms, she holds Alice, born April 9th, 1901. Their third child, Homer, would not arrive until October 1905. Also living with the family at the time was Ada's younger sister, Nellie. 

Henry supported his family as a farmer until April 1924, when he died at the age of 61. A few months later, 24-year-old Faye married Clarence Kreh, a farmer. Clarence and Faye had been together only 8 months when Faye fell ill with pneumonia brought on by measles. She died on March 13th, 1925, at age 26. I can't imagine what a terrible blow this must have been to Ada, especially so soon after the death of her husband. Just days later, 23-year-old Alice married Harold Diehl Meyer in nearby Tiffin, Ohio. Ada's youngest, Homer, married Delphine Le Jeune in 1928. 

That same year, Ada herself decided to marry again. At 51 she married 60-year-old Elmer E. Howey. In the 1930 census, Elmer is working as a carpenter while Ada is working as a chambermaid in a sanitarium. She later worked as a cook at a hospital. Elmer eventually fell into ill-health and was forced to retire. He died of a heart attack in 1942. Ada lived to be 89-years-old, passing away in Green Springs, Ohio in 1966 after an extended illness. Her obituary noted that she was a member of the Green Springs Evangelical United Brethren Church, the Grange, and her local Garden Club. At the time of her death, Ada had two surviving children, eight grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, as well as five step-children and 14 step-grandchildren. 

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