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!