Monthly Archives: October 2012

“Our daughter Annie”

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Annie Pihlasky, New York

This one brought out the researcher in me. I found a photograph of an adorable baby girl with a hand written note on the back. The note reads (exactly):

“This is the picture of my our daughter Annie and if Goldie will send me the picture of her baby I will send her one two. Best regards form all. Harry & Sadie Pihalski. Your nephew & neice”

The photo of little Annie was taken by H. Berger on Avenue B in New York. Harry, Sadie and Annie actually weren’t too hard to find despite the fact that the last name Pihalsky never appears in documents – but many variations do.

Harry and Sadie were both born about 1890 in Russia. Harry’s parents appear to be Meyer & Rachel Pollsky (I’m sure that’s not spelled correctly). Annie was their first child, born in 1914 in New York. According to census records Harry & Sadie Pialsky/Piulsky/Peolsky lived in New York, New York in 1925, in Brooklyn, NY in 1930, and in Bronx, NY in 1940. They had other children, Jack (1916), Rose (1919), and Leo/Louis (1922).

The 1930 census is particularly wonderful – Harry was the manager of a shoe store. The couple had married at age 21 (about 1911) – both of them. They spoke Yiddish at home. As did almost everyone on that page of the census record; clearly they lived in a Russian immigrant neighborhood. Annie, 17 at the time, is an office stenographer. By 1940, Annie (still living at home) was a typist at a book publisher; her father still worked in shoes. Sister Rose was worked as a beautician. Interesting that neither of the brothers worked – perhaps they were in school.

This is such a wonderful picture and note that I certainly hope to find some family member who can cherish it.

Ida Dresler

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Ida Dresler of Indiana

Ida Dresler looks like an intelligent young girl. The back of this photo lists a photographer, H. Jarrard at 15 Calhoun Street in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I found only one Ida Dresler from Indiana – although she did not live in Fort Wayne. The is possibly the Ida Dresler/Dressler born around 1885 in Indiana to Carl and Mary Dressler (both from Germany). In the 1900 and 1910 census the family lived in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. Carl and Mary are still there in 1920, but Ida is no longer living with them. I would love to know what became of her.

Ida is for sale for a few more days from photomuseum on eBay for any family that would like to own her.

Lulu & Emanual Beecher

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Emanuel & Lulu Beecher from Pottstown, PA

This is probably a wedding picture for the Beechers based on the dress, but not known for certain. This photo, along with several others in a group, is for sale on eBay for a few more days. Luckily there is some great documentation on this couple online.

They are Emanuel Beecher and Lulu Hughes. Emanuel was born in Pennsylvania in 1871 to Elizabeth Site and William Beecher (according to his death record). He married Lulu around 1889, lived most of his life in Philadelphia working as a printer. He died young, at the age of 40 in 1911. He was buried in Pottstown, PA.

Lulu was born in 1871/72 in Washington D. C., where one of her parents was from, it’s not clear which one. Her mother was Jennie Hughes, her father unknown. After Emanuel’s death Lulu worked as a housekeeper to support her children. But she does not appear in a later census and likely died before 1930.

It should be easy to find out more about this couple; the evidence is plenty. This photo will hopefully be framed in a relatives home soon.

Elizabeth Washburn

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Elizabeth Washburn of Marion, Ohio

Another beautiful cabinet card from Photomuseum on eBay. The name on the bottom is Elizabeth Washburn and the photo was taken in Marion, Ohio. There’s only one Elizabeth Washburn that I could find in Marion, Ohio. This is likely, Elizabeth Morrall Washburn. She was the daughter of Samuel and Margaret Morall, born in 1845 in Ohio and lived in Marion County all her life. Census records from 1850-1880 place her there. She married Elias Washburn in 1851 in Marion. It’s possible her husband died before 1870, as she lived alone with their children starting in that census.

A great portrait. I hope she finds a family home.

Update: Grandmother Moffatt + the Weeks Sisters

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Thanks to a generous ancestry.com member, I now have more information on the connection between the Weeks sisters and Grandmother Moffatt:

“Grandmother Moffatt” is Henrietta Shearer (1829-1906) who married John Henry Moffatt (1829-1864) in Scotland, moved to PA, (where he was a house builder) and bore him five children. After his death in 1864, she married his cousin James W. Moffatt and bore him three more children, the youngest of whom was Marion “Effie” Moffatt (1876- ), who married Herman T. Weeks (1864- ) and is the mother of the “Weeks Sisters” Anna Y Weeks (1902-1937) and Isabel C. Weeks (1907-1999). She also had a son, (their brother) Frank H. Weeks (1904-1971).

Thanks Bart for this great information!

Freddy B. Steves

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Freddy B. Steves, 1 year and 1 week

This is a fabulous little tin type of Freddy B. Steves, who, according to the back of the photo, is 1 year and 1 week old and was taken on May 25, 1868 in New York. That’s some great information!

Only one Fred B. Steves shows up in the documentation from New York born around 1867 (one year before the photo). Hopefully, it’s the same one! Fred B. Steves appeared to be the only son of Oliver and Aurelia or Lucy Steves. In 1870, Freddy and family live in Lansingburgh, Rensselaer, New York with an Eliza Brown who was 56 – likely Aurelia/Lucy’s mother. By 1880, the family had moved to Trenton, New Jersey.

Unfortunately, by 1885, at age 18 a Fred B. Steves died in Trenton, NJ of heart disease. There’s more evidence of his death than his life. He was buried in Oliver P. Steves lot. A very sad end to such a cute little boy. All the more reason to continue to promote his life!