Walter & May Ellis

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Walter T. Ellis and wife May Holden Ellis

What a great photo! I’d like to do a recreation of this one. This is Walter T. Ellis and wife May Holden Ellis – according to the writing on the back. The photo was taken in Sioux City, Iowa. Click here to see the eBay sale of the picture by postype if you’d like to own it.

Here’s what I’ve been able to discover about the couple: Walter, whose middle initial is often F., was born about 1863. The couple were married in Chicago on November 22, 1894. In 1900, they lived in Des Moines, Iowa with son Harold who is 4. By 1910 they moved to Sioux City – still with only the one son. Walter was born in Iowa, May (or Mary as she is sometimes documented) in Massachusetts in 1867. They have a beautiful marriage license online at familysearch.com as well.

May died in Los Angeles, California in 1946; Walter had preceded her in death.

Reuel Keagy

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This is Reuel Keagy, “about 6 mo’s”, according to the back of the photo. I just love the look on his

Reuel Keagy, about 6 mo’s

face. This photo was taken by Studeio Marquee in Decatur, Illinois – where I supposed the child was born given how young he is in the photo.

This is likely Abraham Reuel Keagy, born in 1893 in Illinois. His parents were Ira and Mary Keagy. There is another “Reul Keagy/Keaggy” born in Illinois in 1894 that lives in Arkansas in 1910 and in Michigan in 1920. I’m going with the person who has the exact spelling – but just wanted to let it be known that there is another possibility for identity.

Reuel lives in Illinois with is parents in 1920. There’s a great 1918 University of Illinois yearbook photo of Reuel – only a true professional would be able to tell if that 6 month old baby is the same as the 20 year old man! Reuel’s 1917 draft registration card says he was born in Decatur. There are a lot of families with little Reuel in their tree on Ancestry, so maybe one of them can confirm.

I own this photo, in case any family members want the original.

Wm. Litchfield

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Wm. Litchfield, Stockton, CA

I admit, I’m a little stumped by Mr. Litchfield. While only his last name appears (several times) on the front of the picture, on the back “Wm. Litchfield” is scribbled. The photographer was in Stockton, CA. With a quick search there are two possible people this could be. 1) William Litchfield born 1881 in Canada, lived most of his life (1922-1940 at least) in Pasadena, CA. Mother was Jean M. Litchfield from Canada, father (unknown) was from England. 2) William Litchfield born 1874 in Minnesota. Son of C. L. Litchfield and Jennie Hanson. Resided in Oakland, CA during the 19-teens and into the 1920 census. However, he isn’t in California very long: 1880 in MN with family, 1900 in Alaska with brother Arnold, 1910 in Seattle, 1920 in Oakland, 1930 in Seattle, 1940 in Washington state.

I’m leaning toward the latter Mr. Litchfield as the one in the picture. Why? Because while he didn’t live in CA very long, when he did he lived much closer to Stanton where the photo was taken. Pasadena is 5 + hours away (even longer back then). That’s literally all I have to go on without more in depth research. I will contact family members of both Mr. Litchfield’s, maybe they know more. William Litchfield is for sale on eBay here.

Thomas P. Render

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Thomas P. Render

“Thomas P. Render, Millerton, Kans.” is written on the back of this photo from postype on eBay. Millerton, Kansas is in Sumner county, which is where Mr. Render spent most of his (probably interesting) life. He was born in 1855 in Kentucky to C. J. Render and Lucinda Phipps – several people have noted the the middle initial P. stands for Phipps – likely. He lived with his parents and a few siblings in 1860 in Butler, KY. By 1870 he moved to Coffey, Kansas to live with older brother John. in 1880, he and probably a younger brother lived in Palo Pinto, TX where he worked as a stockraiser. 1900 found Thomas in Sumner again, a single man working as just a “laborer”. By 1910 he was a grain buyer – still living alone. He probably died before 1920, as I didn’t see him in another census record. No descendants I suppose, but a family none the less.

“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.