Orphan Photo #12
This one's in pretty bad shape. The photo and the cover are both stained, and the cover is torn. There is no identifying information. The child is wearing a lacy frock and what appears to be a locket.
Picture
Monday, April 20, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Orphan Photo #11
This cabinet card was taken by Imperial in Portland, Oregon (NW corner of Third & Morrison). On the back, "For Grandpa" is written, along with the date of 5 June 1888.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Orphan Photo #10
This cabinet card has no identifying information for the gentleman in the photograph. It was taken by a photographer named" Cundill" in Maquoketa, Iowa.
A quick search on Ancestry.com turned up census results for one Cundill family in Iowa. In the 1880 federal census, William, son of William and Mary, was a 24-year old photographer. William was also found in the 1900 federal census, still a photographer. Therefore, it is very likely that this cabinet card photograph was taken by William. Additionally, if you look closely at the insignia, you can see a "W" woven into a "C," which are likely the initials (William Cundill) furthering the likelihood of this conclusion.
Given that cabinet cards, especially portraits, weren't popular until the 1870s, and they lost popularity in the mid-1900s, and given the age of the photographer, this photograph was likely taken between 1875-1905.
UPDATE 02/19/13 – I received an email from a gentleman by the name of Michael Miller. He and his cousins have been working on identifying their own family photos, some of which were taken by this photographer. After studying Cundill’s various logos, Michael believes that this photo was taken between 1891-1896 +/-. Certainly a better range than what I had! Thanks, Michael.
Sources
1. 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Maquoketa, Jackson, Iowa; Roll: T9_346; Family History Film: 1254346; Page: 515.4000; Enumeration District: 321; Image: 0092.
2. 1900 U.S. Federal Census, South Fork, Jackson, Iowa; Roll: T623_438 Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 68.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Orphan Photo #9
This is a photo postcard. There is some identifying information written on the back, but not enough to begin to figure out who these siblings are.
Alice Marie 4 yr. 3 mo
Walter Arthur 3 yr
Esther Elizabeth 16 mo
Which one is dearest?
Can you tell.
This is also being submitted to the Smile for the Camera Carnival, where the topic for this edition is brothers & sisters.
Were they battling brothers, shy little sisters, or was it brother & sister against the world? Our ancestors often had only their siblings for company. Were they best friends or not? Show us that picture that you found with your family photographs or in your collection that shows your rendition of brothers & sisters.
I think this is a pretty mischievous bunch, don't you?
Monday, March 2, 2009
Orphan Photo #8
This orphan photo is unidentified. It was photographed by Z. Roberts of Roberts & Sumner's Champion Gallery in Northfield, Minnesota.
A search on the surnames turned up the following, which seem to be the photographers of Roberts & Sumner's:
- Ira E. Sumner, photographer, born about 1847, living in Northfield, Rice, Minnesota in 1880.
- Ira E. Sumner, living in Northfield, Rice, Minnesota in 1875. Occupations were not recorded on the 1875 Minnesota Census.
- Ira E. Sumner, living in Northfield in 1900, occupation listed as a furniture dealer.
- Z Roberts in Northfield, Rice, Minnesota in 1875, age 36. Occupations were not recorded on the 1875 Minnesota Census.
- Zachariah Roberts in Northfield, Rice, Minnesota in 1865. Occupations were not recorded on the 1865 Minnesota Census.
- Z Roberts, photographer on the U.S. IRS Tax Assessment list for District 2, Minnesota, in 1864.
- Zachariah Roberts living in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota in 1885. Occupations were not recorded on the 1865 Minnesota Census.
The style of dress seems to be an 1850s day dress. But based on the above information, it's unlikely that this photo was taken in the 1850s. My guess would be the dress is a hand-me-down, and the photo was taken in the late 1860 to mid-1870s.
What do you think?
Sources
1880 U.S. Federal Census; Census Place: Northfield, Rice, Minnesota; Roll: T9_632; Family History Film: 1254632; Page: 272.1000; Enumeration District: 136; Image: 0186.
Ancestry.com. Minnesota Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007.
Ancestry.com. U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2008. Original data: National Archives (NARA) microfilm series: M603, M754-M771, M773-M777, M779-M780, M782, M784, M787-M789, M791-M793, M795, M1631, M1775-M1776, T227, T1208-T1209.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Orphan Photo #7
This adorable photo was taken by Munger in Oconomowoc, Waukesha, Wisconsin. The name John D Comstock is written on the back.
A quick search on Ancestry turned up a death record index result for John D Comstock in Waukesha County, Wisconsin on 31 August 1900. Is this the same person? I'm not sure, but it is a possibility.
KreativBlogger Award
George Geder selected this blog to receive the KreativBlogger award. My other blog already received the award, but I am honored to received it again for this blog. I am even more honored that George, who is very involved in photography and restoration, chose this blog. Thanks, George, for your nomination and kind words.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Orphan Photo #6
This was originally posted on my other blog, GenBlog. Here is the original post:
This postcard photo was rescued from the Antique Mall in El Paso, Illinois, by me, on 05 October 2008.
Addressee: Melissa S.
The message reads: This is the red headed baby when 7 mo old. Would you like to have it.
There is no other identifying information, postmark, date, or location.
Do you know who this cute "red headed" baby is?
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Orphan Photo #5
This is an orphan photo I just retrieved from eBay.
Unfortunately, there is no identifying information for this adorable photo.
Based on the style of dress and shoes, I estimate that it was taken around 1900. The little girl is probably about two or three. It's hard to see in the scanned image, but she is wearing a thick-banded ring on her right hand. She is also wearing a necklace, with perhaps a locket.
I thought this was a cute photo that represents children's fashion of the early 1900s, especially that adorable pleated skirt. And personally, I just love those little shoes!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Orphan Photo #4
This was originally posted on my other blog, GenBlog. Here is the original post.
This postcard photo was rescued from the Antique Mall in El Paso, Illinois, by me, on 05 October 2008.
The message reads: Hello Ida. We are all well. The weather is very dry here. Harry Duncan and Hattie was out to visit us. We had a big fire in Dayton it burnt one block on Main St. It started in the Exchange Hotel and burnt to the Bank. One woman burnt and died Wednesday morning. Will write you soon, ans soon. Good by, From Clara
There is no other identifying information, postmark, date, or location.
I got this one simply because of the story. I did a quick (very quick I might add) to see if I could find out more about this fire. Oddly enough, the first search result was an article written in September 2008 about the "100th anniversary" of the fire. So based on that info, this postcard was probably written in September 1908. The end of the article provides more information about the fire and the woman who died that was referenced in the postcard. Pretty interesting!
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Julie Cahill Tarr, Genealogist
Julie is a genealogist who specializes in writing, editing, and graphic design. If you are looking for someone to help organize your family data into a book or prepare a research article for publication, Julie can help. Other services include the development of educational materials such as books/booklets, articles, and online courses. See "About Julie" for additional information.
