Photo Number 537

This is a snapshot from the Antique Shop in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.

Looks like someone was to Hawaii and brought back shirts and lei’s for the older boys.  The poor little girl only got a lei.

taken in Fordville last June ---52

That old clothes line pole certainly needs straightening.  I am reminded in these old photos that the grass in the lawn was only cut a couple of times a year.  We used to cut our grass with one of the old whirly bladed push mowers..it was hard to push in long grass. If the grass was too long, we raked it up and threw it over the fence to the cows.

Thanks for stopping by, do come again:)

Photo Number 496

This is a Cabinet Card from the Antique Mall in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.

It is very worn,  it may have been a much loved photo.  The back is a medium brown color and as you can see the front is black.  During the years 1880 to 1890 different colors were often used for the face and the back of mounts, however the simple skirts and blouses tend to make me think that this was taken right around 1900. 

I bought this photo, because I believe that it is a four generation photo.  It has some wear and I have restored it somewhat..it has some deep scratches.  Most of the time I just let the photos go thru without any restoration, when the scratches detract from the photo because they have gone over the face..I like to repair them.

There are no identifying marks on the photo, no photographers imprint and no names.

Thanks for stopping by, do come again:)

Photo Number 492

The photographer is L Hikell ..Artist  in  Beresford, So. Dak

Could this say Elmer Westling?? or Elmer sister? I thought it might say Elmers sister..he had three that it could be.. Selma Mary born in 1888 the Mother of all those children plus many more. Emelia Edna born in 1891 or Freda Eileen born in 1893.

I think there is a resemblance in all of these photos..brothers and sisters and one of the sisters children. What do you think?  We probably have too much speculation to go any further with these photos..but perhaps a relative will come by someday and leave a message..you never can tell.

Thanks for stopping by, do come again:)

Photo Number 484

Now we have a family of photos..I found a photo of Jessie Glenn’s younger sister Ruth Dale Lockwood.


Thanks to someone who labeled this photo we know it was taken August 31, 1897.
This is what we know:
1910 United States Federal Census

Gibson County, Indiana

Household Members: Name Age
Stephens V Lockwood 63
Esther Lockwood 37
Jessie G Lockwood 19
Mae I Lockwood 18
Ruth D Lockwood 12

Esther Lockwood Photo Number 467
Esther’s Children

Jessie Glenn Lockwood       Ruth Dale Lockwood
Photo Number 468

Jessie Glenn  18 months old
Photo Number 483

Thanks for stopping by, do come again:)

Update from Iggy:
Ruth Dale Lockwood was born 1897. She married Hobart Dewey Reed (b. Jul 13, 1896) in 1917.

In 1920, they were living in Gibson County, Indiana with his parents.

In 1930, Hobart is in Fort Sheridan, Lake County, Illinois, while Ruth is with their nine year old daughter Nancy, in Hazard, Perry County, Kentucky.

Hobart died on Aug 1970 in Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa, FL. I haven't been able to determine where Ruth Reed ... went or ended up. I get the unconfirmed impression that she and Hobart split up - but have no proof. What became of Nancy Reed - I've not be able to determine.

Hobart appears to have stayed in the Army and risen up through the ranks in the artillery arm. Perhaps he joined the Army before/during the Great Depression and made a career of it.


These photos are Full Circle 25 on April 10, 2011

Photo Number 472

I purchased this cabinet card at the Flea Market in Wadena, Minnesota.

I believe it is German.

I get the impression that this family was headed to America..don’t know why..the lady seems to have traveling clothes on.  Was the gentleman a Captain of something..an airship? 
Thanks for stopping by, do come again:)

Update From Iggy:
Kyllburg is indeed German. The town is located near the Belgium/Luxemburg border about 125 miles/ 230 km due west of Frankfurt am Main. 


Update from Norkio:
The child has really poor posture and I wonder if that is what contributes to her looking like she has a belly on her. If she was older I'd speculate she was pregnant, but instead I suspect scoliosis or something that prevents her from standing up straight.

Also interesting is that her dress features a "pinner" apron, one that has the bib but no ties to go over the shoulder or around the neck. Her's may be sewn in place but traditionally they were pinned to the dress underneath. It's a very old style if this is circa 1910. The pinner was popular during the 1860s.

Photo Number 429

Page Number 28 in the Nettie Parks Album.

The word Parmly ( which I believe to be Parmley) is written on the page.

Silas, Clive, Howard, Mate and Aunt Ell.  I believe this is two families..but I am not sure how they are split up yet.
I believe that this photo may have been taken around 1890.
Now if we go back to the first page in the album..this must be Mate Parmley..not Nate Parmley..and we know they lived near Grandpa Crandalls farm..up hill south the 2nd house.  Neighbors?  Cousins? Were Nettie Crandall Parks and Mate Parmley of about the same age and good friends?  Nettie was born in 1871 and married in 1896 when she was 25 years old.  I think that Mate was about 19 or 20 years old in the above photo..so it fits. It is also fitting that Nettie’s best friend or cousin was the first photo that was placed in the album.
Thanks for stopping by, do come again:)

Update from Jim: Thanks Jim! 
this is the family of silas and lillian jane (neff) parmley. he was a civil war veteran

silas (augustus, truman, joshua, jehiel, joshua, john, john) was born 1 apr 1839 at toledo, ohio.

he married anna powell on 29 sep 1959 at houston, minn. they had five children: henry l., warren s., david h., clara m., and michael, all born between 1859 and 1865. anna, who was born about 1840 in pa, died 28 sep 1869 at wells, minn.

he then married lillian on 4 sep 1877 at shelden, minn. their children were:

--mary elizabeth, born 7 aug 1878, at macedonia, iowa, married william m. booton on 16 jan 1900.

--clive erwin, born 13 apr 1882, at henderson, iowa, married about 1902 to ella mae horback. their children were lizzie e (m ), dora m (m), and clivene e (m). clive's wwi draft card shows he was a motorman for the city trolley cars in los angeles. died 15 apr 1932 at los angeles; ella then lived with daughter clivene.

--arthur lorenzo, born 14 feb 1892 at macedonia, married bessie peska on 11 apr 1913. in 1955 he was living in oakland, calif. they had one child, william r.e. who married clara deitrich.

silas enlisted on 4 nov 1861 as a private for co. k, 46th illinois infantry, and mustered out 29 dec 1864. widow lillian filed for a pension.
he died 26 jan 1911 in council bluffs and was buried there.

my best guess is that "mate" is a nickname for daughter mary ... and howard sitting front and center is silas' son from his first marriage, david h -- the h standing for howard.

Photo Number 413

This is a cabinet card from N. Hassan at Glencoe, Minn.  The Minnesota Historical Society Photographer Database says that he was in business from 1880 to 1881.  Meet the Josiah S. Reese Family. We can see the bustle and the pleated bottom of the skirt in the older woman..the many buttons down the front and the high white collar.  The littlest girl is a real cutie, and the older girl seems to have gotten tall for her skirt..her ankles are showing…her skirt has just a hint of a bustle, not enough of it is showing to be certain. Her ringlets are beautiful..I wonder if they are hers or if they were pinned into her hair? 

The Ages

Josiah S Reese 41 November 9 1886

Jane Reese 33 November 12, 1886

Clara L Reese 13  January 26 1886

Abba Janett Reese 4 December 3 1886

From all this information..we will assume that Mr. N. Hassan was at his location longer than previously thought.

This is another Cabinet Card that my husband purchased for me at the antique shop in Dorset, Minnesota.

I wonder how this family is related to the Sealia and Lottie Reese from yesterday.  Hutchinson and Glencoe are about thirteen miles apart. 

Thanks for stopping by, do come again:)

Photo Update: A relative Nancy emailed me some photos..thank you!

Josiah (1845 to 1921) and Jane Reese (1853 to 1914)

And this is Josiah’s Father William Henry Reese (1817 to 1906)

Photo Number 406

A post card hand delivered long ago.  A Merry Christmas To Aunt Stina From Minda and Gena then written in another hand (Hjellum).  This is a Azo Real Photo Postcard from 1918 to 1930.  From the clothing I would say this was taken about 1925, the boyish boxy dress that showed no curves was quite in fashion about that time.

“The Bob” ..women for the first time in history began to wear their hair short..scandalous. The bob was a short rounded blunt cut with bangs and could be worn straight, pin curled or wavy.

Thanks for stopping by, do come again:)

Thanks to Abra! 
This photo is on it's way home on December 27, 2010 :) 

Photo Number 387

Today and for the next few days I will feature some interesting photographs that Pam bought in an Antique Shop in Lee, Massachusetts this is a region known as the Berkshires.  Pam has a blog called Artwork and Reflective Writing.  She wrote to me : Wouldn’t it be nice if someone recognized an ancestor?
   This photo is marked Hilda Gloria and Albert.  It was taken by M. Camarri Photo at 692 Filbert Street S.F. Cal.
This is written in a foreign language. Agli yir(?) con Alfetto(?)   Hilda Gloria Albert.
Albert is the star of this photo..perhaps some kind of grade school graduation? The children seem to be dressed up ..but the older girl/woman is dressed very casually..she has shoes and socks on instead of nylons.  Is this a photo from the 1940’s?

Pam also has a question that maybe you can help answer.  She has a lengthy beautifully hand quill penned letter that possibly was written by the wife of the man who developed the Otis Elevator.  She wrote her cousin in Massachusetts while accompanying her husband in Germany. The letter was written in 1884.  Does anyone know how she would go about getting in touch with someone at the Smithsonian?

Thanks for stopping by, do come again:)

Update from Ainsworthiana: That inscription might possibly be "Agli Gii con Affetto" -- "To the Gio family (the Gios) with affection."


Update From Star and anonymous : Or possibly To the Aunts and Uncles with love/affection.

Maybelline:  The Church has been at that address since 1925.


Update: From Abra: 
Oh, boy, I think I have a hit on who these children are, but rather than spoil the fun, I am going to make you all wait for names! I believe Hilda and Albert have passed away, while Gloria may or may not be still alive, as I have had difficulty tracking her. If my information is correct, Hilda was born 4 Oct 1921, Albert was born March 1925, and Gloria was born April 1, 1928.

If my information is correct, I would date the photo circa 1935. I am taking a stab in the dark, but I would then think the occasion was Albert's Confirmation/1st Communion (I believe they often received both sacraments together back then). Hilda has probably hit her growth spurt, and Albert not yet, thus the difference in size.


All the contact information has been sent to Pam..because this photo belongs to her! :) 


Update: This photo went Full Circle 19 on January 27, 2011. 


Here is the background on the search that Abra did to find this family! 


Ooh, I am so happy this photo has been reconnected with family. Although I have been given the credit, and while it may appear I solved this on my own, this is really not the case. A great deal of the credit goes to those responses about the Italian wording that led me to search where I did. Had I not had that information, I wouldn't have had some of the 'terms' I tried in the search engines to find these three children. So, it is important when you have a clue or inkling about a photo, no matter how small it may appear, you put it in the comments, because it really helps piece the puzzle together!! It takes all of us!

Now that the suspense has been lifted, here are the rest of the details. I extracted much of the identifying information of the living, without removing the pieces about the photo subjects.

When I found the match to this photo, every part of the puzzle appeared to fit. I first found the family in the 1930 census (as I was about to call it quits—they were on the very last page I was going through--I felt as though I hit the jackpot). I built on the information with other records once I had a last name. Here goes:

The 1930 census lists Joseph Pepi, an Italian immigrant(arriving 1913), living in a rented home ($20 month), age 38, unable to read, write, or speak English. He works as a fur dresser at a tannery. He was married at age 27 to Annie, another Italian immigrant who arrived in 1920; in 1930 she is 32 (married at 22), so I assume she married almost immediately after arrival--perhaps it was an arranged marriage. She can't read or write, but does speak English. Hilda(age 8) and Albert(age5) are both in school and can read and write. Gloria is 23 months old.

Using a combination of California birth, marriage, and death records, as well as military records, I have determined that Joseph was born Jan or June 2 1892. His full name was Guiseppe, his mother's maiden name was Barsi. He died August 21, 1963. His wife's full name was Nella S. Ramoni (not sure why it is Annie in the census, unless perhaps it is Annella). Her mother's maiden name was Magnani, she was born April 11, 1898, and died March 21st, 1963. It is quite plausible Guiseppe/Joseph had at least one more brother in California, as Fortunato Pepi was born in 1884 and his mother's maiden name was also Barsi.

Joseph Pepi registered for the WWI draft while still single. He was tall and medium build. brown eyes, black hair. He was employed by (?) Schroeder, as a fur dresser. He was born in Pia Gai Luuca Italy.

Hilda Francesca was born 10/4/1921 and died 8/9/1984 in San Francisco. She was married to Russell William Spadoni (born 8/21/1920, died 3/23/1969). They had at least one daughter who had 2 children(although I believe the response to the photo indicates there was more than one child).

Albert L. Pepi was born March 17 (?) 1925. He enlisted in the army during WWII (June 12, 1943). He married Lorraine Lepiane, born in 1926. They had at least two children, & several grandchildren. Albert L. Pepi died in 1993 in Gardenville, Nevada. It is possible his wife is still alive.

I didn’t search on Gloria, because at that time, I had enough information for contacts. Perhaps Hilda's family can fill us in on Gloria a little more! As always, this is just a small snapshot of this family and I am sure there are many more descendants then I have found.

~Abra

Photo Number 379

Today we will look at three photos of Laurisa’s.  I believe that perhaps these three people are related. They were all taken at the same studio..(Hom? Hone? Ione? ) in Brattleboro, Vermont.  All of these photos are Cabinet Cards.



My best guess is parents and their older child. I think she looks just like the elderly gentleman. I will date these photos 1890 to 1900.

Who are these people..and how they ended up in Alabama from Vermont will most likely remain a mystery. 

Thanks for stopping by, do come again:)
Update from Norkio: 
 I think I'd date these a little younger - maybe 1885-1890. Reason is the clothes. Women's fashions in the 1890s really went wide on the arms with big balloon sleeves and poufy trims and frills. These ladies dresses are more sleek, leading me to believe they are of the earlier decade.


Update from Iggy: 
Caleb L. Howe, photographer, Union Block, Brattleboro, VT (worked 1860/5-1895) or his son, John C. (worked 1880-1895) appear to be the photographer.

Photo Number 353

This is a Real Photo Postcard.  It is a Azo card and it is from 1904 to 1918.  I was struck with how little the smallest child is..she looks like a real doll.

There are no markings on this postcard. Thanks for stopping by, do come again:)

Photo Number 350

Two kids outside on a fall day.  I love the little girls pants..they would fit her a long time because the legs were rolled up.  I think this photo is from the 1940’s.

Yesterday this blog was a year old, I cannot believe it.  I am still not through those two boxes of old photos that I originally purchased,  perhaps because I keep adding to them!  We have had eleven Full Circles in the past year and have returned over twenty photos to family members.  I would like to thank all of you..especially Abra and Iggy for their research and Norkio for her wonderful ability to describe some of the clothing.  I always appreciate your comments!

Thanks for stopping by, do come again:)

Photo Number 348

I have a few photos that would be considered Fall Photos and this is one of them.  Do you suppose that the year was 1941?  What do you suppose they did with this sweater in 1942?  I think the family resemblance is quite clear that this is a father and a son. Was the lad on a football team?

Thanks for stopping by, do come again:)

Photo Number 291

This is Homer and Frank Newcombe.  Underneath the flap of this folder the photographer is identified as Myklebust.

In the 1920 Census of Wright County, Iowa  Frank was the head of the household..Homer and his wife Silvia and his Mother Mrs. Lillian Newcombe lived with him.  He was 26 that year and was a farmer.  He was born October 03, 1893 and he died July 01, 1966.  So that would have made him about 73 when he died.
So far the birth order of these Newcombe boys is Jess (1887)  Homer (1890) and Frank (1893) and we will meet another Bro tomorrow.
Thanks for stopping by, do come again:)
Update: Thanks Iggy! 
Frank D Newcomb served in WWI .  His father was Monroe Newcomb. 
Frank died in Eagle Grove, Wright County, Iowa. 

Photo Number 267

This is a real photo postcard that I got at a garage sale, it is an Azo  brand postcard from 1904 to 1918.  It looks like this was a busy young family of mostly girls, the little person on the left is probably a boy, and the baby that is perched precariously on the chair could be either a boy or a girl.
Thanks for dropping by, do come again:)

Photo Number 258

This is a cabinet card.  It is most likely a photo of two sisters.  I am curious if anyone knows what the lighter colored ribbons signify..if anything.  I thought they might be bonnet ties...but I am not sure.  Louis Olson was the photographer at Fertile, Minnesota.  Fertile is such a little tiny town I was surprised that they ever had a photographer.
The gowns seem similar, perhaps they were traveling gowns as their sleeves seem to be a bit more practical.  I found the trim on both sides of the jacket to be interesting.  I will guess that this photo was taken around 1890.
Thanks for stopping by, do come again..I am a bit late today..I was off picking raspberries:)

Photo Number 248

Three small children..I enjoyed the relaxed look of this photo, the oldest boy with the saggy socks, the toddler in the romper and the little girl with the big old bow in her hair, and her one pantaloon leg up and one down.  The sign in the background says ---------Hotel....It would be a pure guess at what the first word is.  This photo is probably from around 1920.
Thanks for stopping by, do come again:)

Here is another scan..I believe it says Cottage Hotel on the sign.  When I got this photo out to rescan it at a higher resolution I noticed a date on the back Sept 1 1925 Sioux Falls, SD at a shop called Canedys Cameras Shop or Lanedys..the first letter is only partially there. :)