Lampman Family

Angela Svirbely 3 women? The one standing looks like a pastor.

Teresa Chmelik Did you read the names?

Lucinda is the one standing; her married name was Merrifield. Elizabeth is seated near Lucinda, but she is still identified with her maiden name. Women, once married, didn't generally take back their maiden names. Instead of being known as Mrs. John Smith, widows were known as Mrs. Mary Smith. This was still being done right into the 1960s in newspapers. The other woman seated is Permilla; her married name is Gilbert.

I don't see a wedding ring on Lucinda's left hand, so maybe she was a widow. But Permilla is wearing a ring on the third finger of her left hand, which might indicate she was married at the time...though she could have also been a widow. I wore my wedding band for quite a long time after my husband died.

It used to be the custom for a widow or widower to wear the wedding band on the right hand after the spouse died.

Teresa Chmelik check out this Instagram account. They have a lot old pictures with people actually smiling at camera

Margaret Tinsley Rodgers the somber faces are most likely because of the lengthy process for photos. They had to hold the pose for quiet some time. Cameras did not just click and done then. You had to stay extremely still facially and all. It was a truly long process.

Beverly Klaus Stufflebeam interesting. I had no idea. Thank you

Dede Sampson Perkins your probably right on that one

Also; Back then the photo would take so long to develope that it would be hard to keep a smile for up to a minute straight. Much easier to just relax your mouth then.

Dede Sampson Perkins that is not the reason.

Rich Perry exposure time was so long that it was hard to hold a smile that looked normal. You'd end up looking insane.