Permelia (Chewning) Higgerson Porter

Life was hard on folks who lived through the Civil War, much like those who lived through the Great Depression. Permelia was not so old when she died, and this photo had to have been taken kind of late in her life--whether in VA or MO, I do not know--but she had been through a lot, which probably accounts for her looking rough. Of course, there were no cosmetics, makeup, hair dye, dental care, etc.--though her hair appears not to have turned grey here yet. At 69, I look pretty rough, too, without my hair fixed and makeup, too! [Diane M. Gray]