The 19th Century

The mugshot of Herman Webster Mudgett aka Dr. Henry Howard Holmes or H. H. Holmes after being arrested in 1895.

Portrait of Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley - the dressmaker to Mrs. Abraham Lincoln. Born into slavery in 1818, in November 1855 she purchased her and her son's freedom in St. Louis Missouri. She later moved to Washington D.C. where she began a dressmaking business employing 20 seamstresses who provided fashion to the wives of elite politicians including Varina Davis (wife of Jefferson Davis), Mary Anna Custis Lee (wife of Robert E. Lee) and of course the First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln.

This is a photo of George Washington Walser added by Brigette Meeker on June 3, 2020.

This is a photo of Zelotes O Sargent at the Iowa State Fair c. 1880 added by Alijandra Mogilner on May 25, 2020.

This is a photo of Richard Bunkum Rickard added by Tina Glover on May 19, 2020.

Think this must be Henry Chadwick, the initial does not appear to be an "H' but Henry is the only Chadwick mentioned in diary of the owner of this photo, ie J.H. Watmuff. (see back of photo)

A photo of Emma Youlden (Mrs. A. Watts) Know nothing of her except she was mentioned as a friend of Bessie Watmuff in 1867 in JHW diary. This photo was in a trunk belonging to J. H. Watmuff. See also the back of this photo.

There's no name or any other identifying information on this photo. I found him in central Texas, so I think it's likely the photo was taken somewhere in that area. He looks like he's enjoying that rare snowfall. Internet searches revealed that the winter of 1894-1895 was unusually cold in much of the northern hemisphere. The coast of the Gulf of Mexico got unusually heavy snowfalls in February 1895. Much of Texas got hit around the middle of February, especially along the coast. The National Weather Service website says this: "February 12-15, 1895 - Widespread snow over the state, even as far south as the lower Valley. North Texas received between 3-5 inches, but a band of 10-20 inches blanketed the upper Texas coast, including Houston and Beaumont/Port Arthur."

A photo of the Bowman family in front of their grocery store: Charles and Elma Simmons briefly ran a grocery store in New York City. My father remembers hearing that Elma hated living in the city so much that she threatened divorce if they did not GO HOME to Dutchess County. I have no proof, but believe the two other people in the photo may be Elma's brother Otis Bowman and sister Mary (Bowman) Duncan. A 1910 census says Otis was 50, making his birthdate about 1860 - he would have been 25 in 1885. According to my information, Mary was born in 1866 and would have been about 19.

A photo of George Roberts, slave to freeman privateer. In the fall of 1812 he served onboard Captain Richard Moon’s privateer 'Sarah Ann' and was among six American seamen accused of being British subjects and taken prisoner when the Sarah Ann was captured by HMS Statira off the Bahamas on September 13, 1812. Captain Moon denied that they were British: Eventually, Roberts and the other American seamen were released. After the war, it is unknown what trade he had as a freeman or if he continued serving on-board various merchant vessels from the port of Baltimore, Maryland. What is known is that he was allowed to participate as one of the Old Defenders’ of Baltimore of 1814 during parades commemorating the anniversary for many years. He lived to the age of 95 (1766 -- 1861)

I've "rescued" an old photograph of Tilly ENGLISH which was taken at the Sim Mould Studio in Baraboo, WI sometime in the 1890's. Tilly appears to be in her teens or 20's at the time the photograph was taken. Based on limited research I was able to locate the following information regarding Tilly and her family: Tillie ENGLISH was b. Dec 1877 in Sauk Co. WI to parents William Thomas or Thomas William ENGLISH (1849-1922) and Irene EVANS (1854-1900). Tillie was one of 4 children born to this couple including, Tillie; Harry E.; Izer A.; and Irene V. ENGLISH, all born between 1877 and 1895. Tillie married Ashley Bassett POWELL (1856-1941). Records indicate that the couple had two children including, John W. and Silas D. POWELL born in 1898 and 1904 respectively, however, I don’t believe that Tillie married Ashley until after the 1920 census so I’m guessing that they were children from a previous marriage. Tillie died 16 Nov 1961 in Reedsburg, WI and is buried in the Walnut Hill Cemetery in Baraboo, WI. Census records provide the following details: 1880 census of Baraboo, WI: Thomas W. ENGLISH, age 29, a Farmer, born VA, parents born VA Izro ENGLISH, wife, age 26, Keeping House, born WI, parents born PA Ellen ENGLISH, dau, age 2, born WI Henry D. EVANS, father-in-law, age 61, a Farmer, born PA, parents born MA + 1 Servant 1900 census of Baraboo, WI: T. W. ENGLISH, age 50, born Jun 1849, married 24 years, born VA, parents born VA, a Hardware Merchant Irene ENGLISH, wife, age 46, born Jan 1854, married 24 years, 3 children/3 living, born WI, parents born PA Tillie ENGLISH, dau, age 22, born Dec 1877, born WI Harry E. ENGLISH, son, age 19, born Oct 1880, born WI Irene V. ENGLISH, dau, age 5, born Apr 1895, born WI 1920 census of Baraboo, WI: Thomas W. ENGLISH, age 70, a widower, born VA, parents born VA Tillie ENGLISH, dau, age 42, born WI, parents born VA/WI, a Nurse Irene V. ENGLISH, dau, age 24, born WI, parents born VA/WI, a Weaver I’m hoping to locate someone from Tillie’s family so that this wonderful old photograph can be returned to the care of her family. If you are a member of this family, or you know someone who might be, please contact me. Thanks, Shelley

Taken by Whitby photographer Francis Meadow Sutcliffe, 1889.

A photo of Alta Dillion's slumber party taken 28 Apr 1898 Prineville,Crook,OR. back l-r: Hazel Pollard, Nettie Summers, Edra Williamson & Beulah Crooks middle l-r: Louise Summers, Wilda Soloman, Ione Elliott, Elizabeth Powell, Gertie Hodges & Alta Dillon front l-r: Verna Cline, Agnes Elliott, Maude Van Gesner & Winnie Lewis

A photo of Mattie Jones Reid

A photo of Mrs. Christine Fisher, 103 yrs old. She was born at Connelsville, PA ? May 11, 1796. Oldest living of five generations. Kodak picture taken by Mary D. Sinclair, January 1899. She is anxious to live into 1900 and will have lived during three centuries and during all Presidents' times. She reads her Bible that is on her lap often.

A photo of Catherine Matheson with Marion, Martha, and Doris. This is a studio photo of my ancestor Catherine Matheson (born 1874) and her friends, possibly all teachers in New York, taken in the 1890s or 1900s. I have drawn a blank with Catherine for a good few years and hope that the other young ladies in the photo will have some descendants who will recognise them? The names were written on the back but unfortunately there are no Studio/Photographer names to aid further identification. Thanks for looking.

This photo was purchased by me at the flea market in Dayton, OH

A photo of the Yates brothers, three sons of Darling Barber Yates and Emily Oliver They were too young for the Civil War. They were hired to be peace keepers at the County Fair after the Civil War. Back row:L-R James Oliver Yates & Andrew Jackson Yates Front row L-R: Johnson (friend) & George Washington Yates. This photo was taken by The Central Gallery, Brookshire-Matthews Co. 403 Twenty Third ST. Meridian, Mississippi, USA

A photo of Martha A. Fowler (nee Richards). This was taken before her marriage in 1879. She had red hair and I even have a lock of it!

Bredhoft or Bruns relatives from Germany? This photo was found in grand aunts possessions, we assume it is a good bye or voyage photo because of the cloth and twig in hands. Does anyone recognize outfits?

Taken around 1899, two Sioux Indians with spears on horseback wearing traditional hunting garments. Heyn, the historical photographer, took a number of Sioux portraits which are available via the Library of Congress.

A photo of the Jakob Joss family. L to R: Walther, Hans, Maria (standing), Emil, Ernest Jakob, Hermann, Ernest (standing), Samuel, August (standing), Elizabeth Joss- Niehans, Lydia Joss.

A photo of four year old Warren Eastman Robinson. He sits for a photo to give out to family members for Christmas 1894.

Lucy Heidke, age 6, and her pet dog. Photo taken in Berlin, Germany in 1895.

A photo of the sons of Charles Swain: Kneeling Robert Edmund Swain (1858-1915) Sitting Charles Daniel Swain (1853-1927) Standing George William Swain (1856-1928)

A photo of John Nelson Gregg (center - 1827-1923) He was a Civil War Veteran and he lived in Monroe County, Alabama.

Magnus Ferdinand Riedell, wife (Catherina Naugard) and children. All Danish

A photo of Clara Malvina Paradis. Born 1 April 1894, in Orono, ME., 6th child of Pierre and Malvina (Ayotte) Paradis. Died at age 5 of Measles, 6 June 1899 in Orono, Me. The date of the photo is unknown.

A photo of Annie Katherine Burns

A photo of Mathias and Marie Ilseng with friends.

A photo of Augusta Marie (Buer) Ilseng

A photo of Augusta Marie (Buer) Ilseng

Dr. Thomas Jefferson Pitchford & six sons: Thomas served in the NC State Senate. These sons were in the Confederate Army. Samuel enlisted but was sent home because of his age. 1 son was killed in the Battle of 7 Pines, another was shot in one of the last battles, dying on the way home.