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A photo of James Preston 'Press' Jennings (seated), son of Elijah F. Jennings and Malinda Jennings, and his friend Winfrey Music (standing)
People in photo include: Winfrey Music

A photo of Jim Lewis. Letter: Dear Sisters, I am well & working every trip I want to make a few dollars between now & Xmas so I can lay off a few days I am sleeping in the caboose to cut down on expences Got my trunk & everything in there Well girls, how is the turkey crop coming along? Will have lots of money this Xmas I suppose Hope so anyway How is Belle & the kids & Ed? How is the French family? I heard that Lot French has returned How is Dad? Behaving himself lately? News are scarce girls so I will bring this to a close with love to you all Your Bro Jim SF Depot

A photo of the Miller family in 1882:

Back: Hester, Sarah Jane, Robert, Orry
Front row: George, holding Carrie, Anderson, Cynthia, holding Florence

A photo of Laurencia A Tinoco on her wedding day.

I've "rescued" an old photograph of Miss Mary ASHBY of Lewistown, IL. The photograph appears to have been taken in the 1890's with Mary likely about 2-3 years old at the time. In addition to her name, someone has written "Baby of the ASHBY'S" and "it was at their house I got my head in the bowl of chicken gravy" and "her brothers were Lemuel and Bruce" and "they are our cousins" on the back of the photograph. Based on limited research I was able to gather the following information regarding Mary and her family:

Mary Edith ASHBY was b. 16 Mar 1891 in Liverpool, IL to parents Asbury Fulton ASHBY (1849-1929 son of William Asbury ASHBY and Hannah SHELTON) and Catherine “Cassie” Elizabeth ARENDS (1864 or 1866-1937). Mary was one of 7 children born to this couple including, Mary Edith; Alfred; Anna Priscilla; John Hobart or Hobert; Sylvia; and Hazel Angeline ASHBY, all born between 1891 and 1903. Four additional children were born to her father in a previous marriage, they include, William Bruce; Frederic; Fielding Edgar; and Lemuel Asbury ASHBY, all born between 1876 and 1879. Mary married Samuel Calvin “Saul” CLARK (1888-1970) and they had 7 children including, Roy Clifford; Clarence Edward; Harry Dean; Leslie Alvin; and Marvin W. CLARK along with two others all born between 1912 and 1930.

Mary ASHBY CLARK died 14 Mar 1968 in Cuba, IL and is buried in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Lewistown, IL.

Census records provide the following details:

1900 census of Liverpool, IL:

Asbury ASHBY, age 50, born Dec 1849, married 9 years, born IL, parents born NC/KY, a Farmer
Catharine ASHBY, wife, age 34, born Mar 1866, married 9 years, 3 children/3 living, born IL, parents born Germany/MO
Lemuel A. ASHBY, son, age 22, born Nov 1877, born IL, parents born IL, a Farm Laborer
Bruce W. ASHBY, son, age 21, born April 1879, born IL, parents born IL, a Farm Laborer
Mary E. ASHBY, dau, age 9, born May 1891, born IL, at School
Anna ASHBY, dau, age 5, born Dec 1894, born IL
John H. ASHBY, son, age 3, born Apr 1897, born IL
+ 1 Boarder

1910 census of Liverpool, IL:

Asbury ASHBY, age 60, 2nd marriage 20 years, born IL, parents born NC/KY, a Farmer
Catherine E. ASHBY, wife, age 44, 1st marriage 20 years, 4 children/4 living, born IL, parents born Germany/IL
Mary E. ASHBY, dau, age 19, born IL
Anna P. ASHBY, dau, age 16, born IL
John H. ASHBY, son, age 12, born IL
Hazel A. ASHBY, dau, age 7, born IL

I am hoping to locate someone from this ASHBY Family so that the photograph can be returned to their care. If you are a member of this family, or you know someone who might be, please contact me.

Thanks,
Shelley

A photo of Marlene Dietrich

I’ve “rescued” an old photograph of two children belonging to Mrs. Nora CASTLE of Philomath, OR. The photograph was taken at the Crawford & Paxton Studio in Albany, OR sometime in the 1890’s most likely. The two children appear to be about 3-7 years old at the time it was taken. Notes on the back of the photograph indicate that the family lives “at sawmill 9 miles west” and that they wish to have a crayon bust drawn from the photograph of the girl. Based on limited research I was able to gather the following information regarding this CASTLE Family:

Leonora “Nora” WILCOX CASTLE was b. 25 Sept 1866 in Brownsville, OR to parents Thomas J. WILCOX (1815-1896) and Martha Ann STEPHENS (1828-1900). Nora was one of 8 children born to this couple including, Zenes S.; Sheldon a.; Robert Jurson; Seth W.; Ralph; Ulysses Grant; Leonora “Nora”; and Joel B. WILCOX, all born between 1847 and 1869. Nora died 26 Jun 1933 in The Dalles, OR and is buried in the Coburg IOOF Cemetery in Coburg, OR.

Nellie C. CASTLE FRANZ was b. 3 Jan 1889 and died 27 Dec 1968 and is buried in the Coburg IOOF Cemetery in Coburg, OR. Nellie was married twice, first to Edward Curtis WALKER (b. 1882) and a second time to John C. FRANZ.

Raymond W. “Ray” CASTLE was b. 4 Apr 1891 to parents William N. or M. CASTLE (b. 1864) and Leonora “Nora” WILCOX (1866-1933) in Philomath, OR and died 23 Feb 1934 in Fresno, CA and is buried in the Coburg IOFF Cemetery in Coburg, OR. Ray died of injuries sustain in an automobile accident. Ray’s family moved to Irrigon, OR when he was 14 years old. Ray joined the Army in 1916 and served in France until his discharge in 1919 and he moved to Fresno, CA in 1924. Ray was married to Emma (b. 1896). Ray’s obituary indicates that his Father and a sister Nelle C. FRANZ of Coburg, OR survived him.

Census records provide the following details:

1900 census of Philomath, OR:

William N. CASTLE, age 35, born Jul 1864, married 14 years, born IN, parents born IN/OH, a Farmer
Leonora CASTLE, wife, age 33, born Sept 1866, married 14 years, 2 children/2 living, born OR, parents born OH/MO
Nellie CASTLE, dau, age 11, born Jan 1889, born OR, at School
Raymond W. CASTLE, son, age 9, born Apr 1891, born OR, at School

1910 census of Irrigon, OR:

William M. CASTLE, age 45, married 23 years, born IN, parents born IN/OH, a Farm Laborer
Leonora CASTLE, wife, age 43, married 23 years, 2 children/2 living, born OR, parents born OH/MO, a Dressmaker
Ray W. CASTLE, son, age 19, born OR

1920 census of Irrigon, OR:

William M. CASTLE, age 55, born IN, parents born PA/IL, a Government Inspector
Lenora CASTLE, wife, age 53, born OR, parents born OH/MO, a Dressmaker
Nellie CASTLE, dau, age 30, divorced, born OR, a Laundry Bookkeeper

1920 census of Ogden, UT:

Raymond W. CASTLE, age 28, born OR, parents born IN/OR, a Railroad Conductor
Emma CASTLE, wife, age 24, to USA 1919, Vosges, parents born Vosges
Nelle CASTLE, sister, age 31, born OR, parents born IN/OR

1930 census of The Dalles, OR:

John C. FRANZ, age 47, married at age 39, born Germany, parents born Germany, to USA 1885, a Hotel Clerk
Nelle C. FRANZ, wife, age 40, married at age 32, born OR, parents born IN/OR

1940 census of The Dalles, OR:

John C. FRANZ, age 57, born Germany, a Hotel Clerk
Nelle C. FRANZ, wife, age 51, born OR

I’m hoping to locate someone from this family so that this wonderful old treasure can be returned to its rightful place with family. If you are a member of this family, or you know someone who might be, please contact me.

Thanks,
Shelley

A photo of Edna Walker, daughter of Frank and Nora (nee Wells) Walker.

A photo of a weird Cabinet Card - Kewanee Illinois. No idea what this man is dressed up for. Maybe some kind of organization perhaps ? Fascinating .

A photo of Elsie Louise Ferguson (1885-1961) stage and screen actress was born 19 August 1885 in New York City to parents attorney Hiram Benson Ferguson (1836-1885) and Amelia Lumann (1855-1917). Starting as a 17 year old chorus girl she progressed through a number of productions to become a leading lady and Broadway star by 1909. In 1917 with some persuasion in the form of a $5,000 a week contract, Elsie Ferguson began acting in films. Her salary at Paramount paid her an extra $1,000 per day of filming. After appearing in about 25 films she returned to the stage. She did however make one final sound film in 1930 aged 47. Her final appearance on Broadway was in 1943 at the age of 60.

She was married four times, firstly to estate agent Frederick Chamberlain Hoey (1865-1933) in 1908, they divorced in 1914. She then married banker Thomas Benedict Clarke (1877-1858) in 1916 they divorced in 1923. Thirdly she married actor and co-star Frederick George Worlock (1886-1973) in 1924, they divorced in 1930. Lastly she married British naval captain Victor Augustus Seymour Egan (1875-1956) in 1934 until his death in 1956. Elsie died 15 November 1961 in New London, Connecticut aged 76.

additional information:

Elsie's father died 7 months before she was born. Her mother raised their two children on her own. Elsie did not have the wealthy upbringing that is sometimes claimed. She was one of the original "Florodora Girls" and friends with fellow chorus girl, Evelyn Nesbit (1884-1967). During her film career she was dubbed "The Aristocrat of the Silent Screen". Due to the ravages of time almost all of her films have now been lost.

five young women of unknown origin - photo found in album purchased off of E-bay, is in collection of J. Martin

I’ve “rescued” an old photograph identified as that of Benjamin E. MEREDITH which was taken at the Taber Studio in San Francisco, CA and dated August 1882. Benjamin is listed as 18 years old at the time. Someone has also written “Wire Chief, Tucson, Arizona to Las Vegas, New Mexico” and “Manager Deming, New Mexico Local Office of Western Telegraph Company” on the back of the photograph. I’m hoping to locate someone from this MEREDITH Family so that this wonderful old photograph can be returned to the care of his family. If you are a member of this family, or you know someone who might be, please contact me.

Thanks,
Shelley

People in photo include: Benjamin E Meredith

A photo of Elaine Busschaert

Yehudit was only 2 when she was sadly murdered in a gas chamber in a death camp in Germany in 1942.

A photo of John David Ross (Jan 1, 1842 - Jan 1, 1922) and his wife Margaret Ann (Brown) Ross (Aug 1, 1838 - Jan 24, 1920) Parents of Julia Effie Warn and Alice Lauranne (Ross) Flanders

This photo was taken at Aunt Isabel's wedding. She married Nasri Fuleihan. My father was eight years old at the time. This is at the Oussani mansion "Hastings on the Hudson" New York 1925.

A photo of Wesley & Myrtle Hamilton, my great grandparents. I met Myrtle when I was a child, she passed away in the mid-1980s.

Oliver Weston "Wesley" Hamilton -- 1882-1945
Myrtle Ruth Kearns Hamilton -- 1895-1984

My father and brother and nephew all carry the middle name of "Wesley" in honor of this man. Zooming in on Oliver's face, my daddy has his eyes. The couple married in 1910 in South Dakota (pap was a railroad man). They divorced in the 1930s.

Leonard William Shaw, circa 1910, son of J. Bryant and Mary Caroline "Carrie" Shaw, born February 1891. About 20 years of age.