Roberts Family

This is an image found in the ‘new’ treasure chest of photos recently found. The man standing in the center appears to be John Roberts (1832-1922), but who are the other people?

There is no identification on the reverse of the photo.

One clue we have is that the photo was taken at Clark photography studio in Osceola or Stromsburg, Nebraska. Charles E. Clark was 34 years old when he was listed in the 1885 Nebraska State Census, and he was a boarder in Osceola, Nebraska. His occupation was listed as “photographer,” and he lived in Osceola through at least 1920, still working in that business. His wife was also a photographer, but we only know her as “Mrs. C. E. Clark” in the records we found about her concerning Clark studio. Research shows she was Hattie (Byers) Clark (1864-1946). She and her husband opened their second studio in Stromsburg, and she was an equal partner in the business as well as a photographer. So the timeline of 1885-1920 for the Clark photography studio meshes well with the lifetimes of the Roberts children, and the migration of Charles Roberts.

But why would John Roberts have been in Osceola or Stromsburg, Nebraska? And when? And how is he related to the others in the photo?

Since John Roberts, the only person in the picture we can identify with high confidence, lived in Jasper County, Iowa from age 36 until his death, we can assume that he was visiting but not living in Nebraska when portrait of the four was created. For a formal portrait such as this, the folks with him were very likely family. Since their ages seem to be within about 15-20 years of each other, these persons may be siblings. There is a shared resemblance among the men, which lends some support to that hypothesis.

But which siblings could be in the picture? We have ten to choose from:

William Roberts (1827-1891), lived in Indiana

Charles Roberts (1828-1906), lived in Indiana and Nebraska

Sally Anna Roberts (1830-1905), married to William R. Rayburn, lived in Indiana and Illinois

Maranda Roberts (1834-1917), married James H. C. Demaree, lived in Indiana and Illinois

Jeremiah “Jerry” H. Roberts (1837-1918), physician, lived in Indiana

Edward Roberts (1839-1922), lived in Indiana

Henry S Roberts (1842-1925), lived in Indiana

David Roberts (1847-1892), lived in Indiana

Ella Jane Roberts (1849-1930), married James H. Kennedy, lived in Indiana

Quintilla A. Roberts (1852-1887), married Daniel Kaye Mitchell, lived in Indiana

Of John’s ten siblings, only Charles Roberts lived in Nebraska. Charles and his wife Amarilla (Reynolds) Roberts, had lived in Jefferson County, Indiana, during their married life. In 1879, they lost their daughter Susan in November at the age of 24; seven months later, their son John died at the age of 22, in June. Amarilla then died 14 Oct 1880, per Find A Grave and her headstone. An earlier document, the 4 June 1880 US Federal Census, however, lists Charles as being widowed. Charles was recorded in that census as a farmer, and his only remaining child, daughter Elsina, plus her husband Benjamin F. Brown and their son Charles lived with him in 1880. The four likely migrated to Nebraska by 1885, as Elsina’s first daughter was born there. By the 1900 US Federal Census, they were documented in Shelby Village, Polk County, Nebraska. Charles died in May 1906, and was buried in Osceola, Polk Co., Nebraska.

So John Roberts could have been visiting his brother Charles Roberts in Osceola when this photo was taken. If this is true, the date range would be 1885, the earliest we know the photographer was in Osceola, to 1906, when Charles died.

So who are the other two men and one woman?

We have only a few pictures to help with identification.

Here is William Roberts:

Do you think that the man on the right in the group photo could be William Roberts?

We believe the following image is Doctor Jeremiah Roberts when he was younger; we have no adult pictures of him.

We also have a photo of Edward Roberts:

The above is an identified picture of Ella Jane (Roberts) Kennedy, but we have no pictures of her three sisters. The woman in the group portrait could also have been a wife of one of the men (possibly Elizabeth Ann (Murrell) Roberts, John’s wife), but more likely would have been a sibling in such a portrait.

If the man on the right is, in fact, William Roberts, we can narrow the time frame to 1885-1891, as William died in September of that year.

The portrait could instead have been taken at a reunion of the four siblings- Charles in Nebraska and three who could travel there. This could even have been as late as May, 1906, when Charles died. The portrait could also be of the siblings who were able to attend the funeral of Charles, feeling it might be the last time they would get together.

The portrait may have been taken after May, 1906, but since every sibling except Charles lived in either Iowa or Indiana, it is doubtful that they would have traveled to Nebraska once Charles had passed away.

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Our photo analysis tells us where the photo was taken- either Osceola or Stromsbugh, Polk County, Nebraska.

The when is still up in the air, but 1885-1906 would probably be the date range.

Who is in the picture is still a mystery, although we believe John Roberts is the man in the center.

We will only be able to solve this mystery if we can find other pictures or information that mentions this family portrait of a visit to Nebraska. Please use our contact form if you have more information about this picture!

Notes, Sources, and References: 

1. Martha H Kennedy, “Nebraska’s Women Photographers,” Nebraska History 72 (1991): 62-77. Accessed at http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/history/full-text/NH1991WomenPhotographers.pdf on 25 Oct. 2019.
2. Amarilla (Reynolds) Roberts Find A Grave Memorial# 60404801. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60404801/amarilla-roberts
3. Photos, other than the lead photo, were kindly provided by cousin Jon Roberts via his communication with Phyllis Codling McLaughlin of the Jefferson County, Indiana Genealogical Society/Jefferson County Historical Society. They are from an album on loan to her from the Lumber Mill Antique Mall, 721 W 1st St., Madison, Indiana. Mall owner is Dean Miller. Album appears to be family and friends of Jeremiah Roberts. Posted with permission.

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Original content copyright 2013-2019 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

Roberts Family

As mentioned yesterday, new-to-us portraits of John and Elizabeth (Murrell) Roberts have recently surfaced in a cleaning binge. The family adage, “See what you find when you just clean up” has come true once again.

We have posted quite a lot of information on this family already, so please see the links below, or use the sidebar links or post tags to learn more about this family.

Notes, Sources, and References: 

1. Family treasure chest of photos. Thank you to the clean-up crew!
2. We estimated the date of these images by looking at birthdates, how old John and Elizabeth look, and other pictures that are known. It seems that Elizabeth and John were in their 40s or early 50s in these photos, so 1885 seemed a good estimate of the year. Also, William L. Le Fevre was a photographer in Jasper County, Iowa in 1865-6, and was listed as an “artist” in an 1885 census. He lived in Jasper County until at least 1905, so the time frame works. (If you know otherwise, please let us know!)
3. “A Visit with John and Lizzie (Murrell) Roberts- well, almost”
   http://heritageramblings.net/2019/07/02/a-visit-with-john-and-lizzie-murrell-roberts-well-almost/
4.  “Sentimental Sunday: John Roberts and Elizabeth Ann Murrell Roberts” http://heritageramblings.net/2019/06/30/sentimental-sunday-john-roberts-and-elizabeth-ann-murrell-roberts/
5. “Sentimental Sunday: Elizabeth Ann Murrell and John S. Roberts” http://heritageramblings.net/2017/02/12/sentimental-sunday-elizabeth-ann-murrell-and-john-s-roberts/
6. “Friday’s Faces from the Past: Elizabeth Ann Murrell and John Roberts” http://heritageramblings.net/2017/02/10/fridays-faces-from-the-past-elizabeth-ann-murrell-and-john-s-roberts/
7. “John Roberts and Elizabeth Ann Murrell Roberts- Indiana, Virginia, Illinois, and Iowa” http://heritageramblings.net/2014/02/08/john-roberts-and-elizabeth-ann-murrell-roberts-indiana-virginia-illinois-and-iowa/

Click to enlarge any image. Please contact us if you would like an image in higher resolution.

Original content copyright 2013-2019 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

Roberts Family

Cleaning out basements and closets can be wonderful, especially when new family treasures are found! Here is one of our most recent wonderful finds.

We have posted quite a lot of the history of John and his family- see the posts linked below, and the family is mentioned in other posts too- just click on the name in the tags  for each post, or use the sidebar links to see each family story and photo. Also, check back tomorrow for a “new” portrait of his wife, Elizabeth Ann (Murrell) Roberts.

Notes, Sources, and References: 

1. Family treasure chest of photos. Thanks, clean-up crew!
2. We estimated the date of these images by looking at birthdates, how old John and Elizabeth look, and other pictures that are known. It seems that Elizabeth and John were in their 40s or early 50s in these photos, so 1885 seemed a good estimate of the year. Also, William L. Le Fevre was a photographer in Jasper County, Iowa in 1865-6, and was listed as an “artist” in an 1885 census. He lived in Jasper County until at least 1905, so the time frame works. (If you know otherwise, please let us know!)
3. “A Visit with John and Lizzie (Murrell) Roberts- well, almost”
   http://heritageramblings.net/2019/07/02/a-visit-with-john-and-lizzie-murrell-roberts-well-almost/
4.  “Sentimental Sunday: John Roberts and Elizabeth Ann Murrell Roberts” http://heritageramblings.net/2019/06/30/sentimental-sunday-john-roberts-and-elizabeth-ann-murrell-roberts/
5. “Sentimental Sunday: Elizabeth Ann Murrell and John S. Roberts” http://heritageramblings.net/2017/02/12/sentimental-sunday-elizabeth-ann-murrell-and-john-s-roberts/
6. “Friday’s Faces from the Past: Elizabeth Ann Murrell and John Roberts” http://heritageramblings.net/2017/02/10/fridays-faces-from-the-past-elizabeth-ann-murrell-and-john-s-roberts/
7. “John Roberts and Elizabeth Ann Murrell Roberts- Indiana, Virginia, Illinois, and Iowa” http://heritageramblings.net/2014/02/08/john-roberts-and-elizabeth-ann-murrell-roberts-indiana-virginia-illinois-and-iowa/

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Original content copyright 2013-2019 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

Helbling Family (Click for Family Tree)

As children across America are already sitting at school desks or getting their supplies ready to start a new year of learning, here is a photo that was in with the Helbling-Geier unknown family photos we have recently posted. The above is obviously a school photo, but the dear little girl in the front who was holding the sign apparently turned it around- there is no identification of the school or year that we can see on her tablet!

It is interesting to see a child of color in the photo, and along with the dress, this  photo is most likely post CivilWar, and more likely 1880s or later. The doors of the building look so tall- perhaps this was a church school?

Do you have any idea of the time or place this was taken, the school, or any of the persons in the photo? Please use our ‘Contact Form’ if you have information to share.

Notes, Sources, and References: 

1. Helbling-Geier family photo shared by cousin Mary Lou. Thank you!

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Original content copyright 2013-2019 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

HELBLING Family (Click for Family Tree)

Today we showcase some of our wonderful ancestors that we can’t identify. These images have been lovingly passed down in the Helbling-Geier family from a time when having a portrait taken was a big event. No cell phones or small cameras to capture what was for breakfast, crazy antics with friends, or your haul from the craft store- just photos of the family at their very best.

We hope that someone out there can help us date these pictures or identify individuals. If you have a copy similar, please let us know through our Contact Form!

The beautiful photo above looks like it could be three sisters, since they are fairly close in age and fairly young. Although not a photo expert, it seems this image might be from the 1860s by the dresses they were wearing and the hairstyles. What do you think?

The above photo may be from the same studio, same time period, as the borders, etc. were the same. Could this be a portrait of an older sister, on her wedding day, and the portrait of the younger sisters was taken as well as a keepsake? (OK, family historians do have vivid imaginations, but we have seen a lot and could be right.) Or could this be the mother of the girls? Their eyebrows are similar.

Above and below are portraits of one or two children, possibly taken in the 1870s or later. The chair in the photos may be the same- could this be the same child, but older? Two siblings? The design of the physical photo itself is similar, so may be from the same studio.

Here is another cute child, taken at the Dabbs Photo Studio in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The London, England-born Benjamin L. H. Dabbs opened his photography studio in Pittsburgh in 1861 and died in 1899, so we at least have a range of time for when this photo was taken. Dabbs was considered to be the finest photographer in Pennsylvania, and was a close friend of Abraham Lincoln and the steel magnate, Andrew Carnegie. An image Dabbs took of Carnegie has been hung at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, and you may have a Carnegie library in your town with a portrait. Back then, most photographers allowed customers to sit again if they did not like a finished portrait, but not Benjamin Dabbs. Because of Dabbs’ reputation, this portrait may have been a bit more costly from the start, and the family would have had to settle for a portrait they didn’t really like, or pay again.

We are moving into more recent times now with our unknown family, with the above possibly a turn-of-the-century photo– that would be 19th going into 20th century, or around 1900. Small cameras were becoming available to the masses, and cute, spur-of-the-moment pictures could be taken by families who would then have the roll of film developed and pictures printed on paper. (What a concept today!)

Here are three lovely ladies, strolling in the park or the yard, with the family dog most likely. People took pictures of their pets back then too! And wonder how long it took to get their hair put up neatly in that ‘do’?

This serious young little guy is resting his arm on a Craftsman-style chair, which would put the portrait sometime between about 1880-1920.  His outfit looks like some seen in the 19-teens or so, but again, no photo dating expert here.

Could this possibly be the same little guy a couple of years later? Or maybe not, as the portrait could be from the 1920s or 30s.

This last picture seems to be a much more recent image- maybe even from the 1950s or 60s.

We have about 100 years of photos from the Helbling and/or Geier family in this post! We do hope that maybe someone can help us identify the time or individuals in each one. Please use our ‘Contact Form’ if you can help solve our family photo mystery.

Notes, Sources, and References: 

1. Benjamin Dabbs bio– https://cabinetcardgallery.com/category/photographer-dabbs/
2. Thanks again to our cousin Mary Lou for sharing all these wonderful photos of times past!

Click to enlarge any image. Please contact us if you would like an image in higher resolution.

Original content copyright 2013-2019 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.