JACKSON, Virginia

VIRGINIA JACKSON

UPDATE - this photo of Virginia Jackson has been claimed by a relative and  is going home.

Identification on photo: Virginia Jackson, Nov 1955, 17 years
Photo taken: unknown photo studio, Louisville KY, Nov 1944
Purchased: Aug 2019 Peddlars Mall, Lexington KY

We can surmise a birth year of 1927, give or take a year.

After some initial research, I find that Virginia was born 12 March, 1927 in Eltowah TN, one of three daughters born to Cooper P. Jackson (1886-1980) and Nina Mae Caldwell-Jackson (1887-1979, a daughter of Dennis Hasking Caldwell and Nancy Catherine Headrick). 

1940 Federal Census > KY > Jefferson Co.> Louisville > 517 Iowa Ave.
JACKSON, Cooper P. head, 42, born Georgia, car repair in railroad shop
JACKSON, Nina Mae, wife, 41, born in Tennessee
JACKSON, Virginia E., daughter, 13, born in Tennessee
(5 years previously, the family lived in rural McMahan Co. TENN)

In 1952, Virginia married Marvin Kummer in Louisville. Here is the insert from the Courier-Journal, 22 June, 1952. 

This obituary for (mother) Nina Mae (Caldwell) Jackson was located in the Louisville Courier-Journal, 11 Oct 1979. It mentions relatives including daughters "Mrs Freddia Williamson and Mrs. Virginia Kummer."  I am now reminded that some of the photos I saw in the same box at the antique mall bore the name Freddia, which was unusual enough for me to recall it now, but lacked a surname which is why I did not purchase those at the time.

I also find an obituary for Virginia herself, who passed 23 Feb 2018 in Louisville. Her parents and husband preceded her in death. At that time, her sister Freddie was listed as living. Also mentioned is that Virginia was a graduate of Louisville Girls High School and the University of Louisville. She was employed by Louisville Jefferson County schools and taught English and Humanities for 31 years at Southern High School. She and Marvin enjoyed many vacations together to Switzerland and with Marvin's Navy Reunion groups.

There is no mention of children in the obit. So this photo may end up being difficult to re-home, but will keep researching.

BODENHAMER, Noah James

NOAH JAMES BODENHAMER

UPDATE - Noah James Bodenhamer has been claimed by a family member and is going home!

Identification on photo: "My Buber" Mr. Jimmie Bodenhamer. This is Noah James.
Photo taken: unknown photographer, circa 1920-25 ?
Purchased: Aug 2019, Peddlar Mall, Lexington KY

This snapshot appears to have been taken in the mid-1920s, but that is just a guess.

Noah James Bodenhamer was born in Pittboro Indiana 4 Feb 1902, to parents John Bodenahmer (1872-1959 son of Noah Festus Bodenhamer and Rebecca Long) and Mary Shockley (1879-1963, daughter of William T Shockley and Senera Sharp). 

By 1920 the family had relocated to San Antonio Texas.

1920 Federal Census > Texas > Bexar > San Antonio > 542 Cincinnati Avenue
BODENHAMER, John, head, 46, born in IN of NC & IN parents, building contractor
BODENHAMER, Mary, wife, 40, born in IN of SC & KY parents
BODENHAMER, Herman, son, 21, born in IN, salesman at Dept Store
BODENHAMER, Noah, son, 17, born in IN
BODENHAMER, Helen, daughter, 12, born in IN
BODENHAMER, Ethel, daughter, 11, born in IN

There was an elder brother who was already out of the house by 1920 and was in fact at medical school in 1920. His name was William BODENHAMER. In 1916, just when he was planning to enter medical school at Michigan Univ, his mother Mary became quite ill and many doctors could not help her. It was eventually a doctor of osteopathy who helped her back to health. So impressed was William that he entered the American School of Osteopathy in Missouri (now named the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine). 

Noah James followed in William's professional footsteps and also went to the same school.

1930 Federal Census > New Jersey > Essex > East Orange > 108 N. Munn Ave
BODENHAMER, N James, head, 28, single, doctor, osteopath
there are also several boarders at the the same house, but James is shown as owner.

Dr. N James Bodenhamer died 18 Jan 1991, at age 88, and is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana.

I cannot find any evidence that Noah James ever married or had children who might wish to have this photograph.

This obituary was located in the Indianapolis News, 22 Jan 1991.

MARSHALL, Edna Earle

EDNA EARLE MARSHALL

Identification on photo: EDNA EARLE MARSHALL
Photo taken: unknown photographer, circa 1950
Purchased: Aug 2019 at the Peddlars Mall in Lexington KY

Based on the hairstyle and fashions, I am placing this photo into a time period of circa 1950. I have a photo of my own mother which greatly resembles this and it was taken in that time period. Edna looks to be about 16 years old, so this would put the birth year at or near 1934-36.

This photograph is quite small - about 1.5" x 2" and has suffered some creasing, and loving wear. There appears to be something written on the front, near the lower edge of the collar, but I cannot make it out. The back bears the printed name Edna Earle Marshall and the cursive name (in reddish or brown ink) Edna Marshall.

On FindaGrave.com, I find an Edna Earle Thompson (1934-1989) who was married to Paul Anderson Marshall, and buried in Bethany United Methodist Church Cemetery, New Bethel Township, North Carolina.

When I search for that person on Ancestry.com, she immediately comes up in a  family tree with a photo (taken several years later) which confirms this is the same person.  Edna is the daughter of Henry W. Thompson and Bessie Mae Simpson. She was married at the age of 18 to Paul A. Marshall, and worked in Greensboro as an office secretary for a company called Standard Theater Supply. 

Edna died in 1989, leaving a son and three daughters. By means of the obituary in the local newspaper, I was able to see the surviving family members' names, and began searching immediately on Google, Facebook and other sources to see if I could find a direct descendant, to whom I could return this photograph.

Fortunately, I found a lovely story online about how the family continues to honor Edna's memory with a quilt square Edna stitched herself. The square is on display at the family's vineyards near Bethany and Reidsville, NC, and is part of the Rockingham County Quilt Trail.

I will contact Edna's family immediately.