CRADDOCK, Henry Columbus & Nora BARNES (Cheatham Co, TN)

 

IDENTIFIED AS: "Henry Columbus Craddock & Nora Barnes on their Wedding Day"

PHOTO TAKEN: Cheatham County, TN, Jan 20, 1897

PURCHASED: September 2026, Bright's Antique World, Franklin, KY

This is a wedding day photo of Henry Columbus CRADDOCK (1874-1934) and his bride Nora Melissa BARNES (1880-1965).

The groom is a son of James R. Craddock and Annie Lee Bell.

The bride is a daughter of John Wesley Barnes and Mary Alice Ragan.

Census records of Davidson County show that Henry worked as a farmer, and his farm was adjacent to his father's farm.

Henry died of influenza on January 22, 1934, at the home of his son Harry M. Craddock.

At the time of Nora's death, her survivors were said to be Mamie (Craddock) Gourley, H.M. Craddock (presumed to mean Henry Martin Craddock) and H.E. Craddock (presumed to mean Earl H. Craddock. Other children of this couple included James Ollie Craddock.

TAYLOR, Alma and Cyrus (Fredonia, NY)

 

Alma & Cyrus Taylor

IDENTIFIED AS: "Alma E. Taylor & Cyrus B. Taylor, grandparents of Paul Taylor"

PHOTO TAKEN: unknown location (likely Fredonia NY), circa 1876

PURCHASED: April 2026, Green Olde Deal Antique Mall, Sevierville, TN

Although the back of the photograph has a label stating "Circa 1890 couple", it is evident this photo was taken well before that, as the woman's dress appears like one might see in the mid-late 1870s, and not 1890.

This couple was married in April 1876, when the bride was around 20 years old. This may very well be a photo taken on the day of that wedding, as the woman could easily be 20 in this image.

Cyrus Benajah Taylor was born 26 Aug 1850, in Hanover, Chatauqua County, New York to parents John Samuel Taylor (1823-1891) and Mary Jane Walters (1827-1864).

1880 Census > New York > Cattaraugus > Perrysburg

• TAYLOR, Cyrus B, wh, 29, Farmer, born in NY to VT & NY parents
• TAYLOR, Alma E., wh, 24, Keeping house, born in NY to NY parents

Cyrus died at the age of 41 when his son Walter was just 6 years old. I have not yet found the cause of his early passing. (The other man mentioned in the obit above is Alma's grandfather.)

Alma E. Wheeler was born 21 July 1856, in Hanover, Chatauqua County, New York to parents Dan Wheeler (1830-1900) and Mary A. Kirkland (1831-1915).

When Cyrus died, Alma and her son Walter returned to Fredonia suburb Pomfret and lived with her mother who was also a widow by the time of the 1900 Census.

1900 Census > New York > Chatauqua > Pomfret

• WHEELER, Mary, head, Jan 1831, 69yo, widow
• TAYLOR, Alma E., daughter, July 1856, 43yo, widow
• TAYLOR, Walter W., grandson, July 1885, 14yo single, at school

(click for larger)

Alma lived to age 77, passing on Dec 31 1933.

Her son Walter married Emma Gollnitz and they had two children. The first was an infant that died in 1913. The second was Paul Henry Taylor (1915-2013), who is the grandson of Cyrus mentioned on the back of the photo.

GOULD, Robert & BARBER, Robert (unknown location)

 

Robert Gould
and Robert Barber

IDENTIFICATION ON PHOTO: "Robert Gould holding Robert Barber"

PHOTO TAKEN: unknown location & studio, circa 1914

PHOTO ACQUIRED: 2025 August, Bright's Antique World, Franklin KY

This photograph was sufficiently labeled with the subjects' names, but had no indication of where or when the photo was taken. The names are common enough ones. Still, I decided to acquire the photo and take on the challenge of making an accurate identification of the young boys.

Based entirely on the older boy's shirt collar, the photo can be dated to around 1914. 

The older boy appears to be around 13 years of age, and the younger boy appears to be about 1 year or thereabouts. This would mean birth years would be around 1901 and 1912, respectively.

I always like to go into my research with three known things:

• WHO - meaning the person is identified on the back
• WHEN - year photo was taken, or subject was born
• WHERE - a general idea of where the person lived

With those three "knowns," a starting place can be had. Without them, or even without one of them, the starting place may never be found. Lacking the location meant I might fail in my research.

Find-a-Grave is my usually starting site. I began with Robert Gould as that surname is more unusual than Barber. Searching for Robert Gould born 1901 (give/take 3 yrs) resulted in 25 hits. That's quite a few to wade through.

How certain was I of the 1914 timeframe? Pretty certain. So I adjusted the search parameters to birth year 1901 (give/take 1 yr). This resulted in 11 hits.

Then looking at the memorials for each Robert Gould, and the list of their known relatives, I found what I was looking for;  Robert Kinkade Gould, of Lawrenceville Illinois, born April 8, 1901, had an older sister (Helen Pearl Gould) who married a man named Roy Barber, and that couple had a son named Robert Barber born in 1912.

So in 1914, Robert Kinkade Gould was 13 years old and his nephew and namesake, Robert Barber, was between 1 and 2 years old. Everything seems to fit together perfectly.

I will try to find a known relative to those men, to verify that this photo is indeed images of them, before I add the image to Find-a-Grave. The following newspaper obits for Robert Gould and Robert Barber can be made larger by clicking on them.

SUCHER Family of Oregon

SUCHER Family of Oregon

IDENTIFICATION ON PHOTO: Wedding of William Edgar Thompson and Julia Alice Sucher
PHOTO TAKEN: 28 Nov, 1894, Ogden, Iowa
PHOTO LOCATED: July 2025, Coburg Antique Mall, Coburg OR

During a recent trip to Eugene Oregon, I took a day to explore some local antique shops and came away with six images from the same family, from the Coburg Antique Mall. After a bit of research, I was able to piece together a "family tree" to see how each of these people were related to each other.

Highlighted names are individuals who appear in the found photos.

Julia, Ida and Minnie are sisters, daughters of George SUCHER and Elizabeth SMITH. They also have a brother Charles, but his photo was not among those acquired.

Julia SUCHER married William Edgar Thompson in 1894 in Iowa. They had six sons:

• 1897-1977 Leslie Rae THOMPSON
• 1899-1971 Warren Jay THOMPSON
• 1901-1984 Loyd Elton THOMPSON
• 1902 - ___ Elvin K. THOMPSON (seen also as Alvin)
• 1906-1998 Ivan Glenn THOMPSON
• 1910 - ___ Miles THOMPSON

left to right: Leslie & Warren Thompson; Leslie Thompson with his aunts Minnie and Ida; Loyd & Elvin Thompson taken in Enid Oklahoma Territory.

Warren Thompson, 1919

Ida Kunst, Dorthea and Kermit

Ida Ellen SUCHER married Julius KUNST (1875-1942) and had two children:

• 1902-1913 Dorthea Elizabeth KUNST
• 1906-1987 Kermit Lester KUNST (named for Julius' brother)

Dorthea died young of spinal menengitis, and her parent's marriage broke up soon afterward.

Ida then married Ephraim DAWSON in 1916. She became the step-mother of several Dawson children by a previous marriage.

Minnie May SUCHER married Albert CLAY in 1912 and had no children. She developed cancer and died in 1915.

Other research found, which provides useful information (click on any image for a larger version):

RATHFON, Cora Landis (Lancaster PA)

Cora Landis RATHFON

IDENTIFIED AS: Cora Landis RATHFON

PHOTO TAKEN: unknown location, circa mid-1920s

PURCHASED: Feb 2025, Traditions Antiques Mall, Wildwood FL

This is Cora Becker Landis (27 Dec 1893 - 23 Jun 1984), a daughter of Milton Landis Landis (yes, that's correct) and Elizabeth Hostetter Becker. She was born in Pennsylvania and lived most of her life in the area of Lancaster PA.

Cora's father was a son of Christian Rohrer Landis and Hettie Shavely Landis (Landis was also her maiden name.) He was an auto mechanic for much of his life.

Cora's mother was a daughter of Christian Becker and Mary Hostetter.

In 1920, Cora married Jacob Baker RATHFON, a son of Amos K. Rathfon and Elmira C. Baker.

In 1975, The Rathfons celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary, which was announced in the Lancaster newspaper.

When her husband died in 1979, Cora relocated to Indianapolis, where her daughter Betty Dussinger lived and worked as a medical technician.

Cora died in 1984, a year after her daughter, and was buried in Lancaster, next to her husband.

WIGGIN, Art and Mary (Lima OH)

 

Art & Mary WIGGIN

IDENTIFIED AS: Art and Mary Wiggin

PHOTO TAKEN: Manhard Studio, Lima Ohio, circa 1921

PURCHASED: Feb 2025, Traditions Antiques Mall, Wildwood, Florida

This photo of Art and Mary WIGGIN may have been taken at or soon after their wedding, which occurred on June 14, 1921.

Arthur Odonivan Wiggin, born Jan 9 1898 in Toledo OH, was a son of Rev. George Wiggin (1864-1940) and Mary Ann Buckby (1874-1944).

Mary Frances Carmony, born Jun 26, 1899, was a daughter of Harry Clifford Carmony (1873-1952) and Jennie Wade Simmons (1873-1957).

They had four children; Jack, William, Joan and Patricia.

Arthur operated the "Spot Restaurant" in Lima OH and later in Zanesville OH. The couple moved to Sarasota County, Florida in their later years.

He died April 16, 1979 in Venice Florida. His widow lived until April of 1994.

REBBE, Herman and Emma (Chester, IL)

IDENTIFIED AS:  "Emma & Herman Rebbe"

PHOTO TAKEN: Welge Studio, Chester Illinois, circa 1900-1902

PURCHASED: Sep 2024, Bright's Antique Mall, Franklin KY

Emma Maria Margarethe REBBE and Herman Christian REBBE were siblings, and two of the four children born to Herman F. REBBE and Carolina (Roeder) REBBE.

The other two children were Alfred F. REBBE (1884-1977) and Charles Henry REBBE (1880-?)

Herman Christian Rebbe was born 7-Oct-1886 and worked as a bookkeeper at a bank. In 1916 he married Edna Muir and the couple had 3 children (Ruth, Muirene and Alfred). He died 6-Apr-1945. 

Click for larger

Emma Rebbe worked briefly as a teacher, but gave it up when illness left her bed-ridden for the last five years of her life. She died, unmarried, at age 25 or 26. 

[NOTE - she is seen on some Ancestry family trees as having married Edward Ebers, having children with him and living a long happy life in California. I believe that Emma Rebbe is a cousin of this one.]

Obit of Herman below. Click on any image for a larger version.

OWEN, Elizabeth Gaillard (Port Jervis, NY)

Elizabeth Owen

IDENTIFIED AS: "Elizabeth Owen"

PHOTO TAKEN: Masterson Studio, Port Jervis NY, either 1890 or 1899

PURCHASED: Feb 2024 Palm Beach County Fairgrounds Antiques Show

The card stock has serrated edges which dates it to the decade of 1890. The sleeves could either be 1890 or 1899, but definitely not mid 1890s as sleeves were much more voluminous then. I think the addition of the horseshoe vignette was an ornamental style that was used in the latter 1890s.

One more thing to consider - Elizabeth was married 9 Oct 1890, so this photo may have been taken on that occasion.

Elizabeth Gaillard-Owen was born in 1868 and died Jan 1942. She lived most of her life in Port Jervis, NY.

Daughter of Claude Gaillard (d. 1911) &  Mary Ross (d. 1905)

1910 Census > NY > Orange Co > Port Jervis > 5 New Street

• GAILLARD, Claude, head, 83 widower, born in France of French parents, no occ.
• OWEN, Thomas, son-in-law, 42, born NJ of NY & NJ parents, laborer at railroad shop
• OWEN, Elizabeth, daughter, 42, born NY of French & German parents, no occ.
• OWEN, Mamie, gr-daughter, 17 single, quilting at mill
• OWEN, Thomas, gr-son, 16 single, twister at mill
• OWEN, Sarah, gr-daughter, 6
• GAILLARD, Mary, daughter, 40 single, waitress at hotel

1915 State Census > NY > Orange Co. > Port Jervis > 17 Union Street

• OWEN, Thomas, 49, engineer
• OWEN, Elizabeth, 48, housework
• OWEN, Mary, dau., 21, silk worker

1920 Census > NY > Orange Co. > Port Jervis > 17 Union Street

• OWEN, Elizabeth, head, 52 widow, born in NY of French & German parents, no occupation
• GAILLARD, Mary, sister, 50 single, born in NY of French & German parents, tinsmith helper at railroad shop
• OWEN, Mary, daughter, 26 single, born in NY of NJ & NY parents, winder at silk mill
• OWEN, Thomas, son, 24 widower, born in NY, air inspector for railroad
• OWEN, Edwin, 3y10m grandson, born in NY of NY and PA parents
• OWEN, Thomas Jr., 2y10m grandson, born in NY of NY and PA parents

1930 Census > NY > Orange Co. > Port Jervis > 3 New Street

• OWEN, Elizabeth, head, 60 widow, no occupation
• GAILLARD, Mary, sister, 58 single, silk inspector at mill
• OWEN, Thomas, son, 34 widower, twister at mill
• OWEN, Edwin, grandson, 12 
• OWEN, Thomas Jr., grandson, 11

1940 Census > NY > Orange Co. > Port Jervis > 3 New Street

• OWEN, Elizabeth, head, 70 widow, homemaker
• OWEN, Edwin, grandson, 23, laborer at silver plating factory

Thomas Owen (1866-1918) son of Jasper T. Owen & Sarah Smith.

  married

Elizabeth Gaillard (1868-1942), d. of Claude Gaillard & Mary Ross.

   - 1895 - Mary "Mamie" Owen

   - 1894 - Thomas II Owen (d. 6 Apr 1933)

                   - 1916 - Edwin John Owen (d. 24 Feb 1978)

                   - 1917 - Thomas Jr. Owen (d. 1983)

                                   - 1942 - Thomas E. Owen (d.2014)

   - 1904 - Sarah Owen

MEINECKE, Roma Adela (Brooklyn, NY)

 IDENTIFICATION ON PHOTO:  Roma Meinecke

PHOTO TAKEN: Unknown Studio, most likely Brooklyn NY, 1909

PHOTO ACQUIRED: Feb 2024 Palm Beach County Fairground Antiques Show

Roma Meinecke, 1909

Roma Meinecke was born in Brooklyn on Jan 14, of either 1903, and thus was around 6 years old in the 1909 photo above. Her parents were Edward A. Meinecke (1873-1902) and Marie Hacker (1874-1931, sister to Louise Hacker in the previous post. ) Roma bears a strong resemblance to her aunt Louise.

She never knew her father as he died of tuberculosis before she was born.

After her father's death, Roma's mother Marie married George H. Greenhalgh, who was born in 1882 in Manchester England. He was a son of Frederick Greenhalgh and Elizabeth Barns.

Roma married Robert John Becker, but that marriage did not last long, and dissolved sometime after  Roma gave birth to Marie "Peggy" Becker in 1928, and Roma moved back into her parent's home.

On March 22 of 1931 Marie died in Montclair New Jersey where the family now resided, leaving widower George living with single-mother/step-daughter Roma and her daughter Peggy.

Between 1935 and 1937, George and his step-daughter Roma were married. I believe this was not entirely uncommon for the time, and still occurs to this day. I am not willing to make any judgments upon the couple because I do not know their situation. I know Roma's first husband was not a compatible spouse, and she may have developed romantic feelings for George, having lived with him for such a long time.

Daughter Peggy later went by the name Peggy Greenhalgh, so she may have been adopted by George when he married Peggy's mother.

On September 1, 1937, George and Roma's son George Edward Greenhalgh was born, but Roma did not live long afterward. She died September 5 of that year.

I found an Ancestry Family Tree which includes this exact photo of Roma which I recently acquired. Not just a copy of the same photo, but the very same photo. The scratches, stains and tears on the image are identical. The family tree was managed by a woman named Peggy who identified Marie Meinecke-Greenhalgh as her grandmother. I also discovered that both Peggy and her half-brother George Jr died in 2016. Peggy had been a longtime resident of Boca Raton FL, where she worked as a nurse.

Because of this, I am convinced that the photos I acquired of Roma and her aunt Louise at the Palm Beach Co. Fairgrounds Antiques Show had been originally sourced from the estate of Peggy.

HACKER-KNEUPER, Louise (Brooklyn NY)

IDENTIFICATION ON PHOTO:  Louise Hacker Kneuper

PHOTO TAKEN: Russoff Studio, Brooklyn NY, 1910

PHOTO ACQUIRED: Feb 2024 Palm Beach County Fairground Antiques Show

Louise HACKER-KNEUPER

There is further inscription on the reverse: "Peg's Great Aunt, My Grandmother Marie's sister."

Inscription on front reads: "Most Lovingly, Sister, Lou"

This is Louise Hacker, born 1877, died 1959. She was one of 6 children of Joseph Carl Hacker (1839-1915) and Marie Forster (1850-1915).

Her father was a well-known businessman in New York City as he ran a leather goods company in Manhattan, although the family lived in Brooklyn.

Her father died in February 1915, and the obit on him gives much detail on the family.

(Click for larger)

The children of Joseph and Marie Hacker are:

1870 - Christina Hacker (she married Carl Mann)

1871 - Josephine Hacker (she married Rudolf Allert)

1874 - Marie Hacker (she married 1] Edward A. Meinecke, then 2] George H. Greenhalgh)

1877 - Louise Hacker (she married a man named KNEUPER, but I cannot find his first name.)

1878 - Herman Hacker (married a woman named Minnie, unknown last name)

1882 - Darwin Hacker (married Florence Toben)