A Very Distinquished Gentleman in Bucyrus Ohio

This photo shows a very distinguished gentleman I would be proud to claim as an ancestor, but who is he?  Many of the photos in this treasured album are identified as relatives of Ella Elizabeth Eckard Wood.  I am assuming that this could be her father or possibly a brother.  Ella was born in nearby Marion County Ohio and my records show that her father Christopher Eckert (Eckard) was buried in Bucyrus in 1886.  Christopher was born in Lycoming Pennsylvania January 29,1827 but was in Crawford County Ohio by the time of his marriage on April 28, 1854.  He is said to be buried in the Sherer Cemetery which is in Crawford County.

Perhaps you recognize this photo because you have one just like it, or another photo showing the same man.  If so, please comment and help me solve the mystery.

Two Little Girls, and a Bucyrus Ohio Connection

My Grandpa (Carl Emerson) Wood's mother, Ella Eckard, was Pennsylvania Dutch.  Her family reaches back to Germany and lived in Pennsylvania Dutch colonies in Lycoming, PA later in Marion County and Bucyrus Ohio.  As an adult she moved with her brother George and sister Emma to Dawson Nebraska where there was a Pennsylvania Dutch colony and family including their brother John.  This part of our family were Dunkards.

I am a member of the Pennsylvania Colony Historical Society of Nebraska as well as the Blooming Grove Historical Society.  They are a wealth of information if you have ancestors who were Pennsylvania Dutch.  Highly recommended. 

This photo of two little girls was taken by Peterman, Union Block in Bucyrus Ohio. There is nothing on the back of the photo to indicate who the girls are and there are no other photos taken by Perterman, although I do have several other photos taken in the Bucyrus area. Lovely little girls--does anyone recognize them?
     

Found: A set of Great-Great-Grandparents

Until about six years ago I hadn't heard of Elizabeth and Israel Wood.  In fact, when I found a very short obituary for their son, William, I discovered a local mortuary had handled the arrangements to transport him back to Missouri for burial.  To follow up on William I visited the mortuary and discovered they still had the handwritten card on file.  William's parents were listed as Isa Wood and an "unknown" woman.  

William had three adult children living in the area at the time he died.  They even knew that he had been survived by a sister.  The idea that they would not know their grandmother's name irritated, then saddened me.   I decided right then that I would find her name and never allow one of my ancestors to be identified that way again. 

It took another two years, at least, to track down Elizabeth and Israel.  To start with I found Israel and a marriage record for his wife, Elizabeth.  Then I found documentation on Elizabeth's death, before William's birth.  Back to the digitized records.

What I know now is that Israel was married to two different Elizabeths.  My great-great-grandmother, Elizabeth Durant Wood, was Israel's second wife. 

One of the first treasures I found in a photo albumn given to me by my Aunt Twyla was photos of Ellizabeth and Israel, labeled in beautiful handwriting on the back.  "Elizabeth Durant Wood, Israel Wood's second wife, Earl's grandmother".  She's not unknown anymore!