No Information Whatsoever

This will be very short because this photo comes with no information.  Nothing is even faintly inscribed on the back.  No one looks even vaguely familiar to me.  Except that the littlest boy looks so very much like my youngest grandson that I know this is family.  I hope that someone will recognize this dear family and that special little boy.

Sam Wagner

Here is a small photo of Sam Wagner, taken  by Brenner Photographer, Bucyrus Ohio.  It was found loose in my family photo album.  While there is no further information on the back of the photo I believe this man to be Samuel Pearson Wagner, son of David Wagner and Christina Eckard.  His mother, Christina Eckard was the daughter of George Eckert and Margaret Kiess.  They were also the parents of Christopher Eckard who is my great great grandfather.  Sam would be a cousin to my great grandmother Ella Elizabeth Eckart Wood and a brother to George LeRoy Wagner of a previous post.
Samuel Pearson Wagner was born 11 March 1860 in Bucyrus Ohio.  He married Nannie B. Lair on 22 March 1885 in Dawson NE.  Nannie was born is Dawson on 13 July 1867 and died 4 December 1885 the same day their only child died.  Samuel died 19 Jan 1918.  Samuel and Nannie are both buried in the Heim Cemetery at Dawson NE, lot 120-5 and 120-4.  I assume that their unnamed child may have been buried with Nannie as that was often the custom.  You can find a photo of the gravestone here.

Baby Photo Taken at Fairmont Nebraska

No information on this baby photo.  It was taken by Oberholtzer at Fairmont Nebraska.  I was able to find J. W. Oberholtzer, a photographer, in the 1890-1891 Business Directory for Fairmont, Fillmore Co. Nebraska.  At this point I cannot find a link between my known family names and Fairmont.

Another B. L. Wilson Gallery Photo

Unfortunately like most of the photos in this album this photo not been labeled.  It follows the previous post photo of George and Verda Wagoner (Wagner).  I would like to think there might be a connection, but there is not way of knowing until someone comes across this blog and recognizes these three children.  It appears that George and Verda had at least six children.  I have found records for three boys and three girls plus the mysterious "Ray" that I will keep searching for.

George and Verda Wagoner (Wagner)

This photo was taken by the Traveling B. L. Wilson's Gallery, as was the photo in the previous post.  That gentleman is not identified but this couple is George and Verda Wagoner.  It is Wagner according to their headstones in the Fredonia City Cemetery in Fredonia, Wilson Co., Kansas.  On the back it also states "Ray's parents, Ella Wood's cousins."

 According to the records of the Pennsylvania Historical Society of Nebraska George is indeed Ella's cousin.  His mother, Christina Eckard and Ella's father, Christopher Eckard are brother and sister. 

The Society's records also show George as married to Alverda (Waggoner, Waggener).  Referring to Alverda as Verda seems logical from what I know of family.  However, the records do not show Alverda and George as having a son named Ray although it does list six children for this family. 

It continues to appear that the gentleman in the October 20, 2011 post in on the Eckard side of the family not the Wood side.

Traveling B. L. Wilson's Gallery--The Biggest Mystery of All

I am sure that years ago the traveling photo galleries were a wonderful idea.  Getting photography to the masses was probably both lucrative to the photographer and a rare treat to many people in America.
However, owning several of these traveling gallery photos presents a lot of questions.  Some of the photos in this album may never be identified but I can determine which side of the family is pictured.

Knowing that the Penn Dutch side of the family appears to be the only side that was ever in Bucyrus Ohio narrows identity down somewhat.  A photo by a traveling photographer expands the possibilities.

Once I have to rely on visual recognition I am lost.  Everyone begins to look like each other the longer I look at them.  Is it just me or does this gentlemen look like an older version of the man in the J. Daugherty photo from Ohio?  Maybe it is wishful thinking...maybe it is just that marvelous white beard....what do you think?

Vince and Carrie (Kerr) Hiskey--Niece of Ella Eckard

This photograph was taken in Humbolt, Nebraska by Thortin Photography.  It was found loose between the pages of the album.  On the back it says simply Vince and Carrie. 

Although I cannot be 100% sure I believe it to be the niece of my Great-Grandmother Ella Eckard Wood.  Her sister Margaret Ann Eckard married John Andrew Kerr and the family lived in the Humbolt area as did their daughter Carrie and her husband Vincent Hiskey.  In fact Carrie is buried at the Heim Cemetery at Dawson along with her parents and Uncle John W. Eckard and Aunt Emma Eckard Thornton.

For more information on the Heim Cemetery please check out the Pennsylvania Historical Society of Nebraska.