Identifying Thrift Store Photographs

A very large photo from an antique store run by a friend in Tucson. The front is marked "Agnen's Studio, Creston, Iowa." A piece of cardboard was on the back, which I removed and discarded because it was decaying. In pencil on the back of the photograph was: Mrs Duffey 307 N. Maple Mold Smoke 95C Back of photograph. Could I identify the family? There are six women, all with lace collars, and two men. I would guess the photos were taken in the late 1890s to early 1900s. Creston, Iowa is in Union County. I searched the 1900 census for Union County for "Duff*" using the asterick symbol to catch Duffy and Duffey. Seventeen people turned up with surnames spelled Duffield, Duff, and McDuffie. No Duffeys.  I then searched the 1880 census- no matches. Next I searched the 1910 census. There were seven Duffys. The oldest was Harriet Duffy, a widow living by herself, the mother of three children. Linked records suggested she was born in 1858, the daughter of Thomas and Mer...

A photograph from an antique store in Tucson. No studio mark. On the back in pencil is: Cousin Meva Ferrebee Verna "" Meva and Verna Ferrebee. I went to Ancestry Public Trees and searched for "Meva Ferre*" I wasn't sure of the last few letters of the name, so used the asterick to catch various spellings. Only one match- Meva Albert Ferrebee. She had a sister Verna. A family photograph on her father James Harvey Ferrebee included the two sisters and it was obvious that they were a match. I chose to research Meva. Meva Alberta Ferrebee was born on 6 June 1889 in Pennsylvania, the daughter of Harvey Ferrebee and Lillian May Schropp. She was baptized on 11 November 1889 at the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. [1] On 7 June 1900, Meva lived with her parents and siblings Harry H., Harvey, and Warren O. and a cousin Mabel E. Schaffer in Washington, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Her father was a farmer. [2] On 15 A...

  I purchased a huge photograph (17 inches by 12 inches) for two dollars here in Tucson.  No studio mark but paper-clipped to the back was a yellowed piece of stationery (Foreign Language Department, State University Colle, Buffalo, New York). Written on the reverse was: Standing: James C. Kimmell. William A. Kimmell. Henry Irving Kimmell. Samuel C. Kimmell. Seated: Clara Ellen Kimmell Messner. Manias J. Kimmell. Alma E. Kimmell Seymoure. Jacob Arthur Kimmell. Christenia Getz Kimmell. taken before 1916 (date of Christenia's death) Kimmell family. Manias J. Kimmell was born on 19 March 1842 in Lake Township, Stark County, Ohio, the son of Jacob A. Kimmell. And Eliza Brumbaugh. On 18 September 1850, Menias lived with his parents and siblings Mary, Elizabeth, Margaret, and Eliza lived in Lake Township, Stark County, Ohio. He had attended school in the last year. [1] On 6 June 1860, Manias lived with his parents and siblings Elizabeth, Lydia, Almira, and Joseph in Lake Township,...

An antique store find in Tucson. The photo has a stamped mark, Harrod's Studio, Indianapolis. On the back is a printed note: Tom Monroe would have been born on 17 August 1834. Tom Monroe, 17 August 1906, age 72. I searched Ancestry public family tree for a Monroe born on 17 August 1834. I immediately found Felix Thomas Monroe who lived in Indianapolis and was born on that date. Felix Thomas Monroe was born on 17 August 1834 in Lexington, Scott County, Indiana, the son of William Monroe and Phoebe Nancy Parham. On 10 September 1850, William and Phebe Monroe and their sons Felix and Milton lived in Lexington. William and Felix were farming. [1] Felix T. Monroe was married on 27 March 1860 inn Indiana to Matilda S. Hawkins. [2] On 23 June 1860, F. Thomas and Matilda S. Monroe lived in Lexington. Thomas was a merchant and Matilda did housework. They owned $600 in real estate and $450 in personal estate. [3] Felix enrolled in Company D of the 81 st Indiana Infantry on 14 Augus...

A photograph from the Abernathy Studio of Champaign, Illinois. Champaign is in Champaign County.  On the back in pencil is written "Mabel Bryant Mike Cavanaugh." Mabel Bryant and Mike Cavanaugh.   I searched for Ancestry Public Tree for a Cavanaugh married to a Bryant. No matches. I then switched to the site Search, looking for a Michael Cavanaugh living in Champaign County. Nothing. I then searched for Mabel Bryant and found a match. Mabel Bryant was born in 1878 in Illinois. She was married to Michael Burnaham Cavanagh.  Michael Burnaham Cavanagh was born on 11 April 1872 in Tuscola, Douglas County, Illinois, the son of Michael Cavanaugh and Ellen Theresa Cummins. On 22 June 1880, Michael and Ellen Cavanagh and their children Patrick, Jeremiah, Elizabeth, Michael, Hannah, Ella, Mamie, and Nicholas lived in Tuscola, Douglas County, Illinois. Michael worked for a railroad and Ellen waskeeping house. [1] On 7 June 1900, Miche and Ellen Cavanagh and their children Pat, M...