Identifying Thrift Store Photographs

Another $5 photo from an antique mall in Tucson. A young man wearing a suit jacket and vest, tie, white shirt, a handkerchief in his pocket and a gold chain suspended from his vest, probably for a watch. The photo was taken at the Griffing studio in Morris, Grundy County, Illinois. On the back it is called the Normal Art Gallery. In pencil is written James Bell[,] M.N. & S.S.[,] 1885 8." James Bell . I searched James Bell in Morris, Illinois on Ancestry Public Trees and quickly found him. I realized that the previous blog entry was also for a person from Grundy County, Illinois (the two photos were purchased from the same antique mall booth).  James was born on 5 November 1866 in Saratoga, Grundy County, the son of Alexander Bell and Ellen Hayes. He was married to Jeanette Mitchell (1869-1959) and they had three children- Alexander, Anna, and Laura May.  On 18 April 1910, James and Jennie and their children Alex, Anna, and Laura, as well as James's 80 year old grandfather ...

 I paid $5 for this photograph found in a Tucson antique mall.  A young woman wearing pince nez glasses with a watch hanging from a chain. A studio mark, Stafford, below her portrait.  On the back in black ink is "Ethel Gillbert Hanson[,] Crystal's mother." Ethel (Gilbert) Hansen I searched Ancestry Public Trees for a Crystal who was a daughter of a man surnamed Hans*n and Ethel Gilbert. Only one person showed up. Ethel May Gilbert was born on 4 July 1892 in Illinois, the daughter of Thomas J. Gilbert and Lois L. Leach. She was married to Chris Jence Hansen (1885-1958). The couple had five children- Bernard, Lois, Leonard, Crystal, and Norma. Ethel died on 5 April 1961 in Mazon, Grundy County, Illinois. She was buried in Brookside Cemetery in Mazon.

A $10 photo from an antique store in Tucson. On the back written in black pen is "Alex Masters family." The studio mark on the front is Oswald's Extra Finish 1227 W. Washington Ave N. Minneapolis. Alex Masters' family. The family is posed in front of a house. A man, probable wife, and seven children. The clothing suggested an 1880 to 1910 time frame. I started by searching the 1900 census for Alex* Masters in Minneapolis, then Hennepin County, then Minnesota. Nothing found. Same for 1910 census. I then searched all US censuses. Nothing found. I broadened search including newspapers. Nothing found. They remain mystery.