Identifying Thrift Store Photographs

 I went to a store that sells estate sale items to look at a photo album. It was gorgeous, but they wanted $280. Way out of my price range. I told the owner that I liked old photos and he directed me to a cabinet with many. I purchased five. This one is from a studio Greenwood McKINNEY. McKinney is a town in Collin County, Texas. A number of the photos in the cabinet were from Texas. On the front of the photo is "Iva Husband" and on the back "Iva + Loyd Eddlemon." The handwriting was Palmer Method - my grandmother's handwriting was almost identical. I searched Ancestry public trees for "Loyd Eddlem*n" with a wife Iva. I was uncertain about the spelling of Loyd, so did the similar option. That proved useful, because it turned out the man's first name was Floyd. Floyd and Iva (Cobb) Eddlemon. Floyd Newton Eddlemon was born on 24 October 1901 in McKinney, Collin County, Texas, son of James Nimrod Eddleman and Mary Telitha Hudson. He was married in 19...

  Who is E. N. Toucey? I think I purchased this small carte de visite at a Tucson antique store, but really I cannot remember. On the front is "PHILLIPS & CO., PHOTO." and on the back in black ink is "E. N. Toucey." I searched all records on Ancestry and there were 12 results. Among these were a cluster in Minnesota and South Dakota. Despite looking for name variations, I was unable to locate this man in the United States census records. On the other hand, I found numerous newspaper articles for him and a few for his wife. Front of photo. Back of photo. Ezra N. Toucey was born circa 1824 in Connecticut, son of Samuel Tousey and Harriet Burch. He always went by E. N. Toucey during his life. He was married in 1844 in Southbury, Connecticut to Marietta Hinman.  In 1863, E. N. was living in Chicago. Chicago Tribune , 12 February 1863, page 4, column 7. In 1874, the St. Paul, Minnesota lists E. N. Toucey as a miller residing at 73 Tilton. [1] On 1 May 1875, E. N. a...

 A photograph with a list of names on it back. Can I identify these people? It is a small photo, measuring about 3 7/8 inches long by 2 3/4 wide. Four of the people are holding long sticks- perhaps fishing poles? One man is also holding a bucket. On the back is the following list, divided by a short line, corresponding to the back row and front row: 2 Glenn Zellmer Adolph Werth Esther R. Zellmer Carrie Quiram Walter Richter Gladys Richter Mrs. Emma Gerhke Herman Gerhke _____ Art Zellmer Mrs. A. Amalia Werth Rennie Zellmer Mrs. Art (Esther) Zellmer Zellmer-Richter family photo. Back side of photo. I searched on Ancestry Public Family Trees for a Walter Richter who was married to a Gladys. Four individuals came up, with the first two the same person. That Walter Gustav Richter (1911-1991) was married to Gladys Emma Ruth Zellmer (1916-2016). The couple lived in Le Sueur County, Minnesota. Walter and Gladys have a tombstone in Sakatah Cemetery in Waterville, Le Sueur County, Minnes...

 I purchased a pile of photographs from an antique/retro store in Tucson. On the back of one photo in blue ink is "Axley & Mae McKinley[,] Joretta's grand parents." Axley and Mae McKinley. Back of photograph. I searched all records on Ancestry.com and immediately identified the couple.  Axley Gimore McKinley was born on 17 February 1867 in Indiana, son of James McKinley and Nancy A. Landry. [1] On 11 August 1870, Axley H. lived with his parents James and Nancy A. McKinley and siblings Joseph L., William, Marietta, Jesse, Jane E., and Hannah D. in Mount Pleasant Township, Delaware County, Indiana. His father was a farmer. [2] In June 1880, Axley was living with his parents James and Nancy McKinley in Mount Pleasant, Delaware County, Indiana and siblings William B., Emma J., Hannah D., and Samuel A. His father was a farmer and Axley was a farm laborer. [3]   Axley was married on 4 October 1891 in Delaware County, Indiana to May Snodgrass. Mary Elizabeth "Mae...

A photo with minimal information. Can I identify the family? I purchased a lot of photos from an estate sale auction. This one was in a modern frame. I could see the photographer's studio mark- E. J. STONE, DEXTER, MICH. When I removed the photo from the frame, I found TODD FAMILY on its back. Who were these people? I went to the Directory of Early Michigan Photographers available online here . Edmund J. Stone operated his studio in Dexter, Washtenaw County, Michigan between 1898 and 1907. Todd Family, front of photo. Back of photo. Examining the photograph, the family appears to have been, arranged by age: 1). Adult male (father) 2). Adult female (mother) 3). Oldest child- male 4). Second oldest child- male 5). Third oldest child- female 6). Fourth oldest child- female 7). Fifth oldest child- male 8). Infant, unknown sex  On Ancestry.com I then searched the 1900 census for Dexter, Washtenaw County, Michigan for the surname Todd. No results. I broadened the search to the entire Was...

I purchased this photo at a thrift store in Tucson. It is a photo of a studio photograph. No studio mark is visible. On the back (see below) in black ink is written the following: Maternal Parents & Grand Parents & Uncle of Bernice Gingrich Nagel  1904 3rd Lawrence Calvin Smith 1889-1957  Fred Dewitt Smith 1884-1930 2nd row Josiah Henbling Gingrich [holding] Florence Irene Gingrich b Lavern W. Smith 1877-1939 1st row  Mary Inez Smith Gingrich My Mother   Lucy Hooker Smith Born 1/14/1852  Henry D. Smith Born 3/19/1845 New York State  Gordon Hooker Smith 1893-1964 Smith-Gingrich family. Back of photo, showing text transcribed above. On Ancestry Public Trees I exact searched for Lucy Hooker born 1852 with a spouse Smith. Only one entry, for Lucy Fisher Hooker, 1853-1934, married to Henry DeWitt Smith, 1847-1920. Their children were Luverne, Mary Inise, Fred Dewitt, Lawrence Calvin, and Gordon H. The family lived in Isabella County, Michigan. Mary...

 A third photograph from the fire group estate sale. No studio name. On the back in ink is "Frank & Mary Boxstrom" (or possibly Baxstrom). Frank and Mary Baxstrom. I searched on Ancestry the public trees for a Frank Boxstrom married to a Mary. Nothing. I then searched for Frank Baxstrom married to a Mary. I quickly found the couple. Frank Ben Baxstrom was born on 22 February 1890 in Dolores, Colorado, son of Peter Baxstrom and Emma Ottilia Broman.  Frank was married on 16 November 1913 in Dolores, Montezuma County, Colorado to Mary E. Osterfeld. Mary was born on 17 October 1891 in Colorado. Their home was valued at $2,000. They did not have a radio. Frank worked as a garage repair man. On 21 February 1920, Frank and Mary and their daughter Marguerite lived in Dolores. Frank was a farmer. On 4 April 1930, Frank and Mary, their daughter Florence M., a sister in law, Frank L. Mari Smith, and her son Kenneth F. Smith lived in Dolores. On 4 April 1940, Frank and Mary, their da...