Week 2 – Favorite Photo

I had written an entire article about Squire Batey, who rode in a goat-drawn cart. But I had already written about him and his unique photo in a 2020 52 Ancestors topic, Large – In life and in death.

So at the last minute, I had to quickly draft a new post about some new photos in my collection. But first, I must rant. I am not a fan of posting my private family photos online. Not because I am greedy, but because too many of my fellow hobbyists like to collect random digitized artifacts for ancestors whom they are not even related to (directly), then fail to record the source or provenance of the artifact – specifically photos. Often times they get the identification wrong and their public tree perpetuates inaccuracy like wildfires in Los Angeles. So, I shall watermark. Random readers beware. Sorry family, if you want a clean copy, all you have to do is ask.

Last year, when my uncle graciously placed my great-grandfather’s ditty box in my stewardship, it contained family photos. Some I could identify and some I could not with certainty. The one that excited me the most was a portrait of Daniel and Rosetta, probably near the time they were married. When they were married in 1888, he was 47 and she was 37, and they were both on their third and final marriage. This photo is the earliest photo I have seen for these two – ever!

What makes this photo just a tiny more special, is the writing on the back. This photo may have been in the possession of another family member who sent it back to Daniel some years later, maybe near the time of Rosetta’s death.

DJ Rhoads
Mary/May sent this to me for you. I thought I would see some of you to give it to you but did not so will send it.

The photo is on a dark board and the note on the back is written in pencil so it is very hard to read. It may have been signed by “R” or “R J”, but it’s hard to be sure. If it is “RJ” it may be Rachell Crandall Johnson, Rosetta’s sister-in-law or Rebecca Rhoads Jackson, Daniel’s sister. I lean towards Rebecca since it is addressed to Daniel and not Rosetta. I can’t validate who Mary/May would be since both Daniel and Rosetta had relatives named Mary or May who were living at the time the photo was taken.

One thing I noticed as I posted this article is that the photo was taken by a photographer from Sedalia, Missouri which is in Pettis County. Daniel’s brother, Israel, was living in Pettis County and died there in 1905. And Israel had a daughter, Mary…so could this be the original owner?