It wouldn't do us any good to discuss how we are going to rescue the Tucker family of Wahoo, Nebraska, without first being properly introduced. While I already mentioned the names included on a label on the reverse of this photograph I found abandoned in an antique store in northern California, I haven't really given you a chance to see the family.
Let's take a moment to do that right now. That way, you'll see the type of frame the photo was displayed on, allowing the chance to determine the age of the picture. Then, too, you'll notice the missing portion of the bottom right corner of the card stock—the unfortunate break that obliterated the name of the state where Wahoo was located.
For the most part, you'll see a large family with the children displayed in stair-step fashion, with papa and mama serving as bookends to the portrait, with toddler Ralph on his dad's lap, and the girls in their twin dresses.
Our next task will be to locate a family constellation including those names conveniently included on the back of the photograph. Our next obstacle in this process: realizing that, at least in 1900 and 1910, there was no family matching the names of our Tucker family resident in Wahoo, the town where the portrait was taken. Either our Tuckers lived in a community even smaller than Wahoo—at that point, having a population of 2,100—or, like many families of that era, they were still heading west by the time that census was taken.
It would help, of course, if "Grand Dad" had been given a name by the person who was so careful to label the photograph. Although we don't have that useful piece of information, we still have seven other names to guide us. Next stop on this journey, in seeking to reunite this orphaned photograph with descendants of the Tucker family, will be to see where we can find this handsome family at the time of the 1900 census.
Above: Photograph of the Tucker Family of Wahoo, Nebraska, including "Grand Dad" Tucker, Ralph, Jim, Ernie, Maud, Annie, Frank, and Elmer. Photograph in possession of author until claimed by a direct descendant of this family.
Gosh, what a wonderful photo. Clear pictures of everyone, love the expressions. The clothing is wonderful. What a gift this will be.
ReplyDeleteYes, don't you just love the outfits? The bow ties on the boys are really something!
DeleteGreat photo but they all look ill.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the dark circles around their eyes was because of lighting issues, or if they all had that dark shading or deeply inset eyes that present challenges to photograph. Then, too, it was sometimes hard to keep a wiggly child still long enough to take a good picture. Hard to tell.
DeleteLook earlier than 1900. I would guess 1885 or so:)
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the photograph looks older than 1900 too, Far Side, which, as you'll notice in the next few posts, presents some problems.
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