Photograph Album
Submitted by Ben N. Benson, M.D. in Ft. Worth, TX
Dr. Benson has graciously submitted these studio photographs from the 1880s and 1890s. Please mail him if you can identify any of these individuals.
I recently received from the estate of my aunt (Lucy Benson Clarke) who died last fall at the age of 95, a Victorian Photo Album, with approx.35 photos in it, including one of her mother, Jennie Norton Benson, as a young lady. Only one photo was positively identified by writing on the face of the photo. Several listed my step-great-grandmother's name (Mrs. Geo. H. Norton) with an address on the back, as they were apparently being enlarged for 16 x 20 copies. There were 8 photos from Missouri, and they were felt to be from the families of George Hanan Norton's two younger brothers that moved to MO before the Civil War.
Thus I have identified this as the Norton Family Album. I suspect that this album contain photos of the immediate family, George's family in MO, and members of the family of George's second wife, Fannie Thomas Norton (whom he married in 1874). Ben N. Benson, M.D. in Ft. Worth, TX
The info below is supplied as a guide:
**Unknown Photo #1
**Unknown Photo #2
**Unknowns #1 & 2 were both taken in the studio of H. Mueller in Cincinnati, OH. I suspect the #1 is George Hanan Norton in his early 60's and that #2 in Frank Claud Norton, his son born in 1876 and half brother to my grandmother, Jennie Norton Benson.
**Unknown Photo #3
Unknown Photo #4
**Unknowns #3 & 4 were both taken at the Skewes Studio in either Cincinnati or Covington. The above mentioned photo of my grandmother, Jennie Norton Benson, was also taken in the same studio and was on the same cardboard backing. I suspect that unknown #3 is that of George's second wife, Fannie Thomas Norton. I suspect that unknown #4 is that of Carl Thomas Norton, born in 1880 (This looks a lot like the Carl T.Norton photos I have from the late 1930's).
NOTE: These first four photos were grouped together with that of my grandmother in the album, suggesting they are one family unit. It is known that by the time that my grandmother's picture was taken (ca. late 1880's), the family unit was these five individuals.
**Unknown Photo #5
**Unknown #5 was the first photo in the album. By her age, and dress, I suspect that she was considered the matriarch of the family at the time, probably from the Thomas side of the family. Taken at the Barbour Studio in Williamstown
**Unknown Photo #6
Unknown Photo #7
Unknown #6 & 7 are the two photos listed above that had 'Mrs. Geo. H.Norton' and an address on the back, that were for enlargement. Both are from the Barbour Studio, on identical cardboard backing, and show the same amount of fading. I suspect that they are husband and wife, and they were located together in the album, just behind unknown #5. I suspect that they are of Presley Thomas and his wife, Mahaly (Mahala) Gaugh Thomas, the parents of Fannie Thomas Norton.
**Unknown Photo #8
**Unknown #8 followed #6 & 7 in the album but was before the 'family' in #1, 2, 3, & 4 above. It was taken at the Barbour Studio. It may be the photo of Elizabeth Hutchinson Norton, George's first wife who died in 1873 but I suspect not as Elizabeth was 43 when she died and this lady looks older. I suspect that she may be Flora J. Thomas, the older sister of Fannie Thomas Norton, and about age 50+ at the time of the photo.
PLEASE NOTE: The assumptions that I have taken fit the best case scenario for these photos, but I could be all wrong. Please help if you can recognize an ancestor. I will provide anyone identifying a photo with a glossy copy of same if they so desire it. Contact Ben N. Benson, M.D. in Ft. Worth, TX
**Unknown Photo #9
This is a composite photo as I have a single of the man in the exact same pose. From the Barbour Studio in Williamstown, KY. I have no clues on this one.
**Unknown Photo #10
From the Barbour Studio in Williamstown.
**Unknown Photo #11
From the Barbour Studio in Williamstown.
**Unknowon Photo #12
From the Henry Studio in Cincinnati, OH.
This may be the same young man as in Unknown #11.
**Unknown Photo #13
From the Barbour Studio in Williamstown.
**Unknown #14
Studio unknown.
This may be the same lady in Unknown #13.
**Unknown #15
From the Hutchings Studio located ______.
**Unknown #16
Unknown studio.
Top part of photo cut off.
Writing on back looks like 'for Aunt Mahealey 2-27"-84 '
**Unknown #17
From the Barbour Studio in Williamstown, KY.
**Unknown #18
From the Barbour Studio in Williamstown, KY.
**Unknown #19
From the Barbour Studio in Williamstown, KY.
**Unknown #20
From the Barbour Studio in Williamstown, KY.
**Unknown #21
Bust view of young lady
From the Barbour Studio in Williamstown.
**Unknown #22
Young man sitting, with hat.
From the Landy Studio in Cincinnati.
**Unknown #23
Two men standing, with hats on.
From the Barbour Studio in Williamstown.
**Unknown #24
Young lady.
From the Barbour Studio in Willaimstown.
**Unknown #25
Young woman, standing, by chair.
From the Barbour Studio in Williamstown.