In the image gallery shown here, we are introduced to a previously unpublished collection of old photographs In the mid-2000s, an antique shop in southern California somehow acquired an
old photo album. A customer browsing the store bought it for his daughter as a curiosity. That daughter, Suzanne Metheny, went thorugh the old album, found the
Warburton surname in it, and, in 2006, went online trying to find some kind of connection. She hoped to give it to a surviving direct Warburton family member. Although she attracted some
correspondence, Suzanne found no family members and put the album away. However, in the Spring of 2015, she became aware that the Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, genealogical web page had several
historical entries on the Warburton family, so she posted a query again. This time, the query came to the attention of Bob Sweeney, the website administrator, who was well aware of the
Warburton history in the area. He arranged to meet Suzanne on one of his business trips to the West Coast in May 2015, and obtained the album with the promise to secure a good home for it. Bob and his wife, Lynn Franklin, an
experienced genealogical photographer, then scanned, annotated, and researched the album. They were able to ascertain several relevant facts. First, the album contained photographs of Austin Warburton and
several of his relatives. Bob also knew, from his prior Warburton research, that one branch of the Warburton family to his knowledge had relocated to California in the early twentieth century or perhaps even earlier. The
surviving descendant of that branch, George Robert Warburton, was alive and living in Cloud, Kansas; he had actually worked with Bob, Larry Pardoe and Lyle Rockwell in the
creation of the major Warburton histories on the Sullivan County site. In June 2015, Bob sent the album to George for safekeeping and with his assurance that it would eventually be contributed to the
Sullivan County Historical Society and Musuem in Laporte, PA. What we show here is the outcome of Bob and Lynn's research, supported by George Warburton and, in particular, Joyce Ingerson. Any additional information or
suggestions are welcome. Send proposed changes, updates and suggestions directly to
Bob Sweeney. And let's all remember and thank Suzanne Metheny for not throwing away that strange old photo album her father bought her so many
years ago.
In January 2016, Joyce Ingerson, one of the foremost family historians for north easterm Pennsylvania, weighed in with her observations on the album. Her views may bring us closer to understanding who the album
subjects were and how the album ended up in the San Diego area. We have noted her comments in green for credit and clarification. We are most gratefu for her participation.
Perhaps we should first look at the primary Warburton family that is suggested to be the focus of this album. We say that, not because we are certain, but only because Austin Warburton is the first photo
subject in the album, and there are other Warburton and Rozell(e) references. This Warburton family intermarried with a Rozelle family.
Austin Warburton (1852-1927)
Undated Photo But Style and Known Age of Subject Indicate 1870
He is
identified by name on the Back Side of the photo.
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
So, let's begin with a historical overview. Austin Warburton (1852-1927), as pictured above from the album, shows up in two
other histories already posted to this website:
The Descendants of John Warburton and Mary Sadler
The Wilbers: A Farm Family from Wheelerville
You will find biographical information in these sources and even a photo of our protagonist. Austin was the grandson of John
and Mary (Sadler)
Warburton via john Molyneux Warburton and Hannah Mullen ("Mullan"). One of Austin's uncles was George Thomas Warburton (January 26, 1826-March 28, 1897);
in turn, George had a son named Harry Harold Warburton (July 20, 1872-April 5, 1939); therefore, he was Austin's first cousin. It was Harry who may have taken the Warburton line to California. He was
the grandfather of our
colleague, George Robert Warburton, resident of Kansas. It is also a possibility that either Harry or
Harry's son George Thomas Warburton (father to "our" George in Kansas), or one of their immediate family members, brought the album to California. Harry, in fact, was living in Long Beach, CA in the 1930 Federal Census.
Alternatively, there may be a line descended from Austin Warburton or his wife's
family *, the Lorahs and Swishers **, or possibly one of the
families to whom they were related, who brought the album out West. Whoever did so had
some sort of connection back east, as we'll see below. But, as stated, we can only at this time make an educated guess about the album's provenance.
We'll try to find out the turth in time. That won't be easy, however, because the album is old and fragile, many of the photo subjects are not identified specifically and some of the photos have faded or decayed.
We have done our best to enhance and recover them, but it may be impossible in the end to say who
all these people are.
* Editor's Note: Joyce Ingerson has an alternative theory about
the album's origin and how it ended up in California. We will return to her comments throughout this
history. Her initial critical premise, to quote her directly, is as
follows:
Austin was brother to Martha Warburton. Martha was about age 10 when Austin was born, She invariably was entrusted to help care
for her youngest brother's immediate needs when he was very young around their family home. I frankly believe Martha Warburton
Porter came to California much before her cousin, Harry Warburton. Therefore my personal theory is that I would think Martha
Warburton Porter would be the most likely candidate to carry this album to California. I also believe that the personal photo of Austin, shown above, was taken before or possibly not long after the marriage of
his older sister Martha to John Porter. They were married in Bradford County on September 2, 1867, where many of the album photos were actually taken, They then began a progressive emigration to across the United States before 1870. They appear in the
1870 Federal Census in Iowa, and then to Wyoming (1880), Idaho (1900) and ultimately to Lemon Grove, San Diego County, CA by 1910. In fact,
she died there on August 16, 1910. John, her husband, went thereafter to live in a home for disabled soldiers, due to his ailments conected with service in the
Civil War. He passed away on October 26, 1917 in Lemon Grove and was laid to rest in the Los Angeles National Cemetery.
John and Martha had two adult children,
Walter E. Porter of Bingham, ID and Lillian Elsie Nugent of San Diego. I am of the opinion that Martha Warburton Porter kept the album as a direct
connection to her Pennsylvania family and passed it down through her local San Diego area descendants, likely through her daughter Lillian.
The latter was born in Iowa in 1872 and married at least twice, to Heber Edward Nugent (1875-1924) and James Green Johnston (1868-1958).
An alternative, if less convincing possibility to me, is that the album came West with a family related
to the Warburtons, such as the Lorah (pronounced "LO-ROW") or Robbins family. At least, these connections may explain some of the
identities in the album, as I indicate further down this page.
** Editor's Note: Let's also take a moment to examine in detail how the Lorah, Siwhser, Robbins and Swank
families were related. Doing so may help throw new light on the
identities of some of the subjects shown in the album. We will once again rely on Joyce Ingerson:
Let's start with William Lorah and his spouse, Elizabeth Swisher. The family of William Lorah
pronounced their surname as "LO ROW". Here are some facts on William Lorah and Elizabeth Swisher's family
members below to help with our subsequent proposed identifications:
1. Mary M Lorah, buried Sharp Ridge Cemetery, Elysburg, near Montour, Pennsylvania, spouse of Eli Heilner/mostly written as Eli Hilner
2. Daniel B Lorah, no further data after 1860 US Census.
3. Matilda Lorah, buried Richart's Grove, Jordan, Lycoming, Pennsylvania, spouse of Richard Rozell,
4. Clara Lorah, buried Hillsgrove, Sullivan, Pennsylvania, spouse of Walter Warburton,
5. Lydia Alice Lorah, buried Hillsgrove, Sullivan, Pennsylvania, spouse of Austin W Warburton
6. Jane Martha Lorah, buried Richart's Grove, Jordan, Lycoming, Pennsylvania, spouse of William M Johnson
7. Nora C Lorah, buried Jersey Shore Cemetery, Lycoming, Pennsylvania, spouse of Warren Joseph Robbins,
8. Albert Augustus Lorah,buried Glen Mawr, Lycoming, Pennsylvania, spouse of Laura Estella Robbins
Additionally, ponder this: Each of these Robbins children, as shwon above, married into this Lorah family- Warren J.
Robbins and Laura E. Robbins. So, in direct ways, each of these intermarried Warburton and Robbins
families, had a large vested interest in the William Lorah family in total. The ancestry of these two Robbins children looks lie this:
:
Parents: John L G Robbins and Mary Martha Mills
John L G Robbins was a Civil War vet Co F 3rd Reg PA Heavy Artillery. He was the son of Joseph D.
Robbins and Marie/Mary Applegate, each buried in Richart's Grove, Lycoming County, PA. Meanwhile, Martha
(Mills) Robbins was a daughter of Uriah Mills and Martha Matilda Welliver. Now here comes a further twist--
Uriah Mills was father of Martha Mills, but also a sibling to Drucilla (Mills) Swisher. It was Druscilla
MIlls who was the first wife of William Henry Swisher. How the worms squirms. So, William Swisher was
father to Elizabeth Swisher (Lorah) (Johnson) and wasl also father of Ruth D Swisher Warburton,
spouse of James A Warburton. Additionally William Swisher was father to Matilda Swisher Swank,
discussed later when we come a photo attribution below. Each family communicated closely with one another.
William Swisher's two daughters- Elizabeth Swisher and Ruth Swisher were half sisters; each had different
mothers. I believe their photos Are in this very album!
Children of John L G Robbins and Mary Martha Mills:
1. Laura Estella Robbins(01 Oct 1868- 05 Mar 1940), buried Rolling Green Cemetery, Cumberland, PA , married Albert Augustus Lorah
2. George Monroe Robbins(25 Aug 1870- 11 May 1959), buried Wesley Chapel, Columbia county, PA, married Nancy Kessler,
3. Warren Joseph Robbins(06 May 1872- 26 Jun 1912), buried Jersey Shore, Lycoming, PA, married Nora C Lorah
4. Uriah Parvin Robbins, (18 Apr 1874- 22 Oct 1947), married Maud D Strauser), buried Fairview Cemetery, Montgomery, Lycoming, PA
5. Elias Robbins(16 Aug 1876- 31 Jul 1878) buried Richart's Grove, Jordan, Lycoming, PA, died as a child
6. Lydia Robbins,( 23 Aug 1878- 27 Nov 1960) buried Allison Tiffany Cemetery, Tiffany, LaPlata County, Colorado
7. Elmer Robbins, last known Portland, Oregon after 1942
**********************
Here are links to the Find-a-Grave markers for Austin Warburton and his wife, Lydia Alice Lorah:
Austin Warburton (1852-1927)
Lydia Alice (Lorah) Warburton (1860-1925)
Note that the page for Lydia has a photo in the left margin of Austin, Lydia and their daughter Carrie E. (Warburton) Boatman (1879-1942), their oldest child.
Also, in September 2020, we heard from Felicia (Warburton) Hart, great great granddaughter of Austin and Lydia. She connected with us on Facebook and then generously
contributed to our site both a photo of her own Warburton lineage and one of the deeper Warburton line back before Austin. They are shown below and
will complement the other information we have posted here:
Felicia Line
Deep Warburton Line
Returning to the album and its images, Austin looks to be in his teens or early twenties in this initial photo. The oval frame on the Carte de Visite type photo, of which this is a sample,
was popular in the 1870s. The lack of a backdrop probably leans the date to the late 1860s or very early 1870s. It looks to have originally
been a squared corner card, so pre-1870. Altogether, a date right around 1870 looks most likely. Here are some biographical facts about Austin:
Born Dec. 19, 1852, Sullivan County, PA
Died Oct. 14, 1927, Sullivan County, PA
Father: John Molyneus Warburton (1805-1874)
Mother: Hannah Clara Mullan (1809-1897)
Spouse: Lydia Alice Lorah Warburton (1860-1925)
Children: -Carrie E. Warburton (Jan. 18, 1879-
-William A. Warburton (Jan. 4, 1886-
-Bertha E. Warburton (Dec. 29, 1894-
Siblings:-Charles Mullan Warburton (1831-1903), buried Greenwood Cemetery, Creighton, Knox County, NE;
married T. Cordelia Knapp
-Angeline Warburton Wilber (1833-1905), buried Shunk, PA; married Reuben Daniel Miller
James A.Warburton (1835-1907), buried Franklin Bethel Cemetery, Franklin, Lycoming County, PA; married Ruth D. Swisher
-Elizabeth Ann Warburton Boyles (1837-1915), buried Estella, Sullivan County, PA; married William W. Boyles
-Alfred J. Warburton (1841-1885), buried Hillsgrove, Sullivan County, PA; married Margaret Chrisman
-Martha Jane Warburton Porter (1842-1910), buried Mount Hope Cemetery (unmakred grave), San Diego, CA; married John P. Porter. Their final years spent near Encinitas, CA, near where this album was
acquired by Suzanne Metheny's father.
-Cyrus Sadler Warburton (1845-1912), buried Hillcrest Cemetery, Sonestown, Sullivan County, PA; married Adeline Boyles
-Walter Warburton (Mar. 30, 1849-Aug. 17, 1898), buried Hillsgrove, Sullivan County, PA; married Clara Lorah
Note: Alice Lydia Lorah Warburton, Austin's wife, had a sister Matilda Lorah Rozell, wife of Richard Rozell.
The album itself has entries as early as the 1860s, and quite possibly the 1850s. It also contains a newspaper clipping in the back which can be dated with certainty to 1957. So, someone made functional use of the
album up until at least 50 years ago. Moreover, since that newspaper clipping contains the obituary for a distant Warburton teenager's death in Binghamton, NY (more below), we have to believe that, despite the
geographical distances, some of the diverging Warburton branches remained in contact. Now let's take a look at the photos and tell you what we know as we go along. In each case, you can see a higher
resolution of the posted photo by clicking directly on the image.
The next two photos, after the initial image of Austin, show two children. The first is unlabeled but shows a baby seated on a chair, age between
one and two years old *. The absence of a backdrop means pre-1870. The square corners are also typical of that era. There is no stamp on the back so
the photo probably was not taken between 1864-1866. Is this the same boy as in shown in This Photo further along in the album?;
The second shows a young child dressed in red. "Mary Rozell" written in pencil on the Back Side. How were the Rozelles related to the
Warburtons? It turns out that Alice Lydia (Lorah) Warburton had several sisters.
One, Clarissa ("Clara") Lorah, married Walter Warburton, a brother of Austin Warburton. So, sisters,
Clara and Lydia Lorah, married brothers Walter and Austin Warburton. Yet another sister, Matilda Lorah, married a Civil War veteran, Richard
Rozelle, in 1871. Richard (1843-1892), son of Chalres and A. Jane Rozelle, lost
three fingers in a woodchopping accident while on duty during the Civil War. From the time of their marriage through 1880, they lived in
Franklin Township, Lycoming County, PA. From 1881 through 1891, he is listed in the
city directory for Scranton, Lackawanna County, PA. They had at least six children before Richard died in 1892. He was buried at Richarts Grove Cemetery, Jordan Township,
Lycoming County, PA, five miies east of Franklin Township. The six children known to have been born to Richard and Matilda (Lorah) Rozelle were all born in the 1880s, however, so the child
shown here as "Mary Rozell" can hardly be one of their children. None of the six were named Mary anyhow, and even if there was a younger unnamed child who was born and died in the
1870s, this photo was likely taken up to a decade before then. Joyce Ingerson suggests that the photo may show a sibling of Richard Rozelle instead, and have been taken perhaps earlier in the 1850s. This is
just an educated guess, however.
* Editor's Note: Joyce proposes that this child may be Morris Warburton, age 15 months, son of Charles and Cordelia (Knapp) Warburton. He was the
very first grandchild of John Molyneux and Hannah Clara (Mullan) Warburton. This occurrence would be a powerful reason for inclusion in a family
photo album.
 
Unnamed Child and Mary Rozell
Second Photo Taken After 1871 and
Before 1892
Likely Child of Richard and Matilda (Lorah) Rozelle
Photos Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photos to see enlarged versions.
The next image shows the front and back of a photo of "Edie" *; we cannot decipher the surname or perhaps middle name that follows "Edie"
on the reverse of the photo. The subject does appear to be a male. The absence of a backdrop is indicative of a date before 1870.
* Editor's Note: Joyce Ingerson proposes that this photo shows Robert Edgar ("Edie") Warburton (1868-1944), son of James A. and Ruth (Swisher) Warburton. She also notes that the
fringed chair in the preceding photo may be identical to the one shown in this photo. So, both photos may have been taken at the same time or not too far apart and in
the same studio..
 
Edie
Photo Taken in the 1870s at the Joseph Jeanes Studio
637 Hamilton Street, Allentown PA
Photos Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photos to see enlarged versions.
We do know that the photo was taken at the well-known Joseph Jeanes
Studio on Hamilton Street in Allentown, PA. Their label is shown on the back of the photo. We also know that the photo was taken between 1869 and 1874. Joseph founded the studio in 1869 but gave up ownership to his son Edmund D. Jeanes in 1874. The Jeanes Studio operated until 1913 and was
responsible for several hundred thousand photo negatives taken during its tenure. In short, those images are a pictorial history of
Allentown and surrounding communities for fifty years. We don't know for sure if "Edie" actually lived in Allentown, nearby Bloomsburg or some
other Pennsylvania community that the Warburtons frequented.
The next photo, processed on metal, shows a boy and girl in an image that has been artifically lightened from the album original.
You can click HERE to see the actual original.
Are these Rozelle children? We don't know. We do know that there were both boys and girls in the Rozelle family. We also know that the family of origin for Richard Rozelle lived in Danville, Montour County, in 1860, and that some of the chldren in that
family eventually lived in Lackawanna County, PA. Another point,
made by Lynn Franklin, is that this girl seems to be the same person as the woman in the following album photo-- of the couple taken in Canton, PA. The use of a backdrop, as provided for this photo, began
in the 1870s. The girl may also be a younger version of the woman on the right in This Photo from further along in the album.
Boy and Girl
Undated Photo
Possibly Rozelle Children Based on Facial Features of Girl *
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on
the photo to see an enlarged version.
* Editor's Note: In contrast, Joyce Ingerson thinks these subjects look more like Lorah family members.
The reader can form their own opinion. However, Joyce proposes that they are . Daniel Lorah, born in 1848, who looks age 10 or 11,
along with his younger sister, probably Matilda Lorah, born in 1852, age 8, or even Clara Lorah, age 7 . There is Another Photo of this young
male shown below, where he is sitting in a fringed chair.
Next comes the photo of a couple that was taken in Canton, Bradford County, PA at the B. L. Wright Studio, as shown on
the photo's Back Side. Bernard L. Wright was a local
businessman who also ran a hotel on Troy Street in Canton at the end of the 19th century. Canton was not a great distance from Overton
or Forks, in Bradford and Sullivan County, respectively,
where members of this Warburton line were known to have lived. However, we don't know who this couple * is at this time. As mentioned above,
Lynn believes this woman is the same person as the girl in the preceding photo. She also suggests that the style of the dresses would place the photo date between 1878-1884.
* Editor's Note: Austin Warburton and Lydia Lorah married in 1879; Joyce proposes that this is their wedding photo. Since Joyce suggested Lydia Lorah as a possible identifiction for the girl in
the preceding photo, and since Lynn believes that girl and the woman shown in this photo are the same person, we appear to have independently confirming comments for this
suggestion by Joyce. Perhaps the photo was taken and sent to Martha (Warburton) Porter, Austin's older sister, who was traveling between Iowa and Cheyenne, Wyoming at this time. Recall that Martha is Joyce's alternative candidate for
the ownership and preservation of this album..
Unidentifed Couple
Taken in Canton, PA
Undated Photo
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on
the photo to see an enlarged version.
The immediately next photo in the album is shown below. The man closely resembles the man in the last photo, making us wonder if he
is the same person or perhaps a brother. The woman seems to be different, however, although she does resemble the woman in This Photo, from further along in
the album. * According to Lynn Franklin, the woman's dress can be dated to the 1877-1879 period. An image
of a Flower was included
in the album with this photo. Is it a memento from a
wedding or perhaps a birthday celebration or gift?
* Editor's Note:Joyce proposes that this is the wedding photo for Walter Warburton and Clara Lorah.
Unidentified Couple
Venue Unknown
Photo Can Be Dated to 1877-1879 by Style of Woman's Dress
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see enlarged version.
A boy appears in the next photo, which, as indicated on its Back Side, was taken in Bloomsburg, Columbia County, PA at the H. Rosenstock Studio.
Justus Heinrich ("Henry") Rosenstock was a photographer listed in the Bloomsburg Federal Census from 1860 through 1880, then later appears in
the 1900 Federal Census in Philadelphia. He was born in Germany in 1829; his wife, Frederika, also German by birth, was born in 1833. They emigrated
to the United States in 1849 and were living in Bloomsburg at the time of the Civil War. As indicated above, Joyce Ingerson believes this is
Daniel Lorah. Lynn reports that the absence of a background in the photo suggests a pre-1870 image, and we do know that Rosenstock was in business there
in the 1860s.
Unidentified Boy
Photo Taken in Bloomsburg, PA
Date Unknown But Likely Pre-1870
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see enlarged version.
The following photo shows another couple, and was also taken in Canton, PA, as indicated on the Back Side. The card is numbered "2536" in handwriting. Per Lynn,
the man looks a lot like the men in the Previous Canton Photo and The Couple shown right after that photo. However, he looks older. Is it the same man, or perhaps his
father? Cousins? The woman's dress and hair appear dateable to the 1870s. There is a Bust Shot of a woman shown further below that looks like this woman. Are they the same person?
Joyce Ingerson speculates that just possibly this couple may be Richard Rozelle and his wife, Matilda Lorah. We know he was noticeably older than his
wife, so this is an educated guess.
Unidentifed Couple
Taken in Canton, PA
Undated Photo
Male Subject May Be the Same Man as Pictured in
Prior Photos Shown Above
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on
the photo to see an enlarged version.
Now comes a standing woman. The photo was produced on a metal background, which likely dates it to the late 1860s or very early 1870s. Once again, we don't know who she is or where this photo
was taken. There is a family Photo towards the end of this page with two men and two women shown. Lynn suggests that the woman on the right may be the same
as the "standing" woman shown here. They both have light eye coloration. Joyce Ingerson suggests this could be Adeline Boyles (August 1851-October 15, 1919), wife of
Cyrus Warburton.
Unidentifed Standing Woman
Unknown Venue
Can Be dated to Late 1860s or Very Early 1870s
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on
the photo to see an enlarged version.
Now comes one of the more puzzling mysteries in the album: a photo of what appears to be approximately ten-year
old female twins. There is Another Photo down the page of what may be the same girls as young adults. We guess it might be possible these are just sisters very close in age and resembling one another,
but more than likely these are twins. But whose twins?!! We can find no Warburton or Lorah twin girls in the era of this album, and Richard and Matilda (Lorah) Rozelle are not listed with
twin children either. There IS an Edwin and Salatha (Harris) Rozelle in the 1880 Federal Census for
Oswayo, Potter County, PA. They actually moved there from Tioga County, where Edwin was born and where the
town of Canton, PA is located. Canton is where several of the album photos were taken. Coincidence? We don't know. However, Edwin and Salatha did have two
sets of twin girls, one of which was more or less the right age for the girls shown in this photo. Lynn estimates the date of the photo as the early to middle 1860s, based on
dress, hair, and cut of the photo card corners. The question still remains--who are these girls and why are they in this album?
Unidentifed Twin Girls
About Age Ten
Likely the Same Women are Shown as
Young Adults Further Down This Page
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on
the photo to see an enlarged version.
The next photo shows Mary S. Warburton or perhaps Mary Swank. What makes us think so? Well, the Back Side has
a handscrawled "Mary S Warb..." on it. Lynn wonders if the name might
be "Mary Swank..", There was a Mary Alice Swank, born in Shrewsbury, Lycoming County in 1845, for example, and Swank was a common name in the Davidson area of southeastern Sullivan County. However, the Warburtons seeingly
presented in this album lived in Franklin Township. Lycoming County, south of Davdison and on the other side of North Mountain. Bob was initially skpetical and
felt strongly that in this album, with a Warburton theme, the woman
shown here would be a Warburton. However, Joyce Ingerson has demonstrated the Swank connection * to the Warburton family, so perhaps we should lean to Mary Swank as the identify here. Lynn dates the photo to the 1860s based on the hairstyle and sleeves on the dress.
* Editor's Note: Joyce believes this person is Mary Swank, spouse of Wheeler George Chrisman. Mary Swank's mother,
Matilda Swisher, believe it or not, was a full sister to Ruth Swisher, wife of James Warburton, a brother to Austin. Also, Mary Swank was daughter of Henry Swank and Matilda Swisher. Mary Swank (23 Nov 1855- 13 Mar 1945) married about
1876 to Wheeler George Chrisman, son of George Chrisman and Rachel Green, whose graves are found in Hillsgrove Cemetery, Hillsgove, Sullivan County, PA.
Wheeler Chrisman's sister, Margaret Chrisman (16 Dec 1847-14 Apr 1933) married Alfred Warburton (04 Mar 1841- 20 Feb 1885), another son of John
Molyneux Warburton and Hannah Mullan and brother to James and Austin. Henry Swank was a local businessman who served as Justice of the Peace in Davidson Township in the late nineteenth century.
Mary S. Warburton
or Perhaps Mary Swank
Undated and No Venue Given
But Likely 1860s
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on
the photo to see an enlarged version.
Here, next in order from the album, is a photo of two women, one sitting, one standing, on metal.
Their dresses suggest a date in the early 1870s, as does their hair. The woman on the right is the same
as in this Photo shown
further down this page, and possibly the same as in these album photos shown further below: Photo One (on the left) and Photo Two.
The woman on the left is the same as in this Photo shown below. However, we have no identities at this time.
Two Women
No Venue Given
Early 1870s
These Women Appear in Other Album Photos
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on
the photo to see an enlarged version.
Our next entry in the album is a baby photo. The Back Side indicates that it was taken at
the same studio, Henry Rosenstock, as the photo of the unidentified young boy shown above.
Lynn states that the borders of the photo suggest a date range of 1864-1869. We have no idea who this baby might be.
Unidentified Baby
Suggested Date Range of 1864-1869
Taken in Bloomsburg, PA
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
An oval bust shot of a woman is our next album photo. We do not know who this woman is, but she does resemble the woman pictured
in three other images below:
Photo One (taken in Danville, PA),
Photo Two, Photo Three (seated woman).
Lynn particularly notes the similarity of the ears. Is it the same woman, or perhaps close relatives? The oval format
dates the photo to the 1870s.
Unidentified Woman
Oval Format Indicates Taken in the 1870s
Resembles Woman in
Several Other Album Photos
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
Now we come to another bust shot, processed on a metal surface, although not in an oval format. The young woman pictured here looks something
like the woman in two preceding photos: Photo One, Photo Two (taken in Canton). We have
no other clue to her identity.
Unidentified Young Woman
No Venue or Date
May Be the Subject in Other Album Photos
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
The two women in the next photo are standing behind what appear to be two textiles. They are standing on grass before a screen of some kind.
It would be reasonable to supposed that this photo was taken at a fair, for example, where these goods might have been exhibited. The photo was produced on a metal surface.
Lynn guesses the date to be in the 1890s, just going by the style of
clothing. We don't know who the women are. * However, we wonder if the woman shown on the left is
not the same as the woman in the Next Photo in the album as well
as Another Photo further along in the album. The woman on the right is the same woman as shown
in this Photo from earlier in the album. For that reason, perhaps this photo was also taken in Canton, PA, where the prior
photo was taken.
* Editor's Note: Joyce Ingerson strongly believes that this couple is Elizabeth Sarah Swisher (in white blouse) and her half-sister, Ruth D. Swisher (in plaid top).
Both were daughters of William Henry Swisher, by Drucilla Mills and Margaret Weilliver, respectively.
Joyce also notes that the Swisher family and their descendants prided themselves on their fine sewing arts.
Unidentified Women
Standing Behind Two Textiles
Subjects Seem to Appear
in Other Album Photos
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
The next photo, taken in Danville, PA, shows an unidentified couple. The photo was produced at the McMahan and Ireland Studio, as shown on the Back Side. The photographers
were Thomas M. McMahan (1829 - ), son of James and Margaret McMahan, of Scotch-Irish origin. He began to learn the art of photography and settled in Danville in 1865. In 1871, he went into business with James M. Ireland under the name of McMahan & Ireland.
Ireland, who was born in Northumberland County, PA in 1847, a son of John M. and Amanda (McMahan) Ireland, was also of Scotch- Irish descent. He was a Civil War Veteran.
So, the earliest this photo could have been made was 1871. The woman appears to be the same as the woman shown in several other album photos: for example,
the woman on the right in This Photo presented earlier , and the woman in This Photo, further down the page.
Unidentified Couple
Taken 1871 or Later
Danville, PA
The woman appears elsewhere in the album
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
A baby in an unidentified woman's arms is the subject of the next album photo. The Back Side shows that it was taken
in Reading, PA, at the George O. Bartlett Studio. Bartlett conducted business in Reading, Catawissa, Philadelphia and other locations in the 1860s,
both under his own name and as a partner in other
businesses, such as Bartlett and French and Bartlett, French and Smith.
Baby in Woman's Arms
Identities Unknown
Taken in Reading PA in the 1860s
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
Now comes what appears to be a mother with two daughters, one a child and one an older teenager (in back). They don't seem to resemble anyone
else in the album. Lynn suggests the 1870s as the time frame.
Woman With Two Daughters
Identities and Venue Unknown
Date Likely in the 1870s
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
The seated woman in the next photo is the same woman shown in two previous photos: First Appearance (seated on the right) and Second Appearance. Once again, the style and background indicate the 1870s.
Seated Woman
Identity and Venue Unknown
Date Likely in the 1870s
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
Our next image shows a woman and four children. We have no idea at all who these people are or when or where this photo was taken. The image was
processed on metal. Is there a resemblance between the mother and the photo of Mary S. Warburton (or "Swark") shown above?
Woman and Four Children
Identities Unknown
No Date or Venue Given
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
A group photo of two men and two women are the subjects of our next photo, which was taken in Bloomsburg, PA,
at the aforementioned Henry Rosenstock Studio. We don't know what relationship exists between these people, although they are very likely
family members in one way or another. The borders of the photo suggest a date range of 1864-1869. There is no stamp on the back, so that excludes the period from
1864-1866. The date is therefore most likely 1867-1869, when we know in fact that this studio was in operation in Bloomsburg. Are the couple on
the left the same as the couple in This Photo, appearing next in the album? They resemble each other, although the latter photo was
taken in Danville, PA. Also, the woman on the right looks like the woman in This Photo, already presented above.
Two Men and Two Women
Identities Unknown
Taken in Bloomsburg, PA
At the Henry Rosenstock Studio
Likely Taken Between 1867 and 1869
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
Now we turn to the photo of the couple mentioned above, that was taken in Danville, PA, at
the T. M. McMahan Studio. Thomas M. McMahan went into business in 1871 with James M.
Ireland, as detailed earlier on this page, after which the studio name was McMahan & Ireland. So, we can with confidence date this photo to
before 1871. Lynn believes the date was early in the 1860s. However, we don't really know anything else
about the subjects, except for their similarity to the couple on the left in the preceding album photo.
Unidentified Couple
Identities Unknown
Taken in Danville, PA
At the
Thomas M. McMahan Studio
Taken Before1871
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
The next photo shows two children, presumably siblings; the one on the left may be male. Once again, we have no idea who these children are.
The photo was produced on metal, and appears to have been taken offsite from the studio, given the plank flooring.
Unidentified Children
Child on Left May be Male
Identities and Venue Unknown
No Date Given
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
A woman and a young girl appear in the next photo. The woman seems to be one of the twins pictured Above as girls themselves, and Below
as adults. The photo is produced on metal. Other than the similarities mentioned, we still do not know who these people are.
Unidentified Woman and Female Child
Identities and Venue Unknown
Woman is One of Twins
Shown Elsewhere in the Album
No Date Given
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
The very next photo shows one of the same twin women presented together elsewhere in the album, with a man, presumably her husband. The photo
was processed on metal, possibly at the same time and location as
the Next Photo shown below. Otherwise, we know nothing more about this couple. If the photo of the twins as young girls can be dated to the early 1860s, then this photo and the next
would likely have been taken in the early to mid-1870s.
Unidentified Woman and Man
Identities and Venue Unknown
Likeey Married Couple
Woman is One of Twins Shown Elsewhere in the Album
No Date Given
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
Next comes the twins, apparently shown as young adults. Compare to the Earlier Photo of what we believe to be the same girls.
Female Twins as Young Adults
Identities and Venue Unknown
No Date Given
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
We now encounter five men in a photo processed on metal. We have no idea who they are. Is the man in the hat seated to the left the same man as the husband of one of the twins in the Photo of a Couple shown above?
Five Men
Identities and Venue Unknown
No Date Given
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
The next photo is a head and shoulders image of an unidentified young man. As per the Back Side, it was taken at the Samuel Byerly Studio in Sunbury, PA.
What do we know about this photographer and his studio? Samuel Byerly (1838-1923), son of Jacob and Sarah (Haas) Byerly, was a Civil War veteran of the 131st PA Infantry, Company E, and was crippled for life by a wound suffered at the Battle of
Fredericksburg. Byerly grew up in Danville, PA, where several of the other photos in this album were taken. He moved to Sunbury in 1865 after the war, His obituary states that
he was a then a photographer for "a short time". Then he went into the grocery business. He had married before his war service, had a large family,
and later became locally successful in the Sunbury community. Sunbury is 75 miles south of Canton, PA, but only 13 miles southwest of Danville. We mention those distances just to provide some
context. Elkland, where this Warburton family first settled in Sullivan County, is 12 miles southeast of Canton via country roads. Danville and
Bloomsburg, another venue for photos in this album, are only 9 miles apart. So, all these photos, to the best of
our knowledge, were taken within a 75 mile radius of one another, except for Reading which is a bit of an outlier, about 75 miles south of
Bloomsburg and the same distance southeast of Danville. So, while we cannot identify the subject of this photo, we
presume he was related to other subjects in this album. We also can date the photo to the late 1860s, based on Byerly's career.
Young Man
Identity Unknown
Photo Taken in Sunbury, PA
Taken Between 1865 and Early 1870s
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
Next in line is a damaged photo of a woman, with "E Warburton" inscribed on the Back Side. The condition of the photo makes it hard to determine the subject's age. Who might this be?
John Warburton and Mary Sadler had a duaghter named Elizabeth, but she died in 1849, well before
photography was available in this area. Their son John Molyneux Warburton and his wife Hannah Mullan ("Mullen") also had a daughter named Elizabeth Ann Warburton,
born in 1837, died in 1915. She married William Boyles and lived in Estella, Elkland Township, Sullivan County. She still shows up there in the Federal Census for 1880. She was a sister to Austin and Alfred Warburton. Finally, Jesse Warburton, a brother to John Molyneux Warburton, married Elizabeth Brown, thereby making her "Elizabeth Warburton". Which, if
any, of these "Elizabeths" is shown in this photo? We don't know. The "E" doesn't necessarily even have to stand for "Elizabeth". Finally, looking at the back side inscription, is there a small letter "w" in front of her name, perhaps indicating "wife"? If so, whose wife? Lynn proposes a date between 1860 and 1862 because there are no
borders on the photo.
E. Warburton
Might be One of Several Elizabeth Warburtons or Even Someone Else
Dated Between 1860-1862
Venue Unknown
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
A seated young man appears in the next photo, which Lynn also dates to the 1880s. We have no idea who he is. Perhaps he is
related to the woman in the preceding photo, just based on the time frame when the
image was made.
Seated Young Man
Likely Taken in the 1880s
Venue Unknown
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
The bust shot in the next photo shows a man whou could be someone we have already met in the ablum, or someone new. We don't know or can't tell. Lynn indicates that
this style of photo was common between 1860 and 1867.
Bust Image of a Man
Dated Between 1860-1867
Venue Unknown
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
The woman pictured in the next image has already appeared twice in the album:
Photo One and Photo Two. The borders and dress style suggest a date range of 1864-1869. That's all we know
at this time.
Unidentified Female
Dated Between 1864-1869
Venue Unknown
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
An older couple is shown in the next photo, which was once again taken at the Bernard Wright Studio in Canton, PA,
as indicated on the Back Side. We don't have any clues as to their identity, other than
that this Canton venue has been used before for earlier photos in the album.
Unidentified Older Couple
Date Unknown
Taken in Canton, PA
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
An intriguing couple appears in the next photo. Bob thinks the man resembles Austin Warburton, shown as a young man in the First Photo in this album. Lynn thinks the woman is the same
woman, although at different ages, as shown in two earlier photos: Photo One and Photo Two (woman on the right).
We have no proof, but suppose for a moment that
this is an older version of Austin with his wife, Alice Lydia Lorah, who is known to have been eight years younger than Austin. If
that were true, we might begin to have a clue as to who some of the other album subjects might be. It's just a hypothesis for now.
Unidentified Couple
Date and Venue Unknown
Subjects Resemble Parties in Earlier Photos in This Album
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
We now find a funeral photo of a child, identifed on the Back Side as "C. B. Rozell". Remember that
Matilda Lorah, an older sister of Alice Lydia (Lorah) Warburton, married Civil War veteran Richard Rozell(e) in 1871. If this is one of their children who died between the census periods of
1870 and 1880, then we wouldn't find him in the Federal Census of course. The handwritten inscription on the back says the child was "Aged 3 years 6 month(s) Two weeks and 4 days". The death date
has been marked over but seems to be October 9, 1875 or perhaps 1879. The family of Richard and Matilda (Lorah) Rozelle still lived in
Franklin Township, Lycoming County, PA in 1880 per the Federal Census. This small rural village is about ten
miles northwest of Bloomsburg and close to the intersecting borders of Sullivan, Lycoming and Columbia counties. No other information is available.
C. B. Rozell
Funeral Photo
Age 3 and 1/2
Died October 9, 1875 (9?)
Possibly Franklin Township, Lycoming County, PA
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
The last photo in the album is a badly damaged image of a woman with two children, one in her lap and a female standing behind her. It is impossible to tell anything more
from this photo.
Woman and Two Children
Damaged Image
No Additional Information Known
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
Placed in the back of the album was the newspaper clipping shown here. The clipping reports on the death of Yvonne "Bonnie" Warburton, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donald
Warburton of Binghamton, NY. Additonal research shows that Bonnie was born July 25, 1938 and died January 27, 1957. Her parents were Donald and Madge (Corson) Warburton (1914-1985). Donald Warburton (1909-1997)
was a son of Gordon Edward Warburton (1879-1963) and Jennie M. Streby (1882-1959). Gordon in turn was a son of Alfred J. and Margaret Ann (Chrisman) Warburton. Alfred J. Warburton (1841-1885) was an older brother of
Austin Warburton! The main point here is that someone in 1957 took the time and trouble to cut this clipping out and either send it to the album owner, or perhaps the album owner him or herself cut it out and put the obituary in the
back of the album. This transaction, as much as anything else, confirms that the album is closely connected to the Warburton family of Austin and his immediate relatives by blood or marriage. It also tells us that, as late as 1957, this album was
being used for some form of record keeping. These are only clues at this time.
Yvonne "Bonnie" Warburton
Great Granddaughter of Alfred J. Warburton
Obituary 1957
Binghamton, NY
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
Warburton Family Photo Album
Back Cover
Photo Contributed by Lynn Franklin
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
Copyright © 2015 Robert
E. Sweeney and individual Contributors. All Rights Reserved. Prior written
permission is required from Robert E. Sweeney and individual Contributors before
this material can be printed or otherwise copied, displayed or distributed
in any form. This
is a FREE genealogy site sponsored through PAGenWeb and can be reached directly
at ~Sullivan County Genealogy Project (http://www.rootsweb.ancestrycom/~pasulliv)
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