52 Photos Week 27: Independent

Question

This week's 52 Photos theme:

INDEPENDENT

To participate, simply:

1. reply below, and
2. add a photo that fits the theme to this week's free-space gallery.

If you use a social network (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) please share the photo there as well, using #52photos and #wikitree. This can be a great way to involve more family members. If you use a blog, include a link to your blog post in your answer below so we can all read it.

You don't need to participate every week to share a photo. But members who do participate every week can earn challenge badges. Click here for more info. If this is your first time participating and you don't have the participation badge, or if you pass a milestone (13 in 13, 26 in 26, 52 in 52) please post here.

For help with how to add photos, see here.

Answer 1

This is one of three photos of my grand aunt Nora Long that I found when I was about 14. It was in the abandoned homestead house of my great grandparents. I have treasured these photos for 60 years. It must have been taken about 1929. She left home at 17 and traveled as a dancer in vaudeville. Written at the bottom is: To Mama and Dad & all with love, Nora. This photo has always said to me: I am an independent woman, and I am doing fine, so do not worry about me.

 

Comments

Hello Alexis, I LOVE this photo! She looked amazing and I agree, she looked like an independent woman.

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Thank you Missy for your wonderful comment.

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Alexis your grand aunt look adorable I think I seen her before as a dancer, A wonderful photo you also share with us

Thank you for sharing another great photo

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Yes, Susan you have a good memory. It was Nora in the dance costume last year. Thank you for your great comment.

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What a lucky find!  Wow!  I wish I could find a box of photos!

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SJ, I remember that the photos were on the floor with papers all over the floor, since there was no furniture in the house. Now I wonder what kinds of records and letters were there. I was only interested in the photos. Thank you for your comment.

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What a glamorous lady. Thank you for sharing.

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Kaye, thank you for your comment. She would love it! She was such a fun to be with lady.

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ALexis, your grandmother is beautiful. She is such a beautiful woman, I am surprised that she didn't end up as an actress. She is dressed so now for back then.

Thank you for sharing, my friend.

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Thank you Cheryl, she was so fun. She would love your comment.

Answer 2

Raymer Cheese factory, independent family business.One of Ontario's earliest cheese factories. This was the original, a second was built in historic Unionville, Ontario and a third was in Stouffville, Ontario.

Left to right . Mina McCaffery, My Great, Great Grandmother, Christina Reesor Raymer, and my Great Grandfather Franklin H Raymer. Taken in 1908 in Box Grove Ontario. My Grandfather was born in this house. After the untimely death of Christina's husband, John Noble Raymer from Smallpox: my great grandfather and his mother did their best to keep the cheese Factory going as long as they could.

Comments

Thank you Ron for sharing such an interesting photo, glad you know so much about it and their cheese business. Bet, they made wonderful cheese.

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Great photo!  Yes, having your own business provides a lot of independence.  And a lot of work and responsibility too!

Answer 3

This is a photo of my very independent great grandmother, Alice R (Archer) Johnson. She and my great grandfather divorced in the 1940s and she never remarried (or lived with anyone). She only lived on the money she got from the government. Her son Paul, who I shared before, died in WWII. We were told she got some monthly money for the loss of her son. Even though she only worked as a young lady, she was a hardworking woman! She was a strong, independent, wonderful woman. I miss her. She died on December 26, 1979.

NOTE: Photo was taken around 1945 in Burlington, New Jersey.

Comments

Love the story, Missy!

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Hello Pip! Thank you so much. She was a tough lady! She has been gone for 40 years now, but never far from our hearts. 

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Thank you Missy for sharing your lovely great grandmother Alice. Sad that she lost her son Paul in WWII.

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What a lovely story.

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Thank you, Alexis and SJ. I appreciate your sweet comments.

Answer 4

The tin type is labeled "Uncle Earl."  I expect he is a Swisher relative.  He is wearing a Spanish American War uniform and is posing before an American Flag.  

Thank-you to our military past and present for securing the freedoms we enjoy every day.

Comments

Great photo Jennifer, thank you for letting us know that it is a tin type—that gives a better idea about the age of the photo.

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My Swedish great-great-uncle was a veteran of the Philippine-American war (commenced just at the end of the Spanish-American war).  I found that our "Uncle Ed" was Anton Edward.  So if you're looking for Uncle Earl, don't discount if the first name is off, he might use his middle name.

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Great comment.  Thank you for widening my awareness.

Answer 5

Sandy and Dottie Wintermute, my grandmother and great-aunt, two independent women around the time they worked together at Wright Field to contribute to the war effort during WWII.  My grandparents would later go on to independently own and operate their own orange grove.  Entrepreneurship ran in the family, as my grandma's parents ran their own antique dealership after moving to Florida.

Comments

What a lovely photo - I love the fashion styles and the car - it really looks like a WWII era photo!  What a treasure!

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Thank you very much!

Answer 6

I'm a little late to the party this week!

When American became an independent country from England a lot of (our) American ancestors participated in the independence struggle.  When I was researching my 5th great-grandfather Joseph Mullins (1739 - aft. 1840), I discovered that he was a Revolutionary War soldier.  As I dug further and found documentation of his service, on one document the name General George Washington stood out:

I subsequently discovered that Joseph served under General Washington and that he was at the Seige of York and was present when Lord Cornwallis surrendured.  This battle was the turning point in the war that led to American victory and Independence.

Comments

SJ, thank you for sharing Patriot Joseph Mullins and the great profile you have done for him.

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That is wonderful! Thank you for sharing that great story.

Answer 7

This is a photo of my very independent Great Grandmother  Nancy E Miller at age 82.  Born in 1885, she married in 1906, had my Grandfather in November of 1906 and lost her husband in August 1907 in an explosion in a hardware store.  She never remarried, raising my Grandfather by herself and lived to be 99 years old.  

Comments

Thank you David for sharing the story of your lovely great grandmother, who certainly does not look her age. To become a widow in 1907 and never remarry—she had to have been a strong lady.

Answer 8

When my great grandmother, Blanche Willis Deane Dawson's (Deane-1138) husband died in 1898, Blanche found herself "independent" with four young children to raise. Her son, Arthur Deane Dawson, went to work at age 9 to keep the family independent. When her parents passed away, she inherited a large house in Brooklyn, New York, USA because she needed it. This was another factor that kept the family independent. 

Comments

Marion, I have read your biography, and you are certainly an amazing and strong woman. You must have inherited some of your personality from your beautiful and independent great grandmother.

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Hello Alexis, Thank you for your kind words and your great contributions to WikiTree.

Answer 9

My Grandmother in 1900, she was a very independent woman, ran businesses, and charity works as well as raising 11 children. She even stood for parliament as an independent candidate! 

Comments

Christine, thank you for sharing your photo of your fabulously dressed and beautiful grandmother. She certainly was remarkable and with 11 children!

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Very nice photo.

Answer 10

My great grandmother Marie Anne Elisabeth Houbé in France, who lost her husband during WW2, and who raised her youngest children with courage.

Comments

Thank you Isabelle for sharing your great grandmother Marie with us. So very tragic that she did not have her husband to help her raise the children; the one she is holding is certainly dear. The ducks in the background remind me of France.

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How sad yet inspiring!  Great photo!

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Thank you!

Answer 11

This reminds me of a story that used to bring laughter to many of my family members.

My Great-Great-Grandmother, Catherine "Kate" Mumma-Omelia (1848-1935) was often referred to as being a very stubborn lady.

She would really take it personally and get a little upset ... she responded that she wasn't stubborn ... she claimed to just be a strongly 'Independent" sole.

Below is a photo of her ... she really looks like a stubborn lady ... the photo was taken about 1930.

Comments

Stubborn in a synonym for determined  .

Answer 12

My 2nd great-grandmother Lavinia Jane "Jennie" (Eley) Roberts in Montana about 1910. She is my favourite ancestor!

Answer 13

I have always loved this photo of my GGM, GM, and two great aunts.  The look of independence and confidence in the faces of the young women contrasts with the stoic look of their elder.  

Answer 14

Independent:  https://www.wikitree.com/photo/png/D-312

Answer 15

52 Photos Week 27: Independent

Mark Atherton came to Momence in 1851, and he built one of the most beautiful homes at that time in Momence. 

Everyone knows that the United States wanted to be Independent from England, and it gained its independence on July 4, 1776.

On July 4, 1890 the early settlers of Momence, Walter B. Hess, (my husband's gg grandfather) W.D. Lane, Lorenzo Edwards, Mr. Hatten, and Capt. Jacob Ruger, along with other unknown people in this picture gathered in front of Mark Atherton's house to celebrate 114 years of Indepence. What proud, hard working people they were back then.

Comments

Thank you Cheryl for sharing another great photo. The men with drums are wonderful, and the ribbons they are wearing would be very interesting to know what is on them.

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Thank you, Alexis, again. I just can't get enough of old pictures. The band was called "The Coronet Band". Do not know why. Something I haven't researched. My husband's gg grandfather towered over 7'. He and his brother were quite tall and stood out in any pictures taken back then. xxx

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That is interesting that your great grandfather was over 7’ tall, especially when I have toured old homes and the beds are often shorter. Oh, and I just now remembered to vote. xxx