Who Were They?

Lost and forgotten photos from the past

This is a wonderful image of Minerva Walton Baker. You would think with a great name like Minerva it would not be too difficult to find her in genealogy websites, but the fact is, in Pennsylvania, there were both Minerva Bakers and Minerva Waltons. I can find several female children named Minerva Baker, and several …

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I am not really sure why I thought this fellow’s name was Conner Colter because looking at the handwriting now, it looks nothing like Conner Colter! Are those letters S or F or L or what? Fullner Falter? Saucener Salter? I really can’t make heads or tails of the handwriting. The photographer of this mystery …

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I found that this particular image is the portrait of Eugenio Luis Juan Jose Napoleon IV Bonaparte (1856-1879). The reverse of the card indicates “Prince Imperial” which was his official title. Known as Louis-Napoleon, he was the only child of Napoleon III, Emperor of France and Empress Eugenie. The prince relocated with his family from …

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Today’s image shows a younger middle aged man identified as Milton Farnsler or Fransler – I’m not 100% on either of these and could be convinced of something else. I say younger middle age because I’d guess he’s between 30-40. He has had time to grow in an impressive set of side whiskers, and his …

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