William & Helen LaPoint - Ottumwa, Iowa

In my search for William and Helen La Point, I didn't find much information … but I do have lots of pictures.

William La Point was born March 24, 1860 in Hampton, Rock Island County, Illinois.  His father, Peter La Point was French Canadian; his mother, Emeline Lee was born in Connecticut.

On Dec. 23, 1880 William La Point married Helen Freed, the daughter of Benjamin Olson and Johanna Anderson (North) Freed, in Moline, Rock Island Co., IL.

Helen Freed was born Oct. 6, 1861 in Geneseo, Henry County, Illinois.

In 1887 Mrs. William La Point opened the Paris Millinery Store at 319 E. Main Street in Ottumwa, Iowa.

And had 3 children …

1. Verona Dell La Point (Peters) born Sept. 13, 1890 Ottumwa, Wapello, Iowa
2. Juanita Rene La Point (Burgess) born  Apr. 6, 1893 Ottumwa, Wapello, Iowa
3. Euphrates “Tate” La Point born Sept. 22, 1895 Ottumwa, Wapello, Iowa

These little booklets; Historical Evolution of Woman's Head Wear, were souvenirs for patrons.

This one, published by Mrs. Wm La Point, Ottumwa, Iowa. © 1895 by Rand, McNally and Co., seems to indicate that Mrs. La Point had her shop open until at least 1895.

Helen La Point died Dec. 14, 1940 in Hedrick, Keokuk Co., Iowa at age 79.

William La Point lived to be 92; he died Feb. 27, 1953 in Ottumwa, Wapello Co., Iowa.

Ellen Louise (Foss) Andrews

Ellen Louise Foss was born Sept. 7, 1839 in Elmore, Lamoille, VT., the 7th of eleven children born to Luther Foss, a farmer and his wife, Minea Atwood (Andrews) Foss. 

I believe this photograph was taken in 1867.  Ellen would have been 28 at the time, married 9 years, with 2 young sons.

A young woman in the 1860s, she looked the epitome of a pioneer woman as she gazed off into the distance; the Civil War years barely behind her.

Strong, stoic, practical.

Ellen Foss was well acquainted with loss.  

In  Feb. 1844, when she was 4 ½ years old, her younger sister Martha Ann died at age 2 ½ yrs.

A few years later Ellen lost another sibling, an older brother, Luther Hale, age 19, died July 21, 1848.

When Ellen was 19 she married her 1st cousin  Christopher Atwood Adams Andrews Jr. 22, of Scituate, Massachusetts.  They were married on July 31, 1859 in Elmore, Lamoille, VT.  (Christopher’s father C. A. A. Andrews Sr. and Ellen’s mother, Minea Atwood Andrews were brother and sister, the eldest son and daughter of William Andrews and Thankful Atwood).

For several years following their marriage Ellen and Christopher made their home in Massachusetts. Their first child, William Luther Andrews was born June 28, 1861 in Charlestown, MA, shortly after the start of the Civil War.

Christopher’s Civil War years remain a mystery.  I haven’t been able to find any record of him having served in the war, even though I was able to find three of his younger brothers, all serving in Co. A, 35th Reg’t, Massachusetts Infantry.  

• James Theodore Johnson Andrews, born June 14, 1843 in Massachusetts. He enlisted Aug. 9, 1862 as a private in Capt. S. H. Andrews, Co. A, 35th Reg’t,Massachusetts Infantry and died in camp from an overdose of chloroform, 6 months later on Feb. 4, 1863 near Falmouth VA., age 19 years. 

• William Baker Damon Andrews was born on April 10, 1842 in Newton, Massachusetts. He enlisted in Co. A., 35th Reg't of Massachusetts Volunteers as a private July 23, 1862; was promoted to Sergeant and killed in action.  He died of a gunshot wound to the neck September 30, 1864 near Petersburg, VA., age 22 years. 

• Reuben Snow Hayden Andrews, born Jan. 15, 1839 in Boston, MA.; enlisted August 2, 1862, in Co. A, 35th Reg't, Massachusetts Volunteers, later known as 35th Massachusetts Infantry and was discharged near Alexandria VA. June 9, 1865.

I haven’t been able to determine if Christopher fought in the war or remained in Massachusetts but I did find the answer to one question I had.

I wanted to know if  Capt. S. H. Andrews, Co. A., 35th Massachusetts Infantry and Reuben S. H. Andrews, Co. A., 35th Massachusetts Infantry were the same person.

When I purchased Ellen’s tintype, there was a cdv up for auction signed "Capt. S. H. Andrews, 35th Mass." and he was identified in the description of Ellen, as her brother.

This is not the same photograph that was auctioned. It is a photograph of Capt. S. H. Andrews that is held by the Wilson Creek National Battlefield and is used with their permission.

(Capt. S.H. Andrews WICR 31860) in the collection of Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. 
 Image courtesy of the National Park Service.

A search proved Ellen didn’t have a brother named S.H Andrews but she did have a brother-in-law, Rueben S. H. Andrews.

Were they the same man?

They were not, but Reuben Snow Hayden Andrews and Stephen H. Andrews, son of Stephen Snow Andrews were related.

Pvt. Rueben S. H. Andrews and Capt. S. H. Andrews, were cousins.  How distant is for someone with more patience than me to unravel … their grandfather’s were brothers.

Capt. Stephen H. Andrews was born in Massachusetts, Nov., 1835.  His father, Stephen Snow Andrews, died when he was young and in 1845 his mother Rebecca married Moses Dill.  In 1850, Stephen, 14 and his sister Rudencia, 12 were living in the combined household of their step-father Moses Dill, a trader, and their mother Rebecca, but by age 16, Stephen was living on his own and supporting himself working as a store clerk.

In March 1857 Stephen, age 21, arrived in Leavenworth, KS, bought a team and wagon and settled on Smoky Hill, 7 miles above Ft. Riley where he cleared the timber, built a cabin, and began improvements to the land.

"But his sympathies were strong on the side of the Union" and at the start of the Civil War, in May 1861 he enlisted as first sergeant in Co B, 2nd Kansas Infantry.  His first experience of an important battle was at Wilson’s Creek, Aug. 10, 1861.  He mustered out Oct. 31, 1861 and was honorably discharged.

In  Dec. 1861 he returned to Massachusetts, where he was authorized by the governor to raise a company and became captain of Co. A, 35th Massachusetts Infantry, his commission dating from Aug. 1, 1862.

This would be about the time his cousins; Reuben, William and James enlisted.

Capt. S. H. Andrews and his men took part with the Army of the Potomac, in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg.   During the Battle of Antietam Andrews was wounded and never fully recovered.  In the spring of 1863 he took part in the siege of Vicksburg.  He resigned his commission April 24th, 1863, owing to the impairment of his health by the hardships of army life, and returned to Kansas.

Reuben, the only one of the three Andrews brothers in the 35th Reg't to survive the war, was discharged near Alexandria, Virginia and returned to his parents home in Massachusetts.

In the 1865 census Christopher and Ellen are living in Charlestown, MA. with their 4 yr. old son William.  Christopher’s occupation is shown as house painter.  On August 22, 1865 Ellen gave birth to their second son, Theodore Foss Andrews.

A few days after her son's birth, on August 27, 1865, Ellen’s brother, Benjamin Perry Foss, a 29 yr. old farmer in Hyde Park died of typhoid fever.

November, 1866 was a month for marriages.

On Nov. 15, 1866 Christopher’s brother Reuben married Lucy Hayden in Scituate, Massachusetts.

And on Nov. 23, 1866 Ellen’s youngest sister Cordelia A. Foss married John Foss, who had served in Co. M, Vermont 11th Heavy Artillery.

The following year, in 1867 Ellen and Christopher moved with their 2 young sons from Charlestown, Massachusetts to Wolcott, Vermont.

I think Ellen’s photograph and the previous one of Cordelia were taken around this time; after Ellen and Christopher moved to Vermont in 1867 and before the death of Ellen’s 18 year old sister Cordelia Foss on February 26, 1868.

In 1869 Ellen and her family moved again, this time to North Hyde Park, Vermont where three more children were born.

Charles Christopher Andrews b. Mar. 5, 1870 Hyde Park, Lamoille, VT
Bertha Louise Andrews b. Mar. 25, 1873 Hyde Park, Lamoille, VT
Orton Grant Andrews b. Jan. 27, 1879 Hyde Park, Lamoille, VT

Christopher and Ellen lived in North Hyde Park, Vermont until 1886.

From 1886 - 1907 they lived in  Hyde Park, Massachusetts.

In 1893 their son Charles Christopher (23) married  Mary Elizabeth Irving and in 1895 son Theodore Foss Andrews (29) married Mabel Spencer but for the most part Christopher and Ellen’s children don’t appear to have been eager to leave the nest.

The 1900 census shows son William 38, daughter Bertha 27 and son Orton 21, all still living at home.  William’s occupation, like his father’s is painter / paper hanger.  Orton is a clerk.

Christopher A. A. Andrews died January 13, 1904 at the age of 67 yrs. 1 mo. 26 days in Hyde Park, Massachusetts. His cause of death was cardiac dilatation, a condition, his doctor noted, he’d had for several years.

Ellen Louise (Foss) Andrews
Born:  September 7, 1839   Elmore, Lamoille, VT
Died:  December 1, 1907  19 Winslow St., Hyde Park, MA
Age:  68 yrs.  2 mos. 24 days
Cause of Death:  Primary: Atherosclerosis /  Contributory: Acute Indigestion
Burial:  Fairview Cemetery Boston

Sources:
Massachusettes Soldiers, Sailors & Marines in the Civil War

familysearch.org

Trans-Mississippi Theater Photo Archive

Portrait and Biographical Record of Leavenworth, Douglas and Franklin Counties, Kansas

Corilla / Cordelia Foss

Corilla / Cordelia A. Foss was born April 29, 1849 in Elmore, Lamoille, VT.   The youngest of the 11 children of farmer, Luther Foss (1799 - 1879) and his wife, Minea Atwood (Andrews) Foss (1806 - 1880)

Early census records indicate that when Cordelia was living in her parents household she was identified as Corilla.  Later records, after her marriage, show her name as Cordelia.  

For the sake of consistency and because the tintype I have identifies her as Cordelia, I will refer to her as Cordelia.

Cordelia’s ten older siblings were:

• Mina Amelia Foss (1826 -1896)
• William Andrews Foss (1827-1893) 
• Luther Hale Foss (1829 - 1848) died at age 18 and before Cordelia was born
• Thankful Atwood Foss (1831 -1900) 
• Harriet Malvina Foss (1833 - 1908) 
• Benjamin Perry Foss (1835 - 1865).  A farmer in Hyde Park, he died at 29 of typhoid fever.  
• Ellen Louise Foss (1839-1907) whose tintype was found with Cordelia’s will be the subject of a separate blog. 
• Martha Ann Foss (July 4, 1841 - Feb. 9, 1844) died at age 2 yrs. 7 mos.  
• Mary Jane Foss (1843 - 1926)
• George Washington Foss (1846 - 1930)

Cordelia A. Foss (17)  married John Merrill Foss (21) on Nov. 25, 1866.  John, the son of William & Mary A. (Fellows) Foss was born in Whitefield, NH, Dec. 1, 1844 and served his country during the Civil War, being a member of Co. M, 11th VT. Heavy Artillery.

His record … according to various sources, list his service as …

Foss, John M., age: 18, cred.  Eden, VT; service: enl 9/1/63, m/i 10/7/63, PVT, Co. M, 11th VT INF, pr SGT 11/29/63, red 1/11/64, pr Hospital Steward 1/1/65, m/o 8/25/65

1st Regiment, Vermont Heavy Artillery
Side: Union
Company: A,M
Soldier‘s Rank In: Private
Soldier‘s Rank Out: Corporal

My original information said that Cordelia and John were cousins and because both of their last names were Foss, it did seem likely but I haven't been able to find the connection.

Cordelia’s older sister Ellen (Foss) Andrews (who did marry her 1st cousin, C. A. A. Andrews) moved from Charlestown, MA to Wolcott, VT in 1867.

The tintypes I purchased of Cordelia and Ellen were taken at E. N. Porter’s New Gallery, Morrisville, VT.  The  embossed design on the sleeves is identical, making me think they were taken at the same time, possibly as early as Nov. 1866 when Cordelia and John were married but more likely in 1867 after Ellen moved back to Vermont and before Cordelia‘s death in February of 1868.

Which would make Cordelia and Ellen about 18 and 28 years old at the time these photographs were taken.

I wasn't able to uncover any information as to Cordelia’s cause of death.  I did find mention of her in the obituary for her husband, John Merrill Foss, who remarried later the same year.   He married Harriet Louise Masure of Concord, N.H. on Dec.1, 1868 (his 24th birthday), and to their union were born six children, three of whom died young and three who survived to adulthood.

The Morrisville Messenger obituary, dated April 16, 1910 describes John Merrill Foss (65) as “very well known hereabouts, having been a resident of this town since 1894, coming from North Hyde Park, and having acted as traveling salesman and school teacher in different towns in the county.”

But of Cordelia herself and a life that spanned a mere 18 years, there is very little to mark her time on this earth ...

Cordelia A. Foss
Born Apr. 29, 1849 Elmore, Lamoille, Vermont
Married John Merrill Foss on November 25, 1866
Died Feb. 26, 1868, age 18 years, Morristown, Lamoille Co. VT

Andrews & Foss

These two tintypes were from the same seller.  Both young women, both identified and both in identical embossed sleeves that bore the same photographer's name and city.

I had an idea they were related.

Ellen Andrew’s listing mentioned she was the sister of a Capt.
S(tephen) H. Andrews, whose image was also up for auction.

I looked for Capt. Andrews and found a cabinet photo of a Union soldier, signed S.H. Andrews Capt. 35th Mass.  The bidding had only begun and already Capt. Andrews was out of my league.  I filed his information away for future reference and purchased the tintypes.

I started my search with Cordelia Foss.  The back of her photo said she was the daughter of Luther Foss and the wife of John M. Foss and she died young.

And it turned out she was the daughter of Luther Foss and the wife of John Foss and she did die when she was only 18.  But her name wasn’t Cordelia … it was Corilla.

And Corilla and Ellen were indeed related.  They were sisters, born 10 years apart.  

In Corilla’s listing she was described as the 1st wife and COUSIN of John M. Foss and because they shared the same last name, it did seem likely … only it wasn't … at least not in the 4 generations I checked.

But older sister Ellen DID marry her first cousin … Chistopher Atwood Adams Andrews.

Only Ellen didn't have a brother named S. H. Andrews.  Her brothers were William Andrews, Luther Hale, Benjamin Perry and George Washington FOSS …

but her husband Christopher DID.

He had a brother, Rueben Snow Hayden Andrews, Co. A, 35th Reg’t, Mass.

I wonder if he was a Captain?

Mrs. Larimer, Lady Photographer

The subject of this tintype continues to confound me.
Why is there a small sticker on the back that says Carrie Nation?
I can find no indication that Carrie Nation was ever in Allen County. In fact, in one comment taken from the 1901 History of Allen County, it seems it was the sincere hope of some that Carrie Nation never have occasion to visit Allen County.

In the History, when speaking of lawyer George Amos it states he was elected county attorney, at “... a time when it was thought to be the proper thing for county attorneys to see to it that laws were enforced and Amos did see to it in such a fashion that Mrs. Nation would have no occasion to visit Allen County.”

The subject in my photograph is a young woman, head resting on her hand, staring off into space.   She isn’t particularly pretty or animated.  Her identity remains a mystery.

But who took the photograph isn't a mystery.  The reverse clearly states “Mrs. Larimer’s Photograph Rooms.”

A lady photographer in the 19th century?  I was intrigued.

And Mrs. Sarah Larimer, wife of William J. Larimer turned out to be a very interesting woman.

Sarah Luse was born circa 1836 in Mercer Co. Pennsylvania.  The daughter of Jonathan Luse and Sarah Elwood Luse.

On April 15, 1856 Sarah Luse married William Jackson Larimer.

The Larimer’s only child, Frank Eugene was born in Mercer Co., PA, January of 1857.

Two years later, in 1859 the family started west.  After living in Iowa for a time they settled in Iola, Allen Co. Kansas.

It appears Sarah Larimer operated a gallery in Iola prior to 1864.  In the book “Pioneer Photographers from the Mississippi to the Continental Divide” the authors state that, “It was probably during this period that she also owned Mrs. Larimer’s Gem and Photographic Rooms on Bridge Street in nearby Humboldt Kansas. “

Sarah’s husband William was a farmer.  He was commissioned a lieutenant of the Kansas Volunteers during the Civil War but was discharged for medical reasons.

In the Spring of 1864 Sarah, William and their 8 yr. old son, Frank joined a wagon train and set out for Montana Territory.  They took with them their photographic equipment as well as a large supply of gold watches and jewelry.

On July 12, 1864 at Little Box Elder Creeks, some 80 miles from Ft. Laramie, in present day Wyoming, a war party of Oglala Sioux fell upon the wagon train killing or wounding most of the men.  Fanny Kelly’s husband was the only one to escape injury.  Sarah’s husband was shot in the leg with an arrow and crawled off into the bushes to hide.

Sarah and her son, along with Fanny Kelly and Fanny's 5 year old niece were taken hostage by the Sioux.

Fanny would later say that after the initial attack, Sarah was forced to stand by and watch as the Indians destroyed her photographic equipment.  She claimed that this destruction so upset Sarah that the Oglala headman threatened to kill her and it was only Mrs. Kelly’s pleading with the chief that saved Mrs. Larimer’s life.

On the second night of their capture Sarah and her son were able to escape.  Fanny and Mary did not fare so well.  5 year old Mary died within days of their capture.  Fanny would remain a captive for 5 months.

Sarah and Frank were reunited with William shortly after their escape, at Camp Collins in Colorado Territory, where William was recovering from his arrow wound.

In Sept. 1864 the Larimers made their way to Fort Laramie where they borrowed enough money to order new photographic equipment from Leavenworth, Kansas.  Two months later the camera and supplies arrived and Sarah and William went into the ambrotype business at the fort until April 1865.

Once William completely recovered, the family moved to Denver, Colorado where William and Sarah established a gallery on Larimer St.

After Denver the family moved on to Julesburg, Colorado. In May 1866 William paid a occupational tax as a photographer.  The Larimers remained in Julesburg until at least 1867.

By 1868 the Larimers had moved to Sherman Station, a railroad stop between Laramie and Cheyenne, where Sarah operated a photographic gallery; ran a general store with her son Frank, and was a railroad tie and cord wood contractor for the Union Pacific Railroad. John Bratt, who sometimes supervised Mrs. Larimer’s wood cutting crews, remembered her as a “very bright, good, business woman” who aspired to become mayor of Sherman Station.

Around 1868, Fanny Kelly now widowed and with an infant son joined the Larimer’s in Sherman Station to work as a washerwoman.  

In 1870 Sarah Larimer published a book entitled The Capture and Escape or Life Among the Sioux.  When Fanny Kelly learned of the books publication she alleged the Larimer’s had plagiarized her manuscript.

In Oct. 1870, Fanny Kelly sued the Larimers for breach of contract in the district court of Allen Co., Kansas.  She alleged that in 1865 she and Sarah Larimer agreed that they would jointly prepare and publish a narrative of their captivity, but in 1869 the Larimers conspired to secrete the manuscript away and had it published as Sarah Larimer’s work alone, depriving Mrs. Kelly of her rightful share of the profits.

The Larimer’s and Mrs. Kelly continued to litigate the case until 1876 when the parties reached an out of court settlement.

Years of litigation didn't do much for their marriage but it did arouse in William Larimer an interest in law.  In the 1880 Census I find William separated from Sarah and practicing his new profession in Lead City in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

name: William J. Larimer
residence: Lead City, Lawrence, Dakota Territory
birthdate: 1828 birthplace: Pennsylvania, United States
relationship to head: Self
father's birthplace: Pennsylvania, United States
mother's birthplace: Pennsylvania, United States
race or color (expanded): White
ethnicity (standardized): American
gender: Male
martial status: Married
age (expanded): 52 years
occupation: Attorney At Law

Household Gender  Age  Birthplace
William J. Larimer   M 52   Pennsylvania
William G. Brown   M 38   Vermont

And I find Sarah was once again living in Humboldt, Kansas with her son Frank Larimer 22, attorney-at-law.  Sarah’s occupation is listed as photograph artist.

Which means I am no closer to dating my tintype.  It could have been taken prior to 1864, before they left Kansas or it could have been taken in the 1880’s after Sarah and her son returned to Kansas.

In 1888 Congress granted $5000 in compensation to Sarah for information she had given the army after her escape from the Oglalas.  At the time the check was issued she was residing in Tacoma, Washington.

In 1891 Sarah’s son Frank dies.

"District of Columbia Deaths and Burials, 1840-1964," Frank Eugine Larimer, 1891

name: Frank Eugine Larimer
gender: Male
burial date: 31 Mar 1891
death date: 29 Mar 1891
death place: District Of Columbia
age: 34
birth date: 1857
birthplace: Mercer Co., Pa.
occupation: Lawyer Also Clerk War Dep
race: White
marital status: Unknown
father's birthplace: Mercer Co., Pa.
mother's birthplace: Mercer Co., Pa.

In 1895 Sarah’s husband William Larimer dies.

"Iowa, Deaths and Burials, 1850-1990," Wm. J. Larimer, 1895

name: Wm. J. Larimer
gender: Male
burial date: 11 Jan 1896
burial place: Little Rock, Ark.
death date: 23 Dec 1895
death place: Little Rock, Ark.
age: 67
birth date: 1828
birthplace: Penn.
occupation: Lawyer
race: White
marital status: Married

By late 1904 Sarah Larimer was reportedly living in Oklahoma  but her subsequent story remains unknown. According to a message board at ancestry.com, the following can be found in the Vermillion Township Cemetery Book published in the 1980s by the Appanoose County Genealogical Society:

OAKLAND CEMETERY (Appanoose County, Iowa)

Section 6-Row 14

LARIMER: large stone
left side Wm. J. GAR Flt 1826-1894
right side Sarah Luse Larimer 1836-1913
Author-Artist Womans Relief Corps 1883
back Frank E. 1857-1891 only child
Footstones: Father, Son, Mother

Update 1/25/13
I found more on Mrs.Sarah Larimer's whereabouts after 1904 and her death at The Jerome Journal

William Morris - Silversmith, Daguerreian, Photographer, Farmer

I found this tintype in Missouri.  There were a couple of things about this particular one that struck me.  The image was clear and in beautiful shape and instead of being dressed in his Sunday best, the young man is wearing heavy leather gloves and appears to be dressed for work.

There was no way to identify the man in the photograph but an old label stuck on the back made me think it might offer some clues and I might figure out what his occupation was.

Trying to date the photograph by his clothing turned out to be a lesson in futility. After viewing hundreds of tintypes, occupational and otherwise,  I found only one photo of a man in work gloves.  His photograph included a shovel. He was a coalman for the railroad.

And the railroad did play an important role in the history of Calhoun, MO. so it is a possibility.

There was also a tintype of 2 brothers on eBay. The style of clothing was similar and one of the brothers even looked like a slightly older version of the man in my tintype.

And I was surprised to read in the description that the brothers were from the right part of the country too. They were railroad regulators in Indian Territory. They were not wearing gloves.

Eventually I decided to give up trying to date my working man's clothing and concentrate on the label on the back of the tintype, hoping if I could identify the photographer, I might at least be able to date the picture.

The back label was worn off in places but I could still make out …

William Morris
Photographer
Calhoun, MO.

William Morris was not an easy man to track down.

From what I’ve learned I believe William’s parents, William Morris and Elizabeth Danforth (30) came to America from England in 1840 with 3 of their children; William (8), Thomas (6) and Mary (4).

I found my first record of young William (19) in 1850,  living in Niagara, NY with his recently widowed mother, Elizabeth (40), brother Thomas (16), sister Mary (14) and infant brother, Melvin (0).  William's occupation is "silversmith."

In 1855 William (23) marries Mary J. (18).

Census records indicate that William and Mary’s first two sons, Theodore (1858) and Hiram (1860) were born in Ohio.

From 1859-1860 I find William Morris listed as a daguerreian in Perrysburgh, Ohio.

I haven‘t yet found any record of William Morris‘ Civil War years but I may have found one clue. There's headstone in a cemetery in the Oberlin, Ohio where William passed away. There are no dates on the stone.  It simply reads ...

“Wm. Morris”
"Co.E 42nd Ohio INF"

In 1864 William reappears in NY with the birth of a son Charles.  Three years later in 1867 a daughter, Lily is also born in NY.

But it is in 1870 where I find William’s connection to Henry. Co., Missouri …

1870 Tebo Township, Henry Co, MO - PO Clinton
Jul 29 1870

MORRIS William - 38 wm (1832) photographer - England
MORRIS Mary J. - 33 wf (1837) keeps house - New York
MORRIS Theodore - 12 wm (1858) - Ohio
MORRIS Hiram - 10 wm (1860) - Ohio
MORRIS Charles - 6 wm (1864) - New York
MORRIS Lilly - 3 wf (1867) - New York
MORRIS Ruby - 1/12 wf (1870) - Missouri

Ruby’s birthdate gives me my start date for when William Morris first appeared in Missouri … 1870.

My end date can be found in the 1880 census. William Morris (49) no longer lists his occupation as “photographer“, but as “farmer”.

All of William's children are still living in his household in 1880, including a few additions, Daisie (1874), Gudie (1876) and May (1879).

Only the name of his wife is different. Instead of wife Mary J. born 1837 in NY, The 1880 census shows his wife as Ophelia (34) born ca.1847 in NY.

I had the dates I was searching for, even if I still didn't know what his occupation was. William Morris took this photograph sometime in the 1870’s.

But by now I was more interested in the photographer than the photograph and I wanted to follow the story to its conclusion. So I kept looking. 

There is no 1890 census but my best guess is that William left Missouri sometime between 1883 - 1885.

The information in the 1900 census is more than a little confusing. William Morris (70) is listed as head of household and living in Bent, Colorado.  Living with him are his daughter Lily (30) and a 5 yr. old, John Hilton who is listed as a “boarder“. There is no record of his wife living in the household yet William lists his marital status as …

Marital Status:	Married
Years Married:	45
Estimated Marriage Year:	1855

　
And that’s one I haven’t figured out. The marriage year and number of years married matches up with wife Mary J. but not wife Ophelia, and that leaves me wondering if there were 2 wives? And what happened to them? With the exception of the one time each woman appears in the census, I haven’t found a single record for either of them.

In 1910 William (80) is still living in Bent, Colorado. His marital status is widowed. His daughter Lily (44) is married to George Nelson (36).  George is listed as head of household.

The 1910 census is the last one that William appears in. Sometime prior to 1917 he returns to Ohio to live with his son and daughter-in-law, Sarah Morris. It is Sarah Morris who fills out the record of his death on June 20, 1917.  Cause of death is listed as cancer. 

And to further confuse matters, William’s marital status is once again listed as married.

I guess he was … to somebody … for a long time.

William Morris
Born: England
July 20, 1832
Died: Oberlin Village, Ohio
June 20, 1917.
Aged 84 yr. 11 mos.

Silversmith Daguerreian Photographer Farmer

Now if I only I could find a photograph of him.