Yesterday I travelled to a great antique shop in Duncan, Oklahoma to look for old photos...my newest hobby. I always try to find ones with writing on the back to help me identify the persons in it and the family it belongs to. Then I spend the day searching the heck out of the internet and ancestry.com trying to find the right family to return the photos to.

Well, yesterday I hit a little jackpot of sorts. 10 photos that all have the same handwriting on the back in the same blue ink. Here's a little about each:

1. Mother & Young Toddler
Photographer: Bacon 254 East Main St Rochester, N.Y.
On Back: "Delia Eldridge and son Roy 1892"
I believe this to be Della D. ? born 1868 NY and her son Roy Clark Eldridge.
She married Eugene Eldridge b. 1859 NY.
Children: Roswell M b. 1886, Paul R. b. 1887, Roy Clark b. 1892, and Madeline b. 1899.

2. Husband seated & holding bible, Wife standing
Photographer: Morrison, Artist, Fillmore. (this is in NY)
On Back: "Clark Josiah Tanner Crandall Eldridge and Eliza Eldridge about 1895"
I believe this to be Clark (all those middle names) Eldridge born Aug 1848 died Apr 1915 and his 2nd wife Eliza Vickery born 1860 died 1950.
Children: Everett Eugene Eldridge b. 1884 d. 1973 (m. Edna Merritt, children: Lois Fiegl, Elsie Jean Perry, & Margaret Fishic), and Myrtie Frances Eldridge b. 1900 (m. Russell Ostrum).

3. Baby in Christening Gown
Photographer: Bacon 254 East Main St Rochester, N.Y.
At Bottom of Front: "Bessie Eldridge 1893"
I don't have any clue to her relation.

4. Lady with interesting necklace
Photographer: none listed
On Back: "Cora Locke Lyons"
I believe this to be Cora Locke born 1872 NY.
She's the daughter of William Locke & Sarah ?.
Siblings: Fred b. 1874, Hattie b. 1875 (m. Miles R. Cartwright, children: Wilbur E. b. 1905, Everett M. b. 1907)
She married James Lyons b. 1869 NY.
Children: Juanita Lyons b. 1900.

5. Lady with pearl chocker and earrings
Photographer: Brewer's Art Studios, Belfast, Fillmore, and Rusford, N.Y.
On Back: "Hattie Locke-Cartwright"
I believe this to be Hattie Locke sister to Cora listed above.

6. Young Man with top button buttoned
Photographer: none listed
On Back: "George McEwan"
I don't have any clue to his relation.

7. Young Man with pin on lapel
Photographer: Hewitt Union Block, Nunda, N.Y.
On Back: "Herbert Lee about 17yrs old about 1893"
I believe this to be Herbert Lee son of Benjamin Lee & Mary E. ?. He was born 1876 NY but is shown in Salisaw, Oklahoma in 1880 on census.
Siblings: James Lee (father of Clifford Lee b. 1898).

8. Toddler in gown sitting on fancy seat
Photographer: C.C. Hewitt, Mt. Morris, N.Y.
On Back: "Clifford Lee about 1899"
I believe this to be Clifford Lee son of James Lee and nephew of Herbert Lee as listed above.

9. Older Lady
Photographer: none listed
On Back: "Lizzie Lee Schutt"
I don't have any clue to her relation.

10. Lady with ornate gown
Photographer: From WM. Mables, Art Gallery, Canaseraga, N.Y.
On Back: "Lizzie Lee Schutt 1890"
I don't have any clue to her relation except that she is the same as photo 9.

Although I couldn't make connections between the different surnames I still think they are connected in some way since the same person wrote on all of them. I couldn't trace any good leds to live descendants nor could I find an active member on ancestry.com through the family trees. Hopefully someone will read this and genuinely be connected to at least a few of these photos. I'd love to find the family that has connections to them all....the lady who lost them to begin with would be great. But I know that isn't likely.

If you think you are related, please reply here or shoot me an email at avigailsmommy@yahoo.com
I can email copies if requested.

~Amber Harkins