Linwood Dyer Collection – Part 033
Photo Friday
By Don Taylor
For Photo Friday, I identified the people in five photos from the Linwood Dyer Collection this week. This collection includes hundreds of photos, documents, and genealogies of people who lived in Scarborough, South Portland, and Cape Elizabeth, Maine. I like analyzing the images and trying to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the picture. The Scarborough Historical Society holds the originals in the Linwood Dyer Photo Collection.
Edith Soule of South Portland, circa 1892.
This Cabinet Card has an embossed studio name and border, suggesting it was created after 1890. Identifying information includes:
- Photographer: H.M.Smith, 478 Congress St., Portland, Me.
- Handwritten on the back: Edith Soule.
What I learned while researching this photo:
- The 1900 US Census lists two Edith Soules.
- Edith L Soule was born in Jul 1873 in Maine and lived in South Portland.
- Edith M Soule (Creech), born Dec 1856 in Maine, living in Freeport.
- In 1890, Edith L. would be 17 years old, and Edith M would be 34 years old. The woman in this photo appears younger than 34, so I am sure it is Edith L Soule.
- The 1900 US Census also indicates that Edith L. is the daughter of Deborah Soule. Her siblings included sisters Mabel, Alice, and Lucy, as well as a brother, Ervin.
Family Search indicates that Edith Soule (G89Z-X5P) was born on 10 July 1873 to Alonzo K and Deborah Sinnett (Orr) Soule in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. She married Franklin Eggert in 1894, suggesting this photo was taken between 1890 and 1894.
I added this photo to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry and uploaded it to her FamilySearch memories.
Edward Rand Sherman, Xmas 1907 (age 8).
This 7.5” x 6” photo has an embossed studio name. Identifying information includes:
- Photographer: Jackson 548½ Congress St, Portland, ME
- Handwritten on the back: Edward Rand Sherman, Xmas 1907.
What I learned while researching this photo:
- The 1900 US Census lists 1-year-old Edward R Sherman living with his parents, John C and Margaret E. L. Sherman.
- Family Search suggests this is Edward Rand Sherman (LVDB-R1Y), born 12 February 1899 in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine, to John Curtis (1871-1934) and Margaret Eva Lena (Taylor) Sherman (1872-1953). His siblings include a brother, Palmer Ricker Sherman, and a sister, Harriet Stevens Sherman.
I added this photo to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry.
John Chase Small, Jr., circa 1882.
This cabinet card has the studio name in gold on a black card stock, suggesting it was created in the late 1880s to the 90s. Identifying information includes:
- Photographer: Lamson, Portland, Me
- Handwritten on the back: John Chase Small, Jr.
What I learned while researching this photo:
- My Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry already included John Chase Small, Jr. (1878-___) already. He is the son of John Chase and Mary Schuyler (Dresser) Small.
- Family Search provides profile KL4K-VW6 for John Jr. He was born on 3 June 1878 in Portland, Maine, and married Blanche Helen Robinson in 1916.
I added this photo to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry.
William H. Stockbridge of Freeport, circa 1881.
This Cabinet Card has an embossed studio name and border, suggesting it was created after 1890. Identifying information includes:
- Photographer: Conant, 478½ Congress St., Portland.
- Handwritten on the back: W. H. Stockbridge (?).
What I learned while researching this photo:
- Portland directories list the Conant photography studio from 1877 to 1884 at 478½ Congress Street.
- The 1881 Portland City Directory lists William H. Stockbridge, a music teacher, 156 Exchange, and 499½ Congress, who lives in Freeport.
- 478½ and 499½ Congress Street are about 260 feet apart, so it fits that William Stockbridge would walk the short block to have his photograph taken.
- The 1880 US Census lists 36-year-old William H. Stockbridge living in Freeport, Maine, with his wife Georgie and three children, Ira (age 6), William D (age 3), and Mildred (age 1).
I added this photo to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry.
Sallie [Sarah] Sewall, c. 1873.
c. 1873.
The very small, 1.75” x 3.25” carte de visite style photo has a single gold border, suggesting it was taken between 1866 and 1880. There is no studio information. The image appears to be of a young woman of high school age. Handwritten on the back is “Sallie Sewall.”
What I learned while researching this photo:
- A review of the 1870 US Census for Maine yielded no one named Sallie Sewall in Maine. However, it identified four individuals named Sarah. (Sallie is a common nickname for Sarah.) They are:
- Sarah E Sewall, born about 1834, was married to Edward Sewall and lived in Bath, Sagadahoc County, Maine.
- Sarah C Sewall, born about 1822, was married to Samuel G Sewall and lived in Bath, Sagadahoc County, Maine.
- Sarah Sewall was born about 1834, was a black woman,
- Sarah H Sewall was born about 1850 in Maine. She is the apparent daughter of Lydia Sewall, living in York, York County, Maine. Her apparent siblings include Harriet, Isabella, Leonard, Edward, and William.[i]
- Nationally, there are 14 Sarah Sewall listed in the 1870 US Census.
- My Google search for B&W photos of any “Sarah Sewall” failed to yield any useful results.
Although I suspect this is Sarah H Sewall of York, Maine, It could be Sarah Sewall (b. c. 1855) of Marion County. Because I could not positively identify the individual in this photo, it is only available here.
Conclusion
I would love to hear your reaction if any of these photos are of your family member. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.
Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Ancestry, Dead Fred, or Flickr have higher quality than those linked here. Feel free to use these photos in your genealogical activities. Please cite “Photo Courtesy: Scarborough Historical Society.”
Endnotes
[i] Ancestry.Com – 1870 US Census; Census Place: York, York, Maine; Roll: M593_565; Page: 750A
