Linwood Dyer Collection, Part 093
By Don Taylor
Introduction
The Scarborough Historical Society maintains several important photographic collections documenting people, places, and events. In this installment of Faces from the Past, I examine photographs from an album labeled “Dyer” in the Linwood Dyer Collection.
This album consists primarily of cabinet cards. Of the first forty photographs in the album, twenty-nine are cabinet cards, but unfortunately only six include identifying names. The images presented here represent five individuals whose identities can be reasonably inferred through inscriptions, family relationships, and supporting genealogical research.
Brainard Dyer, circa 1887
Photographer: Lamson (reverse of card blank)
Photo Type: Cabinet Card
Inscription:
A separate paper slip with the photo reads: “Brainard Dyer (son of Clifford W. Dyer).”
Description
A sepia-toned cabinet card with a soft vignette. The young child has short, straight hair cut in a bowl or fringe style. He wears a dark sailor-style outfit with a large decorative bow or neckerchief at the collar and appears to be holding a small pail.
Estimated Age: approximately 2–4 years old
Research
From previous research into the Dyer family, I learned that Linwood Dyer’s great-grandfather was Howard E. Dyer (1853–1939). Howard had a brother, Clifford W. Dyer (1851–1888).
Clifford married Florence May Perry (1857–1926) on 4 October 1882 in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Their son Brainard Dyer was born 20 June 1883 in Cape Elizabeth (later South Portland), Maine.
Interpretation
Based on Brainard’s birth date and the child’s apparent age, this photograph was likely taken about 1887.
Eleanor B. (Dyer) Cole, circa 1891
Photo Type: Cabinet Card
Studio: Lamson – Portland, Maine
Reverse Marking: Lamson – Opposite Falmouth Hotel | Copyrighted 1889
Inscription:
A separate slip reads: “Mrs. Cole | Leon’s mother.”
Description
A studio portrait of a woman who appears to be in her twenties.
Research
- FamilySearch identifies Leon Hall Cole (1893–1969) as the son of George W. Cole (1867– ) and Eleanor B. Dyer (1871–1958).
- Eleanor B. Dyer was born January 1871 in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.
- She married George W. Cole on 7 December 1891 in Cape Elizabeth.
- Their first child, Ralph, was born 12 June 1892 in South Portland.
- Their second child, Leon, was born 5 December 1893.
Conclusion
Based on the inscription and the timing of her marriage, I believe this photograph likely depicts Eleanor B. (Dyer) Cole around 1891, shortly after her marriage. At present, I have not yet established her exact relationship to Linwood Dyer.
Henry Hersey, circa 1893
Photo Type: Cabinet Card
Studio: H. M. Smith, 478 Congress Street, Portland, Maine
Inscription:
A separate paper slip reads: “Henry Hershey.”
Description
A young boy, approximately 3–5 years old, wearing a Fauntleroy-style suit.
Research:
Portland city directories indicate H. M. Smith operated at 478 Congress Street from 1892 to 1898.
In earlier research on a photograph of Alice Hersey (later Wright), I determined that she was the daughter of P. C. and Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Milliken) Hersey. Alice had a brother, Henry Hersey, born 7 August 1889 in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.
Identification:
Considering the studio dates and Henry’s birth year, this photograph was likely taken about 1893, when Henry would have been about four years old.
Mary Weeks (Quimby) Dyer — August 1905
Photo Type: Snapshot photograph
Inscription (reverse): August 1905
Additional note: A separate slip reads,“Mary W. Quimby – Westbrook | mother.”
Description
An elderly woman seated on the wooden steps of a house.
Research
Based on the other photographs and known family relationships, I believe this album was likely assembled or maintained by Howard E. Dyer (and possibly his wife Ella).
Howard’s mother was Mary Weeks (Quimby) Dyer.
Interpretation
The reference to “Westbrook” may indicate the location where the photograph was taken, rather than the subject’s surname or residence. It may have been taken at the home of one of her six surviving children.
I am reasonably confident that this image depicts Mary Weeks (Quimby) Dyer in August 1905.
Eva Beatrice Sawyer, circa 1890
Photographer: Lamson
Studio Mark: “Located opposite the Falmouth Hotel”
Card marking: “Copyrighted 1889”
Inscription:
A separate slip reads:
“Beatrice Sawyer.”
Description
A bust-length portrait of a young woman in sepia tone with a soft vignette. She wears a dark high-necked dress with a row of small buttons or studs along the collar and what appears to be a decorative brooch at the neckline.
Her hair is styled high in a voluminous curled arrangement typical of late 1880s to early 1890s fashion.
She appears to be in her late teens or early twenties.
Research
- Ancestry family trees indicate Eva Beatrice Sawyer, born January 1874 in Cape Elizabeth, the daughter of George Gilbert Sawyer (1844–1915) and Almeda Smith (Dyer) Sawyer (1846–1918).
- FamilySearch profile KZLG-BYR identifies Almeda Smith Dyer as the daughter of Greeley Hannaford Dyer and Mary Weeks (Quimby) Dyer.
- Greeley and Mary have already been identified in my Linwood Dyer Collection research as great-grandparents of Linwood Dyer.
- Almeda married George Gilbert Sawyer on 15 October 1868 in Portland, Maine.
- Their children were:
- Georgie A. Sawyer (1871–1871)
- Eva Beatrice Sawyer (1874–1956)
Interpretation
Eva Beatrice Sawyer would therefore be Howard Dyer’s niece and Linwood Dyer’s first cousin once removed.
Based on the Lamson studio imprint and her estimated age, this photograph was likely taken about 1890, when Eva Beatrice would have been approximately 16 years old.
This photograph has been added to the Linwood Dyer Collection tree on Ancestry.
Conclusion
Although only a few photographs in the “Dyer” album include names, combining inscriptions, studio information, and genealogical research allows several individuals to be identified with reasonable confidence. These portraits collectively document members of the extended Dyer family network of Cape Elizabeth and Portland, Maine, during the late nineteenth century.
Further research may reveal additional relationships among the unidentified photographs in the album and help clarify how all of the individuals represented were connected within the broader Dyer family.
Disclaimer: This article was researched and written by the author. ChatGPT was used as a research and drafting aid, and Grammarly was used for editorial review and copy editing.
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