Bigger Families; Faces From the Past

Here are three family photos from the Cheek family genealogy site (main site here:   http://www.moonzstuff.com/ .  A year ago I used their wonderful chart for deciphering old handwriting, here:    http://www.moonzstuff.com/articles/oldhandwriting.html    and linked over on the sidebar.  I wrote the owner of the site, Rebecca, to let her know her chart had helped and also asked permission to post these photos here.  She was kind enough to give permission. Thank you, Rebecca!  Mack & Laura Ennice Cheek Family Left to Right: Edgar Wood, Laura Ennice (seated holding Mary Lee), John Paul, Bertha, Mack (seated holding Virginia Claire), Ray Richard ("Ted"), Dean (seated), Roy Clyde The photo and more information about this family are here:  http://www.moonzstuff.com/cheek/mack1871.html Family of John & Matilda Edwards Choate Back (L-R): Letcher, Cornelia, Alice, Laura, John, Mathilda, Thomas Front (L-...

Initially, by looking at the eyes, I felt that this family photo includes Mom, Dad, and eight biological siblings,plus one in-law, friend,or more distant relative, eg. cousin.  However, on enlarging I see that despite the woman centre back's seemingly different colouring, she has a lot of facial similarity. Nowadays many might assume that the littlest boy is a grandchild, but I feel he could very easily be the youngest sibling of the bunch, especially considering there is a daughter aged between him and the older ones.  I had a baby at 42 myself.  I realize this is all just guesswork. What do you think? I love noticing details.  Note how the three siblings' glasses are all almost exactly the same.  You'd never find that nowadays.  Also, mom's and dad's glasses are the same as each other's but different from their children's.  Mom's dress has an interesting patterned fabric, looks like it may be the same as daughter back left's belt.   This f...

Here are three more photos from the same source as the previous couple of posts.  As ever, click on any photo to see it full size.  Perhaps someone who knows military uniforms can share what service the son top left is in.  The photos were copied in Wausau, Wisconsin, but the father's mustache looks a little out of place in wartime America, don't you think? Five happy siblings at Christmas!  I'm happy to see the imperfections of real life...parts of a new game, it looks like Candy Land, on the floor.  Maybe that's also a new Christmas doll.    From happy and candid to posed and unapproachable.  At least, I think the father here looks a bit scary as a dad!  Thankfully the two younger girls break up the sternness with little smiles.  Oldest daughter has a beautiful dress.  I wonder whether she made it herself.