Saturday, May 15, 2010

Photo Number 195

This is a cabinet card, on the back it is marked. Nellie and Mae McMahan.  The photographer was M. Belgum of Stephen, Minnesota.   The Minnesota Historical Society has a list of Minnesota Photographers, I use it to date some of the photos that I have found.  I found a M M  Bergum who was in Stephen from 1898 to 1899.  It must be a case of a misspelled name, an R is really an L.    This photographer was an unknown..even to them.  I sent them a copy of this photo and I received this back.

Hi Connie,
Thanks for your note and question about this photographer.  It's always fun to hear how people are using our Photographers' database. I checked our records and don't see that we have any images in our collection by either Belgum or Bergum. We also don't have a photographer's file for either name. My hunch is that you are correct in guessing they are one and same photographer, by the name of Belgum.
I did some census research and found an M. Belgum in Warren, MN, age 20, in the 1895 State Census. By the 1900 US Federal Census, M. Belgum, identifying himself as a photographer, is living in Cooperstown, Griggs County, North Dakota. At that time, he gives his birth date as July, 1867 and age 32. He was born in Norway and immigrated to the US in 1892. In 1910, he's living in New Rockford, Eddy County, North Dakota, still single and gives his age as 46 (now shows his birth date 'abt 1864'). He still identifies his occupation as 'photographer'!  So, I think you can say, with some certainty that our database needs correction and your cabinet card was made by a photographer who made a good, long profession of it.
Diane ( Curator) 


So I will still date this photo 1898 to 1899.  I wonder what happened to the McMahan girls..this photo must have been taken before either of them married.

Thanks for stopping, do come again:)
Update from Abra:


I found a lot of information over the last two days, but still can’t connect these two ladies to anyone living. There seem to be many childless marriages, late in life marriages, or unmarried in the succeeding generations. For now, here is what I know:

Mae & Nellie are two of four daughters of Thomas B. (T.B.) and Theresa B. McMahan. There are also 2 sons. In 1870, the family is living in Reads Landing, Wabasha Co. MN with children Bertha(2) & Fred (3 mos). In 1875, they are still in Wabasha Co. and have added baby George (0). In 1880, they have moved to Andover, Polk County. They have Bertha (12), Fred (10), Richard (5-quite possibly George from 1875 census – same age), and Nellie has joined the family (2). There are also 3 servants, & father is a farmer. In June 1885, the family resides in Tamarac Twshp, Marshall County. MN (P.O. Stephen). TB is 39, Theresa 38, Bertha 17, Fred 15, Richard 10, Nellie 8, Cora 6, Mary (May) 3. This will be the completion of their children. In 1895, only Fred has moved away, but Berth has taken on a husband & has a 7 year old daughter.

I’ve mostly tracked the girls marriages, but since I haven’t yet found any heirs in their lines, I will need to do more on the brothers’ lines. Bertha married John R Walters on 4-8-1886 and had one daughter, Theresa. Theresa would later marry William Lyon. At age 42, in the 1930 census, Theresa had still not borne children. They lived in Crookston. I could not find death date for Bertha.

Nellie Adel McMahan married Greeley E Carr on 12-28-1898. They lived in Stephen for a short time (he was a lawyer). They moved to Minneapolis by 1905, where I find them in the census, as well as 1910. I haven’t been able to find them in 1920. Greeley died in 1923. They had no children. In 1930, I find Nellie A. Car, widowed, living in Minneapolis, working as a grocery store clerk. Nellie passed away 15 Jun 1967.

Cora Elizabeth McMahan was the next to marry, on 10-31-1901, to James Jacob Peters. In 1905, they are living in Stephen, and her husband is a barber. In 1910, they are living in Ramsey County and are listed in two different census sheets, taken 10 days apart. They may have been in the process of moving, as the children are the same, but one location lists one boarder (possibly Lexington Ave—hard to read), and the next location(Winifred St.) lists 3 boarders. “Jacob” is listed an insurance agent in both. The children are: Dale (3), Dorothy (2), Thomas (9-10 mos). In 1920, the family is living in Shelly, Norman County. Jacob is a barber again. Dale is no longer listed in the family (There is a Dale Peters listed in MN Death index for Feb 28, 1912 in Marshall County, no age listed, but I assume it is him): Dorothy (13), Tommy (11), Lyle (7), Thessie (3). By 1930, the family has moved to Greenbush, Roseau Co., MN. Jacob is a pool hall proprietor. Dorothy is no longer listed. (I did a lot of searching, with a possible late-in-life marriage, so I’m thinking no heirs from her). Thomas, 20, is a helper in the pool hall, Lyle is 17, and Tessie is 13. I could find no concrete information that Thomas was ever married or had children, Lyle was never married, and still working on a couple leads for Tessie, so it may be possible that she has heirs.

Mae Adelaide McMahan married Alvin John Lovestrom on 4-15-1906. (Alvin was a printer in 1905, living in Akely, Hubbard Co., MN). In 1910, the couple are neighbors to Mae’s parents and he is an editor. By 1920, he is the postmaster of Stephen and she is the assistant postmaster. In 1930, the census states he is a postal clerk and she is the postmaster. Mae & Alvin have not had children. Alvin died in 1939 & Mae in 1944.

I still need to do some searching on Mae & Nellie’s brothers. I guess since it has been easy to find this family, but hard to find heirs, this might help explain why the photos became forgotten old photos.

8 comments:

  1. These young women are very pretty. I love their hairstyles. Very interesting info too.

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  2. I always love it when there's extra info. Maybe there will be more and they will go home (that's my favourite bit!)

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  3. Please again explain what a cabinet card is or tell which blog to go to better understand the naming of them. I have a pile of them from my dad's old house.

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  4. Working on this one...so far I have them in the 1885, 1895, 1905 censuses & marriage info, which I will use to search later censuses for possible names of children, grandchildren & hopefully a living link! I'll be back with the details a bit later!! ~Abra

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  5. Abra..that is so exciting!!
    Larry, A Cabinet Card is always 4 1/2 by 6 1/2, it is a thin photo that is mounted on a heavy card. They were popular from 1866 to 1906. They were usually displayed on a cabinet..therefore the name. I am not sure what kind of glue they used..but it was a good one! 100+years later the glue is still holding:)

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  6. I found a lot of information over the last two days, but still can’t connect these two ladies to anyone living. There seem to be many childless marriages, late in life marriages, or unmarried in the succeeding generations. For now, here is what I know:

    Mae & Nellie are two of four daughters of Thomas B. (T.B.) and Theresa B. McMahan. There are also 2 sons. In 1870, the family is living in Reads Landing, Wabasha Co. MN with children Bertha(2) & Fred (3 mos). In 1875, they are still in Wabasha Co. and have added baby George (0). In 1880, they have moved to Andover, Polk County. They have Bertha (12), Fred (10), Richard (5-quite possibly George from 1875 census – same age), and Nellie has joined the family (2). There are also 3 servants, & father is a farmer. In June 1885, the family resides in Tamarac Twshp, Marshall County. MN (P.O. Stephen). TB is 39, Theresa 38, Bertha 17, Fred 15, Richard 10, Nellie 8, Cora 6, Mary (May) 3. This will be the completion of their children. In 1895, only Fred has moved away, but Berth has taken on a husband & has a 7 year old daughter.

    I’ve mostly tracked the girls marriages, but since I haven’t yet found any heirs in their lines, I will need to do more on the brothers’ lines. Bertha married John R Walters on 4-8-1886 and had one daughter, Theresa. Theresa would later marry William Lyon. At age 42, in the 1930 census, Theresa had still not borne children. They lived in Crookston. I could not find death date for Bertha.

    Nellie Adel McMahan married Greeley E Carr on 12-28-1898. They lived in Stephen for a short time (he was a lawyer). They moved to Minneapolis by 1905, where I find them in the census, as well as 1910. I haven’t been able to find them in 1920. Greeley died in 1923. They had no children. In 1930, I find Nellie A. Car, widowed, living in Minneapolis, working as a grocery store clerk. Nellie passed away 15 Jun 1967.

    Cora Elizabeth McMahan was the next to marry, on 10-31-1901, to James Jacob Peters. In 1905, they are living in Stephen, and her husband is a barber. In 1910, they are living in Ramsey County and are listed in two different census sheets, taken 10 days apart. They may have been in the process of moving, as the children are the same, but one location lists one boarder (possibly Lexington Ave—hard to read), and the next location(Winifred St.) lists 3 boarders. “Jacob” is listed an insurance agent in both. The children are: Dale (3), Dorothy (2), Thomas (9-10 mos). In 1920, the family is living in Shelly, Norman County. Jacob is a barber again. Dale is no longer listed in the family (There is a Dale Peters listed in MN Death index for Feb 28, 1912 in Marshall County, no age listed, but I assume it is him): Dorothy (13), Tommy (11), Lyle (7), Thessie (3). By 1930, the family has moved to Greenbush, Roseau Co., MN. Jacob is a pool hall proprietor. Dorothy is no longer listed. (I did a lot of searching, with a possible late-in-life marriage, so I’m thinking no heirs from her). Thomas, 20, is a helper in the pool hall, Lyle is 17, and Tessie is 13. I could find no concrete information that Thomas was ever married or had children, Lyle was never married, and still working on a couple leads for Tessie, so it may be possible that she has heirs.

    Mae Adelaide McMahan married Alvin John Lovestrom on 4-15-1906. (Alvin was a printer in 1905, living in Akely, Hubbard Co., MN). In 1910, the couple are neighbors to Mae’s parents and he is an editor. By 1920, he is the postmaster of Stephen and she is the assistant postmaster. In 1930, the census states he is a postal clerk and she is the postmaster. Mae & Alvin have not had children. Alvin died in 1939 & Mae in 1944.

    I still need to do some searching on Mae & Nellie’s brothers. I guess since it has been easy to find this family, but hard to find heirs, this might help explain why the photos became forgotten old photos.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Like Abra, I have noticed a lot of childless unions and a lot of unmarried women. I wonder if some of this is a result of the wars? We had the Civil War here, then the Spanish American War, then the Great War...how many young men would have married had they lived to do so.

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  8. Info about Bertha and her husband:
    John Walter (not Walters) was a relative of William Walter my maternal g. grand father's brother Rowland Walter, born in Blaenau Ffestiniog a slate mining town in North Wales, emigrated to the US in 1852 with his wife Ursula, he was a well known Welsh poet (Ionoron Glan Dwyryd,1819-1884) lived in the slate region of Hydeville Vt. He won three bardic chairs in the Welsh Eisteddfod in America. They had five children. And I have since found descendants in Casleton Vt.

    I have visited them in Casleton many times (as my daughter lives in Queensbury, up state NY). But as the history was written in Welsh my first language I am trying to give him a heads up as to the family tree here in Wales and America, which is by now more or less completed but would like to add a little bit more.

    As to Ionoron Glan Dwyryd I have gathered about forty pages of his life here in Wales but mostly in the US but this is again in Welsh and mostly gathered from the "Drych" the Welsh newspaper of North America at that time.

    If you have any further information as to when John died or his time in the Steam Laundry business in Crookston, or indeed any of my distant relatives in your area?

    Best regards from Blaenau Ffestiniog, north Wales.

    Kevin


    "Coemgen Filius Primi Inter Pares"

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Hi, Thanks for the comments, your input on these old photos is appreciated! English only please! All comments will be moderated! Connie