Claude is my 2nd great-granduncle. He is the son of my 3rd great-grandparents, Joseph Thompson Cheney & Louise Maria Austin. Before seeing this photo, I did not know anything about Claude aside from a few scant details that lived in my tree. After editing this photo and uploading it to FamilySearch I spent some time updating my Ancestry tree and looking at the memories and facts found on FamilySearch about Claude.
Two and a half years before his death, Claude wrote a personal history. Reading that history broke my heart. Claude married Ethel Lavina Weir when he was 35. They had three children together. Unfortunately, this first marriage fell victim to the Great Depression. Claude bounced around the US for many, many years trying to secure a job. At the age of 63, he married again. He and Mary enjoyed twenty-one years together before her death in 1967. Less than one month later, Claude also passed.
I am grateful that this beautiful portrait was part of my great-grandmother’s album. Because of this portrait, I spent a little time learning about Uncle Claude. I hope this photo will be found and enjoyed by some of his descendants.
You can read more about Claude’s life here.
This photo comes from the twenty-sixth page of the album. Here are pages twenty-six and twenty-seven to give context for this photo:
This post is part of a series sharing this wonderful old family photo album. You can learn more about the album here.
Dear cousin, Nancy – I get every single comment you leave. I always comment back. Are you seeing those? As for my email address on the sidebar – it is written strangely to help prevent spam for me. Replace the {at} with the normal @ and replace the {dot} with a normal period – . I hope that helps! Would love to hear from you. ❤
The quality of these portraits is really remarkable. Such clarity.
Thank you, Amy. I agree. They are so well preserved. It’s like it was created just last week.
I agree.
It’s a thrill to see the photo and hear about your getting to know the person.
Thank you, Cathy! I can’t get over how well preserved this album is. And the photos are of people I don’t know well so that has been a joy to study, digitize, and preserve this collection! <3
He was my father’s Uncle Claude. Dad talked about him and I met him once or twice. I have seen this picture before, but I can’t remember where. Probably at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Brings back memories. Thanks for all the pictures of out common ancestors.
You are welcome, Crystal! ❤️
Claude Leroy Cheney was my father’s great uncle, though my grandfather was only a few years older than he. Claude George Willis was named after my grandpa’s Uncle Claude and his father George. Dad talked about him and I met him once or twice. I have seen this picture before, but I can’t remember where. Probably at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Brings back memories. Thanks for all the pictures of out common ancestors.
You are welcome, Crystal, I’m so happy to share. Enjoy! ❤️