This lovely album page includes a first for me — a photo of an ancestor reading. I love to read so I was delighted to see my Great-Grandma Ellis enjoying a book outside!
The first photo includes my great-grandfather, Claude Albert Ellis, and a woman named May Raybould. The caption reads, “Down in the Cornfield. July 1915.” I must admit I was slightly puzzled by this photo at first. My great-grandparents began their courtship in 1914, so why was he so cozy with May Raybould in July 1915?
After some sleuthing, I believe I have figured it out. Grandpa Ellis had a first cousin named Clara May Raybould. Clara May’s mother, Elizabeth Ellis, and Claude’s father, Frederick William Ellis, were siblings. Clara May and Claude shared a set of grandparents, Edmund Ellis and Martha Oatley. If May Raybould in the photo was Claude’s first cousin Clara May Raybould, this photo suddenly makes a lot more sense. Unfortunately, there are no photos of Clara May on FamilySearch or Ancestry to compare this photo to.
The second photo is one of my new favorites featuring my great-grandmother, Blanche Octavia Huband, reading. The photo is dated 1 August 1915.
I asked Blanche’s daughter, my Great-Aunt Claudia, if Blanche liked to read. This was Aunt Claudia’s response:
“I don’t remember her reading a lot. But years down the road she belonged to a book club — they met once a month and took turns once a year doing a book review — then the following month it was their turn to do the dinner in their home. So 12 women belonged . . . Naomi Randall was in the club. She was on the General Primary board (all the ladies were from North Ogden). Naomi wrote the words to “I Am A Child of God.”
This post is part of a series sharing this wonderful old family photo album. You can learn more about the album here. A digital version of this photo album can be viewed on Flickr here.
Happy New Year! I hope you and your loved ones are happy, safe, and healthy!! xoxo
Wonderful photos. The cornfield one has them showing off for the camera. Glad to know our ancestors had fun and also liked to read.
Thank you, Virginia! Yes, definitely showing off for the camera. This album has been really fun to work with. I don’t have any memories of these great-grandparents but I definitely feel like I’m getting to know them as I work through their pictures. ❤️