This would be my 2nd great-grandparents Albert Gallitan Graham (1844-1926) and his wife Mary “Mittie” Richardson (Grantham) Graham (1839-1917). Albert was a Confederate veteran and Mittie was a midwife. Mittie’s daughter Corrine died in childbirth with my grandfather in 1910. I always wondered if Mittie was in attendance during that birth. This picture would have been taken around 1885.
Here is the same couple only later! This one would have been taken about 1905.
“Everyone” says that Mittie was part Indian. What do you think? My DNA shows 5% American Indian. Do you think part of that 5% came from Mittie? So many Indian rumors in the family and so little proof.
Copyright © 2013 Michele Simmons Lewis
Age takes a toll. I don't know about the 5%. I think it's often hard to tell what anybody is by a photograph.
ReplyDeleteIf, for the sake if argument, Mittie was 100% Indian (which I know for a fact she wasn't) and there was no other Indians in my line whatsoever, that would make me 6.25% I love math :)
ReplyDeleteWhat amazing photographs. You are so lucky to have them in your collection. They speak volumes don't they?
ReplyDeleteI have very few photographs because on my mother's side most were destroyed during WWII. On my dad's side they were all dirt poor Mississippi farmers and they just didn't have the money to have a lot of photographs.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy your photographs. I have been blessed with the treasure of 100+ photos of my grandfather's parents families.
ReplyDeleteTwo things I noticed in your photos. What is the chain or string other dress. Do you think it is holding eyeglasses? On his photo does he have a cloth of some sort across his knees? I can't see his pants legs. I always enjoy your postings!
I am not sure. My first impression is that it was a watch and chain. The reason I say is that she was a midwife and might have needed to time contractions? I am a nurse and we have watches that pin right to our shirts that are upside down so that you can see the time (and the second hand) without having to touch the watch.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your kind comments, Joan :)
Michelle, I would believe she was at least half Native American. She is much darker than her husband and women in those days did not like to tan, they liked to stay pale.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that she does have some Indian in her but I can't really narrow it down much. Supposedly it was her grandmother, Elizabeth Matilda Irby, that was the Indian but of course I can't prove it. Maybe I need to work on that line again. I haven't revisited it in quite some time.
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