Thursday, October 16, 2014

Friday's Faces from the Past - Elsie Fairchild




"To Grandma Negley
[This?] is surely our greatest comfort.  Elsie Fairchild, 3 years old"

This is most likely the Elsie Fairchild who in 1910 lived in Benkelman, Nebraska with her parents Milton A and Kate H.  That girl named Elsie was born in 1906, making this photograph possibly from 1909.  In 1920, I believe I found Elsie and her parents in Waco, Nebraska about 250 miles northeast of Benkelman.  Her mother was listed then as Helen Rose.  I found a memorial at findagrave for Helen Fairchild in the Waco Cemetery, she died in 1925 when Elsie was 19.  Then my search came literally to a dead end when I looked for her father.  Milton is buried in the Mount Hope Cemetery in San Diego, California, along with Elsie.  If I've found the right people, the three of them died in successive years, Helen in '25, Elsie in '26 and Milton in '27.  Elsie has no descendants and Milton and Helen didn't have any more children.

"Grandma Negley" was not related to Elsie or her family in any way that I can determine.  But this sweet little girl must have known my Great Great Grandma Sarah Negley somehow.


10 comments:

  1. Such a cute picture - the name fits her, too!

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  2. What a sweet story, shame that sweet face died so young. Sometimes children become attached to older people and adopt them as a grandmother when they have none. It seems she lovingly did so.
    Jeanne Bryan Insalaco

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    1. I think you're right, Jeanne. There was a sweet connection between them for sure. Thanks for reading!

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  3. Beautiful photograph. So sorry to read that they passed away so young.

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    1. It's always sad to see a life cut too short. Thank you Bernita!

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  4. What a sweet photograph. Her dress is gorgeous. It's such a challenge to have the name of an individual on a photograph but no other information about his/her. It seems like there might not be any descendant of little Elsie, either. How sad.

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    1. I'm "adopting" Elsie. She has captured my interest and I'll keep trying to find out more about her. Thanks, Nancy!

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  5. How ironic to see her standing on the sofa. Don't adults tell children not to do that? Seriously, it's a precious photo but such a sad listing of details.

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    1. If you look close, Wendy, do you think it looks like a pretty rug draped over the couch? The front edge and the end of the couch makes me think that. Whatever it takes to get a nice photo, LOL. Thanks, Wendy!

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