An Ebay purchase from Redmond, Oregon. An unidentified well-dressed man with an excellent mustache. The Conat Studio operated in Traverse City between 1892 and 1895.

Unidentified man, Conat Studio, 1892-1895.

An Ebay purchase from Portland, Oregon. 

The family is unidentified. On the back is written July 5, 99. The father sits on a wooden straight-back chair while the mother sits on an elaborate wicker chair.

Boswell, Artist, TRAVERSE CITY, MICH. 

The printed back-drop has not been seen in other Boswell photographs.

Although the people are unidentified, having a date for the photo is great because it reveals what clothing and hairstyles were being used by people in the Grand Traverse area in 1899.

An Ebay purchase from Monson, Massachusetts. A wedding photograph from the Smith & Price Studio of Traverse City, with the handwritten note below the image "Laura Christine Geo. Cook Mark Chaplin"

Familysearch.org provided the record of this marriage. George F. Cook was married to Christine Anderson on 14 November 1904 at Leland, Leelanau County, Michigan. George was 32-years-old, a native of Michigan, worked as a fisherman, and was the son of Fred Cook and Aurora Lundgren. Christine was 21-years-old, a native of Michigan, did housework, and was the daughter of John Anderson. Justice of the Peace William C. Nelson conducted the ceremony, which was witnessed by William Anderson and Laura Bartlett. It seems likely that the name "Mark Chaplin" is incorrect and that instead the man is William Anderson.

An online family tree indicates George Frederick Cook was born on 8 October 1872 and died on 30 August 1965. Christine J. Anderson was born in 1883 and died on 13 September 1959. The couple is buried in the Beechwood Cemetery in Leland, Leelanau County, Michigan.

 The front of the photograph is unmarked. The back suggests that the occupants of the automobile are "CAL VADER + WIFE."

If this is Calvin S. Vader, the photo would pre-date his death in 1915. Vader was a Civil War veteran, born in 1842 in Canada. His second wife was Sarah Catherine (Prouty) Holdsworth (1845-1928).

Presently, I am not convinced this is Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Vader.

Letitia Pfeiffer.  An Ebay purchase, was surprised to see her name written on the back because it wasn't mentioned in the description. Written on the front is "Bradshaw Traverse City Mich." in pencil, perhaps indicating that this was an early photograph by that studio, before he had obtained matting stock with his name stamped on it. Albert John Bradshaw operated his studio in Traverse City from 1895 to 1899.

Letitia Pfeiffer, circa 1895-1899.

A real photo postcard mailed from Traverse City on 6 March 1909. The card is signed "LRH" on the back and was sent to Fred A. Stebbins of Machias, New York.

Thirty young people posed for the photograph, apparently at a costume party. People are dressed as bandits, cowboys, and one man is in blackface.

"183 Cass St Traverse City Mich" is written on the front.

T. C. Mar. 5-09.
Dear Fred:
    I haven't had time to write some so if you get this card before you leave just let me khow when your coming and I'll be here. Grace is going to Sisown[?] to work for Beitner next Monday morning.

Fred A. Stebbins was born on 7 September 1891, son of Wallace Stebbins (1866-1899) and Sophia Cline (1865-1962). On 15 June 1900, Freddie lived with his grandmother Amelia A. Stebbins, mother Sophia Stebbins, and sister Lottie A. Stebbings in Leelanau township, Leelanau County. On 20 April 1910, Fred lived with his mother and stepfather James Shields at 816 8th Street in Traverse City. He died from drowning on 29 January 1912 in Aberdeen, Chehalis County, Washington. He is buried in Leelanau Township Cemetery in Northport, Leelanau County.

"Uncle Frank Klepac standing/ Joe Topinka"

A photograph from an Ebay seller in Fife Lake, Grand Traverse County. The three men have bottles beer and each has a cigar. Frank Klepac was listed as a bartender on the 1910 US census, living in Traverse City. He died on 29 May 1915 from "general paresis." His widow Elizabeth Kritz would marry Frank Rokos, who had been previously married to Anna Topinka

Smith & Price studio.

Unfortunately, I am unable to read the labels on the beer bottle, although all are the same brand.