Three photos from my collection.

The first is from the Bradshaw studio of Traverse City. According to the Directory of Early Michigan Photographers, Albert J. Bradshaw operated that studio from 1895 to 1899.

On the back in pencil is Minnie Smith.

Minnie Smith.

There are four Minnie Smiths living in Grand Traverse County in 1900. Two are too old to be this girl,  Minnie C. Smith born in 1868 and Miny P. Smith born in 1871. One is too young, Minnie Gertrude Smith born in 1895.

The fourth is Minnie B. Smith, the daughter of John Smith and Nettie Paden. It is uncertain if this is the correct Minnie Smith. If so, she was born in 1882, nicknamed Midge, married Charles Hendricks, and died in 1953.

The second photograph is from the McManus Brothers studio. An unidentified woman stands in front of a painted backdrop. She leans against a chair with braid hanging from the arms. This chair appears in other photographs from the studio. A foot stool is nearby. The woman wears a dress with mutton-chop sleeves and had a pin at her neck.

 

An unidentified woman.

The third photo is an unidentified boy. It was taken by M. W. Jackson, who is not listed in the historic Michigan photographers book. The boy is seated. Behind the chair you can see the base of the stand that would be holding his head in place. A table, a curtain, and a rug are also visible.

Unidentified boy.

M. W. Jackson, Photographer, Traverse City, Mich.

Two photos from an Ebay seller from Centennial, Colorado. These have been on Ebay for years and recently were reduced in price. The prices of photos have sky-rocketed recently, reaching ridiculous levels.

The first photo has no studio mark. On the back written in purple ink is Beda Janson. She is wearing a large bonnet tied to her head with wide ribbons. At her neck she was a shield-shaped broach.

Beda Janson.

Beda Janson, back.

The second photo is from the William Boswell studio of Traverse City. On the back in black ink is Beda Jonshon Julia J.

Beda Jonshon and Julia J.[onshon?]

Back of photo.

Beda and Julia are wearing identical dresses, bonnets, and broaches. Julia is seated in a wicker chair and there is some sort of fur rug beneath them. A painted backdrop is present.

As it turns out the two women are wearing the uniform of the Salvation Army.

My efforts to identify the two women were not successful.

A purchase from an Ebay in Littleton, Colorado. This has been on Ebay for a very long time. I don't typically purchase photos of children, especially those lacking names on the back, but I finally decided to procure this one.

The child was photographed at the McManus Brothers studio. The infant is wearing a dress and slippers and is seated on a chair covered by a rug. Both boys and girls wore dresses at this time.

Unidentified infant.

Back of photo.

 

Three Ebay photos from a purchaser in Harrison, Clare County, Michigan.

The first has 1899 in blue ink and the name Stella that has been erased. The photo was taken at the Smith & Price studio in Traverse City. There are 25 Stellas living in Grand Traverse County in 1900. Only one could be the correct age, a Stella M. Stites born in May 1897, daughter of Steven Stites and Julia Forton. She was married to Otto Blank and died in 1926. However, whether this is Stella Stites will remain unknown, since people from other nearby counties also came into Traverse City to have their photos taken.

Stella, 1899.

The second photo of two boys was taken at the McManus Brothers studio in Traverse City. The boy on the left sits on the stick bench in front of a backdrop with a tree painted on it. The boy on the right is wearing a dress. Hats are present on the bench and floor.

Two boys, McManus Brothers studio.

The third photo is also from the McManus Brothers studio. It is one of the fancy ones in which the person's photo is added to an image. The woman has a fancy lace collar with a broach at her throat.

Young woman, McManus Brothers studio.

 

An Ebay purchase from Bixby, Oklahoma. No name on the back, but the photograph can be dated because "Taken Dec 19/96" is written in pencil. 

A dapper young man.

Just barely visible behind his left foot is a stand- perhaps a device to keep the man still. The painted backdrop and the carpet or floor cloth can be seen in other Boswell photographs.
 

An Ebay purchase. A photograph showing workers at the Wells Higman Basket Factory in Traverse City.

Dozens of people are visible. Unfortunately, the photo was damaged at some time by water, but still is a wonderful image. The factory made bushel baskets for fruit growers. It operated from at least 1897 and portions of  the factory was torn down in 1942 and the rest burned in 1950. 

Wells Higman Basket Factory.

 

An album from an Ebay seller from Buffalo, New York. Many of the photos were from Avoca, Bath, and Naples, New York. Avoca and Bath are in Steuben County and Naples in Ontario County. Three pictures were from Traverse City. Unfortunately, none of the people were identified.

E. N. Moblo Studio, Traverse City.

Two tintypes were from the Fred. Kelly Photograph Artist studio. I did not know this studio existed, so that was interesting.

Tintypes.

Back side of the tintypes.

I researched Fred Kelly and discovered that he worked in Traverse City as a photographer for only 1864 and 1865. 

Frederick Kelly was born on 7 January 1841 in Brockville, Ontario, Canada, son of Robert Kelly and Bella (--?--).[1] According to the 1900 census he came to the United States in 1854. He has not been located on the 1860 census.

                Frederick enlisted as a Private in Company G. of the 2^nd Massachusetts Infantry on n11 May 1861 in Boston, Massachusetts. At the time he was working as a printer. He mustered in on 23 May 1861. He was discharged on 28 September 1861 due to disability on 28 September 1861.[2]

                Kelly worked as a Photograph Artist in Traverse City in 1864 and 1865.[3] His studio was located at the corner of Front and Union Streets. It was open on Saturdays and Mondays. He also worked as a type setter for the Grand Traverse Herald.

                In August 1868, Fred placed an advertisement in the Grand Traverse Herald.[4]

                On 13 July 1870, Frederick lived in a lodging house in the 1^st ward of Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. He was listed as a printer who owned $2,000 in real estate and $200 in personal estate.[5]

                In September 1872, Frederick petitioned to put new sills under his house at 162 First Street.[6]

                In February 1874, Fred was foreman of the Detroit  Tribune and made a visit to Traverse City.[7]

                In November 1874: FRED KELLY, recently foreman of the Detroit Tribune, and formerly of the HERALD, has quit the printing business and gone into the grocery trade. The Tribune speaks of him as follows:

                "Mr. Fred Kelly, for several years past foreman of the Tribune news composing room, and Mr. J. E. Locke, formerly with Phelps & Bruce, whosesale grocers, have former a partnership under the name of Locke & Kelly, and opened a fine retail grocery at NO. 739 Woodward Ave., opposite Harper Hospital. The Tribune wants to speak a good word for "Fred," and it can affirm that if he tends to his own business as thoroughly and faithfully as he did to ours, he will not be beaten in the excellence of his goods and the carefulness with which he will look after the wants and study the wishes of his customers by any store the whole length of Woodward avenue. He leaves our services very greatly to our regret, and solely on account of his ill health. May he never lack customers or friends."[8]

                Fred was married on 25 December 1874 in Detroit to Ann Eliza McMannis. At the time of the marriage Fred was working as a grocer. Rector Thomas C. Pitkin conducted the ceremony, which was witnessed by T. J. Finn and James Randall of Detroit. Ann was born in August 1852/1854 in Liverpool, England.[9] The 1900, 1910, and 1920 censuses indicates she came to the United States between 1862 and 1864.

                On 4 August 1880, Fred and Anna lived at 162 First Street in Detroit. He was working as a foreman at a printing firm while she was keeping house.[10]

                The couple's son Frederick was born on 27 June 1889 in Detroit.[11]

                On 18 July 1890, Frederick applied for an Invalid's Pension.[12]

                On 13 June 1900, Frederick and Annie and their son Frederick S. lived at 612 4^th Avenue in Detroit. Frederick was working as a printer.[13]

                Frederick died at his home at 672 4^th Street in Detroit from paralysis of the heart on 27 December 1904.[14] An old-time Detroit printer answered the final summons yesterday when Fred Kelly went beyond. He had been in good health until Monday when he had a sinking spell, and he never recovered from the attack, dying of heart failure yesterday noon.

                Mr. Kelly was born in Nova Scotia sixty-three years ago and early in life learned the printer's trade in Portland, Maine. At the outbreak of the war he joined a Massachusetts regiment and served three years. ON his discharge, he came to Michigan, putting in two or three years on a paper in Traverse City that was controlled by Morgan Bates. He came to Detroit after that experience and went on the Advertiser and Tribune and continued as foreman of the newsroom with that journal and its successor. The Post, for twenty-four years. About twelve years ago he went into the job printing business with Thomas Smith and later was a partner with James H. Stone. At the time of his death he managed the Cadillac printing Co., of which concern he was chief stockholder.

                Mr. Kelly had a wide acquaintance in the craft and was highly esteemed by the men who worked under him. He leaves widow and one son, Fred Jr., a youth of 17. He was a member of O.M. Poe Post, G.A.R. The time for the funeral has not yet been fixed.[15]

                 KELLY,- December 27, at residence, 672 Fourth avenue, Fred Kelly, Sr., aged 63 years. Funeral from residence at 2 p.m. Thursday, December 29.[16]

                After his death, Annie applied for a Widow's pension on 30 January 1905.[17]

                On 16 April 1910, Annie, her son Fred H., and two lodgers lived at 199 Alexander in Detroit. Fred was an automobile machinist.[18]

                The 1920 Detroit City Directory lists Annie as a widow living at 55 Hendrie Avenue.[19] On 3 January 1920, Anne lived with her son Fred H. Kelly at 55 Hendrie Avenue in Detroit. Fred was a machinist at a motor car company.[20]

                On 12 April 1930, Annie was a patient at a facility at 57 Holbrook Avenue in Detroit.[21]

                Annie Kelly died from carcinoma of the gall bladder on 18 February 1934 at the Arnold Home in Detroit.[22] Taken to the Arnold Home for Aged Men and Women Sunday, Mrs. Annie Kelly, widow of Fred Kelly, a Civil War Veteran, died there Wednesday. She was 81 years old. Ms. Kelly was born in Liverpool but had lived in Detroit 65 years. She was a member of Malta Chapter, O.E.S., and the Women's Relief Corps of the G.A.R. Only a son Fred survives.

                Services will be conducted at the Gilbert Funeral Home, 81 Delaware Ave., at 11 a.m. Friday under the auspices of the Order of Eastern Star. Burial will be in Woodmere Cemetery.[23]

 

---

[1] Frederick Kelly Transcript of Certificate of Death, Certificates, 1897-1920, Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952, Ancestry.com.

[2] Frederick Kelly entry, U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865, Ancestry.com. The record suggests an alternate name is William Allen.

[3] Internal Revenue Assessment Lists for Michigan, 1862-1866, National Archives, Washington, D.C.

[4] A Cheap Place. Grand Traverse Herald, 14 August 1868, page 3, column 2.

[5] Frederick Kelly entry, 1870 US census, Wayne County, Michigan, population schedule, Detroit Ward 1, page 119, line 19.

[6] Common Council. Detroit Free Press, 5 September 1867, page 1, column 4.

[7] Personal. Grand Traverse Herald, 27 August 1874, page 3, column 2.

[8] Article about Fred Kelly. Grand Traverse Herald, 26 November 1874, page 3, column 4.

[9] Kelly-McMannis entry, Registers, 1868-1886, 1868-1875, 1874 Wayne-1875 Livingston, page 352, no. 2224, Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867-1952, Ancestry.com.

[10] Fred Kelly household, 1880 US census, Wayne County, Michigan, population schedule, Detroit, ED 269, SD 1, page 19, dwelling 136, family 153.

[11] "Michigan, County Births, 1867-1917," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-LBZJ-2M2?cc=1923472&wc=4VWM-MTJ%3A218910601%2C219118501 : 11 September 2019), Wayne > Births 1884-1889 vol 25 > image 236 of 391; various county courts, Michigan.

[12] Frederick Kelly entry, U.S., Civil War Pension Index, Ancestry.com. Application no. 851,731 and Certificate no. 640,327.

[13] Frederick Kelly household, 1900 US census, Wayne County, Michigan, population schedule, Detroit Ward 04, ED 40, SD 1, sheet 9A, dwelling 179, family 195.

[14] Frederick Kelly Transcript of Certificate of Death, Certificates, 1897-1920, Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952, Ancestry.com.

[15] Death's Summon was Shot. Detroit Free Press, 28 December 1904, page 10, column 5.

[16] Fred Kelly death notice. Detroit Free Press, 30 December 1904, page 6, column 1.

[17] Frederick Kelly entry, U.S., Civil War Pension Index, Ancestry.com. Application no. 821,222 and Certificate no. 618,993.

[18] Annie E. Kelly household, 1910 US census, Wayne County, Michigan, population schedule, Detroit Ward 4, ED 57, SD 1, sheet 3A, dwelling 41, family 43.

[19] R. L. Pol & Co.s 1920-21 Detroit City Directory, R. L. Polk & Co., Detroit, page 1494.

[20] Fred H. Kelly household, 1920 US census, Wayne County, Michigan, population schedule, Detroit Ward 1, ED 36, SD 1, sheet 2B, dwelling 13, family 41.

[21] Annie Kelly entry, 1930 US census, Wayne County, Michigan, population schedule, Detroit (Districts 1-250), ED 30, SD 21, sheet 17B, dwelling 17, family 19.

[22] Annie Kelly Certificate of Death, Certificates, 1921-1945, Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952, Ancestry.com.

[23] Mrs. Annie Kelly obituary. Detroit Free Press, 22 February 1934, page 12, column 4.