The Diogenes Club
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Friday, December 20, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Unidentified
Although there are no markings on this tintype or the album sleeve, I am guessing the woman on the right side is my great-grandmother, Jennie Reeves, standing behind her brother Charles LaFayette "Lafe" Reeves. If so, this was taken in the 1880s.
The Thomas Jefferson Song
He wrote "All men are created equal"
But he forgot to add the sequel
"... unless they are slaves at Monticello."
Thoughts of despots he abandoned
But he bought a chunk of land single-handed
-- Louisiana Purchase --
He was a paradox and a complicated fellow.
He's got the historians all fussin'
The revisionists all cussin'
But he's my distant cousin
So I'll cut him some slack.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Sidney
In the album sleeve, in the handwriting of an old person, under the young man on the right, is written: Sidney.
Sid Reeves was born in 1872, which might help in dating this photo. The boy on the left is unidentified.
Frank Lloyd Wrong!
Sarah sent me an email concerning this house for sale in McCleary, Washington and one of the most entertaining real estate pitches it has been my pleasure to read. This dwelling always fascinated me as I walked by it occasionally.
The realtor used the term "Frank Lloyd Wrong" to describe it. Brilliant! Why anyone in Western Washington would construct a building with a flat roof is beyond me. I spent 8 years of my upbringing in a flat roof mobile home out here, so I know of what I write firsthand. We had lots of buckets!
The William McKinley Song
William McKinley
Was a little bit weird
First President since Lincoln
Without a mustache or beard
He was not all that exciting
And I wouldn't be lyin'
People didn't really vote for him
They voted against Bryan
Imperialism and capitalism
McKinley couldn't get his fill
But in this land of plenty
When we hit Century 20
An anarchist's bullet
Spelled the end of Bill
I think he was a good man
Who was led astray
So many Presidents
End up that very same way
Della Oding
Della was a cousin to Jennie Reeves, the compiler of this album.
Della Letitia Burns lived all of her life in Michigan (1862-1934) it would seem. She married John Carl Oding in 1879.
Monday, December 16, 2013
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Jessie Reeves - Wife
Jesse A. Reeves was born Aug. 6, 1833 in Ohio and died June 4, 1908 in Michigan.
Interesting this is the same background studio set as in several other tintypes in this album. For some reason in the back of my mind I think Jesse lived in Kansas for awhile. But I am incredibly rusty on all my genealogical facts.
Jesse was an uncle to Jennie Reeves, who kept this album. He was an older brother to her father, Walter Francis "Frank" Reeves. The fact she did not name her aunt suggests this couple were not really a big part of her world when she was growing up.
But like so many other photos in this album, it is an interesting portrait even without any background information. There is a certain magic to these personal visual portals into the 19th century.
The James Madison Song
James Madison
Was a tiny little man
When the Redcoats came in 1814
He turned around and ran
They burned down the White House and Capitol
Revenge for our Revolution
OK, so James was not so hot as Prez
But he was the Father of the Constitution!
Morty Comix # 2678
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