memory industries photo mystery #3

 Here is your mystery: can you tell me who these people are and where are they?

Shawnee Chief with Abraham Lincoln Medal?

Shawnee Indian Chief with Abe Lincoln Medal

I am curious this morning about an antique photo up for auction at eBay. Written in pencil on the back is "Shawnee Indian Chief with Abe Lincoln Medal". Do you know who this is?

The Medal. Why does he have a Lincoln medal? I know that Civil War veterans, who joined the group Grand Army of the Republic, "GAR", some were given an Abraham Lincoln medal. Does this mean this man was a Civil War veteran? Search: Abraham Lincoln Medals on eBay

The Photographer. I think the photographer may be Aubrey Ewert Merryman, Pawnee, Oklahoma. I'm not sure yet. The subject looks to me like someone in a Wild West Show. It looks like a Wild West Show portrait to me. What do you think?

Please post here on this blog if you can help identify this subject.

Images used with permission from eBay seller: cashempirellc

Memorial Day Genealogy Puzzle

I have a Memorial Day genealogy puzzle for you. Can you tell me who sent this postcard? I am hoping we can find their family because I think they would like to have a copy of this postcard. Happy hunting!

*More information about the postcard manufacturer L. L. Cook of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

WeRelate Contest: Lizzie Maron burned to death Dec. 10 1877

Normally I would try to avoid anything this gruesome but this image was in a box of vintage photos I bought at a flea market and I am really curious - can we find this woman in the census? Can we find any newspaper account of her tragedy? Can we find her sister Belle Sturgis?

Start a page for Lizzie at WeRelate to win points for today's contest. Good Luck.

Help Solve this Mystery Otis Redding Album Cover Model

Otis Blue / Otis Redding Sings Soul

The estate of Otis Redding is searching for the identity of the model on the cover of this album. Read more about it here.

Methias Auville Mystery!

I was studying this census entry for Susan (Hatfield) Auville because I wondered who that Susan Kyser is - I found out and I will write in another post - but then I stumbled on a mystery - who was this Methias Auville?? Obviously he must be a grandson of Susan, but who were his parents and why is he living with her and what became of him?? So I entered his name in a search and nothing came up for a match to any Auville parents and he seems to just drop off the map. But there was ONE curious search result - In 1860 there is a young boy, Matth Oval, born in Virginia in about 1844, an inmate of the House of Refuge (jail or reformatory) in Pennsylvania for larceny!

Because I think that 90% of all Ovals and Anvils are really mis-spelled Auvils I think he may be our Methias Auville.

One clue I have searching the House of Refuge is that I found a message board post for the Edward Owen that is next in the census list after Matth. His descendant says that he was a soldier in the Civil War just the next year. Could our Methias be a soldier - under any odd spelling? We have to find out if there are any Ovals or Anvils in the Civil War. The post says that Edward enlisted in the 61st Pennsylvania Volunteers. Are there any Auvils studying the Civil War right now?

ΣAuvil