Nieman Children

This picture came to me labeled, as you can clearly see. At least I know exactly who is who.

Timeframe: There is a lot to use to narrow this image down. J.E. Duignan operated in Port Clinton, Ohio between 1888 & 1897. Bess, the youngest in this image, was born March, 1890 so obviously it is after that date. Cora, the next child, was born in December, 1894. Bess doesn't appear to be much older than two, possibly three but I feel that might be a stretch. Therefore I believe this was taken in 1892 or close thereto.

Where It Fits: "John, Ed, Frank, Bess, Clara and Lem" are the oldest six children of Fredrick H. Nieman & Phylea Hopfinger. They are the grandchildren of Fredrick Nieman & Christina Schriber and Charles Hopfinger & Friederika Richardson. That makes them the cousins of Merle Fritsche-Leutz.

In History: On the 9th of this month John Nieman turned 127. On the 11th of this month Frank Nieman turned 126 and last but not least, Clara Nieman Hasselbach turns 120 on the 30th. MARCH BABIES ARE AWESOME!

**UPDATE** Slightly labeled

UPDATE: Mystery Monday's aren't always mysteries forever! This is the family of Phylea Hopfinger & Fredrick Nieman. Fredrick & Phylea had eight children. In birth order we have Edward, John, Franklin, Clara Hasselbach, Elmer, Bessie Gauthier, Cora Boyson & Karl. I am assuming Karl is the missing name.

For the first mystery we have this picture of ten. The back is beautifully labeled in black ink pen as follows:

• Cora - August Boysen
• Bess - John Gauthier
• Elmer -
  
• John -
  
• Edward -
  
• Frank -
  
• Fred
• Clara - Arthur Hasselbach
• Phylia

Does anybody else see a problem with this? First, there are only nine names but ten faces in the picture. Second, what name goes with what face? Third, does this family have a last name? If the names follow and go left to right the back row would be Cora, Bess, Elmer, John, Edward & Frank. Is the younger male on the far right side Fred or does that make the older man sitting Fred, the young woman in the middle Clara and the woman on the right Phylia? That would leave the youngest male unnamed. Does anybody have any more information on this family?

Timeline: The photographers mark on the bottom right hand corner says "Banister". There is some writing below that but I can't make it out. When I look in "Ohio Photographers; 1839-1900" I find nothing. That isn't surprising because judging by the girls clothing on the far left I was guessing it was taken after 1900. I pulled out my trusty "Uncovering Your Ancestry through Family Photographs" and looked at the listing for female clothing after 1900. The listing for 1908-1914 is the last listing and it is the first to include the notation for skirts as "feet show". Since you can clearly see the girls feet I assume this was taken after 1908. The youngest child, Karl, was born in October of 1895. Assuming he is 14 or 15 years old that would make the picture taken in 1909 or 1910. Cora, the youngest girl, is only 10 months older than her brother and it is possible for her to be fourteen or fifteen I am guessing right around there.

Where It Fits: Frederick Henry Nieman is the son of Frederick Nieman & Christina Schriber. In February, 1879 he married Phylea Hopfinger. (You can find her name spelled a billion different ways.) Phylea is the daughter of Charles Hopfinger & Friedericka Richardson. As mentioned above they are the parents of Edward, John, Franklin, Clara Hasselbach, Elmer, Bessie Gauthier, Cora Boyson and Karl.