Mr. Chas Hopfinger

Unlike some of the other pictures that are short a name or two this picture actually has THIRTEEN names on the back. Now, it is possible that this man had a very, very long name or it could be that somebody was label happy. I am going to go with label happy as this is a very specific label. If you were to flip this picture over you would see:

Mr. Chas Hopfinger

Phillia + Fred Nieman Mike + Rose Tilton
Clara + Nissen Fred single
Rosa Carsten August + Mary Goodeman
Caroline Robert Fritsche Leonard died at 18 years

The married names/spouses were added at a second time and Leonard was completely left off the original labeling. So, who was that masked man?

Since Leonard died at 18 and the man in the photograph is obviously over 18 I think we can eliminate him from the line up. Phillia, Clara, Rosa and Caroline can be eliminated out of the hope that none of those ladies have a beard. :-) That would leave Chas., Mike, Fred, August and the spouses of Phillia, Clara, Rosa & Caroline.

J.E. Duigan operated a photography studio in Port Clinton from 1888 - 1897. The age range for Fredrick would be 33 - 42. While it would be possible I doubt a 33 year old man would have gray facial hair. Since Fred is the oldest of the men listed (that I have a DOB for) it would be safe to assume he isn't any of the younger men either. That leaves us with Charles who would have been 60 in 1888. A very reasonable age for the man in the photograph. Since his name was the first name on the list and it was not over the list of males, it would stand to reason that whoever labeled the picture wanted to include how he was related so they listed all his children on the back.

Timeframe: J.E. Duigan operated from 1888-1897. I see no reason to disagree with this time frame. Since Chas. Hopfinger was alive that entire time frame his age could be from 59 to 68, depending on what time of year the photograph was taken.

Where It Fits: Charles was the father of Caroline Hopfinger Fritsche. Caroline was the mother of Merle Fritsche Leutz. Merle is the mother of Mary Caroline, Robert & A.J..

Reprint?

This picture baffles me. The back says "Mrs. Chas. Hopfinger, mother's mother". In another hand writing in a different colored ink it adds "She was a Richardson". J.E. Duignan operated a studio in Port Clinton from 1888 to 1897. That leaves a three year window for Mrs. Hopfinger to have had her picture taken and she would have been between 61 & 63. While it is possible this woman doesn't strike me as a woman in her 60's, especially one that had eight or so children. I would expect gray hair after 8 children. :-) So out of curiosity I pulled out the guide from 'Uncovering Your Ancestry through Family Photographs' and looked at the few visible clues. If the picture was taken between 1888 & 1890 you would expect to see her hair frizzy with curls around her face. You also expect to see a very high stiff collar. Neither are present. If you look at the 1853-1859 time frame you would expect to see her hair parted in the center & drooping over her ears. Jewelry, just look at those long dangly earrings. It also mentions items in the hair such as combs, ribbons, bows, etc. My guess is this was a picture taken in the 1850's and reprinted by J. E. Duignan between 1888 & 1897. If it was taken in 1853 it would have been before she was married and a mere 26. If it was taken in 1897 she would have been 32 and only had three children at the time. Of course it also could have been taken anytime between. Was this for her funeral in 1890? That would also explain why/how she was printed on a scroll and the flowers were added.

Timeframe: My guess is 1853-1859 but printed between 1888 & 1897.

How It Fits: Mrs. Hopfinger was the mother of Caroline Hopfinger Fritsche. Caroline Fritsche is the mother of Merle Fritsche Leutz, the mother of Mary Caroline, Robert & A.J.