A few years ago we were at the local flea market and found an old dirty suitcase with some beautiful old turn of the century photographs in almost perfect condition. The thought of these ending up in a dump turned my stomach so we bought them. Most of the pictures had names written on the back of them and after a little research we found Christine Martin who is a descendent of the family in the pictures and they are now in her possession.

Both Christine and I wanted these images to remain on this website for other descendents of this family. If you think you might be related to any of the people in the pictures below you can visit Christine's family tree at the "Early Families of Holmes County, Ohio" (you will have to scroll down the page abit).  You can  E-Mail Christine she'd love to hear from you.

The notes in red below are who these people may be from correspondence with Christine and viewing her family tree

Mr. Shank
Written on the back of picture is only "Mr. Shank"
Possibly Daniel Shank who was born about 1829 in Pennsylvania son of John and Juliann Shank

Mrs. Shank 
Written on the back of picture is only "Mrs. Shank"
Possibly Sarah, wife of Daniel Shank

The Shank Family (4 men and 1 woman)
Written on the back of picture is
in pencil "Bust of lady as is Blk & White 14 x 27 Elias Crumb Lakeville Ohio - (crossed out in pencil)
in ink "Mrs. Elias Crum - Pricilla"
in ink in another hand writing is "Shank Family - Pericilla (Pricilla) Shank Crum"
Note: Of the 3 men sitting in the front row, the middle one looks like Sam Shank from the pictures below, the other 2 are probably his brothers. Pricilla is a sister and standing behind them with another man that may be her husband Elias Crum.
Adult children of Daniel and Sarah Shank
Silas Shank 
Pricilla (Shank) Crum
Absalom Shank
Daniel Shank
Samuel Shank

Absalom Shank
Written on the back of picture is "Abb. Shank"
Printed on the front of the picture is "H.E. Rimer, Opposite Postoffice, Schuyler, Nebr."

Amos Shank
Written on the back of picture is "Amos Shank"

Amos Shank and wife
Written on the back of picture is "Amos Shank"
Printed on the front of picture is "McCullough Cabinet Portrait, Schuyler, Neb."

Iva P. Shank
Written on back of picture is "Iva P. Shank age 6 mo, d days"
Printed on front of picture is "Reynold's [studio] David City, Neb.
[Beth's note:
Iva is found in the 1900 census as the daughter of Sam and Minnie Shank. The family was living in Bone Creek, Butler County, Nebraska]
Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Bone Creek, Butler, Nebraska; Roll: T623 Series: 918; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 2.]

Stella Fern Shank
Written on the back of picture is "Stella Fern Shank - Born Mar 23, 1894 - Died Sept 9, 1904"
Printed on the front of the picture is "The McGill Studio Albion, Nebr."
[Beth's note:
Stella is found in the 1900 census as "Fern Shank", the daughter of Sam and Minnie Shank. The family was living in Bone Creek, Butler County, Nebraska]
Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Bone Creek, Butler, Nebraska; Roll: T623 Series: 918; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 2

Sam Shank
Written on back of picture is "Sam Shank"
Printed on the front of the picture "Duncan [studio] Oskaloosa, Iowa"
[Beth's note:
Sam Shank is found in the 1900 census with his wife Minnie and their 4 daughters; Iva, Fern, Hazel, and Elmira along with 2 teenagers listed as servants. The family was living in Bone Creek, Butler County, Nebraska.]
Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Bone Creek, Butler, Nebraska; Roll: T623 Series: 918; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 2

Sam Shank & Wife
Written on the back of picture is "Abb. Shank"
Note: It is very clear from the next picture that this is a picture of Sam Shank and his wife
Printed on the front of the picture is "Reynolds [studio] David City, Nebr."

Sam Shank & Family
Written on the back of picture is "Sam Shank & Family".  Printed on the front of picture is "Keene Bro's Studio David City, Neb.
[Beth's note:
Using the 1900 census as a guide I would say that this picture is of Sam, his wife Minnie and 2 eldest daughter Iva and Stella Fern. It was probably taken around later 1894 to early 1895]
Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Bone Creek, Butler, Nebraska; Roll: T623 Series: 918; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 2

Nicholas Crum
Written on the back of picture is "My Great Grandfather Nicklas (Nicholas) Crum - Eliasis (Elias) Parents"

Eliza Crum
Written on the back of picture is "My Great Grandmother Eliza Crum - Eliasis (Elias) Parents"

Nethrows (picture of elderly man) - only thing written on the back of picture is "Nethrows"

Nethrow (picture of a mature woman) - only thing written on the back of picture is "Nethrows"

Heifrich Family
Written on the back of the picture is
"Front Row - Grandma (and) Grandpa Heifrich
Back Row - Margaret daughter & Joseph son"
Note: This picture is in a trifold cardboard type frame "The Northland Studios, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Toledo, Indianapolis" is printed on the inside.

Unidentified Man
There is nothing written on this picture to help us identify this young man.
Printed on the front of the picture is Smith's (studio) Celluloid Finish Newark, Ohio"

Unidentified Woman #1
There is nothing written or printed on this picture

Unidentified Woman #2
Nothing is written on this picture to help us identify this woman
Printed (actually imprinted) on the front of the picture is "Bellsmith 148 W. 4th St. Cincinnati, O. (and) 500 Main St. Buffalo, N.Y."

Unidentified Family
This picture is glued to a cardboard backing. There is nothing written or printed to help us identify this family

Unidentified Couple 
This looks like it is a wedding photo. There is nothing written on the picture to help us identify this couple
Printed on the front of the picture is Mahan & Wright (studio) 518 Chartiers Ave. McKees Rocks, PA.