Among those featured in Hannah Rich’s photograph album are pictures of her relatives - Riches and Southards - and her husband’s relatives - Blakelys, Mitchells, McLaurys, and Peters - as well as business associates and the minister who married them. All these families were among the first white inhabitants of Delaware County, New York. Most of them originated in England, Scotland, or Ireland.

It was Hannah Rich Peters who wrote “Elizabeth M Blakely” in ink on the back of this photo. The pencil notation is by Florence Nelson Flanders Hickok, wife of Benjamin Blakely Hickok. Benjamin Blakely Hickok was William Blakely Peters’ and Hannah Rich Peters’ grandson, and a wonderful picture of Hannah and the boy Benjamin can be found here. Benjamin Blakely Hickok grew up at 88 Elm Street in Oneonta, New York; cousin Elizabeth M Blakely evidently appears to have lived on Elm Street during this same time.

It is believed that Elizabeth Mitchell Blakely was the daughter of Goldsborough Banyer Blakely and Elizabeth Mitchell. The child Elizabeth was born about 1864 and would have been the first cousin of Hannah's husband William Blakely Peters; hence Benjamin Blakely Hickok’s reference to Elizabeth as “cousin.” She, along with her brother Ransom Mitchell Blakely and parents, were buried in Woodland Cemetery in Delhi. NY. Elizabeth also appears in census records, including the 1870 and 1880 census for Kortright township, NY.

Photographer Maurice Farrington of Delhi, New York, appears in an online excerpt from 100 Years in the History of Delhi, New York 1860-1960: “1864, At Agr. Fair, winner best pkg. Butter.” Perhaps he had not yet caught the photography bug.

Patricia and Carolyn have attempted to identify all persons in the album and learn more about them through research of various records. If you can help us identify or add further information to this photo, please contact :

Photo contributed by Kelly Anne Daniels.