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Archiver > BLACK > 1998-10 > 0909623729


From: "Lucy Bellville" <>
Subject: Re: [BLACK-L] My reason for starting Genealogy
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 1998 20:15:29 -0500


Barbara,

Thanks for the encouraging words. It would be hard to give him up but I
really think this is his picture. Will await further input from the list.

Lucy
-----Original Message-----
From: Barbara Speck <>
To: Lucy Bellville <>
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 1998 3:38 PM
Subject: Re: [BLACK-L] My reason for starting Genealogy

>Lucy Bellville wrote:
>>
>> It turns out that my sister, Peggy Nichoson, had posted this some time
ago
>> but for those who requested it, here is the story:
>>
>> Peggy, my daughter, Pat(another geneanut) and I visited our grandmother,
>> Elsie Lucetta Black's birthplace of Bucyrus, Crawford County, OH. We
found
>> the family plot, which was so beautifully tended that we just knew there
was
>> family close. Peggy had the idea of leaving a note, enclosed in a
plastic
>> bag to protect it. The note basically introduced us as family and asked
the
>> finder to contact us. About a month later, I received a letter from
>> Bucyrus, telling of the treasure of family artifacts they had to share
and
>> inviting us to come visit them.
>>
>> We packed up my sister's copy machine and various other luggage and went
at
>> the first opportunity. When we got there, we were treated like long lost
>> relatives and given free access to a box of photos and documents relating
to
>> John Porter Black and his wife, Margaret Harruff and others. One of
these
>> was a handwritten letter from John Porter Black to his children. We
copied
>> item after item for hours.
>>
>> The next day, we were taken to Ada, OH to the daughter's home where the
rest
>> of the treasure was stored. We were shown into a basement room, complete
>> with a powder room, where the other 15 or so boxes were stored. Each box
>> was carefully searched and again we copied like mad. We came away with
>> reams of documents and pictures that we would never have had access to
>> anywhere else. But the find of the trip, for me, was a small photograph.
>> On the back were the words, "my grandfather, Col. Thomas Black". Thru
our
>> cousin's husband, we were able to obtain a copy of that photo and some
>> others.
>>
>> Now the question of the validity of this photo recently was raised. Was
it
>> possible to take photos in the late 1700s? I really believe the picture
to
>> be as it is represented to be but this is a valid question. So I will
pose
>> it to the list, in case anyone knows anything about the history of
>> photography.
>>
>> Well, that's the story, believe it or not somewhat shortened. My point
in
>> telling you this is, don't overlook any opportunity to make a connection
>> with someone who might be able to help you in your quest. You just never
>> know what might work, no matter how far out it may sound. Happy hunting!
>>
>> Lucy
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: <>
>> To: <>
>> Date: Tuesday, October 27, 1998 10:29 AM
>> Subject: Re: [BLACK-L] My reason for starting Genealogy
>>
>> >Mrs.Bellville:
>> >
>> >Please share the story with me.....
>> >
>> >Mike
>> >
>I don't know a lot about photography, but could a sepia photo be made
>from a lineotype? Maybe. Food for thought. I have a lineotype of my
>grandfather who was born in 1881. Then, I also have his 1913 Mandelet
>camera from which the postcard photos were made.
>
>that is all I know, but thought I wouls share a tidbit.I would be just
>sick to find a treasured photo and then find out it isn't, so don't give
>up on the possibility of it being him until you know definitely.
>
>Good luck,
>
>barbara
>

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