Carrie Prentice - mid-1880s - page 11 of Charles Joslin Call and Elizabeth Ann Coe's photograph album
The tenth photo in the album is of Carrie Prentice (1866-1945), Elizabeth Coe's first cousin.
Carrie Prentice was born in April 1866 in Pennsylvania, most likely in Pike or Le Raysville, Bradford County, where her father Martin S. Prentice (1837-1925) lived from at least 1863-1901. Her mother was Martha Ann Ford (1835-1883).
She married Charles H. Benham (1861-1916) in 1884, likely in Le Raysville. He was the son of James Benham and Eliza.
Charles and Carrie Benham had two children: Jay M. (1886-1887) and Frederick M. (1889-1973).
The Benham's lived in Pike, Bradford County, Pennsylvania through at least 1900, when Charles' occupation was listed as teamster. Sometime between 1907 and 1909, they moved to New York. By 1910, they lived in Nichols, Tioga County, New York, when both Carrie's husband Charles and their son Fred were employed at a cabinet factory. In 1915, Charles' occupation was listed as Carpenter, while their son Fred worked as a laborer in a shoe factory.
Charles Benham died in Nicols, Tioga County on 21 July 1916.
In 1920, Carrie was still living in Nicols, where she was employed as Cutter in Mill. By 1925, Carrie and Fred were living in Owego, Tioga County, where she was employed as stitcher in a corset factory.
By 1930, Carrie was back in Binghamton where she lived for the rest of her life. In 1930, she was involved in a car accident in Binghamton.
Carrie died in Binghamton on 6 December 1945.
The album page states that this is a photograph of Sarah Ward Coe. However, the information on the back of the photograph identifies it as a photograph of Carrie Prentice Benham, daughter of Martin Prentice. When I compared the photo with other photos of Sarah Ward Coe, it didn't look anything like her. So I suspect there was originally a different photo on this page - one of Sarah Ward Coe - that at some point was replaced by the one of Carrie Prentice.
Based on the thick gilt border, the style of the photographer's imprint, the ornate painted backdrop, the tightly curled hair, large bustle and many buttons on the front of the dress, my guess is this photograph dates from the mid 1880s.
I have found a little bit of information about the photographer S.B. VanNess. In 1900, Silsby B. VanNess was of Great Bend, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania listed his occupation as photographer. Twenty years earlier, in 1880, he lived in Portland, Northampton County, PA, with his occupation listed as artist. In 1901, Silsbee B VanNess was listed as a photographer in city directory for Binghampton, Broome County, New York. He was born in January 1854 in Pennsylvania, married Frances Silvernail in 1886 in Oxford, Chenango County, New York, died in 1904, and is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Hallstead, Susquehanna County, PA.
I haven't found any records prior to 1900 showing where his studio was located, so I don't know where the photograph of Carrie was taken.
Since Carrie is known to have married in 1884, this could well be a photograph taken to celebrate her engagement or marriage.
I've put together a map showing the locations Carrie Prentice Benham lived, and where S.B. VanNess's studio was in 1900-1901.
Previous page in the album: Ezra Frank Coe
Next page in the album: Frank Lincoln Walkley
Comments
Post a Comment