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Showing posts from February, 2026

Photograph: Lucas Wurtz Hankins, William Lucas Hankins, Mary Ellen (Ross) Hankins

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 There is a label on the back of the photograph identifying it as Lucas W, William L and Mary Ellen Ross Hankins, with a date of c 1875-1880 we think. The handwriting for the identification is in my mother's handwriting (she's also the person who stuck labels on the backs of photos and wrote on them with ink after I told her not to write on the backs of the photos in ink! I said use a soft pencil!) I suspect mmy grandfather Francis William Hankins provided the identification of his father William L Hankins in the photograph. There are enough other photos of Lucas and Mary Ellen to compare that would confirm their identities.  No information is provided as to where the photograph was taken. My guess is Manchester, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, since that is where Lucas Hankins and his family lived.  I suspect the photograph dates from the early 1880s. William was born in 1872. So for the photo to have been taken 1875-1880 - he would be between 3 and 8 years old. He looks old...