This is my mother's mother's father. My grandmother's father, in other words. One of my 4 great-grandfathers. I just came across this picture and thought it was interesting.
His name was Fayette Bishop, from Southwestern, Virginia. I think Wise County, or maybe Big Stone Gap. He died before I was born.
The picture I remember of him most was a picture that was taken when he was sick in bed. He had white hair and a thick white mustache, and they put an old cain type chair upside down at the head of the bed, and put pillows on the back of the chair so he could prop himself up.
This picture is completely different - he's young & strong here, and just a little tough looking. This picture has to be from the 1880s or 1890s. I'm a direct decendent. As are multitudes of others. So. Got that going for me. Me and the multitudes.
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6 comments:
What a find!
I really like this "all business-don't mess with me" look.
Don't you just LOVE these photos of ancestors? I wish I had more of mine, but photography just wasn't that commonplace 100 years ago.
Now I know where you get that stern look from!
I do notice that even though his face is stern, the body is not. He looks relaxed. Maybe you had to look relaxed if you sat there for 10 minutes waiting for the shot to be taken.
You are very fortunate to have such a picture. It connects you to someone, to the past, the country in some way.
I never met my maternal grandfather, for he grew old and died in another country without me ever meeting him. My mother, however, adored him and still keeps a tiny picture of him in her purse. When I look at the 1 inch black and white photo, I struggle to find similarities, traits...I struggle to find my face in his. I search his eyes for a glimpse of myself or my sons, my aunts or my uncles. For some people it is easier to connect to their past and their heritage; however, for those of us who are the children of immigrants who left their native countries with their pockets and hands empty it is now always so easy.
You have a treasure here...
Martin: Yep! Thanks for reading & commenting.
MiMi: He was a stern looking guy. Even when he was old & sick, he looked stern - I think it's the mustache.
Patti Anne: Me? Stern?
Amma: I never met him, I really don't know if he was a big guy or not - he doesn't look that big in the picture. I have a feeling I'd tower over him. But I bet he was tougher.
Fearless Blog: Thanks for your thoughts. I have a lot of pictures, and I sometimes take it for granted. Even though my family managed to get tangled up in Central Appalachia, both sides have been in the USA since the 18th century - before it was the USA.
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