The back of the picture postcard

Lizzie Eddins/Edins Pinson to her sister Carrie Eddins/Edins Barkesdale in Bessermer, AL, about 1913 - 1918. 

Lizzie Eddins/Edins Pinson and Mary Ann Jones

Here is an amazing picture postcard that turned up in my aunt's genealogy collection. It was taken in Bessermer, AL, by a traveling photographer. The subject is the family of Thomas James Pinson. It was probably taken in front of the one-room house/shack where they lived because of Thomas's job as a railroad switchman. The younger woman is Lizzie Eddins Pinson, and the older woman is Mary Ann Jones Pinson. 

My aunt thinks that the baby is Gladys Mae Pinson. If so, that would place the photo's date from 1913 to 1914 between the time of Gladys's birth and Mary Ann's death. The baby certainly looks like a girl, but could be a boy. If so, the baby would be Harvey, who was born in 1910; and the picture would be dated 1910 - 1914. 

In this picture Lizzie is between 33 and 37. Mary Ann Jones, Lizzie's mother-in-law, is between 75 and 78. 

Family lore says that Moses D. Pinson returned from Mississippi around 1855 after the death of his first wife in order to marry "that pretty little Mary Ann Jones." You can see why. Despite her advanced age and lack of smile, her cheekbones are gorgeous and her face has great symmetry. 

I'll post the other side of the card in the next blog entry. 

This is the only photo I have ever seen of Mary Ann Jones. Beauty just runs in the family, I guess.  ;-)

Where Britta lived in 1866

In the 1866 State Census for AL, Mrs. Britton McGuire lives in Township 24, Range 12 East in Shelby County. My fragrant cousin and I drove through the area on our recent genealogical forays in AL. State Road 25 goes through that section, which is just outside the town of Wilton before you get to Bibb County. It's pretty country, verdant and teeming with life. 


Along the way is the Brierfield Ironworks. Sadly we decided not to stop this trip. Way too hot—95 degrees—and too much to see at the Brent Centerville Library and Judge of Probate office. The people at these offices are WONDERFUL! Kind and helpful. 


I looked up original ownership of this area in Family Maps of Shelby County at the BPL. Surprise! (Not really). Pleasant Fancher and Jonathan Newton Smith owned most of it. Manus Lemley owned some. 


Britta often lived near Pleasant Fancher and JNS, especially in 1870. Jonathan Smith's third wife was Frances Jane (or Jane Frances) Green, daughter of Joscelin B. Green and granddaughter of Squire John and Jane Kerr Green.  Manus Lemley was grandfather of James Pinkney Lemley, who married Sarah Ellen McKinney (Britta's niece). James and Sarah Ellen are in Leflore County, MS, in 1880 with John P. McKinney and other family. 


More pieces of the puzzle. I haven't figured out how they fit together yet. But I will. 


I look forward to both going back for research at the Courthouse and for visiting the Ironworks. Next year for sure!