Extended family photos are always a bit of a challenge. Trying to schedule a time that works for everyone, deciding on what to wear, getting everyone to look at the camera at the same time. Back in the late 1800s, I'm sure it was even more of a challenge, which makes this group photo all the more impressive.
The photo was in the FamilySearch archives, with many of the people labeled and tagged. There, almost in the center, is the matriarch of the crew. Ann McFarlane Erskine (her husband, Archibald had passed away thirteen years prior to this picture). Following the relationship back, Ann is Dad/Lamar's Great-Great-Grandmother. Therefore she is the "3rd Great-Grandmother" to the Westra siblings, and the 4th Great-Grandmother to the Westra grandkids.
Here's another look at the progression from Family Search for the Westra line.
Claude Erskine was Dad/Lamar's Grandfather (Claude would have been 15 years old in this photo).
Archibald McFarlane Erskine was Dad/Lamar's Great-Grandfather.
There was a legend that had been created to accompany the photograph.
This included when the photo had been taken (1898) and a number of names.
The handwriting here looks SO much like Mom/Margie's ... but it's not. The assumption would be it would be Grandma Lucille's, but it doesn't really match her handwriting we've seen labeling other photographs. Based on the "our father" indication, it seems it could have been written by one of Lucille's siblings? The dark circles noted above are all directly connected to Archibald McFarlane Erskine (his mother, himself, his wife and seven living children).
You can see there are gaps in the information above though ... question marks and empty spaces. Chris did some detective work, using the Decendancy tool in Family Search. Checking to see what children existed, and trying to match them up according to approximate age, and position near parents.
Chris also contacted others through Family Search to see if any additional information could be found. He did get a little feedback, that "Easy Erskine" (#27) was Louise Mackay Rutherford (Easy being a nickname, Erskine her married name).
There is still a "mystery girl" (#21) ...
So after Chris's work, not only are all the individuals (aside from "mystery girl") labeled in a new legend (see it below) but the faces have been labeled and linked in Family Search.
Here's a new numbering on the photo itself ...
Front (Bottom) Row (Right to Left)
1. Wallace John Erskine (born 1891)
2. Laura Erskine Dangerfield (born 1890)
3. Sidney Archibald Erskine (born 1892)
4. Arthur Edwin Dangerfield (born 1894)
5. Ralph Samuel Erskine (born 1894)
6. Mayme Irene Dangerfield (born 1892)
7. Mary E. Hunter (born 1890)
8. Bessie E. Erskine (born 1891)
9. Ivy Roberts Erskine (born 1889)
10. Robert Murchie Hunter (born 1893)
11. Edna Hunter (born 1888)
12. Ethel Ada Erskine (born 1889)
Next Row Up (Right to Left)
13. William Rutherford Erskine (born 1896)
14. John MacFarlane Erskine (born 1867)
15. Peter Pieters Erskine (born 1865)
16. Margaret Phoebe Erskine (born 1895)
17. Annie MacFarlane Erskine (born 1859)
18. Annie Louise Dangerfield (born 1897)
19. Genevieve Maud Erskine (born 1887)
20. James Park Erskine (born 1870)
21. Girl born about 1896 - sitting on James lap. Need to find this one.
22. Ann Jack MacFarlane (born 1826)
23. Archibald McFarlane Erskine (born 1856)
24. Jessie Hunter (born 1895)
25. Jessie Erskine (born 1854)
26. Adam Jack Erskine (born 1863)
Next Row Up (Right to Left) - second row from top
27. Louise Mackay Rutherford (born 1870)
28. Phoebe Evans (born 1865)
29. Cora Amelia Erskine (born 1897)
30. Benjamin Stephen Dangerfield Sr. (born 1858)
31. Eliza Roberts (born 1855)
32. Ruby Erskine (born 1886)
33. William Hunter (born 1847)
34. Ada Elizabeth Adams (born 1861)
35. Archibald Erskine Hunter (born 1886)
36. Albert Charles Dangerfield (born 1887)
37. Stanley John Erskine (born 1884)
38. Claude Arthur Erskine (born 1883)
39. Ann MacFarlane Hunter (born 1883)
40. William Erskine Hunter (born 1881)
41. Kate Mary Erskine (born 1881)
42. Benjamin Stephen Dangerfield Jr. (born 1881)
43. Isabella Hay Hunter (born 1884)
44. Jessie Pearl Dangerfield (born 1883)
45. Ernest Archibald Dangerfield (born 1885)
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