Mary Ellen Byrnes and Sarah Rebecca Watrous 1870
Aug
2010
2010
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This wonderful photograph was in the collection of Mr. Painter in Terre Haute, Illinois. He made a copy for us which is shown here. Our ancestors Jerome Timothy and Mary June Reynolds Watrous adopted a “soldier’s orphan” in about 1870. Her name was Mary Ellen Byrnes. She is shown here in the checkered dress. The oldest girl is her new sister Sarah Rebecca Watrous, sister of our direct ancestor Henry Reynolds Watrous and aunt of direct ancestor Everest Elliott Watrous. The third child is said to be a cousin to Sarah Rebecca but her name is not known to us. This portrait was taken in LaHarpe, Hancock County, Illinois in 1870.