“Luie and Otto Eck, Winchester, 1873”: It appears that these are Ludwig/Louis Eck (b. abt. 1866 in Illinois) and his younger brother Otto Eck (b. abt. 1868 in Illinois), sons of John B. Eck (b. abt. 1838 in Germany) and his wife Elizabeth (b. abt. 1846 in Illinois). The family appears in the 1870 census in Winchester, Scott Co, IL. They also appear in the 1880 census in Dubuque, Dubuque Co, Iowa, along with their younger brother Frederick W. (b. abt. 1878 in IL). By the time of the 1900 census, it appears that the father has died and Elizabeth has remarried to a Mr. Funke, but perhaps been widowed again since she appears as the head of the household in Jerseyville, Jersey Co, IL. Otto and Fred appear with her, along with a daughter, Helen? (b. 1882 in Iowa). It seems likely that Louis has married by this time and is the Louis Eck who appears as the head of a household in 1900 in Pinckneyville, Perry Co, IL, along with his wife Lizzie (Elizabeth) Alexander (b. Oct 1875 in IL), daughter Helen B. (b. Apr 1896 in IL) and son Alfred (b. Aug 1898 in IL). Louis and his family also appear in the 1920 census in Murphysboro, Jackson Co, IL, along with daughters Ida? (b. abt. 1903), Ada/Addie (b. abt. 1906), and Louise (b. abt. 1909). Alfred and Addie appear with their widowed mother, Elizabeth, in the 1930 census in Murphysboro. Alfred Eck died in Murphysboro, IL, in March 1977. It seems that Otto may not have married, as he appears in the 1930 census, single, in the household of his younger brother, Frederick, in Jerseyville, IL.

“Mamie? Brown”. Unknown. The back of this photo identifies it as taken in Taylorville, Illinois.

“May Brown”. Unknown. The back of this photo identifies it as taken in Girard, Kansas.