Sepia Saturday 387: Fourth in a series on piecing together the origins of my maternal grandmother Elizabeth (Stoutner) Laurence’s fashion sense.
Seeking the roots of my maternal grandmother’s signature style, I turned to a group shot that captures three generations of my German Stoutner ancestors from Goversville, Fulton County, N.Y.
My grandmother Elizabeth Christina (Stoutner) Laurence is the youngest family member. In her little white dress and hair ribbon, Liz was probably about three when the photo was taken — which dates it to circa 1908. Surrounding her are some spiffy-looking adults.
Standing, from the left: Edson Haggart and his wife Gertrude (Stoutner) Haggart; my great-grandfather Andrew J. “Pete” Stoutner and his wife, my great-grandmother Ceila (Mimm) Stoutner; and Crosby Van Arnum, friend and business partner of John H. Stoutner, who is seated in front of him.
Seated, from the left: Mary (Stoutner) Mann; my grandmother Liz held by my great-great grandfather Andrew J. Stoutner; his wife, my great-great grandmother Christina (Albeitz) Stoutner; and their son Uncle John.
The two boys are Gertrude and Edson’s sons Clyde E. Haggart, at left, and Gilbert Haggart, standing in front. Mary’s husband, Rector Mann, was living when this photo was taken, but he does not appear in the picture — so he may be the photographer.
A tale of three families
My German immigrant great-great grandfather Andrew J. Stoutner (b. 1832) had three families over his lifetime. According to family lore, his first wife died in childbirth — but I have yet to discover her name or further details.
He remarried and, with his second wife Elizabeth D. Stouther (b. 1844), had two children — William A. Stoutner (b. 1862) and Mary E. Stoutner (b. 1864). Mary appears seated in the photo above. Sadly, Elizabeth also died in 1865, leaving Andrew a widower with two small children.
Andrew and his third wife — my great-great grandmother Christina (Albeitz) Stoutner, also from Germany — had three surviving children together: John H. Stoutner (b. 1869), Gertrude Stoutner (b. 1871) and my great-grandfather Andrew J. “Pete” Stoutner (b. 1875). They all appear in the photo above.
Generations of style
From whom did my grandmother inherit her style? If this photo is any indication, probably from her entire extended family!
Uncle John and his partner Crosby, who co-owned The Smart Shop, were women’s clothing professionals. They appear nattily attired at the right of this photo — and everyone else looks pretty good, too.
My great-grandfather Pete Stoutner, a strapping railway employee and Liz’s dad, shows a bit of flare with his white shirt and vest. Next to him, my great-grandmother Celia (Mimm) Stoutner, Liz’s mom, looks lovely in a Gibson Girl blouse and au courant updo.
Couture consciousness
The wall behind them may be the side of my great-great grandparents’ house at 4 Wells Street — constructed with bricks manufactured at my great-great grandfather Andrew Stoutner’s Gloversville brick works.
I suspect this three-generation photo of my German immigrant ancestors, their children, and grandchildren was carefully posed to send a message of success to relatives back home.
From oldest to youngest, everyone seems well turned out — even my grandmother’s cousins Clyde and Gilbert are snappily dressed. So is it any wonder that my grandmother developed couture consciousness — learning an early lesson from her elders about putting her best fashion foot forward?
Up next: More on Uncle John H. Stoutner, the family clothier. Meanwhile, please visit the posts of other Sepia Saturday participants here.
© 2017 Molly Charboneau. All rights reserved.
Thanks once again to everyone for your thoughtful comments. Yes, Gilbert is a little star in this show — with his smile, tiny watch fob and wide-collared suit. I’ll have to take a look at family dates to see if they may haven gathered for a celebration. And I am grateful to my grandmother for labeling this photo on a transparent overlay so I knew who was who.
A fine family group photo. Do you think there was an occasion to celebrate? Anniversary or birthday? Including the dogs seems a very German thing to do.
As you are, I’m sure, aware, you’re lucky to have the family pictures you do. I just wish – in some of the ones I have, as well – the people in them didn’t look quite so glum. But back then photographers generally asked their clients not to smile as it was difficult to hold an exact smile for the length of time it took to take the picture. Even so, grampa an the youngest little boy are kind of grinning to lighten the picture just a bit. 🙂
Such a lot of information from one photo. Good to read, and interesting. Who did I like best? The little boy in the front middle.
Gilbert’s costume looks particularly unique. I have a raincoat, vaguely the same style. I love the look captured on his face and the fact that the dogs were included. Great looking family.
Yes, the message is loud and clear and I’m sure the folks back home would have read it as such. You’ve posted another brick in the wall of family history.
I am always fascinated with the way in which (in the hands of a good writer) family history which might appear to be of interest only to members of that family can be translated into social history which tells the story of a time, a place and a people. Such an interesting post, thanks.
Great that you know who everyone is in that old photograph. I must admit I have never really thought about any of my ancestors in terms of their fashion sense, but two of my great aunts were dressmakers/ tailoresses so I imagine they dressed well.