Friday's Faces From the Past - Lena's Photographs

Photograph #2

The second of many photographs found in the belongings of my great grand aunt, Lena Rhoda Steele McLelland who was born and raised in Limestone County, Texas.  She and her husband, James "Jim" A. McLelland moved to Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana between 1900 and 1910 where they lived the remainder of their lives.

I believe most of 'Lena's Photographs' are of relations in the Steele, Chisum and McLelland families who lived in the Limestone County, Texas area.

Any help with identification would be appreciated.

To view other photographs from this collection click on 'Lena's Photographs' under Tags on the right-hand side of the blog.

Lena Rhoda Steele (1877-1960)

Lena Rhoda Steele was born on December 22, 1877 in Limestone County, Texas.

She was the sixth child born to the marriage of Francis Marion "Frank" Steele and Lucinda Chisum.

Lena's siblings included the following four sisters and one brother:

Lula
Lydia Frances
Louella "Ella"
Isham Alfonso
Mary Allye

1880 U. S. Census

Lena married James A. "Jim" McLelland circa 1895 in Limestone County, Texas.  Jim was born on October 23, 1870.

After their marriage, Jim and Lena made their home in Limestone County before moving to Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana prior to 1910.  

Lena wanted to move to Sicily Island to be closer to her brother, Isham Alfonso, who had moved there about twelve years earlier.  Jim was content to stay in Texas.

The story goes that Lena told Jim she was moving to Sicily Island whether he moved with her or not.  Jim remained adamant that he was not moving but Lena would not yield.  She packed up her belongings and asked Jim to take her by wagon to the train station.  

Jim, believing she would not go through with her plans, agreed to take her to catch the train.  Lena's belongings were loaded on the train and at the very last minute, Jim jumped aboard with nothing but the clothes on his back.

Over the years, Lena would often tell this story and Jim would only smile; never denying the circumstances under which he ended up in Louisiana.

Lena seated on the left

McLelland House - 2010

James A. "Jim" McLelland died on February 23, 1955.  Lena Rhoda Steele McLelland died on October 6, 1960.  Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana.

Monroe News Star - 2/24/1955

Monroe Morning World - 10/8/1960

Friday's Faces from the Past - Loftin Brothers

Robert and Billy Loftin - 1928 White, McCurtain County, Oklahoma

This photograph belonged to my great grand aunt, Lena Rhoda Steele McLelland.  After several failed attempts to connect these Loftin brothers to my Steele family, I decided to research the McLelland family line.

Here is the connection I discovered...

• Lena's husband, James A. "Jim" McLelland, had a sister named Louisa Delilah.  
• Louisa Delilah married Samuel Reuben Loftin
• Louisa Delilah and Samuel Reuben had a son, William A. "Willie" Loftin, born in 1882
• Willie married Emma Love
• Robert and Billy were the sons of Willie and Emma Loftin
• Dr. Robert Love Loftin, 1913-1991 (m. Willodene Alfrey)
• Lt. Col. William Able Loftin, Jr., 1915-1969 (m. Doris Thomas)

Two months after posting this photograph in my Ancestry.com tree, I received the following:

"This made my day.  Robert was the love of my life.  He was a caring physician and the kindest, loving person that anyone could imagine.  A true southern gentleman.  Losing him still leaves a huge void."

Friday's Faces from the Past - Lena's Photographs

Photograph #1

The first of many photographs found in the belongings of my great grand aunt, Lena Rhoda Steele McLelland who was born and raised in Limestone County, Texas.  She and her husband, James "Jim" A. McLelland moved to Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana between 1900 and 1910 where they lived the remainder of their lives.

I believe most of 'Lena's Photographs' are of relations in the Steele, Chisum and/or McLelland families who lived in the Limestone County, Texas area.

It is possible that the children in this photograph are the children of one of the following couples:

Lydia Frances Steele and Silas Abraham "Abe" Greer
Louella "Ella" Steele and Walter A. Walling
Mary Allye "Madie" Steele and Henry Robert Eaton

These three Steele sisters were daughters of Francis Marion Steele and Lucinda Chisum and sisters to Lena Rhoda Steele McLelland.  Other than Lena who had no children, there was one other sister named Lula and a brother named Isham Alfonso.  Lula had one daughter.  Isham Alfonso, who was my great-grandfather, had four daughters.

Any Texas Steeles, Chisums or McLellands out there who can help identify the children in this photograph?

To view other photographs from this collection click on 'Lena's Photographs' under Tags on the right-hand side of the blog.