Old-Time Photography

This entry in my Old-Time Photography series has pictures of family beards.

I will start with a picture of my 4th great grandfather Absalom Leeper. This picture was probably taken when he was in his 90’s. Absalom was a Christian Church preacher and also had been a hatter.

I like that fact that he still has a full head of white hair. The neck beard is a bit interesting, but not the only one among my ancestors.

See my posts Irish Heritage and Mad as a Hatter? for more information about Absalom. In the second post I discuss how old he was. His tombstone states that he was 106.

Isaac Grenawalt was the husband of my 3rd great grandaunt Mary Bunt. He has an interesting goatee. His expression is typical for early portrait pictures. They didn’t smile for pictures back then.

Here is my 3rd great grandfather David Darling. His beard is somewhat similar to Isaac’s, but not as long. He did get some curvature in his expression, but down instead of up.

My 2nd great grandfather John A. Miller gets the award for longest beard.

John A. Miller was an Amish preacher and worked with Amish settlements in different states including one in Oklahoma. See Amish in Oklahoma.

To close off the post I will add two pictures that are not so old. The picture of my father and grandfather is from the mid 80’s and the picture of me is from six years ago when I was in Antarctica.

Which of these beards is the most interesting?

Steven