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Family Tree Photo Mystery Challenge Accepted! Help Us Identify These Old Pictures
A contributor sent us five photos found together at an antiques store, along with a photo mystery challenge to identify the people in the pictures. We're up to the task! Can you help?
Family Tree Magazine’s friend and contributor Sunny Morton sent us several photos she found at an antiques store in Northeastern Ohio, along with a challenge: “There’s enough to possibly identify the family: Names, a place, and even a cousin relationship clue. Can you do it?”
And we said:
Let’s see how well we’ve absorbed the lessons of Photo Detective blogger Maureen A. Taylor.
We’d love your input on this photo mystery challenge! Comment on this post with your thoughts, post to your own blog, or feel free to email us. Here are the five photos, front and back, and our starting thoughts.
Mystery Photo No. 1
This baby appears to be 12 months or so. The photographer’s imprint is for the J.E. Gearing studio in Covert, Mich. Handwriting on the back says “Bernie Lang.” The mat is 6.5 x 4.25-inch white cardstock with a decorative edge.
Mystery Photo No. 2
This 3.375 x 5.375-inch real-photo postcard is labeled “Beatrice Lang 3 rs old” on the back. The handwriting looks similar to photo No. 1.
Mystery Photo No. 3
This is also a real-photo-postcard measuring 3.375 x 5.375-inches. The child shown on the front looks to be 2 or 3 years old. The back reads “Compliments of Little Beatrice to Cousin Bernice. Please answer at once all are well Eetta[?]”
Mystery Photo No. 4
This 4 x 6-inch unmounted paper print is labeled “Beatrice Lang” and “Henry Burg” on the back, in what looks like different handwriting. We’d estimate this young woman to be in her late teens. Her short hair and open neckline are similar to fashions we’ve seen in photos from the 1920s.
Mystery Photo No. 5
This photo has “Lenna Lang” written on the back (in what looks like the same handwriting as on photo Nos. 1 and 2) . It’s mounted on textured brown cardstock (the scan of the back of the card is closest to the actual color), measuring 3 x 4.25 inches. This young woman might be in her late teens or early 20s. Because of the high neckline and hair pulled back with a big bow, we think this picture dates earlier than photo No. 4 above.
It’s a Photo Mystery Challenge!
What do you think of our estimated ages? What and dates would you give these photos?
From the photos and captions, I think we have three people in these pictures:
- Beatrice Lang: photos 2 and 4
- Bernice Lang: (photo 1 for sure, and photo 3 sure does look like the same child as photo 1—but why would Bernice be receiving a photo of herself from her cousin?)
- Lenna Lang: photo 5
Apparently Bernice and Beatrice are cousins, but how are they related to Lenna? Who is this Henry?
Let’s see what we can figure out about this family!
Get clues for researching unidentified photos and solving family photo mysteries with the Family Photo Detective guidebook by Maureen A. Taylor.
Ann D
A marriage for Beatrice, stating her birthplace as Covert, matching the photo studio location:
Name Walter George Mcdonald
Birth Date 1908
Birthplace Thorse, Mi
Age 29
Spouse’s Name Beatrice Charles Lang
Spouse’s Birth Date 1911
Spouse’s Birthplace Covert, Mi
Spouse’s Age 26
Event Date 03 May 1937
Event Place St Ignace, Mi
Father’s Name William Mcdonald
Mother’s Name Elizabeth Webber
Spouse’s Father’s Name William Edward Lang
Spouse’s Mother’s Name Minnie E Bing
Ann D
Bernice Lang – from Covert in 1900 census:
Bernice J Lang
United States Census, 1900
Name Bernice J Lang
Event Type Census
Event Year 1900
Event Place Covert township, Van Buren, Michigan, United States
Gender Female
Age 6
Marital Status Single
Race White
Race (Original) W
Relationship to Head of Household Stepdaughter
Relationship to Head of Household (Original) S Daughter
Birth Date Jul 1894
Birthplace Michigan
Father’s Birthplace Michigan
Mother’s Birthplace Michigan
and mother is Ella
Thomas J Morgan Head M 29 Michigan
Ella M Morgan Wife F 38 Michigan
Bernice J Lang Stepdaughter F 6 Michigan
Alfred E Buchanan Stepson M 20 Michigan
Ann D
And Bernice’s marriage –
Bernice Lang
mentioned in the record of Virgil Sink and Bernice Lang
Name Virgil Sink
Age (Expanded) 21 years
Birth Year 1890
Birthplace Ohio
Spouse’s Name Bernice Lang
Spouse’s Age (Expanded) 18 years
Spouse’s Birth Year 1893
Spouse’s Birthplace Michigan
Event Date 01 Oct 1911
Event Place Covert, Van Buren, Michigan
Father’s Name Nelson Sink
Mother’s Name Laura Musgrave
Spouse’s Father’s Name Jos. Lang
Spouse’s Mother’s Name Ella Teachout
Basil A
You have 3 pictures of Beatrice and one of Bernice.
Photo 1 – Bernice Lang. It says “Bernice” on the back, not “Bernie.”
Photo 2 – Beatrice Lang.
Photo 3 – Beatrice Lang. Sent to cousin Bernice Lang. Written by Beatrice’s mother, most likely. Her name is written “Etta” not “Eetta.” That is just a fancy E.
Photo 4 – Beatrice Lang. Henry was probably the owner of the picture, maybe a boyfriend.
Photo 5 – Agree that looks like Lenna Lang, but it could be Luna or even Laura. This writer’s R’s are hard to distinguish from N’s. The same writer wrote #1, #2 and #5 – The writer is most likely the mother of Bernice (who might be Lenna herself).
Cliff D
From photo #3: Signature is more likely “Etta”. A loop on the bottom of the capital E is not uncommon for this time period.
Linda G
Bernice and husband Virgil are living in Coloma, Berrien, Mi in the 1930 census with son Burson A. Sink.
Burson A Sink married Agnes Rutz in Stevensville, Berrien, MI on 22 Oct 1939.
Burson Alfred Sink is on findagrave.com memorial 144604943 buried at Lincoln Charter Cemetery in Stevensville, Berrien, MI with wife Agnes. He is on the Florida Death Index as born 12 May 1912 in Covert, MI, died 21 Feb 1994 in Fruitland Park, Lake, FL..
Virgil Sink is on findagrave.com #125085601. Born 2 Apr 1890 in OH, d. 17 Aug 1958. in St. Joseph, Berrien, MI. Burial in Covert Cemetery, Covert, MI.
Linda G
Beatrice Charles Lang married (2nd marriage) on 13 Jan 1935 in Newberry, Luce, Mi to George William Cook. All family info on that marriage record matches previous records.
Beatrice Lang McDonald died in Ohio. Death Certificate #98563. States born 25 Jun 1910 in MI, died 11 Dec 1997 in long term care facility in Kirtland, Lake, OH. Last residence was Willoughby, Lake, OH. States father is Lang, mother is Burg which is consistent with previous records. Divorced. She is on findagrave memorial # 113357716 burial at Western Reserve Memorial Gardens in Chesterland, OH.
Sara H
Bernice was the daughter of Joseph M. Lang, born in Covert, Van Buren, Michigan in 1867, son of Michael Lang (died 1895 in Covert according to probate records) and Barbara —-
Marriage license No. 243, dated Sep 1888 for Joseph Lang (age 21) and Ella Teachout (25), both of Covert.
Joseph died at age 29 in a fire aboard the steamer City of Kalamazoo, dockside in South Haven, Van Buren County. Newspaper account says he left behind a widow and one child.
Sara H
Lenna Lang is the daughter of Andrew M. Lang and Laura B. Richter. Andrew is another son of Michael Lang and Barbara Hoos. (Brother of Joseph Lang, who is Bernice’s father.)
This is fun!
M. Christine N
Lenna Lang
Born about 1893 in Michigan
Father: Andrew M. Lang
Mother: Laura Belle Righter
Home in 1910: Covert, VanBuren, Michigan
Marriage: 4 Aug 1915 in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Spouse: Neil Leggett
1920 census
Neil and Leyna Letter
Lorina Leggett, age 1
Home: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Death of Neil Liggett
Date of Death: 21 Nov 1921 in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Death age: 31
Marriage of Lennah Marie Liggett
Date: 7 Mar 1931 in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Spouse: John Ray Freeland
Divorce of Lenna Freeland
Date: 13 Jan 1934 in Kalamazoo, Michigan
M. Christine N
To add to Bernice’s History
1920 US Census
Virgle Sink, 29
Bernice Sink, 26
Burson A Sink, 7
Home in 1920: Coloma, Berrien, Michigan
1930 US Census
Virgil Sink, 40
Bernice J Sink 35
Burson A Sink, 17
Home in 1930: Coloma, Berrien, Michigan
Death of Virgil Sink, Michigan Death Records
Birth: 2 Apr 1890
Death: 17 Aug 1958 in St. Joseph, Berrien, Michigan
Death Age: 68
Sara H
And finally, Beatrice Lang is the daughter of William E. Lang and Minnie E. Burg. William is another son of Michael Lang and Barbara Hoos.
The girls are all first cousins, daughters of 3 Lang brothers.
Great fun! Henry Burg is related to Minnie, obviously … I have to get supper going, or I’d start hunting. He should be easy to find, too, like the others.
I love the old newspaper articles that bring these families to life. Poor Joseph (Bernice’s father). The death records say he was a fireman. I guess that was his job on the ship. Beatrice’s mother sued for $20,000 damages after her husband’s death. I haven’t had time to hunt for the outcome of the lawsuit.
Basil A
Not sure why my comment is not showing up, but you have 3 pictures of Beatrice and 1 of Bernice. The same writer wrote #1, #2 and #5 – The writer is most likely the mother of Bernice (possibly Lenna herself).
Ashlee Peck
Hello!
We have to approve all comments, thus the delay.
Thank you for your feedback!
Mary H
Lenna Lang b. 1893 Michigan to Andrew Lang and Laura Righter
Bernice Lang b. 1894 Michigan to Joseph Lang and Ella Teachout
Beatrice Lang b. 1910 Michigan to William Lang and Minnie Burg
Joseph (b. 1866), Andrew (b. 1869), and William (b. 1880) were brothers and sons of John Michael Lang and Barbara Hoos.
That makes Lenna, Bernice, and Beatrice all first cousins.
Henry Burg was Beatrice’s maternal grandfather (Minnie’s father).
Kelly D
I love this challenge! My hobby is buying old photos such as these, using my genealogical subscriptions to identify the people and their descendants and sending the photographs to one of those descendants as a gift – a gift not only to them but to my spirit as well. Win-win!!
This is what I discovered about the Lang/Burg mystery:
The fathers of Lenna (born abt 1893), Bernice (born abt 1894) and Beatrice (born abt 1909) are brothers (Andrew, Joseph and William, respectively).
Beatrice’s mother was Minnie E. Burg; Minnie’s father was Henry Burg.
Photo 1 is known as a cabinet card while photos 2 and 3 are post card photos. I would think Bernice’s parents most likely purchased the studio cabinet card; perhaps Beatrice’s parents purchased the post cards and gifted Bernice with hers…shrug! Beatrice’s mother’s middle name began with the letter E, maybe for Etta??
Or…????
Cheryl M
Question: Apparently Bernice and Beatrice are cousins, but how are they related to Lenna? Who is this Henry?
This is my theory on the pictures.
It appears that Lenne, Bernice and Beatrice are cousins, daughters of three brothers.
Lenne is the daughter of Andrew Lang and Laura Richter.
Bernice is the daughter of Joseph Lang and Ella (possibly Etta/Ella on the picture)
Beatrice is the daughter of William Lang and Minnie Burg. Henry Burg is Minnie’s father as shown on her marriage record.
Andrew, William and Joseph are all sons of Michael Lang and Barbara Hood/Hang/Has.
Lenne/Lenna
1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Lenne M Lang
[Lennie M Lang]
Age: 7
Birth Date: Jan 1893
Birthplace: Michigan
Home in 1900: Covert, Van Buren, Michigan
Sheet Number: 1
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 15
Family Number: 13
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital Status: Single
Father’s name: Andrew M Lang
Father’s Birthplace: Michigan
Mother’s name: Laura B Lang
Mother’s Birthplace: Michigan
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Can Speak English: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Andrew M Lang 31
Laura B Lang 32
Lenne M Lang 7
Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952
Name: Andrew Lany
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Year: abt 1869
Birth Place: Millbury, Michigan
Marriage Date: 22 Mar 1892
Marriage Place: Hartford Mich, Van Buren, Michigan, USA
Age: 23
Residence Place: Covert, Michigan
Father: Michael Lany
Mother: Barbara Hong
Spouse: Laura Righter
Record Number: 1246
Film: 47
Film Description: 1892 Manistee – 1892 Washtenaw
Bernice
Her father Joseph died in 1897 and her mother remarried in 1899.
1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Bernice J Lang
[Bennie J Lang]
Age: 5
Birth Date: Jul 1894
Birthplace: Michigan
Home in 1900: Covert, Van Buren, Michigan
Sheet Number: 12
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 5
Family Number: 277
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Step Daughter
Marital Status: Single
Father’s Birthplace: Michigan
Mother’s name: Ella M Morgan
Mother’s Birthplace: Michigan
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas J Morgan 29
Ella M Morgan 37
Bernice J Lang 5
Alfred E Buchanan 19
Lucius L Judson 74
Albert Smith 17
Michigan, County Marriage Records, 1822-1940
Name: Bernice Lang
Gender: Female
Age: 18
Birth Date: abt 1893
Marriage Date: 1 Oct 1911
Marriage Place: Covert, Van Buren, Michigan, USA
Father: Joseph Lang
Mother: Ella Lang
Spouse: Virgil Sink
Film Number: 001019199
Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950
Name: Joseph Lang
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Birth Date: 1867
Birth Place: Bainbridge, Michigan
Death Date: 30 Nov 1897
Death Place: South Haven, Van Buren, Michigan, USA
Death Age: 30
File Number: 3174
Father: Michael Lang
Mother: Barbara Lang
Beatrice
Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952
Name: William E Lang
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Year: abt 1880
Birth Place: Michigan
Marriage Date: 4 Dec 1901
Marriage Place: Keeler, Van Buren, Michigan, USA
Age: 21
Residence Place: Covert, Michigan
Father: Michael Lang
Mother: Barabra Has (might be Hood)
Spouse: Minnie E Burg
Record Number: 4022
Film: 73
Film Description: 1901 Tuscola – 1902 Branch
Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952
Name: Minnie E Burg
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birth Year: abt 1878
Birth Place: Michigan
Marriage Date: 4 Dec 1901
Marriage Place: Keeler, Van Buren, Michigan, USA
Age: 23
Residence Place: Keeler, Michigan
Father: Henry Burg
Mother: Mary A Feazer
Spouse: William E Lang
Record Number: 4022
Film: 73
Film Description: 1901 Tuscola – 1902 Branch
1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Beatrice Lang
[Bertice Lang]
Age: 9
Birth Year: abt 1911
Birthplace: Michigan
Home in 1920: Mueller, Schoolcraft, Michigan
Residence Date: 1920
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital Status: Single
Father’s name: William Lang
Father’s Birthplace: Michigan
Mother’s name: Minnie Lang
Mother’s Birthplace: Michigan
Able to Read: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
William Lang 38
Minnie Lang 35
Joseph Lang 16
Beatrice Lang 9
Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952
Name: Beatrice Charles Lang
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birth Year: abt 1911
Birth Place: Michigan
Marriage Date: 13 Jan 1935
Marriage Place: Newberry, Luce, Michigan, USA
License County: Alger
Age: 24
Residence Place: Blancy, Michigan
Father: William Lang
Mother: Minnie Burg
Spouse: George William Cook
County File Number: 3267
State File Number: 2 624
Film: 1
Film Title: Alcosa 24-Emmet 24
Film Description: Alcona – Alger (1937)
Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952
Name: Beatrice Cook
Marriage Date: 13 Jan 1935
Marriage Place: Luce County, Michigan
Decree Date: 17 Jun 1935
Decree Place: Schoolcraft, Michigan, USA
Spouse Name: Geoge W Cook
State File Number: 75 70
Docket Number: 1059
Number of Children: 0
Divorce Status: Granted
Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952
Name: Beatrice Charles Lang
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birth Year: abt 1911
Birth Place: Covert, Michigan
Marriage Date: 3 May 1937
Marriage Place: St Ignace, Mackinac, Michigan, USA
License County: Mackinac
Age: 26
Residence Place: Elaney Park, Michigan
Father: Wm Edward Lang
Mother: Minnie E Burg
Spouse: Walter George McDonald
County File Number: 7374
State File Number: 49 1153
Film: 135
Film Title: 49 Mackinae 290-2684; 50 Macomb 1-879
Film Description: Mackinac (1929) – Macomb (1927
U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Name: Beatrice L. McDonald
SSN: 365-12-9713
Last Residence:
44094 Willoughby, Lake, Ohio, USA
BORN: 25 Jun 1910
Died: 11 Dec 1997
State (Year) SSN issued: Michigan (Before 1951)
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
Name: William Edward Lang
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Date: 9 Sep 1880
Birth Place: Covert, Michigan
Father: Michael Lang
Mother: Barbara Hood
SSN: 367166974
Notes: Jul 1937: Name listed as WILLIAM EDWARD LANG
Note parents’ names on Joseph’s death record, Andrew’s marriage record and William’s marriage record and his U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007.
Stacey T
Lenna M. Long est. 1893 -1968
Parents: Andrew M. Lang
Laura B. Lang
Covert township Michigan
Spouse: Neil A. Leggett, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Married 04 Aug 1915
Maxine S
Photo #1 is Bernice, not Bennie. And in photo #3, little Bernice could have been named after an older cousin Bernice.
Marilyn H
I believe the first (#1) photo says Bernice Lang.
jeanine b
I love a good genealogy mystery. I stayed up way too late working on it.
Beatrice, Bernice and Lenna were cousins. Born respectively in 1910, July 1894, Jan 1893.
Bernice’s Mother:
Ella (not Etta) Teachout was married 3 times.
1. William Buchanan in 1879. No children although he had a son that Ella raised after William died.
2. Joseph Lang in 1888. This was Bernice’s Father.
3. James Morgan in 1898. No children
Joseph Lang had 4 brothers and 5 sisters.
One brother, Andrew, married Laura Righter and were the parents of Lenna Lang who was born Jan. 1893, a year before Bernice, July 1894. Another brother, Wiliam married Minnie Burg and they were parents to Beatrice.
As someone already said, Henry Burg was probably related to Minnie, possibly a brother.
Beth H
Lenna (Leene) Lang is a cousin to Beatrice Lang.
Born: 1893, covert, MI
Father Andrew Michael Lang
Mother Larua Bell Righter
Spouse Neil Albert Leggett
Andrew Lang and William Lang are brothers.
William is Beatrice’s father.