Robert Franklin and Sallie (Crawford) Hayes at home in San Francisco (top right). Who were the rest of the people in their parlor?
The clothing styles date this photograph to between 1906-1909.
The theme for this week is Full House. This picture was found in with the Hayes Family papers and was most likely taken by Lester Hayes who was around 23 years old at the time. He was an amateur photographer and had a studio located at 3818 22nd Street, a 2 unit home that the Hayes owned.
According to the 1900 census, the Hayes rented out one unit of the 3818 property (the other was the photography studio) and Franklin, Sallie and son Lester lived at 3822 22nd Street, just two doors down from Lester's studio. They owned this home also.
The mystery is....who were the rest of the people posing for the picture?
Robert Franklin Hayes married Sallie (Sarah Elizabeth) Crawford in 1880. They were my great great grandparents. The picture in the background (above Franklin's head) was found in the King album, and was most likely taken by Lester Hayes. Lester married Emma Lavinia King, my great grandmother, in 1908 in San Francisco.
The same picture observed in the Hayes' parlor. From the King Album. Date and location unknown.
Possible identifications for the couple on the top may be Franklin's brother William and his wife Dorthea Christensen Hayes (from Denmark). Posed with them may be Lillie Ross Hayes, the mother of Franklin and William (and brother Joseph). William, Dorthea, their young children and Lillie were living at 18 Elgin Street (Elgin Park) on the 1900 census. This was Lillie and Robert Hayes' family home since 1876.
Who are the rest of these lovely ladies? The two women in the middle, left to right, may be mother and daughter. The young lady at the bottom of the picture may be related to this group. The woman on the far right is a mystery! None of these women fit any relationships or ages in the Hayes or Crawford family tree. They may simply be good friends or neighbors.
Who is who is just speculation on my part. But it is fun to enjoy the moment of the photograph. Franklin and Sallie are looking directly at the photographer (probably their son) while the rest of the group is focused on a point to the photographer's left. It is a happy and relaxed group; they seem to be very familiar with each other. It was not a formal picture but more of an impromtu gathering of family and friends.
The Hayes were proud of their parlor. They exhibited several pictures that are familiar. The large picture to the left is of Lester Hayes as a boy...this picture is now hanging in the dining room of my mother.
The large picture on the right did not survive, but the frame did which was restored and repainted. It is now a beautiful mirror hanging in the hallway of my mother.
The smaller cabinet card on the far left is of Lester around the time of his high school graduation around 1900.
I can only speculate on the reason for this gathering and subsequent photograph. The William Hayes family (William, Dorthea, their children Lilly and Robert) and Lillie Hayes lived at number 18 Elgin Street in 1900. By 1910 they were living in San Leandro. Of course, the Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire happened in 1906. Looking at when homes were built in the Elgin Park area, you see that most homes still standing today were built after 1910. The fire had reached this neighborhood. Lillie Hayes' will stipulated that a lot should be deeded to her son Joseph after her death. The lot was on the west side of Elgin Park. Was there a home left? This home had been in the Hayes family since 1876. Was this family staying with Franklin and Sallie because they had no home? A possibility.
By the 1910 census Franklin and Sallie were living at the 3818 address with Sallie's father John Washington Crawford. It was still owned by the Hayes. Sallie continued to live at this address after Franklin's death. The 1930 and 1940 census shows Sallie and Lester living at this address together, as Lester and Emma had divorced. In 1950 Lester was living at this address by himself. It was still a 2 unit dwelling.
The Hayes home in San Francisco, California. The 3822 home is two doors down on the left. Both homes were built in 1900 and survived the earthquake and fire.
Google Street View
Lillie Ross Hayes was listed on the 1910 census as living at 3902 22nd Street, just up the street from Franklin and Sallie. She was living with her son Joseph and another couple by the name of Captain John Dart and Amy Dart. Amy was a witness to Lillie's will on March 15, 1917. Was Amy one of the lovely ladies in the photograph? She was obviously a family friend and neighbor who graciously added Lillie and Joseph to her home until Lillie's death in 1918. Franklin and Sallie were taking care of Sallie's father John Washington Crawford at the time and perhaps this was the solution they came up with to care for both aging parents.
This was a fascinating photograph to analyze. There are still so many unanswered questions. But at least we get a glimpse into the Hayes' parlor. But which parlor was it? 3822 or 3818? There is always more research to do!
Relationship Reference:
Me->Margaret Hansen Boothby->Margaret Elizabeth Hayes Hansen->Lester Hayes->Robert Franklin Hayes m. Sallie Crawford
Robert Hayes (1825-?) m. Lillie Ross (1832-1918)
I
Robert Franklin Hayes (1854-1918)
William James Hayes (1859-1912)
Lilly Hayes (1864-1878)
Joseph Ross Hayes (1867-1927)