
This is another Cabinet Card from the Antique Mall in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. This is the same photographer as yesterday, Fred Mueller the photographer that likes to pose people with all their weight on one foot.
If you look just behind the little girls left foot you will see a posing stand. Posing stands were used to help the person in the photograph hold still, they were often used with children. Exposure times varied..and if someone moved during the exposure time then the photograph ended up blurry.
From the information that the Minnesota Historical Society has on this photographer, I will date this photo 1884 to 1885 because those are the dates Mr. Mueller was in business in Owatonna. His name was also speller Muller..on this cabinet card it could be Mouller..or Muller if that M is real fancy.
The same table covering appears in this photo as in the photograph yesterday. She might even be related to the gentleman I featured yesterday..you just never know. His photograph was marked and this one was not.

I think her dress is just darling, it was fashioned after a ladies dress that would have a bustle in the back and a drape in the front. The pleated edges on the hem of the dress were very popular in the 1880’s.
Thanks for stopping by, do come again:)
There is possibly a connection between this photo and yesterdays photo of Phillip McCarthy.
Update from Anonymous:
Alice McCarthy was my grandmother,we have photos of her and another brother with the same background as in the girl's picture.We wonder if the girl could possibly be their sister Ellen or Lily.Ellen died at age 10 and Lily Age 6 in 1883.They and Philip are supposely buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery,Owatonna Mn.The photo of the girl is not Alice.I wish there was some writing on her picture.
Such an intricate dress.
ReplyDeleteIf this little girl and her photo is related to the previous one showing Philip McCarthy (a big if)...
ReplyDeletePhilip had a only one sister and she was Alice McCarthy born in 1876. That would make her 9 years old in 1885 and a year younger than that (8 years old) if she posed the same time Philip did. Coincidence? perhaps. :)
This photo shows so much fabric and the sewing and upholstery skills of the times. The child's expression could be interpreted as, "I hope I am doing this right." or "How long will I have to stand here."
ReplyDeleteI don't think Mom could have gotten those bangs curled any tighter. She looks determined to be a very proper young lady.
ReplyDeletethis little girl looks part asian.lovely dress,so much work.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful example of a girl's dress from the period. The back probably had a big bow on it too. :-)
ReplyDeleteShe looks like a very serious little girl. Lovely picture.
ReplyDeleteJames and Bridget McCarthy, along with many of the family but not Philip, are buried in the St Rose of Lima Catholic Cemetery, Cherry Grove Township, Goodhue Co., MN.
ReplyDeletehttp://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/goodhue/cemeteries/strosecm.txt
From this we note the sad tale of Kimberly Ann Knobel and find Alice E. Mccarthy (b. 1875 d. 1923) was married to Charles H. Stettler (b. 1871 d. 1937). The US census records for 1910 and 1920 show residence in Concord, Dodge, Minnesota, a move toward Rochester, Olmsted, Minnesota and an ever growing family.
Alice died before the 1930 census - in 1920
Charles H Stettler 47y
Alice E Stettler 44y
Child Julia M Stettler 16y
Child Ella M Stettler 15y
Child Katherine L Stettler 13y
Child Edward C Stettler 11y
Child James J Stettler 7y
Child Willis L Stettler 11m
This Willis is not the same person as Willis McCarthy. Willis appears to be a family name, like James and Katherine (which was Bridget's first name.)
Even if this photo isn't of Alice - it might lead us to an offspring of Philip.
Alice McCarthy was my grandmother,we have photos of her and another brother with the same background as in the girl's picture.We wonder if the girl could possibly be their sister Ellen or Lily.Ellen died at age 10 and Lily Age 6 in 1883.They and Philip are supposely buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery,Owatonna Mn.The photo of the girl is not Alice.I wish there was some writing on her picture.
DeleteThanks for the information! I updated the post! :)
DeleteHi, Came across this on a lucky whim. The photographer is my great-great-great grandfather. Do you have any more of his work? I love seeing what he did. My email is hockeygirl_94@hotmail.com
ReplyDelete