1896 photo of Catherine/Catharine) Hafner, Elma, Erie Co., NY

By Paul Peterson March 05, 2009 at 06:19:36

I recently acquired an old family album containing 60 studio portrais (14 tintypes and 46 paper prints mounted on boards).Except for one photo dated 1883, and another bearing the name Heneriette Harjde (written in German), the subject photo is the only one that is well identified.Taken by photographer Thos. Ryerse, Buffalo, NY, it has the following information written in pencil on the back:

"J. H.No1896
Mrs. Jos Hafner
Elma
N.Y."

Written in pencil on the front is:

"Work the rusching out plainer"

There is no writing on the album pages holding the photos.None of the tintypes bear any identification.Thirty-seven of the paper prints bear a Buffalo, NY studio mark, and one bears a Marilla, NY studio mark.There are photos of infants, children, and adults.Two men in tintypes are posed in work aprons and are holding carpentry tools.There are four colorful printed calling cards bearing the name "Joseph J. Hafner."

I conclude that this album was once in the possession of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Hafner.I found them listed in the 1900 Census data for the town of Elma, Erie Co., NY.Joseph J. Hafner was born in Germany in Mar 1837 and immigrated in 1851.On 11 Oct 1873, in the town of Elma, he married Catharine Jerge, who was born in NY in Jan 1840.

The 1900 Census data shows Joseph J. Hafner's occupation as painter.By that time, Catherine (or Catharine) had been married for 26 years and given birth to 9 children, of which 6 were still living.One son, Frank Hafner, born in NY in Jul 1879, was single, living with his parents, and working as a farm laborer.I found Frank listed in the 1930 Census data for the town of Elma.Then age 52, he was employed as a gardener, and resided with his wife, Sophie, born in NY about 1888, and their son, Franklin, born in NY about 1901.Franklin was employed in the upholstery business.Frank J. Hafner (1879-1965) and Sophia C. Hafner (1888-1977) are buried in the Elma Cemetery.

Contact me if you wish to view this photo and/or can claim some relationship to this Hafner family.

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