Wonderful Photos from Cousin Tom

One of my father's cousins recently shared some wonderful early photos of the Hinkson-Houghtaling family that (with his permission) I am making available to other relatives who are searching for early photos. The first is of Mary Jane (nee Proverbs) Hinkson, the mother of Gertrude Hinkson. Mary Jane was born in Barbados in 1821, and came to the United States in 1873, shortly after her husband's death (Samuel Gibbs Hinkson) in 1872. You can read his will in a previous post. Prior to coming to the United States, she lived on a small sugar plantation in Market Hill. She was born in St. George parish on the island, and her family (the Proverbs) had been on the island for numerous generations. She died in 1891 in Iowa. The photo below appears to be pre-1874 as it was taken in the West Indies. For those interested in early photography studios in the West Indies, here is another early portrait by the same photographers.

The second photo is of Mary Jane's son Charles Theodore Hinkson ("Uncle Charlie") who moved to the United States with Gertrude and died in Iowa in 1942. I am not sure who the baby is in the photo, but perhaps one of his descendants knows?

A big thanks to Tom for sharing these photos!

Isadore Gertrude May Hinkson (1862-1944)

Isadore Gertrude May Hinkson Houghtaling (1862-1944) was born in Saint Joseph's Parish on the East Coast of Barbados (left). Later Gertrude lived at Market Hill Plantation. She came to the United States after her father Samuel Gibbs Hinkson died in 1872. (See next post for his will.)

One of the relics she brought with her from Barbados was a small bamboo box that she filled with mementos like family tin types, sea shells, seed pods, locks of hair, and other relics. My grandmother Liz has this box today.










Memory Box and Mementos

In 1885, she married Willie Wilbur Houghtaling (left) in Des Moines, Iowa. Here is their wedding certificate.

They had eight children, including my great-grandmother Mary Elsie Hill. In addition to an early photo of Gertrude, there are several photos of her at a family reunion in the 1930s.

Family Reunion 1930s. Gertrude Houghtaling's granddaughter Gertrude Guthrie (bottom row left) was named for her. My grandmother, Liz Arnold is on the bottom row, right. Her mother Mary stands behind Liz and next to her mother, Gertrude Houghtaling.

Are you related to Gertrude Houghtaling? Does anyone have any more information about Gertrude Guthrie, Dade's daughter?