Forgotten Folks

Some of you may remember my quest to find some information about my great-grandfather McClurken's death at a railroad crossing that I wrote about here.

Today, I was pleasantly surprised when my lost cousin sent me this picture of my father's mother's family taken around 1912(?) or so. She and I are now trying to identify who is who (whom is whom?) and have pulled out all the stops to try to find out.


My grandmother's grandfather is the gentleman on the far left with the bushy mustache. His name was Thomas McClurken (1851-1928). Thomas was the first of his (many) brother's to come to America. He came to American about 1868 and was apprenticed to a tailor. He made several trips back and forth to Ireland.

His wife, Mary Spence McClurken (1858-1928) is the fourth person to his left. I believe my grandmother is the little girl with the big white bow sitting next to her. My great-uncle William was a twin - and I think he is the boy on the far right sitting in his father's lap (the father's name is also a William and he is the man that was killed at the railroad crossing, 1884-1924). The woman with very dark hair to the left of the both of the 'Williams' is the older William's wife, Margaret (1878-?).

Little William's twin, Margaret is the girl on the far left sitting in Thomas' lap.

G-Uncle William later married a Margaret - so you can see why it gets confusing. :)

So... who are the rest of this large lot?

Thomas and Mary had nine children -

Thomas Jr. (1880-?), Samuel (1882-1922), William Spence McClurken, Margaret (who married a Johnston) (1886-1928), James (1888-1958), George (1892-?), Edwin (1894-?), Howard (1897-?), and Raymond (1901-1958).

Going by age, I think the man seated on the floor is Thomas Jr. The man standing in the upper right is Samuel. Beyond that - I've nothing but unsupported guesses. Fortunately, today I discovered a lead on someone that might know! - so we are going to try to find out.

This is the first glimpse I have ever had of any of my grandmother's family beyond her siblings! My lost cousin promises to send me two more photos. I can hardly wait!