Say Cheese!

 

Martha Jane Smith and Estella C. (Davis) Smith

I know. It isn't the best picture. BUT AT LEAST I HAVE A PICTURE. I don't have to daydream about what they looked like. And they most likely were not saying, "Cheese!"

Source: Martha Smith and her mother Estella C., photocopy of a photograph, annotated by unknown author, but likely Norma Jean (Blacketer) Jones: “Martha Smith Born 1869-Died 1944, Estella C mother, Photo 1882”; privately held by C.M. Pointer [Address for Private Use,” Conroe, Texas, 2025. The photocopy is black and white and depicts a formal studio portrait of two women taken by an unknown photographer at an unknown location. Either the photograph itself or a photocopy of it was given to Mary Alice Blacketer by Norma Jean (Blacketer) Jones. In about 1985, Norma Jean found Mary Alice. A photocopy of the original photograph was given to Lois Blacketer who then gave a photocopy to John Blacketer and C.M. Pointer.

Analysis: This black-and-white photocopy of a photograph was given to Caroline M. Pointer in 2012 by her Aunt Lois Blacketer, who was married to her Uncle Gerry Blacketer. In turn she was given a copy of it by Mary Alice Velda (Truitt) Blacketer. Mary Alice was the ex-wife of James Wesley and mother of Caroline’s mother and Aunt Lois’s husband Gerry. In about 1980, she was contacted by Norma Jean (Blacketer) Jones and notified her she was James Wesley’s niece (daughter of James Wesley's younger brother Maurice), and that her uncle James Wesley disappeared in 1919. This photo or a photocopy of it was given to Mary Alice. It is not known who identified Martha Smith, born 1869 and died 1944 and her mother Estella C., or who dated the photo as 1882, but likely Norma Jean (Blacketer) Jones, a family historian. Though the photocopy is of okay quality, it is not the best either. 

Notes: If it was indeed taken in 1882, Martha would have been about thirteen years old and Estella C. about 32 years old, and they likely were residing in Maryville, Nodaway, Missouri. Their appearances in the photo do not disagree with these ages necessarily but cannot be definite.

As you can tell from my analysis Martha's son James Wesley was also complicated and messy. Turns out his behavior was not isolated. His lies were rooted in lies he grew up with, whether he knew it or not. And we will get through all of it block-by-block. Anywho, this photocopy of a photograph is a blessing to have.

~Caroline

Estella C. Davis Descendancy to Author