I love old photographs

One of the main reasons I wanted to start a blog was to share photos and documents I've been able to find.  A lot of my work on findagrave has some of this information but it's missing the story of how I came upon what I have.  I don't have an exact number but I'd be willing to bet I've sent out at least 100 letters, made at least 100 phone calls and sent hundreds of emails to distant cousins I've found (if you use census records and obituaries you'll eventually find someone living that's related and maybe you can get them to share).  I always figure "nothing ventured, nothing gained" and more often than not I've gained nothing but the times I've gotten a response have been very rewarding. 

My favorite photo I've received this way came from the grandson of one of my great grandmother Minnie Comstock Swank's brothers Charles Delmer Comstock.  It's a long convoluted story but there was bad blood between Minnie's family and Charles' family.  In Charles' obituary it listed the names of his grandchildren - I found a grandson living in MA and called and spoke with him.  Due to the bad blood (from decades ago) he was hesitant to talk to me but he was kind enough to share this gem of a photo with me.  Persistence truly paid off for me on this one.  

I found in the Grand Rapids Michigan city directories that G.D. Comstock ran a grocery store at 40 Fountain St from 1889-1891.  George Delmer Comstock was my 2nd great grandfather - he is the younger man in the middle.  The older bearded man standing with him is his uncle Charles Henry Comstock of Ashkum Illinois.  The 2 young men on the far corners are unknown, assumed to be employees.  In the upper window my 2nd great grandmother Augusta Muche Comstock is peering out.