[Cap n Ball]

I recently found an old photograph of one of my Great granduncles circa 1870. He was in the Civil War along with my Great grandfather. His name was Benjamin and after the war he was so disaffected by what he went through that he virtually dissapeared somewhere up in Wyoming or Montana ala 'Dancing with Wolves'. My Great grandfather went up there and and visited him once. He had married into an Indian tribe and made his living prospecting. I'd never seen a picture of him. Apparently my Great grandfather brought this one back after his visit. It eerily startled me by how much we look alike. We could almost be twins. The shotgun is nice and his shoes look better than mine. I'm pretty sure the revolver on the floor was a prop. He doesn't look like the sort of guy that would have his gun on the floor.

[Tommygunn]

Cool.
Sorta reminds me of TV shows where one actor is sometimes dressed to play up an old relative or something. Like in WALKER TEXAS RANGER Chuck Norris also played a ranger in the 1800's in a couple of episodes.

[4v50 Gary]

Ya got the same genes. Too bad you can't find more info on him. In your retirement, you can go to a park site and be a historical interpreter.

[arcticap]

There's nothing spooky about any resemblence you two might share. It's mostly just hair. (Heir - get it! :D )
Since you're living in Kansas City, maybe you're more of a city slicker type than he was though! ;)
I had an ancestral uncle who was a Wisconsin Volunteer in the Civil War. He died while serving in Louisiana at the age of 18 from disease, which many soldiers reportedly did from swamp fever.
While I never knew about my family's Wisconsin roots when I was growing up, learning about it did help explain the natural affection I had already developed for the Packers though! :D
I don't know why but I don't get the impression that both of the guns were props, maybe he just wanted to show that he carried a pistol without actually having to pose with it. Considering his military background and where he lived, it's quite possible that he carried a pistol tucked away somewhere for protection, isn't it?
Anyway, thanks for sharing! :)

[____hoot____]

I was shown a picture of my great great grand-dad from the 1880 period. Surprised me too, could have been a member of the Dalton Gang; eyes of somebody you wouldn't want to mess with! Thanks.

[mykeal]

That photo is priceless in terms of family heritage. We have a great deal of information on both sides of both my family and my wife's family, but very few pictures, especially of the generations older than grandparents. I do have a photo of my father's maternal grandfather (my great-grandfather), a very stern looking, aristocratic man with a very long, full white beard that had a dark streak in the middle. That streak was the subject of much speculation in the family until an aunt revealed that it was from chewing tobacco. Sometimes you wish you hadn't asked....:(

[Franco2shoot]

I find those pictures fascinating.. but the real question to me is what kind of revolver is that on the floor. The shotgun seems to have a very long barrel, good for goose, but not a "walking gun". I would guess that it is 12 gauge, but there is just not enough detail to tell much more.

The pistol, looks wierd. The grip in particular seems to be birdneck?
Anyway these are the questions I have. I'll bet a good historian could tell you the date of the photo based on the shoes, but you might need to post the pic's on a "shoe" forum.

Thanks for sharing the photos..

KKKKFL

[Cap n Ball]

As to the revolver my best guess would be that its a Smith & Wesson Model 1 1/2 2nd issue New Model revolver with a 3 1/2 inch barrel, round with a raised rib. Birdshead grip, 5-shot 32 caliber with a spur trigger (no triggerguard). This model was made 1868 - 1875. That would fit the timeframe.

[ZeSpectre]

That's pretty cool. My "doppleganger" isn't nearly so cool, in fact it's downright disturbing... (the scowl was on purpose to try and simulate his look). The day he was captured his photo appeared on the front page of the Washington Post. I got home and my own wife was waving it around saying "did you see the paper".


http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/zespectre/Zespecandmustafa.jpg

[Cap n Ball]

Gary, I've been doing the 'living history' thing for quite some time now and reenacting with an artillery unit at various places all over the country. The National Park Service people are really nice folks. Its a lot of fun to spend a weekend in the 19th century with my mates. We give a very accurate impression from being in 1st person mode, talking the talk and walking the walk. Theres much more to it than simply putting on the clothes and looking rustic. To hear us talking about it a person might think we were a bunch of stitch counting fashion magpies. Everything has to be correct top to bottom. I wish I had Benjamins slouch hat and those shoes too!

Arcticap, No doubt I'm much more of a city boy than he ever was but I grew up on a hard scrabble dirt farm on the Kansas/Missouri border. Never had running water and the electric and phone didn't get there until I was seven. Learned how to drive a team of horses and make soap along with all the usual stuff a kid does on the farm. Wouldn't want to live that way again. Too hard.

The thumbnail below is of my Grandfathers family around 1907. The old fellow in the front is Thomas my Great grandfather who was Benjamins brother. My Grandfather Donald is the boy second from the right. My Great grandmother in the front holding my aunt Minnie was full blooded Cherokee.

[clang]

You guys are lucky - my doppleganger is Kris Kringle...