Three Sisters

(Click on image to enlarge)
Image courtesy of Diane Barnes.

While these girls are unidentified, surely they must be sisters, dressed as they are in identical home-made dresses. And since this photo comes from a collection belonging to Lillie Newman Barnes, they are likely the Newman sisters — left to right, Lillie (born 1884), Emma (1880) and Dollie (1886).

Emma looks to be perhaps 14 years old here, which would put the year at around 1894. That is consistent with what we know of the timeframe for A.C. Mudge's operations in Hobart.

I've been wondering about that brocade-looking coverlet tossed over the photographer's chair. Its occupying such a central place in the portrait makes me speculate that it might have some significance to these girls. On the other hand, it could be covering up a defect in the chair, or in Emma's dress.

If that is indeed Emma, she had a sad fate in store for her. Here is her obituary from the Hobart Gazette of July 30, 1897:

Emma Newman Drowned

The drowning of Miss Emma Newman in Lake Michigan last Sunday caused an expression of sorrow from the lips of everyone. It was sad news received by her friends who had but a few hours before seen her depart for the lake upon her wheel, looking a picture of health and feeling as happy and cheerful as one who knew neither care nor trouble. Mrs. Gruel in giving her niece a few kind words of advice before departing for the lake that forenoon little realized that in a few hours she would be brought home to her cold in death.

Miss Emma left Hobart on her wheel about 11 o'clock and after arriving at the lake for some time joined those who were in bathing. She could not swim but like many others enjoyed to be in the water. She also had taken a ride in the sailboat with her brother Paul but when returned she concluded to wade along the beach toward Johnson's fish house where she had left her wheel and clothing. In doing so she became separated from the other bathers and stepped into a hole perhaps eight or ten feet deep. Thus she drowned within a couple hundred feet of perhaps four hundred people and none except Mrs. DeFrance, of Wheeler, and a friend or two or hers knew anything of the accident, and they were not certain anyone had drowned, as the waves were rolling quite high and they only thought they saw someone throw up his hands. They notified the bathers of the probable accident but no one being missing scarcely any efforts toward rescuing anyone were made until a hat washed to shore. It was recognized by Paul Newman as his sister's. This was possibly a half or three-quarters of an hour after the unfortunate girl waded into the death trap. Excitement then moved all to activity and every effort at command was put forth to recover the body. Many waded along the beach searching, some dove into the deep places while others secured a seine and begun dragging the beach. The seine was heavy weighted after the second attempt and thereby fell into the deeper places. The third attempt was successful and the body was rescued about five o'clock, fully two and one-half hours after the accident. Her body was immediately taken to the home of Mr. Chas. Gruel in Hobart and properly cared for by Undertaker Wild.

The funeral occurred on Tuesday afternoon of this week at the Unitarian church, the services being conduced by Rev. Elliott, and the remains interred in the Hobart cemetery. The church was unable to accommodate the large crowd assembled. Three beautiful floral offerings were sent from friends in the city.

Emma Newman, the oldest girl of the family of six children left by the late Mr. and Mrs. Otto Newman, was born the 21st of October, 1880, and died July 25th, 1897, aged 16 years 9 months and 4 days. Otto Newman died in 1890 and his wife in 1894, leaving a family of three boys, Paul, Edward and Arthur, and three girls, Emma, Lillie and Dollie. Upon the death of her mother Emma took up her abode with her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Gruel, who cared for and thought as much of her as though she was their own child. For the past couple of years she was cashier in her uncle's meat market, in which capacity she formed a large circle of acquaintances who greatly admired and respected her. She was a quiet, unassuming girl and always had a pleasant smile for everybody. Her presence in the market will be greatly missed by all.

The sympathy of all is extended to the relatives in the sudden and sad bereavement.