This classic picture of Rhoda Rowlison and her six daughters was likely taken in or about 1908.
Assuming a 1908 date on this picture, we have: top row, left to right: Maggie Alice (Rowlison) Cassell (1868-1964, age 40 at the time of the photo; Myrtle Amy (Rowlison) Long (1879-1967) age 29; Martha Anna (Rowlison) Cassell (1877-1962) age 31; Minnie Alma (Rowlison) Carey (1872-1959) age 36. Bottom row: Ethel Althea (Rowlison) Oakley (1888-1984) age 20; Rhoda (Walton) Rowlison (1843-1932) age 65; and Mabel Alfretta (Rowlison) Calvert (1886-1950) age 22.
So, where was this picture taken? We don't have documentation for their whereabouts in 1908, but we do for 1910. The 1910 census places each of the seven as follows:
Rhoda - Hayes, Kansas
Maggie - Logan Township, Clay County Nebraska
Minnie - Hayes, Kansas
Martha - Edgar Township, Clay County, Nebraska
Myrtle - Bryant Township, Fillmore County, Nebraska
Mabel - Hayes, Kansas
Ethel - Hayes Kansas
A good guess would be that in response to some special occasion, the three sisters from the Edgar/Ong area of Clay County, Nebraska traveled to Hayes, Kansas to visit their mother and the family living there when they visited a Hayes, or other local photographer for this portrait. It was a good idea then; it remains a good, or great idea.
Would have been also good had Rhoda's five sons could have posed for such a portrait. Best guess, in 1908 Gustavus (Dolph) was in Sheridan County, Kansas; George in Thomas County (he would die in February, 1909), Charles in Saline County, Nebraska, James in Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska and Roy in Clay County, Nebraska. It's likely there was never such a portrait of the boys in the family. Has anyone seen anything close?
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