I’ve written before about my great-great-grandmother’s sister, Carrie Paak Waruf, and her husband Henry Waruf: Who Was Hank Waruf, Kalamazoo Gunsmith, Tennyson’s Words for Henry Waruf’s Funeral, and All the Peek Girls (note that Paak can be spelled Peek, Paake, etc.). And when they traveled to Cuba.
But I’d like you to look at some photos I have that Grandpa had me mark Aunt Carrie.
The first one is a favorite. Carrie and Henry Waruf were well-off merchants. They had no children. And Aunt Carrie did like to spend money on her outfits. Is that a fur piece or a feather boa around her neck here? And what about this hat? On what planet was this popular? I assume it was expensive. That almost looks like a Minnie Pearl price tag on it. Is that a ribbon? Overall the hat mystifies me. I’d place her at around 40 in this photo. What do you think? By the way, she was born in 1862, so that would make the year of this photo around 1902.
Photo #1
Here is another photo of Aunt Carrie.
Photo #2
These are obviously the same woman, although the 2nd photo seems to be a much younger photo. This brings up the mystery of her age that arose in the post What Can the Photographer Tell Me When He’s No longer Here. The evidence on the 2nd photo about the photographer made it seem as if this photo was also around 1900. So now I am more confused than before. But it makes me wonder if that successor craziness went on more than once. I still think she looks under 35 in the 2nd photo, maybe even much younger than that. Look at the differences in wrinkles with the first photo.
Now, if anybody has an idea on the date of that peculiar hat, it would help assign dates to these photos!
I’m very satisfied with the identity of the woman in photos one and two because I have another photo or two of her with her husband. There is no doubt.
Here is the bigger mystery. Grandpa also told me that this next photo was Aunt Carrie. I don’t see how that is possible. What do you think?
Photo #3
Is this Aunt Carrie? Or is it one of her sisters? There were Alice, Anna, Mary, and Carrie. This is not my great-great-grandmother Alice. But could it be Mary or Anna?
Here is Mary:
Photo #4
Mary Paak Remine
Here is Anna:
Photo #5
Annie Paak
And here is Alice:
Photo #6
Can you hear me screaming? She almost looks like a sister. She looks enough like them that Grandpa called her Carrie. But who is she?
The Family Kalamazoo 
OMG, they ALL look alike! But I would say more likely Anna or Alice than Carrie or Mary because of the cheekbones. I can’t see Anna’s face clearly enough, but she looks the most like the unknown photo.
What happened to the other post? I saw your comment, but wasn’t sure why you took down the post!
Hehehe. I know–they do! You might be right about Anna. I think Anna and Alice look a lot alike, but I know that is not Alice. However, the photo above marked Anna is the only one I have that was identified as Anna. Maybe this is also Anna!
About the other post: you’re a genius. You made me go back to the 1920 census in Seattle, and I discovered something crazy. Now I am even MORE confused. Going to pull all my ducks together and post at that time. So, thank you, Amy!!!
OK, I am hardly a genuis! But glad to have inspired a thought. And I will be interested in seeing both what others think of the mystery photo and also what you learned from the 1920 census.
Hmmm a hard one to call, but your grandfather may be right. I think it looks more like her, but hard to tell scrolling up and down.,
Yikes, the more opinions, the more confused I will get, I think hahaha. Thanks, Barb! I did just # the photos so it’s a little easier to keep track of each one.
I’m confused too! The first photo immediately made me think “post death photo.” But Alice looks alive in the last photo, and she also has that starey look. The second photo of Carrie as an old lady…she might look very different from the first Carrie photo due to tooth loss. It changes a lot in the face. But the noses kind of match in photos 1 and 2.
WJ, what photos are you calling 1 and 2 and you say “second photo of Carrie” which one are you talking about? There are 6 photos here, so maybe in order of photo? I wish I knew how to number them!!! Let me think . . .
OK, I just figured out a way to # them. Can you see if that helps to point to specific photos? Thank you so much!!!
Yes, that helps. Thanks!
#1 and #6 both have a “staring” look, except #1 looks dead and #6 looks alive.
#2 and #3 could be the same person — the nose is similar but mouth may look different due to tooth loss.
One and two are absolutely the same person. #4, 5, and 6 are all different women, identified, and not same as 1 and 2. 2 and 3 being the same would corroborate what Grandpa said. Interesting idea about the teeth.
Luanne,
I posted this on two FB pages.
On one I did not write anything because it is “Gen.. I need help…” and your writeup should tell them what you want.
The other (this one) is a closed DNA group out of Australia. https://www.facebook.com/groups/GeneticGenealogistsAnonymous/
Although this does not have to do with DNA, it does have to do with relationships. Maybe some Australian women’s eyes can help solve a question —
https://thefamilykalamazoo.com/2016/07/06/aunt-carrie-paak-waruf/
Thanks, Jose. I emailed you, by the way.
Not even going to guess! But you had me laughing when you brought up Minnie Pearl and her hat! Good luck on figuring these out! 😀
Hahaha, doesn’t it look it? thanks, Linda!!!
The first photo is also my favorite. The hat looks like it is too small for her head – though I’m sure that it was the style.
Haha, I know!
I was thinking the same about the hat and was looking for an elastic band that was holding it firmly to her head. Nice photos, though
Haha, yes, an elastic band would be necessary, I think! Thanks so much for stopping by!
They all seem to share beautiful clear eyes and a sense of fashion! 1 and 2 the same and not too far apart in years, 3 and 4 very different, and 5 and 6 the same woman. Maybe comparing their ears will be helpful side by side. Lovely family portraits!
That’s such a good way to describe them: the clear eyes. Yes, I agree. Thank you for your vote on the ladies. 6 is for sure my great-great grandmother. 5 is supposed to be her sister Annie. What if 5 is also Alice?! I wonder if anyone else thinks 5 and 6 are the same!
Oh dear, Luanne. I have no idea how to sort all these women out! I think #5 and 6 are the same person. The smile is exactly the same.
Now, that is amazing. Two of you think that Anna and Alice are the same woman. What if Grandpa was wrong? What if the woman in the coat is Alice, my great-great? What if the woman he said was Carrie, #4, but who does not match #1 and 2 who are definitely Carrie, was Annie? I wish some direct descendents of Annie would pop up here and tell me which one is their ancestor, if they can. Carrie had no children, so I am out of luck there.
Photo #5 is my fav — 😀 I LUV the coat, and, the HAT! Awesome. 🙂
Thanks, Susan! Hah, I know aren’t they great?! That hat must have weighed quite a few pounds! The more I think about it, the more I think she IS Annie, not Alice. There is something about her that doesn’t look like Alice. I have many photos of Alice, so have seen her from many perspectives, etc.