Henry and Annie Simmons

Henry Clay and Annie May Mudd Simmons pose for a formal portrait two days after their marriage on 25 June 1910 - just 99 years ago. Annie was 37 and Henry was 55. His first wife, Mary, had died in 1908, leaving Henry with five children ages 13 - 27: Alice, Carrie, David, Ida, and Herbert. Herbert was just a year older than Lizzie Becker (Aunt Ida).

Aunt Ida - Ida May Lizzie Becker

These are a series of formal portraits of Lizzie Becker. Lizzie was born in 1895 to Hulda Naumann. The 1900 census shows Hulda and Lizzie living with Ida and Albert Becker. From what we have learned from Aunt Ida's granddaughter-in-law, Hulda and later her daughters kept up with Aunt Ida throughout her life. 

The earliest picture is captioned: 

Ida L. M. Becker

5 years and 9 month

for Ma__ (possibly Mary or Marj for Margaret)

from Lizzie (Annie Lizzie May Mudd, who would have been 27 years old at the time. 

The picture with the elaborate hat, titled "The other girl Lizzie (and then words I cannot decipher). 

The picture with the curly, long locks and a very formal, lace dress merely says, "Lizzie Becker".

Finally, there is a picture of Annie and Lizzie standing on a front porch, probably Grandma Becker's home, since Annie still lived at home. The caption reads:

Annie and Lizzie when Lizzie 14 years.

this is Lizzie the girl that Mrs. Becker adopted

when she was a baby and annie is by her side (sic)

This must have been taken in the summer of 1909, a year before 37 year old Annie married Henry Simmons, who was 55 years old.

You would have to guess that Annie was as much like a mother to Lizzie (Aunt Ida) as Grandma Becker. They both shared a bond of being raised by Grandma and Grandpa Becker, though neither one was a blood relative.   

This picture we have seen before - Dad and Sally. Dad must be about two, which would make Sally seven years old. The caption on the back reads:

These are Annie Mudd Simmons & Henry C. Simmons Children.

First Miss Sarah Simmons

Second Mr Roy Simmons

Niece & Nephew

  of Mrs Margaret Mudd,

& Asa S, Calkin

Margaret Mudd Calkin was Annie Mudd's half sister.

Annie Simmons and Sarah

Annie Simmons is holding Sarah. The caption on the back says, "This is Annie and Sarah takin (sic) out in the sun. That makes her mad (? can't really read the last word.) Sarah was born 15 May 1911. The picture must have been taken in the fall of 1911.