Henry & Ura Holton Family

1895? Henry, Frankie, Max, Wade & Ura Holton - 3 children in middle - Garnett & Ruth Dickinson & Caryl Holton

Henry Holton was the doctor in Sidell, Illinois. Ura, her name was Urania but she used Ura, was born in California, before California was a state. Her father and uncle traveled there to find gold. Ura's mother went out to join them, taking Ura's young brother with her on the journey from Illinois to California in the 1850s. They returned to Illinois - without any gold.

Ura gave birth to six children. Three of them died in infancy. Dean, born in 1887, lived about five months. Twins Madge and Mabel were born in 1889 and lived less than a month. Grandpa, Caryl was born in 1890 after the previous three children died. 

Henry and Ura raised three additional children - Frankie, born 1887, was the daughter of Henry's brother Frank and Jennie Shedd Holton. Frankie's mother died in childbirth. Her four siblings also died, three as infants and one about age 3. Sisters Garnett (born 1890) and Ruth (born 1892) Dickinson were the daughters of Ura's sister Helen (Nellie) who died when the children were 5 and 3. 

1905? seated - Henry, Garnett, Ura     standing - Frankie, Max, Wade, Caryl

They're a pretty serious looking group of people, aren't they? I think that's the nature of photography in those days - and taking a family photo was serious business!