Nancy Hanks' lineage

[Steve Whitlock]

I read an exchange of letters between Leota (Flora) Schafer, Mrs Frederick J. Schafer that is, and Louis Warren, also with R. Gerald McMurtry, and in one of them she states that a photographer informed her that the photo was a daguerrotype. That may be; however, the daguerrotype photos I've seen don't look like a photo has been glued to a piece of cardboard where something else has been.

With all the ostensible investigating for the authenticity of the photo I haven't seen any mention of other family members being interviewed to provide corroboration for the O.V. Flory and Lincoln relative story. Also, there is no mention of Leota's brother, Herbert M. Flora, a photographer of some repute in the Jefferson Co., IN area where Leota lived. Surely he could have some insight as to the photo's authenticity. He also would have access to a variety of photos.

Herbert M. Flora

Birth: Sep., 1869
Madison
Jefferson County
Indiana, USA
Death: Jan. 15, 1952
Madison
Jefferson County
Indiana, USA

From the Madison Courier, Jefferson Co., IN
Monday, 14 Jan 1952

Death Claims Herbert M. Flora

Services For Retired Photographer
Will Be Tomorrow

Herbert M. Flora, 82, a retired Madison photographer, died at 10:30 o'clock yesterday morning in the Obermale nursing home at North Madison, folloiwng a 17 months illness.

Mr. Flora was a native and life resident of Madison. for many years he operated a studio in the east portion of what is now the Edward Eckert & Sons store on east Main street.

He first was engaged in the portrait business, but later concentrated on scenic views of Madison and its environs. He was a pioneer in the view photo business here and numerous postcard colored views now being sold in this city may be traced back to his early negatives. He was the originator of the most popular picture of Clifty Falls which was taken many years before the state park was established.

The deceased is survived only by a son, Ervin B. Flora, a city mail carrier, and a granddaughter, Rebecca Flora, also of this city. His wife, the late Mrs. Rebecca Schafer Flora, preceded him in death about 25 years ago. He resided until his last illness at 603½ west Main street.

Funeral services will be conducted tomorrow morning at 10:00 o'clock in the Vail Memorial funeral home and burial will be in Springdale cemetery. Friends may call at the memorial.

Family links:
Parents:
Orlando Valentine Flora (1831 - 1915)
Elmirah C. Swope Flora (1832 - 1916)

Spouse:
Rebecca B. Shafer Flora (1869 - 1921)*

Children:
Lelia Pauline Flora (1898 - 1899)*

Siblings:
Lelia Flora Zuck (1854 - 1900)*
Lillian May Flora (1856 - 1878)*
Leota Flora Schafer (1858 - 1945)*
Ellsworth Elmer Flora (1861 - 1917)*
Florella D. Flora (1867 - 1868)*
Herbert M. Flora (1869 - 1952)
Archie F. Flora (1872 - 1872)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial:
Springdale Cemetery
Madison
Jefferson County
Indiana, USA
Plot: Lot 554, Plat 4

Created by: Karen Phillips
Record added: Mar 22, 2012
Find A Grave Memorial# 87199584

Herbert M. Flora
Added by: Karen Phillips

Herbert M. Flora
Cemetery Photo
Added by: Tamie Dehler

In all the find-a-grave memorials, (including Orlando Valentine Flora), and obits there is not a single mention of the Flora family's claim to historical fame, owners of the only purported photo of Thomas Lincoln.

Some of Herbert's photos are available and he was doing photography at least as far back as 1890 when he took a photo of his wife and daughter in a canoe. Other photos after that exist as well. I am not claiming that Herbert doctored the photo, merely noting that he was a photographer, and wondering why he wasn't interviewed for his opinion.

There is mention in other areas for one of the Johnston boys being a photographer, so why not Herbert M. Flora. If a photo was glued to a piece of cardboard (has the original been checked for that) as it appears, then it makes no difference whether there was writing on a piece of cardboard (not the photo itself, according to Lynch). The photo needn't have been taken in the correct time period if one wished to take a daguerrotype photo, and had the necessary equipment. Tintype photos are taken today.

Just adding some information here that seems to have been overlooked or ignored.