This is the earliest photo of a group of Bluffton women we've ever viewed. The best part is that every woman is listed - however - the listing is by their married name. (Except for two single women).
And, while we have all their names, we aren't certain of who is who, because the names are not row by row.
The names suggest these are wives of businessmen in Bluffton.
Here's the list, as it is hand written on the back of the photo, from top to bottom. Perhaps they are listed in order, but we don't know if the order starts on the front row or the back row.
Fortunately, two names jumped out at us. Mrs. E.R. Ewing is Bertha Scott, an 1895 graduate of Bluffton High School.
Mrs. M.M. Kibler is Ida Wilch, an 1884 graduate of Bluffton High School. This information helps us to project that the photo may have been taken in the late 1890s.
Is it a church group? Women's club? Neighbors?
Here are the names. If you recognize your great-grandmother tell us. She's probably in the photo.
Mrs. Julius Wise
Mrs. Peter Diller
Mrs. Chris Swank
Mrs. A.L. Braymer
Mrs. A. Hauenstein
Miss Lucretia Marshall
Mrs. B.F. Biery
Mrs. E.R. Ewing (Bertha Scott)
Mrs. W.W. Eaton
Mrs. D.S. Flick
Mrs. W.V. Beach
Mrs. C.G. Coburn
Mrs. W. P. Bentley
Mrs. M.V. Eaton
Mrs. Eliza McPeak
Mrs. M.M. Kibler (Ida Wilch)
Miss Minna Herrmann
