Cabinet Card photo of lovely young woman identified on the back of the card as Myrtle Eyman. It is unclear what type of decoration she wears on her blouse, as that part got caught up in the intentional softening photographic technique for the photo, but if it was not part of the blouse design, then perhaps it was a corsage. The scalloped edging on the blouse rather coincidentally (or maybe not coincidentally?) goes with the scalloped edging of the card.The photographer’s name was Nelson, of Fullerton, Nebraska. Further research on the photographer will be posted separately.

Scalloped edging on Cabinet Cards was popular in the 1890s, although photographers were sometimes using up old card stock, so this by itself is not enough to date this card. However, there is a Myrtle Eyman showing up in the census records for 1880 and 1885, as being born in Illinois, about 1878, and living in Lost Creek, Platte County, Nebraska in 1880, and in Genoa, Nance County, Nebraska in 1885. Other online entries under this same name, do not fit for date or place, or both, so I believe these two census records to be the correct person for this photo. If Myrtle is about 18 – 20 years old in this photo, that would place the date of the card around 1896 – 1898.

The 1880 Federal Census shows Myrtle, age 2, living with her parents, Hardin H. Eyman, occupation farmer, born IL about 1847 and his wife Sue, born Canada, about 1851. Living with them are Hardin’s brother John, a widower, occupation farmer, born IL about 1841, and John’s son, Frank, born IL about 1868.

The 1885 Nebraska State Census shows Myrtle and her parents living in the village of Genoa. Hardin’s occupation is difficult to read (looks like stock dealer.)

The city directory entries from 1906, 1910, 1912 and 1913 for Myrtle Eyman are very likely the same Myrtle in the photo. They show Myrtle living in the cities of Kearney, Lincoln, Hastings, and again Lincoln, respectively.

This photo was found along with two others. There is a slim, but probably not likely, chance there was some relation to the three; see the prior two posts for more info.

Sources:  Year: 1880; Census Place: Lost Creek, Platte, Nebraska; Roll: 754; Family History Film: 1254754; Page: 196B; Enumeration District: 095; Image: 0172. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. 1880 U.S. Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

National Archives and Records Administration; Nebraska State Census; Year: 1885; Series/Record Group: M352; County: Nance; Township: Genoa; Page: 1. Ancestry.com. Nebraska, State Census Collection, 1860-1885 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.

Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.