Initially, the back of this card must have only contained the name Harry Rickel, written in pencil. Later, someone (thank goodness!) identified these three pretty young ladies as Pearl, Cora and Charlotte Rickel, year 1898. All four (siblings) are found on the 1900 Federal Census, living in Stromsburg, Nebraska. The family is as follows:  Parents Wm. (appears to be Wm. which would be for William) Rickel, born about September 1858, Indiana; Emma, born about March 1857, Ohio. Their children:  Pearle, born about August 1882, Indiana; Lottie, (Charlotte) born about January 1885, Nebraska; Cora, born about September 1887, state difficult to read, maybe Colorado or Nebraska; Ottoe, born about February 1891, Nebraska; Harry, born about November 1892, Nebraska; Wilfred, born about August 1894, Nebraska. It is curious to note that on this census, Emma is listed as head of household, her entry is above her husband, William’s. As William’s occupation is listed as carpenter, and Emma’s entry does not show an occupation, this reverse of the common order for the husband as head of household might just have been an error on the part of the census taker.

According to the ages of the girls from the 1900 census, that is Cora in the back, about 11 years old; possibly Pearl on the left, about 16, and Charlotte on the right, age about 13. Then at some point the photo was given to their brother, Harry.

Size:  3 and 7/8 x 2 and 7/8″ including white border. Photo is attached to heavy cardboard.

Source:  Year: 1900; Census Place: Stromsburg, Polk, Nebraska; Roll: 937; Page: 14A; Enumeration District: 0101; FHL microfilm: 1240937. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.