Antique Cabinet Photo of an Identified Handsome Young Man from Missouri 1900s For Sale

Antique Cabinet Photo 1900s

An Identified Handsome Young Man from Missouri...

Photos in good condition as pictured.

10x7 \"

Pencil writing names the photo:

\"Earl Saunders, my only brother\"

Stanp on the card reads:

Hornbeck\'s Studio, La Plata, MO

Local regional records provide a look into the life of the gentleman captured in this portrait:

• Identity and Roots: Earl Saunders was born on May 15, 1880, in Missouri. He was part of a foundational local family; his relative, Thomas Saunders, was one of the original visionaries who platted and named the town of La Plata, Missouri in 1855.

• The \"Only Brother\" Inscription: His parents were John William Saunders and Louisa Ray \"Lou\" Lantz Saunders. He grew up alongside his sister, Blanche E. Saunders (born 1887). Because Blanche was his only sibling, she is almost certainly the family member who lovingly wrote \"Earl Saunders, my only brother\" on the reverse side of the cardstock folder years later.

• Life in La Plata: Earl lived as a respected resident of Macon County through a booming era when the intersection of the Wabash and Santa Fe Railroads transformed La Plata into a thriving Midwestern trade hub. This formal portrait captures him as a polished, sharp-dressed young man in his early 20s, likely dressed for a high-society town event, a wedding, or a formal fraternal gathering.

Passing: Earl passed away at the relatively young age of 47 on October 10, 1927. He is buried alongside his sister and parents in the La Plata Cemetery in Macon County, Missouri

• The item hanging from his waistcoat is a men\'s black silk watch fob ribbon

During the turn of the 20th century, these heavy grosgrain silk ribbons served a practical, stylish alternative to metal pocket watch chains. The mechanism functioned as follows:

• The Top Bar: A hidden metallic clasp or gilded top bar secured the ribbon firmly to the top edge of his vest pocket or through a buttonhole.

• The Medallion: The round metallic piece at the center is a decorative watch charm (often custom-engraved with initials, a fraternal lodge crest, or a classic Victorian monogram).

• The Hidden End: The pocket watch itself was attached to a swivel clasp hidden at the bottom of the ribbon inside his pocket. A gentleman would pull on the decorative ribbon tail to smoothly retrieve his
  

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