Photograph of a cobbler's shop,  probably in the Visalia area.  Circa 1914.  On the wall to the left is a map with "Visalia Manufacturing Co."  printed at the top.   This company was in business from at least 1900 and into the 1910's.  Next to that is a poster for the Tulare County Press, a short lived newspaper that was based in Visalia.   The Tulare County Press started in 1912;  I've found no documentation that this newspaper existed after 1914.   On the same wall is an advertisement for Fatima Cigarettes featuring a professional baseball team.  Fatima had ads using baseball players as earlier as 1913 (e.g. Fatima baseball cards).

(Update, 1/19/15)  I am now fairly certain that this cobbler shop was located at 110 E Main St. in Visalia.   It appears to be the shoe repair business  formally owned by Abe Menendian.     Mr Menendian apparently sold his shop some time between 1910 and 1920,  and this is not him in my photograph.  

Close-up:

 From an old photo postcard.  Written on the back:  

'"Aug. 1913.  "A  rose between two thorns".  Theodor, Maude & JBM(?).  Taken at Lloyds Meadow on the trail to Mt. Whitney Calif."' 

Lloyd Meadows is 8 miles east of Camp Nelson, CA.

Apparently "Maude"  (the rose)  is the mule.

 Photo postcard from "Terra Bella,  Cal.",  circa 1920.    I'm not sure what type of  machine this is.   But judging from the circular piece in the foreground, I'm guessing that this was some sort of trench digger.

Another photo postcard.   This one circa 1910.  Across the middle of this card is written: "Shipping Melons  Dinuba Cal".   The building to the left is Dinuba's Southern Pacific Railroad station.  

Painted on one of these wagons is the name "R N Allen".    According to the 1910 US Census,  there was a Richard N. Allen living in the Dinuba area.   His occupation is listed as "Farmer".



I recently bought these four photographs that were sold as a group.  The only background information that came with the photos is that they were from a  family that had lived in Visalia.  Two of these photographs have names written on the back, four names in total.     What these four names appear to have in common is that they are all grandchildren of Timothy Halstead (1795-1875) and his wife Anna Denend (1797-1877).    The Halsteads moved to Tulare County sometime during the 1850's

On the back of this tintype photo is written:  "Mary A. Meadors to her brother Henry Persian the 16th of April 1869".   

 According to Tulare County marriage records Many Ann Persian married William Meadors on 8/13/1854.   On some official records their name is spelled "Meador" (without the ending "s").

Mary Ann and her brother Henry Persian are the children of James Persian and Susan Halstead.
William and Mary A. Meadors  probably had 4, or more, children.  e.g.  The 1880 U.S. Census indicates that "Mary A. Persian" is divorced and is living with her uncle Jasper N. Halstead  in Visalia; and in this household are several children with the last name "Meador".   I would assume that these "Meador" children are Mary's kids.

A small carte de visite portrait by Visalia photographer "Geo. E. Dean".  Circa 1873.  Two names are written on the back of this photograph:  "Maggie Nizbet" and "Robert Nizbet".

Most likely these names are referring to Robert and Maggie (Margaret) Nesbit,  bother and sister.   They are the children of  Joseph Nesbit and Mary Halstead.   The "Nesbit" family name was spelled several different ways, on official records e.g. Nesbitt, Neasbit.
Maggie appears to have married her cousin Silas Persian (one of Mary Ann Persian's brothers) on 3/4/1874,  in Merced CA.   According to the 1/28/1875 issue of the Visalia Weekly Delta,  "Margaret,  beloved wife of Silas Persian"  died on 1/22/1875, near Visalia.

Another photograph from this family group.  No names are written on it.   This photo is also by "Geo. E. Dean" of Visalia  (circa 1874).   There was a "George E. Dean"  living in Tulare County, according to the 1860, 1870 and 1880 Censuses.   His occupations are listed as Methodist Episcopal preacher,  school teacher  and "laborer"; perhaps taking photos was just a sideline (?).

Another photograph from this family group.  No names are written on it.   Photograph by S. W. Watrous of Visalia  (circa 1881).