SERENDIPITY: On page 168 of the Jan-Feb 1987 issue of "The Genealogical Helper" magazine is a delightful photo of Mary (Huff) Hubbard (1812-1906) taken in the late 1800s or very early 1900s. Mary lived in Chester Township, Eaton Co. Michigan, and she and her husband lived as true pioneers in an area still heavily populated with Indians and only a few other white families. Then her husband (name not given) became one of "the Forty-niners," spending eight years out west in the gold rush during which time Mary continued to farm the land herself and raise her own nine children, and for a time a neighbor's five children!

The picture is one of the family's favorites and was either taken in her own home or the home of her daughter in Alba, Antrim Co. MI, where Mary lived the last few years of her life.

Mary must have enjoyed having her picture taken, as this is one of several formal portraits the family has of her as an older woman. In this particular photo Mary is holding her cat on her lap and her dog lies at her feet. In the background are several potted plants and an American flag.

Perhaps this "snippet" will provide just the right clue for a researcher.

The Worthington, OH submitter, M. K. Harton, is Mary's great-granddaughter. For more details please reference issue.