1869 Charles Metz Harness Photo by Uncle photographer SJ Metz, Iowa

#987 Nephew of Chariton, Iowa Photographer Samuel Jacob Metz 1842-1918

On reverse: "Charlie Harness" is beautifully handwritten in old dip pen ink on a piece of paper taped to back. This paper was most likely once was written under his photo in an old photo album and removed and taped to back. Photo type: CDV carte de visite Photograph, Victorian, from 1868. Photographer: Photographed by S.J. Metz, North Side Square, Chariton, Iowa, Lucas County (known to be photographer Samuel Jacob Metz 1842-1918 born in Stark County, Ohio and died at age 76 in Kansas, buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Mankato, Jewell County, Kansas. See extensive family info below, this photo was taken of his young nephew Charlie in 1868)

Found in Public Genealogy Records:
Charles Metz Harness 1867-1958 born Birmingham, Van Buren County, Iowa, where this photo was taken. He died at age 90 in Aurora, Lawrence County, Missouri. He is buried at Maple Park Cemetery there. His mother was Sarah A Metz Harness born in Stark County, Ohio and died in Mankato, Jewell, Kansas. She is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Mankato, Jewell County, Kansas. She is the sister to the photographer and family info is below. His father was William Harvey Harness 1838-1921 born in Fulton, Whiteside County, Illinois and died aged 82 in Mankato KS, also buried at Mount Hope Cemetery. His father was the son of Seaton Lee Harness 1813–1884 of Mercer County, Kentucky and Malinda Smith Harness 1812–1887. They both died in Van Buren, Iowa.

Charlie's first spouse was Edna Louise Stewart Harness 1875–1900 born in Illinois, and died in Kansas a short while after the childbirth of their son on April 12, 1900. Their son Harold had been born Mar 21, 1900. Sadly, Harold LaVerne Harness 1900–1918 was a private in Batty E 37th, and died at age 18 in the WWI era at Camp Eustis, Warwick, Virginia. His father Charles' second wife was Jessie Maude Jacobson Harness 1879–1961, and they had a son Charles Herbert Harness 1913–2001.

Charlie's uncle Sam, who took this baby photo was photographer S.J. Metz or Samuel Jacob Metz 1842-1918 born in Stark County, Ohio and died at age 76 in Kansas. He is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Mankato, Jewell County, Kansas. His father was Jacob Metz 1814-1900 born in Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland, and died at Jefferson County, Iowa, age 86. His mother was Elizabeth McCormick Metz 1817 born in Stark County, Ohio, and died age 76 in Glasgow, Jefferson County, Iowa. His siblings were Franklin George Metz 1835–1862, Francis Metz 1836–1896, William Henry Metz 1837–1837, Sarah Anne Metz 1839–1890 (This young boy Charlie's mother), Silas Alfred Metz 1843–1932, James Madison Metz 1846–1929, Eliza Jane Metz 1849–1920, Mary Elizabeth Metz 1850–1880, and Phineas Ervin Metz 1857–1945. He married Nancy Plymate Metz in 1864, and was a Civil War veteran of Co. G 30th IA Iowa Infantry.

This is one of our very fave baby photos. Charlie is wearing beautiful homemade clothing, soft leather high top shoes, with his hair in a top curl or top knot! He sits on an old wooden baby chair and it is rendered in light sepia tones with a white photographers backdrop you can see rolled on the floor. He was born Oct 23 1867, thus we feel this photo dates to about 1869, with Charlie at about 2 years of age. The back has the fancy Metz advertising backmark. This photo was found in Brimfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts. Does this Metz & Harness family have New England ties? A beautiful CDV photo taken about 4 years after the end of the American Civil War.

Size: 2.5 by 4 inches
      Note: Hello from ~debra. I have spent years collecting over 10,000 ID’d lost family photos & paper from US flea markets & antique shops. I do the best gen research I can, but am always open to corrections. This is an original antique item, not a reprint. A new high quality rigid sleeve is included for extra protection, especially during shipping. You may buy a piece alone, or large intimate 300 dpi scans of the front and back sent immediately via email, or both. Please search carefully, as they are often found together and many may be related. I also invite you to join me at Ancestorville Genealogy on facebook. Thank you, enjoy! ~Debra Clifford (contact info on top bar)