Intriguing Photo

Here's an intriguing photo that I found in the album from Petra. Nobody in the photo is identified, but it has the date June 12, 1912 written on the back. So, who is in the photo?

I am fairly sure the man seated with the hat on is Edward M. Keating, grandpa's father. I've seen many photos of Edward M. Keating and that is him. At first I thought the other seated man (Colonel Sander's look) was the Motier grandfather, Joseph, but he died in 1880, so it's not him. Then, I thought the other woman in the front right was Grandma Motier, but she died before 1900, so that's not her.

My hunch tells me these are Motiers, so it may be these are some of Eleanor's older brothers (Colonel Sanders and the guy with the tri-corn hat). Edward M. Keating's sister, Mary, married Eleanor's brother George, so it could be that both George and Mary Keating Motier are in this photo.

I think the person in the far back with the black hat on is Eleanor Keating. In 1912 she was pregnant with her ninth and final child, John. At this time, pregnancy was hidden, so it makes sense she would be in the back row. The man next to her resembles my Uncle Jerry. Could that be Grandpa as a 16-year-old? Is the man beside him one of Grandpa's brothers? He had an older brother, Eddie.

I think the little boy is doing something funny and making everyone look at him. Who is that boy? Geoff was only 10 in 1912, so maybe that is him. Grandpa had three sisters, are those some of the girls and young women? His sister Mary would have been 14 and Bess 12 at the time. Irma was 2 in 1912.

I also think this photo was likely taken by a professional photographer using a tripod. What occasion merited a professional photo? I think the joking boy ruined this shot... is there a better photo of this scene somewhere else?

Finally, these people look fairly prosperous. It was a more formal time, but their clothes look quite fine and they are dressed in their Sunday best. I'm a big fan of hats and I like the men in the bowlers and the seated woman has a very nice top hat! The tri-corn hat is for joking, I think...

Anyone have ideas?

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Veteran's Day Salute: Rev. Laurence H. Keating

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Keating Ancestry

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