Portraits and Photographs - If you know who these people are, please contact me. I have tried to add any identifying remarks and the name of the photographer, if known.
The following information was taken from the Past and Present of Platte County, Nebraska:Robert Pinson was a retired farmer and ex-postmaster of Platte Center. He was born at Norfolk, England on the 14th of February, 1842 to James and Mary (Anderson) Pinson, the oldest of five children.
He learned a molder's trade in England, serving an apprenticeship of four and a half years, after which he worked along that line until 1865. He was then married in August, 1865, in England, to Mrs. Susan Everhard and turned his attention from industrial to commercial pursuits, becoming proprietor of a general store. He sold out after five years and came to the United States, landing at Portland, Maine. He was accompanied by his brother William. It was their intention to visit an uncle living in Toronto, but they lost his address and were unable to locate him. While at the depot, they saw a number of people buying tickets for Nebraska, and they thought there must be something to attract such large numbers to that state, so they purchased tickets for passage from Toronto to Omaha.
Upon arriving in Omaha, they were informed that homesteads could be secured near Columbus and they made their way to Platte County, both taking up 80 acres of land in Lost Creek township. Later Robert Pinson added 60 acres more and continued to engage actively and successfully in farming until 1890, when he accepted the position of postmaster of Platte Center. He served for four years, then again took up farming.
In 1898 he was once more appointed by postmaster and served continuously for 17 years, until he resigned on January 1, 1915. Immediately after his retirement from that position, he was appointed justice of the peace. He was also township clerk for seven years and township assessor for four years, and while living on the farm held the office of school director for ten years.
Mr. and Mrs. Pinson became the parents of one son, Tom J.E., who was born in England in 1868 [sic]. He married Miss Lena Scheidel and had three children (see below). By her first marriage, Mrs. Susan Pinson had one daughter, Jane Mary, the widow of Willard Chapin. She was a resident of Walla Walla, Washington and had a son and two daughters. Mrs. Pinson died June 4, 1910. Mr. Pinson was married again on October 8, 1911, his second union being with Mary C. McCarty, a native of Maryland, who lived for a time in Ohio.
Additional information re William Pinson (Robert's brother):
He was born April 25, 1853 in England and immigrated in 1870. He married Mary Ellen Osborn Singer and had at least three children: George, Mary Jane Elizabeth and Clara Evelyn. Census records from 1880 and 1900 indicate a birth date of April 1848. He died January 10, 1929, and is buried in Columbus Cemetery.Additional information re William Pinsons' wife, Mary Ellen (Osborn) Pinson:
She was born September 26, 1862, in Otter Village, Ripley County, Indiana, to Noah Osborn (1820-1898) and Mary Ann (O'Neal) Osborn (1820-1896). She married her first husband, Henry Singer, about 1882 in Kentucky. Their children were Perry E. Singer and Eleanora Thomas Singer. From The Columbus Democrat, July 15, 1887: The marriage of William Pinson and Mrs. E. Singer, of Lost Creek township, occurred Wednesday July 13, at the office of Judge Speice in this city, his honor officiating. The Democrat wishes the couple all the joys attendant upon the occasion. She died June 11, 1946 and is buried in Columbus Cemetery.Additional information re Susan (Everhard) Pinson:
From the Columbus Journal, June 8, 1910: After an illness of two months, Mrs. Robert Pinson, wife of Postmaster Pinson of Platte Center, died at her home Monday morning, aged 77 years. Mrs. Pinson was born in Ely, Cambridgeshire England, December 28, 1833. Here she grew to womanhood and moved to Norwich and later to Saxthorpe, England, where she met her husband, Robert Pinson, and they were married at Norwich, England, September 1865. In 1870 they crossed the ocean and came to America and direct to Platte county, where they took up a homestead in Lost Creek township, which has since been their home. In 1889, when Mr. Pinson was first appointed postmaster at Platte Center they moved to that town, but again resided on the old homestead for four years. In 1897 they again moved to Platte Center, which has since been their home. Mrs. Pinson was a sister of the late John Eusden of this city. Besides her husband she leaves one daughter, Jennie, wife of Willard Chapin of Walla Walla, Washington, and one son, T.J.E. Pinson, who lives on the old homestead in Lost Creek township. Mrs. Pinson was a member of the Methodist church. The funeral services, which were held Tuesday at the home in Platte Center, were conducted by Rev. D.I. Roush of this city, and she was brought here on the Norfolk passenger for burial in the Columbus cemetery.Tom J.E. Pinson was born November 4, 1866 in England to Robert and Susan (Everhard) Pinson. He married Magdalena Scheidel on August 20, 1892.
Magdalena "Lena" Scheidel was born January 17, 1873, in Hennepin, Putnam County, Illinois, to George and Catherine "Kate" (Siebler) Scheidel. Had one sister, Emma Brodfuehrer; a step-brother, William Spuehr of Illinois; and a step-sister. She died in 1957 and is buried in Columbus Cemetery.
Tom James Eusden "J.E." and Lena (Scheidel) Pinson had the following children: Mary (Pinson) Bruhn (Mar 13, 1904 - Sept 5, 1996); Susie K. (Pinson) Bower (Dec 30, 1901 - Dec 11, 1995); Emma (Pinson) Mindrup (Dec 27, 1908 - Dec 20, 1996); and Elsie E. Pinson (Jun 28, 1893 - Feb 19, 1900).
Mary Pinson married Gerhart Bruhn and had one child, Raymond, who was born in Platte Center.
Susie Katherine Pinson was born in Platte Center and married Harold Bower. She is buried in Columbus Cemetery.
Susie Pinson's husband, Harold Bower (1894-1963) was born in Filmore, Missouri to William C. and Bessie (Heins) Bower. He had a sister, Laura. He is buried in Columbus Cemetery, next to his wife, Susie.
Harold and Susie Pinson Bower had four children: Roy T. Bower was born October 2, 1926, in Platte County, Nebraska and died May 16, 2007. He is buried in New Hope Cemetery, Monroe, Platte County, Nebraska. Three other children are still living.
The portraits and photographs scanned and posted here were originally in the possession of Harold and Susie (Pinson) Bower. Some have been identifed, but most have not. I hope with the information given above, we can match some names to these portraits and photographs so they will not be forgotten. Note: Although I have provided information on the Pinson family, it's quite possible many of these photographs were of the Bower family.
Portraits and Photographs - If you know who these people are, please contact me. I have tried to add any identifying remarks and the name of the photographer, if known.