Antique Store Genealogy: Ella F Sarles

Ella F Sarles

In December 2014, for $1.00 I picked up this picture in an antique store in Kensington, Maryland.  Written on the back in pencil, it says "Ella F. Sarles wife of Geo W Gardner."  The original size of the photograph was 7"x9", but it has been  trimmed at the corners to fit into an oval frame.  An oval line where the frame blocked the light can be seen.

Ella leans on what I'm guessing is an artificial "rock."  Beside her, is an odd planter, with twisted branches and dried leaves.  From her dress, the photo may have been taken 1880-1885.  Ella could be 25 in the picture, possibly 30.

She wears a small hoop earring.  Around her neck is a scarf with what looks like a leaf pattern.  The scarf looks darker than her dress.  I imagine the scarf being purple.  She has a bracelet on both wrists.  They look matching.  Two rings are on her left hand.  Besides her wedding ring, her index finger has a ring with an oval stone.  A chain peeks out from under her right forearm.  Did woman wear watches?

Ella was the first-born child of William Henry and Hannah A Sarles.  William Henry was a carpenter.  This might be his grave on Find A Grave.  Born April 1855, Ella had at least two sibling: Rufus A and John W.  In 1876, she married George W Gardner, who was a coal merchant.  George's family was from Nantucket, going back several generations as far as the early 1700's, according to researcher Janet McGovern, who has posted his line using Family Tree Maker.

Ella and George had had four children at the time of the 1900 census, three of whom were still living at the time: George Howard, Zadie, and Phebe B.  Ella's last census appearance in at age 75 in the 1930 census.