The mystery is solved.
Some
time ago I came across a photo marked “Harmon and George ‘of all’
Sizemore” it came from what appeared to be a reliable source. It can be
found in many places on the internet and is always (as far as I have
seen) attached to George “All” Sizemore. However after I posted the
photo, comments and questions came in that cast a cloud of doubt about
the accuracy of the label.
The
most damning of which was the fact someone pointed out that George ‘of
all’ had lived and died before photography was invented. George “All”
Sizemore lived 1750-1822 (and is buried in Leslie County, Kentucky) and the first commercially available photography - the daguerreotype was introduced in 1839.
Then the question asked by many, “Well, then, who IS this?”
I received a letter from a descendant of Harmon and Susan Sizemore, Walter L. Sizemore, who was understandably upset that his ancestors were not given their proper recognition.
First and foremost I want to extend my apologies to the family and take this opportunity to set the record straight:
The letter says the picture is of Harmon Sizemore (1806-1909) and his wife (behind him), Susan (Sizemore), daughter of John “Rockhouse” Sizemore , with his brother, John Sisemore (1822-1900), and John’s
daughter, Mary Ann (Sisemore) Seamans. John apparently changed the
spelling of his name when he moved to Arkansas in 1837.
The picture is
taken in front of John’s store in Aurora, Arkansas in the 1870’s,
probably, he says, to celebrate the moving of Harmon and Susan from
Leslie County, Kentucky to Madison County, Arkansas. Harmon and John were sons of James Sizemore (before 1774-1824) and Elizabeth Fields.
So
for all of us who have been wondering, the mystery had been solved at
last. Now we know the true identities of the people in the picture.
Thanks again to the descendants of these pioneers who helped in the writing of this post and
brought to light the facts that were for so many years lost in history. 
I always had the picture as Harmon and John. Did not know that people thought it was George all. Well glad that you solidified my information.
ReplyDeleteI've even seen it said it was of the Asher family. But I knew better.
ReplyDeleteReally got to double check on these old photos. There's one out said to be of Chief Redbird, except that Chief Redbird lived and died before the advent of photography, and the headdress that is being worn is the western war bonnet, which eastern natives didn't wear -- their headdresses were more like turbans. Genealogy is hard. So many people just want to copy other's work. There's a photo supposedly of my great grandmother's mother Eliza Muncy with Henry Morgan on Ancestry. Turns out the other adult woman in the photo is my grandmother. Eliza died five years after my grandmother was born, so how can the both of them be in the same photo as adults? People see what they want to see and stop there.
ReplyDeleteDavid have enjoyed
ReplyDeleteReading your articles on the sizemore ancestry. Could you please email me regarding somw connections. Thanks. Ryan Sizemore
Good morning, Ryan, Thank you for checking in and for your offer of connections. Of course I would gladly accept any help in the research of this family. Anything you have that can help in this research is welcome as these are my ancestors as well.
DeleteGreat information! My family claim descent from Winifred Minerva Sizemore, my 4th great grandmother, through her granddaughter Tennessee Roberts. They moved to Newton County, Arkansas in the mid 1800's. Her great grandson was Alvis Lewis from Madison County, near Aurora! Thanks for another link in the chain.
ReplyDeleteGreat information! My family claim descent from Winifred Minerva Sizemore, my 4th great grandmother, through her granddaughter Tennessee Roberts. They moved to Newton County, Arkansas in the mid 1800's. Her great grandson was Alvis Lewis from Madison County, near Aurora! Thanks for another link in the chain.
ReplyDeleteI have a picture I copied from my grandmothers Lucy Wood's old picture album onto a slide in about 1965. The people look a lot darker and dirtier. Lucy claimed that they were part Indian. I will try to digitize the picture.
ReplyDeleteJohn rockhouse sizemore is my 5th great on down to fiddlin jim etc..awesome picture, been looking for as much info as possible.
ReplyDeletejohn Sizemore is my 5th great grandpa through Catherine Sizemore is my 4th great grandma.
ReplyDelete