My genealogy goal of gifting vintage family photos or postcards to descendants is set for one gift per month. However, this is the season for giving so I’ve amped up the schedule to one gifted item per week.
This week, I’ve found an adorable photo of Margaret Mary Kiely, taken when she was a toddler.
Margaret Mary Kiely was born on 25 May 1894 in California, Moniteau, Missouri, the daughter of Michael Kiely, born in Ireland, and Elizabeth Doody, born in New York. However, Michael and Elizabeth both ended up living in California, Moniteau, Missouri where they married on 24 May 1893.
Michael and Elizabeth were the parents of three children, of which Margaret was the eldest and all were born in California, Moniteau, Missouri:
- Margaret Mary, born 25 May 1894; died 7 May 1961, Cuyahoga County, Ohio; married William John Sponsler, c1925
- John Michael, born 16 August 1896; died 6 March 1932, at the Veterans Hospital, Excelsior Springs, Clay, Missouri of tuberculosis. He apparently never married.
- Joseph Richard, born 11 August 1898; died 27 January 1949, Vancouver, Clark, Washington; married (1) Jessie Marie Coulter, 22 September 1925, Linn, Osage, Missouri; divorced, but they had one son, Joseph Richard Jr. (1927-2002)
William and Margaret Mary were the parents of two sons, William John, Jr., born 1927; died after 1950 and Charles Michael, born 11 February 1931, Ohio and who died on 20 February 1968.
Charles married twice and was the father of five children.
This cute photo of little Margaret Mary (Kiely) Sponsler has gone home to a grandchild.
Such a good deed and I’m sure descendants appreciate having this lovely portrait back in their family’s hands.
Where do you find these photos and how do you track down living descendants? I sometimes can find living descendants, but not always…
Absolutely adorable photo, btw.
I find most of the photos on EBay. Finding living descendants is pretty easy using the main big genealogy websites and a public records database for U.S. residents. The name has to be somewhat uncommon and the photo taken in a smaller town, never major cities like NYC, Boston, Los Angeles, etc. I I can find a couple of living descendants, I buy the photo and gift it to the family.
I’m so happy to have found this! Margaret Kiely Sponsler was my paternal grandmother. She died due to breast cancer. Charles, who went by Mike was my father. What a nice photo! Thank you for sharing!