Contributed by Sandra Howley
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Notes: Jennie Brooks Whitacre is standing in the back row, third from the left. I
would say she was in her early 20's when this picture was taken. Her father, Charles E. J. Brooks, was English and came to Shelbyville to be co-editor of the old Volunteer paper when John Hoop was the owner. Jennie's mother was Mary Catherine Gilbert. The family lived on South Harrison, close to the Wray home that is now the Harrison St Carmony-Ewing mortuary. Jennie was quite a reader and interested in everything but I don't know much of anything about her life in Shelbyville. I didn't even know she lived there or why until a few months ago.
The time span for the picture would be about 1880 to 1886. Jennie had two sisters, Minnie and Maude. The family moved back to Ohio, but Jennie stayed in Shelby County, Indiana, and married
James Whitacre of Boggstown. One of the Deprez' is hinted as courting her in an old letter I have. She doesn't seem to have a wedding ring on in this picture, so I have assumed it was before 1887 when she was married. I don't recognize any of the others in the picture, so thought it must be a Sunday School class or church group (rather than a family photo). Thanks for any help. Sandy Howley |
