The date of the marriage was May 14, 1917, so obviously the photo from the previous post was taken before May 14, 1917.
It turns out that my great-grandmother was in Watonga, OK, for a family reunion in 1911. While I cannot prove without a doubt that Miss Cleo's photo was taken in 1911, it seems likely for many reasons.
First, let's look at the postcard written by my grandmother:
From what I can read of her handwriting, it says (I have added punctuation for clarity):
"10-2-11 AM. Well have not been sick since I left home. We had a reunion at Flora's Saturday and at Otis Sunday. There were twenty-three at Ot's for dinner. My we are having a good time but ah the parting will be soon. We expect to leave Watonga Thursday & go to Woke {??} Okla to see Aunt Ell Whithing {Whittington??} & will write you from there. I hope you & Edd are well. Probably {?} Aunt Mary and Myrt hate to see us go. {have to see us in Ga??} We will go to Floe'sWed, Thursday & start with her a day & night. I will write again soon. Mother."
All of these names fit what I know about the James Best family tree. Short version: James Best married Anna Tatum in IL in 1826. First surviving child Susan Maria Best married W. C. Purdy in IL, 1849. Sixth child Mary Ann Best married Paul Hampton Powers in IL, 1860, then moved to OK by the 1900 Census.
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=7602&h=57761232&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=6742
WCP & SMB first surviving daughter was Sarah Ann Purdy, who wrote the postcard. PHP & MAB children Flora Lee Powers ("Floe"), Otis Milton ("Otis," "Ot"), Mary Ann Best Powers ("Aunt Mary") and Myrtle Powers ("Myrt').
"Aunt Ell Whithing" would probably be James & Anna Best's daughter Ellen Nora Best who married Thomas Whittington 1866, IL. She was in OK by the 1910 Census.
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7884/images/4450022_00062?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.153382776.1320789974.1596493864-1936791666.1596493864&pId=170389261
And referring back to my last post, the photo of "Miss Cleo Powers," it turns out that she is the daughter of Otis Milton Powers, who happens to be mentioned in my grandmother's postcard—twice, even.
Actually there's more to the story than this. But that's another post by itself.
Stay tuned.
