I fell in love with this photo the moment I saw it!  Such a delightful little girl and boy – brother and sister.  This photo of Owen and Nellie Roach, ages 9 and 6, was taken April 22, 1903.  Don’t you love the way she is holding her hands?  My grandmother had the habit of standing with her hands in that position – and my mother noticed it in my daughter, Kate, when she was little!  Owen has such a cute bow tie!  I’m always fascinated with shoes from this era – and both children see to have such long, narrow feet!

I couldn’t leave it at that – just a name and age – and a quick search gave us more information.  Owen Arthur Roach was born September 21, 1894, to Charles Franklin Roach and Lillie Martha Watts.  Nellie Anna was born August 9, 1897.  The family lived in Logan County, Ohio.  Charles was a farmer, and later in life was also a school bus driver.

Owen married Ethel Cockrell, they had one son, Wallace.  In the 1930 census Owen is listed as a farmer.  He filled out a World War I draft registration card.  Owen was married at this time; he lists himself as married, of medium height, slender build, blue eyes and brown hair.

Nellie married Floyd Shields January 18, 1916.  They did not have children.

Neither child lived a long life.  Nellie died April 26, 1947, at the age of 49.  Their father, Charles, died April 4, 1954, and four years later Owen died February 24, 1958, aged 63.

A picture can say a thousand words.  This beautiful little girl with her curls, dark dress with white lace trim – and her brother with his sweet face, knickers and grown-up shirt say ‘we were more than a picture, we were real people, with real lives – both good times and hardships.’  It is good to remember them.