William Pleasant Umfleet family on Missouri homestead c. 1900

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Man and woman beside house are William and Mary Umfleet. William is holding daughter Rosie and Pheobe May is holding her mother's hand. Oldest son Fred is standing with the draft animals. The twins Jannie and (?) are with the white cow. Notice the bull securely tied to the fence facing away from the cow. Mary is pregnant with Jake, their youngest son. This pictures was apparently taken in late summer or early fall before the winter William died of the flu. One of his brothers actually had filed on the homestead. William and his family were only occupying it though family stories indicate the brother intended it to be their home. One of the twins died that winter as well and the other did not survive to adulthood. Mary and the little girls had also been sick with the flu, but survived. In the spring she traveled with her surviving children back to Pinkstaff in Illinois where she took work in the hotel. There she was not permitted to have any but the baby with her.Both little girls were fostered out at age six. Next entry here will be a photo of Pheobe with her foster family. Son Fred appointed himself his mother's protector, also worked to support the family. Fred continued throughout his life to care for his mother who never remarried. More photos of Fred later.