This picture was taken after the young widow Mary Umfleet brought her children back to Lawrence County, Illinois, discovering her mother had married again and left town. Having no family support, she was forced to take a job at the hotel to support herself and Baby Jacob. The other children had to be fostered out to work as she was allowed only to have the baby with her at the hotel. The Carmony family took in Pheobe May with the promise that she would be allowed to attend school until she learned to read. After the third grade, they decided she read well enough and put her to work full time in the Carmony home. Pheobe had a hard life. Mrs. Carmony made very free with the hairbrush as a form of punishment. There was no alternative for Pheobe but to submit to this harsh treatment and do her best to please her "benefactors". Pheobe is no more than seven years old in this photo.