Neal Family Archive

Grandpa John C. Chamberlain

by Ken Neal

Grandpa Chamberlain

This is Fannie Ruth Ingalls Neal's great grandfather. He would be my great, great grandfather; the great, great, great grandfather of Kathy, Julia and Patrick, my children, and the great, great, great, great grandfather of Abby and Neal Johnston.

Grandpa Ray Ingalls was born February 6, 1890 in Nebraska and his mother, Eva Chamberlain, was born March 12, 1869 in Franklin, Ohio. Her father, the man in this picture, probably was born in about 1840 in Pennsylvania according to Ancestry.com records. He had two wives, the first of which was Eliza (last name unknown) and this was Eva's mother. Eliza had two other children and must have died an early death because records indicate that John eventually married Ophia A. Proctor and had five more children.

Judging from his dress, and his mustache, and his age (65-75?), the photo was probably taken around the turn of the 20th century.

So far as I know, this photo is the oldest in our family photo collection.