This stalwart homesteader and his three children standing proudly in front of their “Soddie” on the Nebraska plains have had a tough time of it. The photographer, Solomon Butcher, noted that the roof of their home collapsed just hours before his arrival. Heavy rains during the night had soaked the sod, and the increased weight of the roof snapped the supporting pole.
The photographer’s notes also tells us that the man’s name is George Barnes. His wife had died the previous year, leaving him in charge of his three young children. In spite of these troubles, the father has reached into his limited finances and hired the services of an itinerant photographer. He probably can’t easily reschedule the session, so he tells the photographer to snap away despite the overnight catastrophe.
The family is posed in front of their damaged home with their prized possessions of three well-fed horses and a wagon proudly on display. The children are probably wearing their best clothes. A close look at the photo reveals the ill-fitting coats and pants of the two brothers. It appears their father has not been able to sew or buy any new clothes for his rapidly growing sons. All the children are shoeless.
Despite the not-so-rosy picture, George Barnes’ stance seems to challenge the viewer. We will survive, he seems to say. We will survive, and we will grow, and we will thrive.
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