Throwback Thursday: The Unknown Man

Once in the flight of ages past, 

  There lived a man, and who was he?

Stranger, how e'er thy lot be cast,

   That man resembles thee,

The clouds and sunbeams o'er his eye,

   That once their shades and glory threw,

Have left in yonder silent sky,

   No vestige where they flew.

(Author Unknown)

This photograph was found in the old trunk my grandfather brought from his mother's house. There was no name, and the mystery has persisted as to who he is.

Probably because he is so darn handsome.

I believe this is a carte de visite, which was created about 1854 but become popular about 1859 and beyond the Civil War. It has a more sepia cast to it than a cabinet card would, and less ornamentation. It probably dates from about 1860 to 1880.

Part of the mystery surrounding the mystery man is that he does not look like any of the McQueens or Whiteheads. I have often wondered if perhaps it was Emile Corbello who married Tennessee Anne McQueen. He was French and likely had a dark look to him.

Or perhaps it was Thomas Rock? He was a well-to-do gentleman, and he certainly traveled a lot. There are a number of records of his having been in Orange County while practicing his profession as an attorney.

 Then again, it could be some suitor who simply wished to leave one of the McQueen or Whitehead sweethearts a picture of himself.