That was a line I most likely first heard on KXOK sometime in the 1960s. I don’t know where to go with that metaphor so I’ll just mix them up a bit. We have hit the paydirt in the mountain of Maplewood History once again. We have struck a historical gold vein. Wow! Crazy but if one tasked themselves with finding these images of one of our pioneer families, you simply wouldn’t be able to do it. It is one shot in a million, the historical needle in the haystack of history.
Again we have Rachel Potter to thank for most of this material. Rachel is a direct descendant of Elizabeth Rannells, daughter of Charles and Mary.
Let’s get started. This is a bit complicated so pay attention. If you need to review some of the earlier material here are the links.
This is the image of Mary Warder Rannells that I received from Glenn and Elise Rannells Todd. I just discovered from the material that Ms. Potter sent that I had been displaying a reverse of the image. The above is how it should be displayed.This is how I figured that out. This is a photograph of the above painting.I made an overlay with Photoshop. They match almost exactly.Extremely rare is this image of Charles Samuel Rannells. This is the only known photograph of him. (Correction: This may be a photograph of a painting as well. See Ms. Potter’s comments below.) Only one other image of him is known…a painting. There is a name and a date written on the right side of the oval.I can’t make out the name. The date looks like it is 188?. Curious since Rannells died in 1877.Another mind bending discovery! The elderly woman is our Mary Rannells. The two younger ones are presumed to be her daughter, Elizabeth (Betsy) and granddaughter, Margaret. Betsy married William Howard Brown. Margaret married Jesse Warren Wyrick. This image is lent courtesy of Dolores Wyrick through Rachel Potter.This is a portrait of Mary’s baby, David, who died as an infant. It was painted later so is idealized. This painting certainly hung in Woodside for many years. This is also courtesy of Dolores Wyrick.I found this online about Mary Warder Rannells parents. Her brother, Ben, was a big deal. He started a company that eventually became International Harvester. His article on Wikipedia follows.
Ben’s bronze sarcophagus weighing 3500 pounds. Cool or what?John Aston Warder, born in 1812, was another brother of Mary’s. According to Ms. Potter, he founded American Forests.I’m shaky on this one. I think this is a photograph of Charles and Mary’s grandson, John Rannells’ sister and brother, Frances and Ted with their grandmother, Sarah Amelia Baldwin Cartmell on the lawn at Woodside in Maplewood. Courtesy of Rachel Potter. Please correct me if I’m wrong, Ms. Potter.And finally, this is (was?) a Warder family residence in Springfield, Ohio. I’m just not sure which Warder. Thanks to Ms. Potter for this as well.
Well folks, if that’s not enough Maplewood history to hold you for awhile, you’re insatiable. Believe it or not there is still more to come.
As always, I truly appreciate all who contribute to and support this effort.
Doug Houser October 12, 2021
9 COMMENTS
Wonderful info! Thank you!!
You are very welcome, Pickett. Much thanks for your enthusiasm and support.
Elise Rannells Todd told me that Mary Warder Rannells was known as Mammy to her own family as well. Ms. Rachel Potter, we can’t thank you enough for all of these images and information.
Warder House in Springfield. I think this building was built after both of Mary’s parents died. Maybe for her brother William?
Who is the Old Lady in the Rocking Chair? :
I now have doubts about who she is is. John Paul Rannells wrote: “We have a photograph of Ted and Francey with Mammy, a tired looking old lady in a rocking chair, on the lawn at Maplewood in about 1900,not long before she died [sic].” My family called Mary Rannells Mammy. While this woman looks more like Mary’s two daughter’s in law, Sarah and Elinor Cartmell, who married her sons, it could also be an older Mary Rannells. There is something about the mouth and chin that resembles the photo of Mary above with her daughter and granddaughter. However, Mary died in 1896. Ted was born in 1892 and Francey in 1895. Mary Rannells died in 1896. These children look older than 1 and 4, but maybe not. I wanted it to be my Cartmell 2nd Great Grandmother, and this woman’s complexion seems to resemble the darker toned Cartmell sisters. John Rannells had a remarkable memory, but could easily have been wrong. He wasn’t born until 1901.
All so fun! Thank you Doug and I am glad to share these. Thank you also to Delores Wyrick (whose late husband, David Wyrick, was the young Margaret’s, seen above, grandson).
Baby David Portrait:
John Paul Rannells (1901- 1999) also wrote: “The handsome portrait of Great Grandmother Warder was a constant presence, as was that of David, Mammy’s first child who died as an infant. “An idealized .painting” said Mother, for the artist had never seem him. Whether a likeness or no, it was a very attractive baby, rather resembling Warder [Warder Rannells, 1896-1962].”
Charles Rannells Portrait:
This is a photograph of a posthumous portrait that Mary commissioned of Charles after his death. Charles’ and Mary’s grandson, John Paul Rannells (1901-1999), my grandfather, wrote: “Less of a presence was the much smaller portrait of Grandpa Charles, a miniature that Mammy had commissioned after his death. It is dated 1885. A long-nosed man with a high forehead, plenty of light-brown hair and grave brown eyes, he resembled Uncle Ned more than Dad. Mammy, not altogether pleased with the likeness, invited one of the old Negroes on the place to see it. After standing before it for a while he turned to her with his eyes full of tears “it’s just my dear old Massa Charlie.” She was satisfied.” This is the story passed down by my family. I can make no judgment, but it, no doubt, made the descendants of slave owning Charles and Mary feel a little better. Or not if we have to doubt it.
– Rachel Potter
Mary Warder Rannells Portrait:
Do we know if the view of the portrait or the photo were swapped around? Our family remembrances were that these were painted in 1846 to celebrate Mary and Charles’ 5th wedding anniversary.
– Rachel Potter, Mary and Charles’ 2nd Great granddaughter.
Thanks so much, Doug. Glad to share. Some notes…
Mary’s portraits. Do we know if the painting or the photograph was swapped around?
Charles’ portrait: I believe this is a photograph of a posthumous portrait. My grandfather, Charles and Mary’s grandson, John Paul Rannells (1901-1997) , wrote of his childhood visits to Maplewood: “Less of a presence was the much smaller portrait of Grandpa Charles, a miniature that Mammy had commissioned after his death. It is dated 1885. A long-nosed man with a high forehead, plenty of light-brown hair and grave brown eyes, he resembled Uncle Ned more than Dad. Mammy, not altogether pleased with the likeness, invited one of the old Negroes on the place to see it. After standing before it for a while he turned to her with his eyes full of tears “it’s just my dear old Massa Charlie.” She was satisfied.” Remember, Charles and Mary were slaveholders and my grandfather was born in 1901 so this was a story the family passed down. Who knows how much warmth former slaves held for the Rannells?
Baby David: John Rannells also wrote: “Mammy had two portraits made of David, one of which was in our house, one in the “old place.” They were quite idealized, for neither artist had seen the child.”
John Aston Warder Portrait: I found this posted on the Internet somwhere, attributed to American Forests. I would love to learn more about the portrait. Artist? Date?
Grandmother Cartmell? : This is Francey and Ted, my grandfather’s older siblings. It could be Mary Rannells. Thanks to the geniuses on the Random Acts of Photo Restoration for digitally patching up big tears in this photo. It was in a hand made small photo album, so I guessed at the people being close family and that they were my grandfather’s siblings and grandmother Cartmell. This old woman seems to resemble the dark complexioned Cartmell girls (who married Ted and John Rannells). Rereading my grandfather’s memoir, there is some doubt. ” We have a photograph of Ted and Francey with Mammy, a tired looking old lady in a rocking chair, on the lawn at Maplewood in about 1900, not long before she died.” Our family referred to Mary Rannells as “Mammy”. We have no known photos of Sarah Amelia Baldwin Cartmell. Ted was born in 1892, Francey in Feb 1895. Mary Rannells died in September 1896. Could the little girl here be under 2? Sarah Cartmell did not die until 1918. Thoughts? Maybe the mouth and chin do look like the photo of Mary Rannells with her daughters. Or it is thier Cartmell grandmother.
“Warder House” From what I can tell, this Springfield Ohio house was built after Ann and Jeremiah died. Possibly by their son William Warder?” It may be a funeral home now.
Wonderful info! Thank you!!
You are very welcome, Pickett. Much thanks for your enthusiasm and support.
Elise Rannells Todd told me that Mary Warder Rannells was known as Mammy to her own family as well. Ms. Rachel Potter, we can’t thank you enough for all of these images and information.
Warder House in Springfield. I think this building was built after both of Mary’s parents died. Maybe for her brother William?
Who is the Old Lady in the Rocking Chair? :
I now have doubts about who she is is. John Paul Rannells wrote: “We have a photograph of Ted and Francey with Mammy, a tired looking old lady in a rocking chair, on the lawn at Maplewood in about 1900,not long before she died [sic].” My family called Mary Rannells Mammy. While this woman looks more like Mary’s two daughter’s in law, Sarah and Elinor Cartmell, who married her sons, it could also be an older Mary Rannells. There is something about the mouth and chin that resembles the photo of Mary above with her daughter and granddaughter. However, Mary died in 1896. Ted was born in 1892 and Francey in 1895. Mary Rannells died in 1896. These children look older than 1 and 4, but maybe not. I wanted it to be my Cartmell 2nd Great Grandmother, and this woman’s complexion seems to resemble the darker toned Cartmell sisters. John Rannells had a remarkable memory, but could easily have been wrong. He wasn’t born until 1901.
All so fun! Thank you Doug and I am glad to share these. Thank you also to Delores Wyrick (whose late husband, David Wyrick, was the young Margaret’s, seen above, grandson).
Baby David Portrait:
John Paul Rannells (1901- 1999) also wrote: “The handsome portrait of Great Grandmother Warder was a constant presence, as was that of David, Mammy’s first child who died as an infant. “An idealized .painting” said Mother, for the artist had never seem him. Whether a likeness or no, it was a very attractive baby, rather resembling Warder [Warder Rannells, 1896-1962].”
Charles Rannells Portrait:
This is a photograph of a posthumous portrait that Mary commissioned of Charles after his death. Charles’ and Mary’s grandson, John Paul Rannells (1901-1999), my grandfather, wrote: “Less of a presence was the much smaller portrait of Grandpa Charles, a miniature that Mammy had commissioned after his death. It is dated 1885. A long-nosed man with a high forehead, plenty of light-brown hair and grave brown eyes, he resembled Uncle Ned more than Dad. Mammy, not altogether pleased with the likeness, invited one of the old Negroes on the place to see it. After standing before it for a while he turned to her with his eyes full of tears “it’s just my dear old Massa Charlie.” She was satisfied.” This is the story passed down by my family. I can make no judgment, but it, no doubt, made the descendants of slave owning Charles and Mary feel a little better. Or not if we have to doubt it.
– Rachel Potter
Mary Warder Rannells Portrait:
Do we know if the view of the portrait or the photo were swapped around? Our family remembrances were that these were painted in 1846 to celebrate Mary and Charles’ 5th wedding anniversary.
– Rachel Potter, Mary and Charles’ 2nd Great granddaughter.
Thanks so much, Doug. Glad to share. Some notes…
Mary’s portraits. Do we know if the painting or the photograph was swapped around?
Charles’ portrait: I believe this is a photograph of a posthumous portrait. My grandfather, Charles and Mary’s grandson, John Paul Rannells (1901-1997) , wrote of his childhood visits to Maplewood: “Less of a presence was the much smaller portrait of Grandpa Charles, a miniature that Mammy had commissioned after his death. It is dated 1885. A long-nosed man with a high forehead, plenty of light-brown hair and grave brown eyes, he resembled Uncle Ned more than Dad. Mammy, not altogether pleased with the likeness, invited one of the old Negroes on the place to see it. After standing before it for a while he turned to her with his eyes full of tears “it’s just my dear old Massa Charlie.” She was satisfied.” Remember, Charles and Mary were slaveholders and my grandfather was born in 1901 so this was a story the family passed down. Who knows how much warmth former slaves held for the Rannells?
Baby David: John Rannells also wrote: “Mammy had two portraits made of David, one of which was in our house, one in the “old place.” They were quite idealized, for neither artist had seen the child.”
John Aston Warder Portrait: I found this posted on the Internet somwhere, attributed to American Forests. I would love to learn more about the portrait. Artist? Date?
Grandmother Cartmell? : This is Francey and Ted, my grandfather’s older siblings. It could be Mary Rannells. Thanks to the geniuses on the Random Acts of Photo Restoration for digitally patching up big tears in this photo. It was in a hand made small photo album, so I guessed at the people being close family and that they were my grandfather’s siblings and grandmother Cartmell. This old woman seems to resemble the dark complexioned Cartmell girls (who married Ted and John Rannells). Rereading my grandfather’s memoir, there is some doubt. ” We have a photograph of Ted and Francey with Mammy, a tired looking old lady in a rocking chair, on the lawn at Maplewood in about 1900, not long before she died.” Our family referred to Mary Rannells as “Mammy”. We have no known photos of Sarah Amelia Baldwin Cartmell. Ted was born in 1892, Francey in Feb 1895. Mary Rannells died in September 1896. Could the little girl here be under 2? Sarah Cartmell did not die until 1918. Thoughts? Maybe the mouth and chin do look like the photo of Mary Rannells with her daughters. Or it is thier Cartmell grandmother.
“Warder House” From what I can tell, this Springfield Ohio house was built after Ann and Jeremiah died. Possibly by their son William Warder?” It may be a funeral home now.
Thanks, Doug
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