John and Catherine's children?

James G. and Lucy Mottice; Loretta Jane Mottice Bowman and husband

This photo is one of several that had been in the possession of Richard S. Bowman, grandson (I believe) of James Bowman and Loretta Jane Mottice Bowman. Loretta Jane was a daughter of John C. and Catherine Mottice, and sister to Grant Mottice.

The photo is labeled on the back in the form of a question, evidently from Richard Bowman: "Do you think this could be my grandparents and Aunt Ora (on left) -- visiting at Butch and Lucy's farm?" There is no indication as to when the photo was taken, but if the people are correctly identified by Richard, a date between 1920 and 1930 seems reasonable. Loretta Jane died at the age of 64 in 1937. She and her husband James G. Bowman would be the older couple in the middle of the photo.  "Aunt Ora" would be Ora Catherine Bowman, daughter of Loretta Jane and James.

"Butch and Lucy" would be Loretta Jane's brother and sister-in-law James Garfield Mottice and his wife Lucy Ann Snyder. James Garfield's nickname was "Butch." I always heard him referred to by Grant's family as "Uncle Butch."  Uncle Butch and Lucy lived on a farm just north of Waynesburg on old Rt. 43 toward Indian Run, I believe.

If Richard Bowman is correct, the girl and three boys on the right side of the photo are probably Uncle Butch's and Aunt Lucy's children. But if this is so, there is a discrepancy with my records. I have Butch and Lucy with five children -- 4 boys and 1 girl. This could be explained by the simple absence of one of the boys from the picture. But my records indicate that the daughter was the second oldest child. The photo clearly shows her as youngest of those shown.

 
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