I personally think it is, because we have a couple of other photos who may be him and he always has that beard. A long, bushy beard that was popular during and after the Civil War. The aunt of the cousin who shared the picture told us that the picture hung in her grandparents’ home and when she was a child, she thought the man in the picture looked like he was wearing a fur collar.
I hope the photo truly is my great, great grandfather, John. Looking at that picture on my wall has been an inspiration to delve more deeply into his life. I’ve done so much research and written his story and told about him when I give lectures that I feel like I know him. Seeing his face looking back at me on my wall makes me smile and reminds me that his and my family’s story needs to be told and not forgotten. The man with the bushy beard will stay on my wall and continue to remind me the importance of preserving our family history.