Susan has been a mystery to me for quite some time. She’s patient in waiting her turn for me to find her. She is the mother of our Lydia Lohr Miller, and while I don’t know much about her, I feel I have much that I can share about her.

Susan P Sites was born November 26, 1834, in Marion, Pennsylvania. She lived In the Franklin, Pennsylvania area until moving to Illinois, but that’s much later. Franklin County runs along the border of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Delaware.

Susan married Samuel Lohr on November 22, 1855, in Franklin. She was 20, and he was 21 years old. On April 13, 1858, their first son, Andrew Jackson Lohr, was born. When Susan was 25, her mother, Rebecca Goldsmith, died. That year, she gave birth on March 11, 1862, to her Daughter Emma K Lohr. Another daughter, Mary Elizabeth, was born July 25, 1863. At 30, her son Emanuel Lorn was born on September 21, 1865. Two years later, Sam and Susan had another son, Henry, born to them on September 21, 1867. They had three more children born to them: Ellen on December 1, 1869; Lydian Ann, born on September 20, 1871; and Daniel George, born on February 25, 1875.

I’m not sure when the family moved to Illinois. I’ve not located any supporting documents confirming a move date. However, I do know that daughter Emma married Austin Miller, uncle to our Kermit, in 1883, so I would assume that the family moved before this occurred. Our Lydia married Austin’s brother, Isaac, on December 19, 1893.

Susan died on April 6, 1893, at the age of 58. Much too early to leave a loving husband and family. Her youngest was just 18 years old, and her husband was 59 years old. I love this photo of Susan. You can’t tell much about the year, but based on her hairstyle, I imagine it was taken in the late 1860s to early 1870s. I believe she has earrings in her ears. The contrast of the light color at her neck brings focus to the pin at her neck. It’s very simple, and I wish I could see it closer. I also enjoy the expression she has on her face. She has such a pleasing smile. She looks like she would be fun to talk to and be around.

I’m left longing to learn more about Susan and her life. To hear about the ups and downs that occur along with the triumphs of life. I’d love to hear about what it was like to live so close to many battles during the Civil War and why the family decided to go west. But until I find those details out, we must be satisfied with this sweet photo of Sam’s Susan.