CC/Miss ANNIE E. CONOVER Lesbian?/OLD BRIDGE NJ/c1890s--WILLED FORTUNE TO FRIEND

Description

Cabinet card photograph (just over 4 ¼” by 6”) of Ann Eliza Conover of Old Bridge, New Jersey, by Dickerson of New Brunswick, New Jersey, circa 1890s. The portrait view, identified on the reverse as Miss A.E. Conover (late of Old Bridge, N.J.), Died June 4
th
1899, (at 7 a.m.), shows a serious looking woman posing for her likeness in a photographic studio. This is Ann Eliza Conover (1855-1899), who died at a young age, unmarried, with a substantial estate worth between 25 and 40 thousand dollars. Her will from 1897 gave everything to Charlotte Osborn, with whom she had lived since very young. The Conover family, cut out of the inheritance, protested the will. Charlotte Osborn could be the Charlotte Elizabeth (Osborn) Hurtzig (1856-1938), who (like Conover) is buried in Chestnut Hill Cemetery in East Brunswick. Did these two have some sort of same sex or lesbian relationship? Or were they just long time companions? Interesting story worth more exploration! The cabinet card is in good condition with light wear and soiling. Note the light rubbing. The faint pencil on the reverse are my notes (easily erased). The photograph exhibits good or better tonal range and shows good or better detail. A nice Old Bridge NJ related image!