12/26/2024
Portrait of the 'Teddy Blue' Abbott family taken just before Christmas in 1902.
While much has been written about Teddy Blue - a Englishman by birth who was hailed as one of the greatest of the cowboys who brought herds of Longhorns north from Texas - we often don't hear as much about his family.
Teddy's wife, Mary Stuart Abbott, was the daughter of Montana's famed territorial statesman Granville Stuart; her Shoshone mother was named Aubony, meaning "watchful." Mary grew up on a ranch in Montana, where the table was set with white linen tablecloths every day of the year. She spoke French, played the piano, and was a fine seamstress.
But in those times, life could be hard. This photo includes in the back row (right to left) Charles Bunny Abbott and Katie Abbott (the oldest of nine children); the middle row includes E.C. Teddy Blue Abbott, Mary Stuart Abbott, and Edward Stuart (Mary's brother who died shortly after picture was taken); in the front row are Elsie Blue Abbott, Granville Stuart Abbott (the baby), and Marie Abbott (who also died shortly after the photo was taken).
Four more children born after the picture was taken - James, Robert, Teddy Jr. and Mary.
