Abraham Chaney, Jr. - The Enhanced Portraits

In 1991, during my extensive photographic genealogical research on the Chaney Family, I was fortunate to connect with a generous distant relative named Charlie Jones. He graciously allowed me access to his collection of negatives, which featured many portraits of our ancestral Chaney family members.

Equipped with a darkroom setup at the time, I meticulously developed prints from Charlie's negatives. Among them was a striking image of Abraham Chaney, Jr. Born on December 14, 1813, in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, Abraham lived until September 4, 1878, passing away at the age of 64 in Surry County, North Carolina, United States.

Abraham Chaney, Jr. and Mary Ann Richardson wedding portrait

The portrait of Chaney appears to be an enlargement of a hand sketch based on a daguerreotype, suggesting some compromise in accuracy as the original daguerreotype has since been lost to history. Leveraging this hand-drawn enlargement and utilizing various AI tools, I've been able to recreate realistic versions of the images, preserving our family's visual legacy with modern technology.

AI enhanced image of Abraham Chaney, Jr.

AI enhanced image of Abraham Chaney, Jr.

AI enhanced image of Abraham Chaney, Jr.

The following was written is 1907 by Henry Watson Chaney.

"Abraham Chaney, Jr., the son of Nancy and Abraham Chaney, Sr., the son of Sarah and Jacob Chaney, was born December 14, 1813, in Pittsylvania County, Virginia and died September 4, 1878, in Surry County, North Carolina, age 64 years, 8 months and 20 days. he was buried near Crutchfield, N.C. A monument marks his grave. Abraham was married twice, his first wife's name was Sallie Bird Chaney, the daughter of William Chaney. She was born Dec. 12, 1817, and died July 2, 1851, aged 33 years, 6 months and 20 days. She was buried at her father's old home place. To this union there were born six children - Mary J., Harriet A., William B., Martha W., Henry Watson, and John C.

His second wife's name was Mary Ann Richardson, the daughter of William Richardson. She was born Dec. 28, 1832 and to this union eleven children were born - Charlie A., Mary S., Thomas, Rebecca, Tapley S., Sallie W., Tassalou A., Luther T., Albert C., Banister Rosco and Fannie E. Abraham, the father of the above children was a wheel -wright by occupation. Early after his first marriage he settled one mile east of Laurel Grove,Virginiaa, on the place now known as the late Joseph Davis place. His first wife died and he married his second wife in that section.

In about the year 1856 he was elected Steward of the Poor of Pittsylvania County, Virginia. He then sold out at Laurel Grove and moved up near the White Oak Mountains. Very soon after this the county moved the Poor House to five miles southwest of Chatham, Virginia on Bear Skin Creek. In 1862 he bought land in Halifax County, VA near the place know as Birch, Virginia. At this time he engaged in the tanning business, tanning for customers and Government. This was during the War Between the States.

In the meantime, about the year 1857, Abraham went to Surry County, N.C., where he bought 1600 acres of land at 75 cents per acre. By taking this quantity of he bought it cheap. At the close of the war his tanning business went down, and in 1867 he moved to Surry County and carried all of his children by his last wife. Abraham and his last wife belonged to the Missionary Baptists. They both took an active part in the meetings. In justice to my father and step-mother, I being of the first children and about five years old at the time of my father's second marriage, my stepmother was very kind to me. I lived with them until I was twenty years old except about ten months, during which I was in the army during the War Between the States. I don't remember in the twenty years seeing him drink strong drinks or using profane language. He surely lead a quiet life and greatly desired his children to do the same, I believe. So it will be seen that he was the father of six children by his first wife aqnd eleven by his last wife - seventeen in all."