Henry and Mary Jane Trunnell

These photos of Henry and Mary Jane originally belonged to my grandfather, Bradley Trunnell.

Heber's ex-wife, Ann Trunnell gave them to me to share with the family. When Dad and I went to Tampa to meet Liz Kirkman, a Trunnell cousin there, we were shocked to walk in her front door and see these portraits hanging in her entry hall. They were quite large and in wonderful condition. It was obvious to me that they had been painted from the photographs. I asked Liz where they had come from and who had painted them. She said they were done by a family member who had moved West many years ago, but she didn't know the name. I knew immediatly who had painted them! My great-grandmother, Hattie Hatzell Trunnell was an artist who had trained with teachers in Louisville as a young woman. She married Henry's son, Dr. Philip Grable Trunnell and was the mother of my grandfather, Bradley Trunnell. She divorced Philip and moved her family to Chattanooga, TN where they joined the Church. She must have painted the pictures as a gift for her in-laws. I have several other things that she painted.

Henry Trunnell photograph

Henry Trunnell portrait by Hattie Hatzell Trunnell

Mary Jane Field Bowman Trunnell portrait

Mary Jane Trunnell photograph

Henry was the manager of the plantation owned by Jacob Bowman, Mary Jane's husband in Bardstown Junction, Bullitt Co., KY. Jacob became ill and before he died at the age of 30, he told his wife that Henry was a good man and that she should marry him. He said Henry would take good care of her and her son and would manage the farm well. Henry's wife Louisa Grable had divorced him and left him with two young children. Mary Jane had one child and they had nine children together.