Albert Putman Photo Genealogy

William (Billy) Albert Putman

This website is a genealogical photo gallery. Feel free to contact me if you have photos, want a higher resolution picture or have information about the people in the picture.

Albert Putman (Mar 23, 1890 - Jun 25, 1958)
Lela Ann Hileman (Dec 22, 1894 - Feb 10, 1953)

Albert Putman was the son of J M Putman and Teresa Ann Price . On Nov 3, 1912, Albert married Lela Ann Hileman. Lela was the daughter of William and Virginia Hileman. Albert and Lela Putman had six sons:
  • Joseph Putman
  • Rex Putman
  • Bobby Putman
  • Fay Putman
  • William Vance Putman
  • Thomas Jerry Putman


    • Albert Putman 1910
    Albert Putman 1910


    Albert & Lela Putman 1912
    Photo courtesy of Jerry Putman


    Albert and Lela Putman's Bible


    Lela and JoePutman ca. 1915


    Lela and Joe Putman ca. 1915


    ca. 1917 Lela Putman with her son,Joe
    Woman on right is unknown (Eula Givens?)


    Joe and Rex Putman, ca. 1919
    Photo courtesy of Carol Putman
    Fay and Bobby Putman, ca. 1928
    Photo courtesy of Carol Putman
    Vance and Jerry Putman, ca. 1937
    Photo courtesy of Carol Putman


    1918_AlbertPutman_OlinHileman.jpg
    Photo courtesy of Joyce McCann
    1918_LeviGivens_WalterCrabtree.jpg
    Photo courtesy of Joyce McCann

    ca. 1918 Levi Givens, WalterCrabtree
    Albert Putman, and OlinHileman
    Others are unknown
    Photo courtesy of Joyce McCann
    ca. 1919
    Olen Hileman and Sibyl Carden(?)
    Others are unknown
    Photo courtesy of Joyce McCann


    1919_AlbertPutman017.jpg
    In the fall of 1919 J.M. and Albert bought two train car load of sheep. Jerry Putman still has the ledger that shows the expenses. Lambs cost $25 each and the sheep cost $40 each. Rams varied in price from $50 to $115 each. They unloaded the sheep at Avoca and herded them to Pea Ridge.

    Carol Putman -
    Here is a story my Dad told me about Albert's sheep. I remembered a few more details and mother gave me some, as well. ... The dog appears to be a Border Collie.

    When the sheep Albert Putman had purchased were shipped from Canada by train in 1919, his son, Joe, was just four years old. The sheep must have made a very strong impression on Joe even at that age. As a child, he must have delighted at the bleating animals with their frolicking lambs. As he told it, there was much excitement and anticipation on the Putman farm at the arrival of this special breed of sheep which were to be Albert's newest enterprise and a livelihood for this young man with a growing family. The sheep were purchased because they produced an unusually high quality wool which was much desired at market and brought a handsome price. To help herd the new arrivals, Albert also bought a somewhat expensive sheep dog that was trained to care for the flock. The dog quickly became as prized a possession as any. She was young Joe's constant companion when she wasn't moving her woolly charges about the barnyard.


    Joe Putman at about age four with the sheepdog thought
    to be the one Albert purchased in 1919 to herd his sheep.
    Photo courtesy of Carol Putman
    The sheep were kept in a small pen and, as was the custom at the time, the pen was constructed with a fence made of a stiff, heavy-gauge wire mesh strung between wooden posts set several feet apart. Late one night, and without any warning. there came up an especially bad electrical storm. As a body, the sheep scurried from one side of the pen to another, terrified at the chaos and confusion. Finally, in a moment of quiet between lightening strikes, they huddled together, side by side, at one end of the pen -- up against the metal fence. Again, a single lightening strike crackled through the night air. This time, however, it hit the metal fence where the sheep were huddled. In an instant, most of the entire flock were electrocuted.

    The enormity of the event became apparent at the break of dawn. Bodies of dead animals lay in a charred, woolly mass at one end of the pen. Among the dead were survivors, but those clinging to life were injured with burns that would certainly kill them in the coming days. It soon became evident that the humane thing to do would be to destroy those that were so badly injured. The wool, which was to be Albert and Lela's income, was now charred ... and worthless. In order to dispose of the carcasses of the dead animals, and to prevent the possibility of disease, they would have to be removed from the pen and burned. It must have been an awful sight ... the smoke rising from the pyre of dead animals ... and the smell of charred sheep flesh filling the air. When he told me this story, Joe said that, from that day forward and because of his memories, he did not eat lamb nor could he stand the smell of lamb cooking. It must have had a very strong emotional impact on him, even at four years old ... and rightfully so.


    Rex Putman ca. 1919
    Photo courtesy of Joyce McCann
    Unknown (probably Albert and Rex) ca. 1919
    Photo courtesy of Joyce McCann


    Rex, Jo Ann, J.M., and Albert Putman ca.`1939
    Photo courtesy of Joyce McCann


    Albert and Lela Putman in 1950
    Rex built this bicycle for the Pea Ridge Centennial in 1950
    Photo courtesy of Joyce McCann
    Oct 21, 1951
    Albert & Lela Putman
    Photo courtesy of Carol Putman


    Easter Sunday Mar 25, 1951
    Albert Putman age 61
    Photo courtesy of Joyce McCann


    Easter Sunday Mar 25, 1951
    Taken at Alberts and Lela's Gravette home.
    Back row: Maxine Morrison, Rex Putman, J.M. Putman
    Second row: Bill Putman, Ada Putman, Lynn Putman, Lela Putman, Albert Putman
    Third row: Sibyl Putman, Jerry Putman, Betty Putman, Lynn's mother Mrs. Howard (seated)
    JoAnn Putman (standing), Joyce Putman and Allie Price.
    Photo courtesy of Joyce McCann


    ca. 1951
    Levi Givens, unknown (behind Levi), Eula Givens, Lela Putman, Albert Putman, Jessie Putman and J.M. Putman
    Front: Sheila Putman, Carol Putman, unknown (kneeling)


    October 21, 1951
    Gr.Gran'dad and Gr.Granddaughters
    Bk: JoAnn, J.M. holding Jennifer, and Lynn
    Front: Carol, Joyce, Sheila, and Betty Jane
    (Photo courtesy of Carol Putman)
    October 21, 1951
    Grandparents and all the grandaughters
    Back: Lela (holding Jennifer) and Albert Putman
    Front: Carol with Betty Jane slightly behind her,
    Sheila, Joyce (holding kitten), and JoAnn Putman.
    Photo courtesy of Jerry Putman


    Putman Clan at Bill and Sibyl's house, October 21, 1951
    Back: Aunt Annie Putman (J.M.'s sister-in-law, Luther Bogle (J.M.'s half brother) and wife.
    Lynn and JM, Lela with Jennifer, Albert, Marie
    Front: Rex Bill, Ada, Carol, JoAnn, Betty, Joyce, Sheila, and Sibyl (on knees behind Shela)
    Photo courtesy of Carol Putman


    Lela Putman
    Back of Photo: Mother Putman 1950
    This may be the last photo taken of Lela Putman. She got out
    of bed to show her son Fay how to use their new sewing machine.
    Norma Jean grabbed her camera and took this picture.
    Photo courtesy of Norma Jean Putman


    Lela Putman
    ca. 1947
    Photo courtesy of Carol Putman
    Painting of Lela Putman
    by Joe Putman
    Photo courtesy of Carol Putman
    Lela Putman
    ca. 1951
    Photo courtesy of Carol Putman


    Putman Family ca. 1955
    Back Row: Ada, Rex, Jerry, Albert, J M, Lyna, Fay, Bill, Betty Jane, Sybil
    Front Row: Danny, Marie, Billy, Joyce, Joanne, Norma Jean


    ca. 1956
    J M Putman and his two sons
    Bill Putman, J M Putman and Albert Putman
    Putman Men: June 1956
    Left: Rex, Jerry, Albert, J.M., Fay and Bill Putman. Albert and
    Bill were sons of J.M. Rex, Jerry and Fay were sons of Albert.


    Sons of Albert and Lela Putman: 1952

    Left back row: Joe, Rex, Bobby.
    Left front row: Jerry, Vance, Fay
    Sons of Albert and Lela Putman: 1979

    Back Row: Fay, Vance, Jerry
    Front Row: Joe, Rex and Bobby

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