This is Caleb Agnew's son John, my grandfather.

This portrait reflects the interest that America in general, and Creston, Iowa, in particular, had in World War I. Though the United States hadn't entered the war at this time, many Americans were eager to do so, including a thirteen-year-old John Agnew. Creston eventually sent a large contingent of troops off to war as part of the 34th Infantry Division, the 42nd (Rainbow) and other divisions.

Although the photo indicates young John's intention to march off to war at the first opportunity, he was too young for World War I and too old for World War II, so he never did end up going to war. In fact, he never even enlisted.

This photo is similar to most of the photos of Caleb's daughter Mervyn (featured in the Julie and Whitfield Anderson collection) in the sense that, although it is clearly a studio portrait, since it was intended for family use, it does not bear the Agnew logo.

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