Friday's Photo: The Thompson Brothers of Erath County An AI Fail

After comparing my father's photos with those of his brother's in Tuesday’s post, Buster vs. Dad – An AI Perspective, I’ve found myself on a new mission—revisiting my collection of unidentified photos with help from AI.

This photo of two young men was shared by a cousin, who identified them as Floyd William Thompson (1889-1968) and one of his brothers. 

Floyd had five brothers:

• Aaron Whitney Thompson (1886-1964)
• Claud Clarence Thompson (1891-?)
• Edgar Richard Thompson (1896-1983)
• Walter Alexander Chisum (1876-1816) [half-brother]
• Philip Louis Chisum (1881-1962) [half-brother]

I uploaded the photo to OpenAI’s ChatGPT along with at least one confirmed image of each brother—except Claud. I’ve never come across a photo of Claud Thompson. I also provided their names and birth years. I've learned that AI performs better when I include some background information. 

AI Analysis

I first used ChatGPT 4o to upload photos and ask questions. I really liked this table created by AI. It made me consider details I might have overlooked. 

This model confidently identified Floyd as the standing figure, citing specific facial features and stance as evidence.

However, this AI automatically assumed the standing boy was older, despite the possibility to the contrary. It also made questionable observations, like claiming the seated boy had "less prominent ears"—which contradicts what's visible in the photograph. 

When I challenged certain conclusions, the AI adjusted its analysis to accommodate my input rather than defending its position with evidence. For example: 

• With the initial comparison, AI wrote, "The seated boy is likely another Thompson brother, but doesn't clearly resemble Edd, nor Floyd in his later years."

• When discussing birth years, AI responded, "Based on appearance, Claud Clarence Thompson (b. 1891) is a more likely candidate than Aaron."

• When reminded that no photos of Claud existed for comparison, the AI response was "The seated boy now appears to be Edgar Richard Thompson rather than Claud."

This inconsistency prompted me to seek a second opinion from a custom GPT specializing in historical photo analysis, Mark Thompson’s Historical Photo Analyzer, available through OpenAI’s ChatGPT platform. This consultation provided excellent historical context and thorough comparative analysis, but yielded the exact opposite conclusion, identifying Floyd as the seated brother.

Conclusions

Given the conflicting results, I decided it was best to conclude this AI comparison. Moving forward, I'll continue using AI as a supplemental tool. In my last post, Buster vs. Dad – An AI Perspective, AI did an excellent job pointing out similar features that could be easily observed. Not so much with this project. What I learned is that AI can help me see things I might overlook, but it is not a replacement for my intuition, family knowledge, or careful comparisons. 

For now, I will share this post with my family and on the Erath County Genealogical Society Facebook page, in the hope of gaining more insight from others who might recognize the faces or have additional knowledge about this family. 

If you'd like to learn more about the families I research, click here to follow my Facebook page, where you can view each post and other genealogical discoveries. 

Diana

© 2025

ChatGPT, "Comparison and Identification of Floyd Thompson in Historical Photo; Analysis of Seated vs. Standing Boy," OpenAI (https://chat.openai.com : accessed 25 April 2025).

Mark Thompson’s Historical Photo Analyzer (GPT : ChatGPT, OpenAI), "Historical photo analysis customized for detailed image study and genealogy insights," analysis provided to user DB Quinn, 25 April 2025; privately held by DB Quinn, VA.

Thompson Family Photographs, digital images, privately held by DB Quinn, Virginia Beach, VA, 2025; scanned from original photographs shared with DB Quinn in 2001 by Juanita Gleghorn, Tom Thompson, and Nadine Waugh during a visit to Texas.

The Moses S. Thompson Family: From Tennessee to Arkansas to Texas

The grave of Moses S. Thompson found in Bethel Cemetery - Erath County, Texas

Moses S. Thompson is not directly related to me, but I searched for him to find more clues about my Hairston family. This is a good practice known as cluster or collateral genealogy. If you've lost hope of finding your ancestor, research those related to him in some way - siblings, neighbors, cousins, in-laws, witnesses on deeds, and any other associates.

Martha Elizabeth "Mattie" Hairston
Chisum Thompson

John A. Thompson, a son of Moses S. Thompson married Martha Elizabeth Hairston Chisum, my great-grandfather's sister. While I didn't find any wall-breaking information while searching for this family, I did find new information and new family.  Thompson family information has been on my website for at least 15 years, so I hoped it has helped others looking for this family. As my website is old, harder to find, AND needs updating, I am posting the Moses S. Thompson notes, along with updates, to this blog. 

I have written about many of the Thompson family members and have included links to these posts throughout this post. 

#52ancestors Post Seventeen: William W. Noah Is Buried in the Bethel Cemetery in Erath County

This week's writing prompt for #52ancestors is cemetery. One of my favorite visits to a cemetery was my 2003 visit to the Bethel Cemetery in Erath County, Texas. This was not because I found a lot of family in the cemetery. William W. Noah is the only one. But, because my grandmother grew up in the very small community of Bethel. The Hairstons, Noahs, and Thompsons left Falls County to live in Bethel in about 1883. Phillip A. Hairston, my great-grandfather, and his sisters, Permelia Hairston Noah and Mattie Hairston Chisum Thompson, all settled in the Bethel School Community. This community no longer exists, but seeing the landscape and the surrounding areas added a little more to my family history. 

William W. Noah was born April 7, 1866. According to the 1880 census record, he was born in Texas.  He was the first child of Permelia Ann Hairston and Joseph Sydney Noah. His only sibling was Oscar Edward Noah born in 1871. William, also seen as Willie, was about seven years old when his father died in Falls County. Ten years later his family moved to the Bethel School Community. 

William died only about a year after arriving in Erath County on November 15, 1884. It is said he took arsenic to control his epilepsy and died as a result of too much arsenic. 

Visit Find A Grave to see more of the Bethel Cemetery and learn a little more about the Bethel School Community. 

Click on the family tree to see an enlarged version. 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2018

Sources

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Diana Bryan Quinn.

#52ancestors: Post Three: Permelia Hairston Noah

In my files, this is labeled Mattie and Permelia Hairston. However, I believe the woman on
the left is Permelia and the woman on the right is Mattie. If this is your family and you can
compare photos, please tell me what you think.

This photo is thought to be Phillip A. Hairston
and his sister, Permelia. I believe it was taken about
1917 during Permelia's last visit with her brother. 

This week's writing prompt is longevity. I chose to write about Permelia Hairston as one of the known children of John L. Hairston, Permelia Hairston lived longer than all of them. Some of her siblings are thought to have died as children. Sister, Mary Hairston Gilbert, is thought to have died about 1875. Her sister, Mattie (Martha Elizabeth Hairston) died at 72. And, my great-grandfather, Permelia's brother Phillip, died at the age of 65. 

Permelia Ann Hairston was the second of seven known children of John Lewis Hairston and his wife Eliza. She was born in Bradley County, Arkansas on March 15, 1843, but spent most of her childhood in Hinds County, Mississippi as her family moved to that area by 1847. 

This was found in the Baylor County Banner in
September 1917, a little more than a month before
Phillip Hairston died. Note that Permelia was
J.O. Noah's grandmother, not his mother. J. O. Noah
was the son of Oscar Edward Noah and Mamie Lou Allen. 

Permelia married Joseph Sidney Noah on June 11, 1865, in Hinds County. It is said that soon after, the entire family left for Texas, first stopping in Arkansas. Permelia's father was in Falls County, Texas by 1868 as he married Cynthia H. Moffit on September 21. 

I have not been able to find any record of Permelia or her husband in any state on the 1870 census. Her father cannot be found that year, but her sister, Mary Hairston Gilbert, is living with her husband Tom and their children in Falls County. The 1870 census is said to have omitted a large number of persons in southern states.

In August of 1870, Joseph Sidney Noah purchased land described as being part of the Jonas Brewton head rights survey in Falls County. It was very close to the Criswell cemetery and within close proximity to Limestone County. 

Falls County, Google Maps

Joseph Sidney Noah died in 1873 leaving Permelia a widow with two boys -William W., born in 1866,  and Oscar Edward, born in 1871. 

In 1874, Permelia's father, John L. Hairston, borrowed $344 dollars from her guaranteeing the payment with his current crop of cotton and corn on his farm where he resided on Big Creek. 

Permelia purchased land on Brushy Creek in Falls County from her father in 1879. 

1880 Census - Falls County

The 1880 U. S. Census showed Permelia living with her two sons, her father, her brother - Phillip A. Hairston and his wife Lodema, her sister - Martha E. Hairston Chisum and her family, another sister - Sarah Jane Hairston, and two Gilbert children.

Permelia sold the land she purchased from her father to George Hope in 1883 and by 1884, she was living (and paying taxes) in Erath County, Texas. 

Permelia's 18-year-old son, William, died on November 15, 1884. He is buried in the Bethel School Cemetery in Erath County. 

The following year, on September 6, 1885, Permelia Noah married A. J. Lackey. By 1890, her husband had left the home and, in 1893, Permelia Lackey filed for divorce and requested to change her name back to Permelia Noah.  

From at least 1900 until her death in 1928, Permelia lived with her son, Oscar Edward Noah, and his family in Erath County. 

Permelia was 85 at the time of her death on November 14, 1928. She is buried in West End Cemetery in Stephenville, Erath County, Texas. 

 Note that she was not the only Permelia Hairston. Permelia Hairston, the wife of J. N. Hairston, lived in Waco, Texas.  Two others found on the 1870 census were in Alabama and Virginia. 

Permelia Ann Hairston Noah is #55 on this family chart. Click to enlarge. 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2018

Sources

Alabama, Texas and Virginia, Confederate Pensions, 1884-1958 for Joseph Sidney Noah. Web. 21 Jan. 2018. <https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/1677/32241_1020703347_1000-00222/1353601?indiv=try&h&db>.

Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

Dollarhide, William. The Census Book: A Genealogist's Guide to Federal Census Facts, Schedules and Indexes, Heritage Quest: Bountiful, UT, 2000.

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Diana Bryan Quinn


First Landowners Project (HistoryGeo.com). Web. 8 Jan. 2018. <http://www.historygeo.com>

Google Maps - 31°26'13.4"N 96°45'53.5"W

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Criswell+Cemetery,+Riesel,+TX+76682/31.4370556,-96.7648611/@31.4409252,-96.7659707,1932m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m8!4m7!1m5!1m1!1s0x86458ab23c4fff09:0x600bab84fe2e94e1!2m2!1d-96.7538733!2d31.4374176!1m0

Texas. General Land Office, Walsh, W. C. & August Gast & Co. (1879) Map of Falls County, Texas. [Austin, Tex.: General Land Office] [Map] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2012591101/.

#52ancestors: Post One - John L. Hairston

The solid lines indicate that the connection to the family is documented while the dotted lines indicate that direct evidence has not yet been found to make the connection.
Click on the family tree to see a larger image.

Today, I joined Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks writing challenge and this week’s prompt is to "start." I joined this challenge in 2014 and wrote 52 posts about John L. Hairston, his family, and possible ancestors. The above chart shows the family members I researched. 

I plan to focus on the Hairston family during this challenge as well, however; my format will change as this year Amy has writing prompts which will have me looking harder at my research.  

I am excited about this challenge as I have more Hairston family who still need their stories told and new information to add to those I researched previously. 

Today's post is a timeline of what I have learned about the life of my great-great-grandfather, John Lewis Hairston. This is a repeat of my post dated December 31, 2014, with only a few added facts. New information, documenting his time in Hinds County, is followed by an asterisk (*). 

1812 - #52 John Lewis Hairston was born about 1812 in South Carolina. If his parents are #11 Hugh Brown Hairston and #29 Sarah McElhaney, he was probably born in Abbeville. 

1820 - Hugh B. Hairston and family were thought to be living in Elbert County, Georgia in 1820 as H. B. Hearston was found on that county's 1820 United States census record. Those thought to be the children of Hugh B. Hairston and Sarah McElhaney are #26 James McElhaney, John Lewis, #22 Robert, #25 Vinson (also seen as Vincent), #12 Sam (also seen as Samuel), #18 Rebecca, #15 Jane, and #14 Mary.

A true return of the children of the 19th
Company District between the ages of 8 and 18
whose parents have not paid a tax of fifty cents
May 19, 1823

1823 - In 1823, John L. Hairston was found on a list of students whose parents had not paid a school tax in Elbert County, Georgia.  Listed with John L. was a James M. Hairston and a Rebecca A. Hairston also thought to be the children of Hugh Brown Hairston. #27 William T. Hairston was unknown prior to this record.

1832 - John L. Hairston, along with Hugh Brown Hairston, of Butts County, were granted land in the 1832 Cherokee Land Lottery. 

1835 -  J. L. Hairston and H. B. Hairston shared a note due to be paid on the estate of Sterling Camp, of Butts County, on July 1, 1835.

1836 - J. L. Hairston and H. B. Hairston shared a note due to be paid on the estate of Sterling Camp on December 25, 1836.

1838 - In Meriwether County, Georgia, John L. Hairston sold land situated in Butts County, Georgia to his said to be brother, James M. Hairston of Meriwether County, on November 8, 1838.  

1839 - Hugh Brown Hairston owned the north-east half of Lot 81 in the 1st District of Butts County while John L. Hairston owned the adjoining South-West half of Lot 81. In May of 1839, this land was auctioned to pay debts owed to John Hall and others. 

1840 - Daughter, #20 Mary Hairston was born between 1840 and 1842 in Arkansas.

1843 - Daughter, Permelia Hairston was born on March 15, 1843, in Bradley County, Arkansas.

1845 - Daughter, #9 Sarah Jane Hairston was born in Arkansas.

1846 - Son, #8 William Hairston was born in about 1846. He is only found, at age four, on the 1850 census of Hinds County, Mississippi. 

From the Hinds County Tax Rolls - 1848

1847 John L. Hairston and said to be brothers, Vinson and Robert Hairston, paid taxes in Hinds County, Mississippi. Robert and Vinson paid the $.50 required of each male. John paid the $.50 and tax of $1.20 on "two slaves under the age of sixty."

1848  John L. Hairston and said to be brothers Vinson and Robert Hairston paid taxes in Hinds County, Mississippi. They owned no property, but males between the ages of 20 and 50 were taxed $.50. 

1849 - Daughter, # 10 Adeline Hairston, was born about 1849 in Mississippi. She is last found on the 1860 census with her family in Hinds County. 

1850 - John L. Hairston appeared with family on the 1850 United States census record in Hinds County, Mississippi. His wife was named as Eliza (#51).

Phillip A. Hairston with wife,
Lodema Criswell and daughter, Myrtie
about 1892

1852 - Son, #7 Phillip A. Hairston was born May 17, 1852, in Hinds County, Mississippi. 

1855 - On December 8, 1855, John L. Hairston purchased land in Hinds County for $300 from Dudley D. Williams – both parties were residents of Hinds County. 

The land consisted of 79 and 96/100s acres described as the west half of the NE quarter of section 17, township 3 and range 3 in Hinds County. This plus the adjacent land purchased in 1857 gave John L. Hairston approximately 120 acres of land which he sold to George W. Prince in 1865.*

1856 - As reported in the Hinds County Gazette (Raymond, Mississippi), John L. Hairston had five stray sheep that were to be sold at an auction at the Court House in the town of Raymond.*

1857 - Land was purchased from Thomas Mount on January 10, 1857 and a final payment to Clementine Mount (widow of Thomas Mount) on Feb. 2, 1857. Described as 40 acres at South half of the east half of the northeast quarter 17 township 3 range 3 west.*

1858 - Daughter, #34 Martha Elizabeth "Mattie" Hairston was born on August 2, 1858.

1860 - John L. Hairston appeared with family on the 1860 United States census record in Hinds County, Mississippi.

1861 - John Lewis Hairston paid taxes on 120 acres of land valued at $480 in Hinds County.

1863 - The Hairston family lived in an area where heavy fighting occurred during the Civil War. Newspapers describe destitution and suffering. After one occurrence of fighting in May, it was said over 900 were wounded in the town of Raymond. No mention of casualties.*

The location of the Hairston family's home in Hinds County, Mississippi. 

1864 - Mary Hairston married # 21 Thomas B. Gilbert in Hinds County on September 19, 1864.

1865 - Permelia Hairston married Joseph Sidney Noah on June 11, 1865, in Hinds County, Mississippi. 

On October 10, 1865, John L. Hairston and his wife Louiza of Hinds County sold land to George W. Prince, also of Hinds County, for $600. 

1867 - On June 3, land in Hinds County, belonging to J. L. Hairston, was sold at a Sheriff Sale to satisfy a debt.* 

Clearly written as Hairston - November 3, 1870

1868 - John L. Hairston married Cynthia H. Moffitt on Sept. 21, 1868, in Falls County, TX. In a transcription of the faded ink in the courthouse marriage book, John L. Hairston was written as John L. Houston. His name, along with his wife Cynthia, in later land records confirmed that John L. Houston was indeed John L. Hairston. 

February 13, 1869

1869 – Cynthia Hairston sold land to Harris Kay at Blue Ridge in Falls County, TX on February 13, 1869.  John L. Hairston signed the deed.  

The Houston Telegraph, April 14, 1870

1870 – On April 2, 1870, the Hairston home was consumed by fire. John L. Hairston, Phillip A. Hairston, Mattie Hairston, and the Noah family cannot be found on the 1870 census. John's daughter, Mary Gilbert, and her husband and children were living near Marlin and his wife, Cynthia, was living in Marlin. 

1872 - According to his obituary, Phillip A. Hairston was married to #17 Lodema Walker Criswell on January 3, 1872, in Falls County, Texas. 

1873 - Permelia Hairston Noah reported on her application for a Confederate pension that her husband, Joseph Sidney Noah, died in 1873 in Falls County. It is said by family that Joseph Sidney was kicked in the head by a mule, resulting in his death. 

1875 - Martha Elizabeth "Mattie" Hairston married #44 James C. Chisum on November 4, 1875, in Falls County.

The Hairston Family in 1880

1880 – The 1880 U. S. Census showed John L. Hairston living with son, Philip Hairston, and other family members in Falls County. Cynthia Hairston (spelled Houston) was living with or near her son.

1881 - A release of land on the waters of Bushy Creek, to John L. Hairston on November 1, 1881, was found in the Falls County Courthouse. This was not filed until 1887.

1883 - Phillip A. Hairston and wife, Lodema, sold land to L. Jeeks of Limestone County, TX on September 5, 1883. This land was on Bushy Creek in Falls County. Phillip, Permelia, Mattie, their families, and probably Sarah Jane moved to Erath County at the end of the year. 

No record was found indicating that John L. Hairston had died, remained in Falls County, or moved to Erath with his family.  

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2018

Sources

1820 U S Census; Census Place: Talom, Elbert, Georgia; Page: 182; NARA Roll: M33_8; Image: 127.

1830 US Census; Census Place:  Butts, Georgia; Page: 163; NARA Series: M19; Roll Number: 16; Family History Film: 0007036. 

1840 US Census Place: Meriwether, Georgia; Roll: 46; Page: 138; Image: 866; Family History Library Film: 0007045.

1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Falls County, Texas, Phil Hairston household; National Archives microfilm publication roll M432; digital image, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 27 Feb. 2014).

Ancestry.com. 1840 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

Ancestry.com. Georgia Cherokee Land Lottery, 1832 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.

Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2006.

Ancestry.com. Texas, Death Certificates, 1903–1982 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

Anderson, Mary Lee. Volume II The WHITAKER and Related Families. Date unknown. Print and online. 

"Butts Sheriff's Sales." Macon Weekly Telegraph.  Macon, Georgia. 16Apr. 1839, 29 issue: 4. GenealogyBank.com.

Deed of Sale from John L. Hairston and Luiza Hairston to Geo. W. Prince, 10 Oct. 1865. (filed 15 Nov. 1865), Hinds County, Mississippi, Deed Book 28, page 697. Chancery Clerk's Office, Raymond, Mississippi.

Deed of Sale from John Lewis Hairston to James M. Hairston, 8 Nov. 1838. Meriwether County, Georgia. Copy of the original deed obtained from Billy G. Hairston on July 28, 2000. 

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Diana Bryan Quinn. 

First Landowners Project (HistoryGeo.com). Web. 8 Jan. 2018. <http://www.historygeo.com>

"Georgia, Elbert County Records, 1790-2002," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-22905-22001-61?cc=2071974&wc=M77F-9P6:355761601,355829101 : accessed 07 Jul 2014), Court records > Court records-poor schools box 5 1802-1950 > image 49 of 511.

Google Maps. 32°06'06.1"N 90°31'13.4" Web. 8 Jan. 2018. <https://www.google.com/maps/place/32%C2%B006'06.1%22N+90%C2%B031'13.4%22W/@32.2121475,-90.7785702,10z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d32.1016987!4d-90.5203915

Hairston, Victor, and Edward Bregenzer. The Hairston History.  1998. Print.

Houston, John L. and Moffitt, Cynthia, Falls County Marriages, County Clerk's Office, Marlin, Texas.

"Latest from Jackson." 19 May 1863, Page 1 - Richmond Dispatch at Newspapers.com. Web. 8 Jan. 2018. <https://www.newspapers.com/image/79768439/?terms=wounded>

Lucas, S. Emmett, and Edward E. Schaick. Some Georgia county records, Vol. 3. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1977-2000. Print.

Texas State Library and Archives Commission; Austin, Texas; Confederate Pension Applications, 1899-1975; Collection #: CPA16526; Roll #: 183; Roll Description: Pension File Nos. 41391 to 41425, Application Years 1921 to 1925.

Year: 1850; Census Place: Hinds, Mississippi; Roll: M432_372; Page: 165A; Image: 336

Year: 1860; Census Place: Hinds, Mississippi; Roll: M653_582; Page: 674; Image: 206; Family History Library Film: 803582

Year: 1870; Census Place: Precinct 2, Falls, Texas; Roll: M593_1584; Page: 27A; Image: 57; Family History Library Film: 553083