Eva arm-in-arm with “Billie Be Damned”

Mary’s photo collection includes only a few photos of her mother, Eva.  This is one of them.  There is no indication of where or when this photo was taken but the location appears to be Marysville.

Eva and Frank Rumping
Undated photo of Eva Rumping with cousin and friends. Mary G. Rumping Schenk Schaffer Riordan Photograph and Personal Papers Collection

The back of the photo reads:

Cousin Frank Rumping, St. Louis

Eva Rumping, Marysville

Billie Be Damned (dead)

Frank Walken, St. Louis

Which begs the question, what’s the story behind the name “Billie Be Damned”?  We’ll probably never know.