Photos Reunite New York and Wyoming Families 125 Years After Split

The Whaley family's roots stretch from the Big Horn Basin to Niagara Falls as long-lost relatives reconnect through old photos and family stories.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 9:24pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a vintage family photo album cover, with the image repeated in a tight grid pattern in bold neon hues and heavy black outlines, conceptually representing the Whaley family's rediscovered history and connections across generations.A century-old family photo album becomes a vibrant pop art celebration of the Whaley family's enduring Wyoming roots and newly rediscovered connections.NYC Today

The Whaley family arrived in Shell, Wyoming, in 1890 and remained in the Big Horn Basin, but one son, Clifford, moved to New York for school in the early 1900s and raised his own family back East. Over the decades, the two branches of the family lost touch, until Clifford's great-grandson, Will, recently posted old family photos on Facebook, reconnecting the long-separated relatives and uncovering a trove of shared history and stories.

Why it matters

This story highlights the power of family history and the importance of preserving connections, even across generations and vast distances. It also showcases how social media and digital archives can help rediscover lost roots and bring together dispersed branches of a family tree, shedding light on shared heritage and identity.

The details

In the 1890s, William and Alice Whaley homesteaded in Shell, Wyoming, raising eight children, seven of whom remained in the state. Their son Clifford, however, was sent to school in Niagara Falls, New York, where he met his wife Evelyn and settled, keeping in touch with his Wyoming family but gradually losing close ties over the decades. Clifford's great-grandson, Will, recently inherited old family photos from 1925 showing the New York Whaleys visiting their Wyoming relatives, and posted them online, quickly reconnecting with long-lost cousins in the Cowboy State and uncovering shared stories and history.

  • In 1890, the Whaley family arrived in Shell, Wyoming.
  • In the early 1900s, Clifford Whaley was sent to school in Niagara Falls, New York.
  • In 1925, Clifford Whaley took his New York family on a vacation to visit relatives in Wyoming.
  • Last year, Will Whaley inherited the 1925 family photo album after his father passed away.

The players

William and Alice Whaley

The Whaley family patriarchs who homesteaded in Shell, Wyoming, in 1890 and raised eight children, seven of whom remained in the state.

Clifford Whaley

The Whaley son who was sent to school in Niagara Falls, New York, in the early 1900s, where he met his wife Evelyn and raised his own family, maintaining ties with his Wyoming relatives over the years.

Will Whaley

Clifford Whaley's great-grandson, who recently inherited the family's 1925 photo album and posted the images online, reconnecting with his long-lost Wyoming relatives.

Cynthia Whaley Lanahan

A Wyoming-based Whaley relative who was unaware of the New York branch of the family until Will's Facebook posts brought them together.

Ernie Whaley

A New York-based Whaley who grew up with a bear rug that connected him to his Wyoming family, though he didn't fully understand the history until recently.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I remember a woman they called Aunt Franny. When I left, she gave me a bear rug that had the head and claws.”

— Ernie Whaley

“It was Grandpa Tom who shot the bear. I have a picture of him holding the bear.”

— Cynthia Whaley Lanahan

“I didn't know I had family in New York still, but that is where my grandfather and grandmother met. My grandfather had gone out there to go to college, and was working at the cereal factory when he met my grandmother and got married.”

— Cynthia Whaley Lanahan

“Family members I didn't know existed have reached out. Even people who aren't family are saying how cool it is — what a great piece of Wyoming history.”

— Will Whaley

“Wyoming just always was important to us. It's been cool to discover our family stories.”

— Will Whaley

What’s next

Cynthia Whaley Lanahan and Will Whaley plan to organize a Whaley family reunion in Shell, Wyoming, so that the long-separated branches of the family can finally meet in person and continue piecing together their shared history.

The takeaway

This story underscores the enduring power of family connections, even when distance and time threaten to sever those ties. By rediscovering old photos and stories, the Whaley family has been able to bridge a 125-year divide and reclaim a sense of shared identity and heritage that spans from the Big Horn Basin to the shores of Niagara Falls.