It must have been a common phenomenon. Our ex-president Harry S. Truman only had an initial. LOL Happy Unraveling the mysteries our Ancestors Laura Irby in Newport News << The initials are probably the persons name. I think it was common for people to be given initials for names in years past. My grandmother had 9 kids and I think she got tired of thinking up names. I have one uncle living today with the name J.O. nothing else. Her other sons received a first name but the middle name is an initial- Carl C, Claude R, William H. Mona >>