I can identify the people in the photo… They are six of the seven adult children who came from Germany in 1856, with their parents Johannes and Anna Margaretha Nickel Hallstein.

The ladies standing from left to right are Magdalena Hallstein Appenzeller and Eva Hallstein Heisel. The men from left to right are Leonard, John, George and Phillip Hallstein.

The family lived in the Pekin area for about ten years before buying land in the Armington/Minier area. All the men in the family were farmers in the Armington/ Minier area except George. He moved to the Seward, Nebraska area, married and raised his family there… 

I think I have a very good idea where it was taken....although no concrete proof.  I have a copy of a photo showing a large group of people (57) in front of a farm house. Through the help of my father and several older cousins, we have positively identified all but 3 or 4 people. They are all either children or grandchildren of the six Hallstein siblings in your picture.

The six siblings shown in the large picture strongly resemble the six siblings in your picture. My best guess is your picture was taken on the same day of just the siblings.

If this is true, then the picture was taken at the David Bare farm located on Stringtown Road between Hopedale and Minier. David Bare was married to one of Leonard Hallstein's daughters.