Top row:

Leonard James or Ambrose James born 12/29/1866 died 09/29/1929, probably in Rapid City SD. He married Bessie Unknown.
Philomena 'May' Catherine born about 1865 died after 1880
Devillo Ambrose or Devillo Daniel aka Andrew born 6/6/1869 and died 07/18/1955 in Lansing, Iowa. He married Mary Regan

Bottom row: 

Alice Blanch born about 1877 died 1879-1880
Cornelia 'Nina' born 1878 died after 1949
Celestial Elizabeth born 11/23/1876 died about 1879-1880

______________________

Written On Back Photo Post Card of 6 Holmes Children

Dear Cousin Nan and family
I will name the children according to age.
May Catherine
Ambrose James
Devillo Daniel
Celestial Elizabeth
Alice Blanch
Nina Cornelia

Dear Cousin,
I am sending you
a picture of my six
little ones. they are
all pretty well,
three of them go to
school. we are getting
along quite well with
out our dear good father
and husband but ok!
we miss him so
write soon you dear
cousin Nina [illegible]
Lansing, Iowa

Back of postcard with writing.
Click the image to view a larger version.

______________________

- Notes -

The photo-postcard was written to my great grandmother, Elizabeth Ann 'Nan' Treanor Loughlin in Dubuque. However, it was not mailed since Nina had written all over it and there is no address or stamp. Nina's name was Catherine, but perhaps her middle name was Corneilia like the baby's and she went by that within her family, since her mother's name was Catherine.

Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (born in Augusta twp. Oneida Co. NY) and Catherine Treanor Holmes had 8 known children.  The eldest, Eva Catherine, was born 08/18/1862 and died 02/19/1894 in Waukon, Iowa. She married Andrew Burnet Clarke about 1879 which is why, I believe, she isn't on the above photo and helps to date it. Another child, Oliver Jr isn't in the photo.  He would have been about 5 at the time. Perhaps he was home sick.

May Catherine - probably Philomina 'Minnie' Catherine died??
Ambrose James - probably Leonard J. died 1929
Devillo Daniel - probably Devillo Ambrose Andrew died 1955
Celestial Elizabeth
Alice Blanch
Nina Cornelia -the baby, Nina was born abt 1878 - appears to be about 1 yr old in the photo