Ethel Wight Collection – Part 46

Posted on September 17, 2021 by Don Taylor

Gibb(3), Gilman, McGann, & Quirk

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

Dr. Henry Gilman, circa 1936.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Dr. Henry Gilman, 499 Ocean Ave, Portland #570.”

Dr. Henry Gilman, circa 1936

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Henry (wife Maude M) Gilman as a dentist at 192 State whose home was at 499 Ocean.
  • Henry’s World War I draft registration card indicates he was born 10 August 1873 and lived at 499 Ocean in 1918.
  • This photo, taken about 1936, is of Dr. Henry Gilman when he was about 63 years old.

Family Search identifies Henry Gilman as ID 9MJR-ZXW. He appears in 16 trees at Ancestry.Com.

I have uploaded two photos of Henry to his Family Search Memories. I also uploaded two additional photos of him to my Flickr photostream.

Dorothy M. McGann, circa 1936.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Dorothy McGann, 412 Ocean Ave, Portland #487.”

Dorothy M. McGann, circa 1936.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Dorothy M McGann as a maid at 22 Arsenal and residing at 412 Ocean Ave.
  • The 1930 US Census enumerated Dorothy M McGann as the 17-year-old daughter of James and Mina D. McGann.
  • This photo is of Dorothy about 1936 when she was about 23 years old.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Dorothy M. McGann, born 22 October 1912 in Houlton, Aroostook County, Maine. However, there seem to be four public trees at Ancestry, which refer to Dorothy M. Mcgann, the daughter of James Henry and Almina D. McGann.

I have added two photos of her to Dead Fred.

Mae Louise Quirk, circa 1936

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Mae Quirk, St. Barnabas, Portland #297.”

Mae Louise Quirk, circa 1936

  • Why I believe this to be the individual.
  • The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Mae Quirk, a student nurse at 231 Woodford and residing at 20 Norwood. The directory also indicates that St. Barnabas Hospital is located at 231 Woodford.
  • The 1935 and the Ancestry copy of the 1936 Portland City Directory do not mention Mae Quirk. However, the 1937 Directory indicates that Mae L. Quirk, nurse, married Raymond T. Abbott.
  • There was a Raymond T. Abbott, the 14-year-old son of Arthur W and Mary J Abbott living in Portland during the 1920 Census. He was born on 7 May 1905. Raymond appears in Family Search as id L1DC-PGQ. However, no spouse is listed for him. Raymond’s World War II Army Enlistment Record indicates he was a widower without dependants.
  • Mae Louise Quirk Abbott, born in 1915, died 5 April 1940 at 25 years of age.
  • I am sure this photo is of Mae Louise Quirk about 1936 before she married Raymond Abbott.

Sadly, Mae Louise Quirk does not have a Family Search Profile. I have been unsuccessful in finding Mae’s parents in any records. There are two trees on Ancestry that refer to Mae; however, both indicate her husband’s parents as her parents.

I have uploaded two photos of Mae to her memorial at Find-a-Grave. I also uploaded one additional photo of Mae to my Flickr photostream.

Alexander Stoddart Gibb, circa 1936

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. Alexander Gibb, 168 Neal St, Apt 8, Portland #535.”

Alexander Stoddart Gibb, circa 1936

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Alexander S. Gibb Proprietor at 739a Congress living with his wife, Evelyn G., at 168 Neal, Apt 8.
  • The 41-year-old Alexander and his wife, Evelyn, appear in the 1940 Census still on Neal street. Other researchers suggest his surname might be Gibbs and Gibby as notes regarding his name on Ancestry.
  • According to his Naturalization Record, Alexander Stoddart Gibb was born on 12 January 1898 in Scotland. He married Evelyn Grace Coffin on 22 June 1929 in Milford, NH. His two children were Richard Howard, born 156 Feb 1931, and Elain Audry, born 12 November 1933; both were born in Portland, ME.

Family Search identifies Alexander Gibb, born 12 January 1898 in Scotland, as ID G3SB-5R8. I am quite sure this is Alexander about 1936. There are seven trees at Ancestry.Com that refer to Alexander Stoddart Simpson Gibb.

I have uploaded two photos of Alexander to his Family Search Memories. I also uploaded one additional photo of him to my Flickr photostream.

Richard Howard and Elain Audry Gibb, circa 1936 (ages 5 & 2)

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. Alexander Gibb, 168 Neal St, Portland #509.”

Richard Howard and Elain Audry Gibb, circa 1936 (ages 5 & 2)

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Alexander S. Gibb living with his wife, Evelyn G., at 168 Neal, Apt 8.
  • According to his Naturalization Record, Alexander Stoddart Gibb was born on 12 January 1898 in Scotland. He married Evelyn Grace Coffin on 22 June 1929 in Milford, NH. His two children were Richard Howard, born 16 February 1931, and Elain Audry, born 12 November 1933; both were born in Portland, ME.
  • This photo, taken about 1936, is of Richard Howard and Elain Audry Gibb when they were about 5 and 2 years old, respectively.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for either child, and there are no Ancestry trees that refer to either child. However, their father, Alexander Stoddard Gibb, appears in seven trees at Ancestry.Com.

I have uploaded a photo of Richard and Elain to Dead Fred. I also uploaded two additional photos of them to my Flickr photostream. 

Conclusion

    • I identified all of the individuals in this set.
    • I uploaded two of their photo sets to their Family Search
    • Four of the individuals did not have Family Search Profiles. I uploaded three of them to Dead Fred. Furthermore, I uploaded one to Find a Grave.

For all of the Ethel Wight Collection analysis, please see here.

Final Note

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

Endnotes

[i] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. Many thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt.

[ii] These images were converted to positives using a lightbox, a Nikon camera and computer software.

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Ethel Wight Collection – Part 45

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Don Taylor

Gardner (2), Garnett, Gass, & Giardino

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

Marietta Rachela Giardino, circa 1936

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Marrietta Gardner, 80 Moreland St., Roxbury, Mass #851.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Marietta Rachela Giardino, circa 1936

  • I was unsuccessful in finding a Marrietta Gardner, of the appropriate age, in any records from 1930 to 1940.
  • I did find a Marietta R Giardino, a hairdresser who lived at 80 Moreland, Roxberry, in the 1936 Boston City Directory. The directory indicates that Nicola G. Deluca, Frank L Giardino, and Lilian Saia lived at the address.
  • Marietta R Giardino was born on 25 April 1913 in Boston. She lived in Portland, Maine in 1932, and married Melville Benjamin Young ib 12 May 1936,
  • Ancestry Trees include a 1939 photo of Marietta and her daughter. That photo appears to be of the same woman here. I am convinced this is a photo of Marietta Richela Giardino before she married Melville Young in 1936.
  • I believe the surname written on the envelope was incorrect.

Family Search identifies Marietta Rachela Giardino, daughter of Frank Louis and Concettina (Maggio) Giardino as ID GSRF-LCS. There are eight family trees at Ancestry.Com that refer to Marietta.

I have uploaded two photos of Marietta to her Family Search Memories.

This photo identity was confirmed by a niece of Marietta.

Sallie Gardner, R.N., circa 1937

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Sally Gardner, ME. Gen. Hospital #922.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Sallie Gardner, R.N., circa 1937

    The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Sallie Gardner, a student nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital).

  • The 1938 Portland City Directory lists Sallie O Gardner, a student nurse who married Samuel J. Oppedisano.
  • The Maine, U.S., Marriage Index, 1892-1996, shows Sallie and Samuel married on 25 December 1937.
  • The 1940 US Census shows Samuel and the 23-year-old Sally Oppedisano living at 95b Moody Street.

Family Search identifies Sallie Gardner, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Osgood) Gardner, as ID L14G-GT6. I am pretty sure this is Sallie about 1937 before she married Samuel. There are nine trees at Ancestry.Com that refer to Sally Gardner, born 23 February 1917 in Calais, Washington County, Maine.

I have uploaded two photos of Sallie to her Family Search Memories. I also uploaded one additional photo of her to my Flickr photostream.

Ralph Gardner, circa 1934

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. Ralph Gardiner, Woodfords, Portland, #45.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Msd

  • Woodfords is a neighborhood in Portland, Maine.
  • The 1930 US Census lists 47-year-old Ralph Gardiner living at 66 Glenwood Ave with his wife Florence and son, Donald. That address is in the area that would be called Oakdale/Woodfords.
  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Ralph S Gardner as an accountant at 45 Forest Ave. and living at 104 Coyle. Again, 104 Coyle is in the Woodfords neighborhood.
  • Ralph Sidney Gardner died 30 June 1937 at the age of 55.
  • Based on the photo ID number (#45), I believe this to be Ralph Gardner about 1934.

Alternative individuals?

The 1930 US Census lists a Ralph Gardiner, age 28, living with his brother-in-law Ralph Bragdon in Westbrook. This Ralph Gardiner would be too young to be the subject of this photograph.

Family Search identifies Ralph S Gardner, husband of Florence Scott, as ID LBPR-BX4. There are 24 trees at Ancestry.Com refer to Ralph Sidney Gardner (1882-1937)

I have uploaded two photos of Ralph to his Family Search Memories.

Carol Garnett, circa 1936 (age 3 or 4)

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Carroll Garnett, 301 Cumberland Ave, Portland #326.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Carol Garnett, circa 1936 (age 3 or 4)

  • The only Carroll Garnett listed in the 1935 Portland worked at a barbershop at 1206 Forest Ave and lived at 111 Woodlawn Ave. His wife is Clarissa.
  • The 1936 Portland city directory is missing the page, which would include Carroll Garnett. However, in the address to name section of the directory, at 301 Cumberland Ave. lives Mrs. Lena Frost
  • The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Carroll L (and Clarissa M.) Garnett living at 17 Warren ave.
  • Likewise, the 1938 Portland City Directory lists Carroll and Clarissa still at 17 Warren Ave.
  • The 1940 Census finds Carroll and Clarissa Garnett living with their two children, 14-year-old Harry and seven-year-old Carol.
  • This photo was taken about 1936 when Carol was about three years old. The child in the photograph appears to be about three or four years old. Consequently, I believe this to be a photo of Carol

Family Search identifies Carol Garnett, born 3 August 1932 to Carroll and Clarissa (Whitney) Garnett, as ID LRQ9-7D1. I am pretty sure this is Carol about 1936. There are seven trees at Ancestry.Com refer to Carol M. Garnett (Rutter).

I uploaded one photo of Carol to her Family Search Memories.

Betty L. Gass, circa 1937 (age 7).

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. G. E. Gass, 25 Bolton St., Portland #842.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Betty L. Gass, circa 1937 (age 7)

  • The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Garland E (and Bertha L) Gass living at 25 Bolton.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Garland and Bertha Gass living at 71a Whitney Ave. Living with them is their 10-year-old daughter Betty.
  • Based upon the Photo Number (#842), I estimate this photo was taken about 1937.
  • Betty L. Gass was born on 19 February 1930; I believe this is a photo of her when she was about seven years old.

Sadly, one of the two negatives I have of Betty is out of focus, and the second negative is a profile.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Betty L Gass; however, her father is Garland E. Gass, ID: L21Q-6MH. However, Betty L. Gass is found in six public trees at Ancestry.Com

Because Betty does not have a Family Search profile, I have added her photo to Dead Fred. I also uploaded the out-of-focus photo of her to my Flickr photostream.

Conclusion

  • I identified four individuals with Family Search profiles, so I posted their photos to their Family Search
  • I identified one individual who did not have a profile on Family Search, so I uploaded her photo to Dead Fred.

Final Note

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this particular photograph before.

Endnotes

[i] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. Many thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt.

[ii] These images were converted to positives using a lightbox, a Nikon camera and computer software.

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Follow-up on Samuel Pankey

Posted on September 5, 2021 by Don Taylor

Howell-Pankey Line
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.One of my regular steps in researching ancestors is to “Find BMD Records for each of the children.” In the case of Samuel Pankey’s children, I wanted to pay particular attention to which children had which mother’s. I believed Samuel had eight children, five by one wife and three by a second wife; I wanted to confirm that.

As I began searching for sources, I found an amazing treasure-trove of information in a book, John Pankey of Manakin Town, Virginia, and His Descendants: Descendants and Connections of his Son Stephen Pankey, Sr., of Lucy’s Springs, Chesterfield County, Virginia by George Edward Pankey.

John Pankey of Manakin Town is Samuel Pankey’s grandfather and Stephen Pankey, Sr., is Samuel Pankey’s father. I ordered the book via inter-library loan through my library and it came in just a couple weeks. Wow!. Three volumes of material about the Pankey family – eight pages just about Samuel Pankey and his children. There is just so much information it was overwhelming. Volume 2 is about the descendants of Stephen Pankey’s brother and Volume 3 provides corrections to Volume 1 & 2. Anyway, the book will be so useful I bought a copy on E-Bay.

Thanks to page 49 of Volume 1, I was able to fill in much of the information about Samuel Pankey, his wives, and his children. I learned that Mary Ann and Marion were the same person. I thought that was the case, but I wasn’t certain. Likewise, I learned that Betsey Kinsey was actually an Elizabeth. Again, I thought so, but was very happy to have my thoughts confirmed. I’m also certain his second wife was Martha Burton and not Martha Belford. Pretty much everything I had was confirmed by this book.

Also, it is clear that Samuel and the children of his first wife became estranged. In his will he gave everything to his second wife and the children of that marriage and gave the children of his first marriage one dollar each. A clear sign there was a bad relationship between Samuel and his five children with Betsey.

Updated Spouse and Children List

1st Marriage

Samuel Pankey married Elizabeth “Betsy” Kinsey Binford in 1759. They married in “Henrico County.” However, the county name was somewhat flexible as Henrico County became Goochland County, then Cumberland County. Finally, Powhatan county was formed from Cumberland County in 1777.

Samuel and Elizabeth “Betsey” had five children
Updated information in Green.

Child Name Born Married – Spouse Died
Marion 1761 Shaldrake Broaddus
William Stuart
George Stewart[i]		 1831
Philip 16 February 1763 Ann Brown
Polly Bogs		 Dec 1819
Thomas Armstrong. c. 1764 1783 – Rebecca Hall
1785 – Martha Cannon		 Jun 1829
Judith Elizabeth 1767 Joseph Sallee Oct 1818
Elizabeth “Betsey” Kinsey 1770 1787 – Mordecai Warriner
1796 – George Walton		 1816

2nd Marriage

Samuel married Martha Burton about 1775. They had three children.

Child Name Born Married – Spouse Died
Samuel Hardin 1777 1878 – Mary Burton Sep 1817
Lelah 1782 (never married) Aug 1812
John 1787 1808 – Frances Kidd 1862

I am really excited to continue my review of John Pankey of Manakin Town, Virginia, and His Descendants. I expect to find many more facts regarding my wife’s Pankey ancestors.

Property transfers involving Samuel Pankey[ii]

  • 1759 – Received 80 acres – From Peter Depp, Jr.
  • 1774 – Conveyed 80 acres – To his son Philip Pankey.
  • 1790 – Conveyed 60 acres – To John Depp.
  • 1798 – Received 60 acres – Back from John Depp.
  • 1801 – Received 60 acres – Back from John Depp and his wife Elizabeth
  • 1797 – Conveyed 35 acres – To John Pemberton
  • 1804 – Conveyed 97 & 3/4 acres – to his son, Samuel H. Pankey

Endnotes

[i] It is not clear if Marion’s husbands William Stuart and George Stewart were two people or one person. Further research is needed regarding Marion’s husbands (or husband).

[ii] Updated 22 October 2021 – Source: JOHN PANKEY of Manakin Town, Virginia, and His Descendants, Volume One, by George Edward Pankey, Ruston, Louisiana, 1969, pages 49 & 50.

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Ethel Wight Collection – Part 44

Posted on September 3, 2021 by Don Taylor

Friedel, Frizzel, Gain, Gallagher, and Gallant

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

Emily C. Frizzel, circa 1937

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Emily Frizzel, Maine General Hospital, Portland, #686.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Emily C. Frizzel, circa 1937

    The 1938 Portland City Directory lists Emily Frizzel as a student nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital) and residing there.

  • The 1940 US Census lists 23-year-old Emily C Frizzell as a registered nurse at 22 Arsenal. She was born in New Hampshire and lived in Coos, New Hampshire, in 1935.
  • The 1930 US Census lists 13-year-old Emily C Frizzell as the daughter of Alpheus B and Catherine E Frizzell living in Coos County, New Hampshire.

This is a photo of Emily C. Frizzell about 1937, probably when she graduated from nursing school.

Family Search identifies Emily Carolyn Frizzell as ID L2XH-MJY. A photo of Emily confirms this is the same young woman. There are seventeen trees at Ancestry.Com that refer to Emily.

I have uploaded two photos of Emily to her Family Search Memories.

Margaret Frances Gallant, ca 1937

This negative envelope says, “Miss Frances Gallant, 196 Massachusetts Ave, Portland #702.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Margaret Frances Gallant, ca 1937

    The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Melvin J. & Theresa L. Gallant living at 196 Mass ave.

  • The 1930 US Census lists Melvin J and Teresa C Gallant living at 142 Dresden Ave., Gardiner, Kennebec County, Maine. With them is their 9-year-old daughter, Magaret F. Gallant.
  • Social Security Applications and Claims Index lists Margaret Frances Gallant, born 25 April 1920 in Gardiner, Maine, the daughter of Melvin J and Theresa L (Lashow) Gallant. She sighed her SSN card as Frances Gallant, suggesting she went by Frances. Margaret died on 3 May 2006.
  • Sister Frances Gallant, born in 1920 and died in 2006, was buried at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland.

I am sure this is Margaret Frances Gallant about 1937 when she was about 17 years old.

Alternative Individuals?

  • There is a Frances H. Gallant, born in 1929, who lived at 59 State Street in 1930. Her parents were Joseph and Lillian Gallant. She is too young to be the woman in this photo.
  • There is a Frances J. Gallant, who was a clerk living at 24 High listed in the 1939 Portland City Directory. She appears in the 1838 Directory at the same address. The 1937 Directory lists Frances as a clerk at 530 Main, South Portland, and living at 528 Main. Page 364 is missing from the 1936 Portland City Directory at Ancestry.

Family Search does not have a profile for Frances Gallant, although her father, Joseph George Melvin Gallant, and mother, Teresa Lucy Lashow, appear as IDs KHVD-VM4 and KZRK-XRR, respectively. And there are four trees at Ancestry that refer to Margaret Frances Gallant (1920-2006).

I have uploaded two photos of her to Dead Fred. See https://www.deadfred.com/surnamePersR_05.php?ID=153190
https://www.deadfred.com/surnamePersR_05.php?ID=153192 

Joseph Gain, circa 1936

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. J. Gain, 254 Spring St., Portland #588.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Joseph Gain, circa 1936

    The 1936 Portland City Directory lists George J. and wife Mabel G. Gain living at 254 Spring. Also residing at that address is Joseph G. Gain.

  • The 1930 US Census lists Joseph Gain, the 19-year-old son of George and Mabel Gain, living at 65 Grant Street. Joseph was born in Massachusetts.
  • Joseph Gain, born 10 March 1912 in Massachusetts, appears in the Social Security Death Index.
  • Joseph G. Gain married on 13 June 1936.

It appears that this is Joseph, probably just before he married in 1936. He would have been 24 years old.

Family Search identifies Joseph Gain, son of George Joseph and Mabel Genevieve (Libbey) Gain, as ID  LK5W-8V7. Nine family trees at Ancestry.Com refer to Joseph Gain, the son of George Joseph and Mabel Genevieve (Libbey) Gain.

I have uploaded two photos of Joseph to his Family Search Memories.

Francis J. Gallagher, circa 1936 (Infant)

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. J. F. Gallagher, 8 Ponce St., Portland #680.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Francis J. Gallagher, circa 1936 (Infant)

    The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Joseph F. and his wife, Frances E., living at 8 Ponce.

  • The 1940 US Census identifies Joseph F. and Frances E. Gallagher living at 8 Ponce. Living with them are their two children, five-year-old Francis J and their two-year-old daughter, Jannette. Janette would not have been born in 1936 when this photo was taken, so this must be Francis.

Family Search identifies Francis J. Gallagher, son of Joseph Frank and Frances E (Hall) Gallagher, as ID LTVH-LFM. I am sure this is Francis about 1936. Francis does not appear in any trees at Ancestry.Com; however, his parents appear in thirteen trees.

I have uploaded one photo of Francis to his Family Search Memories. I also uploaded two additional photos of Francis to my Flickr photostream.

Virginia Friedel, circa 1937 (age 7)

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Virginia Friedel, 128 Pearl St. Portland #810.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Virginia Friedel, circa 1937 (age 7)

    The 1936, 1937, 1938, and 1939 Portland City Directories list Mrs. Agnes F. Friedel, a waitress at 8 Forest ave, living at 128 Pearl. The 1940 City directory reports Agnes residing at 128 Beal (error?).

  • The 1937 directory also shows Oscar F (and Amber M) Ross living at 128 Pearl. Also at that address was Inez M Hodsdon (widow of Charles D)
  • The 1940 US Census shows 68-year-old Inez Hodkins living at 128 Cumberland. Living with her is her 31-year-old daughter, Agnes Fredel, and her 10-year-old granddaughter, Virginia. Virginia was born in Massachusetts and Agnes in Maine.
  • The 1910 US Census identifies Charles D. Hodsdon [Hobsdon] living in Portland with his wife, Inez M Hodsdon, and four-year-old daughter Agnes F. Hodsdon.
  • 1947 Portland High School Yearbook appears to contain a photo of the same young woman.

I am sure this is Virginia Friedel, the daughter of Agnes Friedel née Hodsdon, about 1937 when Virginia was seven years old.

Family Search does not have a profile for Virginia Friedel. However, her mother, Agnes F. Hodsdon, appears as ID GC42-QHT. Likewise, no trees at Ancestry refer to Virginia. However, there are 12 trees on Ancestry that refer to Agnes Flora Hodsdon.

I have uploaded one photo of Virginia Friedel to Dead Fred.

Confirmed to be Virginia Friedel by her daughter. 

Conclusion

  • I fully identified all five individuals. Three had Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their photos to Family Search. Two did not have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded those photos to Dead Fred.

To see all of my Ethel Wight Collection analyses, please see here.

Final Note

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

Endnotes

[i] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. Many thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt.

[ii] These images were converted to positives using a lightbox, a Nikon camera and computer software.

Posted in Ethel Wight Studio, Faces from the Past | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 43

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Don Taylor

Foster, Fowler, Fox, Frank, & Frankman

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

Mavis Fox, circa 1937

This negative envelope says, “Miss M. Fox, Maine General Hospital, Portland, #698.”

Mavis Fox, circa 1937

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1938 Portland City Directory lists Mavis Fox, a student nurse at 22 Arsenal residing at the same address. (The address for the Maine General Hospital was 22 Arsenal.)
  • The 1940 Census lists eight individuals named Mavis Fox.
      1. Mavis H. Fox – 11-year-old – Too young
      2. Mavis Fox – 20-year-old in New York – Too young.
      3. Mavis Fox – 20-year-old wife in West Virginia.
      4. Mavis Fox – 14-year-old daughter in Tennessee – Too young.
      5. Mavis Fox – a 10-year-old daughter in Kentucky – Too young.
      6. Mavis Fox – a 17-year-old daughter in Tennessee – Too young.
      7. Mary [Mavis] Fox – a 16-year-old daughter in Pennsylvania.
      8. Morris [Mavis] Fox – a 32-year-old daughter in South Carolina, working as a nurse. She also lived in South Carolina in 1935. – Possible.
  • The Portland Press Herald reported that Miss Mavis Fox returned to the Mass. General Hospital, where she is a student nurse. In May 1948, January 1949, and December 1949. Her father is Charles Fox of Elm Street, Kezar Falls.
    • The 1940 Census indicates Charles G Fox and his daughter Mavis live in Parsonsfield, Maine. Parsonsfield and Kezar Falls are about 7 miles apart. This Mavis is 11 years old in 1940 and is undoubtedly the Mavis Fox reported about in the Press Herald in the late 1940s
  • Mavis E. Fox of Lovell, Me married Norman Gray of Fryeburg on 28 May 1938.
    • The 1930 Census shows Norman H Gray, born about 1912, living with his parents John H and Ethel M. Gray.
    • The 1930 Census also shows Mavis E Fox, the daughter of Arthur G and Clara A Fox, living in Lovell, Oxford County, Maine. Mavis was 17 in 1930.
Alternative individuals
  1. Mavis Fox, born about 1908 in South Carolina, was a nurse in 1940. She also lived in South Carolina in 1935, and I have found no connection of this Mavis to Maine.

Tentatively Identified

This is most likely Mavis E Fox, born 21 April 1912 in Lovell, Oxford County, Maine, to Arthur G. and Clara A. Fox. She married Arthur Heald Gray on 28 May 1938. She died on 28 May 1943. I have been unsuccessful in finding Mavis in the 1940 Census, and I have been unsuccessful in finding any connection between this Mavis and nursing.

Mavis E Fox appears in twenty-two trees at Ancestry.Com

I’ve uploaded two photos of Mavis E Fox to Dead Fred.

Chester W. Fowler, circa 1936

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. Chester Fowler, 11 Paris St., Portland, #847.”

Chester W. Fowler, circa 1936

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The Portland City Directory for 1936 lists Chester W. Fowler living at 11 Parris, Portland. Chester O. and a Chester R. Fowler are also listed in the directory.
  • The 1930 Census lists 14-year-old Chester W. Fowler living at 49 Boyd Street. His parents were Kenneth G. and Margret V. Fowler. All had been born in Canada.
  • In 1937, when the photo was probably taken, Chester would have been about 21, and the young man in the picture appears to be about 21 years old.

Family Search identifies Chester Whitfield Fowler, born 5 April 1916, as ID LBX6-SZ7. I am pretty sure this is him about 1936. Nineteen trees at Ancestry.Com refer to Chester Whitfield Fowler.

I have uploaded his photo to his Family Search Memories.

A family photo showing Chester, his siblings, and his parents, clearly show this is Chester.

Ernest L. Frank, circa 1937

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. Ernest L Frank, 385 Cumberland Ave, Portland (Raymond, Me) – #370.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Ernest L. Frank, circa 1937

    The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Ernest L and Alice M. Frank living at 385 Cumberland Ave. Apt 4.

  • The 1940 US Census lists Ernest L & Alice M Frank living at 395 Cumberland Ave. Ernest is 51 years old and living in the same house as he lived in 1935.
  • Ernest L Frank was born on 26 April 1885 in Portland, Cumberland County. His parents were Leander and Martha Frank.
  • The man in the photo appears to be in his 40s or 50s. Ernest would have been about 51 in 1936, which fits this image.

Family Search identifies Ernest Leroy Frank, born 26 April 1885, son of Leander and Martha (Milliken) Frank, as ID LHGX-FWM. I am sure this is him about 1936. Seventeen family trees at Ancestry.Com refer to Ernest Leroy Frank

I have uploaded a photo of Ernest to his Family Search Memories. 

Donald Foster, circa 1937 (Age 3)

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. L Foster, 146 Franklin, Portland, #1008.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Donald Foster, circa 1937 (Age 3)

    The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Thomas H (with his wife Laura) as an employee at 45 Custom House Wharf and residing at 146 Franklin.

  • The 1940 City Directory shows Thomas and Laura living at 61 Elm.
  • The 1940 US Census shows lists Thomas and Laura Foster living at 61 Elmwood. With them is their six-year-old son, Donald.
  • The US Social Security Applications and Claims Index lists Donald Thomas Foster, born 6 March 1934, the son of Thomas H and Laura M (Weagle) Foster.
  • This photo appears to be of Donald at about three years of age, circa 1937.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Donald Thomas Foster. However, Nine public trees at Ancestry.Com refer to Donald Thomas Foster.

I have added his photo to Dead Fred.

(The Frankman Couple?), circa 1935

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. N. Frankman, 129 Morning St., Portland, #70.”

(?) The Frankman Couple (?), circa 1935.

  • I was unsuccessful in finding anyone with the Frankman surname in Portland directories during the possible photo time (1934-1937).
  • A search of all people residing at 129 Morning Street, Portland, in the Portland City Directories from 1934-1937 yielded the following surnames: Foley, Kroot, Mercer, & Souccier.

I failed to identify them adequately, so I posted their photo to my Flickr Photostream. 

Conclusion

  • I identified two individuals with Family Search profiles and was able to post their photos to Family Search
  • I identified two individuals without Family Search profiles that posted to Dead Fred.
  • I failed to identify one photo beyond guessing; they are probably the N. Frankman, husband and wife. Consequently, I only posted that photo here and to my Flickr Photostream.

Final Note

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

Endnotes

[i] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. Many thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt.

[ii] These images were converted to positives using a lightbox, a Nikon camera and computer software.

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