In the 1980s, I lived in Coon Rapids. Quickly, I became very involved with the city government. I was appointed to City’s Economic Development Commission. It fit very well with my previous education. I intended to be a political science major, and being involved with the local government would provide experience for me. I believe that political science is the practical application of psychology, sociology, and economics.
Becoming involved in politics was very difficult for a federal employee. There is a law, The Hatch Act, which prohibits civil service employees in the executive branch from engaging in partisan political activity. As a new government employee, I needed to be very careful to ensure the City Council was not a partisan position. It was not. I needed to not attempt to gain any type of party endorsement. With those stipulations, I filed to run for City Council for my ward (Ward II). I believed that announcing my running early would reduce the likelihood of a primary election and its associated expenses.
I announced in June that I intended to file when filing opened on July 22nd. When filing closed on August 4th, the only other person that filed was the seven-year incumbent, so that no primary election would be required.
Several people told me that keeping my beard would cost about five percentage points in the election, so I decided to shave it off. It was one of the very few times I’ve not had a beard. I did leave my mustache. I formed a campaign committee and put together some promotional materials. The current mayor, Dave McCauley, helped me with his silk-screen printing equipment, and we made yard signs for the campaign.
I door-nocked most of the Ward. At one place, a Great Dane decided to bite me. Luckily, he only gauged my wide belt with his teeth. The owner opened the door at another house to let a little dog out. The dog ran out and returned while I talked to the homeowner. The dog then stood over my foot and peed. I looked down and then back up and continued talking with the homeowner. He was impressed and said he’d vote for me because anyone who didn’t kick the dog while urinating on their shoe couldn’t be half bad.
On election day, I lost. It was a close election. I took my opponent’s precinct, and she took mine. The other two precincts were very close. Somewhere in the archives, I have the results (but I couldn’t find them). Anyway, my recollection is I took 46½% of the vote to my opponents’ 49%. Not too bad for a political newbie against a 7-year incumbent.
I later became the chairman of the economic development commission and decided never to run for political office again. I sometimes wonder how much my life would have changed if I had been elected.
Brown-Mannin-Fugate-Martin-Pettus-Native American Line By Don Taylor
Pocahontas 12th great-grandmother?
Having an account with Family Search and paying attention to the various notifications they generate can be fun. Every once in a while, I’ll receive a notice from FamilySearch and learn something fascinating. In this case, they suggested that Pocahontas is my 12th great-grandmother. “Oh really,” I said.
I have followed these notifications in the past and found breaks in what FamilySearch has in their Family Tree and my research, so I didn’t hold much hope this connection is correct. Still, I figured I’d look carefully at what they are suggesting.
The supposed connection is on my mother’s father’s line.
This is only a four-generation stretch from what I tentatively had before and only an eight-generation extension from what I had previously researched. If correct, Pocahontas would be the most distant, known ancestor on my Brown-Montran line. Do I believe it? Yes, I think it is possible, and it puts me on a path for my future research to verify this relationship for my future Brown research.
Follow-up Action
In my Brown Research, I should focus on my Fugate-Martin-Pettis Line to prove or disprove this relationship.
Endnotes
[i] The numbers are Ahnentafel numbers. [ii] Correct means that I know this is a correct person based upon personal knowledge and known DNA matches. [iii] Agree means that I have researched this person, written about him or her, and that I agree with the relationship. [iv] Tentative means that I have cursorily looked that this relationship and have not found anything to refute it. [v] Proposed means this is an entirely new relationship and I have not researched it at all.
This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes typically contain the name of the person 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.
Nurse Margaret Pratt, ME General Hosp., circa 1935
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss M Pratt, ME General Hosp. #693.” It appears to be a woman in her late teens or early 20s in a nurse’s uniform.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Nurse Margaret Pratt, ME General Hosp., circa 1935
The 1939 Portland City Directory lists Margaret Pratt as a nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital).
The 1940 US Census lists Margaret M Pratt as a 24-year-old nurse at Central Maine General Hospital in Lewiston. She lived in Portland in 1935.
Ancestry Trees suggest this is Margaret M Pratt, born on 16 February 1916 in Maine. She lived in Portland in 1935 and was a nurse in Lewiston during the 1940 Census. Margaret died on 20 October 2009 in Lewiston.
I am confident this is Margaret, about 1935.
Ancestry has ten public trees that refer to Margaret M Pratt (1916-2009), the daughter of Lewis and Harriet Pratt. Family Search has profile LY6Q-T53 for Margaret M Pratt, the daughter of Lewis and Harriet (Masterman) Pratt. I have uploaded photos of Margaret to him/her Family Search Memories.
Arnold Prange, circa 1935
This negative envelope says, “Mr. Arnold Prange, 21 Pine St, #572.” It appears to be a man in his twenties or early thirties. The envelope looks like it could say “Prauge” for the surname.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Arnold Prange, circa 1935.
An initial search for Mister Prauge in Portland yielded no results.
The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Charles McDougal living at 21 Pine Street and William Manos living at 21a Pine Street.
The 1935 and 1936 Portland City Directories list Mrs. Olive B McDougal living at 21 Pine Street and William Nanos still living at 21s Pine Street
In 1934, Charles McDougal passed away. His wife Olive (Hartshorn) continued to live at 21 Pine Street.
A 1942 Obituary indicates that Mrs. Hildred M Prange, wife of Arnold E Prage of 134 Grant street, died.
In 1935, Vanessa Abbie Prange sued for divorce from Arnold E Prange.
Arnold married Hildred McNeill on 27 Nov 1936. Arnold would have a photo of himself taken about when he divorced Venessa and before he married Hildred makes sense.
I believe this photo is of Arnold Edwin Prange, who was born in Dresden, Germany, on 10 Sep 1910 and died 29 Jun 1958. When this photo was taken in 1935, he lived in Portland, Maine.
Alternate Individuals.
An Arnold Prauge lived in Wichita, Kansas, in both 1935 and 1940. He was married and had four children. I can find no connection for this Arnold to Maine.
Stephen Prentice of West Cheshire, CT (& probably his wife, Ethel).
This negative envelope says, “Mr. Stephen E Prentice, Moss Farm Road, Westcheshire, Conn. – Mailed July 23 – 51.” The images consist of one photo of a man and a woman and the second of two women. Both show them holding a string of fish.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Stephen Prentice of West Cheshire, CT (& probably his wife, Ethel).
Stephen Elmer Prentice’s draft card indicated that he was born on 8 Nov 1908 and lived in West Cheshire with his wife, Ethel.
I am reasonably confident that the man is Stephen; however, the women are unidentified. I suspect the woman with the headscarf is Ethel, a second woman took the first photo, and Stephen took the second photo of the two women.
Ancestry has 13 public trees that refer to Stephen E Prentice (1908-1979). Family Search has profile G4Z5-NH2 for Stephen Elmer Prentice. I uploaded one photo of Stephen and a woman (probably his wife Ethel) to his Family Search Memories. I uploaded a second photo of the two women (one is probably Ethel) to my Flickr Photostream. I’d love to hear from you if you can identify the two women.
Charles Prunier, Maine Maritime Academy Graduate, April 1943.
This negative envelope says, “Mr. Chas Prunier – Apr 26 – 1943.” This package of negatives is a reprint request and appears to be of a man in his late teens or early 20s in a military uniform. Before 1943, the Portland studio of Ethel Wight was closed, so this must have come from Ethel’s Ocean Park/Old Orchard Beach location.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Charles Prunier, Maine Maritime Academy Graduate, April 1943.
A search on Ancestry found a similar photo of Charles F. Prunier as part of the second graduating class (1943) of the Maine Maritime Academy. This is clearly the same young man.
Ancestry Family trees suggest that Charles F. Prunier was born on 23 Jun 1922 and lived in Old Orchard Beach from 1940 to 1943. Charles went on to enter the US Navy as an Ensign in October 1943.
I am confident this photo is of Charles Folsom Prunier, born 23 Jun 1922 in New Bern, North Carolina, lived in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, from 1940-1943, and attended the Maine Maritime Academy.
Ancestry has 13 public trees that refer to Charles Folsom Prunier. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Charles, so I uploaded a photo of Charles to Dead Fred. I also added two more pictures of Charles to my Flickr photostream.
Estelle Poulin, circa 1936 (age 5).
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Velmore Poulin – Congress St. #1066.” The photo appears to be of a young girl, from five to ten years old.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Estelle Poulin, circa 1936 (age 5).
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Valmore J Poulin as the treasurer at 552 Congress and living at 30 Vermont av. His wife is Hermance L.
The 1940 US Census list Valmore and Hilda Poulin living at 30 Vermont. With them is their 9-year-old daughter, Estelle. Valmore and his daughter were born in Maine. Hilda was born in Canada.
I am pretty sure this photo is of Estelle Poulin, about 1936.
I have not found Estelle in Ancestry trees. However, her father appears in 18 public Ancestry trees. Likewise, FamilySearch does not appear to have a profile for Estelle. As such, I uploaded a photo of Estelle to Dead Fred.
Conclusion
I identified all five individuals this week. Three have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories. Two individuals do not have Family Search profiles, so I posted their photos to Dead Fred.
I will love to hear your reaction if any of these photos are of your family member. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.
Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Family Search, Dead Fred, and Flickr have higher quality than those linked here.
For all postings of the Ethel Wight Collection, please see here.
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.
This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes typically contain the name of the person 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, I aim to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.
Geneva Potter, circa 1934
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Geneva Potter, Children’s Hospital #181” (circa 1934).
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Geneva Potter, circa 1934
The 1934 and 1935 Portland City Directories list Geneva Potter as a student nurse at 231 Woodford (St. Barnabas Hospital) and residing at 20 Norwood.
The 1938 Portland City Directory lists Geneva Potter as a nurse working and living at 48 Avon.
The Bangor Daily News, dated 15 Oct 1937, indicated that “Miss Geneva Potter, R. N., a postgraduate student at the Women’t Hospital, New York City, has been a guest of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Potter.
This photo appears to be of Geneva M Potter, born on 2 Mar 1913 in Woodland, Washington County, Maine.
This negative envelope says, “Mr. Alfred Poulin, Queens Hospital #250,” and was taken about 1934.
What I learned about this individual.
Nurse Alfred Poulin, Queens Hospital, circa 1934
1932, 1933, and 1934 Portland City Directories list Alfred Poulin as a student nurse at 218 State (The Queen’s Hospital).
The 1930 US Census lists a 21-year-old Alfred Poulin, the son of Ella Poulin, living in Waterville, Kennebec County, Maine, and working as a nurse at a private residence.
This photo appears to be Alfred Joseph Poulin, son of John & Ella Poulin, born on 12 Mar 1909 in Waterville, Maine.
Ancestry has seven public trees that refer to Alfred Joseph Poulin. Family Search has profile LDT8-D7Y for Alfred. I have uploaded a photo of Alfred to his Family Search Memories.
Vincent James Porciello, circa 1934 (age 0)
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. James Porciello, 28 May St, #414,” and was taken about 1934.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Vincent James Porciello, circa 1934
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Gabriel and Pauline Porciello living at 28 May.
The 1940 US Census lists James Porcielly, the six-year-old son of Gabriel and Pauline Porciello, who live at 14 North Street in Portland, Maine. The household also includes nine-year-old Gabriel, Junior.
I am confident this is a photo of Vincent James Porciello, son of Gabriel and Paola “Pauline” Porciello, born on 2 Feb 1934.
Ancestry has three public trees that refer to Vincent James Porciello; however, FamilySearch does not appear to have a profile for him. I uploaded a photo of Vincent James to Dead Fred.
Hilda (Hermanie) Poulin (née Audet), circa 1935.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Velmore Poulin, 38 Vermont St #831,” taken about 1935.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Hilda (Hermanie) Poulin (née Audet), circa 1935.
The 1940 US Census lists Valmore Poulin and his 36-year-old wife, Hilda, living at 38 Vermont.
Ancestry Family Trees suggest his wife, Hermence Audet, was born on 11 Mar 1904 in Maria Québec. He and Valmore were married on 31 January 1930 (probably in Portland).
Ancestry has 16 public trees that refer to Hermanie Audet (1904-1981); however, FamilySearch does not appear to have a profile for Hilda/Hermanie/Hermence. So, I uploaded this photo of her to Dead Fred.
Conclusion
I fully identified all five individuals. Three have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories. The other two did not appear to have Family Search profiles, so I posted their pictures to Dead Fred.
I will love to hear your reaction if any of these photos are of your family member. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.
Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Family Search, Dead Fred, and Flickr have higher quality than those linked here.
For all postings of the Ethel Wight Collection, please see here.
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.
Raidt Project Raidt–Langford-Hawley Line By Don Taylor
Marie G Hawley was born on 1 Apr 1895 in Minneapolis, Minnesota; her father, Joseph, was 39, and her mother, Odelie, was 38. She married John Willie Langford on 20 Jul 1918 in Hennepin County, Minnesota. They had three children during their marriage. She died on 11 Jul 1977 in Minneapolis at 82 and was buried there.
7 – Elenor Della Langford (1924-2019) – Grandmother
15 – Marie G Hawley (1895-1977) – 1st Great-grandmother
30 – Joseph Hawley – (1856-___) – 2nd Great-grandfather:
Marie G Hawley (1895-1977)
Birth
Marie was born on 1 Apr 1895 to Joseph and Odelie (Morin) Hawley in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was the fourth of five children.
Children of Joseph and Odelie Hawley (Siblings)
Name
Born
Married
Died
Rose Marie
Nov 1884
Arthur Justad
30 May 1945
Annie
Jul 1891
FNU Pearson
TBD
Joseph
Feb 1893
?
TBD
Marie G.
1 Apr 1895
John Willis Langford
11 Jul 1977
John E.
May 1900
?
TBD
The 1900 Census found Marie living at home with her parents and four siblings. Her father, Joseph, was a carpenter who rented their house at 447 Adams. Five-year-old Marie hadn’t started school yet. Her mother, Odelie, reported she had had six children, but only five were still living.
The 1910 Census found the Hawley family renting a home at 308 Broadway. Her father is still a carpenter, and her 19-year-old sister, Odelea, works as a saleswoman in a dry goods store. Her older brother Joseph is working as a helper in a foundry. Fourteen-year-old Marie is attending school, as is her little brother, John.
Marriage
On 20 Jul 1918, Marie and John Willie Langford were married in a ceremony performed by Father James Donahoe at the very new (its first mass was on 21 Nov 1915) St. Bridget Church in North Minneapolis.
Children of John and Marie (Hawley) Langford
Name
Born
Married
Died
Bernard John
Feb 1919
Joan Kissinger
1945
Elizabeth Marie
(Fall) 1923
Thomas A Costello
2009
Eleanor Della
10 Apr 1924
Jerome G Raidt
2019
Adulthood
The 1920 Census found Marie as a housewife with John supporting his family as a typesetter. The young family rented a home at 2526 Emerson Ave. So. Little Bernard was ten months old.
The 1930 Census found Marie and her family owning a home at 4119 Zane Ave. It was valued at $4,000. But by 1935 they had moved again. This time to their “forever” home at 3419 2nd Ave South.
The 1940 Census found Marie and John at 3419 2nd ave. With them are their three children. John is a printer and Bernard is a laborer at a street car company. The census shows they lived at the “same house” in 1935.
The 1950 Census and a 1958 Minneapolis City Directory indicate they were at 3419 2nd ave until then.
Before 1960, the couple had moved to 3151 Aldrich Ave. So., apt 4.
Death/Burial, etc.
Marie died on 11 Jul 1977 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was buried at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in South Minneapolis.
Events by Location
Minnesota, Hennepin County, Minneapolis – All life events for Marie (Hawley) Langford occurred in metropolitan Minneapolis.
Further Actions / Follow-up
Determine death dates for Marie’s siblings, Annie, Joseph, and John.
Determine if Joseph or John ever married.
Sources
1900 Census, Various, Joseph Halley. “United States Census, 1900,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9SV-8T4 : accessed 22 February 2023), Joseph Halley, Election District 6 Minneapolis city Ward 9, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 99, sheet 2A, family 30, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,769. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9SV-8T4.
1910 Census (NARA), Family Search, Joseph Hawley – Line 25. “United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2G3-WR9 : accessed 22 February 2023), Joseph Hawley, Minneapolis Ward 1, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 19, sheet 3A, family 63, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 700; FHL microfilm 1,374,713.
1920 Census (NARA), Family Search, John W Langford. “United States Census, 1920”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWYL-HXV : 2 February 2021), John W Langford, 1920.
1930 Census (NARA), Family Search, 1930 – Henry [John W] Langford – Robbinsdale, MN.
1940 Census (NARA), Family Search, John Langford. 1940 Census – Minneapolis, MN – ED 89-145, Sheet 6B, Lines 52 through 56. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KSK7-VS5.
1950 Census, Ancestry.Com, 1950 – John W Langford. United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota; Roll: 3852; Sheet Number: 16; Enumeration District: 89-841. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/94300404:62308.
Find a Grave, Internet, Marie G. Hawley Langford (1895-1977). Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/95097219/marie-g-langford: accessed 22 February 2023), memorial page for Marie G. Hawley Langford (1 Apr 1895–11 Jul 1977), Find a Grave Memorial ID 95097219, citing St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA; Maintained by Robert Sullivan (contributor 47188471). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/95097219/marie-g-langford.
Hennepin County Marriage Licenses, Personal Files, John W Langford to Marie Hawley – 20 Jul 1918.
Minneapolis Star – 1923-10-02, Page 8 – Births [Elizabeth Marie Langford], (https://newspapers.com).
Minneapolis Star – 1951-05-28, Page 23 – Costello-Langford Vows Exchanged (Elizabeth Marie Langford) https://www.newspapers.com/image/187701093.
Minneapolis Star dated 1940-08-11, Page 28 – Bernard J Langford & Joan Kissinger (https://newspapers.com).
Minneapolis Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota, ), Internet, 1951-03-25 – Bette Marie Langford (Engaged to Thomas Austin Costello). https://www.newspapers.com/image/183625269.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, online obituary – Eleanor Della (Langford) Raidt – Death: 19 Mar 2019., \i Gill Brothers Funeral Home (https://www.gillbrothers.com/memorials/Raidt-Eleanor/3777046/).
Minnesota Births and Christenings, 1840-1980, Family Search, John Willie Langford – 2 Jan 1893 (No image).
Minnesota Births and Christenings, 1840-1980, Family Search, Marie G Hawley.
Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2002 (Minneapolis, Minnesota Department of Health), Family Search, Marie G Langford – 11 Jul 1977. “Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2002,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V4WS-4ZC : 4 December 2014), Marie G. Langford, 11 Jul 1977; from “Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2002,” database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2001); citing Hennepin, Minnesota, record 2682776, certificate number 017850, Minnesota Department of Health, Minneapolis. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V4WS-4ZC.
Minnesota Official Marriage System (https://moms.mn.gov/, ), MOMS.MN.GOV, John W Langford – Marie Hawley – 02140289. https://moms.mn.gov/.
Minnesota, Death Index, 1908-2017 (St. Paul, Minnesota, Minneasota Department of Health), Ancestry.Com, John W Langford (1893-1978) (No image). https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/30390137?h=d332ea.
U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995, Ancestry.Com, Minneapolis, Minnesota – 1958 – John W & Marie G Langford. Page 770, Column 2. https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/1983258?mark=135c736adde0e7069334e9cb2c034d9bec1edaa9ab2f0e8ef1bdcae435cd05a0.
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Jerome Gilbert Raidt (1924-1994).
U.S., Social Security Death Index, Ancestry.Com, Marie Langford (1895-1977). https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/1983471?mark=be9f8e4d70f36587fc27bcfcc05b338046f0757be28117b798b2e23b9b9276fd.
United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Family Search, John Willie Langford. “United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K87L-91D : 24 December 2021), John Willie Langford, 1917-1918.
Various, Correspondence, Personal Files, Raidt Christmas Letter – 1977-12-15.
