Donna Darling at the Wild Opera House, Noblesville, IN, April 6-7, 1925.
Donna in the News 99 Years Ago by Don Taylor
“Donna in the News” is my reporting of newly found newspaper articles and advertisements regarding my grandmother, Madonna Montran (aka Donna Montran and Donna Darling). I am always excited when I find a new venue for my grandmother’s exciting show business career of the 1910s and 1920s.
This week, from the Sheridan News (Noblesville, Ind.) dated April 3, 1925, I learned that Donna and her Bathing Girl Review played at the Wild Opera House on April 6th and 7th.
The Sheridan News (Noblesville, IN) Apr 3, 1925.
Wild Opera House
Wild Opera House Noblesville, Ind. Monday and Tuesday April 6th and 7th Personal Appearance from the Motion Picture Studios Donna Darling Bathing 12 People “GIRL REVUE” 12 People Featuring Donna Darling and her Life Guards Fast – Furious – Refined Singing, Dancing, and Music with Plenty of Comedy. This is one of the most Classy Girl Shows on the Road In connection with Screen production Thomas Meigham in “Coming Through” Prices 10¢ – 25¢ – 40¢
In the News” is my report of newly discovered newspaper articles and advertising regarding ancestors I am researching. The information found in newspapers ofte provides fresh insight to understanding an ancestor’s life.
This week’s news is from the Biddeford Saco Journal (Biddeford, ME), dated Feb 24, 1922.
MASTER WELCH CELEBRATES.
Little Friends Join In Observing the Day at Home of Grandparents.
Master Francis Welch, son of Mr. and Mrs. Welch of Shevenell’s court, celebrated his fourth birthday last night at the home of his grandparents, Mrs. and Mrs. Timothy Daley of Pool street. During the evening a handsome birthday cake was cut by Master Francis. The table was prettily decorated in pink and white. Dainty refreshments were served and Master Francis received many nice gifts.
I confirmed Francis Welch’s birth as Feb 1918.
I also learned that he and his parents lived at Shevenell’s court. That is across the street and down three houses or so from 30 Green Street where the Welch’s were living in the 1920 Census.
It also confirms that Timothy and Mary (Lyons) Daley/Daly lived on Pool Street in 1923 (The 1920 Census placed them at 73 Pool Street.)
Endnotes
Thank you Newspapers.Com for access to this clipping.
For Photo Friday, I examined two people and a house from the Linwood Dyer Collection. This collection includes hundreds of photos, documents, and genealogies of people who lived in Scarborough, South Portland, and Cape Elizabeth, Maine. I desire to analyze the images and reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the picture. The Scarborough Historical Society holds the originals in this collection.
Elizabeth Hight Smith, 1896.
Elizabeth hight Smith, circa 1896.
The photo identifying information includes Elizabeth Hight Smith | Aunt Emaline Simpson’s daughter | 5 or 6 children. Photographer: Frees & Holland, 611 Washington St., Boston.
Why I believe this to be the individual.
This cabinet card was produced by Frees & Holland, 611 Washington St., Boston. A review of Boston City directories finds that the 1896 directory is the only year “Frees & Holland” is listed[i]. That dates the photo to 1896.
My search of Ancestry found Elizabeth Hight Smith in a photo in the 1900 yearbook for Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts[ii]. I am confident it is the same person.
Family Search identified Elizabeth H. Smith, the daughter of Obediah Francis and Emily M. (Simpson) Smith, as profile 9M5F-8VQ. Elizabeth was born on 12 January 1877.
The 1900 US Census found Elizabeth living with her parents, Obed. & Emily, at 12 Northampton Road, Amherst, MA. Elizabeth is a student. Smith College is about 7 miles away from her home in Amherst.[iii]
Yearbook photo of Elizabeth hight Smith
Ancestry has one public tree that refers to Elizabeth H Smith, daughter of Obediah and Emily (Simpson) Smith.
The photographer is H. M. Smith, Portland, Maine. Handwritten on the back of the photo, it says, Lewis J Berryman | 14 months.
Lewis j Berryman, circa October 1901
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Family Search indicates that Lewis John Berryman was born on 2 August 1900 in Portland, Maine. His parents are James George and Annie Sarah (Libby) Berryman.
The 1900 Portland City Directory, Page 309, indicates only one person listed with the Berryman surname, James G. Berryman.
I am confident this photo is of Lewis John Berryman, taken in October 1901.
Ancestry has 14 public trees that refer to Lewis John Berryman, son of James George and Annie Sarah (Libby) Berryman. Family Search has profile LT6D-H2X for Lewis John Berryman (1900-1976).
I identified two individuals. Both have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories.
I would 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 and Flickr have higher quality than those linked here.
Endnotes
[i] Internet: Cabinet Card Photographers – Holland – https://cabinetcardphotographers.blogspot.com/2018/07/holland.html.
[ii] Ancestry – US School Yearbooks, 1900-2016, Massachusetts, Northampton, Smith College, 1900 (Image 32 of 140) Elizabeth Hight Smith.
[iii] 1900 US Federal Census, Massachusetts, Hampshire, Amherst, ED 615, Sheet 4B, Line 96, Elizabeth H Smith.
Darling-Huber-Trümpi-Dürst-Hefti Line Darling-Huber-Trümpi-Dürst-Streiff-Hefti Line Darling-Huber-Trümpi-Becker-Wichser-Zweifel-Hefti Line By Don Taylor
Family Search indicates that Hefti is a Swiss German surname from Middle High German heftec or heftic, meaning ‘strong, durable.’
“Hefty” is an Americanized form of Hefti.
Geographical
In the world, Forebears reports there are about 3,813 individuals with the Hefti surname. It is most prevalent in Switzerland, where over 70% of the people with the surname live.
In the US, Forebears indicates that most Hefti’s live in California (49), and the highest frequency is in Nebraska, where one in 8,759 people have the surname.
* I have not personally researched this ancestor or the following ancestors. Instead, I am relying on the research of others to suggest these individuals and their relationships tentatively.
Locations of my Hefti Ancestors
Mathias Hefti (1636-1686) is my earliest known Hefti ancestor. He was born in Adlenbach, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, and died there. His son, Andreas, was born in Germany but died in Glarus Canton, Switzerland. All the other Hefti ancestors lived in Glarus. None of my known Hefti ancestors ever came to the United States, although several Hefti families settled in New Glarus, Green County, Wisconsin, where my Trümpi/Trümpy also settled.[ii]
My Direct Hefti Descendants
With three Hefti 8th Great-grandparents, I expected many descendants and know of 196 descendants of Ann, Franz, and Mathias Hefti in my tree: 43 Trumpi/Trümpim, 14 Dürst, and 14 Hefti.
Linwood Dyer Collection Family Bible Sunday By Don Taylor
Family Bibles are great for genealogical research. They are historical records that typically are primary sources[i]. Also, The information is usually provided by someone with firsthand knowledge of the event. Sometimes, Bibles record information not documented elsewhere.
This Bible is from the Linwood Dyer Collection at the Scarborough Historical Society and is Accession Number 2023.01.401.
Marriages
Cape Elizabeth Nov 28, 1874, by Rev A P Hillman. Mr. David O. Plummer to Miss Alice A Stone of C E.
Births
Walter Everett Plummer – April 15th, 1875
S. Josephine Plummer – Jan 21st, 1882.
Blanche P Roberts – Feb 8th 1892.
Howard O. Dyer – Dec 5th 1900.
Isabel Plummer – Feb 15th 1903.
Linwood O Dyer – Oct 30th, 1903.
Alice L Dyer – Sep 19th 1905
Dorothy F. Plummer – Feb 4th, 1906
Thelma E Dyer – Aug 10th 1909
Alvin Laidlaw [no date entered]
Nellie E Laidlaw – Sept 1st 1915.
Jeanette Johnson – November 7th, 1920
Linwood Dain Dyer – July 16th, 1925 [Corrected]
Johan S McKeen – Nov 6, 1933.
John Henry McKeen – Feb 3, 1931
Deaths
Israel C Smith – Died January twenty seventh Day = 27 = 1857 – Aged 49 [??].
Sarah Sinnott – Died September 11 = 1846, Aged 63
William A Sinnott – Died February 27=1849 Aged 67
Alice A Plummer Died January 31, 1911
Walter E Plummer – Nov 23, 1909
Comments & Conclusions
Many records appear to take the marriage information of David Plummer and Alice Stone from the “Samuel D. Rummery Book” dated 20 July 1927, which indicates they were married on November 21, 1873. However, this bible suggests they were married on Nov 28, 1874, by Rev A P Hillman and suggests it was in Cape Elizabeth. I believe the bible was written closer to the event’s time and probably by David or Alice. I think the November 28th date is correct.
Various trees on Ancestry and the tree on Family search indicate Walter Everett Plummer was born in April 1875. This bible provides the day of the month he was born – April 15th, 1875, which may be new information for many researchers.
Family Search indicates that Linwood E Dyer was born on October 3, 1903. This bible indicates he was born on October 30, 1903. The Ancestry trees I reviewed indicate the date of October 30, 1903, so it appears that Family Search has his birthdate incorrect.
The remaining Bible entries appear consistent with Ancestry Public Trees and Family Search’s tree.
Endnotes:
[i] A primary source is any record created during the time you are researching – an eyewitness account. Primary sources can take many forms, such as newspapers, letters, journals, tax lists, court documents, church records, or a census. Even published books can be considered primary sources if they were printed during the time of your study. – https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Primary_sources.
