Donna Darling at Lyceum Theatre, New London, CT, 19-20 August 1921.
Donna in the News 103 Years Ago by Don Taylor
“Donna in the News” reports my 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 TheDay (New London, CT) newspaper, dated Aug 18, 1921, I learned that Donna played at the Lyceum Theatre in New London on August 19th & 20th, 1921.
AT LYCEUM THEATRE
Five Big Vaudeville acts will close Week’s Attractions.
When the popular Lyceum theatre returns to its recognized policy of B.F. Keith superlative vaudeville Friday and Saturday, local theatre goers will witness a delightful program of five extraordinary offerings.
…. Donna Montran and Madge Major, captivating maidens will offer an unusually meritorious song cycle….
Linwood Dyer Collection – Part 028 Isabel Dyer Skillin Album Photo Friday By Don Taylor
These photos are from the Isabel Dyer Skillin photo album, courtesy of the Scarborough Historical Society, Linwood Dyer Genealogical Collection, and include people from the South Portland High School — 1899.
Ethel Dyer (later Jones), c. 1899.
Ethel Dyer, circa 1899
Handwritten on a slip of paper with the photo is “Ethel Dyer.”
What I learned while researching this photo:
The 1900 U.S. Census enumerated E. Ethel Dyer, an 18-year-old who lived with her parents, Charles E & Elisa J Dyer.
My search of Ancestry family trees suggested this is Elizabeth Ethel Dyer. She was born on 21 Apr 1882 in Cape Elizabeth to Charles Eben and Eliza J (Thompson) Dyer. She married David John Jones in South Portland on 24 Jan 1903 and died on 26 Jul 1966.
Handwritten on a slip of paper with the photo is “Gertrude McCann.”
What I learned while researching this photo:
My search of Ancestry family trees suggested this is Gertrude M McCann. She was born on 11 Nov 1881 in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, to Daniel Edward & Anne Elizabeth (Flanagan) McCann. She married Norman Crowell Newell in Portland, ME, on 6 Nov 1905 and died on 6 Jan 1974 in Portland, ME.
In 1900, she lived on Main Street with her parents and seven siblings in South Portland.
I added this photo of Gertrude to her FamilySearch profile, 9V8T-JFG, and my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry.
Hattie Ella Peabody (later Johnson), c. 1899.
Handwritten on a slip of paper with the photo is “H. Ella Peabody.”
Hattie Ella Peabody, circa 1899.
What I learned while researching this photo:
My search of Ancestry family trees suggested this is Hattie Ella Peabody. She was born on 9 Jul 1878 in Cape Elizabeth to Aaron P. and Ella Francis (Cole) Peabody. She married Edward H Johnson in Portland, ME, on 19 Oct 1904 and died in Portland, ME, on 31 Aug 1946.
In 1900, she lived at 1 Atlantic Street, South Portland, with her adoptive parents, Charles E and Hattie Peabody and their four children.
Charlotte “Lottie” Roche (later Drinkwater), c. 1899.
Handwritten on a slip of paper with the photo is “Lottie Roche.”
Lottie Roche, circa 1899.
What I learned while researching this photo:
My search of Ancestry family trees suggested this is Charlotte Mae Roche. She was born on 19 Mar 1883 in Cape Elizabeth to George Wilford and Elizabeth Annie (Barker) Roche. She married Louis Percy Drinkwater in Washington, D.C., on 21 Jun 1913, and died in Portland, ME on 15 Sep 1968.
In the 1900 U.S. Census, Charlotte appears to live at home with her parents and two brothers at 1 D Street, South Portland, ME.
I added this photo of Charlotte to her FamilySearch profile, K8TL-LSR, and my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry.
Dennis McLain, c. 1899.
Handwritten on a slip of paper with the photo is “Dennis McLain.”
Dennis McLain written???
Dennis McLain, circa 1899.
What I learned while researching this photo:
I was unsuccessful in finding a Dennis McLain in the South Portland/Cape Elizabeth area in the 1900 Census.
Ancestry Family Trees suggested a Dennis Gove McLain, who was born in 1880 in Bristol, Lincoln County, Maine. However, I was unsuccessful in finding a link to South Portland or Cape Elizabeth for that individual.
I could not definitively determine who the Dennis McLain (or McLoin) in this photo is, so I uploaded the image to Dead Fred.
Conclusion
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 Ancestry and FamilySearch have a higher resolution than those here. Feel free to use these photos in your genealogical activities. Please cite “Photo Courtesy: Don Taylor Genealogy.”
Linwood Dyer Collection – Part 026 Isabel Dyer Skillin Album Photo Friday By Don Taylor
The album includes a clipping from the Portland Evening Express, dated 16 Jun 1949. The clipping indicates that the South Portland Class of 1899 had its 50th reunion.
Attendees include Miss Flores Smart. Kingston, R. I., & Mrs. Effie Dyer Alexander, Cape Elizabeth. This clipping provided the married surnames for two of the women in these photos.
Effie Dyer (later Alexander), c. 1899.
Effie Dyer, c. 1899.
Handwritten on a slip of paper with the photo is “Effie Dyer.”
What I learned while researching this photo:
My search of Ancestry family trees suggested this is Effie Blanchard Dyer. She was born on 10 Sep 1880 in Cape Elizabeth to Sumner and Laura (Bean) Dyer. She married Samuel Alexander in Cape Elizabeth on 11 Jun 1907 and died in Portland on 14 Feb 1961.
Handwritten on a slip of paper with the photo is “Estella Hannaford.”
What I learned while researching this photo:
Estella (Elsie) Hannaford, c. 1899.
My search of Ancestry failed to find an Estella, Essie, Estie, Stella, or Ellie Hannaford in either South Portland or Cape Elizabeth.
A review of South Portland 1900 Census records found two Hannaford heads of households:
Charles B Hannaford, whose wife was Hattie, and they had three young children.
Charles M Hannaford, whose wife was Bessie, were both 30 years old.
A review of Cape Elizabeth 1900 Census records found eight Hannaford heads:
Co Hannaford, who was a 47-year-old single man.
Lizzie Hannaford lived with her three sisters.
Louis Hannaford lived with his wife, Emma, and three daughters, including 17-year-old Elsi.
Jennie Hannaford lived with her six children, including 16-year-old Tena.
FNU Hannaford and her two children, including her 24-year-old daughter, Marion.
Albert Hannaford, his wife, and two children, including his 20-year-old daughter, Jennie.
George Hannaford, his wife, and son.
Philip Hannaford, his wife, Fergie, and three young children.
Only the Louis Hannaford family is a likely candidate. Louis was 51, and his wife, Emma, was 49. His daughter, Elsie, was born on 18 Mar 1883 in Cape Elizabeth.
Elsie’s obituary indicates she died on 15 Nov 1884 at 101. It says she graduated from South Portland High School in 1901 and was a Boston Post Cane recipient in Cape Elizabeth in 1981.
I am confident this photo of “Estella” is of Elsie about 1899.
I added this photo of Estella/Elsie to her FamilySearch profile, 9XMT-TFD, and to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry.
Ethel Fullerton (later Hatch), c. 1899.
Ethel Fullerton, c. 1899.
Handwritten on a slip of paper with the photo is Ethel Fullerton/
What I learned while researching this photo:
The 1900 US Census lists Ethel M Fullerton as the 18-year-old daughter of Elihu and Christie Fullerton.
My search of Ancestry family trees suggested this is Ethel M Fullerton. She was born on 11 Aug 1881 in Cape Elizabeth to Elihu W and Christie M (Nicholson) Fullerton. She married Frederick W Hatch on 31 Mar 1919.
Handwritten on a slip of paper with the photo is “Flores Smart.”
What I learned while researching this photo:
My search of Ancestry family trees suggested this is Flores Isabelle Smart. She was born on 4 Jul 1991 in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, to Andrew and Harriet (Kincaid) Smart. She died in Rhode Island on 25 Dec 1976.
Handwritten on a slip of paper with the photo is “Philip Hutchinson.”
What I learned while researching this photo:
My search of Ancestry family trees suggested this is Philip Hutchinson. He was born on 30 Aug 1881in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, to William and Martha (Jordan) Hutchinson. He died in 1945.
I added this photo of Philip to his FamilySearch profile, L67M-W12, and to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry.
Conclusion
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 Ancestry and FamilySearch have a higher resolution than those here. Feel free to use these photos in your genealogical activities. Please cite “Photo Courtesy: Don Taylor Genealogy.”
Linwood Dyer Collection – Part 025 Isabel Dyer Skillin Album Photo Friday By Don Taylor
This photo album from the Linwood Dyer Collection was a bit confusing. The spine has a modern label, “Graduation Class 1892, Isabel Dyer Skillin, So. Portland High.” South Portland was carved out of Cape Elizabeth in 1895. In 1892, the high school, established in 1874, was named Cape Elizabeth High School.[i]
Attendees included Mrs. Mildred Woods Clark, South Portland; Leslie Evans, Cumberland Center; Mrs. Louise Melcher McBrady and Mrs. Helen Morrison Johnson, both of South Portland. This clipping provided the married surnames for three of the women in these photos.
Because of the clipping, I believe the album’s label’s date is incorrect. These photos are of South Portland High School students from the class of 1899, not 1892.
Isabel Eugenia Dyer (later Skillin), c. 1899.
Isabel Eugenia Dyer, c. 1899.
Handwritten on a slip of paper with the photo is “Isabel Eugenia Dyer.”
What I learned while researching this photo:
Ancestry Family Trees suggest this is Isabel E Dyer. She was born on 24 Aug 1880 in South Portland to Howard E. and Ella (Adams) Dyer. She married Willis Burton Skillin in South Portland on 6 Dec 1905, and died in December 1972.
Isabel is Linwood Dyer’s great-aunt. Linwood was an avid genealogist, so it makes sense that he would have Isabel’s photo album.
Handwritten on a slip of paper with the photo is “Helen Morrison.”
Ancestry Family Trees suggests this is Helen Cleveland Morrison. She was born on 29 Oct 1881 in Cape Elizabeth to Wallace W. and Almina (Taylor) Morrison. She married Jeremiah Marshall Johnson in South Portland on 4 Oct 1916 and died on 9 Dec 1977 in South Portland.
Handwritten on a slip of paper with the photo is “Leslie Evans.”
Ancestry Family Trees suggest this is Leslie Clark Evans. He was born on 13 May 1882 in Cape Elizabeth to Osmon and Philena (Clark) Evans. He married Marguerite Waldron on 28 Jun 1911 in Portland, ME. He married Alice Evelyn O’Brien on 18 Dec 1929 and died on 21 Oct 1958 in Falmouth, Maine.
Handwritten on a slip of paper with the photo is “Louise Melcher.”
Ancestry Family Trees suggest this is Louisa Libby Melcher. She was born on 25 Apr 1881 in Cape Elizabeth to Robert and Alsena (Harmon) Melcher. She married William Henry McBrady on 25 Feb 1908 in Portland, ME. She died on 26 Jan 1959 in South Portland, Maine.
Handwritten on a slip of paper with the photo is “Mildred Woods.”
Ancestry Family Trees suggest this is Mildred Effie Woods on 22 Mar 1882 in Cape Elizabeth to Matthew and Margaret (Starrett) Woods. She married Frank Elmer Clark on 24 Jun 1909 in South Portland, ME. She died on 23 May 1956.
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 Ancestry and FamilySearch have a higher resolution than those here. Feel free to use these photos in your genealogical activities. Please cite “Photo Courtesy: Don Taylor Genealogy.”
Grandpa Brown was mentioned in the news as being present at a family reunion in Brainard in late August 1943.
I ran across a clipping regarding a family reunion at the Arthur W. Brown residence.
Family Reunion Held at Arthur Brown Residence
Brainerd Daily Dispatch, August 31, 1943, page 3.
The Arthur W. Brown home in Northeast Brainerd was the scene of a family reunion held last week. An all-day outing was enjoyed by the guests with a dinner being served to 15 late in the afternoon.
Present for the occasion were Messrs and Mmes. Arthur Brown, Clyde L Brown of Berkeley, Calif., Earl Briggs of Richmond, Calif., Charles Brown of Minneapolis, Les Whiteis of Owatonna, Mmes. Roy Larson and Frank Bingham of Brainerd and Mrs. Mary Brown of Motley, Ed Brown of Brainerd and Clifford Brown of Motley.
.
Person Mentioned
Comments
Arthur Brown
(Presumably Arthur W. Brown, but could it be my Arthur E Brown?
Clyde L Brown of Berkeley, Calif.
Great-uncle Clyde Leroy Brown? His 1943 location is unknown.
Earl Briggs of Richmond, Calif
Husband of my great-aunt Nettie Mae Viola Brown? His 1943 location is unknown.
Charles Brown of Minneapolis
Great-uncle Charles William Brown?
Les Whiteis of Owatonna
Husband of 1st cousin 1x removed, Marie Florence Brown? He lived in Owatonna during the 1940 Census.
Roy Larson (of Brainerd)
Husband of great-aunt Delores Sarah Brown? Roy lived in Brainerd during the 1940 Census.
Frank Bingham of Brainerd
Husband of great-aunt Victoria Cecelia Brown? Frank & Victoria lived in Brainerd in the 1940 Census.
Mary Brown of Motley
Great-grandmother Mary Elizabeth (Manning) Brown? Great Grandma Brown lived in Motley during the 1950 Census.
Ed Brown of Brainerd
Great-uncle Ed Brown? He lived in Oak Lawn (a township just east of Brainerd) in 1940.
Clifford Brown of Motley
Could be my Grandpa Dick (born Clifford) Brown. Dick lived in Chicago in 1940 and Brainerd in 1946. He appears in the 1950 Census as Richard Durand, living with his mother.
List of those present at the family reunion.
My Arthur Eugene Brown lived in Brainerd in 1935, but I don’t recognize an Arthur W. Brown in my genealogical records. Who is he; why is he hosting a family reunion for my Brown relatives? Could he be my great-uncle, Arthur Eugene Brown, misspelled in the paper? Is he related in a way I don’t know about, or is he totally unrelated? I thought I should look at this a bit more closely.
A quick Ancestry search of WW2 records for Arthur Brown found five records regarding three people.
Arthur Brown was born July 29, 1881, in Brainerd but lived in Duluth in 1942. His next of kin was Mrs. Isabelle Brown, Rt. 1, Warroad, MN.
Arthur Eugene Brown – Born April 2, 1912 in N. Dak. Mrs. Mary Brown of Motley will know his address. (The relationship of that person is blank.) It appears that he enlisted on March 7, 1944; however, this record indicates he was born in 1909.[i]
Arthur William Brown was born on November 23, 1907, in Minneapolis. His father is S. F. Brown, 318 Fifth Ave. N.E., Brainerd. He enlisted in February of 1941.
Knowing Arthur William Brown’s date of birth, a quick look at Ancestry Trees found him in 42 trees. My review of several trees found no relationship between Arthur William Brown and any of my Brown Ancestors.
1940 Census
(My) Arthur Brown, husband of Gladys Brown and father of James Brown, lived in Baxter during the 1940 Census. Baxter is just west of Brainerd.
Arthur Brown, Samuel F Brown’s son, and Dorothy Brown’s husband, lived at 318 D Street during the 1940 Census. – Google Maps indicate this is 318 D St. NE.
1950 Census
Arthur (E.), his wife, Gladys, and his five sons live at 1223 14th St. N., Brainerd.
Arthur (W.), his wife Dorothy Brown, and four children live west of Baxter in Sylvan, Cass County.
I conclude that there was no typo in the article; there was an Arthur W. Brown living in Brainerd in 1943. Look as I might, I could not find a direct relationship of him to my Brown ancestors. So, I’ve added him and his parents to my tree as unrelated.
Endnotes:
[i] I have several records that indicated Arthur was born in 1909 and several other records that indicate Arthur was born in 1912. I should review these records in a future analysis.
