Bearce, (née Bradford), Dennison, (née Hatch), & Lang

Posted on September 15, 2023 by Don Taylor

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 147
Photo Friday
By Don Taylor

This week, for Photo Friday, I tried to 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. 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.

David Ricker Lang, c. 1934.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. David Lang, Union Ave, Lakeport, N.H. #429.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Photo of Mr. David Lang, Union Ave, Lakeport, N.H.
David Lang, of Lakeport, N.H., circa 1934.
  • Lakeport is a neighborhood in Laconia in Belknap County, New Hampshire.[iii]
  • The 1930 US Census lists David R. Lang living at 891 Union Ave, Laconia. He is 55 years old (born c. 1875) and was born in New Hampshire.[iv]

I am sure this is a photo of David R. Lang, born in New Hampshire about 1875. He married Ella W. Packard and lived in Laconia (Lakeport), New Hampshire, in 1934.

Alternate Individuals.

Ancestry Public Trees suggest there are two individuals named David Ricker Lang.

1.    David Ricker Lang, born 9 Feb 1877 in Monroe, Grafton County, New Hampshire, who married Ella W Packard in 1922 and died on 28 June 1972 in Grafton, New Hampshire.

2.    David Ricker Lang, born 6 April 1875 in Orford, Grafton County, New Hampshire, who married Ella W Packard in 1901 and died on 5 October 1947.

Many Ancestry researchers place the same David R. Lang living in Laconia during the 1930 Census. Family Search researchers attached the 1930 Census record to the 55-year-old David, so I believe this is likely the correct David Lang. Unraveling the two David Langs is beyond the scope of this photo identification, so I leave determining which David (1875-1947) or (1877-1972) this is a photo of to researchers of this family.  

Ancestry has eight public trees that refer to David Ricker Lang (1875-1947) and 47 public trees that refer to David Ricker Lang (1877-1972). Because I can’t determine which David Lang this is a photo of, I have uploaded this image to Dead Fred and a second photo of him to my Flickr Photostream.

Ralph King Bearce, circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Mr. Ralph Bearce, Wolfboro, N.H. #442.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Photo of Ralph King Bearce, circa 1934.
Ralph King Bearce, circa 1934.
  • The 1930 US Census lists Ralph Bearce, a 54-year-old, Maine-born academy principal, who lives in Wolfeboro, Carroll County, New Hampshire. His household consists of him, his wife, Ellen B., and an aunt, Helen H. Frost.
  • Ancestry family trees suggest this is Ralph King Bearce, born in Turner, Maine, on 29 April 1875.

I am sure this 1934 photo is of Ralph King Bearce of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire.

Ancestry has 19 public trees that refer to Ralph King Bearce (1875-1935). Family Search has profile LZJL-GQ7 for Ralph. I have uploaded a photo of Ralph to his Family Search Memories.

Ellen Bearce (née Bradford), circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Bearce, Wolfeboro, N.H. #441.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Photo of Ellen Bearce (née Bradford), circa 1934.
Ellen Bearce (née Bradford), circa 1934.
  • This photo was taken on the same day as the photo of Ralph Bearce.
  • The 1930 US Census lists Ralph and Ellen Bearce living in Wolfeboro, Carroll County, New Hampshire.
  • Ancestry Family Trees suggest this is Ellen Mary (Bradford) Bearce (1876-1972).

I am sure this 1934 photo is of Ellen Mary (Bradford) Bearce of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire.

Ancestry has 30 public trees that refer to Ellen Mary Bearce (née Bradford). Family Search has profile LKTN-9XD for Ellen Mary Bradford. I have uploaded a photo of Ellen to her Family Search Memories.

Annie Dennison (née Hatch), circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Annie Dennison, 23 Bradford Road, Watertown, Mass #88 – DSCN5131.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Photo of Annie Dennison (née Hatch), circa 1934.
Annie Dennison (née Hatch), circa 1934,
  • The 1935 Watertown, Massachusetts City Directory lists Annie Dennison, the wife of Hubert A. Dennison, living at 23 Bradford Road, Watertown, MA.
  • The 1940 US Census lists the 75-year-old Anne Dennison still living at 23 Bradford. Anne was born in Nova Scotia.

I am sure this photo is of Annie M. Dennison (née Hatch), born in February 1864 in Nova Scotia and who married Hubart Dennison about 1893. Annie died on 31 October 1959 in Waltham, MA.

Ancestry has 14 public trees that refer to Annie M. Hatch. Family Search has profile LHBR-NWR for Annie. I uploaded this photo of Annie to her Family Search Memories.

Image of writing on the photo envelope.
Photo Envelope

Unnamed girl from Center Conway, New Hampshire, 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. S. E. Hall, Center Conway, N. H. Box 23 #569.”

What I learned while researching information regarding this photo:

Photo of an unidentified girl, probably from Center Conway, NH, in 1935
Unidentified girl, (probably) from Center Conway, NH.
  • It isn’t clear to me if the surname is Hall or Hill. Although the first initial appears to me to be an “S,” I have seen where Ethel’s “L” can look like an “S.”
  • Center Conway is a community within the town of Conway, Carroll County, New Hampshire.[v]
  • An Ancestry search of the 1930 and 1940 censuses for anyone with the surname Hall living in Conway yielded eight results
    • Lizzie E. Hall, 70-year-old aunt of Harold Shedd. Harold had a 3-year-old daughter, Henrietta G. Shedd, in the 1930 Census. Lizzie was the widow of Herman L. Hill.
    • Henry A. (59) and Bessie C. (52) Hall, living with no apparent children in the 1940 household.
    • Mabel “Mabie” Hall is a 50-year-old servant in the 1940 Gertrude Lougee household.
    • Glen and Ethel M Hall, ages 41 and 46, with no apparent children in the 1940 household.
    • Albert H. and Emma F. Hall, ages 73 and 71, with no apparent children in the 1940 household.
  • An Ancestry search of the 1930 Census for anyone with the surname Hill living in Conway yielded 22 results
    • A. Evelyn Hill, age 48, single with no children in the household.*
    • Almon H and Elizabeth M Hill are 83 and 75. There are no apparent children in the 1930 household.
    • Charles H. Hill, a 20-year-old hired man in the Bradley Woodward household.
    • Howard E. Hill, with wife Anna and 18-year-old daughter Elizabeth A. They also have a 13-year-old son, Horace.
    • Leroy W. Hill, his wife Alice M. Hill, his mother, Mary C. Hill, and step-granddaughter Caroline Thompson. Caroline is 11 years old.
    • Leslie C and Nettie M Hill, There are no apparent children in the 1930 household.*
    • Nathaniel H. and Blanche Hill, who have a 14-year-old son, George.*
    • Peter Hill, a 69-year-old Canadian wood chopper.
    • Rufas Hill and Edith Hill, with a son, Norman, and a 2-year-old daughter, Ruth L. Hill.
    • Sarah L. Hill, 86-year-old aunt of Fred T. Hale. There are no apparent children in the 1930 household.
  • An Ancestry search of the 1940 Census for anyone with the surname Hill living in Conway yielded 34 results.
    • Arnold and Helen Hill with two sons, Albert and James.
    • Bertha Hill, a 56-year-old servant in the household of Leo Danino.
    • Burley and Madeline Hill have two daughters, Bernice (age 18) and Bertha (age 16).
    • Carroll and Dorothy Hill with two young daughters (Miriam & Nancy) and a young son (Arthur).
    • Charles W. Hill, a 32-year-old servant in the hotel of Gertrude Lougee.
    • Francis and Lois Hill with their son, Ronald.
    • Harold G. and Dorothy F. Hill, with their 1-year-old daughter, Carol Ann
    • Henry and Edna Hill have no children in their household.
    • Hilda Hill, 65-year-old mother-in-law of Ossian Sten.
    • Shirley (age 7) and Helen (age 4) were boarders with Walter & Myrtle Davis.
    • Other names marked with an asterisk (*) are repeats of households reported in the 1930 Census.

From the 1930 and 1940 Censuses, there are no likely candidates to be “S. E. Hall” (or Hill).

  • The Annual Report of the Town of Conway ending January 31st, 1936, listed the following Hill and Hall surnamed individuals.
  • Aldis S. Hill
  • Carroll Hill
  • Leslie C. Hill
  • Madeline Hill
  • Nathaniel. Hill
  • Stephen Wesley Hill
  • Wentworth Hill

Again, none of these candidates appear to fit the criteria to be Mrs. S.E. Hill.

I have not identified the individual in this photos sufficiently to upload to either Family Search or Dead Fred, so I only include the individual’s image here. Hopefully, the folks at the Conway Historical Society can shed some light on the identity of this girl. Maybe they have old directories or documents identifying who had Box 23 in 1935.

Conclusion

  • I identified four of the five individuals in this week’s photosets. Three have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories. One did not have a Family Search profile, so I uploaded his photo to Dead Fred.
  • I was unable to identify one individual. She is likely from Center Conway, New Hampshire, and was probably born in the mid-1920s. Her photo is only uploaded here.

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, 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.

[iii] Wikipedia – Lakeport, New Hampshire – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakeport,_New_Hampshire

[iv] 1930; Census Place: Laconia, Belknap, New Hampshire; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 0014; FHL microfilm: 2341033

[v] Wikipedia – Center Conway, New Hampshire – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_Conway,_New_Hampshire

Posted in Ethel Wight Studio, Faces from the Past | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Donna Darling at Orpheum Theatre, Tulsa, OK, 10 Sep 1925.

Posted on September 10, 2023 by Don Taylor

Donna in the News
98 Years Ago
by Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.“Donna in the News” reports 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 Tulsa Tribune (Tulsa, OK) dated 10 Sep 1925, I learned that “Dona Darling & Girls” played in Tulsa after Oklahoma City.

Image from Tulsa Daily World, 10 September 1925, showing "Donna Darling and Girls" playing at the Orpheum Theatre.

Ad – Tulsa Daily World, Sep 10, 1925, via Newspapers.com

I reviewed the Tulsa Tribune for articles about Donna but found nothing except for advertisements. Donna’s show began on September 10th and played for three days.

Because of those newly available online articles, I was able to add another venue for Donna’s exciting vaudeville career: September 10-12, 1925 – Tulsa, OK – Orpheum Theatre – Donna Darling & Girls in “Songs and Steps.”

Endnotes

My thanks to Newspapers.com for providing access to this clipping.

 

Posted in 98 Years Ago, Donna Darling and Girls, In the news | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Bronnum, Clement, Cole (née Ewens), Hasseltine (later Judson), Henderson, Scalise, Zemla, .

Posted on September 8, 2023 by Don Taylor

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 146
Photo Friday
By Don Taylor

With the review of Miss Helen Zenila, I will have completed the initial photo packages from the Ethel Wight Studio. I now will review “errant” photo packages and many reproduction packs. There are still about 53 photo-negative envelopes (244 items) to review, so I should complete this project in about ten weeks (about Thanksgiving).

This week, I identified the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes often contain the name of the person who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. Because of that, I try 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.

Helen Zemla, 26 Chenery St., circa 1934.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Helen Zemla, 26 Cheney St. #180.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Photo of Helen Zemla, circa 1934.
Helen Zemla, circa 1934.

The 1930 US Census lists Helen Zemla, the 30-year-old daughter of Caroline Zemla, living at 26 Chenery in Portland.

The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Helen L. Zemla as a bookkeeper at 327 Forest Ave, residing at 26 Chenery. Anna C. Zemlia, the widow of Richard J., also lives at 26 Chenery, as does Richard M.

This photo of Helen L. Zemla was taken about 1934. She was born on 26 April 1899 in Portland, Maine, and is the daughter of Richard and Anna Caroline (Johnson) Zemla.

Ancestry has 12 public trees that refer to Helen L Zemla; Family Search has profile G76M-ZBC for her.

I have uploaded this photo of Helen to her Family Search Memories. I also uploaded two additional pictures of her to my Flickr Photostream (Photo 1, Photo 2).

Ann Hasseltine (later Judson), photo of a painting.

This negative envelope says, “Ann Hasseltine – 1943 – Notify Miss Helen Duffill, 51 Stratford Road, Melrose, Mass.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Photo from a painting of Ann Hasseltine.
Ann Hasseltine (Photo from a painting of).
  • The website VanceChristie.com has this exact same photo (although flipped horizontally) of Ann Hasseltine Judson.
  • Wikipedia has an article about Ann. She was born on 22 December 1789 in Bradford, Massachusetts. Her father was John Hasseltine. She married Adoniram Judson in 1812. She and her husbane were the first Baptist missionaries in Burma (now Myanmar). Ann died on 24 October 1826 in Burma.

This is a photo of an early 19th-century painting of Ann Hassletine.

Ancestry has 164 public trees that refer to Ann Nancy Hasseltine (1789-1826). Family Search has profile KZDF-28F for Ann Hasseltine. I have uploaded a photo of Ann to her Family Search Memories.

Phyllis Ann Bronnum, circa 1935 (age 7)

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Viggo Bronnum, 14 University – Salmonhurst, Victoria County, New Brunswick #749.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Photo of Phyllis Ann Bronumm, circa 1935 (age 7).
Phyllis Ann Bronumm, circa 1935 (age 7).
  • The 1935 Portland City Directory indicates that William N. Evans lived at 14 University in 1935, and the 1936 directory shows that Milton S. Libby lived there in 1936. So, the connection does not appear to be with 14 University Street.
  • Canadian Voter Lists indicate that Mr. & Mrs. Viggo Bronnum lived in Salmonhurst, RR 1, in 1957.
  • Find a Grave indicates that Viggo Christian Bronnum was born on 16 Aug 1898 in Victoria County, New Brunswick. His wife was Ethel Christine (Oquist). They had a daughter, Lena Aleitha Bronnum, born in 1922 and died in 1929 from acute appendicitis.
  • Family Search indicates that Viggo Bronnum had two daughters. Tena Leitha (1922-1929) and Phyllis Anne Bronnum (1928-2007).

This photo was taken about 1935. Tena/Lena had passed, but Phyllis Ann was about seven, so I believe this photo is of her.

Ancestry has two public trees that refer to Phyllis Ann Bronnum (1928-2007). Family Search has profile GC68-BZN for Phyllis Anne. I have uploaded this photo of Phyllis to her Family Search Memories.

Confirmed to be Phyllis Ann Bronnum by a grand-niece.
I have also learned that Mrs. Libby was the sister of Viggo from a first cousin, once removed.

Vivian Lydia Cole (née Ewens), circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. J. P. Cole, Island Pond, Vt #436.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Photo of Vivian Lydia Cole (née Ewens), circa 1934.
Vivian Lydia Cole (née Ewens), circa 1934.
  • Wikipedia tells me that Island Pond, Vermont, is in the center of the town of Brighton.
  • The 1940 US Census enumerated Jape Coley [Cole] as a 48-year-old living with his wife, Vivian L. Coley [Cole].
  • Vermont Marriage records indicate Vivian Lydia Ewens married Jabz Perly Cole on 16 September 1925 in Brighton, Essex County, Vermont. Her parents were George and Maud (Peavey) Ewens. Vivian was born about 1902.

I am quite sure this photo is of Vivian, taken about 1934 when she was about 32

Ancestry has 30 public trees that refer to Vivian Lydia Ewens. Family Search has profile LR8L-J9P for Vivian. I have uploaded this photo of Vivian to her Family Search Memories.

Rev. Victor Scalise,
Rev. Alexander Henderson, &
Walter E. Clement, all of Lowell, Mass.

This photo is from the Ethel Wight Studio, Portland, Maine. 

This negative envelope says, “Rev Victor Scalise, Rev. Alexander Henderson, Walter E Clement, Calvery New Fellowship of Lowell, Mass.”

Why I believe this to be these individuals.

Victor Scalise

Photo of Rev. Victor Scalise, Rev. Alexander Henderson, & Walter E. Clement, all of Lowell, Mass.
Rev. Victor Scalise,
Rev. Alexander Henderson, & Walter E. Clement.
  • World War II Draft Cards include Victor Frank Scalise, a Calvary Baptist Church pastor. Victor was born on 19 Feb 1897 in Italy.
  • Ancestry Family Trees suggest this is Fictor Frank Scalise, born 19 Feb 1897 in Marcellinara, Italy.

Confirmed to be Victor (on the left) by a grandchild.

Alexander Henderson

  • The 1934 Lowell Massachusetts City Directory lists Alexander Henderson and his wife Betsey, living at 39 Dover. He was a pastor at Calvary Baptist church.
  • The 1930 US Census lists Alexander Henderson and his wife Betsy, living at 39 Dover. Alexander is 39 years old and was born in Scotland.

Walter E Clement

  • The 1940 US Census lists Walter E. Clement and his wife Hazel, living at 2 Harding Street in Lowell, MA. Walter is 50 years old.
  • Ancestry Trees suggests this is Walter Everett Clement, born 26 June 1889 in Lowell, MA.

I am sure this photo is of Victor, Alexander, and Walter. Because this photo appears to be a reproduction and not one taken at the Ethel Wight Study, I cannot be sure of the date. Also, the picture does not include the order of the three men. Hopefully, family members will help with the order of the men and possibly the date.

Ancestry has 15 public trees that refer to Victor Frank Scalise.
Ancestry has 28 public trees that refer to Walter Everett Clement.
Ancestry has 53 public trees that refer to Alexander Henderson.

Because I haven’t determined which person is which in the photos, I have only uploaded one photo to Dead Fred. I also uploaded three additional photos of the three to my Flickr Photostream (Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3).

Conclusion

  • I identified all seven individuals. Four have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories. I could name the three individuals in one photo but could not determine which man was which, so I uploaded a photo of them to Dead Fred and three more to my Flickr Photostream.

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, 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.

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

Photo Friday – York & Young.

Posted on September 1, 2023 by Don Taylor

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 145
By Don Taylor

This week, for Photo Friday, I identified 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. 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.

Mary Young, Student Nurse at Maine Eye & Ear Infirmary, 1934.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Mary Young – ME. Eye & Ear Infirmary #235.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Photo of Mary Young - ME. Eye & Ear Infirmary- #235
Mary Young – ME. Eye & Ear Infirmary- #235.
  • The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Mary G. Young as a Student Nurse at 79 Bramhall (Maine Eye and Eary Infirmary), residing at 804 Congress.
  • The 1932 Portland High School Yearbook shows Mary Gwendolyn Young. The photo appears to be of the same young woman.
  • The 1930 US Census lists Mary G. Young, the 16-year-old daughter of Harley and Bertha Young. Mary, her parents, and her siblings were all born in Canada.
  • The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Mary G. Young as an Instructor at 79 Bramhall.
  • New Hampshire Marriage Records indicate that Mary Gwendolyn Young was the 23-year-old bride of Alton E. Moody. Mary was a Nurse, R.N., and the daughter of Harley F. and Bertha J. (Davis) Young.

I am confident this 1934 photo is of Mary Gwendolyn Young, who was born on 11 January 1914 in Port Elgin, Westmorland, New Brunswick, Canada, and who married Alton Elwood Moody on 27 March 1937 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Ancestry has eight public trees that refer to Mary Gwendolyn Young. Family Search has profile LT7L-NNX for Mary. I uploaded a photo of “Gwen” to her Family Search Memories. I also uploaded two additional pictures of her to my Flickr PhotoStream (Photo 1, Photo 2).

Mary Gwendolyn Young, Nurse, 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Mary Young Me. Eye & Ear Infirmary #949.”

Photo of Mary Gwendolyn Young, Nurse, 1935.
Mary Gwendolyn Young, Nurse, 1935.

It is always great when someone liked their photos one year and returned to Ethel Wight Studio. In this case, the photo package 949 indicates it was taken about a year later than #235, as reviewed above.

I am confident this 1935 photo is of Mary Gwendolyn Young, who was born on 11 January 1914 in Port Elgin, Westmorland, New Brunswick, Canada, and who married Alton Elwood Moody on 27 March 1937 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Ancestry has eight public trees that refer to Mary Gwendolyn Young. Family Search has profile LT7L-NNX for Mary. I uploaded a photo of Mary to her Family Search Memories. I also uploaded one additional photo of her to my Flickr PhotoStream.

Nita Young, circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Nita Young, 120 Free St. – Y.W.C.A #481.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Photo of Nita Young, circa 1934.
  • The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Nita Young residing at 120 Free.
  • The 1935 Portland City directory lists Nita Young as a bookkeeper at 95 Parris and residing at 57 Deering.
  • The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Nita Young as a bookkeeper at 95 Parris and residing at 306 Brackett.
  • The 1938 Portland City Directory lists Nita J. Young as a clerk at CCP&L, 443 Congress, residing at 306 Brackett.
  • The 1940 Portland City Directory lists Nita J. Young as a clerk at 449 Congress, residing at 306 Brackett. 449 Congress is the address for Cumberland County Power and Light Co.
  • The 1940 US Census lists 27-year-old Jane N Young as a Stenographer at the Electric Power Company. She lived in the “same place” in 1935 and was born in Maine.

I am confident this 1934 photo is of Nita Young, daughter of Henry and Maude Young, born in Mars Hill, Maine, on 20 February 1912, when she was about 21.

Ancestry has 15 public trees that refer to Anita Jane Young. Family Search has profile LKPM-C1P for Anita J. Young, daughter of Henry E. and Maud (Drost) Young. I uploaded this photo of Nita to her Family Search Memories. I also uploaded two additional pictures of her to my Flickr PhotoStream (Photo 1, Photo 2).

Patricia Louise Young, circa 1934 (age 6).

This negative envelope says, “Miss Patricia Young, 1638 Forest Ave #425.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Photo of Patricia Louise Young, circa 1934 (age 6).
Patricia Louise Young, circa 1934 (age 6).
  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Augustus S. and Catherine L. Young living at 1638 Forest Ave.
  • The 1940 US Census enumerated Augustus and Katherine Young owning their home at 1638 Forest Ave. Living with them are 18-year-old Nathan, 12-year-old Patricia, and 73-year-old mother-in-law Katherine Meservey.

I am confident this 1934 photo is of Patricia Louise Young, daughter of Augustus L. and Katherine (Messerey) Young, born 15 January 1928, when she was about six.

Ancestry has two public trees that refer to Patricia Louise Young. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Patricia Louise, so I uploaded her photo to Dead Fred. I also uploaded a second photo of Patricia to my Flickr Photostream.

Vera York, Portland, Maine, circa 1935/1936.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Vera York, State St Hospital #956.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Photo of Vera York, circa 1935/1936.
Vera York, 1935 or 1936.
  • The 1939 and 1940 Portland City Directories list Vera L. York as a nurse living at 304 Spring.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Vera York as a registered nurse in private duty lodging at 304 Spring. She is 25 years old, born in Maine, and lived in the “same place” in 1935.

I am sure this is a photo of Vera York taken about 1935 when she was about 21 years old. Vera was born in Wells, Maine, to Carl and Maud (Hardison) York on 10 August 1914.

Ancestry has seven public trees that refer to Vera York; Family Search has profile GFZ4-1T7 for her. I uploaded this photo of Vera to her Family Search Memories. Based upon the photo package number, #956, it appears to be from a few months after the earlier 1935 photo I wrote about last week. It is from probably late 1935 or possibly early 1936.

Conclusion

I identified all five individuals. Four have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories. One did not have a Family Search profile, so I uploaded her photo to Dead Fred.

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, Dead Fred, and Flickr have a higher quality than those linked to 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.

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Thomas Raidt & the Wisconsin Censuses.

Posted on August 27, 2023 by Don Taylor

Census Sunday
Raidt Research
By Don Taylor

Following families in the early census records is always tricky. Often, a census provides the basis for many new questions. Such is the case concerning Thomas Raidt and the 1855 Wisconsin Census.

I was looking for Frank H. Raidt in the early censuses. He is the son of my son’s 3rd great-grandfather, Thomas Raidt (1817-1891). Frank was born on 25 August 1851 in Watertown, Wisconsin. Parts of Watertown are in Jefferson County, and parts are in Dodge County, so it is possible he and his parents could be found in either county.

The surname “Raidt” has many phonetically similar names, including Radt, Raid, Raith, Rait, Reit, and Raidh. Those variations can make tracing the family complex. I expect that Frank, born about 1851 in Watertown, Wisconsin, would be about four years old, and his father, Thomas, would be the head of the household. I believe Frank had four siblings in 1855: Mary (age about 9), Caroline (8), Joseph (6), and Katie (2). I believe that Frank and Katie were born in Wisconsin; I’m not sure where the three older siblings were born.

1855 Wisconsin Census[i]

The census enumerated the Thomas Raits (or Raith) household with five males, four females, and six total who were foreign-born.

  • ·      Thomas and Magdalene (Mary) were Born in Germany and France.
  • ·      The three other females are probably Mary, Carolina, and Katie.
  • ·      Two of the males are probably Joseph and Frank, leaving two unknown males. The two unidentified males and the two oldest children may also be foreign-born, raising the total of foreign-born to six.

I have tentatively ascribed this household to Thomas Raidt. I hope that further research confirming the birth locations of the older children and possibly other individuals in the household will help solidify this family unit, as I have much more research to do on this family.

1875 Wisconsin Census[ii]

The 1875 Wisconsin Census is much more straightforward. In it, Tom Raidt lives in Watertown, Jefferson County. His household consists of four males and six females.

It appears his household included:

  • Males              Females
  • Thomas           Magdelena
  • Joseph             Mary
  • Frank               Rosa
  • Lennis              Ida
  •                         Anna
  •                         Theresa

Frank married Catherine Justin between 1876 and 1879 and relocated to Minnesota about 1882.

Katie and Caroline would have been in their 20s in 1875 and are likely married. Again, further research should confirm this family unit.

Conclusion

I am reasonably sure I’ve found Thomas (and Frank) in the 1875 Wisconsin Census and believe I may have found them in the 1855 Census also. In either case, I need to step back and document the children of Frank and Catherine and the children of Thomas and Magdelene to ensure I’ve encountered the correct family groups.

Endnotes:

[i] Wisconsin, U.S., State Censuses, 1855-1905, Ancestry.Com, 1855 – Jefferson, Watertown, Ward 1, 2nd from bottom – Thomas Reith [Raidt]. Wisconsin Historical Society; Madison, Wisconsin; Census Year: 1855; Roll: 1.

[ii] Wisconsin, U.S., State Censuses, 1855-1905, Ancestry.Com, 1875 – Jefferson, Watertown, Seventh Ward – 15th from top – Tom Raidt. Wisconsin Historical Society; Madison, Wisconsin; Census Year: 1875; Roll: 2 (Image 36 of 36).

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