I’m looking at four images from the Donna Darling Collection for this week’s Treasure Chest Tuesday.
I have cropped and gently enhanced these photos.
Madonna (Donna) Montran, 1910
First is a beauty shot of Donna and its back. The back, in Donna’s hand, says, “My first pro. photo was on cover of sheet music, Age 17. It also has a stamp that says “To be returned Photograph & Press (Bureau, Inc.) Palace Theatre Bldg, New York City.”
Madonna (Donna) Montran, 1910
The second photo of Donna was a bit damaged but shows Donna in the same dress she wore for the sheet music photo. It is slightly damaged but still shows Donna well enough to keep.
Four of the six photos from “5 Swimsuit women and a man.”
Probably Donna
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
The third photo included five women in swimsuits and a man in a suit. Unfortunately, the paper the photographs were on was severely damaged, and the man and one of the women had their heads cut off and faces unrecognizable. The remaining four photos include what appears to be a side view of Donna and pictures of three other women in various bathing suits.
The last image was out of focus, badly torn, and unusable (and is not displayed here).
Conclusion
The two photos of Donna (Madonna then) are likely from 1910 when she was 17 years old. The photo of Donna in the bathing suit prepared to dive is likely from her 1924 show – The Bathing Beauty Review featuring Donna Darling and Murry Earle.
Future Actions
Attempt to identify the other three women in the photos when I research the other women in the 1924 Donna Darling Review.
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.
Elvie Gertrude Peterson (later Trouvalis).
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Elvia Peterson, 24 Berwick St #584.”
Why I believe this to be the Individual.
Elvie Gertrude Peterson Circa 1935
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Elvie Peterson as a waitress living at 24 Berwick.
Elvia Peterson of Portland, Maine, married George Trouvalis on 10 September 1936.
Ancestry Family trees suggest this is Elvie Gertrude Peterson, born on 13 December 1915 in Portland, Maine, and married George Trouvalis.
I am sure this photograph is of Elvie Gertrude Peterson about 1935 when she was about 20 years old.
Ancestry has 19 public trees that refer to Elvie Gertrude Peterson (later Trouvalis). Family Search has profile LTQ3-ML2 for Elvia “Edna” Gertrude Peterson. I have uploaded two photos of Elvie to her Family Search Memories. I also have five additional images in my collection if family members are interested.
Helen Jane Peterson, circa 1935.
This negative envelope says, “Miss Jane Peterson, 41a Chestnut St #469.”
Jane Peterson, circa 1935
Why I believe this to be the Individual.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Irving W and Helen B Peterson living at 41a Chestnut, Apt 4.
The 1930 US Census lists Irvine W Peterson, his wife Helen, and 13-year-old Connecticut-born, daughter H. Jane Peterson.
Ancestry Family Trees suggest this is Helen Jane Peterson, born on 5 April 1917 in Hartford, Connecticut.
I am sure this is Helen Jane Peterson, born on 5 April 1917 in Hartford, Connecticut.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. E. C. Peterson, 87 Montrose Ave #691.”
Why I believe this to be the Individual.
June Peterson, circa 1935
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Elias C and M Abbie Peterson living at 87 Montrose Ave. Elias is a foreman at 40 W Commercial.
Maine Marriage Records indicates that Elias Christan and Mary Abbie Ericksen married on 21 August 1922 in Portland, Maine.
The 1940 US Census lists Elias and Mary Peterson living at 96 Chenery in Portland. They have a daughter, June, who is seven years old.
Ancestry family trees suggest this is June A Peterson, born on 5 June 1932.
I am sure this is June Peterson, about 1935 when she was three years old.
Ancestry has two public trees that refer to June A Peterson (1932-2018). Family Search does not appear to have a profile for June, so I uploaded a photo of her to Dead Fred.
Louise Peterson, circa 1934, Portland, Maine
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Louise Peterson, 18 Smith St #122.”
What I learned while researching this Individual.
Search for Louise Peterson in the Portland City Directories yielded no one.
A review of the Portland City Directories for 1934, 1935, and 1936 suggest there was no one living at 18 Smith Street in Portland. However, the Portland Press Herald indicates several people lived at 18 Smith Street during the 1930s. One was John and Mary (Carroll) Collins. They had a daughter, Margaret Collins, born in Maine in 1905. The 1940 Census shows Margaret living with her mother, Mary Collins, and indicates both she and her mother were widows. In the 1930 US Census, Mary and Margaret Collins lived at 71 Newbury Street in Portland.
A review of the Ancestry family trees for Mary Carroll Collins failed to identify any Petersons or Petersens who were related.
Christen and Laura C Petersen lived at 7 Smith. There was also a Helen J. C. Petersen who lived at 7 Smith Street.
The 1930 US Census lists Christen and Lans (Laura) Peterson living at 136 Cumberland. Living with them was their 22-year-old, Maine-born daughter Laure A J Peterson.
Based entirely on the envelope information, I believe this is a photo of a Louise Peterson; however, I cannot identify her further.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Harold Westrom, 36 Olympia St. Portland, #366.”
Why I believe this to be the Individual.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Harold O Utterstrom as having a sheet metal business at 36 Olympia. He lives with his wife, Grace E.
The 1940 US Census lists Harold and Grace, still on Olympia, living with their daughter Etta L (age 11) and son Harold Jr. (age 8)
This photo was taken about 1934 when Etta was about six years old.
I believe this photo is of Lucy Etta Utterstrom in 1934. I also think the original envelope was misread, and when a new envelope was created for the negative, the writer changed Utterstrom to Westrom—Utter to We.
I have not found Etta Uterstrom in Ancestry trees. However, I have found her father, Harold O Utterstrom, appears in six public Ancestry trees. Family Search has profile GH5T-4L4 for Etta. I have uploaded this photo of Etta to her Family Search Memories.
Conclusion
I fully identified all five individuals. Three of them have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories.
I identified two individuals that did not have Family Search profiles, so I posted their images to Dead Fred.
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.
Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Family Search, Dead Fred, and Flickr have a higher image quality than the images 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.
Transcription Tuesday Roberts-Barnes, Lister, Strain line Transcription[i] by Don Taylor
Ancesstor #90 – Samuel Strain (1762-1845)
This week, for “Transcription Tuesday,” I am transcribing the 1840 will of Samuel Strain. He is my 4th great-grandfather in my Roberts-Barnes-Lister-Strain family line. In his will, he mentions my 3rd great-grandmother, Nancy Strain [Lister] (1807-1844).
In the name of God amen. I Samuel Strain of Highland County and state of Ohio – being in good bodily health and sound mind duly considering that it is appointed to all men once to die and being mindfull of that great change when it shall please God to call me hence to make this my last will and testament.
Page 1 of Samuel Strain’s 1840 Will
First I commend my soul to god who gave it and my body to the ground to be buried at the discretion of my Executors John R Strain, James Johnson and Andrew M Strain of Highland County whome I appoint my lawful executors to settle and dispose of my estate according to the provisions hereafter made ??.
Second having given the following named of my children towit Thomas M. D. Strain Betsey Rogers Samuel D Strain John H Strain, Polly Clark Margarett Stuart Andrew M Strain Nancy litter Hugh W Strain Rebecca Ann Watt Easter Thornton James G Strain dec’s and William ? Strain all that portion of my Estate which I design as their devised or legacy I therefore will that no further dividing of my property be made amongst them by y Executors –
To my three daughters Malinda Sarah and Martha I will one cow and calf each in addition to what they have already received-
I further will and devise that my son Robert H Strain who is now deranged be and remain in the care of the family supported from my estate so long so long as my Executors shall ensure it advisable and safe from there to remain and if upon the event of his being removed he is still to be sustained from my estate subject to the discretion of my Executors-
Page 268 – Samuel Strain’s Will
I further will and devise that my wife Nancy remain in possession of the mansion house & premises household kitchen furniture beds & bedding horses cattle wagon gears farming utensils and whatever else of my estate my Executors may judge necessary for the support of the family or farming purposes.
Page 2 of Samuel Strain’s 1840 Will.
I further will concerning my library that Scotts commentary be assigned to my wife & four youngest sons and that the remainder of my books be equally distributed between my wife and unmarried children.
It is also my will that my unmarried children remain in the family and that they receive a proportionable benefit from the proceeds of my estate so long as they remain in the family.
And if upon the event of my wife getting married it is my will that she shall have no controle and any part of my estate other than her dowery – and if upon the event of their marriage or dying it is my will that my property personal or then remarrying be for the benefit of my four youngest sons and be under the care of my Executors until they become respectively of age.
It is also my will that all my real estate be eventually divided equally amongst my four sons via Lewis James David & Benjamin and that they never be under the controle of a stepfather.
In testimony whereof my hand hereunto set my hand and seal this fifth day of December 1840.
In Presence of Witnesses John R Strain } Milton P Templin(?) } Samuel Strain (Seal) Wm J Strain }
Page 269 – Samuel Strain’s Will
State of Ohio Highland county
Page 2 of Samuel Strain’s 1840 Will.
Personally came in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas of said county now setting Milton C Templin and John R Strain who being duly sworn dispose and say that on the 5th day of December 1840 they were called upon to witness the last will & testament of Samuel Strain late of said county now deceased being of same instrument now exhibited before court that they heard the said Samuel Strain acknowledge the said writing to be his last will and and testament and at his request and in his presence & in presence of each other they subscribed their names as witnesses thereto that at the time of said acknowledgment and attestation the said Samuel Strain was ove the age of 21 years of sound mond and memory and under no restraint as they verily believe.
Sworn to and Ascribed } before me this 17th day } of July AD 1845. } John R Strain Samuel Bell Clerk } Milton P Templin
Facts I learned
Samuel Strain lived in Highland County, Ohio, in December 1840.
The executors of Samuel’s Will were:
John R Strain of Highland County, Ohio
James Johnson of Highland County, Ohio
Andrew M Strain of Highland County, Ohio
At the time of his death, his wife’s name was Nancy.
It appears that Samuel may have had 21 Children. They are listed or mentioned in his will as:
John H Strain (Mother Hannah Watts?) Possibly Executor?
Polly (Strain) Clark (Mother Hannah Watts?)
Margaret (Strain) Stuart (Mother Hannah Watts?)
Andrew M Strain (Mother Margaret Miller?) Possibly Executor?
Nancy (Strain) Litter (Lister)(Mother Margaret Miller?)
Hugh W Strain (Mother Margaret Miller?)
Rebecca Ann (Strain) Watt (Mother Martha Wilson?)
Ester (Strain) Thornton (Mother Martha Wilson?)
James G Strain – Deceased before December 1840 (Mother Margaret Miller?)
William Strain (Mother Martha Wilson?)
Malinda Strain (Mother Martha Wilson?)
Sarah Strain (Mother Martha Wilson?)
Martha Strain (Mother Martha Wilson?)
Robert H Strain – Deranged and in the care of. (Mother Martha Wilson?)
Lewis Strain (Mother Nancy Johnson?)
James Strain (Mother Margaret Miller?)
David Strain (Mother Nancy Johnson?)
Benjamin Strain (Mother Nancy Johnson?)
Comments:
Nancy Lister’s name as it appears in Samuel Strain’s 1840 Will.
Nancy Strain married William Lister in June 1822, but Samuel Strain’s will suggests her surname is Letter or Lister. I suspect it is a clerk’s error, but Nancy’s parentage needs to be confirmed with other sources. Nancy died in 1844, before her father died but after the will was written.
Conflicts:
James is mentioned as one of the four youngest sons, but other researchers suggest he was born in 1788 with Margaret Miller being his mother.
Benjamin is mentioned as one of his four youngest sons, but other researchers suggest he was born in 1785 with Hannah Watts being his mother.
Not mentioned – Cyrus Byington Strain (Possibly 1830-1851)
Not mentioned – Hannah Martha Strain (Possibly 1783-1861)
Further Research:
James Johnson is one of the executors. Samuel’s last wife was Nancy Johnson. Is is possible that James Johnson is a sibling, father, or otherwise related to Nancy. Further research should be conducted to determine if there is a relationship.
==============================================
Endnotes
[i] The Cambridge Dictionary defines “transcribe” as to “make a complete written record of spoken or written words.” My transcriptions are seldom perfect but I do my best to convert handwritten documents into typed words for my genealogical purposes. If you see anything that I have incorrect, please let me know your thoughts via the Contact Form at the bottom of the page.
[ii] The (tentative) mother of each child is based on other trees and not on my research.
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.
Marlowe Stevenson Perkins, circa 1935.
This negative envelope says, “Mr. Marlowe Perkins – Mrs. Dr Gilman – Ocean Ave #520 – DSCN4582P.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Marlowe Perkins
A search for Marlow Perkins in Portland, Maine, resulted in finding a 1937 Deering High School (Portland, ME) yearbook with a photo showing the same young man about two years older than this 1935 photo.
The 1930 US Census found nine-year-old Marlow S Perkins living in Wells, Maine, with his parents, Grover S and Easelyn Perkins.
I am confident that this photo is of Marlow Stevenson Perkins about 1935 when he was about 15 years old.
Ancestry has 16 public trees that refer to Marlowe Stevenson “Perk” Perkins. Family Search has profile GV4R-QGG for Marlow Stevenson Perkins. I have uploaded two photos of Marlow to his Family Search Memories.
(Probably) Louise Millicent Perry, Nurse, circa 1934.
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Louise Perry, Childrens Hospital #540.”
What I discovered about this individual.
Nurse Louise Perry?
1934, 1935, and 1936 Portland city directories list no nurses with the surname of Perry, Parrody, or anything similar.
However, the 1931 Burlington, Vermont, city directory lists a Louise M Perry as nurse at Mary Fletcher Hospital.
And the 1940 Census lists Louise M Perry as a 28-year-old, Vermont-born, registered nurse at the Nurses Home of Hartford in Hartford, Connecticut. It indicates that she was in Brooklyn, New York, in 1935.
I believe this is probably Louise Millicent Perry, born on 10 Jan 1912. In 1930 and 1931, the 18-year-old worked at the Mary Fletcher Hospital in Burlington, Vermont. About 1934, she was in Portland, Maine, where this photo was taken. In 1935 she was in Brooklyn; before 1940 she had removed to Hartford, Connecticut.
Ancestry has 16 public trees that refer to Louise Millicent Perry. Because I am not 100% confident this photo is of Louise Millicent Perry (later Ball), I have only posted this photo to Dead Fred.
This is definitely not Louise M Perry (b. 1/10/1912) per the daughter of Louise M Perry (b. 1/10/1912).
Rosalind Pert, Nurse, circa 1934.
This negative envelope says, “Miss Rosalind Pert – Me Gen Hospital #265.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Nurse Rosalind Pert
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Rosalind Pert as a student nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital).
Further research suggested that this Rosalind Mable Pert was born on 24 March 1916 in Sedgwick, Maine. She attended Sedgwick High School in the class of 1933. Hopefully, someone has a 1933 Sedgwick High School Yearbook to confirm.
Ancestry has 17 public trees that refer to Rosalind Mable Pert (later Mumford). Family Search has profile LVVC-PHJ for Rosalind Mable Pert (1916-2005). I uploaded a photo of Rosalind to her Family Search Memories.
John Jerome “Jerry” Peters, circa 1934.
This negative envelope says, “Mr. Jerry Peters, 30 Whitney St. #410 – DSCN4603P.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Jerry Peters
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Annabel M, Jerome J, Katherine M (widow of George), and Philip Peters all living at 30 Whitney.
The 1920 US Census lists eight-year-old Jerome Peters, the son of George J and Catherine Peters living at 13 Canton. Other children in the household include Annabelle and Phillip.
I am confident this is a photo of John Jerome “Jerry” Peters, born 9 July 1911 in Portland, Maine, when he was about 23 years old.
Ancestry has 16 public trees that refer to John Jerome Peters, the son of George J and Catherine (Birmingham) Peters. Family Search has profile L5FF-6B6 for John Jerome Peters. I have uploaded one photo of Jerry to his Family Search Memories. Sadly, the original negative is damaged somewhat.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Charles L and Clara V Peters living at 90 Ocean ave.
The 1940 US Census lists Charles and Clara living at 14 Sawyer. They have three children, Paul (age 6), Annette (age 3), and Virginia (age 1).
Paul Joseph Peters was born to Charles L and Clara Virginia (Tanguay) Peters on 16 November 1933 in Portland, Maine.
I am confident that this photo is of Paul in 1934 when he was about a year old. Sadly, the original negative is slightly out of focus.
Ancestry has seven public trees that refer to Paul Joseph Peters (1933-2016). Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Paul. I uploaded a photo of Paul photo to Dead Fred.
Conclusion
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.
Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Family Search and Dead Fred have a higher image quality than the images 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.
Bert and Essie were in Terre-Haute during the 1940 Census. In 1949, Bert died in a fiery truck accident while driving a truck near Elwood, Indiana. He lived and worked in Detroit, Michigan, at the time. Looking at his time in Detroit between 1940 and 1949, I learned.
Previous posts regarding Bert Allen Roberts (1903-1949)
To ensure I have the right Bert Roberts in any record, I find it helpful to review all of the people with the same name in the same location at the same time.
Searches for Bert Roberts in Detroit from 1940 to 1950 resulted in the following:
Family Search
1940 Census – A 35-year-old Bert Roberts lived in Green Oak Township, Livingston County, Michigan, about 15 miles west of Detroit. He was a doctor of dentistry and lived with his wife, Venus. They lived in Detroit in 1935.
1940 Census – There was a Bert Roberts, the six-month-old son of Gerald & Julia Roberts of 3810 Cabot in Detroit. He also appears in the 1950 Census as the 10-year-old son of Gerald & Julia Roberts of 4152 Lawndale in Detroit.
Ancestry
1940 & 1950 Census records – Same as Family Search.
Michigan Marriage Records – On 13 November 1946, 52-year-old Bert Roberts married Irene Armstrong in Detroit. Bert was from Detroit, and Irene was from Port Huron.
U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-Current, includes Bert’s Obituary. No new data but another source, the Elwood Call-Leader, 2 May 1949, under a front page banner headline: TWO MEN BURN IN TRUCK WRECK FIRE.
U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1948 includes cards for both my Bert Roberts’.
Bert A Roberts was born on 7 July 1924 in Terre Haute, Indiana. His next of kin is Mrs. Essie Roberts at 5756 Winslow, Detroit. This is the Draft Card for Bert Junior.
Bert Allen Roberts: Born 7 September 1903 in Sesser, Illinois. Essie is his next of kin, also.
Harold Bert Roberts of 5980 Maryland. He was born on 18 May 1915 in Hartford, Conn.
Bert Holmes Roberts of South Lyon was born in Detroit on 23 March 1906.
U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016 includes a Bert Roberts in the 1958 Chadsey High School Yearbook. He would have been born about 1942. My Bert Junior would have been about 34.
Bert Roberts’ in Detroit, Michigan 1940-1942.
Besides my Bert Allen Roberts (Sr.) and his son, Bert Allen Roberts, Jr., I know of six other Bert Roberts recorded in Detroit between 1940 and 1950. They are:
1. Bert Roberts. Born c. 1894 and married Irene Armstrong.
2. Bert Roberts, born c. 1905, Lived in Detroit in 1935 and Green Oak Township in 1940. Wife Venus.
3. Bert Holmes Roberts was born on 23 May 1906 in Detroit.
4. Harold Bert Roberts was born on 18 May 1915 in Connecticut.
5. Bert Roberts was born in September 1939 and was the son of Gerald & Julia Roberts.
6. Bert Roberts was born c. 1942.
Newspapers
Genealogy Bank yielded several articles.
A 5 March 1943 article in the Detroit Evening Times indicated Bert Junior was inducted into the service.
A 27 April 1945 article in the Detroit News indicated Bert Junior was wounded a second time. He was first wounded on 29 November by a land mine and wounded a second time on 6 April in Germany.
On 29 and 30 June 1945, Bert (Sr.) was mentioned in the obituary for his mother, Clara Adams.
On 1 May 1950, Bert was mentioned in Memoriam as having died one year before.
Newspapers.Com yielded a photo of Bert Jr. under a page 22 headline, “Fighting Spirit Boils Up in 18-Year-Olds as They Register for the Draft,” on 12 December 1942.
