Fisher’s Appleton, Appleton, WI & The Lyric, East Saint Louis, IL
Treasure Chest Thursday
By Don Taylor
For this week’s Treasure Chest Tuesday, I’m looking at three clippings from the Donna Darling Collection.
Fisher’s Appleton
This first clipping has no date and no location. However, the key to determining location is that the program was printed by “Petersen-Bauer Printing Co. (Phone 1592).” A quick Google search of the internet found that the Petersen-Bauer Printing Company was in Appleton, Wisconsin. From previous research, I knew that Donna played in Appleton at Fisher’s Appleton from December 1st to December 3rd, 1924. So, I’m quite certain that this clipping is from that show.
The Lyric
Next are two clippings on the same page in the scrapbook. They both relate to The Lyric Theatre.
Neither clipping indicates what city or what date.
The venue is the Lyric Theatre. It is advertised as “The Cool Lyric.”
The show is the “Donna Darling and Girls” – Presenting her Little Revue.
Also, on the bill:
Montie – Moments of Syncopation
Taylor and Owens – Comedy Singing and Talking
Dippy Diers and Bennett – The Inimitable Pantomimist
Paul Godt at the Mighty Organ
Parsons’ Syncopators – The Best Orchestra in Southern Illinois
The movie is Shore Leave starring Richard Barthelmess
Next is an article clipping
BARTHELMESS HERE IN COMEDY AT LYRIC
On the Stage.
The feature attraction on the bill at the Lyric which, opened yesterday is Dona Darling and Her Girls, who present a fast-colorful revue. Miss Darling’s “Don t Care Whose Papa” is put over very good. The “Evolution of the Bathing’ Suit”, showing the kind that were worn in I860 and 1900 is very cleverly done. They also show the Dutch, French and Gypsy bathing girls, which leads up to the ultra-flapper bathing girl of 1925. The girls in the act are exceptionally good dances, and Miss Darling has a very pleasing voice. Their Hawaiian bathing girl and their harmony singing of “The Ukulele Lady” went over big yesterday. They close with an original Hawaiian Charleston dance. All in all, this is one of the best revues seen here this season….
Analysis
The advertisement clipping mentions “Paul Godt at the Mighty Organ” and mentions “Parsons’ Syncopators.” Both of which relate to the Lyric Theatre in East Saint Louis. Shore Leave, starring Richard Barthelmess was released in September 1925.[i] Donna is known to have played in Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois and Nebraska during September 1925. As such, it is easy to suspect she played in East St. Louis at that time. It doesn’t appear that there are any East Saint Louis newspapers available online. It doesn’t appear that there are any East Saint Louis papers currently available online.
Conclusion
So, for the first clipping I’ll add a date to the clipping and incorporate the clipping when I write about Donna’s playing in Appleton, Wisconsin.
For the second (and third) clippings, I’ll add the following entry to her itinerary as:
TBD – Probably Sept or Oct 1925 – East Saint Louis, Illinois – Lyric Theatre – Donna Darling and Girls presenting Her Little Revue. DDC-72.
Actions
Continue to monitor for the availability of newspapers from East Saint Louis in September 1925.
Sources
[i] IMDB Shore Leave (1925) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0016346/accessed 12 Aug 2020.
Donna Darling & Her Boys at the Globe Theatre, Kansas City, MO on June 21, 1924.
I recently discovered articles that ran in the Kansas City Times from June 16th through June 21st. Donna “topped” the program at the Globe theater in Kansas City
The Kansas City Times, Kansas City, Missouri, June 21, 1923 – Page 5 – Via newspapers.Com.
On stage with Donna and Her Boys (Murray Earle & Tod Watson) were:
Keith and Parker
Mons Herbert
Robb and Whitman in “Sweethearts,”
Great Abdiz
Plus the Jane Novak, photoplay “The Snowshoe Trail”
“Donna in the News” is my reporting of newly found newspapers articles and advertising regarding my grandmother, Madonna Montran (aka Donna Montran and aka 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 I received a notification from Newspapers.com that I had 36 new hits on my alerts – 15 from “Montran,” 15 from “Walter Wills” (which suggests “Chin Chin”), and 6 from “Dona/Donna Darling” from seven different newspapers dated between 3 May 1920 and 5 March 1928.
The articles related to six shows during her career. Four of the shows I had previously in my list of Donna’s performances. They were:
Lyceum Theatre, Paterson, PA – May 7 -8 1920 – “Chin Chin.”
Colonial Theatre, Lancaster, PA – April 17, 18, & 19, 1922 – “Special Easter Show.”
Grand Theatre, Saint Louis, MO – July 7-9, 1923 – Donna Darling show.
Majestic Concerts – Brooklyn, NY – Mar 5, 1928 – Donna Darling and Somory [sic] Clark in “The Princess and the King.”
Can anyone translate?
Adding more clippings to what I already had is always good. However, what is particularly cool about the Grand Theatre clipping is that the newspaper that speaks of Donna is written in German. I don’t know what it says. I tried OCRing the words and transcribing the text to no avail. All I really know is that the article mentions “Donna Darling” and was published during the week Donna was in Saint Louis, Mo. Hopefully, someone who reads German and German font will help me out.
The other two venues were new to me.
Fulton Opera House, Lancaster, PA May 29, 1920 – Chin Chin
Keeney’s Theatre – Brooklyn, NY – Aug 1921, Donna Montran.
So, I’ve been able to add two new shows that Donna was a part of. I will add All of these clippings to future venue writeups.
52 Ancestors – Week 2018-48 [i] Brown – Manning – Fugate line by Don Taylor
Finding that we have Fugate ancestors in Kentucky give rise to the question if our Fugates are related to the famous blue-blooded Fugate family of Troublesome Creek, Kentucky. I took some time looking at the family tree of the “Blue Bloods,” people with a recessive genetic trait called methemoglobinemia.” I did not find any common ancestors with our Fugates; possibly there is a relationship but, if so, it is distant.
Rachel Fugate was born on 4 June 1803 in Kentucky, 9 days after Ralph Waldo Emerson. Kentucky had been admitted to the Union just nine years earlier. Her parents were Reuben and Mary Fugate. Reuben Fugate was born in Wythe County Virginia, the birth location for Rachel’s mother, Mary, is unknown.
Childhood
Nothing is known specifically of Rachel’s childhood, but historically, Kentucky was undergoing great expansion. She undoubtedly felt the New Madrid earthquakes in 1811 & 1812 and probably knew people who fought in the War of 1812, although her siblings were too young to have served in that war.
Marriage
She and Meredith Mannin were married in Bath County, Kentucky on 14 Feb 1825 (possibly 17 Feb) in a ceremony performed by Johnathan Smith. She was 21 years old and Meredith was 22.
Rachel and Meredith had 12 known children.
Child
Birth Year
Spouse
Death
Enoch
1823*
Minerva Ann Tolliver
1907
Isaac B
1825
Elizabeth Fortune
1905
Thomas Hillry
1827
Rachel R Richardson
1924
Tubil
1829
Elizabeth Jane Brown
1862**
Reuben Calloway
1831
Sarah A Shuts
1859
Katharine Susan
1833
Harvey Tapp
1864**
John
1835
Martha McGlothin
1870
Mahala
1837
William Myers
Bef. 1917
Elizabeth Marthy
1838
(None)
1841
Sarah Jane
1838 or 39
James Richardson
1913
Zachariah
1841
Unknown if he married.
1864**
Tarlton
1844
Mary Jane (Unknown)
1916
* Enoch was born two years before Meredith and Rachel were married. ** Three of the children died during the time of the Civil War.[ii]
Rachel lived until May 1870, so it appears five of her children proceeded her in death.
Adult
About 1828 the Manning family moved west to Missouri. Tubil, Reuben, and Katherine were born there.
1830 Census
The 1830 Census indicates the family lived in St Ferdinand, St Louis, Missouri. The household consists of:
3 Males under 5, One presumed to be Isaac, Age 5 One presumed to be Thomas Hillry, Age 3 One presumed to be Tubill, Age 1 1 male 5 to 10 Presumed to be Enoch, Age 7 1 male 20 to 30. Meredith Mannin, Age 28. 1 Female 20 to 30 Presumed to Be Rachel Fugate, Age 26.
About 1834 the family moved again, this time to Indiana. That is where John, Mahala, Sarah Jane, and Elizabeth were born.
1840 Census
1840 Census indicates the family is in Boone County, Indiana. The household consisted of:
2 Males 5 to under 10 – Presumed to be John (age 5) and Reuben Calloway, (Age 9) 1 Male 10 to under 15 – Presumed to be Thomas Hillry OR Tubill (Age 13 or 10)[iii] 2 Males 15 to under 20 – Presumed to be Enoch (Age 17) and Isaac B. (Age 15) 1 Male 30 to under 40 – Presumed to be Meredith Mannin (Age 38) 3 Females under 5 – Presumed to be Mahala (Age 2), Elizabeth (Age 1), and Sarah Jane (a newborn) 1 Female 5 to under 10 – Presumed to be Katharine Susan (Age 7) 1 Female 30 to under 40 – Presumed to be Rachel Fugate Mannin (Age 36)
Sometime in 1840 or 1841, the family moved from Indiana to Kentucky, where Zachariah and Tarlton were born.
1850 Census
The 1850 Census indicates the family is in Carter County, Kentucky
Meradith Mannen – 48 – Farmer 250 VA Rachel “ 47 KY Tubal “ 20 Laborer Mo Reuben “ 17 Laborer “ Cathrine S “ 15 “ John “ 13 Ind Mahala “ 12 “ Sarah “ 10 “ Zachariah “ 8 Ky Tarlton “ 6 “
The four oldest children, all boys, appear to have moved out of the house before 1850.
1860 Census
The 1860 Census indicates the family is in Bath County, Kentucky. Only four of their children are still at home with them: Meredith Manning – 58 Farmer – Born Virginia Rachel “ 57 Kentucky Zachah “ 18 Farm Hand – KY Mahala 21 KY (Apparent Error) Sarah 19 KY (Apparent Error) Tarlton 16 KY
Death & Burial
Rachel died on 7 May 1870.
I have been unsuccessful finding burial information concerning Rachel.
Further Actions / Follow-up
Zachariah died of smallpox during the civil war, and his father received his pension. Research the deaths of the other two children who died during the Civil War and determine if any of them served.
Determine if Rachel can be “found” in her parents’ records before her marriage to Meredith.
Sources
Mannin Family Bible, Copy, Mannin Family Bible – Family Records – Births. Bible Records found in Civil War record file of Zachariah Mannin, son of Meridith and Rachel Fugate Mannin. Zachariah died of smallpox Jan. 7, 1864 at Knoxville, Tennessee. Meridith Mannin applied for Zachariah’s pension and received it. I have found this resource in many locations including http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.mannin/159.1.1/mb.ashx.
1830 Census (A) (NARA), Com, 1830 Census – Meredith Manning – St Ferdinand. St Louis County, Missouri.
1860 Census, Family Search, 1860 – Meredith Manning – Bath, Maine – Page 131.
Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954, Family Search; Meredith Mannon and Rachel Fugate, 14 Feb 1825 – Bond. Bath, Kentucky, United States, Madison County Courthouse, Richmond; FHL microfilm 273,003. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5ZH-L12.
Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954, Family Search; Meredith Mannon and Rachel Fugate, 14 Feb 1825 – Confirmation. Bath, Kentucky, United States, Madison County Courthouse, Richmond; FHL microfilm 273,007. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5ZZ-J2T.
Minnesota Deaths and Burials, 1835-1990, Family Search, Enock Mannin. “Minnesota Deaths and Burials, 18351990,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1 BLS : 10 March 2018), Enock Mannin, 07 Apr 1907; citing May, Cass, Minnesota, reference ; FHL microfilm 2,117,564. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FDM5-BLS.
Endnotes:
[i] In 2014, Amy Johnson Crow suggested a theme for bloggers to use of “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.” I have continued this theme into 2018.
[ii] Enoch served in the Civil War and all of his brothers were of the age to have served.
[iii] NOTE: The family should include both Thomas and Tubill, however, it appears that only one of the two boys was enumerated.
Family Search entry for Rachel Fugate (Login Required)
Meredith didn’t follow the typical “go west young man” life of so many of my ancestors. Meredith was born in Virginia about 1802. He went west as a young man to Bath County, Kentucky, where he married. He then moved west to Missouri. After several years in Missouri, he moved back east to Boone County, Indiana. He returned east again and settled in Carter County, Kentucky. Finally, he appears to have died in Bath County after returning to the place of his youth.
The Mannin family bible clearly indicates that Meredith Mannin was born on 12 June 1802. Sadly, that family bible isn’t a contemporary source record. The bible record is from the Civil War record file of Meredith’s son Zachariah. The record appears to be written by one person at one time. It was clearly written after 1838 and probably not until the 1860s. The 1850 and 1860 Census records indicate he was 48 and 58 years old respectively, suggesting the birth year of 1801. The 1870 and 1880 census records re-establish his birth year as being 1802, consistent with the Bible record.
It is unclear who his parents were. Some sources suggest that his mother, Catherine Barnett, married both John Bosel Mannin and his brother Meredith Mannin. I’ve accepted his father being John Bosel Mannin and know that I need to do much more research in this area.
In any event, I believe his siblings to be:
Charles
b. 1796 in Virginia
Martha
b. 1798 in Virginia
John
b. 1799 in Virginia
Tubal
b. 1800 in Virginia
Meredith
b. 1802 in Virginia
Samuel
b. ca. 1804 in Kentucky
Tarleton
b. 1811 in Kentucky
John Bosel
b. 1915 in Kentucky
Mary
b. 1826 in Kentucky
Childhood
Nothing is known of Meredith’s childhood. Sometime in 1803 or 1804 the family relocated to Kentucky.
Marriage
Meredith and Rachel Fugate’s father signed a marriage bond on 14 February 1825. It is unclear if they married on that date or three days later, on February 17th. See: Marriage of Meredith Mannin & Rachel Fugate. Enoch was born on 3 January 1823, two years before Meredith and Rachel were married. While Rachel was 4-months pregnant with Isaac she and Meredith married.
Meredith and Rachel had 12 children. Their first three children, Enoch, Isaac, and Thomas were born in Kentucky. About 1828, the family moved to Missouri and had three children while in Missouri – Tubill, Reuben, & Katharine. About 1835, the Mannin’s moved 250 miles back towards the east to Boone County, Indiana. There they had four more children, John, Mahala, Sarah, & Elizabeth. Finally, about 1841, the family moved back to Kentucky where their two youngest children, Zachariah & Tarlton, were born.
Adulthood
1830 Census indicates the family is in St Ferdinand, St Louis, Missouri:
3 Males under 5, One presumed to be Isaac, Age 5 One presumed to be Thomas Hillry, Age 3 One presumed to be Tubill, Age 1 1 male 5 to 10 Presumed to be Enoch, Age 7 1 male 20 to 30. Meredith Mannin, Age 28. 1 Female 20 to 30 Presumed to Be Rachel Fugate, Age 26.
Map showing Meredith’s land.
In 1837, Meridith Mannin owned 40 acres of land about four miles north of Lebanon, Boone County, Indiana, in Washington Township, the SE ¼ of the NE ¼ of Section 12.
1840 Census indicates the family is in Boone County, Indiana:
2 Males 5 to under 10 – Presumed to be John (age 5) and Reuben Calloway, (Age 9) 1 Male 10 to under 15 – Presumed to be Thomas Hillry OR Tubill (Age 13 or 10)[1] 2 Males 15 to under 20 – Presumed to be Enoch (Age 17) and Isaac B. (Age 15) 1 Male 30 to under 40 – Presumed to be Meredith Mannin (Age 38) 3 Females under 5 – Presumed to be Mahala (Age 2), Elizabeth (Age 1), and Sarah Jane (a newborn) 1 Female 5 to under 10 – Presumed to be Katharine Susan (Age 7) 1 Female 30 to under 40 – Presumed to be Rachel Fugate Mannin (Age 36)
The 1850 Census indicates the family is in Carter County, Kentucky
Meradith Mannen – 48 – Farmer 250 VA Rachel “ 47 KY Tubal “ 20 Laborer Mo Reuben “ 17 Laborer “ Cathrine S “ 15 “ John “ 13 Ind Mahala “ 12 “ Sarah “ 10 “ Zachariah “ 8 Ky Tarlton “ 6 “
The 1860 Census indicates the family is in Bath County, Kentucky. Only four of their children are still with them:
Meredith Manning – 58 Farmer – Born Virginia Rachel “ 57 Kentucky Zachah “ 18 Farm Hand – KY Mahala 21 KY (Apparent Error) Sarah 19 KY (Apparent Error) Tarlton 16 KY
Rachel died on 7 May 1870.
The 1870 Census finds Meredith in Carter County again. Living with him are his daughter Sarah Jane, her husband and their three children. Also, with them are two of Meredith’s grandchildren. One more person, Rodeth Richard, probably Sarah Jane’s sister-in-law, is also living with them.
Merideth Mannin M 67 Virginia Farmer Jane Richardson F 26 Kentucky Keeping House James Richardson M 26 Kentucky Farmer Rachel Richardson F 7 Kentucky James Richardson M 4 Kentucky William Richardson M 2 Kentucky Rodeth Richardson F 17 Kentucky Ruben Tapp M 15 Kentucky Farm Laborer Evaline Tapp F 13 Kentucky
The 1880 Census now finds Meredith living in the household of his daughter Sarah Jane, her husband and their six children now in Tanyard, Bath County, Kentucky:
James Richardson Self M 43 Kentucky, Farmer Sarah Richardson Wife F 41 Indiana, Keeping House Rachal Richardson Dau. F 17 Kentucky James Richardson Son M 15 Kentucky, Laborer William Richardson Son M 13 Kentucky, Laborer Meridith RichardsonSon M 8 Kentucky Charley RichardsonSon M 6 Kentucky Melvin Richardson Son M 2 Kentucky Merideth Mannon F-I-L M 77 Kentucky (Widowed)
Death & Burial
I have been unsuccessful finding any death or burial record for Meredith. Several researchers suggest he died after 15 Jul 1885, several others suggest 15 July 1885.
Further Actions / Follow-up
Find out the sources for the suggested death date for Meredith.
1850 Census, Com, 1850 Census – Meradith Mannen [Mannin] – District 1, Carter, Kentucky. Online publication – Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data – Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls).
1860 Census, Family Search, 1860 – Meredith Manning – Bath, Maine – Page 131.
1870 Census (FS) (NARA), Family Search, 1870 Census – Merideth Mannin – Precinct 3, Carter, Kentucky. “United States Census, 1870,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX7P-1PB : 12 April 2016), Merideth Mannin, Kentucky, United States; citing p. 1, family 4, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,953.
1880 Census, Family Search, 1880 – James Richardson – Tanyard, Bath, Kentucky. “United States Census, 1880,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCCM-LQ1 : 12 August 2017), Merideth Mannon in household of James Richardson, Tanyard, Bath, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district ED 7, sheet 362D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0402; FHL microfilm 1,254,402.
Find a Grave, Find a Grave, Thomas Hillry Manning – Memorial 41718613 [No Image]. Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 15 September 2018), memorial page for Thomas Hillry Manning (8 Mar 1827–4 Oct 1924), Find A Grave Memorial no. 41718613, citing Manning Chapel Cemetery, Carter, Carter County, Kentucky, USA ; Maintained by Norm Nelson (contributor 47026217).
Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954, Family Search, Meredith Mannon and Rachel Fugate, 14 Feb 1825 – Bond. Bath, Kentucky, United States, Madison County Courthouse, Richmond; FHL microfilm 273,003. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5ZH-L12.
Mannin Family Bible, Copy, Mannin Family Bible – Family Records – Births. Bible Records found in Civil War record file of Zachariah Mannin, son of Meridith and Rachel Fugate Mannin. Zachariah died of smallpox Jan. 7, 1864 at Knoxville, Tennessee. Meridith Mannin applied for Zachariah’s pension and received it. From http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.mannin/159.1.1/mb.ashx.
Endnotes:
[1] NOTE: The family should include both Thomas and Tubill, however, it appears that only one of the two is enumerated.
The venue is the Lyric Theatre. It is advertised as “The Cool Lyric.”
On the Stage.
