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
On stage with Donna and Her Boys (Murray Earle & Tod Watson) were:
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:
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.
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.
Have a great week.
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.
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.
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 | 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.
About 1828 the Manning family moved west to Missouri. Tubil, Reuben, and Katherine were born there.
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 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 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.
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
Rachel died on 7 May 1870.
I have been unsuccessful finding burial information concerning Rachel.
[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.
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.
List of Grandparents
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.
| 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 |
Nothing is known of Meredith’s childhood. Sometime in 1803 or 1804 the family relocated to Kentucky.
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.
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.
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)
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.
————– Disclaimer ————–
[1] NOTE: The family should include both Thomas and Tubill, however, it appears that only one of the two is enumerated.
Census Sunday
Roberts-Brown Research
Scott/Roberts Line
The 1900 US Federal Census Record is often a Treasure Trove of information. It provides a unique set of information including month and year of birth as well as the number of children a woman has had and how many of her children are still living. It can also provide clues to other items of interest. The 1900 Census record showing Samuel Scott and family is such a record, confusing and confounding.
Per the 1900 Census, Samuel and Luvina had been married for 6 years, suggesting they were married in 1893 or 1894. However, the Illinois County Marriages index indicates that Samuel and Lavinia married on 25 Dec 1892 indicating they had been married 7 years and not 6. I can live with that difference.
More interesting is that the Census indicates that Luvina had had three children, two of whom were still living. Then I noticed the interesting bit. Per the census, Samuel’s son William was born four months before his son Elmer (Dec 1893 then Apr 1894). Yikes!
Another researcher that I trust indicated that Samuel and Lavinia had a daughter, Amanda, who was born and died in 1897, that fit the child that the census indicated was dead.
Either Elmer or William must be one of Lavinia’s living children, but which one? I can’t believe she gave birth to two children, four months apart. I have ascribed Lavinia as Elmer’s mother, so I’m leaving that in place for now. But the question is, who is William H Scott, son of Samuel Vaden Scott; who is his mother? (Amanda Jane Haley died in 1889 so can’t be William H.’s mother. Very confusing. Was there another wife? Is the Census record wrong?
Continuing, if Elmer or William is Luvenia’s child, then it would appear that Gertrude was Lavinia’s other living child. But, Gertrude was born in March of 1892, before Samuel and Luvenia were married. If that is the case, Gertrude must be from her previous marriage.
There are other bits and pieces that the 1900 Census provides. For example, Samuel’s mother may have been born in Kentucky, different from some other records. None of the three children were attending school (although Gertrude was 8), and Samuel was a farm laborer renting a house (not a farm).
I never look at one Census as absolutely correct, however, the census can provide areas for further inquiry and suggest possibilities which may not otherwise be evident.
I’m still looking. Maybe other census or other records I find will provide clarity into the parentage of these three children.
————- Disclaimer ————-
Family Search: 1900 Census – Samuel Scott – Missouri, Saint Francois County, Saint Francois Township, ED98 – Sheet 19A, Line 35-39.