Ferejohn, Farnham, Farr, Farrar, & Farren

Photo Friday
By Don Taylor

This week for Photo Friday, I try to identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is important 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 Ferejohn circa 1936

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Mary Ferejohn, 8 Cedar St. #1090.”

Mary Ferejohn, circa 1936

A search at Ancestry found the 1936 Portland High School yearbook for showing one of the exact same photos for Mary Ferejohn. Her college preference was Columbia University, and her hobby was “listening to the radio.” The 1933 Portland City Directory finds Michael and Annie Ferejohn living at 8 Cedar in Portland. The 1944 city directory lists Mary Ferejohn loving at 150 Front in South Portland. Also at the same address are Michael C. and Annie Ferejohn. The 1940 Census indicates that Michael was 49, born in Greece, Annie was 19, also born in Greece, and Mary was 21, born in Maine.

There is no profile for her on Family Search, nor are her parents identified on Family Search. I added her photo to Dead Fred. Additionally, there is one private family tree on Ancestry that appears to include her. I will contact that owner and let them know about these photos. I also added three additional photos of Mary to my Flickr photostream.

Eldena W. Farnham (1915-1992) circa 1934

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Eldina Farnman, Maine General Hospital, Portland #301.”

Eldena W. Farnham (1915-1992) circa 1934

The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Eldena Farnham as a student nurse at 22 Arsenal, residing at the same place. 22 Arsenal was the address for the Maine General Hospital. The 1930 US Census lists Eldena W. Farnham as the 15-year-old daughter of William and Mary Farnham of Boothbay Harbor, Lincoln, Maine.[iii] The 1940 Census indicates she is back in Boothbay Harbor with her parents and loving in the same house as she did in 1935. That suggests she completed her nurse’s training before 1935.

Family Search identifies Eldena W. Farnham, the daughter of William E. Farnham and Mary A. Gould, as ID GW8D-JSC. I am quite sure this is Eldena about 1934. I have uploaded a photo of her to her Family Search profile.

Howard Farr, Jr. circa 1937

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Howard Farr, 316 Congress St., #997.”

Howard Farr, Jr., circa 1937

The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Howard R and Corinne L Farr living at 316 Congress, Apt. 2.  The 1940 US Census found Howard and Corinne residing at 87 Franklin with their five-year-old son, Howard Jr. Howard R Farr, Jr. was born on 14 June 1934. This photo was taken about 1937 when Howard Jr. would have been about three years old.

I have added his photo to Dead Fred and will contact several people with trees on Ancestry that appear to include him.

Ethel Florence (West) Farrar (1898-1982) circa 1937

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Ethel Farrar – 17 Glicker Road, #610.”

Ethel Florence (West) Farrar (1898-1982) circa 1937

The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Lincoln B. and his wife Ethyl F. Farrar living at 17 Gleckler Road. Ethel was born 29 January 1898 in Virginia and died 8 November 1982 in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine. This photo was taken about 1936, so she would have been about 38 years old, and the woman in the picture appears to be in her late 30s or early 40s.  I am confident this is Ethyl Florence West, the daughter of George Washington and Ella (Thomas) West.

Family Search identifies Ethel Florence West, wife of Lincoln Benner Farrar, as ID LBLF-QM4. I am quite sure this is Ethyl about 1937. So, I have uploaded two photos of her to her Family Search profile. I also added a third photo of Ethel to my Flickr photostream.

Verna Farren circa 1934

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Verna Farren, ME Gen. Hospital, #317.”

Verna Farren circa 1934

A thirteen-year-old Verna M. Farren appears as a daughter in the household of Roy E. and Bertha W. Farren of Cherryfield, Washington County, Maine. Verna Farren married Charles E. Bayard on 13 September 1935. Verna was from Cherryfield, Maine. In 1940, Verna lived with her husband Charles in Steuben and reported she lived in Steuben in 1935.

I can find nothing that relates this Verna M. Farren to the Verna Farren that was at the Maine General Hospital about 1934.

I added her photo to Dead Fred and will ask people with Verna M. Farren in their trees if this could be the same Verna Farren.

Conclusion

It was a poor week for my identifications.  I had:

• Two successful identifications where I could post to Family Search
• Three probable identifications – enough so I could post the photos to Dead Fred and contact other researchers for possible confirmation.

Final Note

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.

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] 1930; Census Place: Boothbay Harbor, Lincoln, Maine; Page: 14A; Enumeration District: 0003; FHL microfilm: 2340570.