“In the News” is my reporting on newly discovered newspaper articles and advertising regarding ancestors I am researching. John Huber is my wife’s great-grandfather. The information in newspapers often raises more questions and research areas, but they invariably provide fresh texture to understanding an ancestor’s life.
The Saginaw News (Saginaw, MI) newspapers dated 1946, 1947, 1849, and 1955 reported:
Saginaw News, April, 29, 1946, Page 14.
29 April 1946 – Classified Ad – SEED CORN, early Yellow Dent. Inquire John Huber, 2770 South Center road[i].
29 October 1946 – Classified Ad – PEARS – John Huber, 2770 South Center Road, West Side, Saginaw.
5 October 1948 – Deaths – John Huber, 68, 2770 South Center Road.
11 August 1955 –-  Classified Ad – TOMATOES—Reasonably priced. At Mrs. John Huber’s farm, 2770 S. Center Road.
From these ads, I learned that John Huber sold seed corn and pears. After his death, his wife, Bertha (TrĂĽmpy) Huber, sold tomatoes.
Endnotes
[i] There were several John Hubers that lived in the Saginaw, MI, area. These advertisements provide his address, 2770 South Center road, and positively identify great-grandfather John Huber.
Linwood Dyer Collection – Part 035 Skillin, Libby, Trickey Photo Album. Portland, Maine, Boston, Massachusetts By Don Taylor
I identified all the people (4) in nine photos from the Skillin, Libby, and Trickey photo album, the Linwood Dyer Collection, for Photo Friday this week. This collection includes hundreds of images, documents, and genealogies of people who lived in Portland, Scarborough, South Portland, and Cape Elizabeth, Maine. My goal is to reunite the images with family members who may have never seen the pictures before. The Scarborough Historical Society holds the originals in the Linwood Dyer Photo Collection.
Hyla (Hilea?) Skillin – 3 Photos c. 1897 to 1910.
Three cabinet cards appear to be of the same woman.
Hyla (Hilea?) Skillin c. 1910.
The first cabinet card has “Warren, 29 Temple Place” in gold tone on the front and “W. Shaw Warren, 29 Temple Place, Boston, Mass. Established 1862.” Handwritten in pencil on the album is “Hilea Skillin.”
The second cabinet card has “Elmer Chickering, 21 West St., Boston” embossed in gold on the front, and the back says “The Royal Studio, Elmer Chickering proprietor, 21 West St., Boston.” Also, handwritten in pencil on the album is “Hilea Skillin?”
Finally, a third cabinet card has a blank back but includes a handwritten slip of paper saying “Hilea Skillin.
An interesting note is that the third photo is followed immediately by a photo of “Alwood H. Fuller.” It is also proceeded by a photo of “Lizzie Wood m. Chas. Skillin.”
What I learned while researching this photo:
Hyla, circa 1910
Ancestry Family Trees suggest this is Hyla Mae Skillings[i], daughter of Charles O and Elizabeth Skillin. Hyla married Alward H Fuller.
W. Shaw Warren had a photo studio at 29 Temple from 1889 to 1902.
Elmer Chickering has a studio at 21 West from 1886 to 1918. Elmer died in 1915, but his studio appeared in the City Directory through 1918.
I have encountered the author of the “Skillin Libby Tricky” photo album misspelling names, so I’m not concerned about the spelling difference. Also, the proximity of other family members in the album confirms my assessment.
Hyla, circa 1887.
I estimate the W. Shaw Warren photo to be the first of the three photos taken when she was about 18 years old, circa 1897. I estimate the Royal Studio photo to be taken in 1910 when she was about 31 after she and her first husband separated. Finally, I estimate the last picture to have been taken when she was in her 20s, so about 1903.
These three photos are from the Linwood Dyer Collection. The Scarborough Historical Society holds the originals in this collection.
John Skillin, c. 1887.
There are three photographs labeled “John Skillin.” Two are clearly of the same person, and one is a tintype of a baby.
The first is a tintype photo. With it is a slip of paper with “John E Skillin.”
On the next page of the album is a cabinet card of a young man, with “John Skillin” written in the album on the page. J.M. Peck of 12 Monument Square, Portland, took this photo.
Finally, there is a 2½ x 4-inch carte de visite of a boy. Chas. W. Hearn took this photo at 518 Congress St., Portland, Me.
What I learned while researching this photo:
John Skillin, c. 1883.John E Skillin, c. 1867.
Charles W. Hearn had a studio at 518 Congress St. in Portland from 1883 to 1889.
J.M. Peck had a studio at 12 Monument Square from 1881 to 1891.
Tintypes were invented in the 1850s, and their maximum use was in the 1860s and 1870s, although their use persisted into the 1930s.[ii]
My previous research found Lewis and Harriet (Trickey) Skillin had a son, John Edward Skillin. Based on the dates of the Hearn studio, the photo of John is likely from about 1883, when John was about 16 years old.
The photo of John as a young man was probably taken when John was about 21, about 1887 when he was about 21 years old.
Finally, the tintype was likely taken when John was about one year old, circa 1867.
I added these three photos to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry. I also added his c. 1887 photo to his FamilySearch profile, G5KK-DWZ, and his monument on Find-a-Grave.
Probably Frank & Frederick Titcomb, circa 1891.
This is a 4¼ x 6½ cabinet card of two young boys. Identifying information includes:
Probably Frank & Frederick Titcomb circa 1891.
Photographer – Brown, 243 Westminster Street, Providence, R. I.
A handwritten slip with the photo says “Titcomb.”
What I learned while researching this photo:
Silas B Brown was a photographer at 243 Westminster from 1877 to 1891.
The 1900 US Census lists one Titcomb family in Providence County, Rhode Island.
Frederick Titcomb, age 41, was born in New Hampshire and lived in Pawtucket. He had a wife, Annie, and four sons, Frank E (b. Mar 1885), Fredik A (b. Sep 1887), Chas. E (b. Aug 1889) and Morris E (b. May 1899), all of whom were born in Rhode Island.
If the photo was taken in 1891, Frank would be about seven and Frederick about four, which fits the apparent ages of the children in this photo.
Although I am reasonably sure this is a photo of Frank and Frederick taken about 1891, I am not 100% certain. If you are related to the Titcomb of Pawtucket, I’d love to hear your opinion of my findings. Because I could not fully identify the individual, I only included the individual’s photo here and in my Flickr Photostream.
Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Wood) Lovett Skillin, circa 1894
This 4¼ x 6½ cabinet card of a woman has the studio name on the bottom in cursive, and the studio name takes up the entire back of the card, suggesting it was created after 1880.
Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Wood) Lovett Skillin, circa 1894
The photo identifying information includes:
Photographer: Arthur A Glines, 6 Winter St., Boston, Mass, 1889
Handwritten in a separate slip of paper is “Lizzie Wood, m. Chas. Skillin.
What I learned while researching this photo:
Arthur A Glines had a studio at 6 Winter St., in Boston, from 1889 until 1899, thus dating the photo circa 1894.
In my research for Hyla Mae Skillin (see above), I learned her parents were Charles O. & Elizabeth Skillin. However, FamilySearch and several Ancestry trees indicate Hyla’s mother, and Charles O. Skillin’s wife, was Elizabeth J. Lovett. But Elizabeth’s mother was Alice Wood. It will take more research to determine if Alice was married twice and had Elizabeth in a previous marriage and William Lovett was Elizabeth’s stepfather.
Even with the name conflict, I believe this photo is of Hyla’s mother, Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Wood) Skillin, so I added it to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry and my Flickr Photostream. However, I did not upload it to FamilySearch or Find-a-Grave.
Conclusion
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 Ancestry, Dead Fred, or Flickr have higher quality than those linked here. Feel free to use these photos in your genealogical activities. Please cite “Photo Courtesy: Scarborough Historical Society.”Â
Endnotes
[i] Ancestry Trees indicate her name as Hyla Mae Skillin, Hyla May Skillings, Hyla M Fuller, and Hyla M Skillin Fuller. From my past work with the family line, I prefer “Hyla Mae Skillin.” Also, that is the spelling of her FamilySearch Profile, K28T-9WK.
Linwood Dyer Collection – Part 034 Skillin, Libby, Trickey photo album. Portland, Maine By Don Taylor
I identified five people from the Skillin, Libby, and Trickey photo album from the Linwood Dyer Collection for Photo Friday this week. The last photo is from the Stone folder in the “Limbs on the Family Tree” 3-ring binder (2023.01.058). This collection includes hundreds of images, documents, and genealogies of people who lived in Portland, Scarborough, South Portland, and Cape Elizabeth, Maine. My goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the pictures before.
Eugene Bradford Skillin, of Portland, ME, c. 1891.
This 4¼ x 6½ cabinet card of a young man has the studio name on the bottom in cursive, and the studio name takes up the entire back of the card, suggesting it was created after 1880.
Eugene Bradford Skillin, of Portland, ME, c. 1891.
The photo identifying information includes:
Photographer: J. M. Peck, 12 Monument Square, Portland, Me.
Handwritten on a separate slip with the photo is “Eu Jean B Skillin, Bradford.”
What I learned while researching this photo:
J. M. Peck was a photographer at 12 Monument Square in 1890 and 1891. He does not appear in the 1889 or the 1892 Portland directories.
Ancestry trees suggest this is Eugene Bradford Skillin, born 27 May 1874 in Portland, Maine, to Lewis B and Harriet J (Trickey) Skillin.
Lewis and Harriet (Trickey) Skillin already appear in my Linwood Dyer Collection. Eugene is their son; J. M. Peck probably took this photo in 1891.
I added this photo to Eugene B Skillin’s FamilySearch profile, L2YL-RWC, and to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry.
Eugene B. Skillin, of Portland, ME, circa 1893.
This is Eugene B. Skillin’s 2nd cabinet card. It has the studio name on the back of the card, suggesting it was created after 1880. Identifying information includes:
Eugene B. Skillin, of Portland, ME, circa 1893.
Photographer: Ye Longfellow Gallery, 655 Congress Street, Portland, ME
Handwritten on the back is “Eugene B. Skillin, May 27, 1874.
What I learned while researching this photo:
The 1892 Portland directory does not list the Longfellow Gallery; it first appears in the 1893 directory.
Eugene Bradford Skillin was born on 27 May 1874 in Portland, Maine. He was the child of Lewis and Harriet (Trickey) Skillin.
Because Eugene appears to be only a year or two older than he does in the other previous photo, I date this photo to about 1893.
I added this photo to Eugene B Skillin’s FamilySearch profile, L2YL-RWC, and to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry.
Harriet Jane (Trickey) Skillin, of Portland, ME, circa 1877.
Harriet Jane (Trickey) Skillin, circa 1877.
This 4¼ x 6½ cabinet card is courtesy of the Scarborough Historical Society, Linwood Dyer Photo Collection, the “Skillin, Libby, Trickey” photo album. It is of a woman apparently in her 30s.
The photo identifying information includes:
Photographer: J. M. Peck, 518 Congress St., Portland, Me.
Handwritten on the back of the photo is “Harriet Jane Trickey m. Lewis Skillin b. Feb 28, 1841.
What I learned while researching this photo:
J. M. Peck was a photographer at 518 Congress from 1873 or 74 to 1879 or 80.[i]
Harriet (Trickey) Skillin, the wife of Lewis, appears in my Linwood Dyer Collection Ancestry tree.
I added this photo to Harriet J. Trickey’s FamilySearch profile, L2YL-R8L, and to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry.
Lewis B. Skillin of Portland, ME, circa 1877.
This 4¼ x 6½ cabinet card is courtesy of the Scarborough Historical Society, Linwood Dyer Photo Collection, the “Skillin, Libby, Trickey” photo album. It is of a man apparently in his 40s.
Lewis B. Skillin of Portland, ME, Circa 1877.
The photo identifying information includes:
Photographer: J. M. Peck, 12 Monument Square, Portland, Me.
Handwritten on the back of the photo is “Lewis B. Skillin, b. Jan 24, 1839.
What I learned while researching this photo:
J. M. Peck was a photographer at 518 Congress from 1873 or 74 to 1879 or 80.[ii]
Lewis B Skillin appears in my Linwood Dyer Collection Ancestry tree.
I am confident this is a photo of Lewis B. Skillin, about 1877
Willis Burton Skillin, of Portland, ME, circa. 1891.
Willis Burton Skillin, of Portland, ME, c. 1891.
This 4¼ x 6½ cabinet card of a young man has the studio name on the bottom in cursive, and the studio name takes up the entire back of the card, suggesting it was created after 1880.
The photo identifying information includes:
Photographer: J. M. Peck, 12 Monument Square, Portland, Me.
Handwritten on the back of the photo is “Willis Burton Skillin.”
What I learned while researching this photo:
J. M. Peck was a photographer at 12 Monument Square in 1890 and 1891. He does not appear in the 1889 or the 1892 Portland directories.
Lewis and Harriet (Trickey) Skillin had five sons. Two died as infants. The youngest was Willis Burton Skillin. Willis was born on 25 July 1877. In 1891, he would have been about 13.
Willis already appeared in my Linwood Dyer Collection, so I am confident this is their son, taken about 1891.
This 4¼ x 6½ cabinet card of a woman in her 30s or 40s has an embossed studio name and border, suggesting it was created after 1890. Identifying information includes:
Photographer: H.M. Smith, 478 Congress St., Portland, Me.
Handwritten on the front: Susan Stone. Additionally, an accompanying label says, “Susan A. Stone.”
What I learned while researching this photo:
Howard M Smith was a photographer at 478½ Congress Street from about 1888 to 1899.
My search for Susan failed to yield a candidate for Susan A. Stone. There was a Susan B. Stone, who died on April 7, 1887, at 41, but this does not appear to be her.
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.
Feel free to use these photos in your genealogical activities. Please cite “Photo Courtesy: Scarborough Historical Society, Linwood D. Dyer Collection.”
Endnotes
[i] I have not found the 1874 or 1880 Portland Directories to see of John Peck, photographer is listed. He appears in the 1875 and 1879 directories at 518½ Congress. [ii] Ibid.
This week my Roberts Research included using MyHeritage Library Edition. I access it through my local public library’s website, and many public libraries have access. There is a lot of material there, but the service is fairly expensive. Maureen Taylor, the Photo Detective, has an exclusive 50% discount for her users until the end of the month. I have some of her books and I follow her blog and sometimes listen to her podcast.
Working on the Roberts line, of my Roberts-Brown 2024 family tree and using MyHeritage Library Edition:
I incorporated information about Sarilda Jane Garrett, the wife of 3rd great uncle, Hugh Roberts (Asa Ellis Roberts’ brother), from FamilySearch.
I incorporated information about my 6th great-grandmother, (Roberts-Barnes-Taft-Sutherland-Lewis-Doughty Line) Margaret Duyster, from Filae Family Trees. I learned that she married Stephen Crego about 1731 and married William doughty after 1763. That suggests that Phebe, who was born in 1733, was born a Crego and possibly used Doughty later. In any event, it definately needs further research to confirm these relationships.
I incorporated information about the husband (Isaac Cory) of my 5th great aunt, Abigail Taft, who is the sister of Asa Taft.
I learned that my 2nd great uncle, Abraham Barnes, his wife, and son, lived near his brother Joel, during the 1880 Census (same page on the Census).
I’ll try using MyHeritage a bit more now that I have learned how to use their system. I may even subscribe.
Besides my foray with MyHeritage:
I did a lot of cleanup of my sources for the life of my paternal aunt, Pansy Marie (Roberts) Romer (1922-1987).
Linwood Dyer Collection – Part 033 Photo Friday By Don Taylor
For Photo Friday, I identified the people in five photos from the Linwood Dyer Collection this week. This collection includes hundreds of photos, documents, and genealogies of people who lived in Scarborough, South Portland, and Cape Elizabeth, Maine. I like analyzing the images and trying to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the picture. The Scarborough Historical Society holds the originals in the Linwood Dyer Photo Collection.
Edith Soule of South Portland, circa 1892.
This Cabinet Card has an embossed studio name and border, suggesting it was created after 1890. Identifying information includes:
Edith Soule of South Portland, circa 1892.
Photographer: H.M.Smith, 478 Congress St., Portland, Me.
Handwritten on the back: Edith Soule.
What I learned while researching this photo:
The 1900 US Census lists two Edith Soules.
Edith L Soule was born in Jul 1873 in Maine and lived in South Portland.
Edith M Soule (Creech), born Dec 1856 in Maine, living in Freeport.
In 1890, Edith L. would be 17 years old, and Edith M would be 34 years old. The woman in this photo appears younger than 34, so I am sure it is Edith L Soule.
The 1900 US Census also indicates that Edith L. is the daughter of Deborah Soule. Her siblings included sisters Mabel, Alice, and Lucy, as well as a brother, Ervin.
Family Search indicates that Edith Soule (G89Z-X5P) was born on 10 July 1873 to Alonzo K and Deborah Sinnett (Orr) Soule in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. She married Franklin Eggert in 1894, suggesting this photo was taken between 1890 and 1894.
I added this photo to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry and uploaded it to her FamilySearch memories.
Edward Rand Sherman, Xmas 1907 (age 8).
This 7.5” x 6” photo has an embossed studio name. Identifying information includes:
Edward Rand Sherman, Xmas 1907 (age 8).
Photographer: Jackson 548½ Congress St, Portland, ME
Handwritten on the back: Edward Rand Sherman, Xmas 1907.
What I learned while researching this photo:
The 1900 US Census lists 1-year-old Edward R Sherman living with his parents, John C and Margaret E. L. Sherman.
Family Search suggests this is Edward Rand Sherman (LVDB-R1Y), born 12 February 1899 in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine, to John Curtis (1871-1934) and Margaret Eva Lena (Taylor) Sherman (1872-1953). His siblings include a brother, Palmer Ricker Sherman, and a sister, Harriet Stevens Sherman.
This cabinet card has the studio name in gold on a black card stock, suggesting it was created in the late 1880s to the 90s. Identifying information includes:
John Chase Small, Jr., circa 1882.
Photographer: Lamson, Portland, Me
Handwritten on the back: John Chase Small, Jr.
What I learned while researching this photo:
My Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry already included John Chase Small, Jr. (1878-___) already. He is the son of John Chase and Mary Schuyler (Dresser) Small.
Family Search provides profile KL4K-VW6 for John Jr. He was born on 3 June 1878 in Portland, Maine, and married Blanche Helen Robinson in 1916.
This Cabinet Card has an embossed studio name and border, suggesting it was created after 1890. Identifying information includes:
Photographer: Conant, 478½ Congress St., Portland.
Handwritten on the back: W. H. Stockbridge (?).
What I learned while researching this photo:
Portland directories list the Conant photography studio from 1877 to 1884 at 478½ Congress Street.
The 1881 Portland City Directory lists William H. Stockbridge, a music teacher, 156 Exchange, and 499½ Congress, who lives in Freeport.
478½ and 499½ Congress Street are about 260 feet apart, so it fits that William Stockbridge would walk the short block to have his photograph taken.
The 1880 US Census lists 36-year-old William H. Stockbridge living in Freeport, Maine, with his wife Georgie and three children, Ira (age 6), William D (age 3), and Mildred (age 1).
The very small, 1.75” x 3.25” carte de visite style photo has a single gold border, suggesting it was taken between 1866 and 1880. There is no studio information. The image appears to be of a young woman of high school age. Handwritten on the back is “Sallie Sewall.”
What I learned while researching this photo:
A review of the 1870 US Census for Maine yielded no one named Sallie Sewall in Maine. However, it identified four individuals named Sarah. (Sallie is a common nickname for Sarah.) They are:
Sarah E Sewall, born about 1834, was married to Edward Sewall and lived in Bath, Sagadahoc County, Maine.
Sarah C Sewall, born about 1822, was married to Samuel G Sewall and lived in Bath, Sagadahoc County, Maine.
Sarah Sewall was born about 1834, was a black woman,
Sarah H Sewall was born about 1850 in Maine. She is the apparent daughter of Lydia Sewall, living in York, York County, Maine. Her apparent siblings include Harriet, Isabella, Leonard, Edward, and William.[i]
Nationally, there are 14 Sarah Sewall listed in the 1870 US Census.
My Google search for B&W photos of any “Sarah Sewall” failed to yield any useful results.
Although I suspect this is Sarah H Sewall of York, Maine, It could be Sarah Sewall (b. c. 1855) of Marion County. Because I could not positively identify the individual in this photo, it is only available here.
Conclusion
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 Ancestry, Dead Fred, or Flickr have higher quality than those linked here. Feel free to use these photos in your genealogical activities. Please cite “Photo Courtesy: Scarborough Historical Society.”
Endnotes
[i] Ancestry.Com – 1870 US Census; Census Place: York, York, Maine; Roll: M593_565; Page: 750A
