Was Grace Darling Donna’s sister? (Part 1)

Posted on December 19, 2021 by Don Taylor

Madonna Mae Montran Issue

Donna Montran Research
Vaudeville
Rooney
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.During my analysis of the Donna Darling Collection (Part 83), I learned that the actress Grace Darling could be the sister-in-law of my grandmother, Madonna Montran, stage name Donna Darling) married Thomas Valentine Rooney in 1915. Grace Foster, stage name Grace Darling, married Pat Rooney in 1908. Could Thomas and Pat have been brothers, thus making Donna and Grace sisters (in-law)?

My first step in investigating the possibility is to look at the life and relationships of Donna’s second husband, Thomas Rooney.

Donna’s first marriage to Chester Fenyvessey in 1911 was short-lived. By 1914, Donna and Chester separated, and Donna headed to California. Out there, she was with Mack Sennett’s Bathing Beauties and was a dancer in the silent film “Birth of a Nation.” In 1915, Donna relocated to Boston, MA. Then, on 24 November 1915, Donna married Thomas Valentine Rooney in Waltham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Marriage Record os Thomas Valentine Rooney and Donna Mae Montran – 24 Nov 1915 – Click to enlarge.

Thomas Valentine Rooney (1887-1960)

Thomas is a step-grandfather—the second husband of my grandmother: Madonna Mae Montran.

      • Thomas’ father: Neil H. Rooney (1865-1910)

Thomas Valentine Rooney was born on 29 January 1887 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. He was the second of five children of Neil H and Mary E (Fahey) Rooney.

The 1900 Census indicates that Neil and Mary Rooney had five children; John, Thomas, Neil (Jr.), James, and Mary. Neil immigrated in 1883 and married Mary about 1885. That suggests they couldn’t have had any children older than John.

In the 1910 Census, Mary is widowed, and there are no additional children. The Census provides middle initials for the children; none of them have the middle initial of “P,” suggesting that Pat Rooney is unlikely a brother of Thomas.

Thomas was the producer of the “California Bathing Girls,” starring Donna Montran, during 1920 and 1921, so they were together then. However, by the summer of 1921, Donna had moved on to a new show, “Donna Darling & Boys,” that wasn’t produced by Thomas, so I’m pretty sure they separated by then.

After Donna

Thomas married Daisy Elizabeth Ford on 13 April 1928. The couple moved to California about 1930, where Thomas worked as an “Actors Agent” for 40 years with the Michael J. Hamieburg Agency.

Daisy died on 14 December 1959, and Thomas died four months later on 29 April 1960, in Los Angeles.

Conclusion

It does not appear that Thomas Rooney had a brother named Pat, so it is unlikely Grace Foster (stage Grace Darling) was a sister-in-law of Donna’s.

Further Actions / Follow-up

  • Find Grace (Foster) Darling Knieling and Pat Rooney in various records and determine if Pat Rooney and Tom Rooney were otherwise related.

Posted in Donna Montran, Vaudeville | Tagged | 1 Comment

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 59

Posted on December 17, 2021 by Don Taylor

Hibbard, Hicks, Higgins, & Hight

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week, for Photo Friday, I 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. 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.

Charles Edgar Hicks, circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Mr. C. E. Hicks, 71 Lawn Av #75.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Charles Edgar Hicks, circa 1934

    The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Charles E Hicks and his wife Dorothy E, living at 71 Lawn ave.

  • The 1930 US Census lists Charles E. Hicks and his wife, Dorothy, at 71 Lawn. He was
  • Based upon the photo pack number (#75), the photo was taken about 1934 when he was about 34 years old.

Family Search identifies Charles E. Hicks, born 1899 in Maine, as ID GCYK-1SL. According to Family Search, his parents are Herbert C and Jennie Hicks. Charles Edgar Hicks found in 12 Ancestry public trees.

I have uploaded a higher definition (300 x 300) photo of Charles to his Family Search Memories. 

Donald Merton Hibbard, circa 1936

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Merton Hibbard, 102 Morning St #100.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Donald Merton Hibbard, circa 1936

    The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Merton T Hibbard and his wife Alberta living at 102 Morning.

  • The 1940 US Census lists Merton Hibbert and his wife Alberta living at 126 North Street in Portland. Living with them are their two sons, 5-year-old Donald and 3-year-old Richard.
  • Find-a-Grave lists Donald Merton Hibbard, son of Merton Thomas and Alberta Florence (Hall) Hibbard, born 23 August 1934.
  • This photo appears to be of Donald about 1936.

Family Search identifies Donald Merton Hibbard, son of Merton Thomas and Alberta (Call) Hibbard, as ID 9M2C-FPQ and married to Barbara Louise Leavitt. Seven trees at Ancestry.Com refer to Donald M Hibbard, married to Barbara Louise Leavitt.

I have uploaded a higher definition (300 x 300) photo of Donald to his Family Search Memories.

Richard Hibbard, circa 1937 (age 1)

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Merton Hibbard, 102 Morning St #731.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Richard Hibbard, circa 1937 (age 1)

    The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Merton T Hibbard and his wife Alberta living at 102 Morning.

  • The 1940 US Census lists Merton Hibbert and his wife Alberta living at 126 North Street in Portland. Living with them are their two sons, 5-year-old Donald and 3-year-old Richard.
  • Based upon the Photo ID number (#731), this photo was taken about 1937, probably when Richard was about a year old.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Richard Hibbard, son of Merton and Alberta Hibbard. Richard does not appear in any Ancestry Trees, but his father, Merton Thomas Hibbard, appears in 33 Ancestry Family Trees.

I have added a higher definition (300 x 300) photo of Richard to Dead Fred. 

Helen or Barbara Hight (?), circa 1937.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Harold Hight, 14 Mayo St #1019.”

Why I believe this to be one of these two individuals.

  • Helen or Barbara Hight, circa 1937.

    The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Harold A Hight, and his wife Ruby M, living at 14 Mayo.

  • The 1940 US Census lists Harold A and his wife Ruby M, still living at 14 Mayo. Living with them are five children, Helen E (age 15), Harold B (age 10), Barbara J (age 8), Robert J (age 6), and Arthur R (age 3)
  • Based upon the photo ID (#1019), the photo was taken about 1937. The child in the picture is clearly a girl. Helen was born 26 October 1926 and would have been about 11 years old; Barbara was born 28 February 1932 and would have been about 5 in 1937. The child in the photo looks to be about 8, so it could be either girl.

Family Search identifies Helen E Hight, daughter of Harold and Ruby (Hasey) Hight, as ID G98N-XCD. Barbara does not have a Family Search Profile. 9 Ancestry trees refer to Helen E Hight. 5 Ancestry trees refer to Barbara J Hight.

Because I have been unable to identify which girl is in the photos positively, I have one image here and a second photo I’ve uploaded to my Flickr photostream. Hopefully, a family member will identify which child it is definitively. 

Blair & Susanne Higgins, circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Stanley Higgins, 216 Franklin St #152.”

Why I believe this to be these individuals.

  • Blair & Susanne Higgins, circa 1935.

    The 1935 Portland City Directory lists H. Stanley Higgins, and his wife Hazel, living at 216 Franklin.

  • The 1940 US Census lists Henry S Higgins, and his wife Hazel, still living at 216 Franklin. Living with them are their two children, Blair (age 9) and Suzanne (age 7). All were born in Maine.
  • This photo was probably taken about 1935, when Blair was about five and when Suzanne was about three.
  • I am confident these photos are of Blair and Suzanne Higgins.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for either Blair or Suzanne; however, Blair R Higgins is found in fourteen family trees at Ancestry. Suzanne Higgins is found in five family trees at Ancestry.

I have uploaded one photo of the children to Dead Fred and a second photo of them to my Flickr photostream.

 Conclusion

  • I fully identified six individuals. Three of them have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their photos to Family Search Three of them did not appear to have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their pictures to Dead Fred.
  • I failed to identify one photo. I believe it could be either of two girls; consequently, I only posted those photos here and to my Flickr Photostream.

For all of the Ethel Wight Collection analysis, please see here.

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.

Posted in Ethel Wight Studio, Faces from the Past | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Donna Darling Collection – Part 83

Posted on December 16, 2021 by Don Taylor

Donna & Her Cloak – Part 1
Tex Grand – El Paso – 25 Sep 1926

Treasure Chest Thursday
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.For this week’s Treasure Chest Tuesday, I’m begin looking at several clippings and a photo from the Donna Darling Collection highlighting her cloak. Donna is known to have loved clothes, and she had several cloaks, which were stunning. Newspaper clippings help add new venues and further information about her career.

This clipping shows Donna with her beautiful cloak. Luckily she annotated the clipping with “Tex Grand – El Paso Tex. Sep 25-26.” Sure enough, the El Paso Herald reported in the 25 September 1926 paper that Donna Darling and Sammy Clark were appearing at the Texas Grand.

11 Years on State, She Advises Golf and Vegetables for Beauty

Golf and a vegetable diet are the recipes Donna Darling, hotel Paso del Norte, gives to retain youth and beauty.

Eighteen holes of golf sandwiched between vaudeville performances, she says, keeps her trim and strong. She prefers vegetables and fruits when she travels. She thinks a heavy diet and different drinking water would be bad for her health.

Miss Darling went on the stage at 14. She played on the legitimate state, for the screen and in vaudeville for 11 years. A prize winner in beauty contests at Boston and Madison Square Garden, she soon got movie contracts. She is the sister of Grace Darling, Vitagraph[i] star. She played prima donna in Chin Chin when the musical comedy came to El Paso in 1923.

Analysis

This article is an excellent example that you “can’t believe everything you read in the papers.” Some of it is true, and some is a twist of facts. My thoughts:

Different drinking different water would be bad for her health — Likely. It only takes one episode of “Montezuma’s revenge” to change your outlook on drinking the local water during the 1920s. I can easily believe Donna preferred wine, beer, or anything else alcoholic over local water. Of course, drinking beverages that were safe during Prohibition was likely difficult.

On Stage at 14 – Likely. In 1910, 17-year-old Madonna Holdsworth (a stepfather’s surname) was living Detroit and worked as a saleswoman at a dry goods store. If she had been on stage at that time, it would have most likely been local theater.

In vaudeville for 11 years–Partially true. 1926 minus 11 years is 1915. She won beauty contests in 1915 and 1916 after she was in “Birth of a Nation,” which was released on 8 February 1915. She likely did some uncredited vaudeville work about that time.

Sister of Grace Darling—I had always thought this was not true; there is no way she could be related to Grace Darling, the famous English lighthouse keeper’s daughter. However, it appears that another Grace Darling was her sister-in-law. In 1915, Madonna married Thomas Valentine Rooney. Grace Darling (born Grace Foster) married Pat Rooney in 1908 but divorced him sometime before 1915. She apparently got back with Pat Rooney and was with him when he died in 1933. Donna (Madonna) and Thomas appear to have drifted apart in 1921. Indeed, this is new information to me and warrants further investigation.

She played prima donna in Chin Chin when the musical comedy came to El Paso in 1923. “Chin Chin” did not have a leading lady. Donna was a part of the “Chin Chin” cast from October 1919 to the show’s closing in June 1920, where she played the “Lady of the Lamp.” The show went to El Paso before she joined the show. By 1923, she had her own shows, Donna Darling & Co. and the Donna Darling Revue.

Conclusion

Learning about Grace Foster and Pat Rooney being married and that Grace Foster took on the stage name of Grace Darling makes me wonder if Donna and Grace both took the Darling stage name at the same time. I need to look at how the lives of the two “Darlings” and the two Rooney’s intertwined.

Donna’s note also extends my date for Donna in El Paso from one day to two days.

Actions

I have long had a desire to do a side investigation into the life of Thomas Valentine Rooney. The Grace Foster stage name and her marriage to Pat Rooney make this investigation much higher on my to-do list.

Sources

[i] The Vitagraph Studios (Vitagraph Company of America) was a film company bought out by Warner Brothers in 1925. Grace Darling was the stage name for Grace Foster. – Wikipedia.

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Adding the Binford Line

Posted on December 12, 2021 by Don Taylor

Howell Research
Howell-Pankey-Binford Line
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.Continuing my research of Samuel Pankey (1739-1807) has led to my learning more about his wife, 4th great-grandmother Betsy Kinsey Binford. I learned of three additional Ancestors. They are the parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents of Betsy. The new ancestors include:

    • 5th Great-grandfather: Thomas Binford & his wife, Elizabeth.
    • 6th Great-grandfather: James Binford (wife unknown).
    • 7th Great-grandfather: Anthony Binford (wife unknown).

I also learned that Betsy Kinsey Binford had at least six siblings. To wit:

    • John Binford Married Susanne Ellyson.
    • James Binford Married Margaret Mosby.
    • Thomas Binford Married Judith Ladd
    • Sarah Binford Married Amos Ladd
    • William Binford Married Mary Peebles
    • Priscilla Binford Married Benjamin Watkins

Betsy’s family was from Henrico County, Virginia Colony, near the Chickahominy Swamp. The swamp is formed by the Chickahominy River, an 87-mile-long river. It rises about 15 miles northeast of Richmond and flows to the James River.[i]

I also learned of several more property transfers for Samuel Pankey and his father, Stephen Pankey. Additionally, I learned that Samuel Pankey received the authority to build a grist mill.

New lines of research.

I learned of several original documents I should search for, mostly at Powhatan County. Finally, I learned of three other books I should look at for further research of the Binford line.

    • Early Settlers of Alabama, by James Edmonds Saunders (available at NEHGS and Amazon)
    • Binford Family Genealogy by Mary Ladd Binford Bruner (Available at Internet Archive)
    • Supplement to the Binford Family Genealogy, by Mary L. Bruner (Available at Internet Archive)

Conclusion

Finding the names of four more ancestors and the names of a dozen 5th Great aunts and uncles is a good day. As is usually the case, after spending a day or two researching, I find clues to many more days of research.

Sources

George Edward Pankey, John Pankey of Manakin Town, Virginia, and His Descendants:  Descendants and Connections of His Son Stephen Pankey, Sr., of Lucy’s Springs, Chesterfield County, Virginia (Lousiana: Ruston, 1969), Page 50 – Samuel Pankey (Continued).  Personal Library.

Endnotes

[i] Wikipedia: Chickahominy River – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickahominy_River.

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Ethel Wight Collection – Part 58

Posted on December 10, 2021 by Don Taylor

Hatch, Hatt (née Webber), Hay, Hayes, and Henkel

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week, for Photo Friday, I 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. 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.

Mary Virginia Hay, circa 1937.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Mary Hay, 28 Adams St #1061.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Miss Mary Hay,

    The 1934 and 1936 Portland City Directories list Mrs. Mary V Hay as living at 28 Adams. There are four other Mary Hay’s listed, Mary, Mary C, Mary K, and Mary P.

  • The 1930 US Census lists Mary Hay L Hay, the head of the house living at 28 Adams Street, and her 14-year-old daughter, Mary Hay, also residing at the same address.
  • This young woman in this photo is Mary V Hay, daughter of Mary L Hay, about 1937 when she was about 21 years old.

Family Search identifies Mary Virginia Hay, daughter of William Bernard and Mary Virginia (Houston) Hay, as ID GHGS-1T5. There are Eight trees at Ancestry that refer to Mary Virginia Hay, the daughter of Mary L Hay

I uploaded a photo of her to her Family Search Memories. I also uploaded one additional photo of Mary to my Flickr photostream. 

Violet L. Hatch, circa 1936

This negative envelope says, “Miss Violet Hatch, Me Gen. Hospital #239.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Violet L. Hatch, circa 1936

    The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Violet Hatch as a student nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital).

  • The 1937 Portland City Directory does not list Violet Hatch.
  • The 1938 Portland City Directory lists Violet Hatch as a nurse working and residing at 5 Walker.
  • The 1940 US Census lists 28-year-old Violet Hatch, born in Canada, as a registered nurse at Deaconess Hospital in Boston. In 1935 she lived in Eustis, Maine.
  • The 1930 US Census lists 18-year-old Violet Hatch living in Eustis, Franklin County, Maine, with her parents, Herman A and Hannah Q Hatch, and seven siblings.
  • This is a photo of Violet about 1936, probably when she graduated from nursing school

Family Search identifies Violet L Hatch, daughter of Herman Alexander and Hanna Isabella (Gray) Hatch, as ID GQKV-NMH. Violet Hatch is also found in eight Ancestry trees.

I have uploaded two photos of Violet to her Family Search Memories. I also uploaded one additional photo of Violet to my Flickr photostream.

Bessie I Hatt (Née Webber), Circa 1934

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Bessie Hatt, 277 Woodfords St. #118.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Bessie I Hatt (Née Webber), Circa 1934

    The 1930 US Census lists 35-year-old Bessie I Hatt as a servant in the Charles Winton household at 277 Woodfords Street. Bessie was married and born in Maine. Her father was born in Pennsylvania, and her mother in Maryland.

  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Mrs. Bessie I Hatt as a maid working and living at 275 Woodford.
  • A Miss Bessie Wilcox (aka Bessie Webber), born about 1893 in London, Maine, married Garfield Hatt on 7 or 18 Nov 1920. Bessie Wilcox’s father was Mark Webber, and her mother was Addie Webber.
  • This appears to be a photo of Bessie Irene Webber, born April 1892 in Lubec, Maine, to Mark L and Advilla (Moore) Webber, about 1934, when she was about 42 years old.

Do not confuse with: Bessie Hatt, née Crowley

The 1930 Census lists a Bessie Hatt, the 42-year-old wife of Clarence Hatt, living in Machias, Washington County, Maine.  Bessie M Crowley married Clarence M. Hatt on 26 December 1916 in East Machias.

Do not confuse with: Bessie Hatt, Née Cox

Also, in the 1930 Census, there was a 38-year-old Bessie M. Hatt, who married Joseph A Hatt and lived in Wesley, Washington County, Maine. Bessie M. Cox, born about 1891, married Joseph A. Hatt on 18 July 1914.

Family Search identifies Bessie I Webber, daughter of Mark Leslie and Addie Viller Moores) Webber as ID LKM7-XX9. Bessie Irene Webber is found in 34 Ancestry trees.

I have uploaded two photos of Bessie to her Family Search Memories. 

Jannette Henkel, circa 1936.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Harold J Henkel, 12 Clifton St #832.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Jannette Henkel, circa 1936.

    The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Harold J Henkel living at 12 Clifton with his spouse Mabelle B Henkel.

  • The 1940 Census lists Harold and Mabelle Henkel living at 55 Alba with their five-year-old daughter, Jannette.
  • This photo is very likely of Jannette about 1936.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Jannette Henkel; however, her father is identified as Person L4RW-QB2. I didn’t find Jannette in any Ancestry Family trees either; however, her father, Harold Jones Henkel, is found in 16 public Ancestry trees.

I have uploaded one photo of Jannette to Dead Fred. 

Lester Davies Hayes, Jr., Circa 1936

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Lester Hayes, 36 Pine St. #885.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Lester Davies Hayes, Jr., Circa 1936

    The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Lester D Hayes and his wife Audrey living at 36 Pine.

  • The 1940 US Census lists Lester D Hayes and his wife Audrey living in Lakewood, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Their two sons, Davies (age 8) and Douglas (age six mos.), live with them. The Hayes lived in Lewiston in 1935, and Davies was born in Maine. Lester was 36, and Audrey was 30 years old.
  • Lester Davies Hayes and Audrey Geraldine Waterman married on 14 August 1931 in Maine. Lester and Audrey both lived in Auburn, ME.
  • The US Military Registers indicate that Lester Davies Hayes Jr. was born on 30 March 1932.
  • Based upon the Ethel Wight Studio number (#885), this photo was likely taken about 1935 when Lester Davies Hayes was about four years old.

Family Search appears to identify Lester Davies Hayes, Jr. as ID LYFG-WXM. Ancestry does not seem to have a profile for Lester Davies Hayes, Jr.; however, his father, Lester Owen Davies (adopted Hayes), appears in 22 trees.

I have uploaded his photo to his Family Search Memories.

Conclusion

  • This week I was able to identify all five people. Four of them had Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their photos there.
  • One person did not have a Family Search profile, so I posted that photo to Dead Fred.
  • For all of the Ethel Wight Collection analysis, please see here.

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.

Posted in Ethel Wight Studio, Faces from the Past | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment