Census Sunday
Blanchard Project
Blanchard-Bodge
By Don Taylor
One of my first process activities in reviewing an ancestor’s life is to follow the individual through all of the available census records. Often this can be difficult, but in the case of Albert Bodge, it was pretty easy.
Albert was born 2 Aug 1838 and died 19 Aug 1897 at the age of 58. The 1890 Census isn’t available, and I found him in the 1880 and 1870 Censuses living in Westbrook. During the 1860 and 1850 Censuses, he lived with his parents, John and Betsey Bodge, in Windham. Other records have indicated he had four siblings, a brother and three sisters.
Searching for the John Bodge family in the 1840 Census was quick and easy.
So, the 1840 Census enumerated all of John and Betsy’s children.
Of interest, there were eight Bodge households in Windham, Cumberland County, Maine, during the 1840 Census – Andrew, two Johns, two Thomas’, Josiah, Olive, and William.
John A. Bodge was a single, white male, age 20 to 29, who was apparently married to a female 20 to 29. It will be essential to note the second John Bodge to avoid confusion in future research.
Endnotes:
[i] “United States Census, 1840,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHT6-498 : 8 December 2020), John Bodge, Windham, Cumberland, Maine, United States; citing p. 447, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .
[ii] Because the 1840 Census does not provide relationship information, the relationships identified here are tentative and only “apparent” based upon age and household.
Croteau, Crowell, Crowley, & Crozier – Also, the Cumberland Club
Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor
This week for Photo Friday, I identify the people in four more envelopes and a building 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 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.
Florence Crowell, circa 1936 (age 25)
The envelope this negative was in says, “Florence Crowell, 42 Fernald St., Portland #674.”
Florence Crowell, circa 1936 (age 25)
Why I believe this to be the individual.
The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Florence S Crowell as a clerk at 419 Congress street who resided at 42 Fernald.
The 1930 US Census enumerated the 18-year-old Florence Crowell living at 26 Fernald with her mother, Susie Crowell.
The 1920 US Census enumerated the 8-year-old Florence Crowell living at 26 Fernald with her parents George M. and Susie Crowell.)
This photo must be of Florence Crowell, the daughter of George Milford and Susie Batchelder (Cummings) Crowell, about 1936 when she was about 25 years old.
Family Search does not have a profile for Florence; however, Family Search identifies her parents as LWG5-5PY and 9V68-116 (George and Susan). Also, 19 Ancestry trees refer to Florence Sybil Crowell (1911-1968).
Besides this photo, I have added one additional photo of Florence to Dead Fred.
Comment: One of Florence’s children confirmed this to be a photo of Florence.
Mary Crowley, circa 1936
The negative envelope says, “Miss Mary Crowley, 18 Summer St., Portland #618.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Bartley J Crowley living at 18 Summer with his wife, Mary.
The 1930 US Census enumerated Bartley and Mary Crowley living 18 Summer with their four children. Patrick, Mark, Mary, and Martin. Mary, the daughter, was 20 years old, which fits the apparent age of the woman in the photograph.
Mary Crowley was born on 8 December 1909 in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine. The third child of Bartley and Mary (Concannon) Crowley.
Family Search identifies Mary Crowley, born 8 December 1909, and the daughter of Bartley J. and Mary (Quincannon) Crowley, as ID L1ZP-3K6. Also, 9 public Ancestry trees refer to Mary Concannon/Quincannon.
I have uploaded two photos of Mary to her Family Search Memories.
Willis, Phyllis, and Herbert Croteau, circa 1936.
The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. James Crotean (or Croteau), 186 Washington Ave, Portland #1007.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
I was not able to find James Croteau in the Portland City Directories. The 1938 directory indicates that Frances E Croteau, a seamstress at 155 Brackett, lived at 115 Washington Ave. Another Croteau listed was Willard J, an agent at 477 Congress, room 903, who apparently resided in Skowhegan.
The 1937 Portland City directory lists Croteau, Wilfred L (Frances F), employed by the City of Portland who lived at 115 Wash Av.
The 1936 Portland City Directory is missing page 256, the page that Croteau should be on.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Wilfred L (and Frances F) living at 186 Washington Ave.
The 1930 US Census lists Wilfred L. and Frances M Croteau living at 218 Presumpscot Street with their two children, Phyllis (age 1) and Herbert (age 0). The 22-year-old Wilfred was born in Canada, and his 17-year-old wife, Francis, and the children were all born in Maine.
The 1940 Census lists Frances Croteau, living at 115 Washington Ave with her daughter Phyllis and sons Herbert and Willis. With them is Frances’ 62-year-old mother, Maude Merrill. Frances is listed as divorced.
I’m convinced this photo is of Phyllis, Herbert, and Willis Croteau about 1936. Phyllis would have been about 8, Herbert about 6, and Willis about 3. I am not sure who James Croteau is that ordered/paid for the photograph.
Family Search does not appear to have profiles for any of the children of Frances E (Merrill) Croteau.
Phyllis M. Croteau, born 29 December 1928, is found in 3 Ancestry Trees
Herbert J. Croteau, born in 1930 to Wilfred and Frances E (Merrill) Croteau, is found in two Ancestry trees.
Update: According to another researcher, Wilfred liked to be called “Uncle Jimmy.” Additionally, his obituary indicated his wife was Annie Sue. Her Find-a-Grave memorial mentions her husband’s name as Jim Croteau. That researcher indicated that James Croteau of Washington Ave was Wilfred L. Croteau.
Joseph, Margaret, Robert, Katherine, and Philip Crozier, circa 1936
The envelope this negative was in says, “ Mrs. J. B., Crozier, 31 Taylor St., Portland #497.”
Joseph, Margaret, Robert, Katherine, and Philip Crozier, circa 1936
Why I believe this to be the individual.
The 1938 Portland City Directory lists Joseph B. Crozier and his wife, Mary H., living at 31 Taylor.
The 1940 US Census lists Joseph and Mary Crozier living at 31 Taylor Street with their five children
Joseph 18
Margaret 18
Robert 17
Catherine 15
Philip 14
This photo was taken about 1936 when the children were about four years younger.
Family Search does not appear to have profiles for any of the children nor either parent (Joseph or Mary).
The children of Joseph Francis Benedict and Mary Harriet (Faye) Crozier include:
Besides this photo, I have uploaded a second photo of the five children to Dead Fred. I’ve uploaded two more photos of the five children to my Flickr photostream. Additionally, I’ve uploaded one photo of Margaret and Katherine to Flickr. It is somewhat damaged, but Katherine’s image in the photo is really nice.
The Cumberland Club – 116 High Street, Portland, ME, circa 1936
The envelope this negative was in says, “ The Cumberland Club – High St. Portland #344 – Taken for Miss Noyes, The Sherwood, Park St.”
As a change from researching people, it was fun to see a building and see how much it hasn’t changed in the past 85 years.
The Cumberland Club is a private social club in Portland, Maine. It was built in 1800 as a private residence and organized as a club in 1877. This photo was taken about 1936.
The 1940 Portland City Directory indicates that The Cumberland Club was at 116 High Street. A look at that address on Google Maps proves that the building still stands.
I uploaded a second photo of the building to my Flickr photostream. This photo is a bit clearer, but it is damaged on the right side.
Conclusion
I identified one individual whose photo I posted to Family Search
I identified nine individuals whose photos I posted to Dead Fred.
One photo was of a building. I did identify the structure and posted two images of it to my Flickr photostream.
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.
Ancestry indicates that Becker is a Dutch, German, Danish, and Ashkenazic Jewish occupation name for a baker of bread or baker of bricks and tiles, which comes from the German word backen “to bake.” Ancestry mentions a couple of English meanings; however, this is one of those cases where knowing where your ancestors come from helps to understand the surname. In this case, there were nine generations of Beckers who all lived in Glarus, Switzerland, from 1624 to 1801. As such, I am completely ignoring the English origins and staying with the German heritage.
Geographical
Today, in the Canton of Glarus, there are 71 instances of people with the Becker surname. That is 1 in 548 people.[i]
In Switzerland, there are 1,520 incidents of Becker, making it one in just over 5,000 people in Switzerland who have the surname.
It is most prevalent in Germany and most frequent in Luxembourg, where one in 228 people have the surname.
5th great – 241. Anne Magdalena Becker (1745-1801)*
6th great – 482. Johannes Becker (1698-1750)*
7th great – 964. Johannes Becker (1665-1743)*
8th great – 1928. Hans Becker (1624-1694)*
9th great – 3856. Fridli Becker (1591-1673)*
10th great – 7712. Hans Becker (1550-1610)*
11th great – 15424. Fridolin Becker (1525-___)*
Note: Ancestors identified with “*” have NOT been confirmed and verified by my independent research. Their names and dates rely upon the work compiled by Patrick A. Wild.[ii]
Historical
All of the Becker ancestors in this line were born, lived, and died in Glarus, Switzerland.
The Alemanni (German) settled this area in the 8th century.
In 1531, following the Second War of Kappel, both Catholic and Protestant residents gained the right to worship. Both religious groups used the same town church, which created many problems over the centuries.[iii]
It is an area where the predominant language is the “Highest” dialect of Alemannic German (Swiss German).
Today
Glarus (town) is the picturesque capital of the Canton of Glarus. It is a small town of about 12,500 people nestled in a valley of the Linth River amongst the Glarus Alps, which rise 10,000 feet above the valley.[iv]
Glarus, [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons – Photo Credits: Samuel Trümpy Photography[v]
Direct Becker Descendants
Anna Magdalena Becker (1745-1801) married Fridolin Trümpy on 30 October 1767. I have not researched Anna and Fridolin in-depth to determine their children, other than Bernhard (see above).
Don Taylor’s Howell-Darling-2021 tree. The Howell-Darling-2020 tree is available on Ancestry.
Endnotes
[i]Forebears – 2014 data for surname Becker in Switzerland.
[ii] Patrick A. Wild, Descent of Mary-Alice Darling Howell from Charlemangne (Zurich, Switzerland, , 2021) and Patrick A. Wild, Pedigree Chart for Shirley Elizabeth Darling: Following the Trümpy line in Glarus (2021). Contact Glarnus Families Worldwide (https://www.glarusfamilytree.com/).
[v] Because I know there were at least four generations of Trümpy’s in Glarus related to my wife, and the photographer of this photo is a Trümpy, I suspect this photographer might be a cousin. It would be fun to make the connection.
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. As such, 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.
Dorothy Creamer, Nurse, circa 1937
This negative envelope says, “Miss Dorothy Creamer, State St Hospital, Portland #863.”
Dorothy Creamer, Nurse, circa 1937
Why I believe this to be the individual.
The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Dorothy Creamer as a student nurse at 62 State and residing at 52 State.
The 1940 US Federal Census reports 23-year-old Dorothy Creamer as a Registered Nurse lodging at 145 Spring Street.
The 1930 US Federal Census reports 13-year-old Dorothy L Creamer living with her parents, Milton J. and Hattie E. Creamer, in Waldoboro, Lincoln County, Maine. Additionally, the census reports Dorothy A Creamer as the 13-year-old niece of Everett P. and Myrtle Creamer living in Embden, Somerset County, Maine.
Dorothy L Creamer married Merrill S. Harrington on 28 February 1942. Dorothy A. Creamer of Calais, ME, married Earl F. Gaddis on 21 November 1936.
So this photo must be of Dorothy Creamer, daughter of Milton J. and Hattie E. Creamer and later wife of Merrill S. Harrington about 1937 when she graduated from nursing school.
Alternatives
I do not believe this is Dorothy Creamer, daughter of Everet and Myrtle Cream, because she married Earl Gaddis in 1936 and appears with him in the 1940 Census.
Disposition
Family Search identifies Dorothy L. Creamer, the daughter of Milton James and Hattie Elsie (Rines) Creamer, as ID L2FJ-5YB. I uploaded this photo to her Family Search Memories. Eight trees at Ancestry.Com mention Dorothy Creamer.
Charles J. Crandon, ca. 1937
The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. Chas Crandon, 35 Pennell Ave, Portland #573.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Charles J. Crandon, ca. 1937
The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Charles J. Crandon (and his wife Nina E.) living at 35 Pennell Ave.
The 1938 Portland City Directory lists Charles and Nina living at 25 Cypress.
The 1940 US Census enumerated the 35-year-old Charles, still living with his wife, Nina, at 25 Cypress.
Charles J. Crandon, the spouse of Nina Leola Elwell, was born on 28 May 1904.
This photo was taken about 1937 when Charles was about 33 years old.
Family Search identifies Charles J. Crandon, husband of Nina Leola Elwell, and who lived in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine, in 1940 as id LT32-VF6. Seventeen trees at Ancestry.Com mention Charles J. Crandon.
The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. W. J. Croft, 150 Park St, Portland #203.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
W. J. (William Joseph) Croft, circa 1937
The 1935 Portland City Directory indicates that Mary A Kyle married William J. Croft.
The 1936 Portland City Directory reports William Croft, an account investigator at 515 Congress and residing at 150 Park. It is odd, but not unheard of, that he is listed, but his wife is not.
In the 1940 Census, William J. Croft and his wife Mary lived in Baltimore, Maryland.
William J. Croft, born in England, lived in Baltimore, but died in Portland, Maine, on 23 August 1956. His high requiem mass was held in Portland, and he was buried in Calvary Cemetery in South Portland.[iii]
William Joseph Croft, who died on 23 August 1956, was born on 31 December 1904. This photo was taken about 1937 when William Joseph Croft was about 33 years old.
Alternative Individuals
There was a William Croft, born about 1889 in Canada and immigrated to the US in 1904. In 1910 he was a private in the US Army stationed at Fort McKinley. I do not believe this is the same William Croft as the man in the photo looks younger than 50, and there are no other references to that William Croft in the Portland, Maine, area.
Disposition
Family Search does not appear to have a profile for William Joseph Croft, born 31 December 1904 and the husband of Mary Ann Kraft. However, two trees at Ancestry.Com refer to him.
I have included W. J. Croft’s photo here and also uploaded it to Dead Fred.
Genevieve Crosman, circa 1934
The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Chas. Crosman, 459 St. John St., Portland, ME #379.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Genevieve Crosman, circa 1934
The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Charles S Crosman, a clerk at 516 Congress, living with his wife, Bernice, at 459 St. John.
The 1940 US Census shows Charles S Crossman and his wife, Bernice, living at 51 Roberts Street. With them is their six-year-old daughter Genevieve L Crossman.
Further research found that Genevieve Lillas Crosman was born on 8 October 1933 to Charles Staples and Bernice M (White) Crosman.
Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Genevieve Lillas Crosman; however, her parents are identified – Charles S Crossman as id L17D-8T3 and Bernice M White as GSQP-PLS. One tree at Ancestry.Com refers to Genevieve Crosman.
I have uploaded one photo of Genevieve Crosman to Dead Fred.
Elizabeth J. Crawford, circa 1937 (age 8)
The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. J. C. Crawford, 128 Glenwood Ave, Portland #102.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Elizabeth J. Crawford, circa 1937 (age 8)
The 1936 Portland City Directory lists John C Crawford, a Manager at 615 Forest Ave, and his wife, Gladys E, living at 128 Glenwood Ave.
The 1930 US Census lists John C Crawford, his wife Gladys E, and their daughter Elizabeth J. Crawford.
Further research found that Elizabeth J. Crawford, daughter of John Caleb and Gladys E (Legrow) Crawford, was born on 3 July 1929.
Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Elizabeth J. Crawford. There are nine trees at Ancestry.Com that refer to Elizabeth J. Crawford, the daughter of John C and Gladys E (Legrow) Crawford.
I estimate this photo was taken about 1937 when Elizabeth was about eight years old. I have added her picture to Dead Fred.
Conclusion
I identified two individuals with Family Search profiles that I uploaded photos to their “Memories.”
I also identified three individuals that did not have Family Search profiles, so I posted those photos to Dead Fred.
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] The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland) 26 Aug 1956, Page 37.
“Donna in the News” is my reporting of newly found newspaper articles and advertising regarding my grandmother, Madonna Montran (Donna Montran and 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 researched “Chin Chin,” the show Donna joined in October 1919, while it was already on tour. Thanks to Newspapers.com, I was able to learn of seven new appearances of “Chin Chin.”
The Greeley showing was an exciting find because the theater wasn’t identified. On November 27, 1919, the Windsor Beacon (Windsor, CO) reported:
The Windsor Beacon, Windsor, CO – Nov 27, 1919
MANY TAKE IN SHOW AT GREELEY FRIDAY NIGHT —–
“Chin Chin” was the attraction which took many Windsor people to Greeley last Friday night. Among those known to have attended were:
Dr. and Mrs. T. B. Gormly…
(Note: Windsor is about ten miles northwest of Greeley.)
Followup
The 1921 Julius Cahn-Gus Hill Theatrical Guide reports Both the “Republican” and the “Tribune” as newspapers that serviced Greeley. I’ll need to find sources for those newspapers when I write more about “Chin Chin” playing in Greeley.
Because of those newly available online articles, I was able to add another seven venues for Donna’s “Chin Chin” tour.
New information added to her career list:
Nov 1, 1919 – Bloomington, IL – Chatterton Opera House
Nov 3, 1919 – Streator, IL – Plumb
Nov 4, 1919 – Dixon, IL – Dixon Opera House
Nov 5, 1919 – Cedar Rapids, IA – Greene’s
Nov 6, 1919 – Des Moines, IA – Berchel
Nov 21, 1919 – Greeley, Colorado – (Sterling or Rex Theatre)
[i]Vaudeville Trails Thru the West “By one who knows” – Herbert Lloyd, page 98, reports only one theatre in Greeley, Colorado, the Sterling Theatre. It indicates the Sterling operated on Thursday for a 3PM matinee and an 8:15 PM night show. This could have been a special Friday night show. Alternately, the 1921 Julius Cahn-Gus Hill Theatrical Guide for 1921 indicates that a second theater, the Rex Theatre, J. Lynch, Mgr. had a seating capacity of 800 and also played Traveling Companies.
One of my first process activities in reviewing an ancestor’s life is to follow the individual through all of the available census records. Often this can be difficult, but in the case of Albert Bodge, it was pretty easy.
This week for Photo Friday, I identify the people in four more envelopes and a building from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection
