Photo Friday – Brown, Curtis (née Pednault), Dean, & Dinsmore.

Posted on May 31, 2024 by Don Taylor

Linwood Dyer Collection – Part 016
By Don Taylor

This week, for Photo Friday, I identified the people in five photos from the Linwood Dyer Collection. This collection includes hundreds of photos, documents, and genealogies of people who lived in Scarborough, South Portland, and Cape Elizabeth, Maine. My desire is to analyze the images and reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image. The originals in this collection are held by the Scarborough Historical Society.

Newton & Grace (Pednault) Curtis, 1966.

Photo of Newton & Grace Curtis at their 25th wedding annaversary
Newton & Grace Curtis 25th wedding annaversary – Feb 1966.

The photo identifying information includes:

  • (The photographer is unidentified.)
  • Handwritten on the back is, “Newton Curtis, 164 Marrett – w-brook.”
  • Included with the photo is a newspaper clipping from the Portland Express, dated Feb 18, 1966, “Westbrook Business Couple Mark 25 Years of Marriage.”
Clipping regarding Newton & Grace Curtis 25th Wedding Annaversary celebration.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

I added this photo to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree on Ancestry.

Newton Curtis Family & Martha Brown, 1951(?)

Photo of the Newton Curtis Family, winter clothes, snowbanks around.
Newton & Grace Curtis, 3 children & Cousin Martha Brown

The photo identifying information includes:

  • Handwritten on the back is, “Grace Pednault Curtis, Newton Curtis, their 3 children
  • Stephen, Carolyn, Newt JR & cousin Martha Brown about 1951.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Previous research has identified this family group, however, I don’t see how Martha relates to Newton, Grace, or the children. Hopefully, her relationship will become evident with further research.

I have added this photo to my Linwood Dyer Collection tree on Ancestry.

Newton Curtis, Jr., 1947.

The photo identifying information includes:

Photo of a baby, about 2 years old.
Newton Curtis, Jr. age 2.
  • The studio says, “An Etchcraft by Harvard.”
  • Handwritten on the bottom reads, “Newton Gibbin Curtis, Jr. – 1947.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • This is the last of the Curtis photos that I have in this collection.
  • The 1950 Census lists Newton Curtis, Jr. as two years old, living with his parents, Newton and Grace Curtis, at 143 Lamb in Westbrook, Maine.

I added this photo of Newton, Jr., to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree on Ancestry.

Bernice Irene Dean, 1932.

The photo identifying information includes:

Photo of a young (high school) girl
Bernice Irene Dean – 1932
  • The photographer is Kahill Studios, Portland, Me.
  • Handwritten on the back is “Bernice Irene Dean, South Portland High School, Graduate, 1932.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1932 South Portland High School yearbook show this same photo for Bernice Irene Dean “Bunny”
  • Ancestry family trees identify Bernice Irene Dean as the daughter of Charles Roy and Eva Beryl (Harrison) Dean. She was born on 15 Dec 1913 in Portland, Maine.

Ancestry has 10 public trees that refer to Bernice Irene “Bunny” Dean. I uploaded this photo of “Bunny” to my Linwood Dyer Collection tree.

Nellie Dinsmore, circa 1898.

The photo identifying information with this cabinet card is:

Photo of a nurse, circa 1890s.
Nellie Dinsmore c. 1895
  • The photographer is L. & W. C. King, Portland, Maine.
  • The cabinet card has embossed borders and lettering, suggesting it was taken after 1890 and likely before 1900.
  • The young woman, in the photo might have a nurse’s hat on. She appears to be about 20 years old.
  • Handwritten on the back is “Nellie Dinsmore.”

Alternate Individuals.

There are two candidates for this photo:

  • b. 1870 – The 1898 Portland, Maine, City Directory lists Miss Nellie M. Dinsmore, a nurse who roomed at 21 Wilmot. Further research indicates she was born in Jackson, NH, about 1870 and married William Burroughs, of Sanford, Maine, on 23 May 1901. Her marriage record indicates she was a nurse.
  • b. 1872 – Nellie E Smith married William Albine Dinsmore on 16 Aug 1893 in Westbrook. She would have been between 18 and 28 when this photo was taken. She was the daughter of Francis and Margaret (Welch) Smith. She too is a possible candidate.

Because I believe the woman in this photo is wearing a nurse’s cap, is the right age, and whose occupation was nurse when she married, I believe this photo is of Nellie M. Dinsmore (1870-1904). However, because there is another (possible) candidate, I am not 100% certain the photo is of Nellie M Dinsmore (1870-1904), I have uploaded this photo to Dead Fred only. If you can confirm the identification of this young woman based upon other photos, I’d love to hear from you.

Conclusion

  • I identified all six of the 8 individuals in this photo set. Four of the photos I’ve uploaded to my Linwood Dyer Collection Ancestry tree.
  • One photo, I’m about 98% sure is Nellie M. Dinsmore (1870-1904), so I uploaded her photo to Dead Fred.
  • One person, I know the name of and that she is a cousin, but I couldn’t fully identify 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.

Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Ancestry and Dead Fred have higher quality than those linked here.

 

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Remembering Mary (Lyons) Daly (1866-1940)

Posted on May 24, 2024 by Don Taylor

Welch-Harris Project
In the News

Today, we remember Mary (Lyons) Daley, who died 84 years ago.

The Biddeford Daily Journal (Biddeford, ME), dated May 24, 1940, reported:

Mrs. Mary Daly Died Today

Image of Newspaper Clipping
Biddeford Daily Journal 24 May 1940

Mrs. Mary Daly, widow of Timothy Daly, a well-known resident of this city and member of St. Marys parish, died this morning at a local hospital.

Mrs. Daly had been seriously ill since last July, but had been showing improvement until last week when she suffered a sudden reverse and since last Friday her condition had been steadily failing.

She was born in Cork, Ireland, and came to this country when a young girl. A few weeks ago she observed her 74th birth anniversary.

She was a member of the Assumption sodality and in the interests of the parish.

Mrs. Daly leaves three daughters, Mrs. Julia Welch, Miss Mary Daly, and Miss Nora Daly, and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 9 o’clock Monday morning at St. Marys church.

What I learned:

Mary was born in County Cork, Ireland, about 1866. [1]
Mary fell ill in July 1939.
Mary died at a local hospital.

Mary Daly was a Catholic and attended St. Mary’s Church. First known as the Church of the Assumption, it was built in 1856 and was destroyed by a fire. It was rebuilt in 1923 and dedicated in 1926. [2]

The Assumption Sodality is a religious body that aims to foster in its members an ardent devotion, reverence, and love towards the Blessed Virgin Mary—the society which began in 1563. [3]

Endnotes

[1] Mary’s birth in 1866 is in conflict with some other records that place her birth in 1862 and 1865. Mary’s birthdate needs further analysis.
[2] Internet: St. Mary’s Church, Biddeford, Maine – The Museum in the Streets®.
[3] Internet: Our Lady of the Assumption Sodality, Phoenix, AZ, “The History of Sodality.”

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Photo Friday – Curtis (née Pedneault)

Posted on May 24, 2024 by Don Taylor

Linwood Dyer Collection – Part 015
Photo Friday
By Don Taylor

This week, for Photo Friday, I analyzed the people in five photos from the Linwood Dyer Collection. This collection includes hundreds of photos, documents, and genealogies of people who lived in Scarborough, South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, & Westbrook, Maine. I like to analyze the images and, hopefully, reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image. The originals in this collection are held by the Scarborough Historical Society.

Grace (Pedneault) Curtis, 1944 (age 26).

There is no photographer information with this photo.

Grace (Pedneault) Curtis, 1944.

Handwritten on the back it says: “Grace Pedneault Curtis – taken for & sent to – Pvt Newton G. Curtis – stationed in Paris – during World War II – About February 17, 1944 – Our anniversary.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • A review of Ancestry Public Trees quickly found Newton G. Curtis, who married Grace Alice Pedneault on 17 Feb 1941 in Westbrook, Maine. Grace was born on 10 July 1917 in Westbrook.

I am confident this photo is of Grace (Pedneault) Curtis taken when she was 26 years old.

I uploaded her photo to my Linwood Dyer Collection Family Tree.

Grace (Pedneault) & Newton Curtis, 1942 & 1944.

Grace & Newton Curtis, 1944/
Newton & Grace Curtis, 1942.

There were two photos in a single cardboard photo frame. Photo identifying information includes:

  • Photo 1 – “Taken in South Portland – 1942.” In another pen and hand, it says “Aug 30, 1942.”
  • Photo 2 – “In So. Carolina, July 1944, Camp Craft – Grace & Newton Curtis.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Newton & Grace Curtis are already in my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree.

I am confident these photos are of Newton and Grace (Pedneault) Curtis taken in 1942 and again in 1944 while Newton was in the service.

I uploaded their photos to my Linwood Dyer Collection Family Tree.

Newton Curtis, 1936 & c. 1942

Private Newton Curtis, ca. 1942.
Newton Curtis, ca. 1935.

Photo identifying information on the back reads:

  • Photo 1 – “Newton G Curtis – 1936 or 35.”
  • As I went through the photos, I discovered another photo of Newton (Photo 2). Handwritten inside it reads, “Pvt Newton Curtis – 1/9 94” I don’t know what the numbers mean, but this is clearly a photo of Newton while he was in the service, probably 1942.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Newton Curtis is already in my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree.

I am confident these photos are of Newton Curtis taken in 1935 or 1936 and 1942. So, I uploaded these photo to my Linwood Dyer Collection Family Tree.

Conclusion

  • I changed my process somewhat. Rather than taking the photos as they were, I started alphabetizing them and grouping them in folders. In this case, I was able to combine 5 photos all dealing with the Newton Curtis family. I’ll continue working with surnames in groups in the hope of reducing my research time.
  • I identified the two individuals in these five photos. I have created entries for them in my Linwood Dyer Collection tree on Ancestry.com.

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 have higher quality than those linked here.

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Photo Friday – Baker, Chadbourne, Collins, & Cragg

Posted on May 17, 2024 by Don Taylor

Linwood Dyer Collection – Part 014
By Don Taylor

This week, for Photo Friday, I researched the people in five photographs from the Linwood Dyer Collection. This collection includes hundreds of photos, documents, and genealogies of people who lived in Scarborough, South Portland, and Cape Elizabeth, Maine. I desire to research the images and reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the photo. The originals in this collection are held by the Scarborough Historical Society.

David Keith Baker, c. 1942

The photo identifying information includes:

Photo of David Baker as a young man.
David Keith Baker, c. 1942
  • Handwritten on the Back is, “David Baker.”
  • With the photo were six newspaper clippings related to David Keith Baker.
  • Three clippings include photos of David at age 26, 40, and probably in his late 50s.

According to his obituary

  • David Keith Baker was a composer, pianist, and music teacher who lived in New York when he died in 1988.
  • He was the son of Richard Mason and Theodora Cooper Baker.
  • He graduated from Cape Elizabeth High School.
  • He served in the Navy during WW II.
  • His sister, Sally Baker McAllaster survived him.

Ancestry has three public trees that refer to David Keith Baker. Family Search has profile GXW7-5PX for David K Baker, son of Richard Mason & Theodora (Cooper) Baker. I uploaded his photo to his Family Search Memories.

Chadbourne woman, Sanford, Maine, circa 1895.

Photo of a woman sitting in a chair circa 1895
Cadbourne wome from Sanford, Maine.

The photo identifying information includes:

  • This cabinet card was taken at the F. C. Philpot Studio, Sanford, Maine.
  • Handwritten on the back is “Chadbourne.”

What I learned about this photo.

  • The 1900 US Census indicates there were 8 females enumerated in Sanford, York County.
    • Flora M Chadbourne, 40, wife of Bernard.
    • Mary H Chadbourne, 38, wife of George.
    • Ruth M. Chadbourne, 78, Mother of George.
    • Georgie Chadbourne, 51, divorced, mother of Nila.
    • Nila E Chadbourne, 18, Daughter of Georgie.
    • Gertrude Chadbourne, 24, Boarding with Joseph E Dovons.
    • Priscilla A Chadbourne, 25, (apparent) wife of Lester.
  • Ira A Chadbourne, 2, (apparent) daughter of Lester.

The 1893 Sanford Directory lists Fred C. Philpot as a photographer. He also appears in many Sanford Tribune newspaper articles.  

I believe that Ruth was too old to be the woman in this photo and that Ira was too young. However, depending on when this cabinet card was taken (1880-1910), it could be any of the other six women. I searched for photos of the six women by name and a Google Lens search for the photo and did not find a match to this photo.

I have not identified the individual in this photo sufficiently to upload to either Family Search or Dead Fred, so I only uploaded it to my Flickr Photostream.

Amy Collins, Caribou, ME, circa 1897.

The small photo (image size 2.25” x 2.25”) identifying information includes:

Photo of a woman, Amy Collins of Caribou, Maine.
Amy Collins of Caribou, Maine, ca. 1897.
  • The photographer was Flag & Plummer, 138 Lisbon St., Lewiston, ME.
  • Handwritten on the back is, “Amy Collins, Caribou, ME.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1900 US Census lists Amy Collins, age 33, living in Caribou, Aroostook County, Maine, with her brother William and mother Mary Collins.
  • Maine Vital Records indicate that Amy Collins died on 22 Nov 1900 in Caribou.
  • Newspaper Search found:
    • 1895-09-26 – Aroostook Republican – Amy returned to Maine General Hospital.
    • 1896-07-16 – Aroostook Republican – Amy visiting from Portland.
    • 1896-07-30 – Aroostook Republican – Amy returned to Maine General Hospital.
    • 1897-09-02 – Aroostook Republican –Amy recently graduated from nurse’s training at MGH and returned to Portland.
    • 1897-09-09 0 Aroostook Republican – Amy visited friends in Limestone.
    • 1898-05-05 – Aroostook Republican – Amy visited Mrs. Geo H. Smith at Presque Isle.
    • 1898-05-26 – Aroostook Republican – Amy was the nurse in charge of Mr. Page’s care.
    • 1900-11-15 – Aroostook Republican – Amy is very ill with typhoid fever.

Amy Collins of Caribou traveled considerably between Cumberland and Aroostook counties.

I have been unable to find any other Amy Collins in Maine during the late 1800s. As such, I believe this photo is of Amy Collins, born on 23 April 1867 to David and Mary (Hart) Collins.

Ancestry has nine public trees that refer to Amy Irene Collins and Family Search has profile LDLD-6SC for her.  I am not 100% certain that this photo is of this specific Amy Collins, so I uploaded this to Dead Fred.

Beatrice Cragg, circa 1910 (age 14?)

Photo of a young woman, Beatrice Cragg of Portland, Maine.
Beatrice Cragg, circa 1910 (age 14?)

The photo identifying information includes:

  • The photographer is “The Lamson Studio, Portland, Me.”
  • Handwritten on the back is “Beatrice Cragg, Portland, Maine.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1910 US Census lists 14-year-old Beatrice B Cragg, daughter of John F & Isabel J Cragg. The household also includes John’s nephew, Louis H Cragg. They are the only two Craggs listed in the City Directories from 1910 to 1925.
  • Maine Birth Records indicate that Beatrice Baker Cragg was born on 7 August 1895 in Portland.

Ancestry has no public trees but does have one private tree that refers to Beatrice Baker Cragg. Family Search has profile GFSG-LJ2 for Beatrice. I uploaded this photo of Beatrice to her Family Search Memories.

Three women, Ina, Ginny, & Grace, aboard the “Dalmatia,” 1971.

Photo of three women at a dining table on a ship.
Ina, Ginny, & Grace aboard the Dalmatia – 1971

The photo identifying information includes:

  • Printed on the front is ms-Dalmatia.
  • Handwritten on the back is, “Ina, Ginny Grace – board ‘Dalmatia.’”
  • Also handwritten on the back, “Feb 1971.”

What I learned from researching this photo:

  • ShipIndex.org has 44 ship citations for Dalmatia. Most were built in the 1800s and were not in service in 1971.
  • The photo looks like three women, Ina, Ginny, & Grace in their 30s.

Without surnames, I am unable to identify any of them.

I only include the individual’s photo here. Please contact me using the comment form below for a higher quality (4060 × 2658) image.

Conclusion

  • I identified two individuals and uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories.
  • One photo was probably identified. But not being 100% certain I uploaded her photo to Dead Fred.
  • One photo is probably one of six different women. I uploaded her photo to my Flickr Photostream.
  • Finally, one photo has three unidentified women.

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 Family Search, Dead Fred, and Flickr have higher quality than those linked here.

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Photo Friday – Dyer, Libby, Pillsbury, & Talbot

Posted on May 10, 2024 by Don Taylor

Linwood Dyer Collection – Part 13
By Don Taylor

This week, for Photo Friday, I tried to identify the people in five more photos from the Linwood Dyer Collection. This collection includes hundreds of photos, documents, and genealogies of people who lived in Scarborough, South Portland, and Cape Elizabeth, Maine. I desire to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image. The originals in this collection are held by the Scarborough Historical Society.

Linwood Dyer, 1983

The photo identifying information includes:

A photo of Linwood Dyer, circa 1983, He has a "mutton chops" beard and quite long hair.
Linwood Dyer, circa 1983.
  • [No photographer or studio was noted.]
  • Lynwood [sic] Dyer – Director – Choreographer – Set Designer.
  • Gypsy – Portland Lyric Theatre – Feb 17-Mar 12, 1983.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • When I first saw this photo, I was surprised. I’ve seen many photos of Linwood Dyer, but never of him sporting mutton chops. But yes, looking at his eyes and facial shape, it is definitely Linwood Dyer.

Family Search has profile G8D8-BBK for Linwood. I uploaded this photo to his Family Search Memories.

Lucy Libby, circa 1900.

The photo identifying information includes:

  • The photographer is H.M. Smith, Portland, ME.
  • Handwritten on the back it says, “Mrs. Lucy Libby, Portland, Maine.
Photo of a woman, probably in her 60s, named Lucy Libby.
Lucy Libby, circa 1900.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1890 Portland City directory lists two “Mrs. Lucy E. Libbys”.
    • One’s home is on Congress, beyond Broad, Stroudwater.
    • The other lived at a boarding house at 104 Oak.
    • However, it does not list H.M. Smith as a photographer.
  • The 1900 Portland City Directory lists Howard M. Smith as a photographer. It also lists the two Lucy E Libbys.
    • Lucy E., widow of Amos, h. 1532 Congress
    • Lucy E., widow of Edmund P., h. 17½ Forest av.
  • The 1900 US Census lists
    • Lucy E Libby living at 1532 Congress with her brother-in-law, Lewis Skillin. His wife is Hattie. Lucy is 63 years old.
    • Lucy E Libby living at 17½ Green Street. She is 66 years old, widowed, and living with her is her 46-year-old son, Augustus.
    • Lucy A Libby, wife of Samuel Libby, living at 5 Prospect Street. She is 66 years old.
    • Another Lucy E Libby, age 22 is boarding at 108 Federal. She is married and her apparent husband is Walter H Libby.
  • Other findings:
    • Find a Grave lists, Lucy Ellen (Trickey) Libby (1836-1917), whose husband was Corp Amos Libby (1834-1861) and whose sister was Harriet “Hattie” Trickey Skillin.
    • US Marriage records indicate that Lucy E Winslow married Edmund P Libby on 3 July 1853.
    • Lucy Ann Hunnewell married Samuel Libby on 21 November 1860. The couple lived at 5 Prospect Street in Portland in 1900. Both she and Samuel died in 1902. Both are buried in Scarborough, Maine.

I believe this photo is of either Lucy (Trickey) Libby or Lucy (Winslow) Libby taken some time about 1900, although it is possible it is a photo of Lucy (Hunnewell) Libby. Without seeing any comparison photos of Lucy I cannot determine which Lucy Libby this is a photo of. I uploaded this photo to Dead Fred. Hopefully, a family member of either Lucy Libby will be able to confirm a positive identification of the woman in this photo.

Unknown Man.

The photo identifying information includes:

  • The front says McKenney, 12 Market Sqr. Portland.
  • The card is about 2.5” x 4.0,” with rounded corners at the bottom, suggesting it is a carte-de-visits from about the 1870s.
Photo of a young man, probably in his 20s that has not been identified.

What I learned while researching this photograph.

  • The 1880 Census lists Albert M McKenney, a photographer, residing at 12 Market Square. He is 60 and his 39-year-old wife is Louisa J. The 1881 Portland City Directory indicates A.M. McKenney’s studio and residence were both at 12 Market Square.
  • Albert was 60 in 1880, indicating he was born about 1820. The man in this photo appears to be younger than 46, so I am quite sure this is not Albert McKenney. Rather this is just the manner Albert indicated his studio’s name and location.

If you know this person’s identification and would like a higher-quality image than the web-sized image here, let me know using the comment form below.

(Probably) John Pillsbury of Boston, MA

The photo identifying information includes:

  • The photographer is Conly, 465 Washington St., Boston
  • Handwritten on the back is “John? Pillsbury”

What I learned when researching this photo:

Photo of a man in his 30s or 40s.
(Probably) John Pillsbury of Boston, MA
  • The 1880 US Census indicates there were two John Pillsbury’s living in Boston.
    • John C. Pillsbury was born about 1856.
    • John D. Pillsbury was born about 1851.
  • A John H. Pillsbury also lived in Boston; he died in 1869 at the age of 35.

This photo could easily be any one of the three John Pillsbury mentioned above. Also, the name written on the back has a question mark by “John” suggesting the person making the identification wasn’t certain of the identification.

I have not identified the individual in this photo sufficiently to upload to either Family Search or Dead Fred, so I only include the individual’s photo here. If you are interested in a higher-quality image, please let me know through the comments below.

George Bird Talbot, circa 1890.

Photo of a young child, about 1 years old.
George Talbot, c. 1890.

The photo identifying information includes:

  • The photographer is Partridge.
  • Handwritten on the back is “George Talbot.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • William Partridge had a photography business in Boston by 1878, left for a few years then returned to Boston and had his studio there from 1886 to 1914.
  • I have researched George Talbot previously. (See George Bird Talbot in my “Morse (née Milliken) & Talbot” post.

I am quite certain this photo is of George Bird Talbot (1889-1973) taken when he was about one (c. 1890). I uploaded this photo to his Family Search Memories.

Conclusion

  • I identified two of the five individuals. They have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories.
  • One is likely one of three different Lucy’s. I uploaded her image to Dead Fred.
  • One is possibly one of two different John Pillsbury’s.
  • Finally, I was unable to identify one individual. He remains unknown.

I’d 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 Family Search and Dead Fred have a higher quality image than those linked here.

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