Donna Darling Collection – Part 72

Posted on September 10, 2020 by Don Taylor

Fisher’s Appleton, Appleton, WI & The Lyric, East Saint Louis, IL

Treasure Chest Thursday
By Don Taylor

For this week’s Treasure Chest Tuesday, I’m looking at three clippings from the Donna Darling Collection.

Fisher’s Appleton

This first clipping has no date and no location. However, the key to determining location is that the program was printed by “Petersen-Bauer Printing Co. (Phone 1592).” A quick Google search of the internet found that the Petersen-Bauer Printing Company was in Appleton, Wisconsin.  From previous research, I knew that Donna played in Appleton at Fisher’s Appleton from December 1st to December 3rd, 1924. So, I’m quite certain that this clipping is from that show.

The Lyric

Next are two clippings on the same page in the scrapbook. They both relate to The Lyric Theatre.

Neither clipping indicates what city or what date.

The venue is the Lyric Theatre. It is advertised as “The Cool Lyric.”

  • The show is the “Donna Darling and Girls” – Presenting her Little Revue.

Also, on the bill:

    • Montie – Moments of Syncopation
    • Taylor and Owens – Comedy Singing and Talking
    • Dippy Diers and Bennett – The Inimitable Pantomimist
    • Paul Godt at the Mighty Organ
    • Parsons’ Syncopators – The Best Orchestra in Southern Illinois
    • The movie is Shore Leave starring Richard Barthelmess

Next is an article clipping

BARTHELMESS HERE IN COMEDY AT LYRIC

On the Stage.

The feature attraction on the bill at the Lyric which, opened yesterday is Dona Darling and Her Girls, who present a fast-colorful revue. Miss Darling’s “Don t Care Whose Papa” is put over very good. The “Evolution of the Bathing’ Suit”, showing the kind that were worn in I860 and 1900 is very cleverly done. They also show the Dutch, French and Gypsy bathing girls, which leads up to the ultra-flapper bathing girl of 1925. The girls in the act are exceptionally good dances, and Miss Darling has a very pleasing voice. Their Hawaiian bathing girl and their harmony singing of “The Ukulele Lady” went over big yesterday. They close with an original Hawaiian Charleston dance. All in all, this is one of the best revues seen here this season….

Analysis

The advertisement clipping mentions “Paul Godt at the Mighty Organ” and mentions “Parsons’ Syncopators.” Both of which relate to the Lyric Theatre in East Saint Louis. Shore Leave, starring Richard Barthelmess was released in September 1925.[i]  Donna is known to have played in Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois and Nebraska during September 1925. As such, it is easy to suspect she played in East St. Louis at that time. It doesn’t appear that there are any East Saint Louis newspapers available online. It doesn’t appear that there are any East Saint Louis papers currently available online.

Conclusion

So, for the first clipping I’ll add a date to the clipping and incorporate the clipping when I write about Donna’s playing in Appleton, Wisconsin.

For the second (and third) clippings, I’ll add the following entry to her itinerary as:

TBD – Probably Sept or Oct 1925 – East Saint Louis, Illinois – Lyric Theatre – Donna Darling and Girls presenting Her Little Revue. DDC-72.

Actions

  • Continue to monitor for the availability of newspapers from East Saint Louis in September 1925.

Sources

[i] IMDB Shore Leave (1925) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0016346/accessed 12 Aug 2020.

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Ancestor Sketch – John Parsons, Jr.

Posted on September 8, 2020 by Don Taylor

Brown/Sanford/Parsons Line
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.One of my processes is to tentatively accept conflicting data regarding an individual. As I continue my research, I look for info to help corroborate either fact. When I finally do my ancestor sketch, I analyze the conflicting facts and make a decision as to what I think is correct and provide my analysis bout what I think is incorrect and why.  In the case of John Parsons, Junior, I have conflicting facts regarding both John’s birth and his death.  But, more about that in a bit.

Roberts/Brown – Ancestor #204

List of Grandparents

  • 6 – Grandfather: Clifford Brown| aka Richard Earl Durand | aka Richard Earl Brown (1903-1990)
  • 12 – 1st Great-grandfather: Arthur Durwood Brown(1869-1928)
  • 25 – 2nd Great-grandmother: Marion Sanford(1846- c. 1895)
  • 51 – 3rd Great-grandmother: Mary E Parsons(1828-1888)
  • 102 – 4th Great-grandfather: Chester Parsons (1799-1887)
  • 204 – 5th Great-grandfather: John Parsons, Jr. (1764-1813)
  • 408 – 6th Great-grandfather: John Parsons, Sr.
  • 816 – 7th Great-grandfather: Timothy Parsons*[i]
  • 1632 – 8th Great-grandfather: Samuel Parsons*
  • 3264 – 9th Great-grandfather: Joseph Parsons*
  • 6528 – 10th Great-grandfather: William Parsons*

John Parsons (1764-1813)

Birth

John Parsons, Jr., was born on 18 November 1764, the third child of John and Hannah (Wadsworth) Parsons. Some researchers have suggested he was born in Windham, Greene County, New York[ii]; however, I’m sure he was born in Sandisfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Five of John’s siblings were all born in Sandisfield, including siblings both older and younger.  John moved to Windham in 1802, so it is easy to understand how someone could have make a mistake and entered the wrong place.

It must have been exciting times that John grew up in. His father was a lieutenant in the Massachusetts Militia during the Revolution. Samuel Wolcott’s. Living in far western Massachusetts, I suspect that young John was eager for the latest in news of the Revolution.

Sadness did strike in 1777, when John was 12 years old, and his mother died.

There is probably a romantic story to find about John’s courting of Mary Wolcott, the daughter of his father’s Captain during the Revolution. In any event, although it is not clear when John and Mary married. The birth of their first child, Samuel, in April 1789 suggests John and Mary likely married in 1788. John and Mary had seven children:

Children of John & Mary (Wolcott) Parsons, Jr.

Child Born
Samuel 1789 – Sandisfield, MA
Polly 1792 – Sandisfield, MA
Orrin 1794 – Sandisfield, MA
John 1796 – Sandisfield, MA
Chester 1799 – Sandisfield, MA
Parmelia 1805 – Windham, NY
Prudence 1808  – Windham, NY

1790 Census

John and his father were both enumerated as heads of households next to each other in the 1790 Census.

Parsons, John, Jr. 1 1 1

The John Parsons, Jr. household consisted of:

  • One male 16 & older, who has to be the head of the household, John Jr.
  • One male under age 16, who apears to be Samuel who was born in born 1789.
  • One female who appears to be John’s wife, Mary.

1800 Census

By 1800, the John Parsons, Jr. household had grown.

John Parsons, Jr.  3 1 – 1 – | 1 – – 1 –

Three males under 10:   Likely Orrin (Age 5), John (Age 4), & Chester (Age 0)

One male, age 10-16:     Likely Samuel (Age 13)

One male, age 26-45:     Obviously, John Jr. (Age 36) who is the head of the household.

One female under 10:     Likely Mary/Polly (Age 8)

One female 26-45:       Clearly Mary (age 33) his wife.

In 1802 John and his family moved from Sandisfield to Windham, Greene County, New York.

1810 Census

I have searched at length for John in the 1810 Census. I have not been successful in discovering John Parsons (Jr.) in the 1810 Census. I believe he is probably living with one of his children in Greene County, New York. As such, if I research each of his wife and all of his children, I may well find John living in someone else’s household.

Death

John Parsons died on 7 April 1813 in Windham, Greene County, New York. He was buried in section 1 at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery (also known as the Ashland Cemetery), about 2 and a half miles west of Windham. He was survived by hie wife, Mary, all seven of his children, and his father.

Events by Location


Massachusetts, Berkshire County, Sandisfield Town – 1764 thru 1801 – Birth, childhood, marriage, and birth of his first five children.

New York, Greene County, Windham – 1802-1813 – births of his two youngest children and his death.

New York, Green County, Ashland – 1813 – Burial at Pleasant Valley (aka Ashland) Cemetery.

Further Actions / Follow-up

  • Research each of John’s children and both his and his wife’s siblings for their location during the 1810 Census. Were John and Mary with them.

Continue reading →

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John Parsons, AGBI, and the 1790 Census

Posted on September 6, 2020 by Don Taylor

Census Sunday
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.Sometimes you encounter sources that don’t make sense. Recently, I encounter several trees that identified John Parsons being in the American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI), Volume 131, Page 462, and that the AGBI was the source. The AGBI isn’t really a source, rather, it is a finding aid. It is an index that points to actual sources. In this case, it directed the researcher to “Heads of fams. at the first U.S. census. Ms. By U.s. Bureau of the Census. Washington, 1908. (363p.): 34.”

Heads of Families – 1790 Census – Massachusetts:

Page 34, Column 1, Persons 3 & 4 show John Parsons, Jr. & John Parsons (Sr.) in Sandisfield Town, Berkshire County, Massachusetts.[i]

Parsons, John, Jr. 1 1 1

1 Male 16 & Older        John Jr. (Head of Household)
1 Male < 16                   Appears to be Samuel born 1789
1 Female                       Apparently Mary, John’s wife.

Parsons, John [Sr.] 2 2 5

2 Males 16 & Older

  • John (Head of Household)
  • Possibly Simon (17), Timothy (21), or Ashbel (24)

(Note: Frederick died before 1790)
(Note: John, Jr., was enumerated above.)

2 Males < 16

  • Apparently Gibson (age 8)
  • Apparently, Frederick (age 6)

5 Females

  • Clearly John’s 2nd wife, Mercy
  • Apparently daughter Sally (age 2)
  • Apparently daughter Mercy (age 12)
  • Apparently daughter Martha (age 15)
  • Possibly Roxey (age 23), or Mary (age 29)

(Note: John’s daughter, Hanna, died before 1790.)

Analysis

John Junior’s household exactly fits expectations for his household in 1790.

John (Senior’s) household fits expectations for John with his second wife (Mercy) and their children. Plus, there are several individuals in the household The only household individuals of question are several of his children from his first marriage. Which were still at home and which had either moved out or had died.

Neither Simon, Timothy, nor Ashbel appear to be enumerated elsewhere. So, the second male over 16 could be any of them.

Likewise, I haven’t found any records for marriages or deaths for John’s daughters, Roxey or Mary, so the fifth female could be either of them. 

Follow-up:

  1. Search for Simon, Timothy, and Ashbell in other records for 1790 to eliminate them from being in the household of John Parsons, Senior.
  2. Search for marriage records for Roxey and Mary. If married before 1790, verify if they might be in the census record of their husband(s).
  3. Search for evidence of death for Roxey, Mary, Simon, Timothy, or Ashbell prior to 1790. Eliminate them as being in John Parsons Senior’s household in 1790.

 Endnotes:

[i] 1790 Census – John Parsons, Jr. & John Parsons (Sr.) – Sandisfield Town, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. “Heads of Families – 1790 Census – Massachusetts – Page 34, Column 1, Persons 3 & 4. – Accessed 2 August 2020. https://www.census.gov/library/publications/1907/dec/heads-of-families.html.

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Donna Darling Collection – Part 71

Posted on September 3, 2020 by Don Taylor

Stratton Theatre – 14 April 1922.

Treasure Chest Thursday
Vaudeville
Donna Darling
As You Like It

By Don Taylor

For this week’s Treasure Chest Tuesday, I’m looking at two clippings from the Donna Darling Collection relating to the Stratton Theatre.


THEATRES

| WN DAILY TIMES-PRESS, FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 19 |

Stratton Offers Big Program

The acts at the Stratton are all wonderful. To pick the headline act would be quite a task but after one looks at beautiful Donna Darling and her dancing boys he will begin to sit up and take real notice. Her presentation is a miniature musical comedy which might be styled “An Act a Minute.” Murray Walker in his imitation of Pat Rooney was very good. Jack Finney the other boy with Miss Darling proved himself a dancing demon. The Rising Generation might be classed as one of the best child acts on the American stage today. Credit for this splendid offering goes to Miss Maude Daniels who has arranged this very pretty offering and the training of the children. James (Fat) Thompson and Al Petrie appear in a comedy barrage entitled “The Comoufleures.” James Valdare comes along with something new in the line of comedy cycling. Piasno and Bingham in “At the Barber Pole” have a very novelty skit which proves to be a choice bit of amusement. A big time act, “Yachting,” presented by Tom Brown, with Harry Voltaire and Arline Lloyd. This act might be styled as a musical cruise with oceans of melody. Sheehan and Richards present a |

Very bright offering of chatter and song that pleases all.

The big feature photoplay is Pola Negri in “The Last Payment.” The scenes are thrilling and the production as a whole, is massive and superb. Tomorrow’s big feature will be Bebe Daniels in “One Wild Week.”

The second clipping is a reminder to me to double-check and triple-check scans before I return material to its source. In this case the very left edge of the scan was cut off which resulted in losing the first letter (or two) of each line. It is one of the items I wish I could get back and rescan.

 

Seven New Acts at the Stratton

Opening today with an all new Keith Program of seven sterling vaudeville acts the Stratton Theatre will present for the last half of the week and attraction for the local theatergoers that will outdo anything ever before attempted. James Valdare in a comedy cycling novelty, who has just toured Europe with Harry Lander’s famous troupe, opens the program with a whirl of daring deeds on a bicycle. Sheehan and Richards then follow in a bright and snappy offering of chatter and song. The Rising Generation, a sensational juvenile attraction which presents nine of the most talented children on the American Stage. Pisano and Bingham in a choice bit of amusement entitled “At the Barber Pole” Mr. Pisano as an Italian, and Mr. Bingham as an Irishman, and the dialogue of the two is productive of much fun. Miss Donna Darling, musical comedy favorite, and winner of the Madison Square Garden beauty contest assisted by Murray Walker and Jack Finney, her dancing boys, presents an unusually interesting  revue entitles “As You Like It.” James Thompson and Company in a screamingly funny ??ckface comedy brimming over with >>n, will add to your amusement. Tom Brown, of the famous Brown Brown Brothers, send the feature act to close the ???. It is Harry Voltaire and company in “Yachting,” described as a musical cruise with oceans of melody. The act embraces five saxophones a….

Key features:

  • The venue is the Stratton Theatre.
  • The date is the 2nd half of the week that includes April 14th (Apr 13-15)
  • The show is “As You Like It” staring Donna Darling and Murray Walker and Jack Finney.
  • Also on bill
    • James (Fat) Thompson & Al Petrie in “The Comoufleures”
    • James Valdare in a bicycle show
    • Piasno & Bingham in “At the Barber Pole”
    • Rising Generation. (A children’s act)
    • Sheehan & Richards
    • Tom Brown, with Harry Voltaire & Arline Lloyd in “Yachting”
    • Photoplay: Poli Negri in “The Last Payment”
  • Coming attractions include:
    • Bebe Daniels in “One Wild Week.”

Analysis

This first article has a banner that has a paper name and date of “wn Daily Times-Press dated Friday, April 14, 19.”  No year and no city. The good news is that Cinema Treasures indicates there were only two theaters with the name “Stratton” and one of them was in Middletown, New York.[i] Next, the clipping mentions that the photoplay showing was Pola Negri in “The Last Payment.” That movie was released in Germany in 1919.[ii] However, a review of newspaper mentions of the movie indicated that it didn’t come to the United States until the fall of 1921 and was playing through the Spring of 1922.  Additionally, in 1922, April 14th was a Friday, proving the show was in 1922.  The second half of the week would have been April 13, 14, & 15.

Conclusion

I added the following:

April 13-15, 1922 – Middletown, New York – Stratton Theatre – Donna Darling “As You Like It,” with Murray Walker and Jack Finney. – DDC-71.

Sources

[i] Internet: Cinema Treasures – Search for theaters named Stratton in the United States. https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/united-states?q=Stratton&status=all accessed 25 July 2020.

[ii] Internet: IMDB – The Last Payment (1919) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0342674/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 – Accessed 25 July 2020.

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Surname Saturday – White

Posted on August 29, 2020 by Don Taylor

Darling – White
By Don Taylor

Surname Origin – White

Simply, the surname “White” typically comes from a nickname, “the white,” signifying a person with white hair or pale complexion. Typically, it comes from English, Scottish, and Irish ancestors.[i]

Geographical

There are currently about a million people who bear the White surname. That is about 800 thousand in the United States, with about 150 thousand in England. Australia and Canada each have over 50,000 “Whites.”[ii]

In the United States, Texas, California, and Georgia all have move than 50,000 “Whites”.[iii]

Direct White Ancestors

    • 6th Great-Grandmother: Mehitable White (1689-1730)?
    • 7th Great-Grandfather: Thomas White (1665-1743)??
    • 8th Great-Grandfather: Joseph White (1636-1706)???
    • 9th Great-Grandfather: Thomas White (1599-1679)????

(Note: I have not personally researched any of these potential ancestors. I use the “?” above to indicate my confidence in the relationship.)

Certainly, our Whites came to America during the “Great Migration of Puritans from England to New England” (1620–1643). I need to research the individuals to feel right adding historical context to their lives.

Mehitable White Descendants

Mehitable White married Benjamin Darling in 1708.  My records have identified 393 direct-line descendants of Mehitable (and Benjamin).[iv] Fourteen of these descendants I have written about at least sixteen times previously.

  1.  Abner Darling(1747-c.1795)
  2.  Abner Darling (b. 1780-1839)
    – – – – –Abstract & Will of Abner Darling (1780-1839)
    – – – – -48-i – Andrew W. Darling(1805-1864) – Rufus’ Oldest Brother
    – – – – -48-ii – Abner C. Darling(1805-1864) – Rufus’ 2nd Oldest Brother
    – – – – -48-iii – Deidamia Darling (1813-?) – Rufus’ Oldest Sister
    – – – – -48-iv – Rufus Holton Darling – See #24 Above
    – – – – -48-v – Henry W. Darling (1818-1857) – Rufus’ 3nd Oldest Brother
    – – – – -48-vi – ?Sally Ann Darling (c. 1820-) – Rufus’ 2nd Oldest Sister
    – – – – -48-vii – ?Hannah Darling (c. 1825-) – Rufus’ Youngest Sister
    – – – – -48-viii – Franklin C. Darling (c. 1827-) – Rufus’ Youngest Brother
  3.  Rufus Holton Darling (1816-1857)
  4.  Rufus Harry Darling(1857-1917)
    – – – – – Rufus Harry Darling in the News
  5.  Robert Harry Darling(1907-1969)
    100 Years Ago – Robert Harry Darling – (1907-1969)
    – – – – – 6B – Robert’s Sister – Elizabeth Grace Darling – (1906-1987)

Mehitable is currently number 16 in my “To be Researched” plan in the Darling Line Research. However, her son, Ebenezer Darling (1718-1790) is only number five in my Hopefully, I will get to researching him later this year. Certainly, the White ancestors will prove interesting to research. I can’t wait to get to researching them.

AncestryDNA® Thrulines has identified two 7th cousins, one 6th cousin, and a 4th cousin for further investigation.

Endnotes:

[i] Internet:  Ancestry – “White Family History” https://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=White.

[ii] Internet: Forebears – “White Surname Definition” https://forebears.io/surnames/white.

[iii] Ibid.

[iv] Internet: Don Taylor Genealogy – “Darling: The Ancestors of the Darling & Huber Family Line” http://dontaylorgenealogy.com/blog-page_3/.

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