Photo Friday – Butterfield & McKeen

Posted on July 19, 2024 by Don Taylor

Linwood Dyer Collection – Part 023
By Don Taylor

For Photo Friday, I examined five photos from the Linwood Dyer Collection this week. Sadly, I could only identify three of the 21 people in the pictures. 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.

Roland McKeen

Photo of a Roland McKeen.
Roland McKeen

The snapshot is of a man sitting holding a shovel. The shadow of the photographer is present, which I have cropped out here. Handwritten on the back is “Roland McKeen.”

What I learned while researching this photo:

  • I have researched Roland Arthur McKeen previously. He was born on 15 November 1902 in New Brunswick and died on 20 September 1970 in Portland, Maine.

I added this photo to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry and uploaded it to Roland Arthur McKeen’s profile on Family Search.

Catherine Louise Butterfield of Scarborough – SHS Grad & Wedding, 1956

High School Graduation photo of Catherine Butterfield.
Catherine Louise Butterfield, Scarborough High, 1956

This first photo appears to be professionally created and seems to be a school graduation photo. The photo was loose (without a frame or holder), so no photographer is identified. The back includes a note from Cathy to “Dick,” who was a friend. In another hand, it indicates “Butterfield – McKeen.”

What I learned while researching this photo:

  • The Scarborough High School Yearbook, The Four Corners, 1956, Page 13, shows the same photo of Catherine Louise Butterfield.
  • Maine, U.S., Marriage Index, 1892-1996 indicates Catherine L Butterfield married John H McKeen on 22 Dec 1956.
Wedding photo of a bride feeding cake to the groom.
John abd Cathy McKeen, 1956

There is another photo of Cathy in this collection. This photo has printed “Happy 50th Anniversary John & Cathy ” on the front. On the back, it was printed on “11/29/06,” but the image is clearly a reproduction of the marriage back in December 1956. Cathy is in a wedding gown and is feeding John a piece of wedding cake. 

I added both photos to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry.

Five Diners.

This photo is of six people at a restaurant. There is a couple, three other women, and the apparent waiter. Handwritten on the back: “Isabel Knox, Myrtle Stare, Mah & Jim Santorell (or Santoreth).” The style of clothing suggests the photo is from the 1950s or 1960s.

What I learned while researching this photo:

Photo of five people having dinner at a restaurant.
Five Diners.

Knox:

  • The 1950 US Census lists three people named Isabel Knox. In 1950, they lived in Syracuse, NY; Newtown, CT; and Gardena, CA.

Stare:

  • The 1930 US Census lists two Myrtle Stares:
    • Myrtle Stare was born circa. 1915, was the daughter of Charles & Nellie Stare and lived in Troy, MI.
    • Myrtle Stars [Stare], born c. 1910, was the wife of Barnie Stars and lived in Harrison, TX

Santorell:

  • My search for James Santorell found two James Santorells:
    • James Vinson Santorell was born 16 Dec 1893 to Michael & Granata Santorell. His wife was Evelyn O’Brien. He died on 16 Oct 1940.
    • James Henry Santorell was born on 1 May 1899. He registered for the draft on 15 Feb 1942.

Neither appears to have a wife named May.

My search for May Santorell found a Sophie M Santorella, the widow of James P. Santorella.

handwriting from the back of a photo.
Names on the back of “Five Diners.”

I could not identify any of the individuals in this photo sufficiently to identify who is in the image correctly, so I only included the individual’s photo here and in my Flickr Photostream. I’d love to hear from you if you see another name for Murtle or May & Jim.

Thirteen Young Dancers (from Portland?).

Photos like this always sadden me. It is a beautiful photo of 13 young girls in dance costumes. The photographer is Bell, Charles Street, Portland. Sadly, nothing is written on the back – No names, no group identification, no year, just blank. My Google image search had no potential matches, so no identification by me.

Photo of 13 girls in dance costumes.
Thirteen Young Dancers (from Portland?).

I can’t express it enough: if you have photos with no identification, please, please, write on the back of the picture the who, where, & when of the image. You can use a pencil or, better yet, an archival ink pen. Share the information you have about the photo. It will likely be thrown away and lost forever if you don’t.

I only include this photo here and in my Flickr Photostream.

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.”

 

Tags:  Butterfield, McKeen, genealogy, PhotoID,

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Photo Friday – Johnson, Makeever, McKeen, McLaughlin, Milliken, & Moulton.

Posted on July 12, 2024 by Don Taylor

Linwood Dyer Collection – Part 022
By Don Taylor

I identified seven people in five photos from the Linwood Dyer Collection this week for Photo Friday. 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.

A. E Makeever,  April 1898.

Photo of a woman, A. E. Makever, April 1898.
A. E. Makever, April 1898.

This small (3.5 by 5 inches) cabinet card photo includes:

  • Photographer: Scott, Chicago.
  • Handwritten on the front: 95.27.562 (SHS accession number).
  • Handwritten on the back: A. E. Makeever, Apr. 1898.

What I learned while researching this photo:

  • My search in the 1900 US Census for A. E. McKeever, a female, found the following:
    • Annie E McKeever was born Mar 1879 in Virginia and lived in Lynchburg, VA, in 1900.
    • Annie E McKiver, the wife of George D, was born Jul 1873 in New York.
    • E Annie McKeever, the wife of Henry, was born Apr 1873 in Pennsylvania.
    • Elizabeth A. McKeaver, Edward’s wife, was born in England in June 1866.

I could not fully identify the individual, so I uploaded this photo to Dead Fred.

Six at the beach, circa 1932.

This photo appears to be of six people at the beach; the photographic style seems to be from the 1930s.

Photo of six people, apparently at the beach.
Six people at the beach, circa 1932.
  • It is very difficult to read the handwriting on the back; however, I believe it says:
    • Helen Lordly ???
    • Alice Johns
    • ? Roberts
    • Thelma McKeen
    • Jenette Johnson Milliken
    • Lin Dyer

What I learned while researching this photo:

  • The most readable name on the back is Jenette Johnson Milliken. From previous research on this family, I know Jeanette Johnson married George Milliken. Jeanette was a first cousin to Linwood Dyer. Jeanette Was born in 1920, and Linwood was born in 1925. So this appears to be the two children in the photo, Linwood, about seven years old, and Jeanette, about 12 years old, thus dating the photo to be from about 1932.
  • Linwood’s aunt, Thelma Dyer, married Roland Arthur McKeen in 1929. Thelma was born in 1909 so she was about 23 years old in 1932. The woman on the far right, holding the dog, appears to have a wedding ring and is the right age.
  • I can’t make out the older woman’s name, [FNU] Roberts. Without a known Roberts line in my Linwood Dyer Tree, I can’t speculate who it might be.
  • Linwood’s other aunt, Alice Leslie Dyer, married Howard Kenneth Johnson in 1920. Alice was born in 1905, making her 28 years old in 1932. The second woman from the left appears to be about the right age.
  • Finally, the tall, thin woman on the left is named Helen. Again, I cannot make out the rest of her name well enough to fully identify the individual.

I feel comfortable that I have identified four of the six people in this photo, so I have added it to my Linwood Dyer Collection and tagged the individuals I have identified in it.

Eugene Moulton of Rockport, 1900.

This cabinet card’s identifying information:

Photo of a man, circa 1900.
Eugene Moulton of Rockport, 1900.
  • Photographer: Crockett, Rockland.
  • Handwritten on the back: “Eugene Moulton, 21 – Oct 1 – 1900.

What I learned while researching this photo:

  • The 1900 US Census enumerated Eugene Moulton, a 20-year-old man living in Camden, Knox County, Maine. (Rockland is about 8 miles south of Camden.)
  • A Henry Eugene Moulton was born on 3 May 1880 in Rockport, Knox County, Maine, to Noah W and Mary E. (Millay) Moulton. Henry Eugene also had an older brother, Ralph C. Moulton.
  • Vdoucette58’s Doucette Family Tree on Ancestry includes a photo of Henry Eugene Moulton. It appears, to me, to be the same young man as in this photo.

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

Rose Anne McLaughlin of Caribou, Maine (circa 1902).

This cabinet card (4.25 by 6.5) has rounded corners and an embossed border, suggesting it is after 1890. The photo identifying information includes:

  • Photographer: H. M. Smith, 478 Congress St., Portland, ME.
  • Handwritten on the back: RoseAnne McLaughlin.
Photo of a woman, circa 1902
Rose Anne McLaughlin of Caribou, Maine (circa 1902).

What I learned while researching this photo:

  • A search for Roseanne McLaughlin in Maine during the 1900 Census yielded three candidates.
    • Rosanna H McLaughlin, age 3, living at 222 Ocean Street, Portland with her parents, Henry and Cynthis McLaughlin. She would be too young to be the woman in this photo.
    • Rosanna McLaughlin, age 19, living at Caribou, Maine, with her parents, John & Margaret McLaughlin.
      • The obituary for Rose McLaughlin indicates she was born on Dec 5, 1880. She was a schoolteacher for 31 years and operated a farm. She died on May 29, 1950.
    • Roxanna McLaughlin, age 51, lived in Princeton, Maine, with her daughter Annie McLaughlin. She is too old to be the woman in this photo.

I am comfortable with the fact that this is a photo of Rose McLaughlin (1880-1950) of Caribou, Maine. I added her to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry.

Marcia Milliken of Scarborough, circa 1950.

Photo of two people sitting on a stairs, one adult and one small child.
Marcia Milliken of Scarborough, circa 1950.

The photo identifying information includes:

  • Handwritten on the back: Thomas McKeen, Marcia Milliken.

I have encountered photos of Marcia Milliken before. She was the daughter of Linwood Dyer’s 1st cousin, Jeanette (Johnson) Milliken.

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

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.”

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Josiah Fugate – First Cousin[i] of the Blues.

Posted on July 8, 2024 by Don Taylor

Pocahontas Project
Brown-Mannin(g)-Fugate Line
By Don Taylor

Last year, I learned that I may have Pocahontas as an Ancestor. I was comfortable that Rachel Fugate was my 4th great-grandmother. I needed to confirm the line from her to my possible 12th great-grandmother, Pocahontas. I went on to prove Rachel’s father was Reuben Fugate. To continue researching my path to Pocahontas, I decided to look at Reuben’s father, Josiah Fugate.

A couple of years ago, when I looked at my Fugate ancestors during a Surname Saturday, I wondered if my Fugate ancestors were related to the famous “Blue Fugates of Troublesome Creek, KY.” As I began researching, I found that Josiah was a first cousin, once removed, of Martin Fugate, one of the earliest Blue Fugates. So, some of my Fugate ancestors are used in classes to demonstrate how genetic disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive.[ii]

Ben Stacy, the last known blue descendant of the Fugates[iii], is my 8th cousin, 1x removed.

Now that I’ve had a fun diversion into my Blue Fugate relatives, I can return to learning more about Josiah Fugate, my 6th great-grandfather.

ENDNOTES

[i] Actually, first cousin, 1x removed.
[ii] Science Classroom Teacher Resources – Blue People Lab – The Blue People of Troublesome Creek, KY.
[iii] The Collector – “8 Astonishing Facts About the Blue Fugates” by Madison Whipple.

Posted in Brown, Fugate, Mannin, Pocahontas | Tagged | 1 Comment

Photo Friday – Dyer, Frederick, McKeen, Moody, Murdoch, & Ross

Posted on July 5, 2024 by Don Taylor

Linwood Dyer Collection – Part 021
By Don Taylor

This week, for Photo Friday, I researched 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, and Portland, 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.

Richard “Dick” Frederick, SHS Class of 1937

Photo of a young man
Richard “Dick” Frederick, SHS Class of 1937.

The photo identifying information includes:

  • Handwritten on the back: Dick Frederic, 37.

What I learned while researching this photo:

  • A view of the 1937 Scarboro High School yearbook, Four Corners, found a photo of Richard Carter Frederick “Dick.” That photo clearly shows the same young man. The yearbook indicates Richard was born on November 5, 1919.
  • Ancestry Trees indicate this is Richard Carter Frederick, born in Scarborough, Maine, to George Herman Fredericks and Della Roberts Carter.

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

Eleanor Moody, 1909.

Photo of a young woman from the turn of the century.
Eleanor Moody, 1909.

The photo identifying information includes:

  • Photographer: The Adams Studio, Portland, ME.
  • There appears to be a handwritten signature saying “Adams – “09.”
  • On the photo itself is an embossed seal, “Portland High School.”
  • A typed label on the front says “Eleanor Moody.” The label is much newer than the photo.

What I learned while researching this photo:

  • The 1910 US Census Records show two Eleanor Moodys:
    • Elinor S (or L) Moody is a 42-year-old teacher and head of household living on Coumplane Road in South Portland. Living with her is a 44-year-old sister, Harriett H Moody.
      • The 1909 Portland City Directory indicates she was a stenographer at 98 Exchange.
    • Eleanor Q (or L) Mordie (or Moody) is a 30-year-old head of household living with her two children, Bernice and Lauren, in Bridgton, Maine.

The woman in this photo, if taken in 1909, appears to be younger than 41 years old. Because of that, I cannot positively identify the woman in this photo. Consequently, I uploaded this photo of Eleanor Moody to Dead Fred.

Helen Messinger Murdoch of Boston, circa 1945

The photo identifying information includes:

  • Handwritten on the back: H. M. Murdock F.R.P.S., Garrison Hall, Boston, Mass U.S.A.

What I learned while researching this photo:

Photo of an elderly woman and a younger man. circa 1940s.
Helen Messinger Murdoch of Boston, circa 1945
(& unknown man).
  • Today, Garrison Hall is an apartment building at 8 Garrison in Boston. It was built in 1910.
  • An obituary for Elizabeth Murdoch, who died on 19 June 1944, mentions a surviving sister, Helen Messinger Murdoch, who was one of the pioneers in the field of color photography. She was recently appointed a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society (F.R.P.S.).
  • Helen Messinger Murdoch’s passport, dated 12 March 1913, indicates she was born on 22 Sep 1862 in Astoria, New York, and lived in Boston, MA, in 1913. Her obituary indicates she was awarded the RPS of GB in 1912 and died in Los Angeles on 29 March 1956. Her interment was to be in Boston.
  • A Boston Passenger List from 1933, shows Helen M Murdoch arriving on the Laconia from Liverpool. She was living at 8 Garrison St, Boston.
  • Family Search has profile LYYJ-DXY for Helen Messinger Murdock (1862-1956), sister of Elizabeth Murdock (1859-___). Her parents were John Murdock and Elizabeth Smith.

I am confident this photo is of Helen Messinger Murdock in her later years, probably before she moved to Los Angeles in 1945 (when she was in her 80s). I added this photo to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry. Helen Messinger Murdoch has an article on Wikipedia.

John McKeen of Scarborough, circa 1950.

Photo of a boy standing outside a doorway.
John McKeen of Scarborough, circa 1950.

The photo identifying information includes:

  • Handwritten on the back: John McKeen

What I learned while researching this photo:

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

Herbie Ross & Howard Dyer, hunters, probably 1950s

This photo shows two men holding a stringer of pheasants with a dog. Handwritten on the back. “Herbie Ross & Howard Dyer.”

Photo of two men with guns, a string of pheasants, and a dog.
Herbie Ross & Howard Dyer, hunters, probably 1950s

What I learned while researching this photo:

  • Howard Dyer was the father of Linwood Dyer. He was a gunsmith and an avid hunter. I have seen photos of him before. In this photo, he is the man on the right. Howard was born in 1900.
  • The 1950 US Census enumerated a Herbert W Ross, a 49-year-old fisherman living on the Eastern Promenade in Portland, Maine.

The man on the left may be Herbie (Herbert) Ross of Portland, about 1950; however, I cannot be sure without further information or context.

I added this photo to my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree at Ancestry and tagged Howard Dyer. I also uploaded this photo depicting Herbie Ross to Dead Fred.

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 and Dead Fred have higher quality than those here. Feel free to use these photos in your genealogical activities. Please cite “Photo Courtesy: Scarborough Historical Society.”

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Donna Darling at Poli’s Theatre, Springfield, MA, 3-5 July 1927.

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Don Taylor

Donna in the News
97 Years Ago
by Don Taylor

“Donna in the News” reports newly found newspaper articles and advertisements regarding my grandmother, Madonna Montran (aka Donna Montran and Donna Darling). I am always excited when I see a new venue for my grandmother’s exciting show business career of the 1910s and 1920s. 

This week, from several newspa pers, including the Springfield Evening Union, Springfield Morning Union, The Republican, and the Springfield Daily Republican, dated July 3rd through July 8th, I learned that Donna, Sammy, and Hal Dixon played at Poli’s Palace in Springfield, Massachusetts. I also learned that Donna may have been in a Vitagraph Studios film.[i]

Advertising for the Moving Rolled Stockings but also shows the Donna Darling Revue played at the Palace
The Springfield Daily Republican
3 July 1927

The former musical comedy and screen player, Donna Darling, offers her own revue with the assistance of Sammy Clark and Hal Dixon. Miss Darling describes her act as “modern vaudeville Frolics,” which is a hodge podge of comedy bits, song numbers and dances.

From the Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts) July 2, 1927, Page 6[ii]:

On Page 7, an ad for Poli’s Palace indicated the Donna Darling Review would be at the Palace on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday).

The July 4th, Springfield Union says,

“Donna Darling, former prima donna of the spectacular production “Chin Chin” and one of the Vitagraph screen stars, is now in vaudeville. Miss Darling believes in being timely and for her present sojourn in the variety field she presents a revue—The Donna Darling Revue, which is described as a dazzling fantasy. Featured in the company are Sammy Clark, a juvenile comedian of repute, and Hal Dixon, known for his excellent dancing ability.”

I find this particularly interesting. I knew Donna was in Birth of a Nation, but I didn’t know she did any films with Vitagraph. I will need to investigate their films and see if I can find Donna in any of them.

Finally, the Springfield Union, dated July 5th, provides a bit more information about the show,

“A bit of satire on European royalty is well done but the quiver dance done by Dixon is deserving of praise.” The Springfield Daily Republican said, “The Donna Darling revue is another feature of the holiday program that was well received. The Royal purple robes of the make-believe king of this offering and his red hair and gorgeous crown filled with sparkling glass jewels were sources of much laughter. Less regal but equally amusing was the eccentric dancer who clogged and spun around gayly in his silk trousers. Donna Darling was attractive in a variety of costumes and pleased the audience with a few songs.”

My thanks to Newspapers.com for providing access to these clippings.

Endnotes

[i] Wikipedia – Vitagraph Studios https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitagraph_Studios indicates it was, “by 1907, the most prolific American film production company.”

[ii] Via Newspapers.Com = https://www.newspapers.com/image/1056397793/

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