Ancestor Bio – Horace Upton Newcomb (1877-1956)

Posted on December 20, 2017 by Don Taylor

By Don Taylor

Born in Canada, Horace Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.Newcomb immigrated to the United States as a child. He lived a simple life as a carpenter in Boston and Cumberland County, Maine.

Blanchard Project 2017 – Ancestor #10

List of Grandparents:

  • Grandmother: Priscilla May Newcomb (1905-1984)
  • 1st Great-grandfather: Horace Upton Newcomb (1877-1956)
  • 2nd Great-grandfather: Alexander Newcomb (1850-1929)

Horace Upton Newcomb (1877-1956)

Horace Upton Newcomb was born on 7 September 1877 in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, Canada, the fourth child of Alexander and Amelia Jane (Allen) Newcomb. There are several records which indicate he was born in Cumberland County, Maine, however, Parrsboro is in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia.  His naturalization papers are very clear regarding his birthplace. Horace was the fourth of 11 children. His siblings were

  • Mary Ellen Born 1875
  • Wealthy Jane Born 1874
  • Hugh Olsen Born 1875
  • Theodore Hill Born 1879
  • Ruby Stella Born 1882
  • Bertha Josephine Born 1886
  • Edith Mabel Born 1887
  • Willis L Born 1891
  • Martha Elfriede Born 1893
  • Carlos Alonzo Born 1895

All of the children, except for Ruby Stella, who died in 1899 at the age of 17, lived to adulthood.

In July 1880, Horace and family immigrated from Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada aboard a steamer arriving in Portland, Maine.

It appears that in 1900 he is living in Boston as a lodger in the house of James B. Peppard and working as a deckhand.

On September 7, 1903, Horace married Ethel May Carr in Somerville, Massachusetts. The ceremony was performed by George Whitaker, Minister of the Gospel, who lived at 160 Cambridge St. Cambridge, Mass.

Horace and Ethel had four children:

  • Horace Arthur (1903-1988) Born in Roxbury, Boston, MA.
  • Priscilla May (1905-1984) Born in Hingham, MA
  • Theodore H. (1907-1986) Born in Hingham, MA
  • Hugh Earl (1909-1960) Born in Hingham, MA

In 1910, Horace and Ethel were living on Cross Street in Hingham, Plymouth County, MA. Horace was a laborer working for a contractor.
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Sometime between 1910 and 1917, the family moved to Portland, Cumberland County, Maine and lived on North Street.  His WW I draft registration indicates he lived at 14 North Street, but the 1920 Census indicates he lived at 144 North Street. Either address is possible. Also, it is possible that the street was renumbered. Again, in 1920, Horace is listed as a carpenter and an alien. All four children are living with him and his wife.

I have been completely unsuccessful finding any of the family in the 1930 Census. However, by 1935, the family moved out to Peaks Island (in Casco Bay), Portland, Maine and lived on Island Street. Although Horace filed his first papers much earlier, he didn’t take the oath to become an American citizen until 5 January 1937.

The 1940 Census indicates that the children had all left home and Horace and Ethel were living together on Peaks Island. Horace was still a carpenter; however, he hadn’t work worked in the previous 39 weeks before the census was taken in April 1940.

Horace died on 11 April 1956. He was buried in Brooklawn Memorial Park in Portland. Section E, Lot 344, Grave D1.

Sources

  • 1900 Census (A), Ancestry, Horace Newcomb (lodger) Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts.
  • 1910 Census (NARA), Family Search, Horace Newcomb – Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts. “United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2K8-RN7 : accessed 13 October 2017), Horace Newcomb, Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1217, sheet 18A, family 427, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 612; FHL microfilm 1,374,625.
  • 1920 Census (NARA), Family Search, Horace W Newcomb – Portland, Cumberland, Maine, United States. “United States Census, 1920,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFZ8-CSZ : accessed 13 October 2017), Horace W Newcomb, Portland Ward 1, Cumberland, Maine, United States; citing ED 28, sheet 3A, line 40, family 57, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 639; FHL microfilm 1,820,639.
  • 1940 Census (NARA ), Family Search, 1940 – Horace V Newcomb – Peak’s Island, Cumberland, Maine. “United States Census, 1940,” database with images, FamilySearch ( : accessed 16 December 2017), Horace V Newcomb, Island Ward 2, Ward 1, Portland, Portland City, Cumberland, Maine, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 3-42, sheet 3B, line 71, family 69, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627.  Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 – 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1475. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KMMW-5Q9.
  • Find a Grave, Find A Grave, Horace Upton Newcomb – Memorial #132641945. https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=132641945.
  • Maine, Federal Naturalization Records, 1787-1952, Ancestry, Horace Upton Newcomb – Oath – National Archives at Boston; Waltham, Massachusetts; ARC Title: Petitions and Records of Naturalization, 1790 – 11/1945; Record Group Title: Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685-2009; Record Group Number: RG 21. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?viewrecord=1&r=an&db=MENaturalizationRecordsOrigs&indiv=try&h=1081569.
  • Maine, Federal Naturalization Records, 1787-1952, Ancestry, Horace Upton Newcomb – Petition. Source Citation
  • National Archives at Boston; Waltham, Massachusetts; ARC Title: Petitions and Records of Naturalization, 1790 – 11/1945; Record Group Title: Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685-2009; Record Group Number: RG 21. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?viewrecord=1&r=an&db=MENaturalizationRecordsOrigs&indiv=try&h=1081569.
  • Maine, World War I Draft Registration Index, 1917-1919, Family Search, Horace M Newcomb – Portland, Cumberland, Maine.
  • Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915, Family Search, Horace Newcomb & Ethel May Carr. “Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N44B-531 : 30 July 2017), Horace Allen Newcomb and Ethel May Carr, 07 Sep 1903; citing, Somerville, Massachusetts, United States, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 2,057,588.
  • Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records,1626-2001, Family Search, Marriage – Horace Newcomb & Ethel Carr.
  • U. S. City Directories, 1822-1995, Ancestry, Portland, Maine – 1957 – Page 520 – Newcomb – Original data: Original sources vary according to the directory. The title of the specific directory being viewed is listed at the top of the image viewer page. Check the directory title page image for full title and publication information. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?viewrecord=1&r=an&db=USDirectories&indiv=try&h=901185029.
  • United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Family Search, Horace Upton Newcomb – Portland, Cumberland, Maine. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZFY-G9Z.
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Ancestor Bio – Emily C Galella (1915-2000

Posted on December 17, 2017 by Don Taylor

By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.I find it important to look at all ancestors using my regular process, even if I know quite a bit about the individual from the start. That process includes finding the individual in all of the census records possible. It also includes finding birth, marriage, and death information. That information can then be used to search newspapers and other sources by both the individual’s name and their known addresses. The process also typically provides basic information about the individual’s parents, siblings, spouses, and other vital records regarding their life.

Crutchfield Project 2017 – Ancestor #3

Emily C. (Galella) Crutchfield

Emily C. Galella was born on 7 February 1915 in Illinois. She was the sixth of the ten children of Danato Mario and Anna Maria (Santore) Galella. Danato, also known as Dan, was an Italian immigrant, but Emily’s mother, Anna, was born in Illinois, as were all of her siblings.

The 1920 Census finds five-year-old Emily living with her parents and six of her siblings at 750 Forquer Street, Chicago, IL. In the 1940s Forquer Street was renamed Arthington and 750 Arthington would be where Interstate 90 is today only a couple blocks from the Jane Adams Hull-House Museum in the University Village/Little Italy neighborhood. The 1920 household included Parents Dan & Mary (Maria) as well as seven children

  • William Age 13
  • Josie    Age 11
  • John    Age 10
  • Katie    Age  8
  • Tony    Age  7
  • Emily   Age  5
  • Mike    Age  1

The 1930 Census finds the family had moved to the Englewood area of Chicago to 5813 S Carpenter Street. According to Realtor dot Com, the home was built in 1885 and exists today as a multi-family home.  Dan was a laborer in the building construction trade and owned his home there valued at $6,000.  Living with Dan and Mary in 1930 were six children, John, Catherine (Katie) Emily, Anna (age 10), Susie (age 7) and Peggy (age 6). All the children were attending school.

Marriage

It appears that Emily married Ralph Crutchfield sometime in 1935 or 1936.

Adulthood

Photo of 3312 Hoyne Avenue, Chicago

3312 Hoyne Ave.

In 1940 the family was living at 3312 Hoyne Avenue, in the McKinley Park neighborhood of Chicago. According to Realtor dot Com, today this is a small, 959 square-foot home, which was built in 1880. In 1940, Ralph rented the home for $32/month. Today, the home would rent for nearly 45 times more, or about $1,437/month, according to Realtor dot Com’s “Rental Estimate.” Ralph was a soda fountain manager at a retail drug store.

About 1985, the couple moved to 2115 W Farwell Ave, Apt. 507 in the West Ridge neighborhood of Chicago. Today it is a condominium.  Emily continued living in the West Ridge / Lincolnwood area until her death on 1 April 2000.

Sources

 

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Donna Darling Collection – Part 20

Posted on December 14, 2017 by Don Taylor

Treasure Chest Thursday

By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.For this week’s Treasure Chest Tuesday, I am looking at three clippings from the Donna Darling Collection that indicate she played at three different Broadway Theaters; B.S. Moss’ Broadway theater in New York, The Broadway theater in Butte, (MT?), and the Broadway theater in Long Branch, NJ. None of the clippings have dates.

B.S. Moss’ Broadway Theater, New York, NY

The first clipping is a rare playbill for The California Bathing Girls and Donna Montran in “A Beach Promenade.” Previous research found that this show ran over a month, from July 26 to August 29, 1920 at B.S. Moss’ Broadway Theater.

The playbill provides much new information about the show. One of the most exciting things is that it provides names for the cast.

Besides Donna Montran, the Bathing Beauties included Alice Dean, Alice Eldridge, Dorothy Smith, Lola St. Clair, Helen Travisand, and Marie Thompson. I was surprised to see what appears to be two men in the cast, Adrian Wally and Bobby Tremaine. Also, credit is given to Behrens for costumes, Shoes by Miller, One Piece Bathing suits by Asbury Mills and the scenery was painted by Jack Klein. Tom Rooney and Earl Lindsay were the producers and the show was conceived and staged under the personal direction of Earl Lindsay.

For more information about the show see Moss’ Broadway at 41st – California Bathing Girls in “A Beach Promenade” and The Donna Darling Collection – Part 2

Broadway Theater, Butte, MT

The second clipping is an advertisement showing “An Outstanding Vaudeville Feature Act – DONNA DARLING REVUE With Sammy Clark and Company.

Showing with the Donna Darling Revue was a silent film, “Fig Leaves” starring George O’Brien and Olive Borden. According to IMDB, that film was released on 22 August 1926, so the show had to occur after that. Also, through other research I have found that the Donna Darling Review played on 27 November 1926. Butte and Helena are only 80 miles apart. With the schedule the show had, I’m sure that the Butte performance would have been within a day or two of the Helena performance.

This clipping allowed me to add another venue for Donna’s performances with an approximate date.

Broadway Theater, Long Branch, NJ

The final clipping that I am looking at this week relates to Donna and Sammy playing at the Broadway Theater in Long Branch, NJ. The program indicates that the “Darling Clark Revue” played Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, May 3-4-5. Donna and Sammy got together about 1925 and separated about 1930.  The only year on which May 3rd, 4th, and 5th, was on a Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday was 1926.

It is interesting to see the show called “Terpsichore Personified” and “A Novel Dance Melange.” My memory of Donna is that she had an incredible vocabulary. My mom used to say that Donna could cut you down with words and you’d never know you had been cut. I have to admit I needed to look up “Terpsichore.” Terpsichore is one of the nine Greek Muses and is the goddess of dance and chorus. That is a description that I’m sure Donna liked. I suspect she probably wrote the portrayal.

This is another new venue and date for Donna’s career. I will add it to my projects.

Actions

  • Research The Donna Darling Revue at the Broadway Theater, Butte, MT, between 24 and 30 November 1926.
  • Research “Darling Clark Revue” at the Broadway Theater, Long Branch, NJ, on 3, 4, & 5 May 1926.
  • Research Alice Dean, Alice Eldridge, Dorothy Smith, Lola St. Clair, Helen Travisand, Marie Thompson, Adrian Wally, Bobby Tremaine, Tom Rooney, and Earl Lindsay.
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2nd Great-Grandaunt – Deidamia Darling (1813-?)

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Don Taylor

Following the children sometimes is the key.

By Don Taylor

This week I looked at the life of Deidamia Darling. She is the daughter of Abner Darling (1780-1839) and Sally Ann Munsell (1784-?). Through researching Deidamia, I learned that Sally Ann (Munsell) Darling didn’t vanish after the death of Abner. Instead, she was living with Deidamia and Lawrence Limbocker in 1870. By following the life of Deidamia, a 2nd great-grandaunt, I learned more about 3rd great-grandmother Sally Ann. I find following the descendants of an individual much more difficult than researching ancestors from the more recent to the further back than. But, through doing so I am able to discover new information.

Howell-Darling 2017 Research

List of Grandparents

Bio – Deidamia Darling (1813-?)

Deidamia Darling was born between 1812 and 1814. Probably 1813[i]. It is possible she was born on the Beekman Patent in Dutchess County, New York, but I believe she was more likely born in Paris, Oneida County, New York to Abner and Sally Ann (Munsell) Darling.

Deidamia grew up with seven siblings. They were

Abner moved his family west, first to Paris, Oneida County New York (before 1820) and again to Clarkson, Monroe County, New York.

About 1833, Deidamia married Lawrence G Limbocker[ii] It isn’t clear if they were married in New York or Michigan. Lawrence and Deidamia appear to have had three children. [iii].

Child Name Born Married Death
Abner D. Limbocker 1834 18xx – Amretta Quayle Unknown
Appolus F. Limbocker 1837 Mar 1870 – Almena Rose Boylson Unknown
Sarah Ann Limbocker 1838 2 Oct 1857 – Thomas J Foster Unknown

By 1934, Lawrence and Deidamia moved west to Michigan where their first son was born.

In 1837, Lawrence purchased 40 acres of land began farming it. The legal description of the property is Michigan, MICHIGAN-TOLEDO STRIP, Range 001E, Township 0035, Section 3, NW1⁄4SE1⁄4.

The 1840 Census finds Lawrence Limbocker living in Leoni Township, Jackson County, Michigan with 2 males & 1 female under 5 and 1 female 20 to 29.[iv] This fits the known family perfectly. Leoni is just east of Jackson, MI and about 30 miles west of Ann Arbor, MI.

The 1850 Census portrays a household consisting of Lawrence (L.B.), apparent wife “Drodana,” and three children, Abner, Apollos and Sarah A. Lawrence is farming the land and the three children are attending school.[v]

The 1860 Census show Lawrence and Deidamia living in Batavia, Branch County, Michigan. Their two sons are still living with them.[vi] Also living with them is Betsey Darling, age 70, born in New York. Who Betsey was is unknown. With the same surname as Deidamia, I presume Betsey is an unknown aunt of Deidamia.

In March of 1870, Lawrence and Deidamia’s son Apollos married Almena Rose Boylson. They were living with Lawrence and Deidamia during the 1870 census taken in June. Also living there was son Abner, who was working as a farm laborer. There is a 13-year-old girl, Dora Willie residing with them. I suspect she is Rose’s child from another marriage. Finally, there is Sally A Darling the 85-year-old mother of Deidamia living with them.[vii]

The last record I have found for Deidamia is 1880 Census which shows Lawrence and Deidamia living together in Batavia, Branch County, Michigan.[viii]

I have not discovered a record of Deidamia’s death. Nor have I found any evidence of her in the 1900 Census, I suspect Deidamia may have died between 1880 and 1900.

Further Actions / Follow-up

  • Determine Sally Ann’s death information. (high)
  • Determine Sally Ann’s location in 1860. (medium)
  • Determine who Betsey Darling (1790-?) is in relation to Deidamia.
  • Determine Deidamia’s death date and burial (low)

 Endnotes & Additional Sources

[i] The 1850 and 1860 Censuses indicate the was 36 and 46 respectively, and the 1870 and 1880 Census indicate she was 57 and 67 respectively. Because of the cultural stigma regarding the age of women, I believe the older age suggested is more likely. Thus, I believe she was born in 1812 or 1813.

[ii] Cross Index to Wills of Monroe County, New York, Monroe County Library, Page 54 of 98. Limbocker, Lawrence; Mich, wife, Diadema heir of Abner Darling, Clarkson. https://www.libraryweb.org/~digitized/books/Cross_index_to_wills_of_Monroe_County_1821-1863_Vol._1B.pdf.

[iii] In various records the Limbocker name is spelled different ways—Limbocker, Limbacker, and Lemboekor. I have standardized on Limbocker.

[iv] 1840 Census (A), Ancestry, Lowrence Limbocker (Lawrence Limbocker). Year: 1840; Census Place: Leoni, Jackson, Michigan; Roll: 206; Page: 160; Family History Library Film: 001479. https://search.ancestry.com/collections/8057/records/3579923.

[v] 1850 Census (A) (NARA), Ancestry, L G Limbacker (Limbocker) – Giard, Branch, Michigan. 1850; Census Place: Girard, Branch, Michigan; Roll: M432_347; Page: 300B; Image: 66

[vi] 1860 Census (A), Ancestry, Lawrence Limbocker – Batavia, Branch, Michigan. Source Citation Year: 1860; Census Place: Batavia, Branch, Michigan; Roll: M653_538; Page: 734; Family History Library Film: 803538

[vii] 1870 Census (A), Ancestry, 1870 Census – Lawrence Limbocker – Batavia, Branch, Michigan.

[viii] 1880 Census (A), Lawrence Limbocker – Batavia, Branch, Michigan. Year: 1880; Census Place: Batavia, Branch, Michigan; Roll: 573; Family History Film: 1254573; Page: 462B; Enumeration District: 024

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Howell – Surname Saturday

Posted on December 9, 2017 by Don Taylor

By Don Taylor

Origin

According to the Ancestry.Com, there are two main sources for the Howell surname. The first one is Welsh, coming from the Welsh personal name “Hywel” meaning ‘eminent.’ The second one is that Howell is an English habitational name coming from an Old English ‘hugol’ meaning ‘mound’ or ‘hillock.’ In particular, it has come to be a habitational name from Howell, Linconshire.[i]

Forebears indicates that it probably derives from an old Welsh word, hoew meaning ‘alert’ or ‘sprightly.’[ii]  The most famous historical bearer of this name was a 10th century Welsh prince, Howell Da.

I have not been successful in determining an immigrant ancestor in the Howell line to confirm the likely origin of this line, however, family oral history indicated they are of Welsh descent.

Geographical

The United States has the most incidents of the Howell surname. There are over 123,000 incidences of the surname in the United States, and only 172,000 worldwide or to say it another way, about 72% of the individuals named Howell live in the United States. The highest frequency of Howell’s in any country is Jamaica, with 1 in 989 having the Howell surname.

The 1920 Census indicates that the greatest number of Howells lived in New York. Likewise the largest number Howells lived in New York during the 1880 and 1840 censuses.[iii]

Howell Ancestors

Peter M. Howell

My wife’s Howell ancestors were in Virginia in the late 1700s. In the mid-1800s they located to North Carolina and in the mid-1900s her branch moved to Maine.

My wife’s earliest known Howell ancestor is probably James Howell. I’m not confident that he was Peter M Howell’s father, but he was in the right place at the right time and died about 1817 when Peter M Howell’s father died. If correct, James Howell would be my wife’s third great-grandfather.

Peter M. Howell is my wife’s 2nd great-grandfather.  He was born in Buckingham County, Virginia.  He married in Cumberland County, Virginia, and died in North Carolina. He was an itinerate preacher. He published a book, The Life and Travels of Peter Howell, in the 1840s that chronicled his life. The book had an illustration of Peter Howell, which is the earliest image that I have of any ancestor.

Peter Fletcher Howell

Peter Fletcher Howell is my wife’s great-grandfather. He was born in Buckingham County, Virginia, but lived most of his life in Halifax County, North Carolina. He was a civil war veteran (CSA). He fought at “The Crater” and many other battles.

James Dallis Howell was my wife’s grandfather. He was born in Halifax County, North Carolina. He too was a preacher and lived most of his life in North Carolina, although he died in Maryland.

My wife’s father, Clarence Fletcher “Pete” Howell, was also born and raised in North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and became an engineer. He located to Washington, DC in 1939 and lived there until the 1950s. In the 1960s he moved to Maine where he started several businesses that continue to this day. Pete passed in 1999.

DNA

James Dallas Howell

In hopes of a breakthrough in the Howell ancestor research, Jerome Howell has taken a Y-DNA test. His nearest Y-DNA matches are surnamed “Howle,” but no link between the families has been discovered. It appears that the common ancestor between them is more than five generations ago and, apparently, before a Howell/Howle surname split. The Howle line ancestors were in South Carolina in the 1780s while the Howell line ancestors were in Virginia at that time.

Known relatives.

My records have 138 direct-line descendants of James Howell identified over eight generations. This is about 5% of my Howell-Darling research.

Endnotes

[i] Ancestry.Com – Howell Family History – Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press. See: https://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=Howell

[ii] Forebears – Howell surname and meaning – Source: Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison – See: https://forebears.io/surnames/howell

[iii] Ancestry.Com – Howell Family History – Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press. See: https://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=Howell

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