“Donna in the News” is my reporting of newly found newspaper articles and advertisements regarding my grandmother, Madonna Montran (aka 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 from the Baraboo News Republic (Baraboo, WI) newspaper dated 6 Jam 1925, I learned that Donna and her “Bathing Beauty Revue” played at the Al Ringling Theater on 5 & 7 January 1925 in Baraboo, Wisconsin, also that the show included some 15 girls.
Bathing Review Of Splendor On Ringling Bill
Pretty girls, dazzling costumes, and catchy music featured the Bathing Beauty Review at the Al. Ringling Theatre Monday Evening, which was shown as an added attraction in addition to the screen program of “Forbidden Paradise” and Harry Langdon in “Luck of the Foolish.”
Vaudeville consisted of 24 numbers which included many fancy costume skits by Murray Earl, Donna Darling and the girls numbering some 15 in number. The chorus costumed as bathers of 1860, 1900, Atlantic City, China, Spain, Egypt, Hawaii, America and others won considerable applause from the audience.
Howell, Hobbs, Long, Bryan, Sills Line
By Don Taylor
Sills is a variation of Sill. The English Sills surname is likely derived from the name of an ancestor, for example, Silvester, Selwyn, or Sisley. Although possibly it could have come from the German Sill, for a harness rope or the maker of harness ropes. [i]
Geographical
Today, the greatest incidence of Sills is in the United States, with over 9,000 people with the name. Tiny Norfolk Island (east of Australia and Northwest of New Zealand) has the greatest frequency of Sills, with one in 765 people having the surname. In the US, the greatest incidences of the Sills surname are in Texas, California, and Florida.
Lucretia Sills married Lewis Bryan in 1788, probably in Martin County, North Carolina. Although I haven’t confirmed it, it appears that two of Lucretia’s brothers, Benjamin and William, fought in the Revolutionary War in Halifax County, North Carolina. Grey, Samuel, and William Sills also fought for Virginia during the Revolution. I need to research more to possibly connect them as related to Lucretia.
Royal Standard of France (early 17th century–1789)
Lucretia’s grandfather, Lambert, was an immigrant ancestor. He was born in France in about 1690. He immigrated to the colonies before 1714 when he married Elizabeth Brewer in Virginia. He lived in Virginia until he died in 1751.
Famous Sills
Beverly Sills, the opera star, was born Belle Silverman and is unlikely to be related. Likewise, Paul Sills, director of Chicago’s Second City, was born Paul Silverburg and is likely unrelated.
Milton Sills is probably the most famous person with the Sills surname. He was an actor in the 1910s and 1920s. His most successful films were The Flaming Youth (1923) and The Sea Hawk (1924)
Sills Descendants
I have 264 known descendants of Lambert Sills in my tree; 29 Bryan, 26 Howell, 22 Sills, 19 Long, 17 Hobbs, and 15 Valentine individuals. I have not written about John W. Bryan (1788-1865); however, I did write about his daughter, Martha.
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.
Judge Scott Wilson, circa 1935
The envelope this negative was in says, “Judge Scott Wilson, 76 Beacon St #623.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Judge Scott Wilson, circa 1935
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Wilson, Scott (Elizabeth M) judge U S Circuit Court of Appeal 156 Federal rm 215 h 76 Beacon.
This photo is of Judge Scott Wilson, married to Elizabeth Maria Bodge. The judge was born on 11 January 1870 in Falmouth, Cumberland, Maine.
Ancestry has 30 public trees that refer to Scott Nelson Wilson. Family Search has profile M6SM-RF8 for Scott Wilson (1870-1942). I have uploaded two photos of Judge Wilson to his Family Search Memories.
Note: There is a similar photo of him on his Wikipedia Page – Scott Wilson (judge).
Emma Wilson (née Hambleton), circa 1934
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Emery G Wilson, Congress Sq. Hotel #96.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Emma Wilson (née Hambleton), circa 1934
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Wilson, Emery G (Emma H) lawyer 85 Exch rm 207 r Congress Sq Hotel.
World War I Draft Registration Cards list Emery Graves Wilson, whose nearest relative is Emma S. Wilson, born on July 15, 1874.
Ancestry Family Trees suggest this is Emma Sarah Hambleton, who married Emery Graves Wilson in 1898.
I conclude this photo is of Emma Sarah (née Hambleton) Wilson, circa 1934.
Mrs. Harrietta Wilson (née Trimble) & son, circa 1934
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Harriet Wilson & Son, 91 Federal St #301 – DSCN4333.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Mrs. Harrietta Wilson (née Trimble) & son, circa 1934
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Mrs. Harriett D Wilson, a clerk at 544 Congress and residing at 91 Federal.
The 1936 Portland City Directory available at Ancestry is missing pages 892 thru 896 (the pages that should contain Harriett. She doesn’t appear in any other directories.
The 1940 US Census lists 9 Harriet Wilsons with a connection to Maine.
Harriet, the 87-year-old wife of George (See Alternate Individuals).
Harriett, the 31-year-old single daughter of Minnie Wilson living in Thomaston, Maine.
Harriett, the seven-year-old daughter of Herbert Wilson.
Henrietta, the 38-year-old divorced daughter of Jessie Trimble (mother), lives in San Gabriel, California. She has a nine-year-old son, David Wilson. Henrietta and her mother were both born in Maine. David was born in California.
Harriet M Wilson, a 53-year-old widow living in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Living with her is a niece, Abbie.
Harriet Wilson, an 8-year-old girl living with her parents in Bath, New Hampshire.
Harriet Wilson, the 21-year-old wife of Myron R Wilson.
Harriet Wilson, the 49-year-old cook for a boarding house in Attleboro, Mass.
Harriet A Wilson, a 7-year-old girl living with her parents in Keene, NH.
Of these nine, only the 38-year-old daughter of Jessie Trimble is a potential match to the photo.
The 1920 US Census lists Jessie Trimble, the mother of Herman H Trimble, who is the brother of 18-year-old Henrietta Trimble.
Ancestry family trees suggest this is Henrietta Trimble, born 1 September 1901 in Robbinston, Maine.
I am confident this is a photo of Henrietta Wilson (née Trimble) with her son circa 1934.
Ancestry has 23 public trees that refer to Henrietta Trimble. Family Search has profile LCDQ-X29 for Henrietta Trimble. I have uploaded a photo of Harrietta with her son to her Family Search Memories.
David Wilson, circa 1934
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Harriet Wilson & Son, 91 Federal St #302.”
David Wilson, circa 1934
This envelope package indicated the same name and was taken at the same time (#301 and #302). Although the child is wearing different clothes it appears to be the same child as is in photo package #301.
I am confident it is a separate photo of Harrietta Wilson’s son David, circa 1934.
David does not appear in any public Ancestry trees, nor does he have a Family Search profile, so I only include the individual’s photo here.
Annie Wilson (née Scott) circa 1934.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. James A Wilson, 52 Ashmont St #153.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Annie Wilson (née Scott) circa 1934.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists James A and his wife Annie S Wilson living at 52 Ashmont.
The 1940 US Census lists James and his 58-year-old wife, Annie S.
Annie Scott, born 3 April 1882 in Bathurst, New Brunswick, married James Alexander Wilson on 25 July 1906.
This photo is of Annie Wilson (née Scott) circa 1934 when she was about 52 years old.
Ancestry has 34 public trees that refer to Annie Scott (1882-1950). Family Search has profile LK7D-SWP for Annie Scott. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Annie Scott, wife of James Alexander Wilson. I have uploaded two photos of Annie to her Family Search Memories.
Conclusion
I fully identified all five Four of them have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories
One individual did not have a Family Search profile and did not appear in any Ancestry trees, so I uploaded his photo here only.
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.
Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Family Search, Dead Fred, and Flickr have a higher image quality than the images linked here.
For all postings of the Ethel Wight Collection, please see here.
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.
Where was Bert Allen Roberts in 1931 & 1932 and why was Essie a “widow?”
Roberts Research
By Don Taylor
Research Question
The 1931 Polk City Directory for Terre Haute, Indiana, indicates Bert’s wife, Essie, is a widow living at 460 S 13-1/2 Street. It also suggests Bert is residing at 803 North 3rd. This appears to conflict with other records. (See Research Plan – Bert Allen Roberts (1903-1949). Can I explain the discrepancy?
Analysis
Bert Roberts, late 1940s
1929 – The 1929 Terre Haute City Directory lists Bert A (& Essie Roberts) living at 613 North 15th.
There is also a Bert H Roberts listed as a manager with Roberts & Sons and residing at 803 North 3rd.
1930 – The 1930 Census includes Bert, Essie, and the children living at 613 North 15th. Essie’s mother, Marada, lived with them.
1931 – The 1931 Terre Haute City Directory lists Bert H A Roberts is living at 803 N 3rd. Bert A is not listed. Because of the 1929 directory, it is clear this Bert Roberts is the Bert associated with the Roberts & Sons business and not Bert Roberts, the husband of Essie (Barnes) Roberts.
Essie Roberts, circa 1945
Essie P Roberts is listed as the widow of Bert A, working as a cook at J Vern Stevens and living at 460 S 13½. J Vern Stevens was a retail baker and a delicatessen located at 1603 S 7th. Because Essie’s mother, Marada, lived with Bert and Essie during the 1930 Census, I presume she took care of the five children, ages 2 through 9, while Essie worked.
1932 – The 1932 Terre Haute City Directory again fails to list a Bert Roberts but does list Essie as Mrs. Essie Roberts residing at 1466 S. 11th.
1934 – The 1934 Terre Haute City Directory lists Bert A (and Essie) Roberts as a taxi driver. They live at 1354 Chestnut.
Family Search indicates that Polk did not publish Terre Haute directories in 1930 and 1933. So further searching for them is futile.
Family oral history suggests that Bert may have had a second family. If so, it could have been during this period, 1931-1933.
Conclusion
The city directories definitely suggest something occurred between Bert & Essie during those years. Something serious enough that has them separated and Essie claiming to be a widow rather than having the stigma of either being divorced or abandoned with five children. In 1931, the children ranged from two to nine years old. Marada died in May 1932, so it may be it became too difficult to continue as it was, and Bert and Essie got back together then. In any event, it must have been a tough time for Essie.
I have not found any records suggesting where he may have been for those years. Further research into Bert & Essie’s lives will hopefully provide insight.
Sources
City Directory (A), Com, Terre Haute, IN (1929) – Page 411 – Roberts, Bert A. Accessed 21 Jan 2016.
1930 Census, Family Search, Bert A Roberts, Terre Haute, Vigo, Indiana, United States, citing enumeration district (ED) ED 22, sheet 9B, line 71, family 248, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 635; FHL microfilm 2,340,370. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X41Q-S9Z.
City Directory (A), Com, Terre Haute, IN (1931) – Page 387 – Roberts, Essie P (Wid Bert A). Accessed 28 Sep 2022.
City Directory (A), Com, Terre Haute, IN (1932) – Page 332 – Roberts, Essie [Barnes]. Accessed 28 Sep 2022.
City Directory (A), Com, Terre Haute, IN (1934) – Page 323 – Roberts, Bert A. Accessed 21 Jan 2016.
Wow, Part 100. This post is actually “Part 101” because I had two “Part 20.” I only analyzed two photo packets in the first two installments of this series. However, because I analyzed an additional five people in part 20a, with this installment, I will have analyzed 99 photo packages and shared the photos with family members through Family Search, Ancestry, Dead Fred, Flickr, and my website.
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 Wilson, circa 1934
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Dorothy Wilson, 16 Ponce St #227.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Dorothy Wilson, circa 1934
The 1933 Portland City Directory lists Dorothy M Wilson, a waitress at 285a Cumberland Ave, residing at 16 Ponce. Also at 16 Ponce is a Mrs. Margaret E Wilson.[iii] Margaret is listed as the widow of Philip H Wilson.
I am confident this photo is of Dorothy May Wilson, daughter of Philip Harold and Margaret E (Lowell) Wilson, about 1934 when Dorothy was about 21 years old.
Ancestry has 11 public trees that refer to Dorothy May Wilson, born on 19 February 1913 in Gorham, Maine. Family Search has profile G7ZL-69H for Dorothy May Wilson. I have uploaded two photos of Dorothy to her Family Search Memories.
Eleanor Wilson, circa 1935.
This negative envelope says, “Miss Eleanor Wilson, 300 Woodford St #562.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Eleanor Wilson, circa 1935.
According to the 1935 Portland City Directory, Clifford Wilson and his wife Helen lived at 300 Woodford.
The 1940 US Census lists 21-year-old Eleanor Wilson living with her parents, Clifford and Helen Wilson, at 85 Glenwood. All were born in Maine. Eleanor is listed as a “new worker.”
The Bangor Daily News (Bangor, ME) reported, on 9 Sep 1940, page 17, that Eleanor Wilson, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Clifford Wilson of Glenwood avenue (Portland), married D Edwin Christie.
I am sure this is Eleanor Wilson, born on 12 August 1918 in Portland, Maine, about 1935, when she was about 17 years old.
Alternate Individuals.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists an Eleanor L Wilson as a stenographer at 443 Congress street, Room 412, and residing at West Falmouth. That Eleanor was born on 9 February 1914 and would have been 26 during the 1940 Census.
Ancestry has eight public trees that refer to Eleanor Wilson, daughter of Clifford and Helen (Smith) Wilson. Family Search has profile G3KG-78Q for Eleanor Wilson, born 12 August 1918. I have uploaded two photos of Eleanor to her Family Search Memories.
Stanley Williams, Circa 1935
This negative envelope says, “Mr. Stanley Williams, 77 Mackworth #611.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Stanley Williams, Circa 1935.
The 1935 Deering High School Yearbook has a photo of Stanley W Williams. He is wearing the same suit and is clearly the same young man.
The 1930 US Census lists Stanley Williams, the 12-year-old son of Leon and Laura Williams, living at 77 Mackworth.
This photo is clearly Stanley White Williams, the son of Leon and Laura (White) Williams, and was born on 31 October 1917 in Augusta, Kennebec, Maine.
Ancestry has five public trees that refer to Stanley White Williams. Family Search has profile LBVW-T5Y for Stanley White Williams. I have uploaded two photos of Stanley to his Family Search Memories.
Unknown Child (probably related to Grace Williamson) circa 1935.
Unknown Child (probably related to Grace Williamson) circa 1935.
The 1934 Portland City Directory lists 2 Grace Williamsons. One is the wife of George S and lives at 51 Park, apt 12. The other, Mrs. Grace F Williamson, lives at 122 Oxford.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists two Grace Williamsons. One is the wife of George S and lives at 262 Brackett, Apt 5. The other Mrs. Grace F Williamson lives at 148 Cumberland.
The 1935 Directory lists ten people living at 469 Brighton. None are surnamed Williamson. They are:
Millet Cummings Apt 4
Melvin D Chatto Apt 3
Philip I Tibbetts
Melville R Babb Apt 6
George W Goodall Apt 7
Walter S Hamaker Apt 8
Victor E Hewitt Apt 9
Perley R McLellan
Harold E MacMillan Apt 11 and
Vera G Robinson. Apt 12
The 1936 Portland City Directory available at Ancestry is missing pages 892 through 896. The Directory lists eight people living at 469 Brighton. Again, none of them have the Williamson surname. They are
Vera G Robinson Apt 1
Lillian P Flanders Apt 2
Melvin D Chatto Apt 3
Alan W Titcomb Apt 5
Melville R Babb Apt 6
R Winthrop Andrews Apt 8
Victor E Hewitt Apt 9 and
Harold E MacMillan Apt 11
The 1940 Census lists George and Grace R Williamson living with their 8-year-old daughter Constance. The couple was 35 and 30 years old, making them too young for a grandchild. It also lists a 51-year-old Grace Williamson, who lives at 104 Franklin St. No children are living with her.
The 1930 Census lists Grace Williamson as the 41-year-old mother of 20-year-old William H Williamson. She lives at 104 Franklin Street.
Because neither Grace Williamson that I’ve discovered appear to have a relationship with 469 Brighton nor appear to have a child the age of the young girl in the photo, I cannot identify the child in this photo.
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 image here.
Laura Williams, circa 1935.
This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Leon N Williams, 77 Mackworth St #495.”
Why I believe this to be the individual.
Laura Williams, circa 1935.
The 1930 US Census lists Leon and Laura Williams living at 77 Mackworth.
Ancestry family trees suggest this is Laura M White, born about 16 May 1893 in Superior, Wisconsin, and is the wife of Leon N Williams.
This appears to be a photo of Laura (White) Williams, about 1935, when she was about 39 years old.
Family Search has profile 9JBZ-17J for Laura Mary White, born 15 May 1893 in West Superior, Douglas County, Wisconsin. Her profile does not include her marriage to Leon Williams nor her son, Stanley Williams, mentioned above. But I am confident this is Laura Mary White.
I fully identified four All of them have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories
I was unable to identify one of the images.
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.
Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Family Search have a higher image quality than the images linked here.
For all postings of the Ethel Wight Collection, please see here.
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] There are also four other people at that address.
“Donna in the News” is my reporting of newly found newspaper articles and advertisements regarding my grandmother, Madonna Montran (aka 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.
Pretty girls, dazzling costumes, and catchy music featured the Bathing Beauty Review at the Al. Ringling Theatre Monday Evening, which was shown as an added attraction in addition to the screen program of “Forbidden Paradise” and Harry Langdon in “Luck of the Foolish.”
