Photo Friday – Michoud, Mercer, Merrigan, Milliken (Née Feeney), Sargent (née Mitchell)

Posted on July 22, 2022 by Don Taylor

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 90

By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.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 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.

 Hope Mercer, Nurse, circa 1935.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Hope Mercier, Children’s Hospital #796.”

Why I believe it to be this person:

  • Hope Mercer, Nurse, circa 1935.

    The handwriting on the negative envelope is difficult to read. Some people see her surname as Mercieu; I thought it looked more like it might be Mercier. In any event, I could not find either surname in the Portland area in the 1930s.

  • However, this was a Hope M Mercer, who was a nurse at EMGH (Eastern Maine General Hospital) listed in the 1939 Bangor City Directory.
  • Records of Aliens Pre-Examined in Canada, 1904-1954 indicated Hope May Mercer was born in Norton, New Brunswick, Canada, and was 20 years old when she arrived in the United States in 1934. Her mother’s name was Ada I. Mercer; she was a student nurse heading to the Aroostook Hospital. [iii]
  • The 1921 Canadian Census shows Frank and Ada Merson [Merser] living in Norton, Kings County, New Brunswick, Canada, with their 7-year-old daughter, Hope.

I’m confident this is a photo of Hope May Mercer, born about 1934 in Norton, New Brunswick. She was the daughter of Frank (Francis) James and Ada Isabella (Menzie) Mercer.

I have not found Hope May Mercer in Ancestry trees or Family Search. I believe she is the twin of Harry Whitfield Mercer and the daughter of Francis James and Ada Isabella (Menzie) Mercer. However, because she does not have a profile on Family Search, I uploaded a photo of her to Dead Fred. I also uploaded two additional pictures of her to my Flickr photostream. 

Mabel Michaud, Student Nurse, circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Mable Michaud, ME Gen Hospital #789.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Mabel Michaud, Student Nurse, circa 1935.

    The 1937 and 1938 Portland City Directories list Mabel Michaud as a nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital).

  • Maine Marriage Index indicates that Mable Michaud married Donald J Webber on 1 November 1939.
  • The 1940 Census lists Donald and Mabel Webber living at 30 Cedar, in Belfast, Waldo County, Maine. Mabel was 24 years old and born in Maine.
  • Ancestry Trees suggest that Mabel M. Michaud was born on 4 April 1916 at Island Falls, Aroostook County, Maine. Her parents were Denis and Lucille (Gendreau) Michaud.

I am confident this is Mabel M Michaud, born 4 April 1916, about 1935.

Ancestry has 51 public trees that refer to Mabel M Michaud. Family Search has profile GSHG-WBQ for Mabel Michaud. I have uploaded two photos of her to her Family Search Memories.

Pauline Merrigan, Circa 1934

This negative envelope says, “Miss Pauline Merrigan, 176 Oxford St #482.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Pauline Merrigan, Circa 1934.

    The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Pauline E Booth, the wife of Arthur A Booth, living at 176 Oxford.

  • The Maine Marriage Index indicates that Pauline E Merrigan married Arthur A Booth on 29 September 1934.
  • Ancestry Trees suggest this is Pauline Eleanor (Merrigan) Booth, born 22 November 1915.

I believe this photo is of Paulene Merrigan, about 1934, just before she married Arthur Booth.

Ancestry has 21 public trees that refer to Pauline Eleanor (Merrigan) Booth.  Family Search has profile LVFG-CPH for Pauline Eleanor Merrigan. I have uploaded two photos of her to her Family Search Memories. 

Gertrude Milliken, (née Feeney) circa 1935

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Perley Milliken, 289 Deering Av – #766.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Gertrude Milliken, (née Feeney) circa 1935

    The 1940 US Census lists Perley Milliken living with his wife Gertrude B Milliken at 287 Deering. Gertrude is 53.

  • Maine Marriage Records include Gertrude B Feeney marrying Perley P Milliken on 17 June 1920. Her parents were John E and Adelaide M (Etchingham) Feeney.

I am confident this is a photo of Gertrude (Feeney) Milliken about 1935 when she was about 49 years old.

Ancestry has two public trees that refer to Gertrude B Feeney, born in November 1886.  Family Search has profile 9V8B-855 for Gertrude Bernice Feeney. I have uploaded two photos of him/her to him/her Family Search Memories.

Dorothy (née Mitchell) & Robert B. Sargent, circa 1941.

This photo is from the Ethel Wight Studio, Portland, Maine.

This negative envelope says, “Mr. Mitchells Daughter’s Baby – Sept 1941 – Mrs. Robert E Sargent 130 Chatillon Road, Rome, GA.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Dorothy (née Mitchell) & Robert B. Sargent, circa 1941.

    The World War II draft card for Robert Edward Sargent indicates he lived at 130 Chatillon Road, Rome, Floyd County, Georgia. The person who would always know his address was Mrs. M. Ella Sargent, 22 Fountain St., Havehill [Haverhill], Mass. Robert was born on 25 October 1902 in Haverhill.

  • The 1940 US Census lists Robert E Sargent and his wife Dorothy living at 130 Chatillian Road, Riverside, Floyd County, Georgia. Dorothy was 33 and born in Massachusetts. With them is their son, Robert B. Sargent; the baby was 0/12 in age, indicating he was born in March or April 1940.
  • Ancestry Trees suggest Dorothy is Dorothy Mitchell, which confirms the child is Mr. Mitchell’s Daughter’s Baby. Dorothy’s father was Clarence B. Mitchell, and Dorothy was born on 23 September 1906.

Robert B. Sargent, circa 1941.

I am sure this photo is of Dorothy (Mitchell) Sargent in 1941 with her son, Robert.

Dorothy Osgood Mitchell is found in 10 Ancestry public trees; however, her son, Robert B Sargent, is not. Likewise, Family Search has profile L58Z-KY9 for Dorothy Osgood Mitchell but not one for little Robert. One of the photos includes what appears to be a photo of Dorothy with the baby, so I uploaded it to Dorothy’s Family Search Memories. I uploaded a picture of the baby to Dead Fred. I also uploaded another photo of the baby to my Flickr photostream.

Conclusion

  • I fully identified all six Four have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories. Two.
  • Two individuals did not have Family Search profiles and did not appear in any Ancestry trees. I uploaded those photos Dead Fred and to my Flickr Photostream.

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.

[iii] Records of Aliens Pre-Examined at Saint John, New Brunswick, Prior to Admission at the U.S.-Canada Border, compiled ca. 1917 – ca. 1942. Micro Publication A3450. RG 85. 7 rolls. NAI: 3931198. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. This image is very difficult to read. See https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/29500456?h=6d55bb

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Research Plan – Bert Allen Roberts (1903-1949)

Posted on July 21, 2022 by Don Taylor

Roberts Line
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.I am beginning a deep dive into my Grandfather Bert Allen Roberts. He died before I was born and before my half-siblings were born, so there are no direct memories of the man I know about.

Bert Allen Roberts, Sr.

Bert Allen Roberts was born on 20 September 1903 in Sesser, Illinois, as the third child of Hugh Ellis Roberts and Clora Dell Scott. He had three siblings: Harry Ray, Carrie Mae, and Mabel Ilean. He died on 1 May 1949 in Elwood, Madison, Indiana, USA (State Road 37, at the east edge of Elwood.). When he was 18, he married Essie Pansy Barnes, daughter of Joel Clinton Barnes and Marada Alice Lister, on 13 May 1922 in Sullivan, Sullivan, Indiana, USA.

Basic information regarding Bert includes Birth, Marriage, and Death Certificates and the Census records for all censuses while he was living. I reported those in my initial post, Bert Allen Roberts (1903-1949). I have reviewed the sources attached to him in his FamilySearch profile, L2HT-QN5. Bert appears in 52 Ancestry Public Trees. I have also reviewed all of the sources associated with those trees.

Conflicts I know about

Name: Some researchers indicate Bert’s name was Herbert. I have contacted both researchers and asked if they had a source for the name. All the records I have refer to him as Bert.

I received a response from both of them, they had no sources for “Herbert” and have updated their trees accordingly. 

Birth:  Some records indicate he was born on 7 September 1903; others show he was born on 20 September 1902. (See: Proof of Birthdate.) I have settled on 7 September 1903 as his date of birth.

Location: The 1931 Polk City Directory indicates his wife, Essie, is a widow living at 460 S 13-1/2 Street. And Bert is residing at 803 North 3rd.***

Burial:  There is a conflict in Bert’s burial location. He has a marker in Elwood, IN, where he died, but the newspapers indicate his body was returned to his home in Michigan.****

Laying out and organizing the areas for my research include:

Locations, Dates, & Events of Bert Allen Roberts’ Life

Family Search Locations Event Dates Events Research Years
IL, Crawford, Hutsonville 1920 Age 17** 1910-1922
IL, Franklin, Sesser 1903 Birth* 1903-1908
Illinois 1903-1922 Birth, School* – ** 1903-1908, 1910-1922
IN, Madison, Elwood 1949 Death 1949
IN, Sullivan, Sullivan 1922 Age 19 – Marriage 1920-1929
IN, Sullivan, Turman Twp 1910 Age 7 – School** 1908-1920
IN, Vigo, Terre Haute 1929-1940 Head of Household*** 1922-1940
Indiana 1908-1942 Marriage, Adult 1908-1942
MI, Wayne, Detroit 1942 Head & Residence at Death**** 1940-1949
Michigan 1940-1949 Adult, Death**** 1940-1949

* Records from birth until 1908 use his parents, Hugh Ellis and Clora Roberts.
** Records from 1908 until 1920 might use stepfather Hosea Lee and his mother, Clora Adams names.
*** Pay close attention to the city directories from 1929-1934 for his residence and the conflict between his residence and his wife’s residence.
**** Confirm the location of his body’s burial.

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Donna at the Lindo, Freeport, IL, Dec 28, 1924

Posted on July 19, 2022 by Don Taylor

Donna in the News
by Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.“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 to find a new venue for my grandmother’s exciting show business career of the 1910s and 1920s.

This week from the Freeport Journal-Standard (Freeport, IL) newspaper dated Friday, December 26, 1924, I learned that Donna Darling and her Bathing Girls Review played at the Lindo Theatre in Freeport on Sunday, December 28, 1924.

Freeport Journal-Standard Fri, Dec 26, 1924.

This was an advertisement only. I looked at other ads and articles during the days before and after this ad but wasn’t able to find any additional information in the Freeport Journal-Standard. This ad also mentions there were “Nine Girlies” in the show, and they were “From the Studios.”

Because of those newly available online articles, I was able to add another venue for Donna’s exciting vaudeville career.

New information added to her career list:

December 28, 1924 – Freeport, IL – The Lindo Theatre – Donna Darling and her Bathing Girls Review in “A Beach Promenade.”

Endnotes

My thanks to Newspapers.com for providing this service.

 

 

 

 

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My mtDNA Results – T2b

Posted on July 17, 2022 by Don Taylor

mtDNA
by Don Taylor

I recently took the mtDNA[i] test through Family Tree DNA. I wasn’t surprised to learn I am a T2b haplogroup (23&Me’s test also told me that). There were 30 matches with a Genetic Distance of zero (0). Tracing mtDNA ancestors can be complex as the surnames typically change every generation. With that in mind, I thought I don’t know what my mtDNA cousins’ surnames are. I know my two mtDNA sisters and my one niece, but not any cousins.

Looking At My Tree,

Photo of Sylvia Larson (later Matson) in nurse's uniform - circa 1955

My mom, in nurse’s uniform – circa 1955

I received my mtDNA from my mother.

She received it from her mother, Madonna Mae Montran. Madonna had no other daughters.

Madonna received her mtDNA from her mother, Ida Mae Barber. Ida had no other daughters.

Ida received her mtDNA from her mother, Sarah H Blackhurst (1848-1929). Sarah also had a daughter Eva. Louisa Barber.

  1. Eva married Adelbert Roswell Goff and had a daughter
    1. Lillian A. Goff (1907-___).

Sarah received her mtDNA from Fanny Taylor (1806-1889). Besides Sarah, Fanny had five other daughters

  1. Ellen Blackhurst (1829-1905) married Henry Clough and had one daughter.
    1. Kara A Clough (___-___)
  2. Elizabeth Blackhurst (1831-1915) married Isaac John Earl and had one known daughter.
    1. Mary Flora Earl
  3. Mary Blackhurst (1833-1900) married Royal Baldwin (no known children)
  4. Louise Blackhurst (1840-1927) had one daughter with Samuel Sanders and one daughter with Champion Eslow.
    1. Carrie B. Sanders (1867-___)
    2. Phoebe Ann Eslow (1879-1948)
  5. Phoebe Anna Blackhurst (1842-1929) married William Brownell and had two daughters
    1. Hattie L. Brownell (1860-1916)
    2. Fanny P Brownell (1866-1939)

I don’t know who Fanny Taylor’s parents are.

So, my known mtDNA ancestors and cousins include the following known surnames: Blackhurst, Brownell, Clough, Earl, Eslow, Goff, Sanders, and Taylor.

Next, I looked at the surname of my mtDNA matches trees.

  1. PJM: Sole, Perry, Ahearn, Broderick.
  2. SPD: Murray, Doherty, Elliott, Beggs.
  3. MDC: Newton, Barry.
  4. DJT: Hose, Rankin, McKenzie, Finlayson.
  5. SCC: Norris, Edwards, Arnold.
  6. ACG: Richardson, Douras, Lennon, O’Neil.
  7. RJC: Norris, Edwards, Arnold, Bryan.
  8. NAM: Lafferty, Doherty, Elliott.
  9. MW: Stein.
  10. MD: Parkyn, Smith, Harris.
  11. DBD: van Dyle
  12. DMW: Miller, MacKellar, Gallop, Caldwell, Flynn.
  13. BS: Regnier, Darcy, Crahan.
  14. MA: Coombs.
  15. AMN: Leonard, Campbell, O’Brien, Deasy.
  16. PMT: Bothwell, Fahey, Curtis, Jones.
  17. SV: Leonard, Campbell, O’Brien, Deasy.
  18. MKL: Lyons, Browne, Bergin, Long, Crabb.
  19. CW: Cushing, Pratt, Shonk.
    • Two trees had all mtDNA ancestors “Private.”
    • One tree was “Forbidden” to be seen by me.
    • Eight individuals had no trees.

So, none of the matches with a zero (0) genetic distance has a surname that matched my known surnames.

Follow-up

My next mtDNA task will be to expand my known surnames in hopes of finding an identifiable match. I’ll look closer at Eva Louisa (Barber) Goff. Did she have any daughters besides Lillian? Did Lillian have any children?

Endnotes

[i] Mitochondrial DNA is the small circular chromosome found inside mitochondria. (Wikipedia- Mitochondrial DNA) – See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitochondrial_DNA for more information.

 

Posted in DNA & Genetic Genealogy, DNA Research | Tagged | 1 Comment

Photo Friday – Mathews, Matthews, Maybury, Meddes, & Meloon

Posted on July 15, 2022 by Don Taylor

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 89

By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.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 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.

Dr. Robert Maybury, Dec. 1950.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Dr. Robert Maybury – Dec 1950 – DSCN4116.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Dr. Robert Maybury, Dec. 1950.

    A Death Notice for “Dr. Robert Maybury – Retired Maine Physician Who Became a Railroader” appeared in the September 11, 1951 edition of the Boston Globe. The article indicated he died on 8 September at Hampton, N.H. He was a native of Springvale, ME, and interned at Mass. General Hospital. He retired about 1941 to pursue railroading. He had a son, Richard D. Maybury, and a daughter, Mrs. Leavitt Emmons. He was 63 when he died (born circa 1888).

  • Robert Lincoln Maybury, born 27 November 1887, died 8 September 1951. There are several Ancestry trees that indicate he was born on 27 March 1887. That date appears to have been taken from a SAR application; however, it is difficult to read and could be “Nov” as easily as “Mar.” His WWI Draft Registration clearly reads Nov 27, 1887.

This photo is of Dr. Robert Lincoln Maybury in December 1950.

Ancestry has 16 public trees that refer to Robert Lincoln Maybury. Family Search has profile KCXX-K18 for Robert Lincoln Maybury. I have uploaded a photo of him to his Family Search Memories. 

Bertha Mathews, Student Nurse, circa 1934

This negative envelope says, “Miss Bertha Mathews, Me Gen Hospital #316.”

  • Bertha Mathews, Student Nurse, circa 1934

    A Bertha Matthews married Frederick F Hellier on 14 October 1938. Both were from Portland, Maine.

  • Bertha does not appear in any Portland City Directories from 1934 through 1937.
  • Additionally, I have not found any person named Bertha Mathews that is a nurse.

Alternate Individuals.

The 1930 Census appears to have three Bertha Matthews in Maine.

  • The 53-year-old wife of John P Matthews.
  • The 29-year-old daughter of John P Matthews.
  • Bertha Babcock is the 15-year-old step-daughter of Harold Matthews.

None of these appear to be the correct Bertha Matthews.

Because I am not sure of the identity of this person, I uploaded her photo to Dead Fred as Bertha Mathews, the name on the photo envelope.

Florence Matthews, circa 1934

This negative envelope says, “Miss Florence Mathews, 3 Park Place #268.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

Florence Matthews, circa 1934

  • The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Florence L Matthews living at 3 Park Place. Also in the directory is Florence D Matthews, the widow of Elbridge Matthews.
  • The 1935 Portland City Directory indicates that Florence L Matthews married Bartley P Flaherty.
  • Florence Matthews is the daughter of John Graham and Ellen (Coyne) Matthews. She was born on 21 Aug 1914 and married Bartley P Flaherty on 18 April 1934.

This is a photo of Florence in about 1934.

Ancestry has 18 public trees that refer to Florence Louise Matthews. Family Search has profile LTXY-BKW for Florence Matthews Garland. I have uploaded two photos of her to her Family Search Memories.

Confirmed to be Florence Louise Matthews by a granddaughter.

Frances Meloon, Nursing Student, circa 1936

This negative envelope says, “Miss Francis McLoon, Me Gen Hospital #973.”

Frances Meloon, Nursing Student, circa 1936

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1938 Portland City Directory lists Frances Meloon as a Student Nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital).
  • The 1930 US Census lists Frances Meloon living with her parents in Kezar Falls, Oxford County, Maine. She was born about 1918 in New Hampshire to Ernest and H Louise Meloon.

I believe this is Frances Louise Meloon, born 14 Jul 1917 in Effingham County, New Hampshire, about 1936, while she was a nursing student.

Ancestry has nine public trees that refer to Frances L Meloon, born in New Hampshire to Ernest and Helen Louise (Cutting) Meloon. Family Search has profile LT3W-269 for Frances Meloon. I have uploaded a photo of her to her Family Search Memories.

Sally Meddes (possibly Celina S. Bouchard) circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Sally Meddes, 305 Pine St #248.”

This identification has been one of my more confusing projects.

  • Envelope identifying Sally Meddes.

    I cannot find any references for Sally Meddes or Sarah[iii]

  • The 1934 Portland City Directory finds Theodore Meddes, a chef, living at 1 Shepley. He does not appear in the 1933 Directory. He appears in the 1935 Directory residing at 570½ Congress. The 1936 Directory indicates he moved to Bangor.
  • There doesn’t appear to be a 305 Pine Street in Portland, nor is there any other street in Portland that ends in “_ine,” so doing a reverse lookup isn’t possible.
  • The “Maine Marriage Index, 1892-1996” indicates that Celina Meddes married Stanton E Bartol on 2 September 1935. The confusing part is that the “Maine Marriage Index, 1892-1996” also reports Stanton E Bartol married Celina Bouchard on 2 September 1935. The 1940 Census indicates that Celina was 32 in 1940; thus, she would be about 26 in 1934 when the photo was probably taken.

Sally Meddes (possibly Celina S. Bouchard) circa 1934.

I suspect that Celina S. Bouchard also went by “Sally.” My review of the sources provided in 5 Ancestry Public Trees indicated the following:

  • Celina Bouchard was born on 6 September 1907 to Joseph and Anna (Regan) Bouchard in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
  • Celine Bouchard appears in the 1910 Census as the 3-year-old daughter of Joseph and Annie Bouchard.
  • Two trees report Celina’s name as Celina S Bouchard (Meddes). (One of them is a private tree.) The public tree doesn’t have any sources listed for the source of the “Meddes” surname, but possibly they or the private tree person have references for the Meddes surname.

Possibly, Celina married Theodore Meddes for a short time, divorced him then married Stanton Bartol in 1935. In any event, I will need confirmation regarding this possible scenario from family members.

Ancestry has eight trees that refer to Celina S Bouchard (Meddes). Because I am not certain of the identity of this person, I uploaded her photo to Dead Fred as Sally Meddes, the name on the photo envelope.

Conclusion

  • I identified three of the individuals. They have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories. One I
  • I failed to identify two individuals adequately, so I posted their images to Dead Fred.

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.

[iii] Sally is a common nickname for Sarah.

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