Ethel Wight Collection – Part 65

Posted on January 28, 2022 by Don Taylor

Ilsley, Iverson, Jackson, (née McCracken) Quattrucci

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
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 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.

Geneve Harriett Iverson, circa 1937.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Geneva Iverson, Me Gen Hospital #669.”

Geneve Harriett Iverson, circa 1937

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Geneva Iverson, a student nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital).
  • The 1934 Portland High School Yearbook lists Geneve Harriette Iverson “Snooie” as a senior whose “College Preference” was the Maine General School of Nursing.
  • The 1930 US Census lists Geneve H Iverson as the 14-year-old adoptive daughter of Iver H. and Marie B. Iverson. Geneve was born in Massachusetts. The family lived at 92 Bedford Street.

I am confident this is Geneive Harriet Iverson, born 25 Feb 1916 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, taken about 1937 when she was graduating from nursing school.

Ancestry has 37 public trees that refer to Geneive Harriet Iverson. Family Search has a profile for Geneve Harriett Iverson. So, I have uploaded two photos of her to profile ID: LR9H-WHR Family Search Memories.

Vivian M Jackson, circa 1936.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Vivian Jackson, 556 Forest Ave #996.”

Vivian M Jackson, circa 1936.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

    • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Vivian M Jackson, residing at 556 Forest Ave.
    • The 1934 Deering High School yearbook lists Vivian M. Jackson, who was involved with Red Cross in her freshman year.
    • The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Vivian M Jackson as a student nurse at 231 Woodford and residing at 20 Norwood.
    • Maine Marriage Index, 1892-1996, indicates that Vivian M Jackson married Carleton W Cole on 11 Nov 1937.

I am sure this photo is of Vivian M Jackson about 1936 when she graduated from nursing school and before she married Carleton Cole.

Ancestry has seven public trees that refer to Vivian M. Jackson. Family Search has a profile for Vivian M Jackson, so I uploaded two photos to her profile ID: G7WS-MDK Family Search Memories. 

Confirmed to be Vivian M. Jackson, the daughter of  Mabel L Jackson (shown below), by a 1st cousin 2x removed .

John Quattrucci, of Portland, Maine, circa 1936

This negative envelope says, “Mr. John Inotticci, 48 Middle St #671.”

John Quattrucci, of Portland, Maine, circa 1936

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1940 Portland City Directory identifies three individuals who lived at 48 Middle St.
    • Merolla Agostino
    • Pasquale and Katherine DeSarno
    • John Quaittrucci
  • The 1937 Portland City Directories identifies three people with the Quattrucci surname:
    • Frank & Mary living at 48 Middle
    • Guy & Theresa, living at 18 Middle
    • John was also living at 48 Middle.
  • The 1940 US Census lists John Quottuci (Quattrucci), a 23-year-old laborer with the Power Light Co. living with his parents, Frank & Mary Quottucci.

Although there is an inconsistency in the surname between different documents, I feel confident this photo is of John Quattrucci, born 6 March 1917 when he was about 20 years old.

Ancestry has seven public trees that refer to Gennaro Samuel Quattrucci, born 6 March 1917 in Portland, Maine, the son of Francisco and Philomena Mary (Paolino) Quattrucci. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for John (Gennaro) Quattrucci, so I have added his photo to Dead Fred. I also uploaded an additional picture of John to my Flickr photostream. 

Phillip York Ilsley, circa 1935

This negative envelope says, “Mr. Phillip Isley, 33 Colonial Rd, #253.”

Phillip York Ilsley, circa 1935

Why I believe this to be the individual.

    • The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Phillip Y Ilsley, and his wife Bernice, living at 33 Colonial Road.
    • The 1940 US Census lists 44-year-old Philip Y Ilsley and his wife Bernice, living at 19 Rosemont Ave.

This photo is of Philip York Ilsley, born 3 Nov 1895 in Maine and married to Bernice May Glidden.

Ancestry has 15 public trees that refer to Philip York Ilsley. Family Search also has a profile for Phillip York Ilsley, so I uploaded two photos of him to his (KCTJ-X4V) Family Search Memories. 

Confirmed to be Philip Ilsley by a nephew. 

Mabel L Jackson (Née McCracken), circa 1937.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Mabelle Jackson, 556 Forest Av – #1023.”

Mabel L Jackson (Née McCracken), circa 1937.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1938 Portland City Directory lists William E and his wife Mabelle L Jackson living at 556 Forest Ave.
  • The 1940 US Census lists William E and his wife Mabel, living at 29 Revere Street. Mabel was 59 years old and born in Canada.
  • Ancestry public Trees indicate that Mabel L McCracken, born 1878 in New Brunswick, Canada, and married William Edward Jackson on 28 Jun 1905 in Portland, Maine.

This photo of Mabel is from about 1937 when she was about 59 years old.

Ancestry has nine public trees that refer to Mabel McCracken. Family Search has a profile for Mabel, so I  have uploaded two photos of Mabel to her Family Search (ID G771-29B) profile.

Confirmed to be Mabel L Jackson (née McCracken) by a 2nd great-grand daughter.

Conclusion

  • I 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. I uploaded his photos to Dead Fred and my Flickr Photostream.

For all of the Ethel Wight Collection analysis, please see here.

Final Note

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.

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.

Posted in Ethel Wight Studio, Faces from the Past | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Donna 100 Years ago – Binghamton Theater, Binghamton, New York

Posted on January 26, 2022 by Don Taylor

100 Years Ago
Donna Darling & Boys
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.[“Donna 100 Years Ago” is my reporting of items relating to my grandmother, Madonna Montran (aka Donna Montran and Donna Darling). Hers was the exciting world of 1920s vaudeville. She crisscrossed the country with her many shows.]

I first learned about Donna being at the Binghamton Theater from a clipping from the Donna Darling Collection that showed in the theater’s magazine. It told that the program for January 26, 27, and 28 included:

    1. Pathe News
    2. Dale & Young
    3. Peel & Corovan
    4. Farrell Taylor & Co.
    5. Donna Darling & Boys
    6. Loney Haskell
    7. Billy Bouncers Circus
    8. A Cosmopolitan Production “Just Around the Corner”

Another clipping indicated the year was 1922 and included,

“Donna Darling and Boys, as might be gathered from the title, is a musical number or rather a collection of musical numbers, all of them good.”

Finally, there was a small ad clipping that showed the same acts as the theater program. I don’t know which paper the clippings were taken from, but the same ad appeared twice in the 27 Jan 1922 issue of the Binghamton Press.

One hundred years ago, Donna played in her vaudeville act, “Donna Darling & Boys,” at the Binghamton Theater, Binghamton, New York.

Posted in Donna Darling & Boys (1922), Donna Montran | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Grandparent surnames in the 1940 Census

Posted on January 22, 2022 by Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.[Last Saturday, Randy Seaver, in his blog Genea-Musings, suggested looking at grandparent surnames and seeing how many are in the 1940 Census. He also asked if we had done a “one-name search” for any of those surnames.]

My four grandparents surnames and the number with that surname in the 1940 U.S. Census are:

    • Roberts – 199,363 people*
    • Barnes – 109,928 people
    • Brown – 755,566 people
    • Montran – 3 people

My wife’s four grandparents last names at birth, and the exact number with those last names in the 1940 U.S. census are:

    • Howell – 61,015 people
    • Hobbs – 25,280 people
    • Darling – 11,404 people
    • Huber – 22,633 people

I have performed an extensive “one name search” for Montran and have set up alerts with Newspapers.Com, Genealogy Bank, and Newspaper Archives so that I am alerted when “Montran” is mentioned. Then I include news of the Montrans in my tree and my blog.

* The source for all numbers is Family Search.

Posted in Brown-Montran, Darling-Huber, Howell-Hobbs, Roberts-Barnes, Montran Project | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 64

Posted on January 21, 2022 by Don Taylor

Huston, Hutchins, Hybers, Hysom, & née Winslow

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
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 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.

Shirley & Harriett Hutchins, circa 1935

The envelope this negative was in says, “Misses Harriett & Shirley Hutchinson, 6 Wescott St #828.”

Shirley & Harriett Hutchins, circa 1935

Why I believe this to be these individuals.

  • In my initial search, I could not find any Hutchinsons living on Wescott Street. I then searched for 6 Wescott without a surname and found Harold I Hutchins and his wife Addie S living at 6 Wescott in the 1937 and 1938 Portland City Directories.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Harold T and his wife Addis Hutchins living at 6 Wescott. His two daughters, Harriett C (age 19) and Shirley L (age 17), live with them. Shirley was born in New Hampshire, but the others were all born in Maine.
  • Social Security Applications and Claims indicate that Harriett Charlotte Dusky (née Hutchins) was born 30 Sep 1920 in Vinalhaven, Maine. Her parents are Harold I and Addie S (Linneken) Hutchins.
  • Ancestry Family Trees indicate that Harriett’s sister, Shirley Louise Hutchins, was born on 6 June 1922. A high school photo of Shirley confirms she is the girl on the left in this photo.

Based upon the Photo ID number (828), this photo was likely taken about 1935, when Harriett was about 15, and Shirley was about 13.

Harriett Charlotte Hutchins is referred to in 33 public Trees; Shirley Louse Hutchins is referred to in 15 public trees. Family Search has a profile for Hattie Charlotte Hutchins (born 3 October 1920) of LTG1-93V, and her sister, Shirley Louise Hutchins, is identified as LTTL-5G6. I  have uploaded a photo of Hattie and Shirley to their Family Search Memories. 

Confirmed to be Shirley & Harriett by a grandchild.

Howard and Dorothy Hutchins (née Winslow), circa 1936

This negative envelope says, “Mr. Howard Hutchins, 408 ½ Congress St #1030.”

Howard and Dorothy Hutchins (née Winslow), circa 1936

Why I believe this to be these individuals.

  • The 1937 Portland doesn’t list Howard Hutchins and indicates that Eugene F Blake lived at 408½ Congress.
  • The 1936 Portland City Directory available on Ancestry is missing page 459; that page should have Howard Hutchins. The Directory is also missing page 990, which should have who was living at 408½ Congress Street.
  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Howard L (and Dorothy) Hutchins living at 408½ Congress.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Howard and Dorothy living on Cobb avenue. Howard is 25 years old, and Dorothy is 23.
  • Ancestry Family Trees indicate Howard Leroy Hutchins was born on 3 Aug 1912, and Dorothy Rose Winslow was born on 12 October 1916. The couple was married on 15 Jul 1934.

I am confident this is a photo of Howard and Dorothy about 1936 when Leroy was 24 years old, and Dorothy was 20.

Ancestry has 29 public trees that refer to Howard Leroy Hutchins, and Dorothy Rose Winslow is identified in 15 Ancestry Public Trees.  Family Search has a profile for Howard L Hutchins of LTTL-LMN, and his wife Dorothy is GZZT-JZK. I have uploaded two photos of them to their Family Search Memories.

Cpl Leon Huston, Fort McKinley, ME, circa 1937

This negative envelope says, “Mr. Leon Huston, Fort McKinley, ME –  Co. M #1092.”

Cpl Leon Huston, Fort McKinley, ME, circa 1937

What I think I know:

  • The rank insignia for this person is Corporal.
  • The patch on his sleeve is from the 9th Infantry Division. The 9th Infantry Division was a Regular Army Inactive unit with personnel at the Army Base, Boston, Mass.
  • The envelope the negatives were in suggest he was with Company M.

Are there alternative individuals?

There was a Leon Leroy Huston, born 15 Dec 1897 in Portland, Cumberland County, and graduated from Lisbon Falls High School. In 1922 he married Pearl Snow at Lewiston. By 1927 the couple had moved to Academy, New York, where he lived until after 1940. He did serve during WWI, but I can find no evidence of service in the 1930s. Additionally, photos on Ancestry for this individual do not appear to be the same individual as this photo.

A look at the Department of Veterans Affairs, BIRLS DeathFile results for Leon Huston indicated four people named Leon Huston served in the military.

  • Leon F Huston, born 30 Sep 1919, Served in the US Army from 1944 to 1946.
  • Leon C Huston, Born 19 Oct 1918, served in the US Army from1941 to 1945.
  • Born 9 Feb 1926, Leon Dean Huston served in the US Navy from 1944 to 1946.
  • Born 15 Dec 1897, Leon Leroy Huston served in the US Army from 1918 to 1919.

Although I may think that Leon Leroy Huston is the Leon Huston in this photo, I can’t confirm that, and the images of Leon I’ve seen suggest they are two different people.

Ancestry has 71 public trees that refer to Leon Leroy Huston. Hopefully, one of his family members can confirm that this is their Leon. I have added a photo of him to Dead Fred and uploaded two additional images to my Flickr photostream. 

Harold H. Hybers, circa 1936

This negative envelope says, “ Mr. Harold Hybers, 109 Gilman St. #708.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Harold H. Hybers, circa 1936

    The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Harold H Hybers living at 109 Gilman. Also at 109 Gilman are Charles L Hybers and Frederick J Hybers.

  • The 1940 US Census lists 26-year-old Harold H Hybers, the son of John C Hybers, living at 434 Congress Street.
  • Maine Birth Records indicate that Harold H Hybers was born 26 Mar 1914 to John C and Fannie H Hybers.

This photo was probably taken about 1935 when Harold was 21 years old.

Ancestry has 26 public trees that refer to Harold H Hybers. Family Search has a profile for Harold as well. So, I uploaded two photos of him to profile L1N7-GMS‘s Family Search Memories.

Marilyn Hysom, circa 1936 (age 2)

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Derrell Hysome, 24 East Kidder St #728.”

Marilyn Hysom, circa 1936 (age 2)

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1938 Portland City Directory lists Derrell A. Hysom and his wife Delia, living at 24 Kidder east. Also at that address was Mary L Hysom.
  • The 1940 US Census lists 39-year-old Darrell and 34-year-old Della Hysom living at 23B Sherwood. Living with them is their five-year-old daughter Marilyn. Darrell’s mother, Mary L, and his brother-in-law Ralph H. Hoffses were also in the household.
  • Ancestry Trees indicate that Marilyn A Hysom was born 5 October 1934 in Portland, Maine.

This photo was probably taken about 1936 when Marilyn was about two years old. I am sure it is a photo of her.

Ancestry has 39 public trees that refer to Marilyn Hysom. Family Search has a profile L6L6-595 for Marylin Hysom. I have uploaded a photo of her to her Family Search Memories. 

Confirmed to be Marilyn Hysom by a close family member.

Conclusion

  • I identified six individuals that have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories
  • One individual I believe I have identified but am not 100% certain. Consequently, I posted his image to Dead Fred.

For all of the Ethel Wight Collection analysis, please see here.

Final Note

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.

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.

Posted in Ethel Wight Studio, Faces from the Past | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Gateway and Immigrant (Original) Ancestors

Posted on January 20, 2022 by Don Taylor

By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.My local Genealogy Group[i] recently met via Zoom and discussed “Gateway Ancestors” and “Immigrant Ancestors.” A Gateway Ancestor is one that you find that can be the individual that, once you have a direct connection to that person, there is an established genealogy back to royalty. For example, The Order of the Crown of Charlemagne (in the United States) has a list of Gateway Ancestors that lead to a direct lineage to Charlemagne. Although my wife has a lineage back to Charlemagne, her “Gateway Ancestor” isn’t included in their list. I don’t believe I have any royal ancestors. Certainly, nothing going back to Charlemagne.

Another site, MagnaCharta.com, provides “Gateway Ancestors” that can help you join The Baronial Order of Magna Charta and The Military Order of the Crusades. Again, I don’t have any known ancestors that connect with either organization.

Then we talked about our known “Immigrant Ancestors.” Using the sorting and selection capabilities of Family Tree Maker 19 for Mac, I quickly determined many of my immigrant ancestors.

My Most Recent Immigrant Ancestors – Sarah H (Blackhurst) Barber & Fanny (Taylor) Blackhurst.

I wrote about Sarah previously. She was born in 1847 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. In 1848, her father, Stephen Blackhurst, came to the United States. In 1850, his wife, Fanny, and daughter, Sarah, came to the United States. They originally lived in Auburn, Cayuga County, New York, and lived there for about ten years. Then the family moved to Sheridan, Calhoun County, Michigan. Stephen and Fanny lived there until their deaths, in 1869 and 1889, respectively. Sarah moved from Calhoun County to Detroit, Wayne County, about 1899 and lived there until she died in 1928.

My Earliest Known Immigrant Ancestor – Thomas Sanford (1607-1681)[ii]

Flag of New Haven Colony Courtesy Wikimedia

Thomas is my 10th great-grandfather in my Brown Line. I know very little about Thomas. However, I believe he was born in August 1607 in Essex, England. His son, Samuel Sanford, was born in 1643 in Milford, New Haven Colony (now part of Connecticut), so it is clear Thomas came to America before that. Thomas died in 1681 in Milford.

Other Early Immigrant Ancestors

My 11th great-grandfather, Frances Posey, was born in France about 1615. His daughter Anne was born in “Old Charles County” Maryland, in 1650, indicating Frances came to America before 1650.

My 9th great-grandfather, Joseph Parsons, was born in Beaminster, Dorset, England, in 1620. His son, Joseph, was born in 1647 (probably) in Massachusetts.

My 8th great-grandfather, James Blackwell, was born in 1647 in York County, Virginia Colony. I have not learned his parents’ names yet or their immigration dates.

Conclusion

So, I have 17th-century immigrants that came from England and France to the Province of Maryland, Massachusetts Bay Colony, New Haven Colony, and Virginia Colony.

With so many 17th and 18th century immigrants in my tree, I think I’ll add an “immigrant” fact to those individuals known to have immigrated. For example, a woman born outside America but had children born in America, but I don’t have a death location is likely an immigrant ancestor.

Endnotes

[i] Greater Portland Chapter of the Maine Genealogical Society (https://www.gpcmgs.org/).

[ii] I have not personally research the Sanford line after my 4th Great-grandfather, Ezra Clugston Sanford (1763-1813). Ancestors before him are tentative/speculative.

Posted in Brown-Montran | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment