Amanuensis Monday - Red Carpet, 1890's Style

Yesterday was the Hollywood Event of the Season, the "Oscars".  Today is Leap Year Day.  I thought this article was appropriate for today.  From The Plattsmouth (Nebraska) Weekly Herald, January 21, 1892 Page 3.  Yes, January - this is just the "first" leap year party of the season!  Rockwood Hall is now a part of Plattsmouth's Main Street Historic District.  The Young Ladies Reading Room Association rented the second floor of the building in 1886 and established the first city library.


 EVENT OF THE SEASON

The Leap Year Party Given by the Young Ladies

THE DANCE WAS A SUCCESS

The Young Ladies Prove Their Ability as Leap Year Entertainers
A Pleasant Time Had by Those Present

The young ladies of the O. D. C. gave the first leap year party of the season last night at Rockwood hall, and to say that it was a success would be stating it very mildly.  The grand march started at 9 o'clock, with forty-seven couple.  The floor was in first-class shape and the music fine.
The young ladies furnished hacks for the conveyance of their company to the hall.  The party will be remembered by those present as the most enjoyable one this winter.
When it comes to giving an enjoyable and highly entertaining party, the young ladies are the ones that can do it.  THE HERALD makes special mention of some of the costumes worn, but could not obtain all of them.  The music was furnished by the celebrated Italian orchestra of Omaha.
Miss Nellie Taylor, of Central City, was dressed in a full dress of pink surrah, and slippers to match.
Mrs. Sam Patterson wore a beautiful black silk dress.
Miss Nettie Ballance was dressed in black silk and lace.
Miss Eva Verigg, of Central City, dressed in brown silk.
Miss Gering in pink silk with white lace.
Margaret Oliver in black silk.

Janet Livingston wore Nile green, with white kid slippers and gloves.
Georgia Oliver was dressed in lavender silk, with cream roses.
Bertha Wise dressed in white silk.
Julia Herrmann wore yellow surrah and looked very stately.
Frankie Stiles, pink silk with black lace over dress.
Hattie Latham, Nile green with black lace over dress.
Delia Tartsch, white satin, with La France roses.
May Grant, cream silk, entraine.
Tressa Hempel dressed in cream brocaded satin.
Following are those present:
Bertha Nitka                Ed Schulhoff
Delia Tartsch              John Schulhoff
Mamie Stiles               Mr Jovenille
Bertha Wise                Henry Tartsch
Frankie Stiles              A. V. Burke
May Grant                   J. K. Pollock
Ella Clark                    Al Perrine
Edith Patterson           Frank White
Nettie Ballance            Harry Green
Lillian Hanna              Elmer Eikenbary
Nellie Taylor              Will Stadelman
Maggie Oliver            A. E. Reinhackel
Katie Neville                   Emil Wurl
Maud Moon                    Paul Wurl
Mrs. Ed Barker               Ed Barker
Fannie M'Dougal            Frank M'Coy
Eva Verigg                     Cliff Shepherd
Miss Helps                     Mr Helps
Janet Livingston            Will Clements
Dora Fricke                    Chas. Murphy
Mamie Coffey                Pat Egan
Tressa Hempel               Rob't Crozier
Georgia Oliver               Chas. Spencer
Edith White                   Fred Fitch
Nannie Moore               Chas. Sherman
Carrie Greusel               John Langston
Etta Kew                       Will Ruffner
Emma Coursey             Frank Coursey
Mrs. Schmidtman         Wm. Schmidtman
Rose Patterson              Sam Patterson
Dora Herold                  A. E. Barrett
Julia Herrman               Geo. Lehnhoff
Flora Donovan             Will Streight
Mia Gering                   Will Verigg
Hattie Latham               J. F. Wellington
Minnie Guthman           Mr. Bigger
Kate Hempel                 Chas. Weckbach
Bird Houseworth          Geo. Palmer
Miss Wharton               Burt Wheeler
Mary Skiles                  W. Ailen
Manota Eikenb'ry         Chas. Vallery
Alice Eikenbary           Arch Coleman
Ella Wright                   Frank Johnson

John P. Smith of Worcester & His Children

John Potter Smith, my third great Grandfather, was married twice and had ten children.  His oldest child, my second great Grandmother Henrietta Abigail was born in 1848 and his youngest, Harry Lincoln, was born in 1886 - a span of 38 years.  John was 62 years old when Harry was born.  

John and his first wife Mary Abigail Bliss had five children, three daughters who survived to adulthood.  Henrietta was first, then their second child was Anna E. Smith who was born April 14, 1854.   A third daughter, Minnie E. Smith, was born October 1, 1859 and died October 8, 1859.  Available at familysearch.org, the vital records books from Worcester prove her seven-day life, but I have not found where she is buried.  (click to enlarge) 

Carrie M. Smith, the fourth daughter of John and Mary, was born June 26, 1861.  Finally a son, Charles H. Smith, was born May 30, 1866, just three days before his mother died.  I haven't found a death record for him, but he is not listed in the 1870 census.

Five months after Mary's death, John married Emma (or Emily) on November 11, 1866.  Her name has been Dillon, Gillam or Quilliam in different records.  It was Emma's second marriage as well, her parents were William and Margaret Williams.  She was 24, John was 41.  

John and Emma's first child was a girl, Lizzie E, born September 9, 1867.  Another daughter, Marion "Minnie" E. Smith, was born September 30, 1868.  Next, Alice was born February 13, 1871.  A son, Francis Irving was born on December 18, 1875 and the youngest child, Harry Lincoln, was born July 10, 1886. 

In the 1870 and 1880 census John & Emma live in Worcester.  Lizzie is not listed in 1870, I found her death record dated September 19, 1867.  In 1880 Minnie is 10, Alice is 9, Francis is 4 and Carrie is 18 and single.  Anna married Myron E. Barrows on February 11, 1877 in Worcester and in 1880 they live with his parents.  

On November 5, 1884, Carrie married William A. Brown.  She died on June 11, 1889 in Worcester at age 28.   Two infants named Brown are buried near her.  Cemetery records show they were buried in December of 1888 and June of 1889.

Marion and Lyman Isham were married on April 18, 1889.   In 1900 they are living in Framingham, Massachusetts.  Two questions asked on this census are "how many children has this person had" and "how many of those children are living" - Marion has had one child, but none are living.  In the same household are Luther Isham "Boarder", John P. "father-in-law" (of Lyman, head of household), Emily "mother-in-law" and Harry L Smith "brother-in-law".  Emily has had 5 children, only 4 are living.  Alice is not listed with them here and I have not found her grave.  She could have gotten married, or she may be one of three "Alice Smith's" who died between 1884 and 1887 in Worcester.  Marion and Lyman lived in Upton, Massachusetts in 1910 and 1920 and in a 1939 City Directory, Marion is listed as a widow. 

John died in 1903 and is buried in Hope Cemetery.  A volunteer at Find A Grave fulfilled my photo request for his grave which is unmarked.  He also sent me copies of the burial cards for the plot.  Carrie, her infant children and Anna Barrows are also buried there in unmarked graves.  Another Smith - Royden G. was buried in 1904, I'm not sure how he fits in.

Frank married Susannah Harris on May 18, 1907.  They had two sons, Harris P. and Frank L.  They lived in Rutland, Massachusetts through 1940 where Frank was a plumber.  

On October 16, 1912 Harry Lincoln was married to Ethel Elizabeth Shed in Worcester.  In 1920 they are living with their son, Henry 6, and in 1940 they have two children, Irving T, 27 and Barbara, 19 (somehow Henry has to be Irving T).  Harry was a fireman.

Anna Barrows died March 23, 1929 at age 74.  As I said, Anna is buried in the Hope Cemetery in Worcester.  But I found Anna and Myron in the 1920 census living with their daughter Florence in Grosse Point, Michigan.  Florence is married to Howard White and they have two daughters, Wyenafred and Maxine.  Myron died in Michigan in 1921 and son Edward John died in 1940, their death certificates are on Ancestry. 

You can read more about Henrietta Smith and her parents by clicking there on her name.  She married Charles Gaisford and moved to Illinois by 1869, then Nebraska by 1876.  They raised 10 children.  Henrietta outlived her younger sister Anna Barrows by three years.  I wonder if they ever saw each other again after Henrietta moved away.  

I have come up with 16 grandchildren for John Potter Smith.  I wonder how many of them knew each other.  There were many miles and many years that separated them all.

Wedding Wednesday - February Weddings in My Family Tree

Out of 40 couples in my family tree who were married in the month of February, only one couple chose Valentine's Day to get married.  February 21st and February 27th are the most popular days in February in my family, tied at 4 couples each marrying on those days.

On February 4, 1879, my maternal third Great Grandfather Hartwell "Jack" Spann married for a second (or third?) time at "age 66" (truth be told, he was older).  He married Susan A Culver, who at age 56 was marrying for the first time.  Their marriage record has been transcribed and is online at the Wayne County, Kentucky Genweb site.  Unfortunately, the record for his first marriage in about 1820 to my 4th Great Grandmother, Mary ?, is not online anywhere that I have found.  They were my Great Grandma Allie Spann's Grandparents.

Also on my maternal side I have found records online for two ancestors of my Great Grandma Sadie Negley.  My sixth Great Grandparents, Mordecai Hall and Sarah Vines married on February 21, 1744.  St Margaret's Westminster Parish in Anne Arundel County, Maryland was the site.  I don't know how many years they were married because I don't know when either of them passed away.  

My seventh Great Grandparents, John Foster and Elizabeth Greene, were married February 15, 1703 at St Barnabus Church in Prince George's County, Maryland.  He died when he was only 32 years old, giving them only about 17 years together.

On my Dad's side of the family tree a couple of my Seventh Great Grandparents chose February wedding dates.  James Hosmer and Elizabeth Sawyer married on February 16, 1686 in Concord, Massachusetts.  They were married at least 20 years and had 9 children. 

William Harlow and Mercy Rider were married on February 24, 1714 or 1715, together for at least 37 years.  The marriage took place in Plymouth, Massachusetts where Mercy's second Great Grandfather, Richard Warren arrived on the Mayflower.

Wilhemus Fero and Geertruy Van Vracken, my fifth Great Grandparents, were married on  February 27, 1791 at the Schenectady Reformed Church in Schenectady, New York.  I don't have their death dates.  

My husband's Great Grandparents, Robert I Boone and Elizabeth Johnson, were married on February 3, 1874 in Nelson County, Kentucky.  They were married for 26 years. Their marriage certificate is online at familysearch,org.

Several of these marriages occurred during Colonial times.  I won't pretend to know a lot about weddings during that time, but I know they weren't quite as elaborate as they are today.   It would be interesting to know more details about the ceremony, the flowers, the clothes they wore and if and how they decorated.  And whether or not the bridesmaids wore red.

Amanuensis Monday - Photo Developing, Printing and Enlarging 1915

Some of my ancestors owned their own camera, I'm almost sure of it.  So I'm always looking for information on the history of personal photography and developing and printing those photos.  This advertisement from 1915 is one possible place where my family might have sent their film to have it developed.

Omaha Daily Bee, August 15, 1915

After the Pictures Are Taken --

Leave Your Film With Us for Correct

Developing,
Printing and Enlarging

For the past fifteen years we have assumed that there were enough discriminating kodak users in Omaha who would appreciate superior results and who would not be satisfied to have their efforts handicapped by ordinary methods of amateur developing and printing, to give us a steady growth year by year.  The generous patronage bestowed upon us has simply proven that our assumption was correct.  We have steadily maintained our original policy, permitting nothing short of the best to be delivered by our Finishing Department, which is only a part of our large wholesale and retail photographic supply store located for the past twenty-five years on Farnam Street.  We have at all times, and still insist that correct developing is most important.  Prints are made from negatives, consequently the properly developed negative produces the best print.  All our prints are made on Velox paper - the paper with kodak reputation; they are printed with kodak masks which means even white margins, and they lay flat without being mounted on cards.

Our Special Service  By this we mean that all Roll Films, Film Packs and Dry Plates left with us for developing are carefully examined by our "Special Service" department and where possible, printed suggestions that we think will help improve your next exposures are returned with the order; but we suggest that you talk to our expert, there being no charge and you may receive information that will greatly improve your work.   We want you to get the best possible results, which will mean more work for us.

Enlargements  Many pictures are much more effective in an enlargement than in the original size.  We make beautiful enlargements in Sepia, Buff, and Black and White.  We have several original styles that are made up with broad margins, suitable for framing.  We also furnish Colored Enlargements, either in water colors or in oil.  The oil process is new, giving you a finished picture with all the rich lustre of an oil painting.

Prices  Our volume has increased until it has now reached a point where we enjoy a decreased cost of production, maintaining our high standard of workmanship; therefore we have revised our prices, workmanship as before and the "Special Service" an added feature.

Developing  Film  . . . . .  per roll, 10c  Any size up to
Film Packs, per pack, 25c  and including 4x5

Time of Delivery - Work always ready when promised.  You will not be asked to "call later."  We make good on our promise or make no charge for the work.

Kodaks and Supplies   Our stock is complete, our prices right, and most important, our out right.  If you have an instrument and are looking for information, come in and ask; we will be pleased to help you to the full extent of our knowledge and experience.

The Robert Dempster Co.
Eastman Kodak Co.
1813 Farnam Street  Branch - 308 So. 15th St.

Thankful Thursday - Laura Alcorn's Photo

When I wrote about my second Great Grandmother Martha Bell in November of 2013, I mentioned how I wanted a photo of her daughter Laura Alcorn.  Laura's brother Cicero Bell is my Great Grandfather.  Well, it was quite a shock when one day last winter I saw in my Gmail Inbox a message from "Laura Alcorn".  Granddaughter of the original!  She found some things I had posted online about her Alcorn family and I am so thankful that she emailed me!  We shared some information on the family and so I asked her if she had a photo of Laura.  I was thrilled to get a few including these of Laura and Carson, obviously taken some years apart.  The corsage make me wonder if the photo of Laura was taken on her wedding day. 

Laura Myrtle Bell was born August 4, 1879 in Wayne County, Kentucky.  She grew up living with her mother, Grandmother Rutha and two older brothers Cicero and John William.  After she and Carson were married, Laura's mother Martha lived with them until her death.

Carson Armstrong Alcorn was born February 18, 1882 in Wayne County.  His parents were Chesley Samuel Simpson Alcorn and Harriet Frisby Hopkins. 

Laura and Carson were married on October 2, 1902 at Ruthy Bell's in Wayne County.  They were married by J. A. Alley, "M. G." (Minister of the Gospel).   Witnesses were J. A. Clemens and J. S. Stringer.  John Stringer was an uncle of Laura's, married to her mother's sister Elizabeth.  J. A. Alley may have been a distant relative.

Carson and Laura started their life together farming in Wayne County.  Their two oldest daughters were born there and that may likely be where sometime between 1906 and 1910 they lost an infant.  About 1911, they moved to Ionia, Kansas.  They farmed in Kansas until 1923, then moved to Giltner, Nebraska where they farmed for about six years.  That makes it right about the start of the Depression when they left the farm and Carson went to work for Harrison Nursery in York.  After World War II, he and his son Estel began operating a dry cleaning business in Grand Island which Carson retired from in 1953. 

On November 22, 1955, Carson died at age 73 in Grand Island.  His final resting place is in Westlawn Cemetery.  Laura moved to Lincoln after his death and lived with her daughter Lena.  She died on February 27, 1972 at the age of 92.  She is buried beside her husband. 

Their children:

Lessie E.  (September 20, 1906 - March 8, 1996) Married Laurence Gilmore, one daughter. 

Nora E.  (January 3, 1910 - April 11, 1990)  Married Bernhardt Obermiller, one son. 

Elsie F.  (May 28, 1912 - April 26, 1917)  Died of fever (diptheria? scarlet?) in Kansas.

Lena Lavelle  (February, 1914 - March 7, 2006)  Married Hayward Williams, one son.

Mildred  (December 3, 1915 - June 11, 1999)  Married Frank Holland, three children.

Marie  (November 5, 1917 - ?)  Married Morris Swedberg, two sons.

Estel Carson  (July 1, 1921 - August, 1985)  Married Jean Viox, six children. 

Friday's Faces from the Past - Elvie and Elwin Megrue

Written on the back of these photos from the Old Trunk in the Attic is "Elvie Mae Megrue age 14 month"  and "Elwin Elsworth Megrue 10 weeks old when taken".   Easy!  I found in the 1910 census, Elvie, age 9 and Elwin, 6, lived in Howard Ward 1, Clay County, Nebraska with their parents Andrew and Emma and one older sister named Faye, age 13.  Cut to the chase, I also found Elvie's memorial at Find A Grave in the Harvard Cemetery.  She died April 1, 1924 not quite reaching the age of 24 years old and it appears she never married.  I posted her photo there.

But maybe Elwin has descendants who would love to have these photos.  

There are no Elwin Megrue's listed at Find A Grave.  In the 1940 census, Elwin is 36 years old and single, living with his parents in Kimberly, Idaho.  I've learned that many people from around Eldorado, Nebraska moved to that area of Idaho for jobs in the logging industry.  The Social Security Death Index lists an E. Megrue who died in April of 1987 at age 84 in Twin Falls, Idaho.

His oldest sister, Vernie Faye was married to Gerald Morrow Ferguson on September 30, 1927 in Boise, Idaho.  Gerald has a memorial at Find A Grave in the Sacramento County Veterans Memorial Cemetery, but it doesn't look like Vernie is there.

As for the parents Andrew and Emma Megrue, Andrew died May 26, 1948 and is buried in Harvard, Nebraska.  Emma died in Idaho but I have no burial information.  She may be in Harvard also, I'll look the next time I'm there.  

So whether or not there are any descendants of Elwin or Vernie Faye I can't say for sure.  If anyone who reads this knows something, please leave a comment.  These photos belong with family.

Wedding Wednesday - January Weddings in My Family Tree

January 1 is a popular wedding day in my family tree.  There are a total of 56 January marriages in my database and six of them are on January 1, the most of the whole month. "New year, new beginnings".  I don't know if you could get anyone to marry you on New Year's Day nowadays.  Maybe those chapels in Las Vegas are open for business.  

Several of my direct ancestors were married in the month of January.  The majority of these are on my paternal side.  I  am working on getting the documentation for all of them yet.  

My second Great Grandparents, Henry Menke and Eliza Knapp were married on January 13th in 1867. Both of Henry's daughters and one son from his first marriage were also married in the month of January.

A few ancestors of my Great Grandma Lottie Roscoe married in January.  My eighth Great Grandparents, John Ruscoe and Rebecca Beebe on January 2, 1650.  My ninth Great Grandparents, Jonathan Barnes and Elizabeth Hedge on January 4, 1665.  My ninth Great Grandfather William Harlow married his second wife, Mary Shelley, on January 20, 1665.  Mary Shelley is a step-Grandmother.  My tenth Great Grandparents Stephen Hosmer and Dorothy Selden were married on January 25, 1602.

Five different generations of my Bliss family line were married in January.  My third Great Grandparents, John Potter Smith and Mary Abigail Bliss were married on January 17, 1847.  Mary Bliss' parents, Austin Bliss and Abigail Bumstead were married on January 28, 1817.  Abigail Bumstead's grandparents, Joseph Bumstead and Jemimiah Bliss were married on January 23, 1774.  On that same day in 1744, Jemimiah Bliss' parents, my seventh Great Grandparents, Peletiah Bliss and Jemima Hitchcock were wed.  Finally, my ninth Great Grandparents, John Damon and Martha Howland, were married on January 15, 1659.

Only two couples on my maternal side chose January wedding dates.  My Fifth Great Grandparents in the McGrath line, Lebbeus Simmons and Mary Douglas, were married on January 27th, 1774.  Ancestors of my Great Grandmother Sadie Negley, my eighth Great Grandparents, William and Elizabeth Seaborn were married on January 28, 1702.  

Mattingly ancestors that I have January wedding dates for in my tree are all on my husband's maternal side.  His grandparents, Mark Thomas Spalding and Cora Lulu Spalding were married on January 10, 1910.  

Three sets of Mark Thomas Spalding's Great Grandparents were married in January.  Richard Spalding and Henrietta Thompson on January 20, 1817.  Aloysius Abell and Mary Fenwick on January 11, 1829.  Robert S Thomas and Matilda Spalding on January 24, 1832.  Parents of Matilda Spalding, Edward Spalding and Elizabeth Spalding were married on January 27, 1806.

The weather is very often a determining factor when choosing a wedding date for people today.  Most of these weddings mentioned here took place in northern states like Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maryland where it was surely cold in January.  Apparently that wasn't a factor.