MARSHALL Children (Ewing IL)

 

Opal, Willie & Seba Marshall

IDENTIFICATION ON PHOTO: Opal, Willie and Seba MARSHALL

PHOTO TAKEN: unknown studio, circa 1899

PHOTO ACQUIRED: June 2023, Antique Peddlers, Springfield OR

Four photos were found together in a booth at this antiques shop in Oregon. Although some were labeled with just first names, I could ascertain from adjacent photos that these are children in the Marshall family of Ewing, Illinois.

Opal and Seba

Their parents (no photos found of them) are:

FATHER: Clarence E. Marshall, son of John Whitson Marshall of Tennessee and Sarah Farlow of Illinois. He was born October 1865 and died in 1956. 

MOTHER: Hester Taylor, daughter of Richard Hiram Taylor and Nancy Jane Franklin, both of Illinois. She was born 19 Mar 1873 and died 28 Feb 1964. Both are buried in the Williams Cemetery of Ewing, Illinois.

Their children are:

Opal Edna Marshall, born 29 May 1890. She married in 1908 to Egbert Walker. Opal died in Los Angeles, CA 17 Dec 1980.

William Dow Marshall, born 27 Dec 1891 in Ewing IL. He married Beulah Lawson. He died in Whittington IL on 22 July 1971.

Seba Elsworth Marshall, born 16 Nov 1896 in Ewing IL. His name may be a nickname for Sebastian. He married Nina Kirk in 1919. He died in Columbus OH 2 Sep 1983.

Audra Noble Marshall, (not pictured) born 25 July in Franklin Co. IL. He married Sylvia Denham in 1923. He died 28 May 1985 in Jefferson Co. IL.

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I must admit, I originally thought Seba was a girl's name, having never before heard it applied to a boy, but census records kept referring to him as male. I also came across several news archive articles of him referred to by the title "Reverend Seba Marshall", one of which I post here.

The other two photos found in the same group are individual baby photos. One is labelled Opal Marshall, and the other is labelled Etta Marshall. I am not aware of an "Etta" in this family, but Etta may be a pet name for Edna (Opal's middle name). If they are of the same child, they were taken a few months apart.

Opal Marshall

Etta Marshall

WILENSKY-WILLENS, Samuel (Chicago IL)

 

"Sam Wilensky"

 IDENTIFICATION ON PHOTO: Sam Wilensky

PHOTO TAKEN: illegible studio signature, dated 1942

PHOTO ACQUIRED: 2023 March, Palm Beach County Fairgrounds Antiques Fair

 

This is Samuel Donald WILENSKY, who around the time of his service in WWII, changed his surname to WILLENS.

 He is a son of Solomon Wilensky (1893-1973) and Bessie Lieberman (1895-1987) of Chicago Illinois.

 

1930 Census > Illinois > Cook > Chicago

• WILENSKY, Sol, head, 35, born in Lithuania, immigrated 1910, presser at Tailor shop
• WILENSKY, Bessie, wife, 34, born in Russia, imm. 1915
• WILENSKY, Sam, son, 12, born in Illinois, at school
• WILENSKY, Herman, son, 6, born in Illinois, at school
• WILENSKY, Nathan, son, 1y 6mo, born in Illinois

 

Sam attended Harrison Technical High School where he played in the band and orchestra (clarinet and saxophone). This class photo of him taken in 1935 (and located on someone’s Ancestry tree) shows this is clearly the correct individual. (I do not possess that photo, and only include it here for sake of comparison.)

 

After High School, he received his medical degree from University of Illinois (1941).

 

Sam married Vila Weaver, a nurse he met while doing his residency at Cook County Hospital. They had two sons and two daughters.

Sam died in September of 1990 and this obituary pay tribute to a man who was not only an excellent doctor, but also a kind and caring human being.

DETTRE, Marie Boyer (Macon GA)

 

Marie Boyer Dettre

 IDENTIFICATION ON PHOTO: Marie Boyer Dettre

PHOTO TAKEN: Blackshear Photographic Studio, Macon GA, circa 1896

PHOTO ACQUIRED: 2023 March, Palm Beach County Fairgrounds Antiques Fair

 

Marie Boyer DETTRE (23 Sep 1879 - March 1971) was a daughter of:

•     George Boyer DETTRE (1841-1885), a son of John Dettre & Mary Boyer
•     Ellen Elizabeth JONES (1852-1913), a daughter of James Newton Jones & Sarah Jane Norman

Marie was born in Macon Georgia, where her father operated a grocery store. He had moved to Georgia after the Civil War in which he served as part of the Union Army, Company C, Pennsylvania Infantry.

 1880 CENSUS > GA > Bibb Co. > Macon > 204 1st Street

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• DETTRE, George, 45, born in PA, Grocer
• DETTRE, Ellen, wife, 27, keeping house, born in GA
• DETTRE, Mary, 8mo. daughter, born in GA
• JONES, Sarah, 55 mother-in-law, born in GA

By the time of George's death in 1885, another daughter was added to the family. Sarah "Sadie" Dettre was born in 1881. 

Following her husband’s death, Ellen moved her family to the Philadelphia PA area. A local newspaper in 1897 mentions Marie Boyer Dettre as a student at Girl’s High School in Philadelphia.

The 1900 Census shows the family boarding at the home of Robert Wilson PERRY and his wife Claudia in Norristown, a northwest suburb of Philadelphia.

 1900 CENSUS > PA > Montgomery Co. > Norristown

• PERRY, R. Wilson, head, 58, May 1842, born in PA, paper hanger
• PERRY, Claudia C., wife, 65, Feb 1835, born in GA
• DETTRE, Ellen E.J., boarder, 47, Dec 1852, born in GA
• DETTRE, Marie B., boarder, 20, Sep 1879, born in GA
• DETTRE, Sarah E., boarder, 18, Nov 1881, born in GA

Looking into the Perry history, I found that R. Wilson Perry, like George Dettre, was a veteran of the Civil War, having served as a Lieutenant in Company C of the Pennsylvania Infantry. So it was evident that they would have known each other, at least from their military service. Also I find that Claudia Quarterman-Perry had some half-siblings with the surname of Norman, which is the maiden name of Ellen’s mother. Therefore, Claudia may have been a cousin of some sort to Ellen.

Robert Perry died in 1905 and is buried in Norris City Cemetery. It is interesting to note that Claudia, who is buried next to him, died in 1919 in Georgia. She may have returned to that state along with the Dettre family after the death of her husband.

Ellen and Sadie Dettre are included in the 1906 City Directory of Macon GA.  

Meanwhile, Marie married in late November 1905 to a Pennsylvania dentist named Charles Howard HARRY (1851-1925) and they lived in the Norristown area. 

Charles was a son of Charles P. Harry (1818-1898) and Rebecca D. Markley (1822-1892). Marie was Charles’ second wife, and he already had children by his first wife (who died in 1904.)

UPDATE - a recent visit to the same Vintage Photo Booth has resulted in finding a photo of Marie & Charles' infant son, taken in January of 1910.

Charles Howard Harry Jr, abt 1 yr
Taken January 26th 1910

 Together they had a son Charles Howard Harry Jr. (1909 – 1984) who was a most impressive individual. His 1984 obit from the Miami Herald proves this.

 

Marie is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, having proved descendancy (through her mother) from Major John Jones, aide-de-camp to General McIntosh. He died at the siege of Savannah, and Jones Street in that city is named for him.

 

 

 

HOWLAND, George and Annie (Mason City, IA)

 

Annie E. (Slater) Howland and
husband George Washington Howland

IDENTIFICATION ON PHOTO: "Annie Howland" & "Geo Howland"

PHOTO TAKEN: Horace P. Kirk Studio, Mason City IA, circa 1891

PHOTO ACQUIRED: 2022 Sep, Feather Your Nest Antiques, Lexington KY

The Kirk Photo Studio was in action in Mason City IA from before 1880 to after 1910. Horace P. Kirk lived in Mason City from 1862 to around 1911. His son Vern was also a photographer who worked at the same studio.

The photo can be dated with certainty to around 1890 - 1892. This is based on the hairstyle and clothing of the woman, and also the gold, scalloped edges of the card mat.

The man in the above photo is George Washington HOWLAND, born in Kendall Illinois 4 July 1863, died 8 June 1945 in Los Angeles, to parents James Howland and Susan Irwin (or Irvine). 

The woman in the photo is Annie Elizabeth SLATER, born in Wisconsin in May 1863 to parents William Slater and Elizabeth Noble, who were both immigrants from England.

Annie and George were married in Rockwell, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, 24 Feb 1884. They had two daughters:

• 1885 - Lulu Elizabeth Howland (married Alfred Carpenter, died 1932 in Iowa)
• 1888 - Nellie Amy Howland (married Howard Valentine, died 1959 in California)

1900 Census > Iowa > Cerro Gordo > Rockwell

• HOWLAND, Geo W., 37 (Jul 1863), born in IL of CAN & PA parents, Drug store merchant
• HOWLAND, Ann, 37 (May 1863), born in WI of ENG parents, 2 children, 2 living
• HOWLAND, Lulu E., 15 (Jan 1885), born in IA, at school
• HOWLAND, Nellie A., 11, (Nov 1888), born in IA, at school

The 1905 Mason City Directory reports that George is a clerk of the District Court.

1910 Census > Iowa > Cerro Gordo > Rockwell

• HOWLAND, George W., 47, commercial vendor of Tea & Coffee
• HOWLAND, Annie, 48

The 1914 Mason City Directory says he is a clerk at Tiss Drug Store.

1920 Census > IN > South Bend (Portage township)

• VALENTINE, Nell A., 30, married, no occupation
• VALENTINE, Marjorie, dau, 12
• VALENTINE, Richard, son, 10
• HOWLAND, Anna, mother, 55, married, no occupation

The 1920 Census is a bit baffling. Annie is living in South Bend Indiana with her married daughter, but neither her husband nor Nellie's is present in the household. I could find no 1920 Census presence for George W. Howland anywhere. He shows up later as a traveling employee and may simply have been missed by the census-takers. I presume their husbands were sending money home so the unemployed women had something to survive on.

1930 Census > IA > Linn > Cedar Rapids

• HOWLAND, Geo W., 68, Auditing traveler for Newspapers
• HOWLAND, Annie, 68

In 1932 their eldest daughter Lulu Howland-Carpenter died at their home after a long battle with diabetes. 

Annie died a short time after this, either later in 1932 or early in 1933, although I can find no definitive date of this, nor any news items about her passing.

After the deaths of his wife and daughter, George relocated to Los Angeles, California, making the occassional return trip to Iowa.

In 1936 he remarried to Edith Grummon of Cerro Gordo County Iowa. They made their home in Los Angeles, and lived at the Rexford Arms Apartments where Nellie Howland-Valentine was the apartment manager.

George died 8 June 1945 and is buried at Forest Lawn in Glendale. 

Edith passed a mere ten days later in Rockwell Iowa, and is buried there.

BURR, Fred and Emma (Jamestown OH)

 

Fredric and Emma Burr

UPDATE - this photo has been claimed and sent home to relatives.

IDENTIFICATION ON PHOTO: "Fred Burr & Emma"

PHOTO TAKEN: Mock Studio, Jamestown OH, circa 1902

PURCHASED: 2022 Shelbyville Antiques Mall, Shelbyville KY

This photo was probably taken around the time the young couple was married, which was 1902. The fashions are appropriate for that time period.

The young man is Fredric "Fred" Earl BURR, born 12 Feb 1880 in Greene County Ohio, to parents:

•    William Hendrickson Burr (1852-1935, son of John Burr & Henrietta Thompson)
•    Flora Boetler Hussey (1855-1935, daughter of Christopher Hussey & Catharine Lockhart)

The young woman is Emma Maud BALES, born in 1880 in Illinois, to parents:

•    Walter Warren Bales (1841-1932, son of Walter William Bales & Sarah Cavendar)
•    Victoria Inskeep (1845-1882, daughter of William Inskeep & Mary Stokes)

The 1900 Census finds Fred's family in the area of Allen OH. There are two older siblings (Charles and Loufemma) who have already left the household.

1900 CENSUS > OH > Union Co. > Allen

• BURR, William H., head, 47, Nov 1852, born in OH of OH parents, Farmer
• BURR, Flora, wife, 45, Nov 1854, born in OH, 9 children, 8 living
• BURR, Fred E., son, 20, Feb 1880, born in OH, farm labor
• BURR, Horace, son, 18, May 1882, born in OH, farm labor
• BURR, Henry S., son, 15, Mar 1885, OH, at school
• BURR, Dwight, son, 12, Apr 1888, OH, at school
• BURR, Katie L., dau, 8, Jun 1892, OH, at school
• BURR, Anna M., dau., 5, Jul 1894, OH, at school
• CHARLTON, Clara, cousin, 20s, Apr 1880, OH

Another farmer in the area at that time was the widowed Walter BALES and his family which included his 19-year-old daughter Emma:

1900 CENSUS > OH > Union Co. > Allen

• BALES, Walter, head, 58, Oct 1841, born in OH of NH parents, farmer
• BALES, Frank, son, 28, Aug 1871, OH, farm labor
• BALES, Walter O., son, 24, Mar 1876, OH, farm labor
• BALES, Jennie, dau, 21, Oct 1878, OH
• BALES, Emma M., dau, 19, Jul 1880, OH

Fred and Emma were married in Union County OH on 15 Mar 1902. They made their home near Jamestown (Greene Co.) OH, where their two children were born.

•   1905 - Lavon Victoria Burr (died 2004) m. Daniel Hennigan
•   1909 - Loren Dean Burr (died 1980) m1: Jessie McKee, m2: Mary Josephine Barger

1910 Census > OH > Greene > Jamestown

• BURR, Fred, head, 30, born in OH of OH parents, farmer
• BURR, Emma, wife, 29, born in IL of OH parents, 2 children, 2 living
• BURR, Lavon, daughter, 4, born in OH
• BURR, Loren, son, 11mo., born in OH

The 1920 census shows no change, other than everyone is ten years older.

By 1930, the family has relocated to Stokes, Madison County.

1930 Census > OH > Madison > Stokes

• BURR, Fred E., 49, farmer
• BURR, Emma, 49
• BURR, Lavon, 24, stenographer in automotive industry
• BURR, Loren, 20, farm labor

By 1940, Fred has given up the farming life and the family has moved into town in South Charleston, OH in Clark County where he and his wife lived for the remainder of their lives. Lavon is married and out of the nest. Loren is also married and his young family lives with Fred and Emma.

1940 Census > OH > Clark > S. Charleston

• BURR, Fred E., 60, waiter in a restaurant
• BURR, Emma, 59
• BURR, Loren, son, 30, laborer at Piano Plate Co.
• BURR, Jessie May, dau-in-law, 27
• BURR, Fred, grandson, 3

1950 > Census > OH > Clark > S. Charleston

• BURR, Fred E., 70, manager of pool room
• BURR, Emma, 69

Emma died in 1958. This obituary was located in the Springfield News-Sun, 20 Mar 1958.

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Fred died three years later at the age of 81. He seems to have been living alone at that time, although his daughter Lavon Hennigan and her family lived in the same town. 

Fred and Emma are buried at the Greenlawn Cemetery in South Charleston OH.

SHAFFER, Louise O. (Columbus OH)

 

Mrs. Louise Shaffer

IDENTIFICATION ON PHOTO: Mrs. Louise Shaffer

PHOTO TAKEN: Baker's Art Gallery, Columbus Ohio, circa 1895

PHOTO ACQUIRED: 2022 Dec, Wildwood Antiques Mall, Wildwood FL

This is LOUISE OLMSTEAD WHEELER, born 27 Dec 1856 in Cheshire Massachusetts to parents James Sheffield Wheeler (1831-1897, son of Nathan Wheeler and Lydia Sheffield) and Ruth Alice Olmstead (1831-1859, daughter of Nathaniel Olmstead and Louisa Battey).

When Louise was about 2 years old, her mother passed away. 

The family moved to Chicago and are enumerated on the 1879 Federal Census. I am not certain who "Alice" and "baby Alice" are on this Census, as the 1870 Census did not have a descriptor column for terms such as "wife", "cousin", "sister-in-law", etc.

1870 CENSUS > Illinois > Cook > Chicago

• WHEELER, James, 38, Lumber man, born in Connecticut
• WHEELER, Alice, 22, keeping house, born in Ohio
• WHEELER, Alice, 1, born in Michigan
• WHEELER, James, 15, office boy, born in Rhode Island
• WHEELER, Louise, 13, born in Massachusetts
• DONAHUE, Mary, 20, domestic servant, born in Ireland

Her father remarried at some point to a Scottish woman named Martha Jane Blaney, with whom he had three more daughters; Lollie, Minnie and Edith. He relocated to Utah with his family prior to 1880.

In Sep 1879, Louise married a young roofer named Edwin Forrest Shaffer and remained in Chicago.

By the time of the 1900 Census, this large family is living in Columbus Ohio, where Edwin has built a lucrative business, Shaffer Roofing Co.

1900 CENSUS > Ohio > Franklin > Columbus > 109 W. Fourth Ave

• SHAFFER, Edwin F., head, Feb 1857, 43, b. IL of NY parents, m. 20yrs, gravel roofing
• SHAFFER, Louise O., wife, Dec 1856, 43, b. MA of CT & RI parents, m. 20yrs, no occ.
• SHAFFER, James W., son, Aug 1880, 19, b. IL, gravel roofing
• SHAFFER, Edwin F. Jr., son, May 1886, 14, born in IL, at school
• SHAFFER, Henry R., son, May 1889, 11, born in IL, at school
• SHAFFER, Wesley R., son, Aug 1893, 6, born in Washington (?), at school
• SHAFFER, Gladys L., dau, Nov 1897, 2, born in OH
• DENNIS, Jesse, servant (male), Mar 1880, 20, born in OH, coachman
• WHEELER, Edith, boarder (female), Mar 1878, 22, born in IL of CT & Scottish parents, bookkeeper

Obviously the boarder in 1900 is Louise's half-sister Edith.

In 1923, Louise's husband Edwin died of bronchial asthma.

(Click for larger version)

The 1926 City Directory for Columbus shows Louise (widow of Edwin) as the President of Shaffer Roofing, and her son Wesley as the manager of the firm. Daughter Louise "Gladys" is a fashion designer.

1930 CENSUS > Ohio > Franklin > Columbus

• SHAFFER, Louise O., head, 72, proprietor roofing co.
• DAVIS, Louise, dau., 32, works in dress making
• DAVIS, Harry A., son-in-law, 35, commercial salesman
• GIBBERT(?), Katheryn, servant, 25, maid

1940 CENSUS > Ohio > Franklin > Columbus

• SHAFFER, Edwin F., head, 52 wd, Lt Col. in US Army
• SHAFFER, Louise O., mother, 83 wd, retired
• DAVIS, Louise, sister, 42 wd, 
• EATON, Mary Louise, dau of Col., 27 dv, born in Rhode Island
• EATON, John, son of Mary, 4, born in OK
• EATON, Mary Ellen, dau of Mary, 2, born in OK
• THOMPSON, Belle, maid, 20, negro, born in S. Carolina, maid

Louise died in December 1947.