Leon A. Anguish Was a Telegrapher, But Was He Also a Rolling Stone?

 

Leon A. Anguish, Telegrapher

When I found this photograph of “Mr. Leon Allan Anguish, Telegrapher” at a Victoria, BC antique store, I said to myself, “This one will be easy-peasy.” I thought I would have no problem locating this dapper fellow in the records because of his uncommon surname. Never mind that I did not have a location. The photographer’s imprint with studio name and location had been hacked off the bottom, probably to fit into a frame. I now know I was being somewhat overly optimistic with that off-handed easy comment.

There were a few Leon or L. Anguishes out there. Of course, having a photographer’s location could have narrowed things down. Lucky for me, the top part of photographer’s imprint survived the scissors and I could make out the embossed name, “C.E. Fleming.” The only C.E. Fleming, photographer, I could locate in any of my sources was Clarence Elmer Fleming who operated studios in Wisconsin in the early part of the 20^th century. This was promising time-wise because I had already decided Leon Anguish’s clothing dated to the Edwardian era, primarily because of that stiff 2” high-rounded detachable collar. I perused my Eaton’s Catalogues from 1902 to 1920. These types of detachable collars were common throughout this period, but the tall ones, with the same rounded edges, seem to have been most popular from about 1905-1913 or so. The style of photographic card stock also indicated an early-1900s time frame.

C.E. Fleming operated at studio at Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County, Wisconsin from 1905-06 and at Mondovi in Buffalo County, Wisconsin from 1909-1914. After that C.E.’s son joined him and the company name changes to “C.E. Fleming & Son.” They also open a second studio in Gilmanton, Buffalo County in addition to the Mondovi location. The photographers seem to have closed shop around 1916.

Reverse of photograph

 

As for Leon Anguish, I could not find evidence he was ever in Wisconsin. I was given an occupational clue on the reverse of the photograph: Telegrapher. There may be a word preceding the occupational notation, but I’ve been unable to read it, even with magnification and an attempt at Photoshop wizardry.  I located an L. Anguish (a telegrapher) in Regina, SK in 1949. A 1957 obituary in the Winnipeg Tribune indicates that a Leon Allan Anguish, husband of Grace Stewart Anguish died in that city, aged 71. Unfortunately, no other family relationships are mentioned in the obit, nor does it provide any further biographical information. I can not tell if the Regina individual is the same individual who died in Winnipeg. Corroborating evidence is hard to come by for this research project.

So far we have several locales of interest: Wisconsin, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. We can add Alberta to the mix, too. In 1911, Leon Allan Anguish, of Bassano, Alberta, filed an application for a homestead located at SW15-T26-R14-W4. The application indicates that Leon was born in Ontario.

Leon Allen Anguish was born 18 June 1885 in Rainham, Haldimand County, Ontario. The registration originally recorded his first name as “Levi,” but in 1940, his elder sister Margaret Vida Anguish Sanderson had the record corrected. Leon’s parents are David Anguish and Mary (Jack) Anguish. Leon had several siblings, including James M. (b. abt 1877), the aforementioned Margaret (b. abt 1880), Lance (b. abt 1882), Gordon (b. abt 1895), and L. Willliam (b. about 1898).

So now we also have connections to Ontario. Can we add more locations? Why, yes! There was a Leon Allen Anguish and Grace Amelia Thrasher united in marriage in Hennepin County, Minnesota on 2 Dec 1935. Two of Leon’s brothers born in Rainham emigrated to the US. I didn’t find either in Wisconsin or Minnesota.

What can we conclude from all of this? Well, the only thing I can say is that there is a chance that all of these Leons are the same person. However, it could also be they are distinct individuals, given the variations in name spellings, locations, and lack of repeating details, though I’d be very surprised if there wasn’t some overlap. I was unable to locate Leon in the 1911 or 1921 Canadian Census, the 1916 or 1926 Prairie Provinces Census, or the 1910 or 1920 US Census, which is odd. Perhaps there is an issue with the census transcriptions or recordings of his name. Another explanation might be that he is overseas.

If you have Leon in your tree, I would love to hear from you!

                                                                    ******

"Ontario Births, 1869-1912," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FMDN-W6J : 2 March 2021), Leon Allen Auguish, 20 May 1885; citing Birth, Rainham Township, Haldimand, Ontario, Canada, citing Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,845,873.

"Canada Census, 1901," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KH22-M2M : 23 February 2021), Leon Anguish in household of David Anguish, Elgin (west/ouest), Ontario, Canada; citing p. 11, Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa.

"Michigan Death Certificates, 1921-1952," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFWG-T73 : 13 March 2018), David Anguish in entry for James M Anguish, 25 May 1950; citing Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, Lansing; FHL microfilm 1,972,936.

Minnesota Official Marriage System, marriage index for Leon Allen Anguish and Grace Amelia Thrasher, 12/02/1935, certificate # 03710065, Hennepin County. https://moms.mn.gov/

Wisconsin Photographers Index https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/pdfs/WHI-Wisconsin-Photographers-Index-1840-1976.pdf

Winnipeg City Directory 1956 http://peel.library.ualberta.ca/bibliography/921.4.37/386.html

Winnipeg City Directory 1955 http://peel.library.ualberta.ca/bibliography/921.4.36/328.html

Winnipeg City Directory 1958 http://peel.library.ualberta.ca/bibliography/921.5.2/351.html; also 1919, 1920, 1938, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1960.

Winnipeg Evening Tribune, Leon Allan Anguish obituary, March 6, 1957, page 27.

Alberta, Canada, Homestead Records, 1870-1930, online images, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca), entry for Leon Allan Anguish, Application Date 13 Jun 1911, accessed 27 May 2021, citing Alberta Homestead Records. University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Canada, Voters Lists, 1935-1980 [database on-line], Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca), entry for L. Anguish & Mrs. L. Anguish, 1949, electoral district of Regina, Saskatchewan, accessed 27 May 2021, citing Voters Lists, Federal Elections, 1935–1980. R1003-6-3-E (RG113-B). Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Super Sleuth Saturday: Who Are the Hannas and Hugh McLean, Winnipeg, MB?

Here’s a mystery for you.  The photograph was taken at the J. F. Mitchell Studio in Winnipeg.  John Fletcher Mitchell (1862-1943) was one of the most well-known photographers in Winnipeg.  He opened his studio on Rupert Avenue around 1884.  He entered city politics as an alderman, and then became acting mayor in 1900.  In 1906, Mr. Fletcher became an MLA representing Winnipeg North.  He died in 1943 and is buried in St. James Anglican Cemetery.

Unfortunately, the subjects of this photo aren't as easy to trace. This photograph is inscribed on the reverse:  "From Maggie Hanna, Hugh McLean, and Tom Hanna to Dottie.  With best love."

Later, someone has written "Mrs. Ritchie" a bit lower on the reverse. There is also a negative number on the photo#13425.

Can you date and find additional information on this trio?

Puzzle Pieces : The Remarkable Ma Bale, Jeanette Bale and Her Lovely Sisters, ca. 1916 [?]

I wasn't sure that this Real Postcard Photograph was identifiable when I found it at a Victoria BC Antique Shop last month. I knew it would be a challenge. The photographer's name is provided on the front:  Brown, Webster City, Iowa.

On the reverse we have an interesting description. Not much for dates and places, but an interesting profile of the family nonetheless:

"Mother's best 

girlfriend

Jeannette Bale (Meade) 

+

her sisters

+ Ma Bale - 

who seems to have

been a remarkable 

woman. She said -

"never let lack of

the right clothes

keep you from going

where you want to go."

Mr. Bale was called "Gum Daddy"

because (a pharmacist) he gave gum 

to the kids."

I liked Ma Bale immediately from her image and even more so after I read her fashion philosophy.

I never assume the photographer's location to be the exact location of the subject's residence, even though there's always a chance the photo was taken in the subject's hometown. Sometimes, though, photographs are taken on holidays, while visiting other family members or while in a neighbouring town. In this case, I found a three-year old Jeanette M. Bale living in Webster City with her parents William S. and Flora G. Bale. Two sisters, close in age to Jeanette are also in the household: five-year-old Louise, and the two-year-old Mary. William's profession is listed as "Salesman: Drugs."

I could not find the family in the 1910 US Federal Census. However, they do appear on the 1911 Canada Census, having moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1906². William's occupation is listed as "Salesman." The mother in the house is now recorded as "Florence." In the 1916 Manitoba-Alberta-Saskatchewan Census, his occupation is also "Salesman -- Advertising Specialist³." We seem to be getting further and further away from Pharmacist.

But, the family moves back to the US and can be found on the 1920 US Federal Census, living in Galena, IL, in the household of Mary Gratiot, presumably Florence's mother (although the way the census is recorded, she could be William's mother). This time, William's occupation is "Druggist.⁴" While that's good enough of a match for me, I do want to confirm that Jeanette married a Meade, just to be sure I'm not forcing the puzzle pieces.

Turns out that Jeanette didn't marry someone with the surname Meade, but rather, someone with the given name Meade. I'm sure that must count. Jeanette Bale and Meade M. Morris were married in Galena, Illinois in 1921⁵. Can you guess which sister is which? When do you suppose the image was taken?

---

1 "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9KP-Z6G : accessed 2 May 2018), Jeannette M Bale in household of Wiliam S Bale, Webster city Ward 2, Hamilton, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 100, sheet 5B, family 123, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,435.
2 "Recensement du Canada de 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV95-F9GD : 16 March 2018), Jeanette Bale in entry for William Bale, 1911; citing Census, Winnipeg Sub-Districts 1-29, Manitoba, Canada, Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; FHL microfilm 2,417,671.
3 1916 census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, Winnipeg, Manitoba, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 5, p.47 (penned), dwelling 335, family 557, William G. Bale family, digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed May 1, 2018), citing microfilm LAC microfilm T-21934.
4 1920 U.S. census, Galena Ward 3, Jo Daviess, Illinois, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 43, page 3-A, dwelling 67, family 75, Mary J. Gratiot household; digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 30 Apr 2018); citing National Archives microfilm publication T625, roll 373.
5 "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q292-Z4H3 : 8 November 2017), Meade M. Morris and Jeannette M. Bale, 03 Sep 1921; citing , Jo Daviess, Illinois, United States, county offices, Illinois; FHL microfilm 1,602,649.

When the House Is Still There: The Edwards Home, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Circa 1915

 
This is an update of a post from December 24, 2011.  Doreen, the person who received the above photograph of her husband's grandparent's home, paid a visit to the current occupants of the house recently and they gave permission for us to post a current picture (see below). 

I hope you will enjoy this revisit of one of my favourite photo-research projects.   Here is the original post:

This photo postcard was printed by the Lyall Commercial Photo Co., Ltd., in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  The Lyall Studio photographed many important Western Canadian sites and events.  Most of their work, however, centres on Winnipeg. Their real postcard photographs are held in a number of archives across the prairie provinces.

Unfortunately, the location of this photo isn't given. I thought it was likely that the image was taken in Winnipeg. There is an name and address on the reverse, even though the card was not sent through the mail.

 It reads:

Mrs. Edwards
35 Queen Street
Stratford
New Town
Essex.
Eng.

I tried finding an Edwards family, specifically with this address in the England Census, but I could only find several possibilities on Familysearch.org. I couldn't take a look at the actual census pages because they were unavailable so I decided to take a different approach.

The family seems to consist of a mother, father, a young girl about three years old, and an infant. I had to pull out my reading glasses to see it, but there is a house number on the column to next to the baby:  421.

I guessed the photo would have been taken around 1910-1915 based on the style of the mother's outfit and her hairdo. 

Since I only had a surname name to go by, I searched the 1916 Canada Census for any Edwards living in Winnipeg in 1916. I thought it was doubtful that I'd find anything, since I didn't know if Mrs. Edwards was an acquaintance, friend or family member.  I had a hunch that it might be the husband's mother. At least, I hoped it was because that would mean I was searching for an Edwards family. I went through every Edwards entry in Winnipeg, looking for someone who had a house number of 421. I found one.

George Thomas Edwards, b. 1883, England, to Canada in 1903.
Sarah Edwards, b. 1885, England, to Canada in 1908
Grace, daughter, age 6
Clarence, son, age 4
Alfred, son, age 3.

And the address:  421 Worley (or so the Ancestry transcriber wrote.)  I tried 421 Worley in Google maps. Nothing. I went back and re-read the original census page. The street name was actually Morley.

I searched 421 Morley, Winnipeg in Google maps, and selected the street view.

The address still exists. The house still exists! It is most definitely the same home. The exterior looks pretty much as it did back in the mid-1910s, with different paint colours and replaced windows.  There's also been an addition to one side of the house, eliminating half of the front porch, but it still has the distinctive attic window. I would post today's version here for comparison, but I don't know how I'd feel if someone posted my home on their blog (although I guess if it wasn't for Google maps, I couldn't have made the connection).

I have no hesitation identifying these folks as the Edwards family. Since Baby Alfred doesn't appear in the photo, and son Clarence is just an infant I think we can safely date the photograph around 1913.

UPDATE!  February 3, 2012 -- I am happy to report that the Edwards postcard photograph has been reunited with the grandson & family of one of children in the photograph. It's on its way back to Winnipeg.

Photo taken by qtpye, August 2013

Another Boy Lost: Two-Year-Old Hugh James McKerracher, Circa 1920-1925, Ontario or Manitoba

I haven't posted a postcard portrait here on FPR for a while.   I've been avoiding this one because, in my preliminary research, I had issues with the surname.  On the reverse is the following note, written by May "MacHerracher."  At least that's how I read her handwriting.  When an author writes their own surname, I'm inclined to go with their spelling as they, of all people, would know the correct one.

So this one befuddled me, because May appears to spell her last name with MAC.  But I even had an issue with the K.  It looked to me like she was spelling MacHerracher, which is a fairly uncommon variant of McKerracher.  I searched for any MacHerrachers in Ancestry.ca and came up with a sum total of two hits.  I tried McHerracher.  Four hits.  Anywhere.  The Library and Archives Canada Genealogy site came up with zero for both MacHerracher and McHerracher.

So I went with my instinct.  In my paper notes I had been "misspelling" the name I saw on the postcard consistently as McKerracher.   I conceded that perhaps I was reading May's 'K' as an 'H' erroneously.  Her handwriting is quite swirly.   I clearly see "Mac," though.  I tried the search as MacKerracher (again, nothing great showed up).  However, when I tried McKerracher, I found one possibility.

My first hit was on the www.canadaatwar.ca website.   Hugh James McKerracher, a sergeant with Royal Winnipeg Rifles died July 5, 1944 and is buried at Beny-sur-mer Canadian War Cemetery in Normandy.  He probably died at the Battle for Caen. 

My next stop was Library and Archives Canada Second World War Service Files: Canadian Armed Forces War Dead record for Hugh James McKerracher.  His mother is listed in the index as E. Mae McKerracher of Arnprior, Ontario.

According to  the Manitoba Marriage Index (Reg# 1919, 033167) Elisabeth May Kennedy married Lester Hugh James McKerracher in Winnipeg, Manitoba on the 18th of June 1919.  As we are just out of reach of available birth records because of the 100-year-old rule, I couldn't find Hugh James McKerracher's birth online at the Manitoba Vital Records site.  Nor are there any censuses available that cover this time period in Canada.

So is this the correct Hugh James McKerracher?  Did this young boy die as a young man on the battlefield in France in 1944?  It is a possibility, but with all of this name confusion we can't be sure.   I also don't know what May's connection might have been with Vancouver.  It sounds as if she may have lived there at one time.   We're open to theories, folks.  Let me know if you have a lead, clue or hunch that we might follow.

The Stodders, Morden, Manitoba, Circa 1895

 

There's a lot going on in the photograph.  Taken at T.C. Birnie & Co., in either Morden or Manitou, Manitoba, this cabinet card features, presumably, a husband & wife and a portrait of a young girl.  Perhaps the young girl is a deceased daughter. The table placed between the couple is holding several books.  I tried to read the titles on the spines of the volumes, but the print wasn't clear enough.

On the reverse of the card mount, someone has written three names:

"Mrs. Alex Murdock" at the top of the card. (The recipient?)

 Then, "James Stodders, Alice M. Stodders"  in the centre of the card. 

I am operating on the assumption that we are looking at James and Alice Stodders.  James Stodders and Alice Mary Wyatt were married on the 2nd of March 1892 in Winnipeg¹.  James Stodders appears in the 1900-1901 Directory for Manitoba and the Northwest Territories, which shows his occupation as "grain merchant," and his residence as Morden, Manitoba².

The Western Canada Photographer's List, 1860-1925 by Glen C. Phillips shows T.C. (Thomas C.) Bernie operated his studio in Morden between the years 1892-1904.  The photographer's imprint mentions a Manitou location as well, which was in business for only 2 years, 1894 and 1895. Can we safely say that the image dates from that time?  

Who is the girl in the portrait? 

---

1 “Manitoba, Marriage Index, 1879-1931,” database, entry for James Stodders and Alice Mary Wyatt, 2 Mar 1892, reg #1892-002246 Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 1 July 2012), citing Manitoba Consumer and Corporate Affairs. http://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/Query.php: accessed 2 April 2012.^↩
2 Lovell's Directory of Manitoba and Northwest Territories for 1900-1901: Province of Manitoba Directory. Including A Complete Classified Business Directory and Farmers Directory of Manitoba, John Lovell & Son, Winnipeg, MB, 1900, p. 628.^↩

Canadian Expeditionary Force Discharge Certificate for Hanby Harper, Winnipeg, 1919

Canadian Expeditionary Force 

Discharge Certificate 

War Service Badge Class A, No 186068

This is to certify that No. 37476 (Rank) Staff-Sergt. Hanby Harper enlisted in the C.T.A. Canadian Expeditionary Force at Winnipeg on the 27th day of September 1914.  He served in 3rd C. D. M. T Coy: France [3rd Cavalry Division Mechanical Transport Company].

This World War 1 Discharge Certificate was found in a Victoria Antique Shop specializing in Military items.  Someone mounted the paper onto cardboard, probably for display purposes.

I located Hanby Harper's Attestation Papers on the Library and Archives Canada website. The attestation papers (see link above) show that Hanby was born in Otley, Yorkshire, England on the 12 February 1896 and that he enlisted at the age of 18 years and 6 months.  Hanby was employed as a painter and was not married at the time of his enlistment in September of 1914.  His next-of-kin is Fredrick Harper, who lived at 583 Bannerman Avenue in Winnipeg.

Fredrick Harper was Hanby's father, and his mother's name was Florence Wardman¹.  The family lived in Otley at the time of the 1901 UK census.  

In 1911 Hanby was living at the home of his grandparents, John and Christina Wardman in Birkenhead, Cheshire².  I don't know when Hanby and his parents came to Canada.  I was unable to find them in the immigration records that I have access to online. 

In 1932, Hanby is living at 569 Bannerman Avenue in Winnipeg; Mrs. Fred Harper, just a few doors down at 577 Bannerman³.  I haven't yet discovered what happened to him after that.  If you have information to share, I'd love to hear from you.

UPDATE  Aug 3, 2012:  How this document ended up in an antique store, we haven't quite figured out yet, but I am happy to report that this certificate has been reunited with Hanby Harper's granddaughter in Ontario. 

---

1 "1901 England Census," England, Yorkshire, Otley, p.23, Hanby Harper; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed July 9, 2012); citing Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901. Kew, Surrey, England.^↩
2 "1911 England Census," England, Cheshire, Birkenhead, piece21997, Hanby Harper; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed July 9, 2012); citing Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911. Kew, Surrey, England^↩
3 Henderson's directory of the City of Winnipeg and incorporated towns of Manitoba. Winnipeg: J. Henderson, 1932, page 302.^↩

The Angus and Clara Fraser Family, Marquette, Manitoba, Circa 1907

It's very satisfying to research family group portraits because they are a glimpse into that family unit at a particular time and place.  This one is labelled "Uncle Angus, Aunt Clara, Jack & Colin Fraser," and is also inscribed, "To Annie, With Xmas Greetings, Angus & Clara."

The image was photographed at the Albert Smith Art Studio in Shoal Lake, Manitoba.  According to The Western Canada Photographers List by Glen C. Phillips, Albert Smith was working in Shoal Lake from 1907-1925.  This is probably one of his early Shoal Lake portraits.

In 1906 the 32 year-old Angus Fraser, and his 29 year-old wife, Clara can be found living in the Marquette, Manitoba district with their two sons, John, age 3 and month-old, Colin¹.  By the 1911 census, the family has moved to 320 Aubrey Street, Winnipeg.  The two boys now have a sister named Mary, born March 1910.  Angus is a physician, and the family is probably doing okay financially, as the family now employs a 16-year-old domestic servant by the name of Mary C. Hart².  Today, the house on Aubrey Street is long gone, replaced by a strip mall/brake shop.

Clara's maiden name was McCulloch³.  She and Angus were married on the 27th of March 1902 in Winnipeg.

From the information we've gleaned from the census records, we can date this image to late-1907.

---

1 1906 Canada Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, Marquette, Manitoba, population schedule, Marquette District, subdistrict #9, p.23 (penned), family 115, Angus Fraser family; digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 1 July 2012); citing Library and Archives Canada microfilm T-18353 to T-18363.^↩
2 1911 census of Canada, Winnipeg City, Winnipeg, Manitoba, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 16, subdistrict # 16, p.15 (penned), family 172, Angus Fraser family, digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed July 1, 2012), citing microfilm LAC microfilm T-20326 to T-20460^↩
3 “Manitoba, Marriage Index, 1879-1931,” database, entry for Angus Fraser and Clara McCulloch, 27 Mar 1902, reg #1902, 001837 Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 1 July 2012), citing Manitoba Consumer and Corporate Affairs. http://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/Query.php: accessed 2 April 2012.^↩

Francis Lewis Nason & Mother Frances, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1914

This postcard photograph of five-month old Francis Lewis Nason and his mother was found at a Vancouver antique shop.  It's clearly labelled with the child's name, age and other clues that should help in locating additional information.  I expected to find the Nason's in the 1916 census for the Canadian Prairies, but did not.   If this family lived outside the prairie provinces (for which there was a 1916 Canadian prairie census) then the most recent census (1911) for that area would pre-date Francis Lewis Noonan's birth, and possibly the marriage of his parents.

Here's what we know:

The picture was addressed to Mrs. Roy Andrew of Carlyle, Saskatchewan, and mailed from Winnipeg, Manitoba in March of 1914.  This means the child would have been born in the fall of 1913. The Andrew family does show up in the 1916 Canada Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, living in Carlyle.   Mrs. Roy Andrew's first name is Edith, and was born about 1884 in Manitoba.  Living with couple and their two children, are Frank Andrew (Roy's brother) and Dorothy Cory, age 18, who is Edith's sister.¹

My initial hunch was that Frances was another of Edith's sisters.  I did find Grace Edith Cory, b. 1884, in the appropriate Canada Censuses but Frances is not listed as part of this Cory family in either 1901, 1891, or 1881.

On June 14, 1944, a Francis Lewis Nason, Navigator for the Royal Air Force, appears on a passenger list, heading back to Canada from Scotland via New York².  His birth date and birthplace match the information from the postcard.  I wasn't able to find anything further on Francis on the LAC (Library and Archives Canada) website.  I decided to try a google search and found the following obituary:

Frances Lewis Nason:
Peacefully at Welland County General Hospital [Ontario], on June 12, 2002. Mr. Francis Lewis Nason of Fonthill was born in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan in 1913. He graduated from the University of Manitoba as a Chartered Accountant in 1937 and worked with Clarkson and Gordon as an accounatant until W W ll. During the war he was a Flight Officer and Navigator, flying with the Ferry Pilots taking planes to England and Europe. After the war, he worked for 25 years as Comptroller for the T. Eaton Company in Winnipeg, Montreal and Toronto. He retired from the T.Eaton Company in 1974 and moved to Fonthill where he worked for 15 years as a Chartered Accountant for Lester Shoalts Ltd. in Port Colborne. Mr. Nason is predeceased by he wife Mae Nason in 2001. There was a private interment Saturday, June 15th 2002 at Pleasantview Memorial Gardens. James L. Pedlar Funeral Home in charge of funeral arrangements 905-892-5762.³

Is this the correct Francis Lewis Nason?  Possibly, but more evidence would have to be located to be certain.


 

---

1 "1916 Canada Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta," digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed June 1, 2012), entry for Roy Andrew, Saskatchewan, Assiniboia, p. 5, family 49, citing microfilm LAC microfilm T-21925 to T-21956^↩
2 "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957,"^↩digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed June 1, 2012), entry for Francis Lewis Nason,citing National Archives microfilm T715_6818; Line: 1; ; Page Number: 16-C.
3 "Pedlar Funeral Home Memorial Website"^↩(http://www.pedlarfuneralhome.ca/obit.php?decedid=170 : accessed June 1, 2012), entry for Francis Lewis Nason.

Hullo Uncle Georg! from Gerald Carrington, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1913

The reverse of this postcard photograph is inscribed, "Gerald F. Carrington on his first birthday, March 14, 1913"  The photo was taken by A. L. Ford at 528 1/2 Main Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

I found a Gerald Edmund Francis Carrington, born the 14th of March 1912 in Toronto York County, Ontario in Ontario, Canada Births, 1869-1913.  His parents are listed as John Carrington and Annie Dolby, who were married in England on April 15, 1911.


Gerald and his parents can be found in the 1916 Canada Census at 612 Alexander Street in Winnipeg.  Gerald now has three younger siblings:  Mona, 3; John, 1;  and George, a newborn.  Gerald's father, John, is a "conductor" at St. Roy [?].


Gerald Edmund Carrington died in Delta, British Columbia on the 15th of August, 1984, at age 81.

A Christmas Research Semi-Miracle: The Edwards Family, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1913

 
This photo postcard was printed by the Lyall Commercial Photo Co., Ltd., in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  The Lyall Studio photographed many important Western Canadian sites and events.  Most of their work, however, centres on Winnipeg.  Their real postcard photographs are held in a number of archives across the prairie provinces.

Unfortunately, the location of this photo isn't given.  I thought it was likely that the image was taken in Winnipeg. There is an name and address on the reverse, even though the card was not sent through the mail.

 It reads:

Mrs. Edwards
35 Queen Street
Stratford
New Town
Essex.
Eng.

I tried finding an Edwards family, specifically with this address in the England Census, but I could only find several possibilities on Familysearch.org.  I couldn't take a look at the actual census pages because they were unavailable so I decided to take a different approach.

The family seems to consist of a mother, father, a young girl about three years old, and an infant.  I had to pull out my reading glasses to see it, but there is a house number on the column to next to the baby:  421.

I guessed the photo would have been taken around 1910-1915 based on the style of the mother's outfit and her hairdo. 

Since I only had a surname name to go by, I searched the 1916 Canada Census for any Edwards living in Winnipeg in 1916.  I thought it was doubtful that I'd find anything, since I didn't know if Mrs. Edwards was an acquaintance, friend or family member.  I had a hunch that it might be the husband's mother.  At least, I hoped it was because that would mean I was searching for an Edwards family.   I went through every Edwards entry in Winnipeg, looking for someone who had a house number of 421.  I found one.

George Thomas Edwards, b. 1883, England, to Canada in 1903.
Sarah Edwards, b. 1885, England, to Canada in 1908
Grace, daughter, age 6
Clarence, son, age 4
Alfred, son, age 3.

And the address:  421 Worley (or so the Ancestry transcriber wrote.)  I tried 421 Worley in Google maps.  Nothing.  I went back and re-read the original census page.  The street name was actually Morley.

I searched 421 Morley, Winnipeg in Google maps, and selected the street view.

The address still exists.  The house still exists!  It is most definitely the same home.  The exterior looks pretty much as it did back in the mid-1910s, with different paint colours and replaced windows.  There's also been an addition to one side of the house, eliminating half of the front porch, but it still has the distinctive attic window.   I would post today's version here for comparison, but I don't know how I'd feel if someone posted my home on their blog (although I guess if it wasn't for Google maps, I couldn't have made the connection).

I have no hesitation identifying these folks as the Edwards family.  Since Baby Alfred doesn't appear in the photo, and son Clarence is just an infant I think we can safely date the photograph around 1913.

UPDATE!  February 3, 2012 -- I am happy to report that the Edwards postcard photograph has been reunited with the grandson & family of one of children in the photograph.  It's on its way back to Winnipeg.

Not the Gifter, But the Giftee: Jennie Suggitt, 1903

While I don't know the full name of the woman in this cabinet card photograph I do know that the portrait was taken July 19th, 1903 at the Wragg studio on 45 Mesnes Street in Wigan, which is in Greater Manchester, England.

A note written on the reverse provides a few more clues:  "Dear Cousin Jennie [Suggitt] from Aunt Mary A. with fondest love to your loving husband & baby."  Someone has inserted Cousin Jennie's last name in pencil.  I found this card at an antique store in Alberta, Canada.

The  photo was found with a second cabinet card, taken at the J.F. Mitchell Studio in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  On the reverse: "Aunty Jenny Davis (?) nee Suggitt and husband Fred Davis (?)."  I believe the Jenny in the photo below is the Jennie who received the above photo from Aunt Mary.

The person who wrote the inscription was unclear about the surname of Jenny's husband.   There isn't a name attributed to Jenny & Fred's baby, either.  I love that they've even included the family dog in the picture.  Unfortunately, the picture has faded significantly.  I would date the photo around 1895, based on the style of cabinet card and the leg o' mutton sleeves on Jenny's dress.

Update, December 10/11:  Karen, on the Ancestry Message Board for Winnipeg writes:  "From looking at the Manitoba Vital Stats site and the 1906 census it would appear to me that your photo is of Jane Ann SUGGITT and Frederick David DAVIES who were married in Winnipeg on June 26, 1901. The child may well be their daughter Edith Rose who was born in the R.M. of Springfield on November 23, 1904." 

What do you think?   Do the clues in the photograph match the dates above?  The sleeves on Jenny's dress are throwing me off a bit, but the big mutton sleeves still show up in the ladies fashion catalogues of the day.

Thanks, Karen, for looking into the censuses and making this connection!