A photo from an Ebay seller in Homosassa, Florida. It was taken at the E. N. Moblo studio on Union Street in Traverse City, in operation between 1890 and 1917. On the back in pencil is "Maggie Dawson."

Maggie Dawson.

I searched the 1900 census for Maggie Dawson. There are seven persons named Dawson in Grand Traverse County, but none named Maggie.

I am distantly related to the Dawsons in Traverse City so I checked my Fillmore relative who had married John Dawson and discovered that his sister Margaret E. Dawson had married by 1900.

Margaret Ellen Dawson was born on 14 April 1871 in Blair Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan, the daughter of James Dawson and Ellen Braham.[1]

On 12 June 1880, Margret E. Dawson lived with her parents and siblings John H. and Benj. A. in Traverse Township. Her father was a farmer.[2]

Margaret was married on 10 July 1895 in Traverse City to Henry Winifred Shane. Wiley K. Wright, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, conducted the ceremony, which was witnessed by John A. Dawson and Inez Dawson.[3]

On 11 June 1900, Winifred and Margaret Shane and their daughters Ellen and Geneva, as  well as a male servant, lived in Elmwood Township, Leelanau County, Michigan. Margaret reported she had been the mother of three children, with two living. Winifred worked as a farmer.[4]

Margaret died on 28 July 1908 in Elmwood Township, Leelanau County, Michigan from renal insufficiency. She was pregnant at the time.[5] She was buried in Oakwood Catholic Cemetery in Traverse City.[6]

Her obituary appeared in a Traverse City newspaper:

DIED ON TUESDAY

MRS. WINFIELD SHANE PASSED AWAY

In Addition to her Husband, She Leaves Four Daughters- Funeral Services Wednesday.

Mrs. Margaret Shane, wife of Winfield Shane, a brother of Thomas Shane of this city, died at her home in Elmwood township, four miles west of the city on the County Line road, at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday after a two weeks' illness, a complication of diseases being the cause.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Shane leaves four children, Ellen, Geneva, Gladys and Margaret to mourn for her. Her mother, Mrs. Dawson and a brother, John Dawson, are also left.

Mrs. Chase was well known in her neighborhood and all with whom she had an acquaintance, were her friends, so that her death causes more than the usual amount of sadness. She was born in Grand Traverse county and 13 years ago, she was united marriage to Winfield Shabe.

Mrs. Shane was a faithful member of the Immaculate Concepcion church and there the funeral services were held Wednesday morning at 10 the Rev. Fr. Sheehan officiating. Burial in the Catholic cemetery.[7]

 

---

[1] Margaret E. Dawson entry, Michigan, U.S., Births and Christenings Index, 1867-1911, Ancestry.com.

[2] James Dawson household, 1880 US census, Grand Traverse County, Michigan, population schedule, Traverse, ED 82, page 8D, dwelling 394.

[3] Shane-Dawson entry, Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867-1952, Ancestry.com.

[4] Winifred Shane household, 1900 US census, Leelanau County, Michigan, population schedule, Elmwood, ED 20, sheet 5A, dwelling 35.

[5] Margaret Shane Certificate of Death, Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952, Ancestry.com.

[6] Margaret E. Shane Memorial 74566475, Findagrave.com.

[7] Grand Traverse Herald and Traverse Bay Eagle (Traverse City), 4 August 1908, page 1, column 3.

Ten more McManus Brothers studio portraits with the same mark.

The first four are children. All are seated on a chair with a rug draped over it. It is likely that a parent is hidden behind the chair, holding the child in place.

The second, third, and fourth photos- the children appear to be wearing the same necklace. I think the third and fourth photos are the same child. It is also possible one or more of these children were in previous blog entries. It is certainly difficult to tell children apart when they are this young!

The next two photos were definitely taken at the same time. The first is probably a father, daughter, and mother. The man's pupils have been retouched.

The daughter appears in the second photo with another girl. Her hairstyle, dress, and necklace are the same in the two photos. 

Another photo has two women posing next to each other.

Then a photo of a young woman. She has a piece of jewelry at her throat that appears to be three white beads.

The woman in the next photograph may have the same necklace and may be the same woman? She holds a fan and the photograph cut out her image and superimposed it onto a painted rock fence.

Lastly, two boys and a third child (possibly another boy) are posed, probably siblings. The middle child sits on a low stool atop a couple of books. The child on the right sits on a chair with braid hanging from the arms and sear. The painted backdrop and floor covering are barely visible.

 

Two unidentified McManus Brothers studio photographs.

The first is a young woman with muttonchop sleeves on her dress. 

The second is two children. The older girl rests her arm on a sofa that has tassels hanging from the front. The younger girl sits on a chair with braid hanging from its arms and front. The rug or linoleum flooring appears to have springs of flowers. In the background the painted backdrop has an easel and some sort of arch or doorway.

 

Two more unidentified photographs.

The first is from the William Boswell studio, which operated from 1894 to 1901. Four children, likely siblings, are posed. Two sit on a chair with some sort of padded furniture (uncertain) to the right. The other two children standing in front of the backdrop which has lace curtains and possibly a ballistrade.

The second is from the Himes studio, located at the corner of Front and Park Streets in Traverse City. Richard B. Himes operated the studio from 1897 to 1899.

A handsome man stands next to a chair. The painted backdrop has a stone wall with flowers cascading down and in front. 

 

Two more from the McManus Brothers studio. Nothing written on the back.

The first is a woman posed in front of a plain background. She had an elaborate shirt or blouse.

Four members of a family, possibly four generations? Two sit on chairs, the one on the left has braid hanging from the arm. The rug that appears in many photos lies crumpled behind the girl on the left. The painted backdrop has the curtain next to a stained glass window, present in many other photos taken in the 1890s.

 

Three photos from the McManus Brothers studio. I cannot be certain, but I suspect all three are from the same family and the first two may be photos of the third, the latter taken when they were older. Luckily, the third photo has their names on the back.

All three are taken with the same backdrop, which appears to have a curtain next to a pilaster with a flower-filled urn.

The first photo has the child posing next to a velvet-upholstered chair with tassels.

The second photo has the child seated in a chair with tassels hanging from its arms. A rug and blanket next to the child almost certainly disguises a parent holding the child in place.

The third photo has written in pencil:

Blanche Lada Robertson

Frank Lada

 Blanche is seated in a chair with braid hanging from the arm and seat. A rug is visible behind the two children.

Frank Lada was born on 22 May 1895, the son of Joseph V. Lada and Anna M. Valish. He died on 16 January 1897 in Traverse City and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery.

His younger sister Blanche Lada was born on 15 June 1897 in Traverse City. She was married to Harry Alexander Robertson. She died on 11 January 1937 in Traverse City and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery.

Based on Blanche's birth year I think the photo was likely taken in 1898.

 

Six photos from the McManus Brothers studio.

Like many photos, the pupils of this woman were retouched. I'm guessing this photo was taken in the 1890s.

This baby's eyes were also retouched. They are sitting on a chair with a rug draped over it, possibly masking the presence of someone holding the baby from behind.

Another bust-only photo. The woman has an unusual broach.

The next three have a person's bust superimposed on scrolls and florals.

This man's left eye has the pupil retouched.

A young man.

A young woman wearing a pearl necklace and muttonchop sleeves.