As part of my ongoing “Montran Monday” series[i], I search historical newspapers for any mention of individuals bearing the Montran surname. Each small discovery helps me piece together the broader story of my maternal grandmother’s elusive father. This week’s find comes from a 1922 edition of the Metropolitan Pasadena Star-News—a brief notice, yet rich with implications.
While scanning the Star-News (Pasadena, California), I came across a snippet dated 7 January 1922 on page 2:
Transcription of the Article:
Recovers Her Watch—Mrs. Maude W. Montran, of 1853 Summit Avenue, notified the police yesterday that she had lost her watch. John Snowden of 200 Glorietta Street found it and turned it over to Detective Sergeant Charles Betts.
This brief notice confirms that Maude Minnie (Winter) Montran resided at 1853 Summit Avenue, Pasadena in early 1922. It fills an important gap in her timeline: I previously had documentation placing her in San Francisco in 1920 and later in Inglewood by 1930. This article narrows the window, suggesting she relocated to Southern California between 1920 and 1922.
While I still haven’t uncovered a genealogical link between Maude (Winter) Montran and my grandmother’s father, John Montran, every data point helps. Tracing the movements of individuals with the Montran name remains one of the key strategies in my search.
[i]Montran Monday is inspired by my ongoing quest to learn more about my grandmother’s father, John Montran. My grandmother used the Montran surname both as a child and early in her show business career. Because the name is quite uncommon, most Montran references I encounter in old newspapers tend to be about her during her vaudeville years. However, as more historic newspapers are digitized, new mentions of the Montran name continue to surface. Each discovery offers a potential clue. I review these articles closely, always looking for connections—no matter how small—that might help me uncover more about John Montran and his family.
According to FamilySearch, the surname Brewer is an occupational name derived from the Middle English brewere, meaning “brewer” — a maker of beer or ale. The term itself originates from the Old English brēowan, meaning “to brew.”
Geographical
Approximately 161,691 people around the world bear the Brewer surname. It is most prevalent in the United States, followed by England and Australia. Interestingly, Bermuda has the highest per capita occurrence, with 1 in every 2,106 people carrying the Brewer name.[ii]
Within the U.S., the name is most commonly found in:
3rd Great-grandfather: John W Bryan (1788–1865) [iv]
4th Great-grandmother: Lucretia Sills (1755-1829) iv
5th Great-grandfather: Isham Sills (1728-1802) iv
6th Great-grandmother: Elizabeth Brewer (1695-1762)iv
7th Great-grandfather: John Brewer (1669-1690)iv
8th Great-grandfather: John Brewer (1620-1664)iv
Brewer Ancestors in History
My earliest known Brewer ancestor is John Brewer, born in 1620 in Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Wales. He immigrated to the Maryland Colony, where he married Elizabeth Pierpoint in 1640. He represents the foundation of my Brewer lineage in America.
Locations of my Brewer Ancestors
The Brewer family lines in my tree have strong roots in:
Cardiff, Wales
Maryland Colony (Anne Arundel County)
Virginia Colony (Sussex County)
Famous Individuals with the Brewer Surname
The Brewer surname has been carried by many notable individuals, including:
George Keefer Brewer (1914–1959) – American actor known professionally as George Reeves, who famously portrayed Superman in the 1950s television series
Patronymics, derived from father’s name (such as Johnson from ”son of John”).
[ii] Forebears – Name search for Brewer – https://forebears.io/surnames/brewer [iii] Ancestry – Don Taylor’s Howell-Darling-2025 tree on Ancestry, accessed 8 May 2025. [iv] I have not had the opportunity to personally research these individuals. As such, their names and dates are tentative and/or speculative.
Connecting Coffin, Johnson, Skillin & Trufant to the Past
LDC Photos – Part 066 By Don Taylor
In the pages of a beautifully preserved 19th-century photo album, the young graduates of Deering High School in Portland, Maine, step forward from history. Through the Linwood D. Dyer Photo Collection—specifically, the Willis Skillin Graduation Album—we encounter striking cabinet card portraits of students from the 1890s. These aren’t just old photographs; they’re visual bridges to ancestors long passed, many of whom are being recognized again after more than a century.
In this fourth installment of “Uncovering the Faces of Deering High,” I highlight students with the surnames Coffin, Johnson, Skillin, and Trufant, along with several unidentified individuals. My goal remains the same: to identify these faces, share their stories, and return their images—virtually or physically—to their families.
Susan “Susie” G. Coffin, 1893
Susan “Susie” G. Coffin, 1893
Description
Image Type: Cabinet Card – 6½” x 4¼.”
Description: This photo is of a young woman, likely between 18 and 25 years old.
Photographers’ Imprint: Longfellow Gallery, 655 Congress St., Portland, ME.
Identifying Information
Marks/Writing/Notes: Susie G Coffin, Class of ’93, is handwritten on the back of the photo.
Analysis:
Photographer: Longfellow Gallery operated at that address from 1892 to 1910.
Clothing/style time frame: She wears a high-necked dress with a ruffled collar and puffed sleeves typical of the 1890s to early 1900s.
Research:
While researching this photo, I learned:
The 1900 Census lists Henry C and Alice M Coffin, whose daughter, Susie G Coffin, was born in February 1877. They lived at 12 Highland Street in Portland, less than a mile from Old Deering High School.
Identification: Absent any other Susan Coffins in the Portland area at that time, I am sure this is Susan G Coffin (1877-1963), daughter of Henry C and Alice M (Gegenheimer) Coffin
Description: A studio portrait of a young woman in her late teens or early 20s.
Photographers’ Imprint: Longfellow Gallery, 655 Congress St., Portland, ME.
Identifying Information
Marks/Writing/Notes: “Lucy E Johnson, DHS ’94 is handwritten on the back.
Analysis:
Photographer: Longfellow Gallery operated at that address from 1892 to 1910
Clothing/style time frame: high-necked blouse consistent about 1900.
This photo has visible wear and damage.
Research:
Lucy Emma Johnson, 1894. (Photo enhanced by ChatGPT)
The Portland Daily Press, dated Jun 19, 1894, mentions that Lucy Emma Johnson was to provide an essay, “Sculptors of Our Future,” at the Senior Graduation.
Maine Marriage Records record Lucy Emma Johnson, daughter of George W and Emma (Mann) Johnson, married Guy W Davis on 28 February 1899 in Deering.
Ancestry Family Trees suggest this is Lucy Emma Johnson (1876-1922), daughter of George Woodbury and Emma L. (Mann) Johnson. They lived in Deering during the 1880 US Census.
Marks/Writing/Notes: Handwritten in the album above the photo is “Willis Skillin.”
Other Information:
Analysis:
Photographer: J.M. Peck operated at that address from 1889 to 1891. M.D. Hanson took over at that address and may have used the same cabinet card stock until it was gone.
Clothing/style time frame: His dark suit has pinstripes, and his tie has a distinctive checkered pattern typical in the 1890s.
Research:
The Portland Daily Press, dated Jun 19, 1894, mentions that Willis Skillin was one of five students who performed music, “Left Thoughts from Shakespeare,” at the 1894 Deering High School Senior Graduation.
The 1900 US Census lists Willis B Skillin living with his parents, Lewis and Hattie Skillin, at 1532 Congress Street, about 1.4 miles from Old Deering High School.
I reviewed this photo last fall in Part 34 of the Linwood Dyer Collection, “Skillin (née Trickey) & Stone.” That photo was labeled “Eu Jean B Skillin.” I identified him as Eugene Bradford Skillin, son of Lewis and Harriet (Trickey) Skillin. Eugene (1874-1943). In my research, I learned that Eugene had a brother, Willis Burton Skillin (1877-1880). I now think this photo is of Willis and not Eugene for a couple reasons.
This album is titled “Willis Skillin Graduation” and is more likely to identify Willis Skillin correctly.
The Skillin, Libby, Trickey photo album’s photo of the same young man has a slip of paper noting the person’s name. This may have been misassigned or may have been identified many years later. However, the Skillin, Libby, Trickey album includes another photo identified as a similar-looking boy, which includes Eugene’s birthdate.
Because of the conflicting identification between the two photo albums, I am not confident which person, Eugene or Willis, this is a photo of.
Actions:
I updated Eugene B Skillin’s FamilySearch profile, L2YL-RWC, to include the following description: “The Skillin, Libby, Trickey photo album identifies this photo as Eugene Skillin, the Willis Skillin Graduation Photo Album identifies this photo as Willis Skillin. It is unclear which brother this is a photo of.”
I deleted this photo from my Eugene B Skillin’s profile in my Linwood Dyer Collection tree on Ancestry.
Because of these conflicts, I am only including this photo here.
“Gertie” (Probably Gertrude Lenore Trufant) c. 1894
“Gertie” (Probably Gertrude Lenore Trufant) c. 1894
Description
Image Type: Cabinet Card – 6½” x 4¼.”
Description: This photograph depicts a young woman, likely in her late teens to early twenties. A decorative pin reading “Gertie” suggests her likely name (or nickname).
Photographers’ Imprint: A.C. Lewis, 518 Congress St., Portland, ME.
Identifying Information
Marks/Writing/Notes: No identifying information.
Other Information: Most of the photos in the album are of students at Deering High School (Deering, Maine) during 1893 & 1894.
Analysis:
Photographer: A.C. Lewis Photography operated at that address from 1892 to 1908/09.
Clothing/style time frame: Her Bodice with puffed sleeves was fashionable from 1893 to 1897.
Props/Background: A decorative pin reading “Gertie” suggests her likely name (or nickname).
Research:
The Portland Daily Press, dated June 9, 1894, mentions that Gertrude Lanore Trufant was playing “The Ocean” as part of the 1894 Senior Graduation.
The 1880 Census lists Gertrude L Trufant, the 4-year-old daughter of Issiah and Susan Trufant, living in Deering.
Action:
I am not confident in this identification, so I uploaded this photo of “Gertie” to Dead Fred.
Unidentified – Probably a Deering HS student, circa 1893.
[2025.02.22, page 15b]
Unidentified – Probably a Deering HS student, circa 1893.
Description
Image Type: Vignette-style photograph on Cabinet Card stock- 6½” x 4¼.”
Description: The teenage boy is wearing a dark suit with wide lapels and a wide tie.
Photographers’ Imprint: Longfellow Gallery, 655 Congress St., Portland, ME.
Identifying Information
Marks/Writing/Notes: None
Other Information: This photo is in an album that contains many images of Deering High School (Portland, Maine) from the early 1890s.
Analysis:
Photographer: Longfellow Gallery operated at that address from 1892 to 1910
Clothing/style time frame: Approximately 1885-1905.
Identification: Unidentified student, probably a Deering High School student from about 1893.
I have not identified the individual in this photo; I uploaded this photo to my Flickr Photostream.
Unidentified – Probably a Deering HS student, circa 1893.
Description
Image Type: Vignette-style photograph on Cabinet Card stock- 6½” x 4¼.”
Description: The teenage boy is wearing a dark suit with wide lapels and a wide tie.
Photographers’ Imprint: Longfellow Gallery, 655 Congress St., Portland, ME.
Identifying Information
Marks/Writing/Notes: None
Other Information: This photo is in an album that contains many images of Deering High School (Portland, Maine) from the early 1890s.
Analysis:
Photographer: Longfellow Gallery operated at that address from 1892 to 1910
Clothing/style time frame: Approximately 1885-1905.
Identification: Unidentified student, probably a Deering High School student from about 1893.
I have not identified the individual in this photo; I uploaded this photo to my Flickr Photostream.
Unidentified Girl, c. 1890.
Unidentified Girl, c. 1890.
Description
Image Type: Cabinet Card – 6½” x 4¼.”
Description: This photograph depicts a young girl, likely a preteen.
Other Information: This photo is next to a picture of Willis Skillin in the photo album.
Analysis:
Photographer: J.M. Peck operated at that address from 1889-1891, dating the photograph to about 1890.
Research:
With a name or other identifying information, I could not further research this photo. As such, I uploaded this photo to my Flickr Photostream.
Conclusion
I would love to hear your reaction if any of these photos are of your family member. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.
Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Ancestry, Dead Fred, or Flickr have higher quality than those linked here. Feel free to use these photos in your genealogical activities. The Scarborough Historical Society holds the originals in the Linwood Dyer Photo Collection.[i]Please cite “Photo Courtesy: Scarborough Historical Society.”
Disclosure: This post was developed with the aid of ChatGPT and Grammarly for editing.
Thanks to recent digitization efforts by NewspaperArchives.com, I’ve uncovered several fascinating mentions of my ancestors in the Albion Recorder (Albion, Michigan). These newly discovered newspaper clippings have provided valuable glimpses into the lives of my great-grandmother, Ida (Barber) Montran, and my grandmother, Madonna.
The Newspaper Discoveries
May 9, 1896 – “Mrs. Ida Montran and daughter, Madonna, left Wednesday evening for Brooklyn, N. Y., where they will spend the summer with Mr. and Mrs. Geo. N. Wood.”[i]
May 23, 1896 – “Mrs. Ida Montran and daughter, Madonna, returned from Brooklyn Saturday on account of the death of Mrs. Geo. N. Wood, whom they were visiting.”[ii]
May 29, 1897 – “Ida (Barber) Montran married Max Fisher at the home of R. G. Fisher.”[iii]
January 13, 1932 – “Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Knight of Detroit were guests at the home of Mrs. Flora Taber on South Albion street, Tuesday. Mrs. Knight was formerly Miss Ida Barber of Albion.”[iv]
What These Findings Tell Us
These brief mentions reveal several important aspects of my ancestors’ lives:
By 1932, Ida had married again, this time to Harvey Knight, and the couple maintained connections to Albion through visits to Mrs. Flora Taber.
By 1897, Ida remarried. She married Max Fisher, and the ceremony occurred at R.G. Fisher’s residence, suggesting a possible family connection between the two Fisher men.
In 1896, my great-grandmother Ida (Barber) Montran and my three-year-old grandmother Madonna planned an extended summer visit to Brooklyn, New York, to stay with the Wood family. Their visit was cut short by the unfortunate death of Mrs. Wood.
Research Questions and Findings
Who was Mrs. George N. Wood of Brooklyn?
Despite thorough searching through Find-A-Grave records for women with the Wood/Woods surname who died in Brooklyn in May 1896, I haven’t conclusively identified Mrs. George N. Wood. The most promising candidates were:
However, research revealed these women were married to William F. Wood, Andrew Woods, and John Richardson Wood, respectively—not to a George N. Wood. The connection between the Woods and my great-grandmother Ida remains a compelling mystery that warrants further investigation.
Who was R.G. Fisher and how was he related to Max Fisher?
Detroit City Directories provided valuable clues about this relationship:
1896: Ray Fisher appears as a clerk living at 105 Columbia.
1897: Ray G. Fisher is listed as a bartender at 329 National Ave, sharing this address with Max E. Fisher, who worked as a cashier for Jacob Fisher.
1898-1899: Ray continued working as a bartender while Max was a bookkeeper for his uncle’s business.
Further research revealed that Max Edward Fisher (1877-1935) was the son of Samuel K. Fisher (1850-1917), who was the brother of Jacob S. Fisher (1846-1898). Jacob owned “Jacob Fisher Wines, Liquors, Cigars & News” at 206 Woodward Avenue in Detroit.
While I haven’t yet determined the exact relationship between Ray G. Fisher and Max Fisher, their shared address in 1897 strongly suggests a family connection. It’s possible they were brothers or cousins, with R.G. Fisher hosting Max and Ida’s wedding at his home.
Who was Mrs. Flora Taber of Albion?
Census records show that in 1930, the 64-year-old widow Flora Taber was living at 212 South Albion Street with two of her children, Harley (29) and Wilma (28).
The 1920 Census shows Flora (54) living with her husband, Asa Elmer Taber, along with Asa’s 19-year-old son Harley and her 32-year-old stepson Clyde Saunders.
Additional research revealed that Flora (Florence) married Asa on October 1, 1910, after having previously married William H. Sanders on November 10, 1883. This suggests that Clyde was William’s son and Flora’s son from her first marriage.
While I couldn’t establish a direct family connection between Flora Taber and Ida Knight (née Barber), their Albion roots and the fact that Ida and Harvey specifically visited Flora during their trip to Albion suggests there may have been a close friendship or perhaps a distant family connection not yet uncovered.
Conclusions and Next Steps
These newspaper mentions have added rich context to my understanding of my great-grandmother Ida’s life journey—from her early years as Mrs. Montran with young daughter Madonna, through her marriage to Max Fisher, and finally as Mrs. Harvey Knight. The 36-year span of these articles (1896-1932) provides valuable insight into her movements and connections.
While some questions remain unanswered, particularly regarding the identity of Mrs. George N. Wood and the exact relationship between R.G. Fisher and Max Fisher, these newspaper findings have opened new avenues for research.
Future research directions include:
Searching for marriage and death records for George and Mrs. Wood in Brooklyn
Further investigating possible family connections between the Barbers and Woods
Exploring the Fisher family tree more thoroughly to place Ray G. Fisher
Searching for additional newspaper mentions of Ida between 1897 and 1932 to fill in the gaps in her life story
Do you have family connections with any of these people? If so, please share your stories in the comments below.
A 19th-Century Photo Album to Reunite Families Across Generations
Davis, Hayes, Hill, Hooper, & Skillin
Historic Photo Albums and Family Reunions By Don Taylor
In the dusty pages of a well-preserved 19th-century photo album, the students of Deering High School, Portland, Maine, come vividly back to life. Through the Linwood D. Dyer Photo Collection Willis Skillin Graduation Album, we glimpse proud graduates of the class of 1893 — captured in elegant cabinet cards and timeless expressions. This project isn’t just about preserving history; it’s about reconnecting families with the visual legacy of their ancestors, many for the first time. Join me as I share these remarkable images and the stories behind them, bridging more than a century of memory and heritage.
Title/Subject/Caption: Eugene Bradford Skillin, Deering HS Graduate, 1893. Identifying Information:Handwritten on the back is “Jene Skillin.” Description: This is a portrait of a young man wearing a dark suit jacket and a high-collared white shirt. His large cravat and hairstyle are typical of the 1890s.
Type of Image: Cabinet Card – 6½” x 4¼.” Condition: Very good condition. – The portrait style (soft fading at the bottom and sepia) is consistent with cabinet cards from about 1880 to 1900.
Photographers’ Imprint: Longfellow Gallery, 655 Congress St., Portland, ME. Date of Operation: 1892-1910
When I encountered this photograph, a sense of familiarity struck me. Upon checking my records, I confirmed that I had examined this same image in a different photo album last September, identifying it as Eugene B. Skillin.
Eugene was born on May 27, 1874, and resided with his parents, Lewis and Hattie (Trickey) Skillin, in Deering. A duplicate of this photograph is available at his FamilySearch profile L2YL-RWC.
The album contains a second photograph of Eugene on page 13. That photo shows some foxing (those characteristic reddish-brown spots that develop on aging paper).
Etta Noble Hayes, 1893
Etta Noble Hayes, 1893
Title/Subject/Caption: Etta Noble Hayes, 1893 Identifying Information: Handwritten on the back is “July 20 – Etta N. Hayes – Class of ’93” Description: This young woman is wearing a dress typical of the early 1890s. It is high-necked with a standing collar and large puffed sleeves.
Type of Image: Cabinet Card – 6½” x 4¼.” Photographers’ Imprint: Longfellow Gallery, 655 Congress St., Portland, ME. Date of Operation: 1892-1910
Etta Noble Hays was born on 20 July 1875 in North Yarmouth, Maine, the daughter of William and Harriet (Chase) Hayes. She married Elvon Douglass Files on 9 January 1904 in Portland.
I added this photo to her FamilySearch profile – KCKS-689.
Florence Gertrude Hill, 1893.
Florence Gertrude Hill, 1893
Description: This is a photo of a young girl in a light-colored dress with puffy, full sleeves typical of the early 1890s. Identifying Information: Handwritten on the back is “Florence Gertrude Hill | Oct. 1, – Class of ’93.”
Type of Image: Cabinet Card – 6½” x 4¼.” Photographers’ Imprint: Longfellow Gallery, 655 Congress St., Portland, ME. Date of Operation: 1892-1910
Florence Gertrude Hill lived in Deering when she married Weldon Holmes Norton on 2 September 1895. She was born on 1 October 1874 in Bridgton, Maine, to Almon and Josephine (Chamberlain) Hill. She died on 10 November 1942 in Portland.
I added this photo to her FamilySearch profile – LKDB-Z2R.
Florence Cole Hooper (1876-1965) in 1893.
Description: This is a photo of a young woman with fair skin, light-colored eyes, and light hair. Her hair is waved and pulled back with short bangs. She is wearing a dark dress with puffed sleeves and has a large, ornate white lace collar. She appears to be between 16 and 19 years old. Identifying Information: Handwritten on the back is “Florence Cole Hooper, ’93 | Feb. 2, 1876.”
Florence Gertrude Hill, 1893
Type of Image: Cabinet Card – 6½” x 4¼.” Date of Operation: 1892-1910
Florence Cole Hooper was born in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, on February 2, 1876. The 1880 census records show her living with her parents, Thomas and Mary (Perkins) Hooper, in Deering. Based on available records, it appears she remained unmarried throughout her life. Florence died on July 22, 1965, in Portland, Maine, at 89.
I discovered an interesting genealogical challenge while researching Florence—there seems to be a conflation of two women named Florence Hooper in the FamilySearch database. To preserve the historical record accurately and prevent further confusion, I did not add her photograph to FamilySearch. Instead, I shared the photo with my Ancestry Family Tree and the Dead Fred photo archive, ensuring this visual artifact of her life remains properly associated and accessible to future researchers.
Stella M Davis, 1893
Description: This photo shows a young woman, likely between 17 and 19 years old. She is wearing a high-necked dress with a ruffled or lightly pleated collar and full shoulders, typical of the early 1890s. Identifying Information: Handwritten on the back is “Stella M Davis ’93.”
Stella M Davis, 1893
Type of Image: Cabinet Card – 6½” x 4¼.” Photographers’ Imprint: Longfellow Gallery, 655 Congress St., Portland, ME. Date of Operation: 1892-1910
Stella M Davis was born in May 1874 in Bridgton, Maine, and was the daughter of Richard and Irene (Stevens) Davis. She didn’t marry and had no children. She died and was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Portland, Maine.
I added this photo to FamilySearch, profile GXQK-73P.
Unidentified Male Graduate, Probably Deering HS, 1893
Type: Cabinet Card – 6½” x 4¼” Condition: Very good – protected in photo album Photographer: Longfellow Gallery, 655 Congress St., Portland, ME (1892-1910).
Research Note: I have not identified the individual in this photo; I’ve uploaded it to my Flickr Photostream.
Conclusion
I would love to hear your reaction if any of these photos are of your family member. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.
Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Ancestry, Dead Fred, or Flickr have higher quality than those linked here. Feel free to use these photos in your genealogical activities. The Scarborough Historical Society holds the originals in the Linwood Dyer Photo Collection.[i]Please cite “Photo Courtesy: Scarborough Historical Society.”
Note: This post was improved with the help of ChatGPT and edited with the help of Grammerly.
[i] Scarborough Historical Society Accession number: 2024.13.43.
