A Nurse Hero of WWI: Elma Irene Groves of Lodi Wisconsin (1888-1918)

Posted on 19 October, 2019 by Janice Brown

Photograph of nurse Elma I. Groves who died in France during WWI. Courtesy of her 2nd great-niece, Kathy Steckelberg. Used here with permission.

As my readers know, I rarely write about people who do not have a New Hampshire connection. In this particular case the 2nd great-niece of a nurse who died in service during WWI contacted me, and I agreed to write about Elma Irene Groves of Lodi, Wisconsin.

Nurses “run in my family,” so how could I possibly refuse? I have written stories about several other WWI nurses who made the ultimate sacrifice.  This is also the case in this story.

Elma Irene Groves was born 16 June 1888 in Lodi, Columbia Co., Wisconsin, the daughter of Frank W. & Emma A. (Herr) Groves.  She was a “middle child”– one of 7 born to the Grove family.   She died 101 years ago today (this story being posted 19 October 2019). [Editor’s note: Today also happens to be my mother’s birthday.  She would be 100 years old if she were alive today.] Continue reading →

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A Case of Mistaken Identity: Maria Stevens of Manchester New Hampshire

Posted on 14 October, 2019 by Janice Brown

Photograph of Maria(h) Stevens taken as her 1876 graduation picture from Manchester High School. She is the subject of this article.

I purchased a photograph on eBay being advertised as “CDV Photo ID’s Maria Annan Stevens 1878 wife of George, Manchester New Hampshire.” I presumed that the ID was correct, the reverse side of the photograph only had “Maria Stevens” written in an old cursive font. I noticed it was Colby Photographers but didn’t inspect the photograph beyond that detail.

I began to research Mary (Annan) Stevens, and had gathered a great deal of information on her but mostly on her husband, George Stevens, who was a civil engineer and architect in Manchester NH. It made for a great story. And then I took a moment to look again at the photograph. This time I noticed that the back shows “Class of 1876” Manchester N.H. Having seen this notation before, I realized that the photograph was a high school graduation photograph of Maria Stevens in 1876. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire Stereoview, Landscape and Portrait Photographer: John Gilman Ellinwood of Manchester (1844-1924)

Posted on 7 October, 2019 by Janice Brown

Portrait of John G. Ellinwood, photographer. Manchester Historic Association, Manchester NH. Used with permission.

If you are a peruser of early Manchester New Hampshire photographs, no doubt you have seen his work. Known usually as “J.G. Ellinwood” John Gilman Ellinwood was born on 12 November 1844 in Deering NH, son of John B. & Leonora (Alcock) Ellinwood. John’s father was a grocer and trader while in Manchester NH. It is not known how or exactly when John became interested in photography and who he apprenticed with but very probably it was while living in Manchester.

In 1860 he was living in Hillsborough, Hillsborough Co. NH with his parents along with siblings Marcus, George, and Emma. Within a few years his family had moved to Manchester NH and he moved with them. By 1869 he was already in a business partnership with Charles McClary, as Ellinwood & McClary. They took some of the earliest stereoview photographs of Manchester scenery (in addition to that of surrounding towns such as Francestown and Concord. [Editor’s note, Ellinwood & McClary took a photograph of Fanny (Favor) Morse who was 100 years old in March of 1869 and who died in December of the same year].

Continue reading →

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More Lost Faces of WWI: American Nurses Who Died in Europe

Posted on 30 September, 2019 by Janice Brown

Two years ago I first wrote about the “Gold Star” Nurses of World War I–the women who sacrificed their lives during war time. I have selected from that list women who have not formerly been written about–or at least it seems their story is not easily discovered. I will also share their FACES with you so that their story goes beyond dates and places.

In this story I focus on:
. Frances BARTLETT, died Oct. 16, 1918, in France. Home: Andover, Maine
. Caroline H. CHRISTMAN, died October 6, 1918 in France. Home: Providence, Rhode Island
. Charlotte A. COX, died Sept. 28, 1918, in France. Home: Gormania, West Virginia
. Nellie M. DINGLEY, died 28 August 1918 in France. Home: Ashland, Wisconsin
. Helen FAIRCHILD, died Jan. 18, 1918 at Base Hospital #10, France. Home: Watsontown, Penn.
. Katherine E. GREENE, died Oct. 22, 1918 in France. Home: Philmont, New York
. Katherine HOFFMAN, died Sept. 20, 1918 in France. Home: Queen City, Missouri
. Alice A. IRELAND, died Feb. 3, 1918. Base Hospital, Unit #34, France. Home: Media, Penn.
. Miss Kathryne JOYCE, died Sept. 27, 1918 in France. Home: Pittsburg, Penn.
. Francis W. MOESCHEN, died Sept. 7, 1918 in France. Home: New York City
. Louise SEYMOUR, died Oct, 10, 1918, in France. Home: Middleboro, Mass.
. Margaret W. WORTH, died Oct. 23, 1918, in France. Home: Cresskill, New Jersey Continue reading →

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New England Poetry: The Last Day of Summer

Posted on 23 September, 2019 by Janice Brown

–THE LAST DAY OF SUMMER–

To ZEPHIRA.
Come hither, come hither, my May-day queen,
The last day of summer is here;
But weep not,–nor sigh, for merry old Time
Will bring us another year.
Yet ’tis hard to part with the joy of one’s heart,
Though there’s something that heart to cheer. Continue reading →

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