Monday, October 28, 2013

1899 Graduation Photograph of Helen Hanson Merrill, Salem High School, Salem, Massachusetts


1899 graduation photograph of Helen Hanson Merrill from Salem High School, at Salem, Massachusetts.  The photograph was taken by the studio of W. G. Hussey of Salem.



From online research, hopefully correct: [corrections and additions welcome!]

Helen Hanson Merrill (1880-1952) was born 1 July 1880 at Salem, Massachusetts, the daughter of Samuel S. and Mary Elizabeth (Fielden) Merrill, who were born at Hallowell, Maine, and Great Falls (now Somersworth), New Hampshire, respectively.

Helen's paternal grandparents were William Patch Merrill and Martha Castland (Averill) Merrill.  Her maternal grandparents were Thomas and Mary (Hanson) Fielden.

On 3 October 1908 at Salem, Massachusetts, Helen married Bangor, Maine, native John Ernest Chalmers (1880-1934), son of Charles L. and Hannah P. (Phillips) Chalmers.  John Ernest Chalmers also had Averills in his maternal line.  Charles L. Chalmers operated a hardware store at Bangor, Maine, for many years.  

After their marriage, Helen and John Ernest lived in New Jersey and then at Auburn, Maine, where John was a lumber dealer.  They had, I believe, a daughter and two sons.

This photograph was found with many others of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine people and scenes.  

It's tempting to think that the woman pictured in the snapshot below, identified as HHM and taken on March 18, 1917, was Helen Hanson Merrill, but Helen would have been married to John Ernest Chalmers by that date.  But perhaps the person who wrote the identification grew up with Helen and used her old initials.  What do you think?



If you have corrections and/or information to share, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

View Larger Map

No comments:

Post a Comment