Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Cabinet Photograph of "Uncle Frank Elwell, Gramp's Brother from N. Paris", Maine; by a Mechanic Falls, Maine studio

Cabinet photograph of a man identified on the reverse as Frank Elwell. The photograph was taken by the Bridge studio of Mechanic Falls, Maine.

Reverse:  For Mrs. Addie E.  Uncle Frank Elwell, Gram's Brother from N. Paris, Me.
Frank may have been Frank J. Elwell, born about 1858, son of Albion Parris Elwell and Lydia (Keene) Elwell.  Albion Parris Elwell was an Oxford County native, which might bring in the "N. Paris" connection.

This Frank appears to have been married multiple times, with his first marriage and fourth marriage to Julia Offen:
  1. Julia Offen in 1883 in Boston
  2. Emma Bourassa in 1895 in Lisbon, Maine - who indicated she was a widow
  3. Emma Shaw in 1901 in Brunswick, Maine - adopted by Shaw; perhaps related to Emma Bourassa
  4. Julia (Offen) Dow in 1909

There's an intriguing, short article in the November 20, 1872 of the Bangor Daily Whig and Courier, presumably a reprint from another publication, about a lad named Frank Elwell, age 12, missing from Mechanic Falls, with the suspicion of foul play.  If our Frank, he came through his ordeal.

A reader feels that Frank was a different person. I think this is Benjamin Franklin Elwell, a farmer in Paris, Oxford County, Maine who signed his name as Frank on some of his kids' records. Married to Mabel Paine. His only son (Bernard) died before marrying. His daughters married as follows: Lester & Alberta Morgan, Henry & Della Billings, John & May Jordan, Robert & Inez Haldane, Stanley & Vivienne Sturtevant, Mardaunt & Marjorie Rowe.

If you have more information on Franklin J. Elwell or Benjamin Franklin Elwell, or if you feel that Frank is a different person, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

2 comments:

  1. I think this is Benjamin Franklin Elwell, a farmer in Paris, Oxford County, Maine who signed his name as Frank on some of his kids' records. Married to Mabel Paine. His only son (Bernard) died before marrying. His daughters married as follows: Lester & Alberta Morgan, Henry & Della Billings, John & May Jordan, Robert & Inez Haldane, Stanley & Vivienne Sturtevant, Mardaunt & Marjorie Rowe.

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