This photo appeared of David D Williams recently. I had a very small copy of the same photo attached to a family pedigree sheet. Here is a copy of that pedigree that belonged to my Grandmother, Gladys Maxine Donaldson Ross. The other photos on the pedigree I have also match. I was pretty excited when this one showed up in better and higher resolution than the one on the family group sheet.
Pedigree of David Delos Donaldson
My Grandma would not have known David as he passed away in 1911. I have previously written on David D Williams and Gwenllian Jordan. For a quick updated, David D Williams was born 12 November 1832 in Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, Wales. He joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in August 1848. He saved and emigrated to Utah in 1864. He married his wife on board the the ship, General McClellan, docked at Bramley-Moore Dock in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. He and Gwenllian Jordan settled in Ogden, Weber, Utah. They had 10 children of which Mary Elizabeth Williams (1869 – 1951) is my Great Great Grandmother. David passed away 27 November 1911 in Ogden. He was buried 2 December 1911 in the Ogden City Cemetery. He and Gwenllian do not yet have a tombstone, something I hope to correct.
In a photo album that belonged to my Great Grandmother, Berendena Van Leeuwen Donaldson (1898-1959), are these unknown photos. Hopefully someone may recognize one or two of them. I can tell some of them have Donaldson or Van Leeuwen relations, but I don’t know each are to name or upload to FamilySearch. Your help would be appreciated. I numbered the photos to help identify which is which if you have information to share with me or in the comments.
2
3
4
5
6 a Van Leeuwen boy? Herman?
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14 (believed to be Cora Biddulph Van Leeuwen)
15 (believed to be Cora Biddulph Van Leeuwen)
16
17 (Dena in the middle?)
18
19 (Dena in the middle?)
20 (Dena on the right?)
21 Maybe Dena and Dora Donaldson?
22 definitely a Donaldson on the farthest left, might be my Great Grandpa David Delos Donaldson on right
23
24
25 a dock somewhere in California?
26
27 another dock in California?
28 building says Virginia Court. Address or Courthouse?
I have previously written of George and Minnie Van Leeuwen. In that post, I shared a copy of the photo I received from the records of the Utah State Hospital. That photo was not dated, so I don’t know when it was taken. Here is the photo I received from their records. It was a photostatic copy and not very high quality.
Photo from George’s Utah State Hospital file
Now I am happy to report that a family member obtained access to the Utah State Hospital file directly and obtained a copy of the photograph in the file. As you can see, the quality is 100 times better than the photostatic copy of the photograph that was provided to me by mail. The personality, the life, the lines, are much more able to be seen than before.
Here is some of what I wrote before.
Gerhardus Hendrik Van Leeuwen (who went by George Henry in English) was born the fourth of nine children to Gerrit van Leeuwen and Elsebina Maria Catharina Weenig on 16 October 1856 in Oldenzaal, Overijssel, Netherlands. I have written of them at this link: Van Leeuwen-Weenig Wedding. He was a carpenter by trade, on the finishing side. He would also tune and service organs. After moving to the United States, he worked as a finishing carpenter.
You can read more of his family at the link above. But some additional notes.
Five children in back (l-r): Minnie, Annie, Elsie, George and Jane. Second row: George, Dena, Hermina. Front: Mary and Herman.
It was about 1885-1886 when George incurred a head injury. My Great Grandmother, his daughter Dena Donaldson, indicated he fell from a ladder. Other siblings reported to descendants that he was struck in the head with a board. This is believed to be the reason why the family moved back to Arnhem, that due to his inability to work, this may be the reason they returned to Arnhem to be near family and rely on them for help.
The family then moved back to Amsterdam perhaps in pursuit of employment again. It was in Amsterdam that the Van Leeuwens met with missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. George and Minnie were both baptized 4 June 1887. The story goes that George saw some men running down the street with people chasing them. Concerned for their safety, he pulled them into his home. He learned they were Elders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The missionaries taught the Van Leeuwen the gospel and helped them convert leading to their baptism.
A sponsor from Ogden, was to meet the family at the train depot in Ogden. But no one was there when they arrived. A man by the name of Mr. Dalbout, saw their plight, and he invited the family to go home with him. There was no place to stay for a long period, so they converted a chicken coop into living quarters. This is where the family waited until George could join them. She took in laundry from other families to support themselves until he arrived.
According to George’s 1932 death certificate, he suffered from epilepsy with psychosis for 45 years. That would predate his immigration to the United States. His mental health could have become an issue when immigrating, and it may have been easier if Minnie and the children had gone first and established their new home. That may have enabled George to follow the next spring without risk of having the family turned back. Epilepsy had a stigma of illness that the family had to deal with, everything from wickedness to a contagious disease. This way, only he could potentially be turned away from entering the county. The plan was that with the family already in Utah, he would be permitted to join them in Utah. George arrived 21 March 1889 in New York City, New York on the S.S. Veendam having left Rotterdam.
George’s head and mental injuries continued to worsen as the years passed. The family either had to keep him safe during a fit and keep him calm to keep from inducing a fit. By the time 1911 rolled around, the family could no longer deal with his mental condition on their own. Dena referred to her “Daddy” as tender and sweet and then at the switch he would become angry and threatening. He had made enough threats and raised enough raucous that neighbors called the police. George was committed to the Utah State Mental Hospital in Provo, Utah, Utah in 1911. The family tried to get him out and succeeded. Unfortunately, he lost control again and ended up spending the rest of his life in the mental hospital. The family would drive down nearly every weekend to pick up “Daddy” and keep him for the weekend before taking him back. By the mid 1920’s, they could not even take him home on the weekends his condition was that poor and uncontrollable.
George died 5 January 1932 in Provo, Utah, Utah. He was buried 3 days later beside his wife.
Ellis Donaldson, Gertrude Shaefer, and George Beck
Another one of those stories that are snippets of time but teases the sentiments from the heart’s strings. A story from a century ago of a life taken too early.
Joseph Ellis Donaldson went by Ellis his whole life. Not sure why, but his parents called all their sons by their middle name. Ellis was born 28 August 1896 in Park City, Summit, Utah. He is the brother to my David Delos Donaldson. I have written of their family and their relationship with the railroad and finding their way to Ogden, Weber, Utah.
In their time in Ogden, the Beck family had also moved there from Cheyenne, Laramie, Wyoming with the railroad. One of those boys was George Carl Beck. George was born 8 April 1896 in Cheyenne. Ellis and George became friends. The photo above includes Gertrude Shaefer who was one of their friends as well.
Ellis Donaldson and George Beck
George registered for the draft on 5 June 1917 in Ogden. Blue eyes, light hair, medium build, and medium height. He was then a private in the Utah National Guard and had been for 1 month. He was an electrician working for Dr. Fredrick Vining Fisher.
George Carl Beck
While in the military, he learned how to fly an airplane. He was in the Army 361 Aero Sqadron Air Service based out of Salt Lake City. Commissioned 22 April 1918. George went to Camp Mills in Mineola New York where he learned to fly at Roosevelt Field. He also acquired a Bachelor of Arts. For a time he worked for Ogden Picture Corp doing “moving picture.” George even took Ellis for a flight on at least one occasion.
Ellis Donaldson and George Beck
I am not clear on what happened or whose plane he was in. Ellis simply wrote for the above photo, “Ellis Donaldson and my boyhood buddy Lt. George C. Beck. Killed in plane tragedy summer 1919–Salt Lake.” George died 21 June 1919 in Salt Lake City. George’s death certificate states the cause of death, “Fracture at base of skull (Accidental– Airplane fell to earth)” The death certificate states he was an “Aviator” working for J. Gilmer, apparently he was no longer in the military. Aged 23 years, 2 months, 3 days. His father was the informant for the information on the death certificate.
The tragedy of a life cut short strikes me. Ellis’ short comment highlighted buddy and plane tragedy. John Greenleaf Whittier comes to mind, “For all the sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, ‘It might have been.'”
Another one of those stories. Genealogy I am doing it. Due to my efforts, family and others dump other photos in my lap. Here is another one of those photos.
Scanning more photos that belonged to my Uncle and Aunt Dave and Betty Donaldson I stumbled upon this photo. I recognized Delos Donaldson and wondered about these other people. Who are/were they? Why a photo? Why a train car? Where?
Turn it over and someone felt to record the information, which is somewhat unusual.
Back of above photo
20 September 1916 – Green River, Wyoming
Mr. J. C. Bloomer Water Foreman U.P.
Miss Thelma Bloomer
Miss Annie Bloomer
Mr. David D. Donaldson
I did a little research to find these individuals and additional information.
John C Bloemer, born 30 December 1869 in Germany, died 9 January 1947 in Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri, buried St. Mary Magdalene, Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska. He was widower, met and married Annie Cecile Brass 5 August 1919 in Kansas City, Missouri. Interesting Delos would list her as Miss but with his last name. Were they holding out as husband and wife, then why the Miss? Annie was born 1870 in Missouri and died February 1938 in Kansas City.
Thelma Katherine Bloemer was born to John and Franciska 7 October 1903 in Cheyenne, Laramie, Wyoming and died in 2000 in Ogden, Weber, Utah. She married twice to Donald Doctor McGuire and later to Daniel George Thinnes.
I assume the U.P. above is Union Pacific, not clear what a Water Foreman does, if that was irrigation, city, or train related.
Here is another photo in the group. This appears to be the same day with the train and shirt. We now know it is likely Green River, Wyoming.
David Delos Donaldson
David Delos Donaldson, born 26 March 1894 in Evanston, Uinta, Wyoming, died 24 September 1953 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.
I previously wrote about this photo of David Delos Donaldson and another unknown kid. The back of the photo had a name written on it but the name was very difficult to read. It appeared to be Roberty Rindly. I searched around for Rindley, Rindly, Kinsly, and Kinsey but nothing matched up enough to really be certain.
Then came another one of those blessings from heaven that helps things become more clear. The above photo was one my Dad had in a number of Donaldson photos and pictures.
After my Great Aunt Betty passed away, the Donaldson photos her and Dave had came into Dad’s possession. Included in those photos was this one.
David Delos Donaldson
My heart jumped when I saw the photo as I knew I had the other one. I located the photo with Roberty and sure enough, it was the same day based on dress and look. I had initially guessed Delos was about 12 years in the photo, which put it about 1908. As I worked more through the stack of photos that Betty left behind, I stumbled upon this photo in the same stack dated 1908.
David Delos Donaldson, 28 May 1908
This photo shows a much larger and older Delos Donaldson on 28 May 1908. If this is a 14 year old Delos in 1908, then the other photo must be more of a 10 year old Delos about 1904. Roberty appears to be a year or two younger, so I was guessing about 8 years old.
Then came the clue I needed to break the case and tie down the last name. This photo was also among the photos.
Chick Kinsey
The circular photo above appeared very reminiscent of the previous two. There might have been a chance they were taken the same day. The back of the photo clearly showed Chick Kinsey. I thought that this could be a relative to the other boy and the last name was Kinsey rather than anything else. He appeared to be several years older than Delos.
I started researching and knew I might have two brothers who somehow knew Delos. I then found the two brothers who fit.
Robert Charles Kinsey, born 8 June 1898 in Shoshone, Lincoln, Idaho. On the 1900 Census, his family was still living in Shoshone. However, on the 1910 Census Robert Kinsey was living in Harrisville, Weber, Utah. The right vicinity to have any contact or communication with Delos Donaldson. His father, Henry, was a farmer in 1900 but in 1910 was a real estate salesman. Robert was in Seattle when he was drafted in 1917. But the clincher was his brother Charles R Kinsey, born 18 March 1890 in Shoshone, Idaho, who had the nickname Chick. The ages of Delos, Chick, and Roberty all linked well and were in the same town for the limited years in age for Delos these could have been taken.
Chick died unmarried in Seattle, King, Washington on 22 January 1921. As far as I can tell, he was unmarried. Roberty married and died 19 June 1980 in Montclair, Los Angeles, California. As far as I can tell, Roberty had 2 children.
Of interest, two other photos were in the bunch.
David Delos Donaldson and Unknown
Delos Donaldson and Edward Leroy Higgins
I don’t know the relationship or the purpose of this photo with Edd (back of the photo says Edd Higgins). He was born 12 August 1890 in West Jordan, Salt Lake, Utah and died 6 August 1976 in Abilene, Taylor, Texas.
What more little miracles might still be coming? I worry that every passing year and change in ownership of photos the chances decrease. Hopefully we can find them before the time is too far spent.
I have shared this photo before, but working through some old photos, it struck me again.
This is the twins, Dena and Dora Donaldson, on the far left. I cannot tell which is which in this photo, they are hard to tell when it is clear. Dena (1920 – 1992) and Dora (1920 – 2001) were beautiful identical twins.
My Grandmother, Gladys Maxine Donaldson (1921 – 2004), stands next to the wheel of the car. Even though he picture is fuzzy, I can tell it is her from the characteristics that show. Her very presence just seems to pull me in as my Grandmother. It probably isn’t the same for other people, but this is my Grandma. With any good Grandmother, they pull your heartstrings in love.
Maxine was born in 1924, I presume this photo is taken before then. I guess Grandma is about 2 years old, putting this photo somewhere in 1923. Dena and Dora could be 4, Grandma 3, so maybe 1924, but Maxine was born in August 1924 and Dena doesn’t appear to be pregnant. This appears to be a summer or fall photo.
This photo is taken at the home at 629 8th Street in Ogden, Utah. Very, very early days for this part of Ogden.
I wish I had a better copy. I wish the family still owned the car. But I am grateful to have the photo we do have.
I previously wrote about pictures of my Great Grandparent’s home at 629 8th Street in Ogden, Utah. Recently, working through some of Dave and Betty Donaldson’s photos, these three appeared. I thought I would share these, even though I don’t think they add much more in explanation of the history.
629 8th Street, Ogden, Utah
David Delos and Berendena Van Leeuwen Donaldson lived in this home from the early 1920s, maybe even from construction, until after 1935. My Grandmother, Gladys Maxine Donaldson, was likely born in 1920 while the family lived in this home. At the post above, there is a photo of all 5 Donaldson children sitting on the front porch.
629 8th Street, Ogden, Utah
The home is still there and apparently updated and remodeled as of 2017. My Grandparents, Milo James Ross and Gladys were married in this home in 1942.
629 8th Street, Ogden, Utah (with trees and garden)
Sagacity 