I originally found a site for Shirley Hodges (When I searched for family names on Google) it took me to her roots web site; which after searching Rootsweb, led me to a site for yours and bsheldn601@rogers.com, which I've enclosed as an attachment. Since they all seem to be from the Anthes line, I "assume" you know them...are closely related???
My Mom remembers her great Aunt Dora & Uncle Archie, and her 2nd cousin Norma (although she doesn't remember a younger son Eugene), fairly well. She grew up in Buffalo, and has memories of them at holidays, etc. Basically they sound like women who were far ahead of their time...(I think Mom was a bit scared of her Aunt Dora). She described her as a bit of a rebel/black sheep of the family...She smoked cigarettes with those long fancy holders that were popular among certain women of the 1920's, but were considered taboo (or something done only by "fast" women) by many at that time. She described Norma as being "like a man"...a very confident, go getter type, who spoke her mind. She was apparently very smart, and confident...She worked her way up from being just a secretary to President of Smith Fence Company in Buffalo (which I guess went out of business in the 1980's). I guess the company was very generous to Norma...One Christmas they gave her a large holiday basket, including a smoked turkey, which she shared with her parents, and my grandparent's family for a Christmas dinner together. I have many photo's from that era, but my grandmother/great-grandmother never labeled them;So, I have no idea who they all are. Would you have any photos of your wife's g-g Aunt? Perhaps if I knew what she looked like-I could id her in our photos, and send them to you as well....Let me know.
As far as my family goes...Archie & his brother T.H (Thomas) emigrated to Buffalo in their teens. T.H. started a business manufacturing, and repairing bicycles...Archie worked in the business, and I think he may have rode (in a bicycle club) as well. They worked together until sometime after the turn of the century when T.H. changed his business to automobiles. Archie then did a number of different jobs, from sales, paperhanging, etc. I don't really know what happened...I guess he just wasn't in to selling or repairing automobiles, and wanted to try other things??? As far as I know they stayed close until my great-grandfather died of colon cancer in 1946. His wife, my great-grandmother, Gladys Emily Nicholls-Wilson, was from England; I guess she wasn't very friendly. People described her as being rather snobbish and aloof. So, I imagine that after T.H died, our families just drifted apart. They had two children together, Lois Viola Wilson, and her younger brother, Ralph Nichols Wilson.
Their son, My Mom's uncle Ralph, moved off to Ohio with his wife, Virginia (who's still living). They had two children Helen Wilson, and her younger brother Nicholas (Nick) Ralph Wilson (who are still living). My Great-grandmother wouldn't go to either of her children's weddings because she didn't approve of who they were marrying (which is all too common on my side). Apparently my Grandmother, Lois Wilson, was an executive secretary, at a large steel manufacturing company...The executive being a bachelor...but my grandmother was "taken" instead by my grandfather, Murray Marshall Knaggs, who worked in the companies offices. Apparently Murray's family had some wealth/connections...but they had lost it all during the Great Depression...So, her mother didn't approve. When my mom was born T.H. apparently threatened to leave/divorce his wife if she didn't "get over there and see that baby". By 1946, all within two year's time, my grandmother got very ill, and nearly died from spinal meningitis; then lost her youngest son, William, to pneumonia; and her father died, whom she was very close to. I guess she was devastated-especially by Billy's death, and was never quite the same. She became a bit distant, almost like her mother, after that. Another reason, I suppose, why the families grew apart.
Lois & Murray had two surviving children, my Mom, Joyce Ann Knaggs, and her younger brother Thomas Murray Knaggs (both of whom are still living). Mom, and my Uncle Tom, each had four children of which I am the youngest in my family. I seem to be the only one in my family who's interested in family history, thus far...So, not much has been done. I've only traced the Wilson side back as far as William and Ellen McAlpine. But according to another site which I've attached (Bsheldn@rogers.com/Daveanthes@juno.net), Ellen's parents were likely Donald McAlpine, and Elizabeth Ewing-McAlpine of Scotland. According to the 1881 Canadian census, T.H. and his sister, Lizzie, lived with the following McAlpine's: Household:
Name Marital Status Gender Ethnic Origin Age Birthplace Occupation Religion
Neil MCALPINE
Male Scottish 24 O Farmer C. Presbyterian
Elizabeth MCALPINE W Female Scottish 63 Scotland
C. Presbyterian
Margret MCALPINE
Female Scottish 25 O
C. Presbyterian
Elizabeth A. WILSON
Female Irish 12 O
C. Presbyterian
Thomas Henry WILSON
Male Irish 10 O
C. Presbyterian
Source Information:
Census Place McGillivray, Middlesex North, Ontario
Family History Library Film 1375905
NA Film Number C-13269
District 169
Sub-district D
Division 2
Page Number 10
Household Number 50
................................................................................................................................................................................................................. According to the sheldon site that Mr. Neil McAlpine had three children, named Russell, Ernest, and Laura....I also have my great-grandparents 1943 address book which lists both an Ernest and Russell McAlpine, & family, of Ailsa Craig...Likely Ellen's nephews! I still have to prove it all...but it's very likely the case if Mr. Sheldon's site is accurate.
I'll keep you posted....It's especially nice to hear from our "cousins"...If you have any other info on Dora, and her family, let me know...
All the Best,
Suzanne
sevansons@hotmail.com
More About Ann Dora Anthes and John Archie Wilson: Marriage: October 23, 1901, Buffalo NY USA.
Children of Ann Dora Anthes and John Archie Wilson are:
Ann Dora Anthes (b. September 27, 1874, d. October 25, 1961)
Notes for Ann Dora Anthes: