This is part of the "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks" Challenge begun by Amy Johnson Crow, author of the blog No Story Too Small.
This is a photo of Mary Albertina Engle and her twin brother, Charles Albert Engle. It was included in Cynthia Maria (Waterman) Webster's photo album. That's the amazing photo album I shared recently here on my blog. To see this album, click HERE and HERE.
Cynthia was my 2nd great-grandmother, and the wife of my 2nd great-grandfather, Ebenezer Perry Carlisle Webster, who was a Civil War veteran.
This is the page from Cynthia's album where this sweet photo was found. As you can see, Chas & Mamie Engle is written at the bottom of the page. Mary also went by the name of Mamie.
Mary and Charles were born on 20 June 1864 in Chesterhill, Morgan, Ohio to their parents, Richard Engle and Sarah Amanda Waterman. Richard Engle served in the Civil War.
Today' I'd like to focus on Mary's life. I'll write about her twin brother, Charles, in the future.
As I already mentioned, Mary was born on 20 June 1864. This was two days after her father, Richard Engle, was discharged from Company G, 63rd Ohio Infantry. On the same day he was discharged, he re-enlisted with the 7th Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps.1 Did Richard make it home in time for the birth of Mary and her twin brother, Charles?
Sometime before 1880, the Engle family moved from Ohio to Barclay, Black Hawk, Iowa.2
On 1 November 1882, at 18 years of age, Mary Albertina Engle married William G. Ellis in Black Hawk County, Iowa.
Mary and William were the parents of one child, a daughter named Mary Luella Ellis, who was born on 21 December 1884 in Black Hawk County, Iowa.
Sadly, Mary Albertina (Engle) Ellis passed away on 13 January 1885, in Poyner, Black Hawk, Iowa, just 3 weeks and 2 days after she gave birth to little Mary Luella. Mary Albertina was 20 years old at the time of her death.
William was then left a widower with a very young baby. I don't know who took care of little Mary Luella following the death of her mother.
William was to suffer another tragedy not too long after the death of his wife Mary. His young daughter, Mary Luella Ellis, passed away on 28 August 1885 at 8 months of age.
Mary Albertina and her daughter Mary Luella are both buried at the Poyner Township Cemetery in Poyner, Black Hawk, Iowa. They are both buried in the same lot.
If you'd like to see Mary Albertina's memorial page on Find A Grave, click HERE. And if you'd like to see Mary Luella's memorial page on Find A Grave, click HERE. Both of these memorials have a photo of their beautiful grave marker, with close-up views of the grave marker inscriptions for both Mary Albertina and Mary Luella.
Thanks for reading!
Jana
© 2014 Copyright by Jana Last, All Rights Reserved
1 Richard Engle's Civil War Pension File↩
2 Year: 1880; Census Place: Barclay, Black Hawk, Iowa; Roll: 327; Family History Film: 1254327; Page: 358A; Enumeration District: 041; Image: 0338.↩
That photograph is darling - I love that they are dressed exactly like little adults! How sad that Mary (and her daughter) died so young.
ReplyDeleteThank you! They are dressed like little adults aren't they? And such serious expressions on their faces! Yes, it's so very sad that Mary and her daughter died so young. It must have been so devastating for her husband. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteSuch a sad story, but it is wonderful that you have that lovely early photograph of the twins. I look forward to reading about Charles.
ReplyDeleteHi Sue,
DeleteIt really is so sad that Mary and her daughter died so young. I'm so glad that this amazing photograph has been kept all of these years. And that my 3rd cousin let me scan it when we visited her. Thanks for stopping by!
What cute kids! And what a short life for poor Mary Albertina.
ReplyDeleteMost of my old photos of kids show them standing on chairs. I wonder why that was. Couldn't the photographer adjust his camera??
Hi Wendy,
DeleteI wonder why the kids stood on chairs too. Maybe it was easier for the photographer. I don't know. Oh well. I'm just glad the picture was taken. Based on the serious looks on their faces, it may not have been very fun for these little guys to have their picture taken. =) Thanks for stopping by!
Jana - What a lovely post but such a sad ending. I hope William found some happiness after so much loss in his life. Are Mary and her twin brother great great aunt and uncle to you?
ReplyDeleteHI Cindy,
DeleteMary and her twin brother Charles are my 1 cousins 3 times removed. Their mother, Sarah, is my 2nd great-grandaunt. Thanks for stopping by!