For-Mar Nature Preserve

Made a short visit to For-Mar Nature Preserve in Genesee County.  Had a nice walk of about 4 miles, even though a third of the trails were not accessible due to construction.  And I was able to visit the barriers free tree house that was featured on the “Treehouse Masters” TV show back in January of this year. Not to mention a sighting of a wolverine and some OSU fans.

Muriel Grey Thomas – Part 2

“Gaga” was born 122 years ago today, November 11th 1895.  A couple more pictures to share.  I found a school picture of her when she was about 6 years old when she was living in Hammonds Plain, Nova Scotia.  There are 41 people in the picture and 34 names written on the back by someone.  I’ve included a scan of the picture and the back of the picture.  There appear to be many cousins also in the same school with the last names of Haverstock, Melvin, Romans and Eisenhauer.  I have my genealogy work cut out for me with this information.

I think Muriel would be the girl to the farthest right in the picture with the long dark hair, and the girl behind her would be her older sister Louise (who Jim thinks looks like Bev).  Her younger sister Olive does not appear to be in the picture.

Thomas family_0001Thomas family_0002

I have been able to connect with a man named Tom Crease from Canada who is a grandson of Muriel’s sister, Louise Chester Thomas who married Frederick Crease on September 14, 1915.  Below are a couple pictures he was able to share.

Here is a picture with Muriel and Frank Davenport with their two oldest daughters Olive and Lois who were both born in Canada.

Muriel Davenport_0001c1

Here is a picture I am guessing with Muriel and her two sisters and her dad Louis Nathaniel Thomas.

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Finally here is a picture with Muriel and I am guessing her two sisters.  Her dad passed away in 1951 and her mom in 1948.  If she was there for a funeral she would be in her mid-fifties and she looks older than that to me.  Her sister Louise passed away in 1966 and Olive was still alive in 1977 so I am guessing this is sometime between 1951 and 1966.

Muriel Davenport_0001c3

Muriel Grey Thomas – Part 1

Affectionately known as Gaga to our family, Muriel Grey Thomas was born on November 11, 1895 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.  She had an older brother Louis Chester Thomas born in 1893 and a younger sister Olive Antoinette Thomas born in 1897.

Muriel Grey (Thomas) Davenport

She married Frank Howard Davenport on June 24, 1919 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They had six children in all.  Olive Anne (b.1920) and Lois Mary (b.1921) in Canada, Barbara Grey (b.1922) and Marion Ethel (b.1925) in North Dakota, and Frank Howard (b.1929) and George Thomas “Mickey” (b.1933) in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

Below is a wedding photo I found that was about 2″ diameter at most and mounted in a small jewelry like frame.

I believe that would be Muriels parents Louis and May Thomas on either side of them and I would guess Olive Thomas her sister standing behind her mother and I have no idea of the other two, but the young boy in front sure looks like he is having fun.

Next is a family portrait with all six children.

Marion_Lois_Olive_Barb Frank2_Muriel_Tom_Frank1

I believe standing are Marion, Lois, Olive and Barb and in front are Frank II (Dad), Muriel, George Thomas (Mickey) and Frank I.

And here are a couple more Grandma pictures:

The picture on the left is Mary Esther (Magill) Mead and Muriel and on the right is Muriel and Great Grandma Nora.

Aren’t grandma’s the best!