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Birthplace ~
Cambria, New York
The Sutherland sisters were born in the town of
Cambria, on what is known as the Sutherland farm,
near the city of Lockport, Niagara County, New York,
a few miles east of Niagara Falls.
They are all members of the Protestant Episcopal
Church, having been confirmed by Bishop Cox, of
Buffalo, and when at home are under the pastoral
care of Doctor Foster Eley, rector of Grace Church,
Lockport City.
Lockport, New
York
Lockport became a town during the construction of
the Erie Canal and the Lockport Locks ( 1821-1825).
In 1865, Lockport became a boom town and had grown
to over 20,000.
Lockport Locks
1879
Mules were used
to tow
the canal barges
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The first superhighway in the world !!! The
Lockport Locks scaled 60 feet above the Niagara
escarpment connecting the Midwest & Lake Erie,
across the Appalachians, to the Hudson River, to the
east coast & New York City; a total of 350 miles.
The original cost of the Erie Canal (latter
 renamed
as the Barge Canal) was $7 million dollars,
equivalent to 4 billion in today's money. The
locks and the canal system was improved several
times over the years, and was used commercially into
the 1950s.
Vital Statistics
|
name |
birth |
death & age |
buried |
|
Sarah Naomi |
1845 |
Sept. 9, 1919
74 yrs |
A |
|
Victoria |
1849 |
May 25, 1902
53 yrs |
B |
|
Isabella (or Isabel) Cooley |
1852 |
Dec. 1, 1914
62 yrs |
A |
|
Grace |
1854 |
Jan. 13, 1946
92 yrs |
A |
|
Naomi |
1858 |
July 13, 1893
35 yrs |
A |
|
Dora "Kitty" |
1858 |
|
|
|
Mary Fletcher |
1846 |
May 12, 1939 |
A |
Charles Carrol
Sutherland
(Brother) |
1852 |
|
|
Rev. Fletcher Sutherland
(Father)
Son of Col. Andrew Sutherland & Naomi Cooley |
March 1, 1816, in Cambria, New York |
1888 |
|
Mary Brink Sutherland
(Mother)
Married circa 1843 |
|
|
|
Col. Andrew
Sutherland
(Grandfather) |
|
|
|
A- Glenwood
Cemetery
Lockport, Niagara County, New York, USA.
B-
Forest Lawn Cemetery
Buffalo, Erie County, New York, USA
|
 Naomi
Sutherland passed away in 1893;
four years before the New York Hair Grower
photo (below) was taken. Miss Anna
Roberts (right) took Naomi's place.
Exhibit of the Most Beautiful Hair in the
World produced by the use of the
SUTHERLAND SISTERS HAIR GROWER AND SCALP
CLEANER,
in New
York, May 24th, 1897.
Photo taken
in NY, by Siegel Cooper Co. The girl's
parents are at right.
|
"The Seven Wonder
Sisters"
In New York City, the beginning of December, 1880,
the Wonder Sisters launched their career
showing off their long tresses and vocal talents.
The following summer the Sisters toured the Southern
States as far south as Pensacola, Mobile, and New
Orleans. Their popularity grew... no pun
attended :-)
Pennsylvania | Indiana | Indiana Weekly Messenger,
The | 1883-11-14
Mary Fletcher
Sutherland
Now this is strange, I received the following about
Mary. How can Mary spend her time locked up in
her room and at the same time operate a business
with her sister? Maybe it will make sense
later on. -Webmaster
. . . . . . . .
Mary was the youngest and she was considered
mentally ill. She would have "spells" and the
family would lock her in her bedroom. Mary
lived in the Sutherland Mansion most of her adult
life. She and her sister Grace then lived with
their nephew, Harry Bailey in Buffalo, where Mary's
condition worsened. She was committed to the
State Institution for the insane in Buffalo, NY
where she died on May 12, 1939. She is buried
at the Glenwood Cemetery near the Castlemaine
Mausoleum in Lockport, NY.
Newspaper
Articles
Texas | San Antonio | San Antonio
Light, The | 1947-11-16
Pennsylvania | Titusville |
Titusville Herald | 1966-07-22
Pennsylvania | Titusville |
Titusville Herald | 1973-10-12
Lethbridge Herald, The, May 13, 1939
  During
the late 1800's and early 20th century, the Seven
Sutherland Sisters, of Lockport, New York, were a
illustrious act of singing sisters with the
Barnum & Bailey Circus (c. 1892-1907.)
The Sisters were more known for their exceptionally
long hair than for their musical talents.
The Sister's collective length of hair reached
thirty seven feet! Apart from stepping on each
other's hair, they were also successful in selling
their HAIR GROWER and SCALP CLEANER, until the bob
style become vogue after World War I.
Signs of the times... to
bad, so sad :-(
 Caption
reads...
Oh! Where is your hair? When the barber
bobbed your hair, did your sentiment cause
you to treasure the shorn locks? If so, just
imitate Estelle Clark and make a wonderful
braided belt. The fad is spreading like
wild-fire. |
Below, is an envelope locally mailed and canceled on
April 30, 1936, Toronto 2, Ontario, Canada.
The advertisement is on the backside.
SEVEN
SUTHERLAND SISTERS
193-195 SPADINA AVE.
TORONTO 2 -
CANADA
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Is the Sister's
Hair Grower Tonic Valid?
|
NOT INHERITED
Sutherland Sisters' Beautiful
hair produced by using tonics
Massachusetts | North Adams |
North Adams Transcript, The | 1899-06-05
|
I have found many
websites which tag the Sister's tonic as "snake oil"
and nothing more than hair
quackery, all without supporting
evidence or
rationale.
At this time, I cannot
find the the Sister's Hair Grower tonic
recipe. Some say the recipe was lost when a
fire destroyed their home in 1938. I have
searched the
US
Patent Office filings and found nothing in the
Sister's, business or Bailey's name.
But, I did
find a common ingredient in most tonic formulas--
boiling of roots and/or vegetables, and the use of
alcohol. I make soap, and most books I use
tell about a process called "infusion."
Infusion is a very old method of extracting
nutrients and from plants into a broth, or into an
alcohol (or oil)
tincture. The method is similar to
steeping leaves into a tea.
There are conflicting
opinions about the loss of
vitamins using boiling type infusion. In
any case, whatever
nutrients do survive remain in the broth.
Alcohol acts as a preservative. But I also
found that alcohol also acts a transdermal carrier,
like
DMSO. For example, alcohol is used in
skin patches to help transport drugs through the
skin into the blood stream.
I found a few articles
that touch base with the ingredients of the Sister's
Hair Grower. The Sister's tonic is made
mostly of "vegetable preparations" and "alcohol."
Which make sense, because it is something that can
be grown in the garden and mixed together, simply at
home. Before the Hair Grower business,
Sisters used a hair ointment, and the kids at school
would complain about the smell (The Seven
Sutherland Sisters by Clarence O. Lewis, 1991,
pg.10.)
|
Gleaner, The
Thursday, August 07, 1947 Kingston, Kingston
|
|
|
Winnipeg Free Press Saturday, July 20, 1968
Winnipeg, Manitoba
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
"Emu
oil is used topically on the scalp. Studies
and clinical experience show that it helps
prevent hair loss and stimulates hair growth
and hair follicles." |
There is a new
science/study called
Nutrigenomics. The study explores the
relationship between
genetics and nutrition. If this is true.
If
genetics can be modified by nutrition, then the
Sister's tonic is valid. What are the odds of
having six out of seven Sisters with floor length
hair? And, one of the six is likely adopted?
(1865 Census reported Isabella was adopted, Id.
at pg.32)
Emu oil is also a transdermal carrier, a
transporter. Emu oil is very effective, has no
side-effects, and helps improve circulation.
So far I have not found any specific
information using Emu oil, mixed with a wide
spectrum, cellular ready, liquid vitamin and
ionic mineral supplement, as a
topical hair grower.
There are products that
contain Emu oil with other ingredients to help
arthritis and skin problems. There are Emu oil
shampoos and scalp creams. Emu oil alone can
help stimulate hair growth. But I believe,
used topically as a transdermal carrier for
vitamins/ionic minerals will far exceed
expectations.
First as singing
amateurs ~ before their claim to fame
Before the Sisters showed off their hair, they were
well known in their local area as the "Sutherland
Concert of Seven Sisters, and one Brother"
Opinions
of the press....
"Naomi's voice was extraordinary." At 13 years
old she sang low bass, solo:
-
Who Treads the Path of Duty
Sarah sang Scotch and English songs as high soprano,
solo:
-
On the Rhine, That Ancient River
Victoria, Isabella, and Grace sang as trio:
Sutherland Pets
 This
is an unusual portrait of the sisters. Yes,
they are the Sisters. On the backside is the
list of their names. Anyhow, you can see a dog
sitting at the bottom right of this image. The
Sutherland Sisters had many pets. They were so
heartbroken when one of their dogs passed away.
They spent $500 for their dog's funeral. The
dog in this image appears to be a pug.
Rising star
The Observer -
UK
Mika Rottenberg, artist
Emma Love
Sunday October 8, 2006
Rottenberg, 29, won the inaugural Cartier Award at
this year's Frieze Art Fair for a film piece - a
movie trailer based on the true story of seven
American sisters with record-breaking long hair who
made a fortune with an anti-baldness cure....
Frieze Art Fair,
featuring the Frieze Projects in association with
Cartier, is held in Regent's Park, London, 12-15
October
 And
don't forget Alyssa, Mika's assistant.
 Sutherland
Hair Grower Sales
Continued Through
April 30, 1936
Mary and Grace were still alive and in business
selling their hair "fertilizer" through '36.
Dora ran the Canadian branch in the 20s out of
Buffalo, New York
Dora's Hair Fertilizer Mailer & Advertisement
Contributed by Robert Coutts
1886
|
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Demonstrations,
Consultations, Engagements & Tours
demonstration AND
"7 sutherland"
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Alberta
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Lethbridge Daily
Herald, The
April 3, 1918
 |
|
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California
|
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Oakland Tribune
Tuesday, May 30, 1899 Oakland, California
LINK
ERROR
San Mateo Times
Friday, October 20, 1961 San Mateo,
California
Oakland Tribune
Sunday, August 10, 1924 Oakland, California
|
Oakland Tribune
Saturday, May 20, 1899 Oakland, California
Fresno Morning Republican, The
Monday, October 03, 1910 Fresno, California
|
Oakland Tribune
Sunday, February 06, 1916 Oakland,
California
Fresno Morning Republican, The
Thursday, October 14, 1915 Fresno,
California
Consultation by Grace Sutherland
Fresno Morning Republican, The
Friday, October 22, 1915 Fresno, California
Demonstration by Grace Sutherland
|
Oakland Tribune
Sunday, October 27, 1912 Oakland, California
Oakland Tribune
Sunday, October 31, 1915 Oakland, California
Consultation by Grace Sutherland
|
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Colorado
|
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Greeley Daily Tribune, The Tuesday, August
17, 1920 Greeley, Colorado
Naomi Sutherland
Greeley Daily Tribune, The
Friday, July 02, 1920 Greeley, Colorado
Dora
Sutherland
|
Greeley Daily Tribune
Friday, July 16, 1920 Greeley, Colorado
Greeley Daily Tribune, The
Saturday, August 14, 1920 Greeley, Colorado
Isabella Sutherland
|
Greeley Daily Tribune, The
Tuesday, July 06, 1920 Greeley, Colorado
Sara
Sutherland
Greeley Daily Tribune, The
Wednesday, August 11, 1920 Greeley, Colorado
Victoria Sutherland
|
Greeley Daily Tribune, The
Tuesday, February 17, 1920 Greeley, Colorado
Greeley Daily Tribune, The
Saturday, March 13, 1920 Greeley, Colorado
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Connecticut
|
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Bridgeport Standard Telegram
Friday, March 07, 1919 Bridgeport,
Connecticut
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Bridgeport Standard Telegram Saturday,
February 15, 1919 Bridgeport, Connecticut
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Bridgeport Standard Telegram
Friday, February 28, 1919 Bridgeport,
Connecticut
|
Connecticut | Bridgeport | Bridgeport
Telegram, The | 1924-04-01
|
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Georgia
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Earliest known articles ~ before the
Sister's hair tonic !!!
Saturday, October 29, 1881 Atlanta,
Georgia
Tuesday, November 22, 1881 Atlanta,
Georgia
Thursday, November 24, 1881 Atlanta,
Georgia
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|
Atlanta Constitution, The Sunday, March 11,
1894 Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta Constitution, The
Sunday, January 03, 1909 Atlanta, Georgia
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Georgia | Atlanta | Atlanta Constitution,
The | 1894-03-04
Atlanta Constitution, The
Tuesday, August 29, 1899 Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta Constitution, The
Sunday, April 22, 1900 Atlanta, Georgia
|
Thursday, August 17, 1899 Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta Constitution, The Sunday, March 04,
1894 Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta Constitution, The Sunday, March 11,
1894 Atlanta, Georgia
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Illinois
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Daily Republican, The
June 12, 1895
Decatur, Illinois
 |
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Indiana
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Fort Wayne Weekly Gazette Thursday, June 11,
1891 Fort Wayne, Indiana
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Iowa
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Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, Wednesday,
June 27, 1894 Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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Iowa | Des Moines | Des Moines Daily News |
1898-10-10
 |
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Maine
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Daily Kennebec Journal Thursday, September
02, 1920 Augusta, Maine
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Manitoba
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Manitoba Free Press Saturday, January 11,
1919 Winnipeg, Manitoba
Winnipeg Free Press Saturday, July 20, 1968
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Manitoba Morning Free Press Saturday,
February 07, 1920 Winnipeg, Manitoba
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Manitoba Free Press
Friday, September 05, 1924 Winnipeg,
Manitoba
Manitoba Morning Free Press
Friday, October 08, 1909 Winnipeg, Manitoba
Manitoba Morning Free Press
Saturday, January 31, 1920 Winnipeg,
Manitoba
Manitoba Morning Free Press
Tuesday, November 03, 1914 Winnipeg,
Manitoba
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Manitoba Morning Free Press
Monday, July 30, 1906 Winnipeg, Manitoba
Manitoba Morning Free Press
Monday, July 21, 1913 Winnipeg, Manitoba
Manitoba Free Press Saturday, February 08,
1919 Winnipeg, Manitoba
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Manitoba
Free Press Saturday, February 01, 1919
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Manitoba Free Press
Saturday, January 24, 1920 Winnipeg,
Manitoba
Manitoba Free Press
Friday, February 07, 1930 Winnipeg, Manitoba
Manitoba Morning Free Press
Saturday, September 15, 1906 Winnipeg,
Manitoba
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Missouri
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Moberly Evening
Democrat, August 1, 1900
 |
Moberly Monitor-Index,
September, 21, 1920
 |
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Montana
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Helena Independent, The Friday, October 26,
1883 Helena, Montana
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Nebraska
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Nebraska State Journal, The
Thursday, March 27, 1902 Lincoln, Nebraska
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Nebraska State Journal, The
Sunday, June 25, 1899 Lincoln, Nebraska
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Lincoln Daily News
Monday, August 05, 1912 Lincoln, Nebraska
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Lincoln Evening News
Monday, March 28, 1910 Lincoln, Nebraska
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New
Hampshire
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Portsmouth Herald, The
Saturday, December 30, 1899 Portsmouth, New
Hampshire
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New
Jersey
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Trenton Evening Times
Wednesday, July 06, 1921 Trenton, New Jersey
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Trenton Evening Times
Friday, July 15, 1921 Trenton, New Jersey
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New York
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Syracuse Herald, The
Wednesday, May 21, 1919 Syracuse, New York
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Syracuse Herald, The
Friday, June 13, 1919 Syracuse, New York
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Kingston Daily Freeman, The
Tuesday, September 25, 1923 Kingston, New
York
Syracuse Herald, The
Tuesday, May 27, 1919 Syracuse, New York
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Post Standard, The
Sunday, April 08, 1900 Syracuse, New York
Syracuse Herald, The
Sunday, February 05, 1911 Syracuse, New York
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Ohio
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Steubenville Herald-Star
Tuesday, June 21, 1898 Steubenville, Ohio
Times Democrat, The
Friday, January 26, 1900 Lima, Ohio
Steubenville Herald-Star
Thursday, June 23, 1898 Steubenville, Ohio
Newark Daily Advocate
Thursday, June 29, 1899 Newark, Ohio
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Times Recorder, The
Tuesday, May 06, 1924 Zanesville, Ohio
Newark Advocate, The
hursday, February 08, 1912 Newark, Ohio
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Elyria Republican, The
Thursday, December 20, 1883 Elyria, Ohio
Portsmouth Daily Times, The
Thursday, August 12, 1909 Portsmouth, Ohio
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Newark Daily Advocate
Friday, June 03, 1898 Newark, Ohio
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South
Dakota
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Daily Huronite,The
Thursday, May 26, 1910 Huron, South Dakota
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Daily Huronite,The
Saturday, May 28, 1910 Huron, South Dakota
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Texas
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Galveston Daily News, The
Thursday, February 15, 1900 Galveston, Texas
Galveston Daily News, The
Sunday, January 21, 1900 Galveston, Texas
Galveston Daily News, The
Thursday, March 22, 1900 Galveston, Texas
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Galveston Daily News, The
Sunday, December 27, 1903 Galveston, Texas
Galveston Daily News, The
Thursday, February 22, 1900 Galveston, Texas
Galveston Daily News, The
Sunday, February 18, 1900 Galveston, Texas
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Galveston Daily News, The
Tuesday, December 22, 1903 Galveston, Texas
Galveston Daily News, The
Sunday, March 11, 1900 Galveston, Texas
Galveston Daily News, The
Tuesday, January 30, 1900 Galveston, Texas
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Galveston Daily News, The
Thursday, March 08, 1900 Galveston, Texas
Galveston Daily News, The
Tuesday, February 27, 1900 Galveston, Texas
Galveston Daily News, The
Sunday, February 25, 1900 Galveston, Texas
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Utah
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Ogden Standard, The
Saturday, July 10, 1909 Ogden City, Utah
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Washington, D.C.
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Washington Post, The
Sunday, May 24, 1908 Washington, District Of
Columbia
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Wisconsin.
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Daily Gazette, The
Friday, September 15, 1899 Janesville,
Wisconsin
Waukesha Freeman, The
Thursday, July 05, 1900 Waukesha, Wisconsin
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Daily Gazette, The
Wednesday, September 27, 1899 Janesville,
Wisconsin
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Janesville Daily Gazette
Saturday, October 25, 1919 Janesville,
Wisconsin
Sara
dies Sept 4 and leaves $5,000 to Grace, Dora
and Mary
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Script for Amazon context links.