Historic Hood River
Newton Family and Friends
1-7-2020
Notes
The reverse of this unusual picnic scene says, “Taken on our lawn 1905, Dell M. Newton.” We have a list of most of these folks, though it’s a bit hard to read all of them. In addition to the Newtons, the Davidson and Chipping families are in attendance. You may recognize Horatio Davidson as the tall man in the back row and Ella May Davidson as the tall woman in the back row.
I think Dell Newton was one of the children when this photo was taken at his family’s home.
L.E.
The 1900 census shows a Dell M Newton age 29 married to Abraham Newton. They live on River Street in HR. Dell is short for Adele. They have one daughter Lena age 8. Ten years later they have a son Paul.
By 1920 the family has moved to Eugene. Abraham’s 1924 obituary in the Eugene newspaper says he was the superintendent of the Eugene Fruit Growers Association. He came to Eugene 16 years ago from Hood River. He is survived by wife, Mrs. Dell Newton, son Paul and daughter L. McCoy.
L.E.
In 1900, William and Maude Chipping are living in Illinois, but in 1910 they are living at 802 Oak St. He is listed as "Superintendent Electric Lpit Co".
Daughter Annamae would have been 4 years old in 1905.
L.E.
I wonder who the grandma is and if she needed help getting up.
Deanna H Huston
Grandma does not look happy.
nels
Arthur, can you see what’s on the menu there for this picnic?
nels
Granma had to have been born in the 1830 – 40’s. She had to have lived thru some trying times, including probably the Civil War and the Depression of the 1890’s. I’d have limited smiles if I lived thru all that too. Including cooking this picnic on a wood stove. Plus how many of those people are her offspring? Just admire those people and what they had to do to just survive.
ArthurB
It’s a bit hard to identify all the foods, but I can say for sure there was watermelon (with lots of seeds), at least 2 frosted layer cakes, 1 maybe strawberry shortcake (no whipped cream?), slices of a heavy bread, jam, a stack of maybe English muffins or something similar, wedges of some sort of melon, cookies, a pie, and some apples. Also a small plate of what looks like chicken, and maybe some small potatoes. It looks like a pot luck I once threw where everyone but one person brought dessert.
L.E.
Lydia Newton was born in 1847. In 1861 she married Payton Davidson. In 1900 they are living in Hood River.
Not sure how Lydia is related to Abraham.
LMH
You are looking at some of the upper echelon of society in Hood River in 1905. Mr. Davidson just six months earlier had taken over the Hood River Electric Light and Power Company with W. H. Chipping tagging along.
ArthurB
According to the notes, "Grandma" is "Grandma Childers." WH Chipping is just to the right of Grandma, with Maude Chipping two to the left of Grandma.
L.E.
I wondered if the grandma could be Julia Childers, mother of Mary Davidson, but she looks older than 61, the age of Grandma Childers in 1905.
Another photo of the Davidsons and Grandma Childers.
https://www.hoodriverhistorymuseum.org?showimage=1237
You are right nels….she was born in 1841 and married during the civil war in 1864.
Is Charles Davidson, father of Ella May, Horatio, and Maude Chipping, in this photo?