Jesse Arnold and the ASA

Jesse Arnold was an early member of the Avicultural Society of America (ASA). (Pictured at left is William Sheffler skinning a parrot.)

The Avicultural Society was founded in 1927 in New York. Over the next couple of years, its membership increasingly shifted to Southern California because the climate was more favorable for rearing and breeding exotic birds like parrots. In 1931 this new society had an exotic bird show in Long Beach, California where Jesse ("Jess") Arnold lived. Jesse and many other Southern California members of the association organized this show and exhibited their birds there. Many members bred parrots and parakeets; some members were active capturing live birds in Mexico for museum specimens and for captive breeding.

During the bird show, a group of officers of the society went to Catalina Island to visit the newly opened Catalina Bird Park. Jess was a Vice President at the time. This picture was taken on the island during the 1931 officer's visit.

From Left to Right: Jesse H. Arnold, Lee S. Crandall, Andrew G. Orear, William H. Browning, Charles C. Broadwater, and Leon Patrick

Jesse H. Arnold was a Vice President; Lee S. Crandall (author of "The Management of Wild Animals in Captivity" 1965) was a Vice President and Curator of Birds at the Bronx Zoo; Andrew G. Orear was on the Board of Trustees; William H. Browning was President; Charles C. Broadwater was on the Board of Trustees; and Leon Patrick was a Vice President. For more biographical information on members from 1931 see this spreadsheet (pdf; excel).

The second photo was taken in approximately 1936, at an Avicultural Society Meeting. Of particular interest are the inclusion of many women as early members of the society:

We know the identities of eight people in the photo:
1. Jesse H. Arnold
2. George D. Simpson
3. William J. Sheffler
4. Charles C. Broadwater
5. Leon Patrick
6. Susan J. Tomlinson
7. Andrew G. Orear
8. William H. Browning

We think the following people may be in the photo as well:

• Mrs. Cerrena A. Black; proprietess of Latresa Pheasantry, Gardena, CA
  
• Mrs. Fannie W. Hood; husband a salesman of oil pumps
  
• Mrs. Gertrude C. Behrens; husband an accountant
  
• James C. Edwards; owner of Petland in LA, CA; 514 West Eight Street
  
• James Ewins; retired (bedding merchant in 1920)
  
• Dr. Clarence H. Heard; optometrist
  
• Gilbert C. Lee; President, Insto Company
  
• Karl L. Koch; Curator of Birds, San Diego Zoo
  
• Karl T. Plath; commercial artist; worked with Lincoln Park Zoo; first Curator of Birds at Brookfield Zoo
  
• Dr. Ralph A. Wood; physician?; real estate
• Frank Gambo; proprietor of pet shop
  
• Pompeo M. Maresi; lawyer
  
• Francis H. Rudkin Sr.; automobile dealer
  
• Harry M. Park; druggist with a pharmacy degree from USC; later the owner of pet supply company
  
• Hugh G. Bassett; editor, weekly newspaper
  
• Robert S. Dorris; building contractor
  
• Robert J. Van Drimlen; Proprietor of Van Drimlen's Bird Farm, Santa Ana, CA
  

If you can recognize any of these people in the photo, please let us know!

In around 1928-32, William Sheffler organized a trip to Sonora, Mexico to collect live bird as well as museum specimens. On this trip, the expedition visited Rancho Guirocoba ("Buzzard Head Ranch"), owned at the time by James McCarty.

Seen in the above photo are from Left to Right: Ira D. Putnam, Glenn F. Purvine, Jesse H. Arnold, Jim McCarty, William J. Sheffler, Andrew G. Orear, Dr. Nevall R. McCoy. The bird in the cage is a Military Macaw.

Rancho Guirocoba was an important base of operations for Zoologists and Botanists who worked in Sonora from 1920-50. You can read more about the Ranch in Boy's Life Magazine (1953). McCarty was an iconic figure: a wonderful biographical portrait of him was published in 1950 in Robert T. Moore's "Descent into the Barranca del Cobre" (Natural History vol. 49 issue 10, pp. 440-445, 473-74; Dec. 1950)

Courtyard of Rancho Guirocoba; McCarty seated with Members of His Family

Wonderful Photos from Cousin Tom

One of my father's cousins recently shared some wonderful early photos of the Hinkson-Houghtaling family that (with his permission) I am making available to other relatives who are searching for early photos. The first is of Mary Jane (nee Proverbs) Hinkson, the mother of Gertrude Hinkson. Mary Jane was born in Barbados in 1821, and came to the United States in 1873, shortly after her husband's death (Samuel Gibbs Hinkson) in 1872. You can read his will in a previous post. Prior to coming to the United States, she lived on a small sugar plantation in Market Hill. She was born in St. George parish on the island, and her family (the Proverbs) had been on the island for numerous generations. She died in 1891 in Iowa. The photo below appears to be pre-1874 as it was taken in the West Indies. For those interested in early photography studios in the West Indies, here is another early portrait by the same photographers.

The second photo is of Mary Jane's son Charles Theodore Hinkson ("Uncle Charlie") who moved to the United States with Gertrude and died in Iowa in 1942. I am not sure who the baby is in the photo, but perhaps one of his descendants knows?

A big thanks to Tom for sharing these photos!

Houghtaling Family Reunion (1907?)

Below are some family photographs from a Houghtaling Family Reunion ca. 1907. Identifications were made by Mary Hill during interviews with my father Stevan Arnold in 1988.



1 Frank Campbell
2 Pauline Carmichael
3 Jenny Houghtaling
4 Ollie Houghtaling
5 Art Houghtaling
7 Sidney Fry
8 Earl Campbell
10 Dick Houghtaling = Knonely Francis Houghtaling
12 Frank (Bill) Houghtaling
13 Willard Warren, Jr.
14 Winne Campbell Moffett
15 Daisy Houghtaling
16 Gertrude, Cecily's daughter
17 Irene Carmichael
18 Cate Clark
19 Bertha Houghtaling
20 Silvia Hinkson
23 Lottie Hinkson
25 mother of Fry brothers = ?
26 Mable Houghtaling Bidelman
27 Mable Houghtaling Bidelman's daughter, Mary Bidelman Nine
29 Nola Houghtaling
30 Theron Jay Houghtaling
32 Harry Jay Houghtaling
33 Ethel Hinkson Grayson
35 Cecily Houghtaling Knee
36 Lotttie Houghtaling
37 Cora Houghtaling
38 Mary Elizabeth (Bessy) Hinkson Edy
39 Marriette Houghtaling Campbell
42 Blanche Edy Warren (Bessy's daughter)
43 Blanche Warren (Bessy's grand-daughter)
44 Gertrude Hinkson Houghtaling
45 Helen Houghtaling
46 Willard Warren
47 Charlie Hinkson (Uncle Charlie)
48 William Ephraim Houghtaling
49 Willie Wilbur Houghtaling
50 Selina Hinkson
51 Charles Bidelman
52 Mary Bidelman (Mary Nine)
53 Harry Jay Houghtaling
54 Gladys Anderson

Grandma Mary Hill (Audio)

In 1988, Stevan Arnold recorded his grandmother, Mary Eslie Hill (1899-1996) talking about her family photographs and her memories of her family history. Mary was not the youngest of her siblings, but she lived the longest. I remember visiting her house in Iowa with my father the summer before I began graduate school (1990), and Mary was remarkably independent and a wonderful storyteller. She was still making quilts, and while they weren't as elaborate as the ones she had made in years past, they were better than any quilt I ever made. She also had a vast collection of hand bells and owl figurines, both of which she claimed she had started collecting by accident, almost as a joke. The apex of the collection was a small hand bell in the shape of an owl.

I am working on uploading a complete soundfile of the first session by father made with Mary. In the meantime, here is short clip of her describing the day her younger sister Helen was born in 1905.

Will of Samuel Gibbs Hinkson

Will of Samuel Gibbs Hinkson
(Document in Department of Archives, Bridgetown, Barbados; transcribed from a copy by Stevan J. Arnold and Laura A. Leibman on 11 May 2010)
No. 63
Entered 23 August 1872
$2.80

Barbados. 14th June 1872. I Samuel Gibbs Hinkson of the Parish of Saint George and Island abovesaid. … do make/publish ordain and declare this to be my last will and Testament in manner and form following. That is to say – I direct all my just debts, funeral and … expenses to be fully paid and satisfied as soon as possible after my death. I give and bequeath unto my wife, Mary Jane Hinkson, all and every my household furniture Plate and Phaeton; for the term of her life. And at her death to be for the use and benefit of my unmarried daughters. And it is my desire, she shall have a horse from the Estate when ever Convenient, for her own private use and my unmarried daughters. I give and bequeath to my Son Samuel Gibbs Hinkson my silver watch and gold chain and key, and it is my desire that the said watch and chain and key shall not be given over to him until the death of his mother. Whereas I hold a judgment and execution bearing date 22nd March 1862 – Against one Eliza Busby of the Parish of Christ Church for the Sum of Eighty Three Pounds Six Shillings, and nine pence sterling16 … It is my express wish and desire that this sum be kept in reserve at interest for the benefit of my four youngest children to wit: Isadore Gertrude May Hinkson, Evaline Blanche Theodore Hinkson, Lilian Louisa Hinkson and Ethel Rosalie Hinkson one fourth of said principal sum to be paid to each of my said four children on her attaining the age of twenty one years – but should either of my said four children die under age – leaving lawful issue, then and in such case, Such Issue shall stand in the place of his her or their respective parent or parents and be entitled to and take that part – share or proportion, To which Such parent of parents would if living have been entitled, And should either of the above named four children die under the age of Twenty one years without leaving lawful Issue, her or their share, part or proportion to be equally divided between the Survivor or Survivors share and share alike. Whereas my expectancy or expectancies under the will of my deceased Brother, George Brereton Hinkson, I direct such money or monies to be kept in reserve and placed at interest by my executix or executors hereinafter named to be dealt with, as the before named account eighty three pounds Six Shillings and nine pence sterling for the benefit of my herein before named four youngest children Isadore Gertrude May Hinkson, Evaline Blanche Theodore Hinkson, Lilian Louisa Hinkson and Ethel Rosalie Hinkson, share and share alike, and the receipt of such child or children though under age shall be an sufficient discharge for the payment of the said Interest and should either of the above named four children die before the division of such money, his or their share part or proportion to be equally divided between the Survivor or Survivors Share and Share alike, the Interest accruing from such money, and not Required for Immediate use I direct it to be collected by my Executrix or Executors herein after named, and dealt with in such manner and to such extent as may appear to them to be the best. I direct that all the monies due and owing to use at the time of my death, be collected as soon as possible by my Executrix or Executors herein after named or either of them and be applied by them to the payment of such debts as I may be owing at my decease, in Such manner and to such extent as may to them appear best. Whereas I am the owner of a small Sugar Plantation, in the Parish and Island aforesaid, called “Market Hill”, it is my wish and desire the said plantation be kept in due cultivation and proper order, and be a house for my wife during her life, and for my unmarried daughters, and should my wife die before my youngest daughter, Surviving her, shall attain the age of eighteen years, then the said Plantation shall remain as a house for my unmarried daughters, and should my youngest daughter die before attaining the age of eighteen years, I direct my Estate to be kept in due and proper cultivation until this latter period but should by executrix or Executors think it necessary – for the Estate to be sold before this latter period it is my will and desire to do so, and give a free discharge to the purchases and proceeds thereof after payment of such debts, as may there be accruing from my estate shall be divided equally share and share alike between my children Selina Caroline Hinkson, George Brereton Hinkson, Mary Elizabeth Hinkson, Charles Theodore Hinkson, Anna Julia Hinkson, Francis Frederick Hinkson, Laura Lizette Hinkson, Samuel Gibbs Hinkson, Helen Alberta Hinkson, Isadore Gertrude May Hinkson, Evaline Blanche Theodore Hinkson, Lilian Louisa Hinkson and Ethel Rosalie Hinkson. And should either of these my said children have died before the period of such sale and division, leaving lawful issue, then such Issue shall stand in the place of such deceased parent or parents and shall be entitled to and take, share and share alike, the share or part or proportion to my said Estate to which his her or their such parent or parents would if living have been entitled, and should either of the above named children die without leaving lawful Issue, Their share part or proportion to be equally divided between the survivor or survivors.

Whereas I am the owner of two horses two Carts and two Cattle, it is my will and desire that the said Horses, Carts and Cattle, shall be kept on the Estate in proper working condition for the use of the Estate. I nominate and appoint my wife Mary Jane Hinkson my Brother in Law, the Reverend Benjamin Collins Norville , George Brereton Hinkson, and Charles Theodore Hinkson, Executrix and Executors, to this, my Will, hereby revoking all other wills by use heretofore made, and giving to my said Executrix and Executors Singly or Jointly to do, perform, and execute whatever maybe necessary to carry into execution, the provisions of said will, Whatever powers may by this document be required, for use to confer upon said Executrix and Executors, Singly or Jointly, As may to them appear best. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 14th day of June In the year one thousand and eight hundred and seventy two.
Signed sealed published and declared
By the Testator the said Samuel
Gibbs Hinkson and as for his last
Will and testament in the presence
of us – the undersigned, who in his
presence at this request and in the
presence of each other, have hereunto
set our witnesses thereto
Robert B. Toyer
John E. Wiles
Barbados In the Court of the Ordinary
This 23rd day of August, 1872

In the matter of the Will of Samuel Gibbs Hinkson deceased. Personally appeareth Robert Benjamin Toyer, and as living … saith I knew Samuel Gibbs Hinkson, he is dead I witness his Will and saw him execute it, the Will shown to use is the one I witnessed and the signature to it as one of the witnesses is my signature, at the time the Testator executed his Will, he as in a sound state of mind and fit to make a Will.
Robt. B. Toyer
--
R. Lawbert Greaves
Registrar
The above deposition sworn before use … letters testamentary issue
R. Bowther Clarke …


Sale of “Market Hill” in St George Parish and “Abingdon” in Christ Church Parish, 1874-6 (Documents in the Department of Archives, Bridgetown, Barbados; notes made by Stevan J. Arnold, 11 May 2010)

The sale of ‘Market Hill’ was conducted in two transactions. In the first, described in Deeds 350: 465, 1874, the estate is sold for 2400 Pounds to Joseph Thomas King. Two liens on the property; one for 541 Pounds + interest to Louisa Howard Evanson and a second for 416 Pounds + interest to a second party. The upshot of these liens is that King pays 1200 Pounds to Mary Jane Hinkson and Chas. T. Hinkson. The second transaction occurs in 1875 for reasons that I was unable to deduce by scanning the several page document, Deeds 354: 757. The transaction does describe ‘Market Hill’ as ’17 acres’ with buildings and ‘bounding on Groves Plantation, on White Cottage Plantation’ and also bounding on the lands of Mr. Shepard, Mr. Conney, Mr Thomas Walton, Mr. Thomas Parris and on a Public Road. The consequence of this transaction with J. T. King is that he paid an additional 212 Pounds to Mary Jane Hinkson and Chas. T. Hinkson.
Deeds 356: 7 describes the 1876 sale of “Abingdon” Estate, Christ Church Parish, which formerly belonged to George Brereton Hinkson, brother of SGH. The estate was ’14 acres and 3 rods of land’ and sold for 474 Pounds, the proceeds going to MJH and CTH and perhaps other parties as well.

Isadore Gertrude May Hinkson (1862-1944)

Isadore Gertrude May Hinkson Houghtaling (1862-1944) was born in Saint Joseph's Parish on the East Coast of Barbados (left). Later Gertrude lived at Market Hill Plantation. She came to the United States after her father Samuel Gibbs Hinkson died in 1872. (See next post for his will.)

One of the relics she brought with her from Barbados was a small bamboo box that she filled with mementos like family tin types, sea shells, seed pods, locks of hair, and other relics. My grandmother Liz has this box today.










Memory Box and Mementos

In 1885, she married Willie Wilbur Houghtaling (left) in Des Moines, Iowa. Here is their wedding certificate.

They had eight children, including my great-grandmother Mary Elsie Hill. In addition to an early photo of Gertrude, there are several photos of her at a family reunion in the 1930s.

Family Reunion 1930s. Gertrude Houghtaling's granddaughter Gertrude Guthrie (bottom row left) was named for her. My grandmother, Liz Arnold is on the bottom row, right. Her mother Mary stands behind Liz and next to her mother, Gertrude Houghtaling.

Are you related to Gertrude Houghtaling? Does anyone have any more information about Gertrude Guthrie, Dade's daughter?

Richard Eldon Arnold (1915-2007)

My grandfather, Richard Eldon "Dick" Arnold (1915-2007) was one of the funniest people I have ever known. He was also a complete neat freak: we often referred to his house as the "museum," both because it was so clean and tidy and because of all of his magnificent paintings that he displayed on a rotating basis (see some of his paintings below in the slide show).

Born in Iowa, he married my grandmother Liz in 1942. There is a wonderful home movie from near the end of the war that features not only Dick but also Liz, Buck (Dick's brother), and my father Stevan Arnold. After the war, Liz and Dick had three other children: Chris, Tim, and Elissa.

There is also a low resolution version

When I was a child, Dick worked as a graphic artist for a newspaper in L.A., but I remember him mainly as an artist. I loved to go into his studio and see what he was painting. The studio looks onto my grandmother's magnificent garden and reminded me of a tree house.

Do you have any memories or funny stories about Dick that you would like to share? If so, post them below in the comments!