Very little is known about our great-grandmother's early life, but Mary was born in Denmark, most likely in Copenhagen. My only clue as to her parents' names at this time are Jens Sorenson for her father, and Mary, no maiden name, for her mother. I believe that she emigrated to the United States when she was quite young, possibly as early as 1876.
It is unclear where Mary would have settled first following her immigration. She most likely married our great-grandfather James Henry Day in eastern Oregon in about 1885. Three children were born there, including a baby who died in infancy. The family moved to Watsonville, California in the early 1890s, and lived in various towns in the Bay Area before moving on to Los Angeles. Another daughter was born in California in 1899.
Mary was widowed at the age of 36, and married a local carpenter, Isaac Spencer, in Whittier the following year. She took care of her former mother-in-law, Ellen Day Williamson, for many years before Ellen's passing in 1916. A son, Albert, was born in 1905. Sadly, this marriage was to end in divorce. Mary married again in 1920 to a widowed real estate agent named George Hinckley Powers.
I have two separate affidavits Mary gave in a couple of court cases concerning family members. Her grasp of English was excellent, and she signs her name in strong, elegant penmanship. My mother had happy memories of spending time at her grandmother's house, and remembered her being loving and attentive, as well as an expert pastry chef.
Rest in peace, dear great-grandmother.
It is unclear where Mary would have settled first following her immigration. She most likely married our great-grandfather James Henry Day in eastern Oregon in about 1885. Three children were born there, including a baby who died in infancy. The family moved to Watsonville, California in the early 1890s, and lived in various towns in the Bay Area before moving on to Los Angeles. Another daughter was born in California in 1899.
Mary was widowed at the age of 36, and married a local carpenter, Isaac Spencer, in Whittier the following year. She took care of her former mother-in-law, Ellen Day Williamson, for many years before Ellen's passing in 1916. A son, Albert, was born in 1905. Sadly, this marriage was to end in divorce. Mary married again in 1920 to a widowed real estate agent named George Hinckley Powers.
I have two separate affidavits Mary gave in a couple of court cases concerning family members. Her grasp of English was excellent, and she signs her name in strong, elegant penmanship. My mother had happy memories of spending time at her grandmother's house, and remembered her being loving and attentive, as well as an expert pastry chef.
Rest in peace, dear great-grandmother.
Very little is known about our great-grandmother's early life, but Mary was born in Denmark, most likely in Copenhagen. My only clue as to her parents' names at this time are Jens Sorenson for her father, and Mary, no maiden name, for her mother. I believe that she emigrated to the United States when she was quite young, possibly as early as 1876.
It is unclear where Mary would have settled first following her immigration. She most likely married our great-grandfather James Henry Day in eastern Oregon in about 1885. Three children were born there, including a baby who died in infancy. The family moved to Watsonville, California in the early 1890s, and lived in various towns in the Bay Area before moving on to Los Angeles. Another daughter was born in California in 1899.
Mary was widowed at the age of 36, and married a local carpenter, Isaac Spencer, in Whittier the following year. She took care of her former mother-in-law, Ellen Day Williamson, for many years before Ellen's passing in 1916. A son, Albert, was born in 1905. Sadly, this marriage was to end in divorce. Mary married again in 1920 to a widowed real estate agent named George Hinckley Powers.
I have two separate affidavits Mary gave in a couple of court cases concerning family members. Her grasp of English was excellent, and she signs her name in strong, elegant penmanship. My mother had happy memories of spending time at her grandmother's house, and remembered her being loving and attentive, as well as an expert pastry chef.
Rest in peace, dear great-grandmother.
It is unclear where Mary would have settled first following her immigration. She most likely married our great-grandfather James Henry Day in eastern Oregon in about 1885. Three children were born there, including a baby who died in infancy. The family moved to Watsonville, California in the early 1890s, and lived in various towns in the Bay Area before moving on to Los Angeles. Another daughter was born in California in 1899.
Mary was widowed at the age of 36, and married a local carpenter, Isaac Spencer, in Whittier the following year. She took care of her former mother-in-law, Ellen Day Williamson, for many years before Ellen's passing in 1916. A son, Albert, was born in 1905. Sadly, this marriage was to end in divorce. Mary married again in 1920 to a widowed real estate agent named George Hinckley Powers.
I have two separate affidavits Mary gave in a couple of court cases concerning family members. Her grasp of English was excellent, and she signs her name in strong, elegant penmanship. My mother had happy memories of spending time at her grandmother's house, and remembered her being loving and attentive, as well as an expert pastry chef.
Rest in peace, dear great-grandmother.
Inscription
Mother Dear
Mary E. Powers
1866 - 1936
In Loving Memory
Family Members
Spouses
Sponsored by Ancestry
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