Merrils Donahe,
My Father

YE OLDE DONAHE PHOTOS...
FROM THE ALBUM OF
JOHN DONAHE

 
Clarissa Haynes,
My Mother
Page 2 


YE OLDE DONAHE PHOTOS

                                

                                

                                


My father, Merrils Joseph Donahe, was born October 18, 1907 in Northfield, Minnesota. The family eventually moved to Perham, Minn., where his father, Joseph Lytle, died when he was 9 years old.

While in the 8th grade, Merrils started working on neighboring farms to help support the family. As a result, he never officially completed grade school.

He had told me that, prior to moving to Chicago, he worked by following the harvest from Texas to Canada by "riding the rails".

About 1926, he moved to Chicago where he met my Mother Clarissa Haynes, who was from Owensboro, Kentucky. They were married in Chicago August 21, 1937 where my sister Pat and I were born.



Click Here To Visit The Haynes Pages

 

                                

                                

MERRILS DONAHE

IN FULL UNIFORM

My father was a Motorman on the streetcars for The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). Those were in the olden days when the streetcars had a Motorman and a Conductor. The Conductor collected the fares and the Motorman drove the streetcar.

About 1948 - 1949. 		   I was so proud of him in his uniform; and would walk up to the corner to meet him when came home from work. Of course, he rode a streetcar home. He got to ride for free.

I remember onetime he gave me a book of transfers and a punch. I played with them constantly. However, my Mother wasn't too happy about all the chad I spread throughout the house. 

                                

All the Children 
All Seven Of Marie's And Joseph's Children.

Front From Left: Jessie, Marie "Tootie", Leslie, and Bernard.
Rear: Robert, Mabel "Bobbie", and Merrils.

Perham, Minnesota - 1912

 Confirmation
Conformation And First Communion

Robert, Merrils, and Bernard.

Perham, Minnesota - Abt., 1920


 		  

                                







"Huck Finn"

Merills dressed in his role as Huckleberry Finn for a school play in Perham, Minn.

About 1919-1920. 		 Merrils
All Dressed Up.



 		  
  mer_4  This photo of Merrils may have been
taken when he was following the harvest,
prior to 1927. 
a_les_2.jpg
Merrils' Brother Leslie
About 1920 		 Jesse
Merrils' Sister Jesse
About 1921 		 Bobbie
Merrils' Sister Bobbie (Mabel)
1930s?


 
fam30_1
Bobbie, Jesse, Merrils, Tootie, and Leslie 		 a_bern
Bernard and Wife Thelma

 		  
fsm30_2
Merrils, Leslie, and Bernard

 		 Merrils, Bernard with goat
Bernard and Merrils got somebody's goat. 		  
 
Merrils and Joe
Merrils and His Half-Brother Joe.
Taken at Joe's home in Janesville, Wisconsin. 		 Merrils and Leslie
Merrils With His Brother Leslie.  		  
 
Bernard and Grandma Bernard-Navy     
2ND WORLD WAR!

Uncle Bernard Home On Leave.
 

Top Row:
1. Grandma Donahe (Marie) and Uncle Bernard.
2. Aunt Bobbie, Aunt Thelma (Bernard's Wife), Uncle Bernard, and Grandma.



Bottom Row:
3. Merrils, Aunt Bobbie, and Uncle Bernard.
4. Merrils, Aunt Thelma, Grandma, and Aunt Bobbie.

These photos were taken outside of Grandma's apartment building in Chicago. 		  
  Merrils    

                                                                            

                                                                            


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