Gertrude R. Ingraham

Gertrude R. Ingraham

• Father: Frank A. Ingraham b. February 1861, d. 7 January 1934
• Mother: Ellen A. Taylor b. August 1866, d. 1 April 1946

• Gertrude R. Ingraham was born in October 1886 in New York.
• Frank A. Ingraham and Ellen A. Taylor appeared in the New York state census of 16 February 1892 in Jamestown, Chautauqua County, New York. Other members of the household included Gertrude R. Ingraham.
• Frank A. Ingraham and Ellen A. Taylor appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Oil City, Venango County, Pennsylvania, at 35 Main Street. Other members of the household included Gertrude R. Ingraham, Francis Bernard Ingraham.
• She married Francis A. Shafer, son of Jacob Shafer and Mary (?), on 26 June 1907 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, at Sacred Heart.
• Francis A. Shafer and Gertrude R. Ingraham appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Hornell, Steuben County, New York, at 29 Ransom Street. Other members of the household included Gertrude E. Shafer and Francis A. Shafer.
• Francis A. Shafer and Gertrude R. Ingraham appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Hornell, Steuben County, New York, at 36 Washington Street. Other members of the household included Gertrude E. Shafer, Francis A. Shafer and Genevieve Shafer.
• The following appeared on 11 May 1921 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: Hornell Children Noted Musicians. Cildren of Mr. and Mrs. Schafer Win Laurels in Musical Circles. The following interesting item concerning the talented children of Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Schafer of Hornell appeared in the Hornell paper, April 19th. Mrs. Schafer was formerly Miss Gertrude Ingraham, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Ingraham, of No. 1557 Willow avenue, this city:
       Hornell is proud of the Schafer children--Gertrude, Francis and Genevieve. If they were in a larger city they would be a sensation.
       These children were born geniuses of music. They can sing and play various instruments equally as well. They are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Schafer, of 36 Washington street.
       They are much in demand where local entertainments are held. Last night they were featured on a bill staged by the Erie Frieght Club of Hornell.
       Professor James Wiley, who has been instructing little Francis on the violin, declares that he will be the greatest on the violin that Hornell has ever turned out. "He possesses an almost uncanny ear and adaptability for the violin," he says.
       In a week's training they could be featured on any big time vaudeville circuit--so many and varied are their talents and accomplishments.
       But when you hear them you learn a lesson each time. To those who sing and "vocalize" for their own amusement it teaches nothing, but to those who are inclined to become a Caruso, a Schumann-Heink, an Antonio Scotti, a Janet Spencer or a Leo Slezak, give it up unless you can warble "cards and spades" around little Gertrude--which would be hard to do.
       Another lesson it teaches--what can be accomplished by children given proper discipline, proper atmosphere, environment, all to the end of guiding their little minds into the proper channels. Music must naturally be born with one, but parents can all make little geniuses if they focus and concentrate their attention upon the little ones at home.
       Hornell is proud of the Schafer children.
• Francis A. Shafer and Gertrude R. Ingraham appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Hornell, Steuben County, New York, at 48 Washington Street. Other members of the household included Francis A. Shafer, Genevieve Shafer and Ruth Virginia Shafer.
• Francis A. Shafer and Gertrude R. Ingraham appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Hornell, New York, at 48 Washington Street.
• The following appeared on 2 April 1946 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: [Died] Suddenly at the home of her son, Mr. Frank B. Ingraham, 429 Fourth street, April 1, 1946, Ellen A. Ingraham, mother of Mrs. John Wood and Mr. Frank B. Ingraham of this city and Mrs. Frank A. Shafer, of Hornell, N. Y. Sister of Mrs. A. H. Harrison of Jamestown, N. Y. and Charles Taylor of Hampton, Virginia. Funeral from the Garner Funeral Home, Weston and Eighteenth St., Thursday at 9:30 a.m. and 10 o'clock at Sacred Heart church. Interment in Gate of Heaven cemetery.
• Gertrude R. Ingraham died on 14 July 1959 at age 72 in Hornell, Steuben County, New York.
• Francis A. Shafer became a widower at her death.

• Last Edited: 5 Jan 2016