Ethelyn Violet Skinner was third daughter born to Myron and Edna (Southard) Skinner on 7 May 1898 in Portland, Maine. She was born at home at 41 Pitt Street in Portland where her parents were living at the time of her birth. She appears to have been happy as a child living at home in Portland with her family in photos.
  |
| Ethelyn on the left as an infant in 1898 with her mother and sisters, Alice and Bertha. Ethelyn age 4 in 1902 on right |
 |
Ethelyn and her sisters in 1902 in Portland,
Maine Bertha age 10, Alice age 6 and Ethelyn age 4
|
At some point in Ethelyn's childhood, she was taken in by
her adopted grandparents, John and Mary (Tibbets) Pease who had adopted her
mother, Edna. Ethelyn's daughter, Hilma
said that the Pease's were willing to only adopt and care for Ethelyn because
she reminded them of their adopted daughter, Edna. It may have been that Ethelyn's father knew
of his wife's unhappy childhood and adoption by the Pease's who only wanted to
adopt one of his daughters, that helped in the decision in keeping his four
daughters together and raising them himself.
There was a photo taken of Ethelyn as a child with the Pease's probably
taken soon after they arrived in Exeter, but it does not appear that she was
raised by them for any amount of time.
 |
| Mary and John Pease, |
She attended schools in Exeter. A diary kept by Ethelyn's oldest sister,
Bertha in 1913 paints a picture of Ethelyn and her sisters spending most of
their days doing chores and homework with little help from neighbors or family
with the family farm. A letter from
Ethelyn's uncle, George Skinner of Hyde Park, Massachusetts arrived that same
year asking if Myron would be willing to send one his daughters to live with
them to help with the household chores. None
of the girls ever left home as children to work elsewhere. She graduated from Exeter High School in
1917. She then took a teaching job in
New Sweden, Maine where many people of Swedish ancestry had settled. She resided with a family named Anderson
while teaching in Aroostook county and the woman who looked after her was named
Hilma. Ethelyn named her first daughter
after this woman who was so kind to her since it was her first time away from
her family and home.
 |
| Ethelyn 1915, Exeter, Maine |
 |
| Ethelyn about 1918 |
A postcard and a letter written to Ethelyn by Donald Smith
dated 1918 while he was stationed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts during World
War I shows she had already met her future husband. It is not known how they met exactly. His letter to her discussed the idea of her moving
to Corinna and earning more money by working in the mill there and to be closer
to her family. Ethelyn's sister, Bertha
began working in the mill in Corinna and had rented a room in Corinna with
their younger sister, Velma, who was attending school at Corinna Union
Academy. There had been contact between
Ethelyn's maternal biological family, the Southards who were also from Corinna
and it may have been through this connection that Ethelyn met her husband who
was also from Corinna. It is also
possible they met through Ethelyn's cousin, Harold Skinner who was also
stationed at Fort Devens with Donald. In 1918, she returned home and began
working in the mill in Corinna, Maine.
Donald returned to Corinna after being discharged from the
service in 1919 and married Ethelyn in Corinna within months of returning
home. Their marriage was announced by
Mary Pease, her adopted grandmother, who paid for their wedding as well. Donald and Ethelyn honeymooned in New
Sweden, Maine.
 |
| Ethelyn and Donald wedding 1919 |
They returned to Corinna and rented an apartment in town
while their home was being built on Pleasant street. Their home was actually an old barn that was moved
closer to the road and rebuilt into a house on one side and the other side was
for Donald’s business as a painter and paper hanger. The land was given to Donald by his father.
Ethelyn was a mother to six children. She had first, Hilma born in 1920 and second,
Athalie born in 1922. Then they had no children for ten years. Ethelyn then had
four more children over the next ten years, Donald born in 1932, Gwendolyn born
in 1934, Dean born in 1936 and Glenn born in 1940 when she was 42 years old. She had all, but her last child at home.
She raised the six children and was a very good cook. Many of the memories of her children and
relatives were the many great desserts she made as well as being in the kitchen
always cooking over a hot stove, even during the summer months. After, her in-laws home burned in 1946, they
also moved in with her family, adding a separate apartment for them in the part
of the house that was Donald’s business.
But as her mother-in-law became older and needed more help, a door was
put between the residences, so Ethelyn could help her.
 |
Don and Ethelyn with 4 youngest children, Malcom, Glenn, Dean
and Gwen 1946, Corinna, Maine
|
Ethelyn marriage was not a happy one as her husband was
physically abusive to her and the children.
Because she had children to care for and no income, even the few times
she left him, she returned home. Her
daughter felt that much of her father's issues came from the stress of having
too many children and not enough money after the depression and war and took
his frustration and anger out on his wife and children. After her husband’s death, she was her
finally able to enjoy her family and free of the constant worry of her
husband’s anger.
As her children grew up and left home, Ethelyn was able to
work outside the home. She worked at the
snowflake canning Company in Corinna and was a member of the Pleasant Street
Christian Church. Ethelyn was well liked
by everyone from neighbors and relatives who felt she was always kind and
caring towards them.
 |
Ethelyn and Donald 1962 at their son
Glenn's wedding
|
For me as Ethelyn was my grandmother, I know was lucky to spend time with her as a child. I remember she was my grandmother that hugged me, spent time with me and made me feel special. I liked spending time with her.
In 1972, after suffering from diabetes for several years,
she had to have surgery as the circulation in her legs had gotten worse and
started to cause her toes to turn black.
It was decided to amputate her leg to stop the spread. She died following the amputation at Thayer
Hospital in Waterville, Maine.
Ethelyn was buried in Village cemetery, Corinna, Maine next to her husband and son, Dean.
Donald Clifford Smith and Ethelyn Violet Skinner had the following children:
1. Hilma Edna Smith was born on 11 May 1920 in Corinna, Maine She died on 21 February 2011 in Corinna, Maine. She married Thurlow Dalziel Knowles on 14 October 1939 in Corinna, Maine.
2. Athalie Shirley Smith was born on 22 July 1922 in Corinna, Maine. She died on 9 October 1986 in Falmouth, Maine. She married Orris Stanley Basford on 3 August 1940 in Burnham, Maine.
3. Donald Malcolm Smith was born on 15 July 1932 in Corinna, Maine. He died on 24 October 2020 in Gorham, Maine. He married Barbara Dean Merrill on 20 November 1954 in
Dexter, Maine.
4. Gwendolyn Mary Smith was born on 8 March 1934 in Corinna, Maine. She died on 18 December 1990 in Bowdoinham, Maine. She married Carl Merton Bragg on 4 September 1951 in Newport, Maine,
USA. She married Richard Fowler before 1967. She married Henry S. Gilliam on 28
January 1978 in Brunswick, Maine.
5. Dean Wendall Smith was born on 17 December 1936 in Corinna, Maine. He died on 23 September 1997 in Bangor, Maine.
He married Cindy Loughman in March 1973 in Bangor, Maine. He
married Starr Lounder on 25 July 1982 in Bangor, Maine. He
married Elizabeth N Lally on 20 June 1987 in Maine, USA.
6. Glenn Stanton Smith was born on 27 December 1940 in Hartland, Maine. He died on 28 June 1996 in Gorham, Maine. He married
Shirley Ann Buzzell on 31 August 1962 in Corinna, Penobscot, Maine, USA.
