| 1. | Nina CHURCHMAN was born on 26 Mar 1844 in Dubuque, Dubuque, IA (daughter of James CHURCHMAN and Samantha MIREE); died on 16 Mar 1921 in Portland, Multnomah, OR. Other Events and Attributes:
- Birth: 26 Mar 1838, Dubuque, Dubuque, IA
- Birth: Abt 1845, IA
- Birth: Mar 1853, IA
- Birth: Abt 1854, IA
- Event-Misc: 31 May 1867, New York, New York, NY
- Event-Misc: 9 Jun 1867, New York, New York, NY
- Event-Misc: 20 Nov 1867, New York, New York, NY
- Event-Misc: 1876
- Event-Misc: 1 Aug 1882, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
- Event-Misc: 1907
- Event-Misc: 1911, 2272 NW Kearney St., Portland, Cumberland, ME
- Event-Misc: 4 Feb 1912, Portland, Multnomah, OR
- Event-Misc: 1917, Portland, Multnomah, OR
- Obituary: 17 Mar 1921, Portland, Multnomah, OR
Notes:
Birth:
It's hard to guess the real year Nina was born, she always records March 26 but the year changes. Her autobiography does say March 26 but no year, indeed there are no dates at all in the book. I have selected 1844 as most correct, 1838 is before her parents are married and 1844 is two years after the birth of her brother.
1869 passport application, age 23, born March 26, 1844
1900 Federal census, age 47, born March 1853.
1910 Federal census, age 65, ca 1845
1920 Federal census, age 66, ca 1854
Obituary, 1921, March 26, 1838.
Will:
Upon her death she bequeathed a large part of her estate to the Oregon Humane society, her instructions that the "benefits derived go to the relief of suffering dumb animals.
Her estate was valued at $39,229.12 , the main portion of the estate was her building, valued at $25,000, at the corner of 23rd and Kearney Streets. The property and theater were kept in trust for 10 years with proceeds going to the Humane Society. In 1932 the building was turned over completely to the Humane Society and as of 1984 they still owned it.
Event-Misc:
On this date Nina applies for a US passport, Marcus attests that the facts she gives are true to the best of his knowledge.
Event-Misc:
Miss Lecowe (sic), San Francisco, Cal. is listed as a passenger of the steamer "Quaker City" upon it's departure from New York.
In Chapter 1 of "The Innocents Abroad" Mark Twain envisions a wonderful excursion. "They were to sail for months over the breezy Atlantic and the sunny Mediterranean; they were to scamper about the decks by day, filling the ship with shouts and laughter — or read novels and poetry in the shade of the smokestacks, or watch for the jelly-fish and the nautilus over the side, and the shark, the whale, and other strange monsters of the deep; and at night they were to dance in the open air, on the upper deck, in the midst of a ballroom that stretched from horizon to horizon, and was domed by the bending heavens and lighted by no meaner lamps than the stars and the magnificent moon — dance, and promenade, and smoke, and sing, and make love, and search the skies for constellations that never associate with the “Big Dipper” they were so tired of; and they were to see the ships of twenty navies — the customs and costumes of twenty curious peoples — the great cities of half a world — they were to hob-nob with nobility and hold friendly converse with kings and princes, grand moguls, and the anointed lords of mighty empires! "
Chapter 1
Event-Misc:
The "Quaker City" arrived back in New York having sailed from Bermuda.
Mrs. Nina D. Larrowe, San Francisco is listed as a passenger upon the ships arrival in St. George, Bermuda.
The itinerary of the five month trip can be found here. Scroll down to read the list
Mark Twain's letter to the editor of "The Herald" reprinted in "The Innocents Abroad" indicates that perhaps the excursion wasn't as wonderful as he had envisioned. "The pleasure ship was a synagogue, and the pleasure trip was a funeral excursion without a corpse. (There is nothing exhilarating about a funeral excursion without a corpse.) A free, hearty laugh was a sound that was not heard oftener than once in seven days about those decks or in those cabins, and when it was heard it met with precious little sympathy."
Chapter 61
Event-Misc:
Mrs. Nina Larowe travelled giving "dramatic recitals in costume" and later dramatic readings and dance instruction. The first ads I see are in about 1876.
Event-Misc:
Perhaps the dramatic recitals proved too much and Nina got a "real job." She got a patronage job at the U.S. Mint in San Francisco, on the basis of her father's political conections. Initially she made canvas sacks for silver dollars for 8c a sack. Later, after a personal friend was appointed head of the mint she was promoted to filing gold blanks down to proper weight to be stamped for coins. When a Democratic administration came in to power all the Republican patronage employees were fired.
Event-Misc:
After her stint working at the US Mint, Nina appears to have resumed her acting career. In later years she takes up instructing dance.
Attached are some articles, including one, from 1907, in which "Mrs. Nina Larowe, dressed in the costume of a squaw, striking Sacajawean poses in front of the country store." I am reminded of Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn of Music Man fame.
Even more disturbing than a white woman dressed as a squaw and striking Sacajawean poses are the upcoming events at the exhibition. "A pickaninny show is the attraction this afternoon. The visiting crowds are experiencing the joy of passing on the most beautiful negro baby in town." And "next week Chinese babies....the first Chinese baby show ever attempted"
Event-Misc:
Built in 1911 the "Nina Larowe building" is part of the historic "Alphabet Historic District."
It was first built by the German Savings and Loan Society to use as a meeting hall. Nina bought it to use as a dance studio. Before she died it was converted to "The Nob Hill" theater.
A local tour group gives walking tours of the area and a story is told that her building was the sight of the largest alcohol raid in Portland history. The raid was after her death.
Event-Misc:
In 1912 the danciing teachers sought to ban certain dances as they were dangerous to morals.
"Dancing instructors who own their own halls and the owners of leading halls rented for society functions say with one voice: "Turkey Trot" shall not be danced tonight. And while they are about it they have put the ban on the "Texas Tommy," "Grizzly Bear" and "Bunny Hug."
Regarding the "Turkey Trot" Mrs. Larowe said, "It's like a turkey on a hot plate, constantly lifting its feet so that they won't get burned. When danced in the extreme heads are held very close together - too close together, I should say."
Event-Misc:
In about 1917 Nina privately published an account of her life. She titled it, "An Account of My Life's Journey So Far: Its Adversity; Its Sunshine and Its Clouds"
The book was privately printed and undated. It was apparently published and sold to raise funds for the Oregon National Guard unit which was either preparing for or engaged in the First World War.
"Individual chapters of this document can be found in the back files of "The Oregonian" where they were originally published. The fact that they were printed there suggests that the paper has higher literary standards now than it did then. Most of the sentences in Nina Larowe's work are difficult and many of the paragraphs simply defy comprehension."
Died:
Nina's death was reported in newspapers throughout the country. Most if not all mentioned her Mark Twain/Innocence Abroad connection and many of those reported her unhappiness with the book and its author.
Nina married Marcus Dwight LARROWE on 16 Aug 1864 in Lander Co., NV, and was divorced on 1 Jun 1878 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. Marcus (son of John B LARROWE and Elizabeth HOLMES) was born on 5 May 1828 in Cohocton, Steuben, NY; died on 5 Feb 1896 in Palace Hotel, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; was buried in Larrowe Cemetery, Cohocton, Steuben, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Notes:
Married:
In her autobiography Nina does not elaborate on her marriage except to say he died young. "He enters her story making visits to her parents house, visits which increase in frequency, and, in her words, "ended as most such visits do, in a trip to the hymeneal altar."
Note: Marcus died in 1896 at the age of 68.
Note: When Marcus was enumerated in the 1850 census at Ripon, WI it included a Mrs. M.D. Larrowe, age 36 (ie: 1838), born in Vermont. There is no record of Marcus having a wife prior to marrying Nina in 1864. Nina always lied about her age but I can find no record of her ever being east of Iowa during this time period. So, Mrs M.D. Larrowe remains a mystery.
Divorced:
A court notice appears in The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, CA), July 2, 1878, page 3, summoning Marcus D. Larrowe to appear before the court to answer the complaint filed by his wife Nina C. Larrowe. "The said action is brought to obtain a decree of this Court dissolving the bonds of matrimony heretofore and now existing....."
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1844 - 1921 (76 years)
