A 20th Century Woman

When I think of days gone by, and the fashion at the turn of the century, this is what I see in mind’s eye and I was tickled to find this picture shared by Charles Handren on Ancestry!
(all the pictures attached are courtesy of Charles)

Let me introduce you to Mary Elizabeth ‘May’ Stevens.   She was born in 1878 in Springhill, Nova Scotia to George Henry Stevens and Ruth Anne McLean. 

Her family, like many drawn to Attleboro in the early 1900s, worked as jewelers – polishers, tool makers, bench hands, etc – and Mary was no different.

 

She worked as a bench hand and I imagine this is where she met her husband – one Francois Xavier King and together they had 6 children. 

The King Clan from left to right - Ruth, Charles, Frank, Edward, Mary, Maida & Marion.  Frank Jr died as a baby.

In 1953 they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and she looked as beautiful as she did in her youth!

Frank died in 1959, Mary 'May' died in 1961 and they buried together at the Plainville Cemetery in Massachusetts.