This is a copy of a photo gifted to me in 2004 when I first got in touch with my Olson cousins to pursue research into our two related families. It was thought by the Olsons that the woman holding the baby was my grandmother, Hannah Warren, unidentified by either family at the time. Later research has proved that the photo was of Nellie, youngest daughter of John Olson, with her husband David Ritchie and her baby son, always known as Sonny Boy. Her husband lived and worked in Shanghai, so the badge that he is wearing may be that of a member of the Shanghai Race Club. Later photos of Nellie and Sonny Boy were taken at 98A Wanchai Road and not Broadwood Road as previously thought. Sonny Boy was born in Manila, so this photo may have been taken there.
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Birth announcement Shanghai?
As I've drawn a blank with searching for a Melcher-Olson birth announcement in the old Hong Kong newspapers, perhaps Sonny Boy Melcher was born in Shanghai. That said, mmis has never given up its treasures when I have asked it to. A Melcher-Olson marriage announcement is proving equally elusive.
Ellen Kersten "Nellie" Olson
I'm not related to this family, but I am a bit of an Ancestry sleuth! From what I can gather, Nellie Olson was married (possibly in the Philippines) to David Hay Ritchie (1891-1953), a soldier from Brooklyn with the US Army. They had a son David Olson Ritchie born 19 April 1915 in Manila, Philippines. David junior, also with the Army, died in Bowie County, Texas, USA on 20 March 1991 and is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Texarkana, Arkansas. I believe this to be "Sonny Boy". His mother's maiden name is given as Ellen K. Olson. Ellen and DHR divorced at some point (I don't know when) and it seems that both remarried, Ellen to Evert Hilkers. I found the death certificate for Ellen K Hilkers (nee Olson), widowed, born 8 May 1886, Hong Kong, who died of sudden myocardial failure in Tacoma, USA on 26 January 1973 aged 86. The informant's name is David Olson Ritchie (son). Her father's name is given as John Olson. Her obituary states that she had lived in Tacoma for 9 years, that she had been a volunteer worker for the Red Cross at Madigan General Hospital, and that her lone survivor was a son, David O Ritchie of Tacoma. In 1920, under the name Ellen Kirsten (Nellie) Ritchie, she applies for an emergency passport from the US Consulate in Shanghai. At this time, she lists her last places of residence as follows:- Hong Kong 1893*-1914, Philippines 1914-1918, Hong Kong 1918-1919 and Shanghai, China 1919-date hereof (ie 19 March 1920). She was employed by Andersen Meyer & Co, Shanghai. *She lies about her age, giving her DOB as 8 May 1893 instead of 8 May 1886, probably to make herself appear younger than her husband (who was born in 1891). I have a photo of her and her son attached to this application which I will upload soon. It looks like the same woman in the photo above. Sorry this is a bit garbled, but I'm off to the airport!
Well done Robin for the…
Well done Robin for the sleuthing!
That is enormously helpful. We can now more precisely date the above photo to May-June 1915. Hands of Sonny Boy still held preferentially as fists consistent with a one-month-old baby. Summer attire of parents fits as well.
Congratulations and thank you!
How kind of you, Robbot27 to devote your skills to our deliberately muddied family story. This all explains why a record of Nellie, who we know ended her life in the US, couldn't be found. The details that you provide all fit. I can now stop wringing my brain about Nellie and Sonny Boy. Have a good flight!
Now we know the family first…
Now we know the family first made the trip to Hong Kong from Manila on 31st August 1915, we can say the above photo was taken in Manila, Philippines.