A LIST AS OF MARCH 4, 2025
In birth order, the babies known to have been delivered by Dr. McCrea:
Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Dick Law (1907)
Ethel N. Hurst (1909)
Twins to Lee Petite and wife (1912)
Floreine Vrtiska Schultz (1915)
Beulah Kreifel Meyers (born in 1915)
Bernice Kreifel Hillers (born in 1919),
Delmar Wilcox? (born 1919)
George "Babe" Kreifel (born in 1924),
Leland Frank of Humboldt (born in 1921),
Floyd and Lloyd Vrtiska of Table Rock (twins born in 1926),
Eugene Wopata (1926)
Darlene Turnbull of Pawnee City (born in 1926)
Roger Sandusky (1926)
Ardis Gottula Hunzeker of Humboldt (born in 1928),
Evelyn Kalina Michaelis (born in 1928),
Edward Dorland (born in 1928)
David Lang of (born in 1929),
Margaret Muscheitis Hunt (born in 1929),
Son of Mr. and Mrs. T. T. Thompson (1929)
Lorraine Krueger (1931)
Edward Tomek of Omaha (born in 1931),
Marilyn Kent Hansen of Omaha (born in 1932)
John Marion Kalina
Milan Tomek of Table Rock (born in 1935).
Jackie Jansen (born in 1936)
Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Dick Law (1907)
Ethel N. Hurst (1909)
Twins to Lee Petite and wife (1912)
Floreine Vrtiska Schultz (1915)
Beulah Kreifel Meyers (born in 1915)
Bernice Kreifel Hillers (born in 1919),
Delmar Wilcox? (born 1919)
George "Babe" Kreifel (born in 1924),
Leland Frank of Humboldt (born in 1921),
Floyd and Lloyd Vrtiska of Table Rock (twins born in 1926),
Eugene Wopata (1926)
Darlene Turnbull of Pawnee City (born in 1926)
Roger Sandusky (1926)
Ardis Gottula Hunzeker of Humboldt (born in 1928),
Evelyn Kalina Michaelis (born in 1928),
Edward Dorland (born in 1928)
David Lang of (born in 1929),
Margaret Muscheitis Hunt (born in 1929),
Son of Mr. and Mrs. T. T. Thompson (1929)
Lorraine Krueger (1931)
Edward Tomek of Omaha (born in 1931),
Marilyn Kent Hansen of Omaha (born in 1932)
John Marion Kalina
Milan Tomek of Table Rock (born in 1935).
Jackie Jansen (born in 1936)
1907 - daughter of mr. & mrs. dick law
This September 5, 1907 clipping was found by Marlene McWain. We haven't been able to learn anything about this family.
1909 - ethel n. hurst
Thank you to granddaughter Kristy Bear Wopata for letting us know that Dr. McCrea delivered Ethel N. Hurst.
1912 - Twins delivered for the lee petit family
Thank you to Marlene McWain for this clipping, which she notes is from a March 15, 1912 newspaper. With the help of this clipping we tracked the babies down to the children of Levi and Stella Pettit (not Petit as in the clipping). Born March 5, 1912 were Orval and Opal. They were the youngest of 6 children. The family had come from Iowa, and only Orval and Opal were born in Table Rock. The children. Lalah Petit Sanson (1901-1985), Cecil Pettit (1903-1961), Forrest Pettit (1907-1958), Donald Pettit (1910-1993), Orval (1912-1980), and Oval Pettit Band (1912-2006).
1915 - floreine vrtiska schultze
JoAnn McGaughey let us know that Floreine was delivered by Dr. McCrea
Floreine and her brothers, Rudy (at left) and twins Lloyd and Floyd
In the first high school band. She's there!
Floreine at far right with her parents and siblings. Leflt to right, Floyd, Edwin, Rudy Jr., Rudy Sr., Ida, Lloyd and Floreine. Photo 2051
a baby delivered by dr. mccrea in 1915 - beulah kreifel myers
On February 16, 2016, Beulah turned 99. Niece Susie Kreifel Huber reported Beulah's birthday, and said:
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Aunt Beulah told me Dr. McCrea traveled by horse & buggy from Table Rock to deliver her in Elk Creek, Nebr. Dr. McCrea also delivered, my aunt Bernice Hillers, my aunt Viola Fredericks, and my father, George (Babe) Kreifel, but all 3 of those are deceased now. Aunt Beulah at 99 is living in her own home, making homemade bread, mowing her lawn, etc. at her age. As Susie points out, Beulah may be the oldest living baby delivered by Dr. McCrea.
Dr. McCrea delivered Beulah's sister Bernice in 1919. In 1924, Dr. McCrea delivered their brother Babe Kreifel, seen below with his friend of over 80 years, Lawrence Petrashek. It is still to be confirmed but since Lawrence was born just east of Table Rock, Dr. McCrea probably delivered him as well; he was born in 1923. Bernice passed away in 2000, Lawrence in 2009, and Babe in 2010. 
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1916 - Son of mr. and mrs. jim vaughn
Thank you to Marlene McWain for this clipping dated September 8, 1916. We searched but didf't learn the name of the baby or what happened to the family.
1919- delmar wilcox?
Norma Lu "Toby" Wilcox reported on her husband Ron Wilcox's father: "Delmar Raymond Wilcox was born May 9, 1919
at home.' I would be willing to bet he was delivered by this Doctor! His Parents were Elmer William Wilcox & Grace May Smith Wilcox ! I’ve never seen a birth certificate!"
at home.' I would be willing to bet he was delivered by this Doctor! His Parents were Elmer William Wilcox & Grace May Smith Wilcox ! I’ve never seen a birth certificate!"
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a baby delivered by dr. McCrea in 1921 - Leland Frank
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Here's a picture of Leland taken at age 97, on a trip to Table Rock in June 2018. He graduated from Table Rock, Class of 1941, just months before America entered World War 2. Leland now lives in Humboldt.
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1924 - george "babe" kreifel
George graduated from Table Rock in 1942, then served in the Army, entering in July 1943. He was in combat as a B.A.R. man in the
Aluetians, Marshalls Islands(Guam) Philippine Islands (Leyte). he joined a 44 ship convoy to invade Okinawa on April 1, 1945. He was wounded in action on the front lines April 13, 1945. He then spent 9 months in the hospital in Texas. He received his honorable discharge on Jan. 30, 1946. He was awarded a purple heart, Asiatic/Pacific Campaign medal with 2 Bronze Stars, WWII Victory Medal, Sharp Shooter Award and Efficiency Medal." After the war he married and he and wife Leota had six children, including twins who did not survive.
Aluetians, Marshalls Islands(Guam) Philippine Islands (Leyte). he joined a 44 ship convoy to invade Okinawa on April 1, 1945. He was wounded in action on the front lines April 13, 1945. He then spent 9 months in the hospital in Texas. He received his honorable discharge on Jan. 30, 1946. He was awarded a purple heart, Asiatic/Pacific Campaign medal with 2 Bronze Stars, WWII Victory Medal, Sharp Shooter Award and Efficiency Medal." After the war he married and he and wife Leota had six children, including twins who did not survive.
1942 High School Graduation
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In red shirt, visiting the World War 2 Memorial in Washington, D. C.
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a baby delivered by dr. mccrea in 1926 - floyd vrtiska
On Memorial Day Weekend 2017, bothers Edward Lee and McCrea Miller visited Table Rock, along with their mother and Edward's family. The brothers are the great-great grandchildren of Dr. McCrea. Edward is named after Dr. McCrea, who was born with a middle name he hated and took the name Edward Lee when he became an adult. McCrea Miller got the family name. At a reception held by the Historical Society at the Argus, the brothers and the McCrea babies got to know each other. The brothers shared a few family stories that had been passed down to them, and those who had known Dr. McCrea shared stories like crazy. There was much laughter and fuzzy warm stuff. Here is McCrea baby Floyd Vrtiska with Edward & McCrea.
At age 88, Floyd remembers the doctor who brought him into the world and treated his aches and pains through his teenage years.
a baby delivered by dr. mccrea in 1926 - lloyd vrtiska
Yep, there were two of them! Floyd's twin brother Lloyd is on the list. too!
a baby delivered by dr. mccrea in 1926 - darlene wilcox turnbull
i was born in Table Rock in 1926, in a house that used to be a church. Of course Dr. McCrea delivered me. Who else would there have been?! Darlene was referring to a house in Lower Town that was built as the first Methodist Church in the late 1870s; the Methodists abandoned it to move uptown to their present church when those in Lower Town who had moved there with the opening of the railroad got fed up with the floods. It was thereafter used as a residence. In later years, some may remember Rudy & Hulda Zelenka living there, or the Garry Harris family.
Darlene passed away in 2018. |
Darlene in January 2016. The "house that used to be a church" was in Lower Town, and was the Methodist Church before they moved to "original town" in 1882. The last residents were the Rudy Zelenkas and then the Garry Harris family. It was torn down years ago.
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1926 - eugene "gene" wopata
Thank you to Kyle Wopata for this information? Dr. McCrea delivered Eugene Frank Wopata on January 3, 1926
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Dr. McCrea delivered Gene on January 3, 1926. He was the only child of Frank and Mollie (Beranek) Wopata. The family moved to Dawson, where he grew up, riding his bicycle to country school, graduating high school in 1943. He attended UNL briefly, then entered the Army. After the war, he finished his degree, getting a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering in 1949. He married Evelybn Barr in 1951 and they had three children.
Gene's war experience is worthy of note. Quoting from his obituary:
Gene's war experience is worthy of note. Quoting from his obituary:
In March of 1944, he joined the Army in Ft. Leavenworth, KS. After basic training in Camp Wolters, TX, he joined the 42nd Rainbow Division in Camp Gruber, OK. On Thanksgiving Day 1944, he boarded the US Black in New York Harbor. He landed in Southern France and went into combat near Strasbourg. During the Battle of the Bulge, he was wounded and captured on January 6th 1945 near Gambsheim, France. Gene was taken to Stalag IVB near Muhlberg, Germany, liberated by the Russians on April 23rd and escaped and returned to American lines on May 9th 1945. He was discharged on November 24th in Fort Lewis, WA. Gene was awarded the following: Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart.
1926 - roger sandusky
Thanks to daughter Becki Barnes for this information!
Here's Roger -- bottom row, far right. 1943 Football team, coached by Rudy Senft.
Here's Roger -- bottom row, far right. 1943 Football team, coached by Rudy Senft.
he team:
Top row: Clarence Krofta, Edwin Hanna, Kenneth Gottula, Jerry Mullins, Willard Binder, Joe Sochor, and Bill Marfice.
Second row: Bill Snook, Emmit Morrison, Elmer Klapka, and Bob Wilcox.
Bottom row: Alvin Kent, Leland Binder, Donald Brown, Frank Petrasek, and Roger Sandusky,
Roger Sandusky, Class of 1944
1927, Ed hanna comes into the world with dr. mccrea's assistance
Ed in 2016 at the burial of his friend and classmate (Class of 1945) Joe Sochor.
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September 23, 1927
Amanda Anderson reported:
Grandpa Ed Hanna said that Dr McCrea delivered him. He also remembers Dr McCrea had him help set a classmates broken arm in 3rd grade. |
a baby delivered by dr. mccrea in 1928 - ardis gottula hunzeker
Ardis graduated from Table Rock in 1945, along with other notables including Willard Binder, Joe Sochor, and Art Alderman. j In November 2016, she visited the Argus Museum in the company of two of her children, Russ Hunzeker and Judy Siefken. We stopped at the desk of Dr. Ed McCrea, and I asked if she was born in Table Rock. "Oh yes," she said, "And Dr. McCrea delivered me!" I forgot to ask her what the year was!
Son Russell gave me a picture of a young Ardis and her husband Arthur, who has passed away.
a baby delivered by dr. mccrea in 1928 - marian day goodenkauf
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Marian, the widow of World War 2 vet Arley Goodenkauf, provided great support to the Historical Society when the Veterans Museum was built.
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Marian in November 2018, age 90
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Ladies Aide Group at the Christian Church in about 1928. Marian is held by her mother Laura. They are the mother and baby that are fourth from the left. Photo 1770.
Marian Day is front row on the right (in the dark coat) in this photo of a Sunday school class at the Christian Church circa 1940
a baby delivered by dr. mccrea in 1928 - evelyn kalina michaelis
My mom lived to be 95. I feel pretty good. I think I'll live to be a hundred! |
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1928 - daughter of mr. and mrs. walter w. banzhaf
Thank you to Marlene McWain for finding this clipping, which is dated September 28, 1928. We've been unable to learn anything about this family.
1928 - Edward D. dorland
Born in Table Rock on June 8, 1928 to Edward Dorland, but we don't know his wife's name. Edward D. Dorland worked at the John Deere Harvester Plant for 35 years. He died in 2003 at the age of 75.
Thank you to Marlene McWain for finding this clipping dated June 13, 1928
Thank you to Marlene McWain for finding this clipping dated June 13, 1928
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a son of mr. and mrs. t. t. thompson - 1929
Thank you to Marlene McWain for finding this clipping dated February 1, 1929. We haven't learned about the family.
margaret muscheites hunt, 1929
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Margaret's daughter Terry Korell remembers:
He delivered my mom, Margaret Muscheites, in 1929, at the hospital. Mom used to point out the window where her mom's room was. 
Margaret Muscheites Hunt at the age of 1, September 1930, shared by Terry Korell
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Margaret Mscheites Hunt's 1947 graduation picture, shared by Terry Korell
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a baby delivered by dr. mccrea in 1929 - david d. lang
David at about age 2, which would be in 1931.
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David the day after turning 87, in 2016.
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a baby delivered by dr. mccrea in 1931 - edward tomek
Dr. McCrea delivered me in 1931. |
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baby delivered by dr. mccrea in 1934 & named after him - edward kent
Edward, in a photograph posted by "Don" on Edward's Findagrave.com memorial
Edward's two brothers were Alvin and Myron ("Snappy") Kent
Edward and his wife Dolores had children Christine, Lawrence, Gerald, Michael, and Kathleen. |
Mike Kent posted on the Historical Society's Facebook page
My father Edward Kent was delivered by Dr. McCrea and named after him. Edward's parents were Glen & Antonette Colling Kent (1899-1983, 1897-1947) and they were married in 1924.
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1935
1935 -- milan tomek
I heard you were looking for people that Dr. McCrea delivered. I was one of them. Add me to the list! Milan is Edward Tomek's brother. There is a third brother, George, but he was born in Pawnee City, delivered by another doctor.
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john marion kalina
Daughter Lizbeth Kalina Dmytryk says she thinks her mother told her that Dr. McCrea delivered her dad.
Marion is in the back row of this high school basketball team picture, 3rd from the left.
Marion is in the back row of this high school basketball team picture, 3rd from the left.
Shared by Jim Karas
1936 - Jackie (?) JansenThank you to Marlene McWain for finding this October 8, 1936 clipping. We think little boy's parents may have been Walter and Cora Jame Jansen, who came to Table Rock in 1923, shortly after they were married. Walter died in 1938 and is buried in the Table Rock Cemetery. His obituary refers to one child, "Jackie Lee," who would have been only a toddler when Walter died. We assume that this is the same family.
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John Marion Kalina's 1948 high school graduation portrait
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Table Rock Argus, Apr. 14, 1938.
Walter Jansen, Former World War Veteran Passes Away
Walter Jansen who for more than six months had been in failing health and since January 26, had been confined passed away April 10, 1938, at the Knoxville, Iowa hospital.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, October 8, 1893, he was 44 years, 6 months and 7 days old. Everything humanly possible was done but death claimed him in the end.
His early life was spent in his home state and he also did much traveling and in 1922 came to Nebraska where at Cambridge he met Miss Cora Jame and on August 22, 1923, they were married at Norton, Kansas. One child was born to them, Jackie Lee, who with his mother survive.
In 1923 they settled in Table Rock and have lived here since with the exception of a year when they were in California. The last eight years Mr. Jansen had been in the electrical business. He was in the engineering division of the A.E.F. in France for about seventeen months. He was quiet, unassuming but a loving husband , father and friend. He had a smile to the very last and all who knew him will miss him.
He was a member of both Masonic and the I.O.O.F. lodges.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at the M. E. church here with Rev. J. A. Runnels officiating. Interment was at the Table Rock cemetery.
Walter Jansen, Former World War Veteran Passes Away
Walter Jansen who for more than six months had been in failing health and since January 26, had been confined passed away April 10, 1938, at the Knoxville, Iowa hospital.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, October 8, 1893, he was 44 years, 6 months and 7 days old. Everything humanly possible was done but death claimed him in the end.
His early life was spent in his home state and he also did much traveling and in 1922 came to Nebraska where at Cambridge he met Miss Cora Jame and on August 22, 1923, they were married at Norton, Kansas. One child was born to them, Jackie Lee, who with his mother survive.
In 1923 they settled in Table Rock and have lived here since with the exception of a year when they were in California. The last eight years Mr. Jansen had been in the electrical business. He was in the engineering division of the A.E.F. in France for about seventeen months. He was quiet, unassuming but a loving husband , father and friend. He had a smile to the very last and all who knew him will miss him.
He was a member of both Masonic and the I.O.O.F. lodges.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at the M. E. church here with Rev. J. A. Runnels officiating. Interment was at the Table Rock cemetery.
allen covault
Allen's family moved away, but in the meantime Dr. McCrea delivered him!
a baby delivered by dr. mccrea in 1940 - gerald anderson
The editor had a dead camera battery and no cell phone when Gerald stopped by for a visit in July 2017! Hopefully we can add a picture of him soon. Dr. McCrea delivered him on April 16, 1940. He lives in Tecumseh. He recalls the muddy medicine that Dr. McCrea mixed up as "Grandpappy's butter," presumably the same as the Denver Mud remembered by others.
By the way, Gerald remembers Table Rock "back then" pretty well. One thing that he noted was that on Saturday nights you could hardly find a place to park in Table Rock!
By the way, Gerald remembers Table Rock "back then" pretty well. One thing that he noted was that on Saturday nights you could hardly find a place to park in Table Rock!
the good doctor remembered
donna brown-mcmann
When I was little, my sisters would chase me and scare me. Well, one day when theyt were chasing me I fell on a broken fruit jar. Dad held it together and took me to Doc Mcrea, who sewed my arm up. Dad said my arm was almost cut in two. Dr. McCrea did a great job. I have full use of my arm and am just a little numb where the scar is. |
Donna Brown McMann
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larry layden
Larry Layden remembers Dr. McCrea:
He made house calls when I was a child. Us kids kind of looked forward to getting sick and having the Dr come to us because he always has a supply of Hershey candy bars in his doctor's bag and he would give us one when he left. |
Larry Layden
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glenda alderman blecha
When I was little, the soda fountain was owned by the Maddens. Dr. McCrea would buy me ice cream cones there. |
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ken ahntholz
I remember my parents taking my sister, Lois, to Dr. McCrea to treat ring worm. I can still smell the awful liquid medicine he gave to treat her ring worm. But it worked. |
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dr. mccrea's hospital
Dr. McCrea’s hospital closed but the building lingered for a long while. It housed a nursing home for many years, and toward the end was used as a haunted house by the Methodist youth group and also by high school kids. Nothing remains of it.
What remains of Dr. McCrea in Table Rock is his and Mother McCrea’s tombstones in the Table Rock Cemetery. And some of the 302 babies that he delivered up to 114 years ago, when he went into practice in Table Rock in 1900 -- and their children, and grandchildren, and great grandchildren and great-great grand grandchildren.
What remains of Dr. McCrea in Table Rock is his and Mother McCrea’s tombstones in the Table Rock Cemetery. And some of the 302 babies that he delivered up to 114 years ago, when he went into practice in Table Rock in 1900 -- and their children, and grandchildren, and great grandchildren and great-great grand grandchildren.
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Undated, probably from the Pawnee Republican
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read dr. mccrea's autobiography for yourself. here is the full text of "a book about my life," by e. l. mccrea.
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in the argus museum - dr. mccrea's desk
Previously, the desk had been in the Pioneer Museum, where the concrete floor and the dust did not agree with it. In 2016, Dr. McCrea's desk and also Judge Marble's desk were moved to the Argus and given a cleaning and a good rubbing of a bees wax concoction.
more
50th wedding anniversary, 1938
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60th wedding anniversary - 1948
an addendum: the four mccrea children
Dr. McCrea was born at the close of the Civil War, in 1865. In 1888, he married Eliza Wade; he was 23. They had four children: Veda, Ural (1890 - 1948), Zelma (1892 - 1924), and Lowrain (1896 - 1980).
Eliza - Mother McCrea -- was the same age as he. She lived a few years longer. Dr. McCrea died in 1951, she in 1954.
Eliza - Mother McCrea -- was the same age as he. She lived a few years longer. Dr. McCrea died in 1951, she in 1954.
veda
Sadly, we know little about Veda at this time. She married Harold J. Smith and lived in Lincoln at one time. She had at least one child, Arlene.
ural (1890 - 1948)
Ural was born in 1890. She graduated from high school in 1908. She married and had a daughter. She died in 1948 at the age of 58.
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zelma (1892 - 1924)
We know some data. She married Gordon David Miller (1885-1961); he was the son of David K. Miller, a farmer and a cashier at the State Bank of Table Rock from when it was founded in 1885. Zelma died young; she was only 32 when she died in 1924. She is buried in Pawnee City.
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Here we have a school picture from about 1905. She is identified as 5th from the left in the 2nd row. The photo is from Margaret Muscheites Hunt; she knew Zelma's son Ed, who was a friend of Margaret's brother. Photo 1827.
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We do know something personal about her: she was a violinist -- so says this August 1907 newspaper article from the Table Rock Argus.
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Zelma's son Edward Lee Miller became a doctor like his grandfather Edward Lee McCrea; Dr. Miller practiced in New Mexico. Here he is in 1986, at which time he lived in Portales, New Mexico. On the right his his brother Gordon of Carmel, California.
Dr. Miller died in Portales in 1993 at the age of 76. |
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lowrain (1896 - 1980)
Dr. McCrea's son Lowrain, third from left (1896 - 1980) became a doctor himself. It appears that he practiced in Philadelphia. He died in North Carolina in 1980, at the age of 84. He reportedly had no children.