Person:Ethel Baxter (4)

Notes from the Family Album by Bertha Qualls: Ethel Baxter was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Her parents are unknown as s he was the adopted daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Baxter. She was marri ed in Centralia, WA at the age of 16. They lived in Galvin, WA where she h ad two children. Ethel was very civic minded and took an active intere st in town affairs. She was clerk of the school board for many years a nd was the founder and first president of the Old Fashioned Garden Clu b. She had a green thumb and raised beautiful flowers and a large vegetab le garden. After her husband's stroke they moved to Centralia where she a nd her daughter operated the Dale Hotel and Bus Depot. Later she and h er husband started a bulb farm and green house near the south city limi ts of Centralia, assisted by their son financially. After her husband's d eath she started a florist shop also. She was very talented in floral arr angements and decorations, and displayed her creations at all the flower s hows in the area and attended flower shows all over the state. Like her h usband, she liked to play cards and belonged to several card clubs as we ll as a number of fraternal orders. She continued to run the green hou se and floral shop (with help) until her own death in 1957. She was buri ed in Washington Lawn Cemetery near her foster parents.

The flower shop was known as "Maynard Flower Shop" located at 1210 S. Go ld St., Centralia, WA. She ran the store until shortly before her death.

A Souvenir program states as follows: "Souvenir School District No. 33 Antelope Co., Nebr. --- Fall and Wint er 1897-1898 --- Presented by Earle Harper, Teacher C.J. Baxter Dire ctor D. Dowling Moderator J. W. Jackson Treasurer Pupil s. -- Ethel Baxter Cora Larsen Lurena Linquist Ethel Linquist Jam es Cain Thomas Cain WIlliam Cain Frank Cain Celestine Cain"

1900 US Census, Nebraska, Pierce, Dry Creek Precinct, Plainview Villag e, ED 151, page 3A, line 49, shows Ethel Baxter, daughter of Curtis and Ge nette Baxter, white female, born Sept 1889, age 10, single, born in Nebras ka, able to read and write.

1910 US Census, Washington, Lewis, Greenwood Township, ED 148, page 9A, li ne 30, shows Ethel, age 30, living with husband Frank and two children, Ed ith and Everett.

The following letter was sent by F. E. Baxter, from Atascadero, Cali f. on October 24, 1933: "Atascadero, Calif 10/12 1933 Dear Ethel, I wrote Daisy about a month ago to have her see you about your adoption pa pers. The government says we are entitled to the last check they sent Mot her. I returned it to them and I have had several letters from them and h ad to furnish a Death Certificate which cost $1. I did not know your addr ess so wrote to Daisy. They want to know the date you were adopted. I ca n't say why. If you can send me a copy of them I think it will be O K. I have had 6 days work for the Welfare and got a job in a Dairy and h ad to quit on acct of age. Could not get insurance. Think I will try cut ting wood. Hope this finds you all well and happy. With love, Bro. Frank"

R.L. Polk Directories 1929-30 shows Frank S. and Ethel E. Maynard, gardin er at home 1115 S. Gold. Everett is listed as a student. Ethel is also l isted at Hotel Dale, located at 106 E. Magnolia. Also listed in 1931-2, a nd 1934 directories as florist at 1115 S. Gold. Not listed in Central ia in 1927-8.