THE people

Viola B Kidwell

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

DATE OF BIRTH:

September 2, 1857

DATE OF DEATH:

December 30, 1903

GENDER:

OTHER KNOWN NAMES:

Ola Kidwell*, Ollie Kidwell

MAIDEN NAME:

Kidwell

ETHNICITY:

KNOWN ADDRESS:

Martinsburg

RELATED TO:

AT THE TIME OF the fire

AGE:

MARITAL STATUS:

Single

ROLE:

Audience Member

ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATION:

ORGANIZATIONAL ROLE:

Dressmaker

other information

CEMETERY:

Martinsburg Methodist Episcopal Cemetery, Martinsburg, OH

MORGUE:

IDENTIFIED BY:

OTHER NOTES:

One of 12 in the party with Dr. Charles Owen. Dressmaker, died tragically in Chicago Iroquois Theatre fire in 1903 along with her employer, Mrs. J.F. Dodd and Mrs. Dodd's daughter, Ruth. They were attending musical comedy, Mr. Bluebeard, while on vacation.

"Thirty-nine-year-old Viola "Ollie" B. Kidwell(1864-1903) from Martinsburg, OH. Reportedly Ollie grew up with the Murray siblings and was in 1903 employed by the Dodd family, in an unknown capacity. Ollie was a dressmaker, as was her younger sister, Kate Kidwell (b. 1863). Ollie, Kate and their brother, James Norman Kidwell (1859-1923) were the children of Samuel Kidwell (1820-1907) and Mary Nellans Kidwell (1830-1912)." (www.iroquoistheater.com)

CITATION:

Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40441538/viola-b-kidwell
Downers Grove Reporter (Downers Grove, IL) 7 Jan 1904, p1 col 1
Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) · 1 Jan 1904, Fri · Page 4

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Judy Cooke

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