Agnes and Alfred

 

Variety, 19 Nov 1910.

During my review of the life of Agnes Atherton, I have run across a few references to her marriage to Alfred M. Gillette, acrobatic performer and promoter. It is unclear where they may have married or when. She was listed as Mrs. Gillette in the news article on the reunion with her father in March 1899, and she was performing with Gillette from at least 1884. On few occasions, she went as Agnes Gillett of the Gillett Family in 1888, she predominantly went by Agnes Atherton or Miss Agnes Atherton throughout her career.

New York Clipper, 28 Jan 1888.

Agnes returned to performing with the Gillett Family after recovering from her fractured arm, joining the Gilletts in Louisville in September 1889, Pittsburgh in October 1889 and appearing the billing for the Rochester, New York show in December 1889.

Democrat & Chronicle, 29 Dec 1889.

There is little indication Agnes and Alfred were often living in the same place. They seem to have been on separate paths, performing in different cities or circuits. Alfred appears as single in the 1900 US Census in Battle Creek, Michigan, living with his brother Leon and family. He seems to have been using Battle Creek as a base to train a new company of acrobats between 1899-1901. I have been unable to locate Agnes in the 1900 US Census, likely because she was constantly on the road touring in shows. They seem to have been in different locations up to 1904, when they reunited professionally after Agnes' tour in Boston and were planning a new show together. It is unclear if that fell through, or they went separate ways until moving together to Cincinnati before 1910. Agnes was clearly working and likely living in Lima, Ohio in 1906-1907. She may have moved to Cincinnati after the closure of Fred Harrison's theatre.

Battle Creek Enquirer, 1 Jan 1951.

They did appear together in the 1910 US Census, living in Cincinnati, Ohio. The census gets Alfred's state of birth wrong (listed as Ohio, he was actually born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1862). Agnes' age is also wrong, or maybe Alfred did not know her age. She was listed as 40, when she was actually closer to 52 (!). I'd like to think from her time on the stage, time as a dancer and performer, she looked young for her age.

1910 US Census, Cincinnati, OH.

Agnes' profession was listed as "dressmaker", and we now know from the recap on her career that she was much more than that. Actress Mae Pleau and singer Cecilla Hall were living with Agnes and Alfred during this time. Agnes' profession was listed as "costumer" in the 1910 City Directory for Cincinnati. In the same entry, Alfred's profession was listed as "actor". As far as I can tell, Agnes and Alfred never had children.

Sometime around April 1910, Agnes and Alfred moved from Cincinnati to Chicago, Illinois, probably for medical care. She had a moving party at her home, attended by many old friends and vaudeville performers. Agnes passed away in Chicago on 7 November 1910.

New York Clipper, 2 Apr 1910.

It appears the family back in Illinois may not have heard of Agnes' death in 1910. Jennie O'Brien (Matilda Jane Lambert O'Brien, my 2nd-great-grandmother) sent a letter in 1914 to Billboard, asking if anyone knew the whereabouts of Agnes Gillett "whose stage name was Agnes Atherton", and to write back to her in Shelbyville, Illinois. It is a sad note, but shows the family in Illinois still wanted to connect with her.

Billboard, 14 Mar 1914.

Alfred

Alfred M. Gillette was born on 1 February 1862 in St. Louis, Missouri. He died on 14 June 1947 in Battle Creek, Michigan. He is known for his high-wire and acrobatic acts that toured the country. His obituary makes no mention of Agnes.

Battle Creek Enquirer, 15 June 1947.