The photo above was generously provided by a cousin, Clara R. in Utah. Thanks, Clara! She also provided some additional background on Mary Maria. Here are some excerpts from Clara's letter re: Mary and Lowell:
They lived in Hubbardston, Mass., and it was getting near to the end of the year [in the weeks before his untimely death that turned Mary into a young widow]. She was expecting a baby soon. He went out hunting to get food in the woods for the fall and winter seasons. He didn't get back and some folks went looking for him. I don't know how long they searched but when he was found they knew what had happened. He had climbed a rock fence and I guess the rocks must have slipped and he fell and his gun went off and he was killed.... She had her baby and was alone, and needed help. The baby's name is Etta Alice Sylvester. [Mary] knew Aaron Waite, and his wife who had died. He had children who needed care. So she tended his children, and later they were married. I remember Etta who would pick me up so I could see the mother robin feed her babies in the nest outside the window.
