Died
14th October 1913
Born
7th February 1875
Sources
Place
Walks
Themes
Fred Hylands
Photo from 1913 (by Edward Sankey)
Photo from 2023
In Loving Memory of
My Dear Husband
Fred Hylands
Born,
Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.A.
February 7th, 1875,
Passed On,
Barrow-in-Furness,
October 14th 1913.
“God is my Life.”
NB The websites all give his birth year as 1872, as do the US Federal Censuses. Perhaps he lied to his wife, who presumably provided the wording.
Photos of Fred Hylands from “The Syncopated Times” 27 March 2019.
Fred Hylands was a rag-time piano-player, composer and publisher who made his name in that genre, and wrote many songs. Some of them would not be regarded as politically correct in 2023, with such titles as “The Darkey Volunteer” (1898) and “I’se de Lady Friend of Mister Rastus Jackson” (1900).
On YouTube is a song played in his distinctive style.
1880 U.S. Federal Census
In the 1880 U.S. Federal Census the Hylands were living at 104 Colerick Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Father, Charles Hylands (40) is a Rail Road Engineer, born in New Hampshire, as were his father and mother. Mother is Mary Hylands (40), Keeping House, born in New York, as were her mother and father. Fred Hylands (8) was born in Indiana, while sister Ethel (5) was born in Ohio.
On September 5, 1895, Fred married singer and actress Maria Francis (sic) Stevens, in Cook County, Illinois. He was 23, Maria 22 yrs old.
1990 U.S. Federal Census
In the 1900 US Federal Census living at 35 (or 33) West 27th Street, New York, are Charles Hylands (51) born April 1849 in New Hampshire, Locomotive Engineer; Frederick Hylands (28) born February 1872 in Indiana, Musician; and Marie (sic) Hylands, born February 1872 in England, Actress. Marie had migrated to the U.S. in 1890.
1910 U.S. Federal Census
In the 1910 US Federal Census Fred is staying in a boarding house at 107 East 31st Street, Manhattan, New York. He is listed as 38 (so the 1872 birth year is likely to be true); both his parents were born in New York, and he is a musician in the theatre. Many of his fellow boarders were actors, actresses, etc. probably connected with the same show.
Fred’s death
It appeared to be a combination of appendicitis or a similar ailment complicated by diabetes and the difficulty of operating on his by-then 300 pound bulk that took the life of Frederick Hylands in Lancashire, England, on October 14, 1913, at age 41. Two weeks later, Marie brought her husband back to New York for burial (sic), and to attend ceremonies held by the White Rats Actors Union and other groups honoring him for his contributions to the stage. Even two years later on the anniversary of his death, Marie, who after a while had continued her acting and singing career, saw fit to put a notice of mourning in memory of her late husband, published in Variety. (From the ragpiano.com source)
The report of Fred Hylands death, from the Barrow News 18 October 1913, reads:
TIVOLI ARTISTE EXPIRES
SUCCUMBS TO HEART TROUBLE
IMPRESSIVE INTERMENTNumerous expressions of sympathy and condolence marked the interment on Thursday afternoon at the Barrow Cemetery of Mr. Fred Hylands, a music hall artiste, who died on Tuesday at 77 Hartington-street (Mrs. Evans). The circumstances of the deceased’s illness and death are rather sad. On Monday evening, September 13th, along with his stage partner (Held), he appeared at the Tivoli Theatre of Varieties, being billed as “America’s foremost blackfaced entertainers”. Previous to coming to Barrow, however, Mr. Hylands was suffering from illness, and his partner strongly endeavoured to persuade him not to undertake the journey to Barrow, but being a man of strong will and keenly averse to causing disappointment, he came, and went on the stage on the Monday night. He was also able to appear on the Tuesday, but that was his last contribution, for he could deny his unfit condition no longer, and he never left the house afterwards. Death was due to heart trouble. Mr. Held has remained in Barrow with his suffering companion, and he was particularly impressed with the sympathetic feeling shown at the funeral. All the male artists of the profession in the town, and a number of ladies, appeared in person to pay their respects to their late fellow entertainer. Members of the working staff from the Tivoli were also present, and amongst a large number, wreaths and floral tokens were sent from the artists appearing at the Palace, artists at the Tivoli, his partner, his wife, the Alf. Leonard Trio and Mrs. Evans. The late Mr. Hylands was a very popular song-writer of America, and was the co-author of the numbers used in connection with his partner. In consequence of this sad occurrence, numerous engagements on the halls have been cancelled. The party only came from America in June. Mr. Hylands was accompanied by his wife on arrival, and he leaves a sister in America. Mrs. Hylands will sail for her native country (sic) on the 23rd inst., along with Mr. and Mrs. Held.
Mrs. Fred Hylands sailed on the S.S. Cymric from Liverpool to New York in November 1913, giving her home as New York. On the same sailing were Wilbur Held (38), born Henderson, Kentucky, and his wife Elizabeth Held (37), born St. Louis, Wisconsin. Their home was 509 East 77th Street, New York. The two Hylands and the Helds also appear on a manifest of passengers for the S.S. Arabic, leaving Liverpool for New York on 7 October 1913, but their names are crossed out. Perhaps more bookings were made!
1920 US Federal Census
It is possible that Maria Hylands married Samuel Gelder in Manhattan on 13 November 1917. If so, in the 1920 US Federal Census they were living at 268 West 43rd Street, New York. Sam Gelder is 54, an actor, born Illinios, father born in Holland, mother born in England; Maria is 46, an actor, with both parents born in England, and they share the home with Richard Cubitt (22) actor, Brother-in-law, father born England, mother’s birthplace illegible, but native tongue listed as Irish. All three are still there in the 1924 Voter list. [In the 1880 US Federal Census the Gelder’s, Isaac and Sophie, are living in Chicago, Illinois, with their six sons and four daughters. Isaac Gelder, born Holland, is a pawnbroker. In the 1910 US Federal Census, Sampson (sic) Gelder (44) Manager of a Theatrical Company, born Illinois, is living with his in-laws, the Michaelson’s, in Chicago. His wife is Lilian (37), born Illinois. They had married on 18 July 1904.] Remember that this paragraph is somewhat speculative.
No-one is certain why Edward Sankey took photographs of graves in the period 1910-1920ff. Were they advertising the skills of his friend William Hull, or later Hull and Fairbairn? Were they to be made into postcards that the bereaved family could send to members who were not able to attend the funeral?
The historic photograph is from the Sankey Family Photographic Collection, courtesy of Cumbria Archives.
