THE FIRST FEMALE TRAINER OF GERMAN SHEPHERD DOGS IN THE U.S. - Maie R. B. West

One of my hobbies is collecting bound issues of Sunset Magazine.  If you are not familiar with it, Sunset is a publication that focuses on homes and gardens, food and travel in what it calls "the Western lifestyle," though it has evolved significantly, as one might expect, over its history.  Sunset has been published since 1898 and I thoroughly enjoy reading issues from years ago that describe what life in the west was like in days gone by.

I recently purchased a volume with issues from July through December, 1925 that used to belong to the Redondo Beach Public Library.  Now that everything is being digitized, libraries are selling off their physical books, magazines, etc.  During this time, Sunset had an article every month introducing people they called "Interesting Westerners."  The July, 1925 issue mentioned a woman named Mrs. Maie R.B. West.  Here is how the article about her began:

She is a Trainer of Police Dogs:  The first woman to train police dogs professionally in the United States was Mrs. Maie R.B. West.  She has become an international expert.  Her residence is in Reno, Nevada, and it is there, at the foot of the High Sierra not far from Lake Tahoe, that she trains prize-winning pets in her famous Lewanno Kennels.

It was just ten years ago that an imported German police dog was given to Mrs. West.  Upon showing the animal she was asked what she expected to do with it.  

 "Why," she said, rather surprised, "I expect to train Bodo, of course."

"But you can't train a police dog," was the answer.  "No woman has ever been able to do it.  The dogs are too big and strong, the training requires unlimited patience and knowledge of their habits, and the work is not light."

"Is that so?" retorted Mrs. West.  "Well, just wait and see whether or not I can train them." 

Here is a photo of Mrs. West and one of her champion dogs that accompanied the article:

Mrs. Maie R. B. West with Ch. Asta Aldinger

For purposes of this article, any reference to a "police dog" means a German Shepherd.  Years ago people called German Shepherds "police dogs" to acknowledge that although they had originally been bred to herd sheep, in later years they proved invaluable as helpers to law enforcement.  Also during World War I and World War II anything German was Americanized like when they started calling sauerkraut "liberty cabbage."

So let's see what we can "dig up" about Maie R.B. West and how she became the first female police dog trainer in the United States (if not the world).

Maie R.B. West was born Sara Richardson Barnum on April 28, 1883 in New York City, New York.  Her parents were Joshua Willets Barnum (1847-1906) and Mary Richmond Taylor (1848-1931).  Joshua Barnum owned one of the largest "country places" on Long Island.  It was an extensive stock farm, where high class horses were raised.  Although the "Barnum Farm" as it was known had originally been much larger, when Joshua and Mary lived there it had been reduced to 180 acres.  Joshua and Mary had been married in New York on June 5, 1879.  Sara was their only child.

The 1900 US Census finds the Barnum family living on a farm in Hempstead, New York, "Meadow Brook."  The family consisted of Joshua (52 years old), his wife Mary R. (48), and their daughter, also named Mary R. (17).  Joshua and Mary said they were both twenty-one when they had married, and Mary said she had given birth to one child, who was still alive in 1900.  Living on the farm with the Barnums was a Farm Manager, a Gardener, thirteen Farm Laborers, a Cook, a Chambermaid, and three Servants.  It appears the Barnums were very well to do.  

History does not record when Sara (or Mary) Richardson Barnum started calling herself "Maie" or where she got the original spelling, but by the time this item appeared in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on September 22, 1902, that is what she was calling herself:

Newspapers of the time frequently reported Maie Barnum not only as an accomplished horsewoman, but also as a debutante.  This is from the Brooklyn Life newspaper from December 13, 1902:

A happy event was reported in the Brooklyn Life newspaper on October 7, 1905:

Frederick Leighton Harris was born in October of 1880 in Hempstead, Long Island, New York to Frederick L. Harris (????-1888) and Eliza Jane Stoppani (1860-1938).  

Maie was definitely marrying within her social set.  This is from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle from October 8, 1905:

Apparently the wedding came off without a hitch.  This is from Brooklyn Life from 28 October, 1905:

The Brooklyn Life newspaper reported the death of Maie's father, Joshua Barnum in their issue of June 2, 1906:

Joshua Barnum was buried in the family plot at Greenfield Cemetery in Uniondale, New York:

 

Unfortunately tragedy struck Maie again just a few short months after the death of her father, when it was announced that her husband Frederick Leighton Harris had died on August 17, 1906 from complications of appendicitis.  He was only twenty-five years old.

Frederick Harris is buried in St. Anne's Cemetery, Sayville, New York:

On April 25, 1908 the Brooklyn Life newspaper reported the second marriage of Maie Richmond Barnum.  This marriage was to Mr. Leopold Frederick Florian Wanner (1880-1943):

Leopold Frederick Florian Wanner was born September 22, 1880 in Hoboken, New Jersey to Charles Albert Wanner (1835-????) and Katherine Ebrecht (1841-????).  Leo Wanner reported several different occupations during the years.  At times he said he was a Securities Dealer, another time he said he was in "Net Goods" and another that he was a "Manufacturer."

I was unable to find either Leo Wanner or Maie Wanner in the 1910 US Census, but the 1915 New Jersey Census finds the Wanners living at 411 Gregory Avenue in West Orange, New Jersey (that address no longer exists).  Leo F. Wanner said he was born in September of 1882 (it was 1880) in Holland, New York (it was Hoboken, New Jersey).  His wife Maie Wanner said she was born in September of 1883 (it was April of 1883) in New York (correct).  Leo said he had been in the US ten years and was a Naturalized citizen.  In reality he was a native-born citizen of the US and had lived in the US his entire life. They said they were renting their apartment and could both read and write and speak English.  Leo said his occupation was "Net Goods" and Maie said she was a "Housewife."  

I know I've said this before, but you really can't use census data as a primary genealogical resource.  People could (and did) tell the census taker anything, and did not have to back up anything they said.  Why was this?  Did people think it was cute to make up a story for the census taker?  It is surprising that people would give the census taker incorrect information because in those days, people took things like the census far more seriously than they do today.  Leo Wanner didn't just shave a few years off his age, he made up a whole fictional tale about himself.

This census also indicates that the Wanners had a live-in Japanese butler with the memorable name of Yomazat Yomaguchi

Throughout the period from 1910-1920 Maie's name frequently appeared in local newspapers.  She was an accomplished horsewoman since her youth but now she was also a champion golfer.   

This is from the Newark (NJ) Star Eagle from October 17, 1911:

and this is from the New York Times of June 26, 1912:

Then articles started appearing about the Wanners being dog breeders, calling their operation "Lewanno Kennels.".  This is from the New York Sun from July 4, 1915:

and this also from the Sun from May 21, 1916:

The dogs bred by the Wanners were so good at catching criminals that Maie was deputized by the Chief of Police of Hempstead, Long Island.  This is from the Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle of April 6, 1917:

and also from the Washington (DC) Times of May 23, 1917:

You will note that at the beginning of the decade stories referred to both Leo Wanner and wife Maie, but as the decade progressed it became more and more about Maie.  

The dogs produced by the Lewanno Kennels were so renowned as police dogs that Mae felt they could be helpful with the war (World War I) effort as well.  This is from the Greensboro (NC) Record of June 26, 1917:

and this from the St. Louis (MO) Star and Times from June 27, 1917:

 

and this from the Brownsville (TX) Herald from December 24, 1917:

Remember, women were not supposed to be able to train German Shepherd dogs.  Maie Wanner didn't think about it, she just did it.  The best known of Maie Wanner's German Shepherds was the famous "Filax of Lewanno" a decorated war hero who rescued 54 Allied soldiers during World War I.  Here is a photo of Maie with Filax:

Unfortunately all of this publicity might have been the cause of a tragedy.  Fire struck the Lewanno Kennels shortly before dawn on May 19, 1918 when the kennels were destroyed and valuable dogs killed, including the beloved Filax.  Arson was suspected in retaliation from all of Maie Wanner's (and Filax's) work to support the Allies.  Here is the sad story from the Brooklyn (NY) Eagle of May 20, 1918:

 

You will note that now they were referred to as "Mrs. Wanner's kennels."  No mention is made of Mr. Wanner.  In late 1919 the Pinehurst (NC) Outlook reported that Maie Wanner has purchased a home in Pinehurst:

While "the Wanners" are mentioned, the purchase appears to have been done solely by Mrs. Wanner.

Even with all of her dog-related duties, Maie still found time to compete in a horse show in her new home of Pinehurst, North Carolina.  From the New York Daily News of April 24, 1920:

I was not able to find either Leo Wanner nor Maie Wanner in the 1920 US Census, although it appears that Leo stayed in New York, while Maie was living in North Carolina.

In 1920 Maie Wanner was elected president of the Shepherd Dog Club of America.  In 1921 her German Shepherd "Lotte" was chosen Grand Champion.  This is from the New York Daily News of October 27, 1921:

"Lottie" was really "Lotte" and her full name was "Lotte von Edelweiss."

This is from the Laverne (OK) Leader-Tribune from March 3, 1922:

This is the same as the photo at the start of this article.

I was unable to uncover any divorce records for Maie and Leo Wanner, but there must have been a divorce because in 1923 Maie Barnum Harris Wanner married Hiram Dana West (1874-1930) in Washoe, Nevada.  The bride was 40, the groom was 49.

Hiram (sometimes spelled Hyrum) Dana West was born March 4, 1873 (some sources say 1874) in Nebraska to James P. West (1831-1905) and Mary Susan "Susie" Magoon (1849-1901).  Hiram West was a Horseman by trade.  He and Maie probably ran in the same "horsie" circles and may have been acquainted for some time. 

As of 1924 Maie was now being referred to in the press as "Mrs. H. Dana West."  By late 1924 it was reported that Maie had sold her home in Pinehurst and had relocated (along with the Lewanno Kennels) to the Reno, Nevada area with her new husband.

In the mid 1920s, Maie's name appeared in the newspapers mostly as a judge of German Shepherds at dog shows throughout the country.  One paper reported in 1925 that "Mrs. H. Dana West of Reno, Nevada is conceded to be the one authority on this class of dogs (German Shepherds) in the country."  

On October 28, 1925 the Reno (NV) Evening Gazette-Journal reported that Hiram and Maie purchased and would be moving into the 1800+ acre Big Canyon Ranch near Pyramid Lake, Nevada:

In June of 1926 the same newspaper reported their housewarming:

Even though she had a different husband, and had relocated across the country, Maie continued to breed and show prize-winning German Shepherds.  From the Reno (NV) Gazette-Journal from April 8, 1926:

In between dog shows, Maie and her husband found time to entertain.  From the Reno (NV) Journal-Gazette from January 13, 1927:

The Wests also kept showing their horses who continued to collect trophies whenever they competed.  This is from the Reno paper on August 4, 1927:

Maie West's name was a legend in the German Shepherd world.  From the Reno paper from 08 Jan 1929:

An interesting story about Maie and Hiram West's son from the Nevada State Journal from August 23, 1929:

 

Good thing the dog was nearby...

Hiram West's health began to deteriorate in 1929.  Heart trouble kept him from traveling as he used to, and now the papers only mentioned Maie at the dog and horse shows, whereas in the past they had noted the presence of both Mr. and Mrs. West.

The census taker for the 1930 US Census arrived at the Big Canyon Ranch on May 1, 1930.  The census taker reported the following people as living at the ranch:  Hiram West (56 years old), Maie (46) and Harry West (22).  There was also a Cook, a Housekeeper, and seven Laborers.  The business was "Cattle Ranch" Hiram was the "Proprietor," he owned the ranch, and they also had a radio.  The others were a mix of native-born and immigrants, all could read, write and speak English.

Maie spent September of 1930 in the hospital recovering from major surgery.  This is from the Reno (NV) Gazette-Journal of September 5, 1930:

Hiram Dana West died from heart disease on October 4, 1930 at the ranch.  He was fifty-seven years old.  Here is his Death Certificate:

His passing was announced in the Reno (NV) Journal-Gazette on October 6, 1930:

 Here is his Death Notice from the same newspaper:

West's "Cowboy Funeral" was written up in newspapers all over the country.  This is from the Tacoma (WA) Daily Ledger from October 9, 1930:

Hiram West's will left everything to his widow Maie - nothing to his son or his two daughters.  As you can imagine, this caused some problems down the road.  This is from the Reno (NV) Gazette-Journal of October 15, 1930:

As he requested, Hiram West's ashes were scattered at the top of Tule Mountain as indicated in the Reno (NV) Journal-Gazette from November 10, 1930:

By May of 1931, Maie had recovered sufficiently to resume her duties as Judge of German Shepherd dog shows.  This is from the Reno (NV) Gazette-Journal of May 23, 1931:

Maie's mother, Mary Richmond Taylor Barnum died of heart disease on June 29, 1931.  She was eighty-two years old and had been living with Maie in Nevada.  Here is her Death Notice from the Nevada State Journal of July 1, 1931:

and from the Reno (NV) Gazette-Journal, also from July 1, 1931:

Here is her Death Certificate:

It was determined that Mary Barnum's remains would be shipped back to New York for burial.  She is interred with her husband Joshua in the Greenfield Cemetery in Uniondale, New York.  

  

But wait, there's more - surprisingly, Maie (Sara) Barnum Harris Wanner West died just five days after her mother, on July 3, 1931 in Nevada.  The cause of Maie's death was pellagra, with colitis as a contributing factor.  Maie was fifty-seven years old.  Here is her Death Certificate:

Pellagra is a disease caused by a lack of the vitamin niacin. Symptoms include inflamed skin, diarrhea, dementia, and sores in the mouth. Areas of the skin exposed to either sunlight or friction are typically affected first. Over time affected skin may become darker, stiffen, peel, or bleed.

Maie's Death Certificate says that her body was sent to Oakland, California for cremation.  I'm surprised there wasn't a crematorium in Reno or someplace in Nevada closer than Oakland, California.   Of course Maie's death was big news in Nevada.  This is from the Reno (NV) Gazette-Journal of July 3, 1931:

Here are the announcements of her funeral from the Nevada State Journal  of July 6, 1931:

From the same newspaper the next day, July 7, 1931:

As indicated, Maie was interred in the family plot in Greenfield Cemetery in Uniondale, New York:

The story of Maie West does not end with her burial.  Whenever this is money involved, people come out of the woodwork and that's what happened here.

You may remember that when Hiram West died in November of 1930, his will left all of his estate to his widow Maie, effectively disinheriting his children.  The assets of his estate included the 1,800 acre "Circle S" Ranch, the Little Valley pastureland ranch, and personal property.  The estate had a stated value of $15,000 in 1930 ($275,000 today).  It is well known that probate values are kept low to minimize inheritance tax liability, so we can guess the estate was worth substantially more.  

When Maie died in July of 1931, just six months after Hiram, her estate was valued at $100,000 (almost $2 million today).  Maie had left everything to her mother, who had predeceased her by five days.  

Maie's will was filed for probate on August 1, 1931, as reported by the New York Times on August 2, 1931:

NEW YORKERS ARE HEIRS.

Five Easterners Share Estate of Marie Barnum West.

Special to The New York Times

RENO, Nev., Aug. 1 - Petition for probate of the will of Maie Richmond Barnum West was filed here today.  It leaves her estate of $100,000 or more to her mother, Mary Richmond Barnum, who died five days before Mrs. West passed away.

As the mother is dead, the legal heirs are Sarah L. Taylor of 135 West Twenty-fourth Street, New York City; Josephine T. Colt of 385 Chariton Avenue, South Orange, N. J.; Kate V. Barnum of 1035 Fifth Avenue, New York City, aunts; Elizabeth T. Russell of 130 East Sixty-seventh Street, New York City, and Dorothy T. Gutterson of Southport, Conn., cousins.

And also mentioned in the Reno (NV) Gazette-Journal of the same date:

Eleven days later, on August 12, 1931, Hiram West's heirs filed their suit contesting the will as reported in the Reno (NV) Gazette-Journal of that date:

By the end of 1931, Hiram West's heirs withdrew their suit, although they reserved the right to refile if necessary as reported in the Reno (NV) Gazette-Journal of December 29, 1931:

I would guess that some sort of out-of-court agreement was reached by the parties, but the matters were not finally resolved until January of 1940 as reported by the Reno paper on January 31, 1940:

The rich really are different, and the lawyers are often the only financial winners in the long run. 

May Maie (Sara) Barnum Harris Wanner West, the first female trainer of German Shepherd dogs, rest in peace.

Maie with Filax