Michael and Charlottie Mauss of Murray, Utah, were married in 1893 and went on to have a total of nine children, including a set of triplets.
The triplets — one boy, followed by two girls — were born on October 16, 1900. They were named Vinal, Velma, and Vilda. (At the age of 90, Vinal told a reporter: “Vinal sounds the same as vinyl, but I came first.”)
Believed to be the first surviving set of triplets born west of the Mississippi, the trio was exhibited at the Utah State Fair in 1907.
Where did their names come from?
Family legend has it a friend of their mother’s heard the names somewhere, and in the excitement or exhaustion of having triplets, Mr. and Mrs. Mauss agreed to them.
(The name Velma was relatively common back in those days, but the names Vinal and Vilda were not.)
The triplets’ two older siblings were named Myrtle and Michael, and their four younger siblings were named Adella, Ruby, Lowell, and Afton.
What do you think of Vinal, Velma, and Vilda as triplet names?
Sources:
- “Murray Triplets to be Placed on Exhibition at State Fair.” Salt Lake Herald 26 Sept. 1907: 12.
- Wells, Elayne. “Triplets Celebrate 90th Birthday.” Deseret News 30 Jun. 1990.
- “Triplets, at 90, still vigorous.” Tulare Advance-Register 21 Dec. 1990: 3.
- Jacobsen-Wells, JoAnn. “Triplets Celebrate 91st Birthdays Thanks to Utah and ‘Man Upstairs’.” Deseret News 17 Oct. 1991.
- Michael Mauss – Find a Grave
Images: Clippings from the Salt Lake Herald (4 Oct. 1901 and 26 Sept. 1907)