Aunt Lilian, who was quite the matriarch and a bit of a terror of the family in her later years, may have been the mother of her purported younger brother Milton Slinkey.

She had her own murky pedigree. Likely born a year before the marriage of Christina Dern and J.E. Slinkey, she may not have been officially related to the Schlinke family. One tidbit: J.E. Slinkey's niece wrote in 1950 that her uncle left Australia "for San Francisco where he lived until he died; he married but had no family; adopted a son & daughter."

Lilian, trained as an opera singer, was a music teacher and often went by the name of "Madame Durini." While in some articles and censuses her first name is spelled with two l's, it often just has one.

The 1880s

April 23, 1885: Lillian publishes in the Sausalito News a brief quote in memory of Francis Marion Slinkey: "One less to love on earth, One more to love in heaven. - Sister Lillie."

June 6, 1885: Miss Lillie attended a 'hop' at El Monte Hotel with Col. and Mrs. J.E. Slinkey. (Sausalito News, June 11, 1885)

June 18, 1885: "Miss Lillie Slinkey left last Monday for Nevada City, Cal. to be gone almost a month." (Sausalito News)

July 9, 1885: "The following from the Nevada Daily Transcript of last Saturday shows the appreciation for our Sausalitans in other places: 'There will be preaching at the Congregational Church to-morrow morning and evening by Rev. J. Tims, the pastor. An attractive feature of the evening service will be the singing of Millard's 'Ave Maria' by Miss Lillie Slinkey, of Sausalito." (Sausalito News)

July 23, 1885: J.E., Mrs., and Lillie attend at party on ship "Imberhorn". Miss Lillie Slinkey has returned from Nevada City. (Sausalito News)

July 25, 1885: Big party held for Lillian: "Of all the parties given in Sausalito for some weeks past the birthday party given to Miss Lillie Slinkey on last Saturday evening was probably the most enjoyed. Miss Slinkey had but just returned a few days from a month's visit at Nevada City, and the occasion was both a reception and a birthday party to the young lady. The event was marked for the greatest of sociability and the genial hospitality of the host and hostess. Dancing was concluded at 12 o'clock at which time the guests repaired to the supper rooms, and after the much appreciated supplement to their mirth withdrew with happy recollections of their evening's pleasure. Among those who were present were: Miss Louise Mason, Mr. J.E. George, Miss Lillie Hamlin, J. Mathien Jr., Douglas W. Woolley, Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Goodwin, Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Corran, Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Wm. Jenningson, Col. J.E. and Mrs. Slinkey, Frank J. Burns, Captain Malandaine, Miss, Lillie Slinkey, Miss Lisette Crutchley, Charles L. Matthews, Miss Tillie McCarthy, Miss Etta Tracy, Mr. and Mrs. William Winters, Mrs. J.N. Gregory, Werner Stauf, Charles Gundlach, Mrs. Helen Warburton, Miss Kline, Mr. H. Davis, Col. H.J. Brady, Mr. and Mrs. A.G. Booth, Dr. F.S. Udell, Major F.A. Woodworth, Mrs. G.W. Thomas, Mr. Strutton, Miss May Jenningson and Will Donnelly." (Sausalito News, July 30, 1885, Pg 3., col. 4).

August 5, 1885: Father acts as Master of Ceremonies at a party on the ship "Honolulu". Mother and "Miss Lillie Slinkey" listed as attending; music and dancing lasted 'til midnight. (Sausalito News, August 6, 1885.)

August 20, 1885: A musical 'soiree' last Saturday evening in the parlors of the El Monte Hotel was a "treat to all lovers of music" and included amongst 7 singers, the Miss Lillie Slinkey. (Sausalito News)

August 29, 1885: J.E., Christina, Dan, and Lillie Slinkey host a "Domino Party" (masked ball) at the El Monte Hotel: "The initial domino party of Sausalito was held at the 'El Monte' Saturday evening. The dining room was cleared for the dance hall by a committee of arrangements, and the guests were given full possession of it and the parlor for their ball room, and by 9 o'clock the merry dance commenced. A large number of maskers participated and as many more were present as spectators and all equally enjoyed the evening's merriment. A splendid supper was served by Col. Slinkey at 11 o'clock at which time the masks had been removed, and after the pleasures of the festal board on with the dance again." (Sausalito News, September 6, 1885, page 3, col. 2.)

October 4, 1885: Over 100 ladies & gents attended the Bull's Head Breakfast with 6 bull's heads and one lamb being served. An all-day affair, the festivities began around 10 in the morning, with dinner being served at 2:00. At this breakfast of the Society of True Friends. "[A]n additional attraction at the feast was the participation of the ladies, a treat enjoyed for the first time by most of them present." The "breakfast was concluded and washed down with plenty of Slinkey's good cheer in half-pint bottles." Col. and Mrs. Slinkey, and Miss Lillie listed in attendance. (Sausalito News, October 15, 1885)

December 31, 1885: At the social hop at the El Monte Hotel on New Year's Eve, Col. & Mrs. Slinkey, and Miss Lillie, were listed in attendance. (Sausalito News, January 7, 1886)

January 1, 1886: A reception held on board the ship "Thirlmere" on New Year's night included Lillie in list of attendants. Several hours of vocal and instrumental music, recitations and refreshments... (Sausalito News, January 7, 1886)

January 27, 1886: The Reading circle meets at the El Monte Hotel parlors: works of Sir Walter Scott were discussed---"Miss Slinkey's essay being particularly well received." (Sausalito News, January 28, 1886)

The 1890s

August 25, 1894: Lilian K. Slinkey featured on the cover of Pacific Town Talk magazine, promoting her farewell concert. (Read article)

September 1, 1894: Review of concert appears in Pacific Town Talk magazine: "Miss Slinkey never looked lovelier, and her beauty of face and figure should be a strong factor in her success as an operatic prima donna."

October 15, 1899: "In the Public Playhouses--- Miss Lilian K. Slinkey, well known in society circles over the bay, will make her first appearance in concert since her return from Europe, at Sherman, Clay & Co's Hall to-morrow evening. She will sing the arietta from Gounod's 'Romeo and Juliet,' Leoncavallo's Invocation to the Muse, and the Polonaise from 'Mignon.' She will be assisted by Fred Maurer, Miss Marion Bear, Hother Wismer and Arthur T. Regensburger. She has many friends and will have a full house." (San Francisco Chronicle, page 5.)

The 1910s

August 17, 1910: "Miss Lillian Slinkey has reopened her vocal-operatic school. Studio, 200, 915 Van Ness." (San Francisco Chronicle, page 12, col. 6)