Theme: "Non-Population" | Images: Click to enlarge
Updated: 9 Sep 2015, added move to Norfolk Nebraska in 1945
Miss Alice ANDREW, my Great Aunt. My Great Aunt Alice ANDREW didn’t have any children. So I guess you could say that she created "no additional population”. I'm really taking liberties with the theme this week, but I couldn’t seem to focus on any ancestors who might have been in the “non-population” census schedules for agriculture, industry, manufacturers or even the 1890 Union veterans. Although we have no shortages of farmers or agricultural laborers in our trees, I have not yet done justice to these additional sources of information.
Ida Alice ANDREW was known in the family as “Aunt Alice”. She was the eldest of nine children born to William ANDREW and Harriet Washbourne COMPTON on 10 August 1871 in St Eleanors, Prince Edward Island. As the family grew, her mother must have relied on her to help care for the younger children on their family farm. By 1881 five children had arrived, and by 1891 all nine children had been born and were living with their parents. Harry ANDREW, the baby of the family and my grandfather, was then only age one, going on two. I cannot find Alice in the 1901 census, but according to a short published memoir about her father, Alice was a professional nurse in Charlottetown by 1906. She might also have taken her nurses training in Charlottetown like her younger sisters Isabel ANDREW (who was also trained by 1906) and Mabel ANDREW (who graduated in Charlottetown later in 1918).
Ida Alice ANDREW was known in the family as “Aunt Alice”. She was the eldest of nine children born to William ANDREW and Harriet Washbourne COMPTON on 10 August 1871 in St Eleanors, Prince Edward Island. As the family grew, her mother must have relied on her to help care for the younger children on their family farm. By 1881 five children had arrived, and by 1891 all nine children had been born and were living with their parents. Harry ANDREW, the baby of the family and my grandfather, was then only age one, going on two. I cannot find Alice in the 1901 census, but according to a short published memoir about her father, Alice was a professional nurse in Charlottetown by 1906. She might also have taken her nurses training in Charlottetown like her younger sisters Isabel ANDREW (who was also trained by 1906) and Mabel ANDREW (who graduated in Charlottetown later in 1918).
By 1911, Alice had moved to Winnipeg Manitoba and was working as a nurse, earning an annual salary of about $485. She was 33 years old, still single, and lodging in a women’s boarding house with many other single nurses at 373 Langside (the poor condition of the census image leaves some of these details open to interpretation). At some point Alice met Rev. Ernest John SECKER who was born in Norwich Norfolk England in 1886 and emigrated to Canada about 1910. On 5 Jan 1916, Alice and Ernest married in Winnipeg; Alice was 44 years old and Ernest was not quite 30. Alice's age might have been the key reason why they didn't have any children. By the time of the 1916 census they were living in Marquette Manitoba just north west of Winnipeg. Sometime before 1923 they moved to Selkirk Manitoba, north east of Winnipeg.
As a clergyman in 1923, Ernest accepted a posting to Florence Nebraska to take charge of St Marks Church.
Florence was the earliest settlement in Douglas County in north east Nebraska and had been annexed by the City of Omaha in 1917. On 24 Jan 1923, Ernest and Alice left the Winnipeg area and crossed the US Canadian border bound for Nebraska. In their immigration documents, Alice is described as age 53, 5 foot 7 inches tall with a dark complexion and dark brown hair. Ernest was only 36, 5 foot 5 inches with medium complexion, dark brown hair and brown eyes. I wish I had a photo of them together.
As a clergyman in 1923, Ernest accepted a posting to Florence Nebraska to take charge of St Marks Church.
Florence was the earliest settlement in Douglas County in north east Nebraska and had been annexed by the City of Omaha in 1917. On 24 Jan 1923, Ernest and Alice left the Winnipeg area and crossed the US Canadian border bound for Nebraska. In their immigration documents, Alice is described as age 53, 5 foot 7 inches tall with a dark complexion and dark brown hair. Ernest was only 36, 5 foot 5 inches with medium complexion, dark brown hair and brown eyes. I wish I had a photo of them together.
Alice sometimes traveled on her own back to Prince Edward Island during the summer months to visit relatives and perhaps to lend a hand. My Great Uncle Fred MAY (her brother-in-law) had a camera, and in the 20s and 30s at least, Alice would often be included in his photos. In July 1927 she is pictured twice, once outside her sister Mabel MAY’s house in North St Eleanors, and again on a ferry boat with her sister Mabel, perhaps bound for Nova Scotia to visit their brother Albert ANDREW. (Mabel’s hat looks a trifle moth eaten to me!) On 1 Aug 1935 Alice was part of a large family group photo, sitting next to her sister Mabel. That same summer she’s shown having a more casual meal with Mabel in the May’s back garden.
Miss Alice ANDREW prior to 1910 with three ofher brother's children: Marjorie, Gerald, and Geoff ANDREW;
the youngest was born 1906
Probably the earliest photo I have of Alice was taken prior to 1910 and shows her with a niece and two nephews. What a marvelous hat she wore, which helped soften her tailored suit. Thanks to another relative, I also have a lovely photo of Alice ANDREW in a long light-colored dress and accompany hat and dark parasol (see the beginning of this post). As her maiden name was written on the back of that photo, it was presumably taken before she married Ernest in 1916 as well.
Alice and Ernest continued to live in Nebraska for the rest of their lives. In 1930 and 1940 their address was 8011 31st Street in the north end of Omaha quite close to the Missouri River. There is no such address today. At that time, St Marks Episcopal Church was located at 31st and Young Streets (today that location is occupied by the Promised Land Worship Center, 8019 North 31st). So they were living just down the road, if not next door, to St Marks Church. In 1945 Ernest became the priest at Trinity Church in Norfolk Nebraska in Madison County, north west of Omaha.
Alice died in Omaha in 1956, with Ernest following her in 1976. They were buried side by side in the Prospect Hill Cemetery, Norfolk Nebraska.
Alice and Ernest continued to live in Nebraska for the rest of their lives. In 1930 and 1940 their address was 8011 31st Street in the north end of Omaha quite close to the Missouri River. There is no such address today. At that time, St Marks Episcopal Church was located at 31st and Young Streets (today that location is occupied by the Promised Land Worship Center, 8019 North 31st). So they were living just down the road, if not next door, to St Marks Church. In 1945 Ernest became the priest at Trinity Church in Norfolk Nebraska in Madison County, north west of Omaha.
Alice died in Omaha in 1956, with Ernest following her in 1976. They were buried side by side in the Prospect Hill Cemetery, Norfolk Nebraska.
REFERENCES and FURTHER READING
Historic Florence Nebraska
Florence Nebraska History
Douglas County Historical Society
Florence Nebraska, Wikipedia site
D G Paz, “A Study in Adaptability: The Episcopal Church in Omaha, 1856-1919,” Nebraska History 62 (1981): 107-130
Trinity Episcopal Church, 111 South Ninth Street Norfolk, NE 68701
Historic Florence Nebraska
Florence Nebraska History
Douglas County Historical Society
Florence Nebraska, Wikipedia site
D G Paz, “A Study in Adaptability: The Episcopal Church in Omaha, 1856-1919,” Nebraska History 62 (1981): 107-130
Trinity Episcopal Church, 111 South Ninth Street Norfolk, NE 68701
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