My Moynahan Genealogy Blog: 52 Ancestors #51: Donald Jennings Foreman

Thursday, December 18, 2014

52 Ancestors #51: Donald Jennings Foreman

No Story Too Small has issued a New Year's Challenge: "Have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.”

This is one of three year-end blog posts dedicated to my husband's family tree. This week it is the Foreman family tree.

Grandfather and grandmother Foreman from Cindi Foreman on Vimeo.

I have only recently begun my research on my husband's grandfather Donald Jennings Foreman who lived and worked in Mimico and New Toronto. Donald Jennings Foreman was a Hydro Superintendent in Mimico, Ontario.

Donald Jennings was born on an Alberta homestead on the 6th of March 1911, son of Frederick Dixon Foreman and Anna/Hannah Otila Hegna.

Donald's mother Hannah (Hegna) Foreman (1885-1965) was born in Wisconsin and was the daughter of Ole and Emma (Hanson) Hegna who emigrated from Norway

Ole. O Hegna (emigrated from Norway between 1861-1862)
Emma C. (Hanson) (emigrated from Norway 1872)

Donald's parents (Hannah Hegna and Frederick Dixon Foreman) were married on the 10th of April 1907 in Spokane, Washington, U.S.A.

Donald's mother was a dressmaker at the time and his father's occupation is listed as carpenter on the marriage certificate below.

Marriage certificate of Donald Jennings Foreman's parents (Source: Washington, Marriage Records, 1865-2004 Author Ancestry.com Publisher Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Publisher Date 2012 Publisher Location Provo, UT, USA

Between 1907 and 1911, Frederick Dixon and Hannah (Hegna) Foreman made their way to Calgary Alberta where daughters Lola (Nichola) and Geraldine and, their first son, Donald Jennings were born. Frederick's occupation is listed as carpenter.

In 1921, the Foreman family moved to Beamsville, Ontario and two more children were born: Shirley (born 1914 in Alberta) and Kenneth (born 1920 in Ontario). (Patricia was born later in 1922)

Donald Meets Margaret Veronica Conlin

Donald Jennings & Margaret Veronica (Conlon) Foreman

Margaret Veronica Conlin was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Greer) Conlon who were from Ireland an Scotland (respectively).

Donald Jennings Foreman lived on Lakeshore Blvd and worked in Mimico, Ontario as a Hydro Superintendent. The couple had three sons: Tom, Joe and Pete.

Donald died suddenly at St. Michael's hospital In Toronto. The funeral was held at St. Leo's church in Mimico and he is buried at Mount Peace Cemetry on Cawthra Road, Mississauga.