52 Ancestors No.1: Hannah (Hegna) Foreman (1885-1965)

This is the first of 52 blog posts for the  52 Ancestors challenge ~ 2015 edition. The original idea was to  "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 week's blog post is about my husband's Norwegian (paternal) great grandmother Hannah (Hegna) Foreman. It was a real challenge to track her records in two states (Wisconsin and Washington), two provinces (Alberta and Ontario) and multiple cities. And I still have not tracked down any photographs but I have only just begun.

This is what I have so far:

1885 Birth: Wisconsin

Hannah was born in Wisconsin on the 19th of July 1885, daughter of Norwegian emigrant Ola. O Hegna (emigrated from Norway 1862) and Emma C. (Hanson) (emigrated from Norway 1872)

Hannah had three sisters (Mable, Rena and Ella) and one brother (Carl). 

1900 Census: Spokane, Washington

In this census, we learn that Hannah's father Ola is a house carpenter. We can also determine from this census that the family moved from Wisconsin to Washington some time between the births of  Rena (1888 Wisconsin) and Oscar (1891 Washington).

"United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11841-133750-79?cc=1325221 : accessed 7 January 2015), Washington > Spokane > ED 54 Fairfield, McCoy, and Rockford Precincts Rockford town > image 25 of 38; citing NARA microfilm publication T623, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.

1907 Marriage: Spokane, Washington

Hannah married Frederick Dixon Foreman on the 10th of April 1907 in Washington, U.S.A. when she was 21 years old. She was a dressmaker at the time. Frederick's occupation is listed as carpenter.

1907 Marriage Certificate

1911 Census: Calgary Alberta

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

Year: 1911; Census Place: Calgary, Calgary, Alberta; Page: 36; Family No: 252

1921 Census: Beamsville, Ontario

In 1921, the Foremans are found in Beamsville, Ontario and two more children have arrived: Shirley (born 1914 in Alberta) and Kenneth (born 1920 in Ontario). (Patricia will be born in 1922)

Hannah's language is listed as Norwegian and she is shown to have naturalized in 1907. 

(It is interesting to note that Frederick's income is recorded as $2000 which is notably high in comparison to other carpenters of the day?)

Year: 1921: Reference Number: RG 31; Folder Number: 70;
Census Place: Beamsville (Village), Lincoln, Ontario;
Page Number: 17

Beamsville Ontario (circa 1910)
Toronto Public Library Special Collection

1940 Voters List - Newtonbrook

1945 Voters List - Eglinton, Toronto City

In 1945, Fred and Hannah were living with Patricia on Eglinton Avenue.

Hannah is a dressamaker and Frederick is a carpenter.

1949 Voters List - Florence Avenue, North York

In 1949 Frederick and Hannah are living with their daughter Patricia (Foreman) sutton and her husband. Fred is still working as a carpenter.

1965 Death: Toronto, Ontario

Norway Links

• Norway Genealogy

U.S.A. Links:

• Spokane Library Genealogy Resources
• Family Search: Spokane Washington
• Flickr Toronto Public Library Photo Collection

Ontario Links:

• Newtonbrook photos - Toronto Public Library
• Lincoln Public Library photos
• Niagara Green Belt Historic Houses