Friday's Faces From The Past: Hattie & Olive

2x-Great-Grandmother Olive Feener and her sister Hattie were born in New Canada, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia to Henry Feener and Mary Ellen Smith. Hattie was the oldest, born on June 14, 1872. Olive was their next child, born on Nov. 11, 1877. Hattie went on to marry Avard Lowe while Olive married first William C. Wentzell and later Harvey Dennis Monroe. Hattie eventually passed away on Oct. 6, 1920. Olive passed away on May 2, 1963. 

In the photograph, Hattie has a ring on her left hand and I believe this to be her wedding ring. Therefore, I suspect that this photograph was taken some time between Aug. 7, 1886 (the date of Hattie's marriage) and Hattie's death.

Hattie (Feener) Lowe (Seated). Olive (Feener) Monroe (Standing).

Copyright © 2015, David J. McRae

Friday's Faces From The Past: Harvey Dennis Monroe

Harvey Dennis Monroe

2x-great-grandfather Harvey Dennis Monroe was born on March 10, 1873 in Annapolis, Nova Scotia to William Monroe and Mary.

On December 13, 1897, he married Olive Feener in Clementsport, Annapolis, Nova Scotia. The went on to have three children, Lemuel, Maud, and Elsie Jean.

In the mid 1900's, Harvey and his family left Nova Scotia for America. They first settled in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where Harvey worked as a coal miner. Around 1909, they left Wilkes-Barre for Brockton, Massachusetts. They travelled from Wilkes-Barre to Brockton via train, where they met Theodore Roosevelt. Upon arriving in Brockton, they first settled on Wheeler Ave before moving to Plamer Street shortly afterwards. They eventually left Palmer Street in the early 1920's, moving to Myrtle Street. Harvey moved for a final time at the end of the 1920's, moving to 39 Lincoln Road, where he remained until his death.

Over the years, Harvey had a variety of occupations, including coal miner, chef, clerk, salesman, restaurant proprietor, and owner of Brockton Ice & Coal.

Harvey passed away suddenly on January 8, 1948 at his home, eating a chocolate while listening to Amos n' Andy. His funeral was conducted on January 11 from the funeral home located at 81 Green St, Brockton. Interment was in South Easton Cemetery, South Easton, Massachusetts.

Copyright © 2015, David J. McRae

Friday's Faces of the Past: Lemuel & Alice's Wedding

Some time in the 1940's, my great-grandmother's brother, Lemuel Monroe, wed Alice B. Phillips. The photo above is from their wedding day, taken outside of the church. It was given to me by my cousin and great-grandmother's niece, Olive Bryan.

Standing at the very front of the photo are the bride and bridegroom.

Standing on the far left is my great-great-grandmother (Lemuel's mother), Olive (Feener) Monroe.

Standing in the very back (the only man in the photo with a hat on) is Olive's husband, Lemuel's father, and my great-great-grandfather, Harvey D. Monroe.

Standing to the far right is Lemuel's first cousin-in-law (the daughter-in-law of Olive Monroe's late sister), Flora (Bruhm) Lowe.

Standing directly behind Alice and Lemuel is Lemuel's half-brother (Olive Monroe's son from her first marriage), William Wentzell.

Copyright © 2015, David J. McRae

Friday's Faces From The Past: Olive Florence (Feener) Monroe

Olive Monroe's photograph from her certificate of naturalization.
(October 1945)

Olive Monroe was my great-great-grandmother. Born on November 11, 1877 in New Canada, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, she was the daughter of Henry Feener, a farmer, and Mary Ellen Smith. She grew up on a farm in New Germany with older sister Hattie, younger sister Maud May, and younger brother, James Lemuel. 

She married twice, the first to William C. Wentzell on September 19, 1892 in New Canada, and the second to Harvey Dennis Monroe on December 13, 1897 in Clementsport, Annapolis, Nova Scotia. She had four children, William N. Wentzell (born 1895), Lemuel Raymond Monroe (b. 1898), Elsie Jean Monroe (b. 1900/1901), and Maud M. Monroe (b. 1902). 

In the early 1900's (after the birth of Maud), Olive and her family left Nova Scotia and immigrated to the United States, first residing in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and later Brockton, Massachusetts, where Olive would remain until her death on May 2, 1963. She became a naturalized citizen of the United States on October 19, 1945 at the age of sixty-six.

Copyright © 2015, David J. McRae