Biography
B. 21 Dec 1856 in Stockton Springs, Maine
M. 17 Jul 1879 in Boston, Massachusetts
Husband: George Henry Hewes
D. 12 Jul 1916 in Berkeley, California
Religion was a backdrop to much of Nancy Sophia French's life. She was born on December 21, 1856 in Stockton Springs, Maine, into a deeply religious New England family which could trace its roots back to the early Puritan settlers. Her father, Reverend James Riddle French, was a minister who died three months after she was born. Her mother, Sophia Kittredge, had Nancy baptized just a few days after her father's funeral. As her mother wrote, "I had her baptised when our friends were assembled to look at the lifeless remains of her dear father.?Could her father have spoken, I doubt not he would have rejoiced."
While still a small child, her mother put Nancy and her older brother, James, into the care of their grandfather Abel Kittredge in New Hampshire, and went off to school in Dorchester, Massachusetts. In 1860, Nancy was living in Boston with her grandfather and his family, while her mother lived at a nearby boarding school where she taught. Nancy seems to have been reunited with her mother in 1861 after the teaching job ended. Money was tight as her mother first ran a boardinghouse, then later worked as a city missionary. As she grew up in Boston, Nancy seems to have gotten a good education, and a school report she wrote on Alfred the Great has been passed down in the family.
On July 17, 1879, Nancy married George Henry Hewes, an immigrant from Canada. Nancy's cousin, George Lyman Kittredge, later a very prominent professor at Harvard, was best man at the wedding. George and Nancy took her mother and grandfather into their home in Boston. In 1880, Nancy gave birth to a girl named Eleanor, then in about 1882, the family, including Nancy's mother, relocated to Le Mars, Iowa. Nancy had three children born in Le Mars ? Charles, Gertrude and Olive. In June 1885, a tornado damaged their house, moving it five feet off the foundation, and terrifying the family who sought shelter in the flooded basement. So they decided to leave Iowa and move further west. Nancy's brother, who had changed his name to "Frank Emerson," was living in Los Angeles and encouraged them to join him there.
The Hewes family arrived in Los Angeles in November of 1889. Frank took them in for a short time and helped George find work. Eventually they settled in an area just south of downtown Los Angeles and bought a house. There in 1894, Nancy gave birth to the last of her five children, Faith. George worked as a carriage maker, but on weekends became a preacher. His interest was in helping the poor, and with Nancy's heritage, she was probably also involved in his work. George started a settlement house, and by the turn of the century, was quite well known as a socialist. He even ran for Congress as a socialist candidate in 1902.
After 1904, George seems to have given up preaching and politics. Not long after, son Charles was accepted into the University of California at Berkeley, and Nancy and George decided to relocate the family there. They were there in time to experience the 1906 earthquake; although they suffered no damage, daughter Eleanor sent them a crate of supplies from Los Angeles to get them through a time of food shortages.
The Hewes family remained in Berkeley for several years after Charles graduated from college. Nancy died there from stomach cancer on July 12, 1916. She was buried in an unmarked grave at the Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland.
Children:
1. Eleanor Mabel Hewes ? B. 6 Jul 1880, Boston, Massachusetts; D. 21 Nov 1942, Los Angeles, California; M. James William Elwood (~1869-1925), 18 Feb 1898, Los Angeles, California
2. Charles Edward Hewes ? B. 12 Oct 1883, Le Mars, Iowa; D. 5 Apr 1950, Santa Monica, California; M. Anita Melgrave Winant (1884-1978), 19 Oct 1909, Tucson, Arizona
3. Gertrude Elisabeth Hewes ? B. 22 Sep 1885, Le Mars, Iowa; D. 18 Dec 1968, Alameda, California
4. Olive Beatrice Hewes ? B. 16 Jun 1887, Le Mars, Iowa; D. 6 Jan 1966, Los Angeles, California; M. Milo Joseph Markel (1883-1951), 31 Mar 1908, Los Angeles, California
5. Faith Augusta Hewes ? B. 11 Aug 1894, Los Angeles, California; D. 17 Aug 1974, Merced, California; M. Karl Milton Koch (1894-1955), 23 Aug 1918, Los Angeles, California
Sources:
Family Bible of James and Sophia French
Family Bible of George and Nancy Hewes
Letter from Sophia French to Abel Kittredge, 31 Mar 1857
Journal of Sophia N. French, 1861
1860, 1870, 1880, 1900 and 1910 U.S. Censuses, Massachusetts and California
City Directories of Boston, Massachusetts, Berkeley, California and Los Angeles, California, 1866-1916
Marriage record of George Henry Hewes and Nancy Sophia French, Boston Massachusetts, 17 Jul 1879
"The Wind's Work," The Evening Sentinel, Le Mars, Iowa, 16 Jun 1885
Letters written by Frank Emerson (nee James French) to Sophia French, Los Angeles, California, 1885-1889
U.S. House of Representatives election results in California, 1902
Death certificate of Nancy S. Hewes, Berkeley, California, 12 Jul 1916
Letters of Maude Graham to Thomas Milton Mitchell, 1965-1981
Family stories of Thomas Milton Mitchell, Maude Graham and Nancy Elwood, 1976-1999
Birth certificate of Eleanor Mabel Hewes, 6 Jul 1880
Death certificate of Eleanor Elwood, 24 Nov 1942
Marriage certificate of James Elwood and Eleanor Hewes, 23 Feb 1898
Death certificate of James William Elwood, 30 Nov 1925
California death records, 1940-1997
Social Security death index
Property Title Statement of Identity, Charles E. Hewes, 5 Dec 1941
California county marriages, 1850-1952
Death certificate of Milo Joseph Markel, 3 May 1951
Property Title Statement of Identity, Faith A. Koch, 15 Dec 1941
- Widow Of A Minister ? Sophia Newell Kittredge
B. 22 Nov 1824 in Nelson, New Hampshire M. 7 Aug 1849 in Nelson, New Hampshire Husband: Reverend James Riddle French D. 22 Dec 1900 in Los Angeles, California Sophia Newell Kittredge was born November 22, 1824 in Nelson, New Hampshire to Abel Kittredge...
- The Woman In The Hoop Skirt ? Maria Bevan
B. 5 Oct 1820 in Halifax, Nova Scotia M. (1) 15 Jan 1838 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Husband: John Baird (or Beard) M. (2) 15 Jun 1842 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Husband: Charles W. Hughes D. 14 Dec 1888 in Boston, Massachusetts...
- Five Feet Tall And Five Feet Wide ? Eleanor Mabel Hewes
B. 6 Jul 1880 in Boston, Massachusetts M. 18 Feb 1898 in Los Angeles, California Husband: James William Elwood D. 21 Nov 1942 in Los Angeles, California Eleanor Mabel Hewes had her beginnings in Boston. She was born there to George Hewes and Nancy French...
- Married His Wife's Half-sister ? Abel Kittredge
B. 14 Nov 1798 in Packersfield, New Hampshire M. (1) 28 Jan 1824 in Nelson, New Hampshire Wife: Sophia Lyman M. (2) 29 Nov 1838 in Nelson, New Hampshire Wife: Anne Marie Lyman D. 13 Sep 1882 in Boston, Massachusetts The son of a Revolutionary War soldier,...
- English Soldier Settling In Canada ? Charles W. Hughes
B. 1819 in Almondsbury, England M. 15 Jun 1842 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Wife: Maria (Bevan) Baird D: before 1864 Emigrated: 4 Sep 1838 Charles Hughes was from a village northeast of Bristol, England called Almondsbury. He was born in 1819...
Biography
A Daughter and Wife of Preachers ? Nancy Sophia French
B. 21 Dec 1856 in Stockton Springs, Maine
M. 17 Jul 1879 in Boston, Massachusetts
Husband: George Henry Hewes
D. 12 Jul 1916 in Berkeley, California
Religion was a backdrop to much of Nancy Sophia French's life. She was born on December 21, 1856 in Stockton Springs, Maine, into a deeply religious New England family which could trace its roots back to the early Puritan settlers. Her father, Reverend James Riddle French, was a minister who died three months after she was born. Her mother, Sophia Kittredge, had Nancy baptized just a few days after her father's funeral. As her mother wrote, "I had her baptised when our friends were assembled to look at the lifeless remains of her dear father.?Could her father have spoken, I doubt not he would have rejoiced."
Nancy with brother James in about 1861
While still a small child, her mother put Nancy and her older brother, James, into the care of their grandfather Abel Kittredge in New Hampshire, and went off to school in Dorchester, Massachusetts. In 1860, Nancy was living in Boston with her grandfather and his family, while her mother lived at a nearby boarding school where she taught. Nancy seems to have been reunited with her mother in 1861 after the teaching job ended. Money was tight as her mother first ran a boardinghouse, then later worked as a city missionary. As she grew up in Boston, Nancy seems to have gotten a good education, and a school report she wrote on Alfred the Great has been passed down in the family.
Nancy's school report on Alfred the Great
On July 17, 1879, Nancy married George Henry Hewes, an immigrant from Canada. Nancy's cousin, George Lyman Kittredge, later a very prominent professor at Harvard, was best man at the wedding. George and Nancy took her mother and grandfather into their home in Boston. In 1880, Nancy gave birth to a girl named Eleanor, then in about 1882, the family, including Nancy's mother, relocated to Le Mars, Iowa. Nancy had three children born in Le Mars ? Charles, Gertrude and Olive. In June 1885, a tornado damaged their house, moving it five feet off the foundation, and terrifying the family who sought shelter in the flooded basement. So they decided to leave Iowa and move further west. Nancy's brother, who had changed his name to "Frank Emerson," was living in Los Angeles and encouraged them to join him there.
The Hewes family arrived in Los Angeles in November of 1889. Frank took them in for a short time and helped George find work. Eventually they settled in an area just south of downtown Los Angeles and bought a house. There in 1894, Nancy gave birth to the last of her five children, Faith. George worked as a carriage maker, but on weekends became a preacher. His interest was in helping the poor, and with Nancy's heritage, she was probably also involved in his work. George started a settlement house, and by the turn of the century, was quite well known as a socialist. He even ran for Congress as a socialist candidate in 1902.
Nancy Hewes in about 1900
After 1904, George seems to have given up preaching and politics. Not long after, son Charles was accepted into the University of California at Berkeley, and Nancy and George decided to relocate the family there. They were there in time to experience the 1906 earthquake; although they suffered no damage, daughter Eleanor sent them a crate of supplies from Los Angeles to get them through a time of food shortages.
The Hewes family remained in Berkeley for several years after Charles graduated from college. Nancy died there from stomach cancer on July 12, 1916. She was buried in an unmarked grave at the Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland.
Children:
1. Eleanor Mabel Hewes ? B. 6 Jul 1880, Boston, Massachusetts; D. 21 Nov 1942, Los Angeles, California; M. James William Elwood (~1869-1925), 18 Feb 1898, Los Angeles, California
2. Charles Edward Hewes ? B. 12 Oct 1883, Le Mars, Iowa; D. 5 Apr 1950, Santa Monica, California; M. Anita Melgrave Winant (1884-1978), 19 Oct 1909, Tucson, Arizona
3. Gertrude Elisabeth Hewes ? B. 22 Sep 1885, Le Mars, Iowa; D. 18 Dec 1968, Alameda, California
4. Olive Beatrice Hewes ? B. 16 Jun 1887, Le Mars, Iowa; D. 6 Jan 1966, Los Angeles, California; M. Milo Joseph Markel (1883-1951), 31 Mar 1908, Los Angeles, California
5. Faith Augusta Hewes ? B. 11 Aug 1894, Los Angeles, California; D. 17 Aug 1974, Merced, California; M. Karl Milton Koch (1894-1955), 23 Aug 1918, Los Angeles, California
Sources:
Family Bible of James and Sophia French
Family Bible of George and Nancy Hewes
Letter from Sophia French to Abel Kittredge, 31 Mar 1857
Journal of Sophia N. French, 1861
1860, 1870, 1880, 1900 and 1910 U.S. Censuses, Massachusetts and California
City Directories of Boston, Massachusetts, Berkeley, California and Los Angeles, California, 1866-1916
Marriage record of George Henry Hewes and Nancy Sophia French, Boston Massachusetts, 17 Jul 1879
"The Wind's Work," The Evening Sentinel, Le Mars, Iowa, 16 Jun 1885
Letters written by Frank Emerson (nee James French) to Sophia French, Los Angeles, California, 1885-1889
U.S. House of Representatives election results in California, 1902
Death certificate of Nancy S. Hewes, Berkeley, California, 12 Jul 1916
Letters of Maude Graham to Thomas Milton Mitchell, 1965-1981
Family stories of Thomas Milton Mitchell, Maude Graham and Nancy Elwood, 1976-1999
Birth certificate of Eleanor Mabel Hewes, 6 Jul 1880
Death certificate of Eleanor Elwood, 24 Nov 1942
Marriage certificate of James Elwood and Eleanor Hewes, 23 Feb 1898
Death certificate of James William Elwood, 30 Nov 1925
California death records, 1940-1997
Social Security death index
Property Title Statement of Identity, Charles E. Hewes, 5 Dec 1941
California county marriages, 1850-1952
Death certificate of Milo Joseph Markel, 3 May 1951
Property Title Statement of Identity, Faith A. Koch, 15 Dec 1941
- Widow Of A Minister ? Sophia Newell Kittredge
B. 22 Nov 1824 in Nelson, New Hampshire M. 7 Aug 1849 in Nelson, New Hampshire Husband: Reverend James Riddle French D. 22 Dec 1900 in Los Angeles, California Sophia Newell Kittredge was born November 22, 1824 in Nelson, New Hampshire to Abel Kittredge...
- The Woman In The Hoop Skirt ? Maria Bevan
B. 5 Oct 1820 in Halifax, Nova Scotia M. (1) 15 Jan 1838 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Husband: John Baird (or Beard) M. (2) 15 Jun 1842 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Husband: Charles W. Hughes D. 14 Dec 1888 in Boston, Massachusetts...
- Five Feet Tall And Five Feet Wide ? Eleanor Mabel Hewes
B. 6 Jul 1880 in Boston, Massachusetts M. 18 Feb 1898 in Los Angeles, California Husband: James William Elwood D. 21 Nov 1942 in Los Angeles, California Eleanor Mabel Hewes had her beginnings in Boston. She was born there to George Hewes and Nancy French...
- Married His Wife's Half-sister ? Abel Kittredge
B. 14 Nov 1798 in Packersfield, New Hampshire M. (1) 28 Jan 1824 in Nelson, New Hampshire Wife: Sophia Lyman M. (2) 29 Nov 1838 in Nelson, New Hampshire Wife: Anne Marie Lyman D. 13 Sep 1882 in Boston, Massachusetts The son of a Revolutionary War soldier,...
- English Soldier Settling In Canada ? Charles W. Hughes
B. 1819 in Almondsbury, England M. 15 Jun 1842 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Wife: Maria (Bevan) Baird D: before 1864 Emigrated: 4 Sep 1838 Charles Hughes was from a village northeast of Bristol, England called Almondsbury. He was born in 1819...