Bates, John

Mrs. Charlotte Bates died at Petersburg recently at the age of 78 years. She was born in England and came with her husband to South Australia 51 years ago. They settled on Kangaroo Island, where Mr. Bates died, in 1894. Mrs. Bates and her family then left for Petersburg. There are six children living, namely, Mesdames C. J. May (Kangaroo Island), J. H. Hosting [sic] (Zion City, U.S.A.), and. E. A. Burr (Broken Hill); and Messrs. F. J. Bates, C. G. Bates, and W. J. Bates (all of Broken Hill).


PERSONAL NEWS. (1917, July 23). The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA : 1867 - 1922), p. 1 (5 O'CLOCK EDITION.).http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article209765101


Descendants of :

John BATES

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Generation 1

1. John BATES was born 15 Feb 1837 in Preston, Sussex, England and died 12 Aug 1894 in Adelaide, SA. He married Charlotte WISDOM 1859 in Brighton, Sussex, England. She was born 19 Jan 1839 in Brighton, Sussex, England and died 16 Jul 1917 in Peterborough, SA.

Other events in the life of John BATES
Census: 1851, Preston, Sussex, England
Immigration: 17 Oct 1865, Adamant
Burial: 14 Aug 1894, West Terrace Cemetery, SA

Children of John BATES and Charlotte WISDOM:
i. 2. Annie BATES was born 09 Sep 1860 in Pyecombe , Sussex, England and died 15 Feb 1934 in Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA
ii. 3. Emma BATES was born 14 Feb 1862 in Sussex, England and died 27 Oct 1908 in Peterborough, SA
iii. 4. Charlotte BATES was born 11 Mar 1865 in Brighton, Sussex, England and died 12 Jul 1908 in Adelaide, SA
iv. 5. Frederick John BATES was born 23 Jun 1867 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 24 Jul 1926 in Peterborough, SA
v. 6. Charles George BATES was born 17 Aug 1869 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 08 May 1943 in Orroroo, SA
vi. Herbert Joseph BATES was born 26 Nov 1871 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 03 Mar 1896 in Adelaide, SA
vii. Susan Elizabeth BATES was born 01 Apr 1874 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 19 Jan 1876 in Stunsail Boom, Kangaroo Island, SA
viii. 7. Selina Sarah Ann (Cissie) BATES was born 06 Jul 1876 in Stunsail Boom River, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 28 Mar 1963 in Zion, Illinois, USA
ix. Rose Emily BATES was born 23 Aug 1878 in Kangaroo Island, SA and died 27 Sep 1905 in Peterborough, SA
x. 8. Edith Mary BATES was born 21 Aug 1881 in Kangaroo Island, SA and died 06 Feb 1925 in Renmark, SA
xi. 9. Walter James BATES was born 06 Aug 1884 in Kangaroo Island, SA and died 16 Sep 1951 in Peterborough, SA

Generation 2

2. Annie BATES was born 09 Sep 1860 in Pyecombe , Sussex, England and died 15 Feb 1934 in Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA. She married Charles James MAY 21 Nov 1878 in Norwood, SA. He was born 11 Jul 1855 in Port Adelaide, SA and died 24 Jul 1931 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA, son of William MAY and Elizabeth HEATH.

Other events in the life of Annie BATES
Burial: Kingscote Cemetery. Kangaroo Island, SA

Children of Annie BATES and Charles James MAY:
i. 10. William John MAY was born 18 Mar 1879 in Studding Sail Boom, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 29 Apr 1966 in Hd Menzies, Kangaroo Island, SA
ii. Susan Elizabeth MAY was born 16 May 1881 in Kangaroo Island, SA and died 30 Aug 1882 in Stunsail Boom, Kangaroo Island, SA
iii. George Charles MAY was born 01 Oct 1883 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 07 Mar 1966 in Northfield, SA
iv. 11. Percy Wisdom MAY was born 07 Dec 1885 in Queenscliffe Kangaroo Island, SA and died 29 Nov 1966 in Eastwood, SA
v. Frederick Edmond MAY was born 30 Apr 1889 in Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 10 Sep 1889
vi. 12. Linda Charlotte MAY was born 13 Feb 1891 in Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 21 Jun 1915 in Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA
vii. 13. Ivy Edith MAY was born 19 May 1893 in Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 08 Mar 1983
viii. 14. Herbert Walter MAY was born 04 Dec 1895 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 22 Mar 1971 in Fullarton, SA
ix. 15. Charles Ernest MAY was born 19 Aug 1898 in Rocky River, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 23 Sep 1980
x. 16. Violet Annie MAY was born 02 Dec 1900 in Rocky River, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 12 Dec 1980

3. Emma BATES was born 14 Feb 1862 in Sussex, England and died 27 Oct 1908 in Peterborough, SA. She married William John EDMONDS 06 Jun 1883 in Adelaide, SA. He was born 22 Apr 1858 in Gumeracha, SA and died 07 May 1944 in Malvern, SA.

4. Charlotte BATES was born 11 Mar 1865 in Brighton, Sussex, England and died 12 Jul 1908 in Adelaide, SA. She married James MELVILLE 04 Sep 1887 in Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA. He was born 09 Sep 1862 in Hay Flat and died 02 Sep 1938 in Adelaide, SA, son of Robert MELVILLE.

Children of Charlotte BATES and James MELVILLE:
i. Harold Edward MELVILLE was born 02 Jun 1886 in Second Valley, SA and died 26 Dec 1898 in North Adelaide, SA
ii. 17. Christine May MELVILLE was born 05 Jun 1890 in Queenscliffe, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 02 Dec 1952 in Naracoorte, SA
iii. Harvey Saunders MELVILLE was born 01 Nov 1891 in Anglecliff, Kangaroo Island
iv. Rob Roy MELVILLE was born 12 Oct 1893 in Queenscliffe, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 24 Jul 1964 in Daw Park, SA
v. 18. Hector Reece MELVELLE was born 24 Jun 1895 in Queenscliffe, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 30 Jan 1954 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA
vi. 19. Elfreda Rosaline MELVELLE was born 08 Jul 1897 in Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 1984 in Victoria, Australia
vii. 20. Coral Francis MELVELLE was born 27 Apr 1900 in Kangaroo Island, SA and died 27 Nov 1985
viii. Aileen Charlotte MELVELLE was born 10 Dec 1901 in Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA
ix. Pearlie Emmaline MELVELLE was born 01 Mar 1904 in Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA
x. 21. James MacLeod (Mac)(Max) MELVELLE was born 28 Jun 1906 in Nailsworth, SA

5. Frederick John BATES was born 23 Jun 1867 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 24 Jul 1926 in Peterborough, SA. He married Alice Louisa THOMPSON 01 Mar 1911 in Prospect, SA. She was born 08 Mar 1880 in Nailsworth, SA and died 11 Jan 1969 in Peterborough, SA, daughter of Thomas THOMPSON and Alice BASSETT.

Children of Frederick John BATES and Alice Louisa THOMPSON:
i. Reginald Frederick BATES was born 22 Aug 1920 in Peterborough, SA and died 10 Nov 2004

6. Charles George BATES was born 17 Aug 1869 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 08 May 1943 in Orroroo, SA. He married Annie SEMMENS 1898 in Broken Hill, NSW. She was born ABT 1875 and died 03 Jul 1943 in Orroroo, SA.

Other events in the life of Charles George BATES
Burial: Orroroo cemetery

Children of Charles George BATES and Annie SEMMENS:
i. 22. Rita Doreen BATES was born 1899 in Broken Hill, NSW and died 28 Mar 1972 in Orroroo, SA
ii. Stella P. BATES was born 1900 in Broken Hill, NSW and died 1901 in Broken Hill, NSW
iii. Edna L. BATES was born 1902 in Broken Hill, NSW and died 1903 in Broken Hill, NSW
iv. 23. Dorothy Irene BATES was born 1904 in Broken Hill, NSW
v. John O. BATES was born 1904 in Broken Hill, NSW and died 1904 in Broken Hill, NSW
vi. 24. Stanley Clifford BATES was born 1905 in Broken Hill, NSW and died 05 Jul 1971 in Broken Hill, NSW
vii. Clem R. (Sally) BATES was born 1908 in Broken Hill, NSW and died 11 Aug 1978 in Broken Hill, NSW

7. Selina Sarah Ann (Cissie) BATES was born 06 Jul 1876 in Stunsail Boom River, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 28 Mar 1963 in Zion, Illinois, USA. She married John Henry HOSKEN 26 Nov 1893 in Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA. He was born 28 Aug 1864 in Edwardstown, SA and died 26 May 1945 in Zion, Illinois, USA, son of William HOSKEN and Elizabeth BROADBENT.

Other events in the life of Selina Sarah Ann (Cissie) BATES
Emigration: 1904, Canada then USA

Children of Selina Sarah Ann (Cissie) BATES and John Henry HOSKEN:
i. Ethel Elizabeth HOSKEN was born 22 Oct 1894 and died 22 Aug 1935 in USA
ii. Walter Henry HOSKEN was born 22 Sep 1896 in Mount Pleasant, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 02 Apr 1920
iii. Frederick John HOSKEN was born 22 Nov 1898 in Mount Pleasant, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 04 Mar 1981 in Colorado, USA
iv. Ernest William HOSKEN was born 13 Nov 1900 in Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA and died Apr 1984 in Zion, Illinois, USA
v. Wilber Glen (Dick) HOSKEN was born 12 Dec 1902 in Hope Valley, SA and died 05 Apr 1979
vi. Herbert Stanley HOSKEN was born 22 Oct 1910 in Zion, Illinois, USA and died 20 Nov 1910 in Zion, Illinois, USA
vii. 25. Roy Luke HOSKEN was born 10 May 1908 in Zion, Illinois, USA and died 07 Jan 1962
viii. Sylvia Mae HOSKEN was born 17 Dec 1913 in Zion, Illinois, USA and died in Kootenai, Idaho, USA
ix. 26. Harold James HOSKEN was born 13 Sep 1916 in Zion, Illinois, USA and died 28 Aug 1967 in Denver, Colorado, USA
x. Mary Agnes HOSKEN was born 04 Apr 1919 in Zion, Illinois, USA

8. Edith Mary BATES was born 21 Aug 1881 in Kangaroo Island, SA and died 06 Feb 1925 in Renmark, SA. She married Edmund Albert BURR 1914 in Broken Hill, NSW. He was born 30 Jan 1874 in at sea aboard the Forfarshire and died 17 Mar 1940 in Renmark, SA, son of Fredrick BURR and Philadelphia Watkins COLLINS.

Children of Edith Mary BATES and Edmund Albert BURR:
i. Joyce Evelyn (Brig) BURR was born 17 Dec 1918 in Broken Hill, NSW and died 21 Sep 1992 in Adelaide, SA

9. Walter James BATES was born 06 Aug 1884 in Kangaroo Island, SA and died 16 Sep 1951 in Peterborough, SA. He married Rhoda May HATWELL 20 Mar 1907 in Peterborough, SA. She was born 27 May 1884 in Outalpa, SA, daughter of Harry Sumner HATWELL.

Generation 3

10. William John MAY was born 18 Mar 1879 in Studding Sail Boom, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 29 Apr 1966 in Hd Menzies, Kangaroo Island, SA. He married Caroline (Carlina) TILKA 24 Jan 1905 in J J Bates Schoolroom Cygnet River KI. She was born 27 Oct 1876 in nr Riverton, SA and died 29 Jan 1959 in Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA, daughter of Martin TILKA and Maria KSCHIWAN.

Other events in the life of William John MAY
Burial: , Kingscote Cemetery. Kangaroo Island, SA
Electoral roll: BET 1939 & 1943, Kingscote, Kangaroo Island

11. Percy Wisdom MAY was born 07 Dec 1885 in Queenscliffe Kangaroo Island, SA and died 29 Nov 1966 in Eastwood, SA. He married Millicent WIGNEY 02 Feb 1910 in Adelaide, SA. She was born 11 Jan 1874 in Penola, SA and died 06 Jun 1956 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA, daughter of William WIGNEY and Martha CLEE.

Other events in the life of Percy Wisdom MAY
Electoral roll: BET 1939 & 1943, Kingscote, Kangaroo Island

12. Linda Charlotte MAY was born 13 Feb 1891 in Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 21 Jun 1915 in Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA. She married John Frederick BOETTCHER 18 Nov 1911 in Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA. He was born 09 Nov 1882 in Blyth Plains, SA and died 01 Jan 1941 in Booleroo Centre, SA, son of Johann Frederick (John) BOETTCHER and Martha Sophia Minna SCHULZE.

Other events in the life of Linda Charlotte MAY
Burial: Kingscote Cemetery, Kangaroo Island, SA

13. Ivy Edith MAY was born 19 May 1893 in Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 08 Mar 1983. She married Carl Alfred BOETTCHER 07 Dec 1910 in Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA. He was born 17 Aug 1888 in Blyth, SA and died 05 Apr 1967 in Maylands, SA, son of Johann Frederick (John) BOETTCHER and Martha Sophia Minna SCHULZE.

Other events in the life of Ivy Edith MAY
Electoral roll: BET 1939 & 1943, Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island

14. Herbert Walter MAY was born 04 Dec 1895 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 22 Mar 1971 in Fullarton, SA. He married Alison Marjorie CLARK 15 Dec 1921 in Glenelg, SA. She was born 16 Oct 1900 in Prospect, SA and died 25 Mar 1986, daughter of William CLARK and Rosina PUDNEY.

Other events in the life of Herbert Walter MAY
Electoral roll: BET 1939 & 1941, Kingscote, Kangaroo Island

15. Charles Ernest MAY was born 19 Aug 1898 in Rocky River, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 23 Sep 1980. He married Clara Elsie BOETTCHER 13 Sep 1920 in Kent Town, SA. She was born 24 Mar 1893 in Blyth, SA and died 31 Oct 1966 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA, daughter of Johann Frederick (John) BOETTCHER and Martha Sophia Minna SCHULZE.

Other events in the life of Charles Ernest MAY
Electoral roll: BET 1939 & 1943, Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island

16. Violet Annie MAY was born 02 Dec 1900 in Rocky River, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 12 Dec 1980. She married Andrew Christian OSTERSTOCK 10 Dec 1918 in Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA. He was born 01 May 1892 in Exeter, SA and died 21 Nov 1946 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA, son of Andrew George OSTERSTOCK and Eleanor RANSON.

Other events in the life of Violet Annie MAY
Burial: Kingscote Cemetery, Kangaroo Island
Electoral roll: BET 1939 & 1941, Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island

17. Christine May MELVILLE was born 05 Jun 1890 in Queenscliffe, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 02 Dec 1952 in Naracoorte, SA. She married Francis Thomas BARRETT 08 Feb 1913 in Kent Town, SA. He was born 02 Jun 1888 in Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 23 Jun 1967 in Naracoorte, SA, son of Francis Thomas BARRETT and Emma SEYMOUR.

18. Hector Reece MELVELLE was born 24 Jun 1895 in Queenscliffe, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 30 Jan 1954 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA. He married Thelma Phyllis ADAMS 23 Aug 1930 in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA. She was born 1910 in Broken Hill, NSW and died 04 Sep 1965 nr Adelaide, SA, daughter of Robert ADAMS.

Other events in the life of Hector Reece MELVELLE
Electoral roll: BET 1939 & 1943, Kingscote, Kangaroo Island
Burial: 17 Mar 1954, Kingscote Cemetery. Kangaroo Island, SA

19. Elfreda Rosaline MELVELLE was born 08 Jul 1897 in Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA and died 1984 in Victoria, Australia. She married Alfred Stanley DART 05 Jul 1916 in Kilcardy, SA. He was born 1890 in Nhill, Victoria and died 23 Jan 1972 in Wendouree, Victoria, Australia.

20. Coral Francis MELVELLE was born 27 Apr 1900 in Kangaroo Island, SA and died 27 Nov 1985. She married Reginald Franklin FAIRBROTHER 07 Feb 1930 in Flinders, SA. He was born 18 Jun 1899 in Malvern, SA and died 12 Oct 1984.

21. James MacLeod (Mac)(Max) MELVELLE was born 28 Jun 1906 in Nailsworth, SA. He married Sylvia G. BAILEY 1939 in Boulder, WA.

22. Rita Doreen BATES was born 1899 in Broken Hill, NSW and died 28 Mar 1972 in Orroroo, SA. She married Clifford Alton HOOPER 1927 in Broken Hill, NSW. He was born 05 Nov 1896 in Walloway, SA and died 18 Aug 1989.

23. Dorothy Irene BATES was born 1904 in Broken Hill, NSW. She married Jack SAMS 1938 in Broken Hill, NSW.

24. Stanley Clifford BATES was born 1905 in Broken Hill, NSW and died 05 Jul 1971 in Broken Hill, NSW. He married Melba Kathleen LLOYD 31 Mar 1937 in Adelaide, SA. She was born ABT 1910, daughter of John Joseph LLOYD.

25. Roy Luke HOSKEN was born 10 May 1908 in Zion, Illinois, USA and died 07 Jan 1962. He married Esther Alberta WADKINS 15 Aug 1935. She was born 24 Feb 1908 in Winconsin, USA and died 23 Nov 1993.

26. Harold James HOSKEN was born 13 Sep 1916 in Zion, Illinois, USA and died 28 Aug 1967 in Denver, Colorado, USA. He married Mildred Elnora RICHARDS 19 Sep 1936. She was born 18 May 1915 in Cottonwood, South Dakota, USA.


Last updated : 2 Aug 2021


Autobiography of Ernest William HOSKEN

It is slightly over 81 years since my birth on November 13, 1900 on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. I was the fourth child in the family. Ethel, Walter and Fred were already on board when I arrived.

Dad’s parents had a ranch and a sail boat that they took to two small islands where they had sheep and where they also used to camp. His father died at this camp and they didn’t know it for several days. The horse came home and they went to see what was wrong. The dog was still with his master.

Dad was called “Ginger” as a young man because of red in his hair and quite a temper.

I’ve often wondered how it came about that dad and mum made the decision to come 10,000 miles to Zion. I believe it started when they joined the Salvation Army in Adelaide. The Christian Catholic Apostolic Church had a branch there and preached against liquor and tobacco just like the Salvation Army.

Then when the literature began to arrive, “The Coming City”, telling about all the restrictions – no liquor, no tobacco etc. They – along with several hundred others – decided they would like to help build such a city. “Easy to do right and hard to do wrong” – that was the motto for the City of Zion.

One group (between 200 and 300) arrived at Vancouver, Canada in April 1904. There were seven of us in our family. Glen (Dick) was a little over one year old and was still a “leaky vessel” according to Mum’s friend, Mrs. George Bright. She and Ethel helped mum a lot in caring for the younger children on the trip. Aunt. Rhoda, Uncle William, their two girls and two boys came over at the same time.

We all arrived safely in Zion City, Illinois in late April and then the fun began. Dad had ordered a six room house to be built to be ready for us on arrival. It wasn’t ready! But, there was a four room house we could use, just south of Zion House. We were there for little over a month but we never forgot that shack. It was the “bug house”. We never really got rid of them until about 1918 when insecticides that were developed during the war became available.

Dad had taken temporary work as a janitor at the big tabernacle. He then took a job shearing a small flock of sheep that were pastured in Beulah Park. The same spring he sheared a small flock on the Ingerson farm just north of Beulah Park. In part payment Ingerson gave him an angora billy goat, a Rhode Island Red rooster and six hens, a bantam rooster and two hens.

Dad heard of work in Chicago and got a job as a warehouseman. It was hard work but he was used to that (shearing is very hard). He took the Chicago North Shore Electric at Twenty-First Street south to “Argo”.

I don’t know how long he had worked there when he had a bad accident. Some heavy bags of starch or sugar fell on him and left him with a hernia and badly bruised. Some friends helped him home, but of course he never went back to that hard work.

He got work with Mr. Arthur Wright at the Zion Feed Store. Mom and Dad decided that Ethel would have to go to work and that we should live closer to town. There was no public transportation. If you didn’t have a horse, you walked. Our house was at 1819 Gilboa Avenue – about one and one-half miles from town. Dad worked ten hours a day, seven days a week. Mom was always tired but they still had to shop.

Walter, Fred, Glen and I didn’t want to move. We hated to leave our friends and the wide open fields especially Beulah Park and the creek where we swam and fished and skated.

But, Ethel got a job at the Lace Factory and Dad made a trade with Zion Realty and we soon found ourselves in a little four room house on Eshcol Avenue near 30th Street. I’ll never forget the first night in that house. We were all very tired. I woke in the night and there was a ghost in the room. I was so scared I couldn’t make a sound. It was a white shirt mother had hung on the back of a chair. We couldn’t take our billy goat or chickens to the new home, but had a lot of memories. The fun we had after dad got us the wagon and the goat harness; the time I fell out of the tree and broke my collar bone and was knocked silly; the time the school let Fred skip a grade. The time we thought the house was on fire and I saved two loaves of bread. Glen had been playing with a candle and matches in the spare room and left the candle on the couch. There was a lot of smoke but the house wasn’t damaged. Fred never forgot accidentally getting his elbow in the hot oil when Mom was making doughnuts. He had the scar all his life. Ethel remembered the ground squirrel she was going to tame – it bit her finger and got away. When we had the measles and chickenpox we ran wild except when we had fever. There were no neighbours within a block.

The little new house was a big mistake and Dad tried to get something more suitable, but Zion City was growing very fast and there were few vacancies. I think it was about two years before we moved again. There were some plusses to this location. Our neighbours were very nice. Mum became good friends with the two maiden aunts. Ethel liked Ruth a lot and I carried Duncan’s books to and from 31st Street School. Their name was Petrie and they had quite a nice two story house. It was much closer to work and town and church and Aunt Rhoda’s.

We hadn’t been moved in very long when Fred got a job. On the other side of the alley (east) Mr. Campbell had a barn. He had three horses and two Jersey cows. He saw us kids playing in the alley and offered Fred a job at 75 cents a day. He was to bring the cows from the pasture in Shiloh Park, help milk, take the cows back, water them at the fountain and stake them out on fresh grass. Then he came back to the barn, harnessed “Bud” and hitched her to a light spring wagon and drove to Needles farm. This was on the west side of Sheridan Road south of Zion and north of the ravine. There he picked up a milkcan (maybe 30 or 40 quarts of milk) and then returned to the barn. In the meantime Mr. Campbell had bottled the milk from his own cows and we delivered that and then delivered the Needles’ milk. I always went with Fred. One day coming back on the Sheridan Road we met an auto. Bud panicked, took the bit in her teeth and took us across the ditch. Fred finally got her back on the road about a block down the pike. Sheridan Road was just sand with wide deep ditches on both sides. Mr. Campbell farmed some vacant lots and Fred helped.

This went on for about two years and then we moved again, this time to 1902 Ezekiel near Beulah Park. We worked for Mr. Campbell during the school summer vacation but soon learned at the new place there was plenty to do the year round. At first there was one grey horse, 3 goats and about 12 chickens, plus a harness and a two seated surrey. The surrey had curtains for bad weather. Dad bought a cow. He rented six lots in one piece and two singles. He then got a horse, cultivator and plow. We planted two kinds of field corn, two kinds of sweet corn, popcorn, potatoes, two kinds of dry beans, two kinds of green beans, tomatoes, parsnips, turnips, lettuce, peas, etc.

The feed store had been losing out and Dad had to find another job. He found it at Winthrop Harbor at F.C. Drainage Co.. Two other men were riding with us soon after we began taking Dad to work in the surrey. We met at 21st and Ezra Avenue (Hosken’s Junction). We had to hurry back to take Ethel to work. In the meantime, someone had to feed, water and milk the cow and stake her out on new grass. The four of us boys took turns at this work. When the plants were up there was plenty of work, hoeing, cultivating, killing potato bugs and tomato worms and spraying potato vines. We also hauled the tomatoes, potatoes, corn and beans. Dad bought another horse.

Mother rented a room in Zion House. She was overly tired and had to rest. We all pitched in to help around the house. About this time Herbert was born. He only lived a very short time (two days I believe). It took Mom quite a long time to get over this. Later there were four more children born here – Roy, Sylvia, Jim and Mary – ten altogether – five Australians and five Americans.

When I was about 12 years old, Mr Wm. Baker asked me to work for him for 75 cents a day. He lived in Beulah Park and farmed about 10 acres with two old plugs. I did so for about three years during summer vacation – not every day, but almost. I was cultivating corn for Baker when a friend came by and told us there was a war in Europe.

In those good old days we didn’t take a newspaper, the house had no basement, insulation, electricity or plumbing. We had no telephone, radio or TV, but we did have an organ. Dad could play it by ear. Ethel soon learned to play by note. Dad had a room built over the kitchen and Walter, Fred, Glen and I slept there. Three of us had been sleeping in a double bed. Glen slept in the bathtub. We sure were glad to have our own room.

Early one morning the barn burned down. Luckily Dad saw it in time and saved the horse, surrey and harness. It took the chickens and “back house” too. The insurance paid for replacing the buildings. The poor chickens lost all their feathers in the fire and were suffering so we disposed of them.

We planted a nice small fruit garden on the lot north of the house and Dad fenced it. It took several years. We had strawberries, red and black raspberries, red and black currants, blackberries, rhubarbs, gooseberries, etc.

When Walter finished grade school he found a job at the new Zion Creamery on one of their wagons that delivered on the north side of Waukegan.

Fred’s first real job was at Nash in Kenosha. He drive tested and inspected the new 4 wheel drive jeep. When Pancho Villa attacked Texas, the United States asked Nash to furnish drivers for the jeeps the United States was buying for General Pershing to help catch Villa. Fred volunteered. They went into Mexico but never saw Villa and Fred soon got sick from alkali water and came home.

He then got a job at the bakery but fainted from the heat of the ovens. There was a job at the general office and he was hired. He went to university one night a week for several years and became a CPA. Of course he was married by then.

While we were still at 1902 Ezekiel Avenue, Dad had a serious sick spell – quinsy (inflammation of the tonsils). He was delirious and Mom had a very hard time. She finally sent Walter to ask our neighbour, Mr Baker to help. He did and in a couple of weeks Dad was up and around. Dad had assumed that Baker had helped out of friendship, but a letter Baker sent set it straight. He had been a preacher so he quoted the Bible to Dad, II Peter 3rd, “This second epistle I now write unto you in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance”. He then stated his bill. Walter and Mom then told Dad that Baker had been promised pay for this time. Eventually I worked this bill off. Dad got back to work at American Brass in Kenosha.

It wasn’t long after this that Walter came down with a very high fever. It was the flu and he died in less than two weeks. Mother was heartbroken, but she didn’t spare herself, but kept things going for the rest of the family. That included Dad and eight children. Events happened very fast at this time. We heard that there was to be a draft. Cousin Albert enlisted in the Army, Cousin Stanley in the Navy. Stanley had the flu, Aunt Rhoda told Mom on the phone, which had just recently been installed. Influenza was very serious in the USA at this time. In about a month Aunt Rhoda was told that Stanley had died. The Navy arranged a military funeral. I was asked to escort my aunt. Albert couldn’t get leave. They fired a volley over the grave and a bugler played taps. They carefully folded up the American flag on the coffin and gave it to Auntie. Her husband, William, had gone to Florida several years before and she had lost track of him, so there was only Rhoda and Annie at home.

About this time the family was at the big table, we had almost finished eating when I fainted and flopped down among the plates. I was sick for about three weeks, sweating so bad they had to change the bedding twice a day.

Not long after this, one morning Glen was missing. He and Bill Weyant had gone off to see the world. Dad’s “don’t worry they will be home soon after they get hungry” didn’t pan out. It was months before we heard they were in the Navy at San Jose, Ca.

Mom and Ethel gave a party for Fred and class the year he graduated. He took second place at graduation.

My high school experience at ZPC was rather tame. There were no athletics. There were only 12 in the class – 6 girls and six boys. I ranked third. I was glad to get out of school and get a job. My first job was at Zion Building Industry mill. I started at the bottom in 1919 and by 1930 I was foreman.

In the summer of 1920 I and 3 other guys spent two weeks at Eagle River Wisconsin, fishing swimming and exploring. We had a great vacation.

Our family was now living at 3018 Ezekiel. We had moved again. Fred was married. Dad, Ethel and I were working. Roy was in high school. Sylvia, Mary and Jim were in junior school, so there would only have been Roy to farm if we had stayed at 1902 Ezekiel.

I bought a 2 cyl. Motorcycle soon after I started regular work. It was a lot of fun. Stacy Carey and I rode my motorcycle up to Eagle River. Most of the roads were loose gravel and very tricky. I was afraid to let him drive.

Roy and I took two trips together. The first was to Ely, Minnesota, and the Canadian border. When Roy caught the first big one, he wanted to stay right there, but we had several miles of portage to the next camping ground. The second trip was to Yellowstone Park. We drove my Nash 4 door and used my tent. We got along okay until we hit a stretch of loose gravel. Roy was driving and he lost control and rolled the car in the ditch. One wheel and tire were ruined and two wooden ribs in the top broken. Two men in the car behind came up and helped us get our car back on its wheels. It took two days to repair the top. Yellowstone was very interesting. A few years before this Fred rented a cottage at Horlicksville and we were up there for a week. We had a canoe and a rowboat and lots of fun.

I never really understood what happened or why, but Ethel had a nervous collapse. Mother nursed her as long as she could, then Aunt Rhoda took over and finally Mrs. Anderson had her. There was no improvement and she was taken to the hospital. She died early in 1936. Her passing left a big vacuum in the family. We all loved her.

Mary and Jack got married. Roy and Esther got married.

Mother had a fatal heart attack. It was a terrible shock to us all. I was very glad that mother and Jessie had met.

Lovely Jessie Sellick set the date and we were married June 6, 1936 in Mrs Oustafson’s parlor (her former landlady). We took a week for our honeymoon and then moved into our second floor apartment at Jim Leech’s. We both went back to work. Shortly after this Jim and Mildred got married and started to buy the house from Dad.

The mill was very busy and since I was foreman I was given some credit for the improved financial showing. However, that didn’t put any meat on the table and I began to wonder if there would ever be a raise in salary.

About this time the mill and yard men called a strike. As a result of this we lost our best customer – McKee Door Company, Chicago. There was an unusual demand for storm windows and combination storm doors that fall and winter so the mill kept going. The management had a brainstorm – make toys. They bought a punch press, an electric welder, several dies and Bill Cobb made a special boring machine. The toy produced was rather crude but it did work, although it could be dangerous. This toy phase lasted about a year. I was run ragged overseeing the two departments. I would take an hour and go home and take a nap after lunch.

The Federal Government built quite a few post offices at this time and the building industry bid on the millwork and finally signed contracts for the two. We had to have more help. We got 20. It took a lot of hard work but we shipped on time.

This brings us to the spring of 1937, Jean was born. Miss Ellen Lloyd (midwife0 said Jessie was magnificent. I certainly agreed. Now that we had Jean, the little upstairs apartment would not do, so we moved to Grandma Ower’s house and she lived with us and Jess took care of her and Jean.

Jess quit her job, so I was the only one bringing in any cash. Jessie began to see what was offered in the Tribune’s help wanted ads. About the middle of 1938 there was an ad for a millwork foreman. We took the bait and mailed a resume of my experience. It went to a box number and several days later we received a letter asking me to come to Chicago for an interview. I went and found out I was dealing with an agent. After talking a bit, he said he would send in a report and I would hear direct from the company – Shell Sasse. We received a letter from them and I agreed to move to Florida and work for them.

Ref:

Naval Deaths October, 1918: Naval Air Station, Rockaway Beach, Long Island, N Y, respiratory disease

HOSKEN, WILLIAM STANLEY, Machinist's Mate, 2nd class, USNRF

June 26, 1982