March 1 - John George Hymers

My great-great grandfather, John George Hymers was born on March 1, 1859 in Blenheim, Burford, Ontario, Canada.  He was the son of Francis Wilson Hymers and Elizabeth Rankin Morton. He grew up in Canada, eventually moving to Minnesota.  The 1880 Polk Directory had him living with his older brother Thomas, in a boarding house at 360 Rice Street, St. Paul, Minnesota.  He returned to marry his school sweetheart, Rozilla Kipp on February 21, 1882.  

They returned to St. Paul, Minnesota where John eventually found work as a fireman/driver for the St Paul Fire Department. The 1889 St Paul Directory lists John Hymers as a fireman/driver for Chemical #5.  He and Rozilla were living at 887 Randolph, St Paul, from 1889-1892, and then their name does not appear again until 1898, when the address is given as 801 Hall Avenue.  For most of their married life, they lived at 50 W. Belvidere in St Paul.  (excerpt from Lois Glewwe research 1980's).   In earlier posts, I wrote about my grandmother and her childhhood on the Kinkaid prairie.  She wrote about her memories of her grandfather John and how he helped them build their sod house and survive through the cold winters and very little comforts.  John and Rozilla had 7 children, 6 who lived into adulthood.

Happy 153rd Birthday!