Edward and Hannah Hess

by Melvin Hess

Edward Hess was born 16 October 1851 at 5PM in Flexbourg Alsace.

He immigrated to America to meet his older brother John in the later part of the 19th century.

Hannah Donnelly was born in Pinkerton, Ontario January 7 1871 to Patrick and Mary (Cain) Donnelly. January 7, 1872. In 1879 they moved to Kansas.

Hannah Donnelly married Edward Hess in Mayetta, Kansas in 1895. In the first week of October 1904 they moved to Alberta by rail with their children Mary Rose, Joseph Edward, Ada and Martha Agnes. Hannah's first daughter Nellie remained in Kansas as she had married Samuel Slocum in 1903. The train ride across the prairies was very upsetting to Hannah, as the flat, bare prairie was not what she expected. They agreed to only visit brother John in the Northern Territories and return to Kansas if this new country did not meet expectations. The train could go no further than Strathcona, as there was no bridge across the North Saskatchewan River. John met them at the ferry near Fort Saskatchewan. They moved their possessions to John's homestead by two wagons; one pulled by oxen, the other by horses. The team of oxen was much more capable of travel than the horses for this trip.

Edward and Hannah filed on NW20‑59‑24‑W4 and hauled logs this first winter to the proposed homestead. Both families spent the first winter in John and Marie's log cabin. Spring brought lush grass and all the necessities of life that were so sparse on the trip through the prairies. It was decided that they would stay and they proved up and got title to the homestead June of 1908.

Edward and Hannah Hess, 1904. Children: Joseph, Ada and Mary.

Three more children were born to the family, Alberta Cecilia in 1907, and twins Edna Hannah & Edward Anthony in 1914. This family enjoyed an enriched family life with so many relatives in the district such as the Donnelly, Lynch, Hess, and Starr families.

Edward passed on September 9, 1920; Hannah remained on the homestead till her death February 27, 1953.

Nellie married Samuel Slocumn in Topeka, Kansas.

Mary married Patrick Flynn and moved to Eugene, Oregon.

Joseph married Annie Halat and lived near Clyde, Alberta.

Ada married Walter Rogers and lived near Clyde, Alberta.

Martha married Albert Jones and lived near Clyde, Alberta.

Alberta married Joseph Ringstad and lived near Clyde, Alberta.

Edward married Margaret Roski and lived near Clyde, Alberta.

Edna married Norman Croswell and moved to Victoria, BC.

Edward Hess family, 1968. Back: Mary, Joseph, Ada, Martha. Front: Alberta, Edward, Edna