THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: John A. Grier; Born: 27 Feb 1855 near Davenport, Iowa. FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready: "They came to the Unity from the west, and I believe Oklahoma. The two older boys did not stay long, and do not believe they came to Estero. Bessie and Jessie were twins. They came to Florida but soon left. Ada was Lovelle's age. We never thought she paid much attention to her school studies but, when she became angry at someone, as often happened, and sounded off about that person, the big words she used, and generally correctly, were amazing. Everybody in the dormitory would gather around for it was well worth listening to. She married Carlton Case." 1900 U. S. Federal Census; Calumet Township; Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Film Roll No. 285; Page No. 285; SD No. 1; ED No. 986; Sheet No. 12; Ward of City: 31; Enumeration Date: 13 June 1900; Enumerator: Ernest E. Ellington; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 24 May 1999; Koreshan Unity: John Grier; Residence: 99th Street, Dwelling 133; Relation to head of family: Boarder; Color, white; Sex, male; Month of birth: August; Year of birth: 1855; Age at last birthday: 44; Married; Number of years married: 22; Place of birth: Iowa; Place of birth of father: Ohio; Place of birth of mother: Ohio; Occupation: Nothing listed; Can read, yes; Can write, yes; Can speak English, yes. 1910 U.S. Federal Census; State: Florida; County: Duval; City: Jacksonville; ED: 84; Ward: 7; Enumeration Date: 23 Apr 1910; Enumerator: George F. Barth. Name: John Grier; Address: West Adams Street (living with A.C. Phillips family); Relation to head of family: servant; Sex: Male; Color: white; Age: 57; Marital status: married; Number of years married: 2; Place of birth: Iowa; Place of birth of father: Ohio; Place of birth of mother: Ohio; Language spoken: English; Trade or profession: farmer; General nature of work: Agriculture; Employer or worker: worker; Can read and write: yes. 1930 U.S. Federal Census; Estero, Lee County, Florida; Election Precinct 12; Koreshan Unity Home; Enumeration Date: Enumerator: William Howell; May 5, 1930; ED: 36-17; SD: 6; Page: 199; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, January 2003: John Grier; Radio set: none listed; Sex: Male; Color: white; Age at last birthday: 75; Marital condition: widower; Age at first marriage: 26; Attended school since Sep 1, 1929: no; Whether able to read and write: yes; Place of birth: Iowa; Place of birth of father: Ohio; Place of birth of mother: Ohio; Whether able to speak English: yes; Occupation: Farmer; Industry: Farming; Whether actually at work yesterday (or the last regular working day): yes; Veteran: no. FLAMING SWORD; Community Current Events by D. J. Richards; January 1930: "Speaking of beautifying the grounds, we wish to note the good work Brother John Grier, another winter visitor, has been doing in the Unity Park since his return from Iowa, where he spent the summer. In trimming some of the date palms he has revealed a beauty we were not conscious of before." THE FLAMING SWORD; Community Current Events by D. J. Richards; January 1931: "Brother John Grier has returned to the Unity after an absence of several months. His son, Harry Grier, of Los Angles, Calif., accompanied by his wife, paid the Unity a visit recently, with Mrs. Carlton Case of Fort Myers, a daughter of Brother John. Mrs. Case spent her girlhood in the Unity, both in Chicago and Estero." FLAMING SWORD; Community Current Events by Max E. Arendt; May 1931: "Mr. and Mrs. L.M. Boomer and children, who had been making their home at River Bend for some weeks, have returned to their home in New York City. Brother John Grier will act as caretaker of the River Bend estate during the summer." FLAMING SWORD; Community Current Events by Alafae Stephens; September 1933: "Brother John Grier is at home again after spending the past six weeks in Fort Myers at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Carlton Case, while she and her family attended the fair in Chicago and visited other northern points. Before returning here Brother John spent a week at Mrs. Lillian Rugg's, where he had the misfortune to fall, bruising his left eye. It is now much improved, we are glad to say." FLAMING SWORD; Community Current Events; September 1934: "Sunday the 29th some relatives and friends arrived from Iowa to visit Brother John Grier. The party consisted of Mrs. Grove Grier, Miss Margaret Grier, Mrs. John Pearson, Doris, John and Ballard Pearson and Arthur Trimm." FLAMING SWORD; Community Current Events; by Claude J. Rahn; December 1935: "Mr. John Greer (sic) who spent the summer visiting with relatives in Iowa is at present staying with Mrs. Lillian E. Rugg in Estero."
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Annie B. Griffiths; Born: 29 Sep 1828, Rockville, Maryland.
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Caroline Grinnell.
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Elizabeth Griswold.
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Mr. Gunn (no first name given). FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready: Just given as "Also a Mr. Gunn."--Vesta Newcomb
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Ida M. Fischer; Born: 25 Jan 1871 Wisconsin; Died: 22 May 1945. FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready: (Ida Fischer, mother) The only ones of this family I remember are Ida and Mildred --Marie McCready. Irving, Jr. joined the Navy. Arnold, who enjoyed hunting and often went alone, was bitten by a rattlesnake and died before reaching the hospital--William McCready. U.S. Federal Census/Estero/Lee County/Florida/1910; Enumeration date: 23 Apr 1910; Koreshan Unity; Enumerator: Walter S. Turner, Jr.; Microfilm number: Fl 1910-H T624; ED: 80; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 4 Jan 1995: Ida M. Fisher; Sex: Female Race: White; Age 39; Marital Status: Widow: Place of birth: Wisconsin; Place of birth of father: Michigan; Place of birth of mother: Germany; Occupation: Steward; Nature of trade: Unity; Employer or worker: worker; No. of months not employed: 0; Can read and write: yes. U.S. Federal Census; Estero; Lee County; Florida; 1920; Enumeration date: Jan 2, 1920; Enumerator: Henry D. Silverfriend; ED: 109; SD: 1; Fourth Precinct; Microfilm roll number: 1820221; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, Dec 1994: Ida M. Fisher; Relation to head of family: Head; Place of residence: Poultry yard road; Age 48; widow; Place of birth: Wisconsin; Place of birth of father; Michigan; Place of birth of mother: Germany; Occupation: Laundress/Gen. Laundry. U.S. Federal 1930 Census; Estero, Lee County, Florida; Precinct 12; Koreshan Unity Home; Enumeration Date: May 5, 1930; ED: 36-17; SD: 6; Page: 199; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, January 2003: Ida M. Fischer; Radio set: none listed; Sex: female; Color: white; Age at last birthday: 59; Marital status: widow; Age at first marriage: 22; Attended school since Sep 1, 1929: no; Whether able to read and write: yes; Place of birth: Wisconsin; Place of birth of father: Michigan; Place of birth of mother: Germany; Whether able to speak English: yes; Occupation: Housekeeper; Industry: House work; Whether actually at work yesterday (or the last regular working day): yes. Burial: Koreshan Unity Cemetery--lot 39; Inscription: Ida Fischer--1871-May 1945 Court Record--Warranty Deed, April 1924, No. 26759: Deed book 70/Page 209, List of Koreshan members including Ida Fischer. THE FLAMING SWORD; Community Current Events by Max E. Arendt; June 1936: "Sister Emily Bessemer, whom we all admired for the excellent work she did as one of our two cooks, left on May 8, to visit with relatives in Washington, D.C. for the summer. Sister Ida Fischer remains as our stand-by as chief cook." FLAMING SWORD, Vol. 59, No.6, Community Current Events by Marie Fischer, June 1945, p.10 -- "And now once again I sadly report the passing of another faithful and loyal member, Sister Ida Fischer, who passed away Monday evening, May 21. Sister Ida came into the Unity in 1907 with her husband, Emil, and three children. The husband passed away not long after their advent to the Unity, but Sister Ida remained and put in many years of service to the neighbor at the laundry in the earlier years, and more recently in the kitchen, where she remained even after life had become a burden on account of ill health, until about six months ago, when she was obliged to give up and keep off her feet. Like her own independent self, however, she refused to be a burden to others and did for herself until the very end. Sister Ida is survived by a brother and sister in Wisconsin and her two children Erwin of Fort Myers, Florida, and Mrs. Barager of Seattle, Washington." Evelyn Horn's notes: Ida Fischer Sister Ida came to the Koreshan Unity in Estero in 1907 with her family. Husband, Emil and three children: Erwin and Arnold Fischer, one daughter, Mildred Barager, who lives in Seattle, Washington. Emil died at the Unity after only a few years here. Arnold, died a young man in his 20 ties, after a rattlesnake bite on a hunting trip in the everglades. Erwin grew up in the Unity and became a commercial fisherman, married a local girl, Bessie Johnson, and they had six children. They lived at Lover's Key Island, in the Estero Bay. Ida worked in the laundry and was a cook for the Koreshan family for many years. She was well loved by all. She loved to bake cakes, pies, and cookies for Koreshan members and friends. Cooked for Solar and Lunar Festival. She died of heart dropsy May 21, 1945, and was buried in Koreshan Cemetery. Ida was a very humorous person, always so friendly and smiling. She had dark brown eyes and hair. She was a very large person and very neat in her appearance. Ida always wore dainty, small prints on white background for her dresses which were handmade of soft voiles and batiste materials. She also wore white sweaters or shawls.
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Thankful H. Hale; Visited the Unity 1-15-1907; Died: 6-6-1907, Washington, D.C.
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Harry Hambly.
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Judith T. Hambly (nee Coon).
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Christine E. Hamilton; Born: 30 Apr 1850, Denmark; Died: 24 Jul 1922. FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready: "Christine was a Dane who still had a slight accent, and was the assistant matron at Beth Ophrah. Linda did not live at Beth Ophrah after we came. I think she lived outside but often visited and played the violin in our orchestra. Minerva developed a goiter which was becoming serious before she came to Florida, after which it disappeared entirely." 1900 U. S. Federal Census; Calumet township; Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Film Roll No. 285; SD: 1; ED: 986; Page: 285; Sheet: 12; Ward: 31; Residence: 99th Street; Enumeration date: 13 Jun 1900; Enumerator: Ernest E. Ellington; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 24 May 1999; Koreshan Unity: Christine Hamilton; Relation to head of family: boarder; Color: white; Sex: male; Month of birth: April; Year of birth: 1852; Age at last birthday: 48; Marital status: Married; Number of years married: *1; Mother of how many children: 4; Number of children living: 4; Place of birth: Denmark; Place of birth of father: Denmark; Place of birth of mother: Denmark; Year of immigration to U.S.: 1860; No of years in U.S.: 40; Naturalization: Nothing listed; Occupation: Nothing listed; Can read and write: yes; Can speak English: yes. (*All but 5 married residents living in this dwelling listed their number of years married as 1) 1910 U. S. Federal Census; Lee County; Koreshan Unity; Enumeration Date: 25 Apr 1910; Enumerator: Walter S. Turner, Jr.; Microfilm No.: Fl 1910-H T624; ED: 80; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, January 1995: Emilie C. Hamilton; Sex, female; Race, white; Age: 62; Marital Status; Widow; Mother of how many children: 3; No. of these children living: 3; Place of birth: Denmark; Place of birth of father: Denmark; Place of birth of mother: Denmark; Year of immigration to U. S.: 1876; Naturalized; Language spoken: English; Occupation: sewing; Employer, worker, or own account: Worker; No. of months not employed: None; Can read and write: yes. 1920 U.S. Federal Census; Estero, Lee, Florida; Enumeration date: Jan 2, 1920; Enumerator: Henry D. Silverfriend; ED: 109; SD: 1; Fourth Precinct; Microfilm roll number: 1820221; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, December 1994: Christine Hamilton; Residence: Planetary Court; Relation to head of family: Boarder; Sex: female; Color: white; Age: 69; Marital status: widow; Year of immigration to U.S.: 1883; Naturalized or Alien: Alien; Can read and write: yes; Place of birth: Denmark; Place of birth of father: Denmark; Place of birth of mother: Denmark; Can speak English: yes; Occupation: Seamstress at the K.U. home. Burial: Horseshoe Bend on the River--Koreshan Unity Cemetery--lot 9; Inscription: Christine Hamilton/21 Jul 1922. MEMORIES, MEMORIES--DAYS OF LONG AGO chronicled by Marie McCready with participation by Lovelle McCready: Christine Hamilton was the assistant matron at Beth Ophrah and spoke with a Danish accent. One of her beliefs was that "Children and dogs are all right in their place, but their place is not in the house". Her daughters were Linda and Minerva--page 43.
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: J. Lindhart Hamilton; Born 26 Jun 1880, Oakland, California. FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready; Linda* Hamilton: "Christine was a Dane who still had a slight accent, and was the assistant matron at Beth Ophrah. Linda did not live at Beth Ophrah after we came. I think she lived outside but often visited and played the violin in our orchestra. Minerva developed a goiter which was becoming serious before she came to Florida, after which it disappeared entirely." (I believe J. Lindhard Hamilton is the same person as Linda Hamilton.--Joyce Nelle Ratliff, Jan 1999)
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Minerva C. Hamilton; Born: 2 Aug 1882, Clinton, British Columbia. FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready; Minerva Hamilton: "Christine was a Dane who still had a slight accent, and was the assistant matron at Beth Ophrah. Linda did not live at Beth Ophrah after we came. I think she lived outside but often visited and played the violin in our orchestra. Minerva developed a goiter which was becoming serious before she came to Florida, after which it disappeared entirely."
FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready: Georgia Hampton; "Georgia was only three months old when they came but apparently missed her mother when put in the children's cottage as she howled all night and kept the rest awake. Shortly thereafter when Rose Gilbert came with little Dean, he mad a duet of it.--Rosalea McCready The Hamptons did not stay very long."
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Lulu Hampton. FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready; Lulu Hampton: "Georgia was only three months old when they came but apparently missed her mother when put in the children's cottage as she howled all night and kept the rest awake. Shortly thereafter when Rose Gilbert came with little Dean, he made a duet of it--Rosalea McCready. The Hamptons did not stay very long."
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Magdalene Hampton.
!THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Mark Hampton.
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Robert Hampton. FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready; Robert Hampton: "Georgia was only three months old when they came but apparently missed her mother when put in the children's cottage as she howled all night and kept the rest awake. Shortly thereafter when Rose Gilbert came with little Dean, he made a duet of it--Rosalea McCready. The Hamptons did not stay very long."
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Samuel Hampton. FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. compiled by Marie McCready: (father), Hampton. (No first name given--possibly father of Lulu, Robert, another son, Wade, Georgia--Joyce Nelle Ratliff, January 1999)
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Shelly Hampton.
FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready: Wade Hampton; "Georgia was only three months old when they came but apparently missed her mother when put in the children's cottage as she howled all night and kept the rest awake. Shortly thereafter when Rose Gilbert came with little Dean, he mad a duet of it.--Rosalea McCready The Hamptons did not stay very long."