52 Ancestors #19: Adaline Isabell LeMaitre

It’s hard to know where to begin my family history story about Adaline Isabell LeMaitre. Belle is my paternal 2nd great grandmother. Her portrait has hung on the wall of my parents’ home my entire life. I used to stand in front of it in awe of her beauty. She reminds me of a pioneer woman, strong and feminine at the same time.

Belle was born on August 12, 1866 to Joseph (1831-1870) and Veronique (1829-1883) LeMaitre in Hutchinson, Minnesota. She was the fifth of seven children born to Joseph and Veronique.

Marriage to Charles Essler

Less than a year after her mother died, Belle married Charles Daniel Essler (1848-1914). They wed on June 4, 1884 in Blue Earth County, Minnesota. Charles was nearly 20 years her senior and had divorced his first wife with whom he had three children. 

Belle and Charles had four children who lived to adulthood. Tragically, their first born son died in infancy.

Belle and Charles Essler’s Children

• Walter (1885)
• Edward Joseph (1887-1981)
• Marion Veronica (1889-1975, my great grandmother)
• Florance (b. 1892)
• Ina Lillian (1897-1975)

Charles wasn’t the best father in the world and had a bit of a drinking problem which ultimately led to their divorce around 1901. He ran off with another (younger) woman and declared he wanted no part of Belle’s life or that of their children. Scoundrel! She moved on, quickly. I love that she had the above photo taken post divorce. It signifies a new beginning.  

I’ve often wondered if Belle’s marriage to Charles was out of love, lust or necessity. Given that it happened so soon after her mother’s death, I suspect in part necessity.  She was old enough to marry and that’s exactly what happened. Why, then, let her marry such a … a … jerk? Yeah, I said it. Surly her brother knew this man came with more than a little baggage!

Marriage to Walter Seaver

On January 10, 1903, Belle married Walter Seaver (1861-1920). Walter had been married previously, but I’m unsure if or how many children resulted. Together, Walter and Belle had one daughter, Celestia Violet (1905-1960). Belle claimed, or so it was passed down, that Walter was the only husband she truly loved and he died on her. Her words … mostly.

Marriage to William Haggerty

Somewhere around 1935, Belle married William John Haggerty (1865-1942). I have no record of their marriage, only record of her using the Haggerty name. They had no children together, but he had three from a previous marriage.

I count 11 children in this 19th and 20th century Brady Bunch!

Belle and Her Daughters

Belle was close to her daughters (and I’m assuming her son as well). Her eldest daughter, Julia, died in childbirth, but Belle remained close to her youngest girls. Veronica (Verna) and Marion were also close to each other, even though they lived hundreds of miles away from each other. As Belle aged, she returned to Ft. Wayne, Indiana, where her mother had lived … she had family there and lived out the remainder of her days after Husband Haggerty died.

She wrote to Verna regularly for several years while in Indiana. I have, I believe, most of the letters from her. There aren’t any juicy secrets among the letters, only accounts of everyday life. Still, it’s nice to have these among my family history collection … they’ve allowed me to connect to a great grandmother and her own mother in a way that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. They offer a peek into the past.

This closeness to her eldest remaining daughter, my great grandmother, also meant a treasure trove of portraits and photographs. I’ve been amazed over the years at just how many photos I have of this family … it only makes me want to find more!

Belle was a beautiful woman and she passed that on to her daughters … Verna was incredibly attractive, albeit a bit stubborn and even malicious at times! I’m pretty blessed to have come from a line of women like these. They had their faults, for sure, but I think I can live with that.

I was able to find a grave marker for Belle this afternoon while tidying up my facts. I was a little sad when I saw the photo … I thought “surly, she should have something better”.

Belle died on September 12, 1951 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. She was transported to Flint, Michigan where her family lived, and was buried at Sunset Hills Cemetery. Belle is one among many ancestors I would like to sit down to dinner with.