Auburn, Maine, Native Ada Marie Chase (1876-1940)

WB07 – Ada Marie Chase – KFJ1-MLJ

18 November 1876 – 26 February 1940

By Don Taylor

Map of Lewiston & Auburn Showing the 1873 home of George Chase

Ada Marie Chase was born on 18 November 1876 in Auburn, Androscoggin, Maine,. She is the daughter of George W. Chase and Emma J. Libby. She died on 26 February 1940 in Lewiston, Androscoggin County, Maine at age 63 and is buried at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Auburn, Androscoggin County, Maine.

Ada was the second child of George and Emma; Her brother, Burnham Chase was born in either 1872 or 1873. Her sister, Alice M Chase was born three years later in October 1879.

The 1880 census found the young family living at 39 Spring, Auburn, Androscoggin County, Maine. George was working as a tinman, Emma keeping house, Burnham was at school, and young Ada and Alice were still to young for school. This location today appears to have been next door to the, then brand new, two room, Auburn Public Library.

Three more siblings were born during the 1880s. First Bertha F Chase in 1881, next Ralph S. Chase in 1884, then Harry H Chase in 1887.

I believe that sometime between 1880 and 1893 Ada’s mother died.  In 1894, Ada’s father remarried. His new wife, Flora, had six children from a previous marriage.

In 1895 and library expanded and appears to have taken the house at 39 Spring, because by the 1900 census, the family had relocated to 98 Spring.  In 1900, Bernham was no longer in the home. George was still a tinman, 23 year-old Ada was working as a cashier, and Alice was a working as a bookkeeper. Bertha was in college and the two youngest boys were still in school. Flora’s children are absent from this census record.

She married Everett Anson Bickford (1876-1957), son of Anson W. and Jennie C.  Bickford on 30 October 1905 in Auburn, Androscoggin, Maine. Everett was 29 and Ada was 28. Ada’s sister Alice, who had married and moved to North Cambridge, Massachusetts, came up for the wedding.

Ada and Everett’s first child, Catherine Flora Bickford was born in 1907.

63 Winter Street, Auburn, Maine Courtesy: Google Maps

In 1910 the young family was living at 63 Winter Street, Auburn, Androscoggin County, Maine. Everett was working as a grocer. Living with them was Everett’s father, Anson W Bickford. Ada would live there the rest of her life.

It is interesting to note that Zillow and other Real Estate websites report that the 3000 square-foot house at 63 Winter Street was built in 1920. It is unclear if they built their new home on the same lot as a previous house or if the build date is incorrect. More research will need to be done to determine that.

Three more daughters were born to Ada and Everett; Beatrice B, in 1911; Emma L, about 1913; and Phyllis, in 1916.

The 1920 Census shows that Everett had changed professions to be a real-estate and insurance agent. Ada was a housewife with four kids, and Everett’s father, Anson, was living at the same address but was his own head of household and was renting from Everett, who was the owner.

Marker: Ada M. Chase Wife of Everett A Bickford Photo Courtesy: Find a Grave.

In 1922, Everett’s father died.

The Auburn City Directory of 1924 indicates Everett owned the Bickford Agency and was the treasurer for the Auburn Motor Car Co., at 19 Turner.

By 1930, Catherine had moved out and the family was down to just Ada, Everett, and the three youngest daughters.

Ada Marie Chase Bickford died on 26 February 1940 in Lewiston, Androscoggin County, Maine. She is buried at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Auburn, Androscoggin County Maine.