Esther M. Corker ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7}

   Another name for Esther was Hester M. Corker.^{8 10}

  General Notes:

From Norah Pratton: (source not specified) "was a very spanky, independent woman who divorced the autocratic Henry and supported herself and the very young William by owning and operating a millinery."
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I've often wondered why Esther would have moved from Cedar County, Iowa to Clackamas County, Oregon towards the end of her life. To my knowledge she never remarried after divorcing Henry Pierce sometime before 1870. I think the main reason for her move was probably her only son, William, who was married in Iowa in 1892 and had eventually moved to Oregon and was joined by his mother sometime between 1910 and 1920.

Both Esther and her married son had moved to Toledo, Tama County, Iowa by 1910, a distance of about 100 miles from Cedar County. I have no idea why they made this move because there were no family relatives living there. Perhaps it was to enhance the prospects of her son's occupation as a barber and perhaps it was to just get away from Cedar County where he ex-husband was buried.

By 1920, the married son and his family had moved to the Portland, Oregon area and Esther must have followed them there. By that time, both of Esther's parents were dead, her two younger brothers had moved to the Great Plains of South Dakota, and she had only one surviving sister that was living in the Cedar County, Iowa area. I'm guessing that she felt she had more connections with her son and his family in Oregon rather than her own surviving siblings. Thus the reasons for her relocating to Oregon sometime after 1910 where she eventually died in July 1920. Although her son and his wife can be found in the January 1920 US Census in Clackamas County, Oregon, I have not been able to find any record of Esther.
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  Noted events in her life were:

• She has alternate birth date of 1843 and a birth location of Ohio.

This birth year was referenced by her age of 67 on the 1910 US Census.
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• She has alternate birth date of 1844 and a birth location of Ohio.

This birth year was referenced by her age of 6 on the 1850 US Census.
. ¹⁰

• She appeared on the 1850 US Census in East Union Township, Wayne, OH on 27 July 1850. ¹⁰

1850 US Census
Page 202A, Dwelling 48, Family 48
East Union Township, Wayne County, Ohio
Hester M. Corker..6..OH

(Living with parents.)

NOTE - If her birth date was 13 Apr 1845, then her age should have been 5 instead of 6.
.

• She appeared on the 1860 US Census in Iowa Township, Cedar County, IA on 10 July 1860. ⁸

1860 US Census
Page 140, Dwelling 947, Family 966
Iowa Township, Cedar County, Iowa
Hesther M. Corker..14..OH

(Living with parents.)

NOTE - If her birth date was 13 Apr 1845, then her age should have been 15 instead of 14.
.

• She appeared on the 1870 US Census in Iowa Township, Cedar County, IA on 26 August 1870. ³

1870 US Census
Pages 20, 21, Roll 380, Dwelling 152, Family 153
Iowa Township, Cedar County, Iowa
Esther Pierce..24..OH

(Apparently divorced and living with son at the home of her father and stepmother.)

NOTE - If her birth date was 13 Apr 1845, then her age should have been 25 instead of 24.
.

• She appeared on the 1880 US Census in Iowa Township, Cedar County, IA on 9 June 1880. ⁴

1880 US Census
Page 171A, District 354, Family 128, Roll 331
Iowa Township, Cedar County, Iowa
Esther Pierce..Daughter..35..OH..Keeping House..Divorced

(Divorced and living with son at the home of her father.)
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• She appeared on the 1885 Iowa State Census in Iowa Township, Cedar County, IA on 1 January 1885. ⁵

1885 Iowa State Census
Page 372, Dwelling 11, Family 11
Iowa Township, Cedar County, Iowa
Township 79, Range 3, Section 28, NE Qtr, NE Qtr
Esther M. Pierce..39..OH..Divorced..Keeping House

(Living with her son at the home of her widowed father.)
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• She appeared on the 1900 US Census in Toledo, IA on 5 June 1900. ⁶

1900 US Census
Sheet 5B, District 147, Family 115, Roll 460
Toledo, Tama County, Iowa
House rented
Esther Peirce..Head..Apr 1847..53..OH..Milliner..Widowed..1/1
Gertrude I. Porter..Lodger..20..IA..Milliner

(Esther was widowed and living with a lodger in her rented house.)

NOTE - Her birthday should have been in Apr 1845 instead of Apr 1847. Therefore, her age should have been 55 instead of 53. This census record is very light and difficult to read.
.

• She appeared on the 1910 US Census in Toledo, IA on 26 April 1910. ⁷

1910 US Census
Sheet 10A, District 169, Family 264, Roll 424
Toledo, Tama County, Iowa
Broadway; Home owned, no mortgage
Esther M. Pierce..Head..67..OH..Widowed..1/1..Milliner

NOTE - If her birth date was 13 Apr 1845, then her age should have been 65 instead of 67.
.

• She was buried after 18 July 1920 in the Lincoln Memorial Park in Portland, OR.

Plot: Sunset Section
Find A Grave Memorial# 8758255
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Esther married Henry Fletcher Pierce on 28 April 1867 in , Wayne County, OH.¹ The marriage ended in divorce. (Henry Fletcher Pierce was born on 16 June 1826 in Uniontown, PA ^{2 11} and died on 5 March 1892 in Washington, DC ^{2 11}.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Henry Fletcher Pierce and Esther M. Corker were divorced before 1880.