Ella May Hannah

Ella May Hannah was also called "Minamine," a name invented by her grandson Howard DeVoe as a baby and later used by other members of the family.

Ella May Hannah was born on 19 May 1881 in Terre Haute, Indiana.^1,2 She was the daughter of Samuel James Hannah and Mary Christena Mayer.

Ella May Hannah appeared on the census of 9 June 1900 at Hudson Avenue, Haverstraw Village, Haverstraw Township, Rockland County, New York, in the household of her father.³

Ella Hannah did not graduate from high school. She explained it as being due to the New York State Regents Exams being introduced when she was in her second year of high school.⁴ According to Martha (Josselyn) DeVoe, Ella Hannah failed a German course in high school and her mother persuaded her to drop out instead of staying in school to retake the course.⁵

Ella May Hannah enrolled in the Packard Business School in New York City. At the time she finished the business course, the mother of Ella's cousin Elizabeth Bell died in Indiana (29 May 1900) and Elizabeth became an orphan. Ella's mother brought Elizabeth to live with the Hannahs, thus repaying a debt she felt she owed Elizabeth's parents for taking her in as a girl.⁵ Ella Hannah was upset because her mother made her miss her graduation ceremony at Packard to meet Elizabeth Bell and Ella's mother when they arrived by train on that very day.^4,5

Ella May Hannah first met Edgar Josselyn, her future husband, as a secretary in his office.⁶

Ella May Hannah and Edgar Alonzo Josselyn were married by the Rev. George H. Bonsall on 14 October 1908 in Haverstraw, New York.⁷ In Martha (Josselyn) DeVoe's opinion, her parents were incompatible. They had different interests; her father was an intellectual who loved classical music and opera; her mother did not. Ella took a week to decide whether to accept his marriage proposal; she was probably afraid of ending up an old maid.⁸

Ella May Hannah appeared on the census of 5 May 1910 at 144 East 22nd Street, New York, New York, in the household of her husband.⁹

In 1913 the family moved to a rented house on Denison Street, White Plains, Westchester County, New York.^10,11 Shortly after that the family rented a house on Fisher Avenue, White Plains, for six months. Then they moved to Bank Street, and stayed there until 1924 or 1925.^10,12,13

Ella May Hannah was a charter member of the White Plains Contemporary Club, later the Woman's Club of White Plains, and served as chairman of the Home Economics Section for a number of years.¹⁴

Ella May Hannah appeared on the census of 17 January 1920 at 2 Bank Street, White Plains, Westchester County, New York, in the household of her husband.¹⁵

In 1922 or earlier, the family built a summer home on Hoanjovo Lane (then called Hoanjo Lane) in Pleasantville, New York.¹⁰ The work was done by their friend Nick Filardi (who was a builder) and by themselves on weekends, using material from an old school including huge windows.¹³

Edgar Josselyn designed a house at 19 Highland Avenue, White Plains, New York. The family moved into it after the Pleasantville house was built; this was probably during Martha's last year of high school in 1924 or 1925.¹³ The house was rented out in summer while the family stayed at the Pleasantville house and Edgar commuted to his office in New York City. In the depression there was no work, so the Highland Avenue house was sold and the family made the Pleasantville house a permanent year-round residence; this was just before Martha's marriage in October 1931.^10,16,12

Ella May Hannah appeared on the census of 7 April 1930 at 19 Highland Avenue, White Plains, Westchester County, New York, in the household of her husband.¹⁷ Beginning about 1935, she worked as office nurse for Dr. Henry J. Vier, a surgeon whose office was at 80 Maple Avenue, White Plains, New York, and who died 23 June 1960.^18,14,19

Her husband died in April 1943. On 9 August 1943 Ella May Hannah and Priscilla Josselyn moved to a one-bedroom apartment at 3 Greenridge Avenue, White Plains, Westchester County, New York.²⁰

To celebrate her upcoming ninetieth birthday, family members gave Ella (Hannah) Josselyn a party at her apartment on 15 May 1971.^14,21 The comment in Howard DeVoe's diary was Had cake, ice cream, and "Cold Duck." Minamine in good spirits--loved it.²¹

Ella May Hannah died on 31 January 1972 about 7 am, of a heart attack, in White Plains Hospital, White Plains, New York, at age 90.²² The memorial service was on 6 February 1972 at Ridgeview Church, White Plains, New York, at 2 pm; Steve Holden was the usher and Mr. Christopher the minister.²² She was buried on 26 April 1972 in Forest Hills Cemetery, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.^23,24,25