Norman James WESTON [4314]

  General Notes:

1889 SA Birth WESTON Norman James, John WESTON Louisa ROSE Adelaide 436/366

The Advertiser (Adelaide) Wednesday 11 August 1954
YMCA Chief Home again after 44 Years:
GLENELG - BORN
Norman J. Weston, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Weston, is in Australia and, with his wife, will have a happy family reunion next Wednesday after an absence of 44 years in the USA, where he has done outstanding work as a YMC A executive. He retired on June 30. Mrs. Weston was Miss Dora Padman, of Glenelg, before her marriage in 1914. She came home on a visit in 1920. He is a brother of Mr. Arthur Weston, Glenelg contractor, and of the Misses Stella and Dorothy Weston, the latter a SA tennis champion and interstate player. Our friend Tru Barber introduced me yesterday to Miss Stella, who said brother Norman would attend the Commemoration reunion at the YMCA on August 21. She showed me a press picture of him receiving a cheque for a 1,000 dollars from Evanston Rotary Club, of which he is a past president.
GOOD WORK FOR YOUTH
The gift, contributed from the 'birthday box and club fines,' is to be used by the YMCA for special youth work. He went to Evanston from Omaha YMCA in 1924 as director of physical education, became general secretary in 1939. In 30 years members have in creased from 1,778 to 4,270. What a life of service! Norman Weston joined Adelaide YMCA boys' club when he was nine, and so has been a YMCA member for 58 years. At 16 he had passed his accountancy examinations and went to the SA Farmers' Union for three years. Then he put in two years as a confidential secretary in S.C. Ward and Co.'s stockbroking office. At 21 he decided to make the YMCA his life's work and became assistant general secretary, physical director and boys' director at Bendigo. He left for the USA in 1911 to embark upon what became a highly constructive YMCA career at Scranton, then Chicago, Omaha and Evanston.

Chicago National Tribune Tuesday 1st & Wednesday 2nd July 1958
Death Notice:
WESTON -- Norman J. Weston of 2229 Payne street, Evanston, June 29, 1958, husband of Theodora R. Weston; father of John R. Weston and Mrs. R.C. Herchenrider; brother of Arthur J., Stella and Dorothy Weston. Friends may call at chapel, 1567 Maple avenue, Evanston, on Tuesday evening. Service 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, at Covenant Methodist church, Hartrey avenue and Harrison street, Evanston. Interment private. The family has suggested that instead of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the YMCA of Evanston.

  Other Records

• Passenger: manifest, 1911, New York, USA. (Image courtesy New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957)

• WW1: draft, 1917, Chicago, Illinois, USA. (image courtesy U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918)

• Census: US Federal Census, 14 Jan 1920, South 28 St, Douglas Nebraska, USA. Norman is recorded as Head age 30 born South Australia and described as Physical Director Gymnasium

• United States America: Census, 8 Apr 1930, 318 Main st., Evanston, Cook, Illinois. Norman is recorded as Husband age 41 born South Australia arr US 1914 age 25 when married and described at Physical Director in Education

• Naturalisation: Declaration of Intention, 1933, Chicago, Illinois, USA. (Image courtesy of Illinois, Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991)

• Naturalisation: Petition, 1937, Chicago, Illinois, USA. (Image courtesy of Illinois, Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991)

• Naturalisation: certificate, 1937, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Image courtesy of USA National Archives

• United States America: Census, 11 Apr 1940, 2229 Payne st., Evanston, Cook, Illinois. Norman is recorded as Head age 51 born South Australia arr US 1914 marr age 25 anddescribed as Secretary Y.M.C.A.

• Notice: death, 1958, Chicago, Illinois, USA. image courtesy Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1963)

Norman married Theodora Ryder PADMAN [950] [MRIN: 1423], daughter of George Waterhouse PADMAN [924] and Annie Oceana RYDER [923], on 6 Jun 1914 in Hull House, Chicago, Illinois, USA. (Theodora Ryder PADMAN [950] was born on 19 Nov 1888 in Glenelg, Adelaide, South Australia and died on 2 Jul 1972 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.)

  Marriage Notes:

The Register & The Advertiser Saturday 25 July 1914
Marriage:
On the 6th day of June, at Hull House, Chicago, U.S.A. by The Rev Marstall, Norman J., eldest son of Mr. John Weston, Broadway, New Glenelg, to Theodora Ryder (Dora), youngest daughter of Mrs and the late G. W. Padman, Glenelg. Present address- "Hull House, 800 South Halsted street, Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.
(Hull House was a settlement house in the United States that was co-founded in 1889 by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr. Located in the Near West Side of Chicago, Illinois, Hull House opened its doors to the recently arrived European immigrants.)