Ada Voted Yes




Ada Louise Houston
1857 - 1924

  My great grandmother, Ada Louise Houston was born in Enterprise, Florida on May 19, 1857.  When she was three years of age, her father, John C. Houston III brought his family to live in Eau Gallie.  He was after all the founder of the town.  She was 19 years old, still living at home, with her parents when she gave birth to a daughter, Eva Lena Houston, born on Ada's 19th birthday. 

Ada married William Russell Roesch on January 16, 1885 and she brought Eva Lena with her and William welcomed her and gave her his name. Our family called her Aunt Lena.  Ada was nine years older that her husband. 


Ada is listed in memoriam
in this book

  Ada, along with her husband, was one of the founders and builders of the Methodist Church in Eau Gallie.  She was also a member of the Eau Gallie's Women's Club.  Many Sunday's she would have her minister over for dinner.  On those occasions, children were seen and not heard.  Her son had to eat after the minister left.  But, it was not unusual for Ada to sneak her son a piece of chicken.

Ada gave her husband six children, three girls and three boys, but only one child, a son survived, my grandfather, William Phillip born May 2, 1893.  (Mary, b Dec 22, 1885, d May 6, 1887, infant son b April 2, 1887 d Apr 3, 1887, infant daughter, born and died Jan 15, 1888, infant daughter, born and died Aug 22, 1889, and Earl Leroy Roesch b Oct 7 1895 d Oct 26 1895)

According to an article in an old newspaper, Ada was involved in the local school.  It was about the controversy of allowing five Japanese children to attend the public school.  Some of the Eau Gallie citizens obviously didn't want them there, they should have their own school they cried.  Ada voted to allow these five children to attend school with her son.  I am so proud of my great grandmother and her decision to vote yes.