Lester Franklin SEARS, son of Wildred Elmer SEARS and Mary Ann Inez KNIBBS , was born 01 July 1893 in Niagara Falls, Welland, Ontario, Canada. He married Louise Jane HILLMER 06 July 1913 in Niagara Falls, Welland, Ontario, Canada. He died 08 December 1922 in Montrose, Niagara Falls, Welland, Ontario, Canada. Louise Jane HILLMER was born 31 May 1895 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. She died 1970.


Children of Lester Franklin SEARS and Louise Jane HILLMER are:
1. Lester John SEARS, b. 08 February 1917 See Lester John SEARS & Joyce Joanne ULMER
2. Wilfred E SEARS, b. 1917
3. Isabel Lee SEARS, b. 1919

Marriage Notes for Lester Franklin SEARS\Louise Jane HILLMER:


See Lester and Louise's Marriage Registration.


Notes for Lester Franklin SEARS:

I understand from Leslee Sears Nevill that Lester served in WWI in the 25th Machine Gun Battalion. Leslee has told me this was part of the Canadian Cavalry, and because Lester joined the Canadian Cavalry, he lost his US citizenship. He was gassed with mustard gas during the war and as a consequence, he had lung problems for the rest of his life.

Lester died in 1921, aged just 29 years, 5 months, in a train accident whilst working for the Riptrack Railroad.


See Lester's Death Registration.

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Lester in the uniform of the Canadian Cavalry between 1914-18 (Click to enlarge)
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On May 16th, 1916, The Niagara Falls Gazette listed Lester amongst the Niagara Falls men amongst D Company, 86th Machine Gun Battalion, based at Hamilton and under order to start overseas duty. It was expected that the battalion would embark in the following few days.
Private Lester Franklin Sears, No.37 Hellen avenue, Centre
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From The Buffalo NY Morning Express, date unknown, 1922:
Train Kills Lester Sears of Falls, Ont.
Brakeman falls between two cars and is crushed to death.
Niagara Falls, Dec 9. - Lester F. Sears, 29 tears old, of No. 1 Walnut avenue, Niagara Falls, Ont., a brakeman for the Michigan Central railroad, was killed in the Montrose, Ont., railroad yards late last night. He was making repairs to one of a string of cars and fell between two of the cars and the trucks of one passed over him.
Funeral service for Mr. Sears will be held athis hiome on Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock under the auspices of the Masonic Lodge.

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From The Niagara Falls Gazette, Monday December 11th, 1922.
Niagara Falls, Ont., Dec. 11 - The funeral of Lester Franklin Sears, fatally injured when hit by a Michigan Central train whilst in the discharge of his duties Friday, will be held at two o'clock tomorrow,
Tuesday, from his late home, No. 2 Walnut street, and from Union church, Centre, where a public service will be conducted. Burial will be in Fairview under Masonic auspices. Mr. Sears served four years with the 28th battalion C. E. F., was a member of Adoriram Masonic lodge, Odd Fellows and other societies. Besides his wife he is survived by two sons aged five and Isabelle three years. The adjourned inquiry into the man's death will be held this evening at eight o'clock by Coroner E.T Kellam in No. 6 Schoolhouse, Lindy's Lane.


Lester died in the Montrose, Ontario, railroad yards. He was making repairs to one of a string of cars when he fell between two of the cars and was run over.
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Our gratitude goes to the members and volunteers at Find A Grave web site for recording the details, in memory of Lester.

Sources for Lester Franklin SEARS:

  1. Personal Contact with Leslee Sears Nevill, gave his middle name of Franklin 
  2. 1901 Census Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, gave 10 July 1893 
  3. 1911 Canadian Census,
  4. Oneida Community Website,
  5. Obituary,
  6. Death Register,
  7. Marriage Record,

Notes for Louise Jane HILLMER:




Louise Jane Hillmer with her two sons Lester John Sears and Wilfred Sears, taken in 1942 whilst they were on leave from the military. (Click to Enlarge)

I am informed by Bonita Hillmer that Louise Jane was the daughter of Edward Hillmer (1871-1928) and his first wife Nauretta Isabella Hinton (1870-1912). She had 5 siblings: William Beaconsfield, Cynthia Isabella, Pearl Alice, Laura Alexandra and Nellie May Dora Hillmer.
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We see Louise iun 1901 living at Halton, Ontariao:
Edward Hilmer Head Mar 30 Ontario
Isabella L Hilmer Wife 31 Ontario
Louise J Hilmer Daur 5
Cynthia I Hilmer Dau 2
Perl A Hilmer Daur 1
William Greeniaus Grd Father 80 Ontario
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The family was still living at Halton in 1911:
Edward Hilmer Head Mar 42 Liveryman Ontario
Isabel Hilmer Wife 42 Ontario
Louise Hilmer Daue16 Ontario
William Hilmer Son 14 Ontario
Cynthia Hilmer Daur12 Ontario
Pearl Hilmer Daur 12 Ontario
Alexander Hilmer Son 9 Ontario
Nellie Hilmer Daur 5 Ontario
Joseph Lawrence Boarder 56 Labourer Ontario
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I believe Louise married a man named Gordon SMITH, aged 24 on 29 Aug 1927 in York County, Ontario.

Sources for Louise Jane HILLMER:

  1. Personal Contact with Leslee Sears Nevill,
  2. Personal Contact with Bonita Hillmer, gave me Louise's second Christian name 
  3. Web site of Angela Medd, http://www.medd.net/users/genealogy/The_Greenis.htm 

Notes for Wilfred E SEARS:

Sources for Wilfred E SEARS:

  1. Personal Contact with Leslee Sears Nevill,
  2. Obituary, his grandmother's obituary gave middle initial 

Notes for Isabel Lee SEARS:

I understand from her grandmother's obituary, that Isabel married a man named John Lee.

Sources for Isabel Lee SEARS:

  1. Personal Contact with Leslee Sears Nevill,
  2. Obituary, of her father