Our thanks go to Norm Willis of Canada for much helpful information on this page
Joanna Pallister was the eighth child of John (Augustus) Pallister & Sarah Vachon born February 21st, 1874 in Ottumwa, Iowa.
In the 1885 census of Iowa, Joanna (known as Anna) was living at West Maine St, Ottumwa, Wapello, Iowa with her parents & brothers John A, Thomas A & William H. All 3 boys were described as ‘candy makers’ & are known to have set up a confectionery business in Ottumwa. In the early 80s the Pallister Bros had the largest confectionery & ice cream business in Ottumwa. Their store was the first in Ottumwas to install electric light. Four sisters were also living at home – Alice (21), Victoria (18) & Mary (16) all born in Canada. Her sister Matilda (13) & Anna were born in Iowa.
In 1895 Anna & her sisters Alice, Mary & Matilda were living at home in Ottumwa with their widowed mother & all 4 girls were confectioners. Anna’s 3 brothers were also still at home & all described as cigar manufacturers. Also living with them at the time of the census was sister Victoria Johnson with her 3 year old daughter Susie.
The 1900 census of Ottumwa shows Anna living with her older brother William Henry, a cigar manufacturer, along with her mother & sisters Sarah Alice Pallister & Victoria Johnson & her daughter Susie. Anna was now a dancing teacher.
Anna was still living with brother William in 1910 as was Victoria Johnson & daughter Susie. They were living in Ward 6, Wapello, Ottumwa.
Anna, still a dancing teacher, was again living with brother William, a cigar manufacturer, & sister Victoria, a saleslady in a dry goods store, in Ottumwa, Ward 6 in 1920.
At the time of the 1930 census Anna was living with her sister Victoria in Ottumwa, their brother William having died. The 2 sisters were still living together in 1940 at 125 Vogel Avenue, Central Township, Ottumwa.
Anna died at St Joseph Hospital, Ottumwa on March 19th, 1953. A death announcement states that she was a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church. Anna was buried in Ottumwa cemetery.