Nestor and Allida Newman – 1890s Saanich Pioneers

The Nyman family bible indicates that Nestor Johnson Nyman (pronounced Newman in Finnish) was born on February 7, 1861 in Pori, Finland. The bible is now owned by a niece. Pori is located on the Kokemaki River, about 20 km inland off the West coast of Finland.

Allida Nyman was born February 12, 1875 and received communion for the first time on July 17, 1889 at Porin.

Little is known of Nestor Newman’s emigration from Finland to Canada but an 1891 census record places Nestor as a miner in the Dunsmuir coal mines in Nanaimo. The 1901 census shows that Nestor was naturalized in 1896.

Even less is known of Allida’s emigration. However, their first son was born on June 18, 1897. Earlier that year, on March 25, 1897, Nestor purchased a one-acre parcel of land from Ann John, widow of Joseph John.

With his wife, Nestor built a cabin on the one-acre portion in the SW corner of the existing 16 ½- acre farm on the Old Veyaness Road, Saanichton. According to the 1898 B.C. Voters List, Nestor was then a South Saanich Farmer, however he was also listed in the 1899 BC Directories as a sectionman with the Victoria and Sidney Railway, which ran in front of their home.

An additional purchase of property for $400 was registered on August 9, 1900, consolidated with the first acre to bring total acreage to 17.4.

By 1905 the couple had five children and the larger two-storey frame structure with a cross-gable roof and returned eaves replaced the cabin. A Victorian door graces the front entry while inset porches are found at both entrances.

The Newman family consisted of nine children: George (Yrja) born 1897, Lauri – 1899, Walmis – 1901, Nestor – 1903, John (Yukka) – 1905, Alida – 1906, Ella – 1908, Henry (Heikki) – 1911 and Reino (Lou) - 1913. Reino was born in December, his father Nestor, died earlier that year in April, after a brief stay in Saint Joseph’s Hospital.

The original cabin remains on the property today and sits to the right of the main residence and the creamery building. There is little change in the interior or exterior of the main residence as the house lacked running water, electricity and any modern conveniences right up to the time the last Newman brother died in 2000.

Several Newman headstones are located in the Shady Creek United Church Cemetery on East Saanich Road. Allida’s headstone includes the names of her sons, George, and Henry and daughter, Alida. Two other markers for sons, Nestor and John are nearby. There is no grave marker for founder, Nestor Johnson Newman.

January, 2007
(Researched and written by Anita Fownes, an experienced Genealogy researcher for over 20 years, who lives in James Bay. Anita is a Newman Farm Working Group volunteer.)