JHW York and Mary Beethe McKaig

John Henry Wilford York and Mary Beethe McKaig
JHW and Mary

John Henry Wilford York 1859-1936
(also known as JHW York)

JHW grew up on a farm in St. Vincent Twp, Grey Co. Ontario, just north of Meaford.

Mary Beethe McKaig 1865-1953

Mary was born in Hamilton Ontario, but moved to Detroit MI as a child. According to family tradition, Mary's aunt, Mary (Williams) Trout, sent the photo on the right to JHW as an introduction.



JHW loved to garden, and his gardens were often the setting for family photos over the years.


John and Mary were married, in 1897 in Detroit, and raised their two children there.


In 1918 they sold their home in Detroit and bought a chicken ranch in California. That's Mary on your right in the top picture and JHW on your left in the bottom picture. Their daughter Florence is in both pictures. The lady in the middle between Mary and Florence is unidentified.


After a serious auto accident (their vehicle was hit by a train), John and Mary had to sell the ranch and move into town, first to Santa Cruz, and eventually to Oakland CA.

Their Children
Wilford Douglas York 1898-1966
Florence Margaret York 1902-1979

Wilford was always immaculate in his dress and his children loved this picture where his shoes were on the wrong feet.


They were close friends




throughout their lives.

Check back to this space for links to pages with individual photos of Wilford and Florence.


For further information e-mail Shirley York Anderson


© 1998 Shirley York Anderson