He served briefly in the U.S. Civil War, enlisting in the Union Rifle Co., a militia unit stationed at Camp Scott in Milwaukee WI which became Company B of the First Regiment Infantry of the Wisconsin Volunteers in the Union Army. He enlisted on 20 Apr 1861 and was discharged for disability on 18 May 1861. He was never strong after the war. However, his request for a federal pension was denied because he had lost his discharge papers and could not prove his service. A family tradition attributes his poor health to the fact that his mother was very weak when he was born. It is difficult to document Henry's movements and residence in the 1860's and 1870's. His wife's obituary says they arrived in Cedar Rapids in March 1870. However, Henry's Declaration of Intention to become a citizen of the United States indicates that he "landed" in the United States "on or about" 29 Mar 1871. This would explain why he seems to have missed the census takers in both Ontario (1871) and the United States (1870). He may have been missed in 1860-1861 for the same reason. When he joined the army he gave his residence as Milwaukee. However, no other record has been located of his residence there and he apparently returned quite soon to Canada. When he later left Ontario for Cedar Rapids IA, the first date connected with that move is the birth of his daughter Alice, whose birthplace is given in later records as Cedar Rapids. Henry was naturalized at the courthouse in Cedar Rapids about 1880. By 1891 he was living at no. 596 E Ave, Central Park and a year later, he was living at 516 S. 10th St., both in Cedar Rapids. In 1910 he was living at 514 S. 10th St. For many years he was the janitor at St. Paul's Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids. Later, before 1915, Henry and Sarah moved with their youngest son to an 80 acre farm in Cedar County IA, but they were apparently never very happy there.
Return to Hall Descendant Chart.
He was a house painter. He was married, first, on 30 May 1882 at Rock Island IL, to Maude McGreer. One son, Claude, was born on 8 Feb 1884 at Olin IA and died there on 2 May 1914.
At the time of his first marriage he was a clerk in the BCR&N Railway office in Cedar Rapids. He also worked for the Rock Island railroad. By 1910 he was a brakeman and had moved to Albert Lea MN where he remained for six years before moving to Montana. In 1913 he went to work for the Milwaukee Road as a brakeman on the train running from Lewistown to Grassrange MT. In 1915 he applied for a homestead on Sec. 17-15N-25E, northeast of Teigen MT, which was then in Fergus Co. but is now in Petroleum Co.
When they lived on their homestead and David worked on the railroad, she would drive him back and forth to work by buggy.
He was a locomotive fireman.
Frank Berry was an engineer. No further record of him has been found. Family members were not aware of this marriage. David Edward Smith died of a pulmonary hemorrhage from a fall. He was working late on a Saturday night, up on an electric pole. Thinking that his safety belt was snapped tight, he leaned back and fell to his death.
He was killed in action on Corregidor, early in the Second World War. He was a chief electrician's mate in the U.S. Navy, enlisting in 1923 from Iowa. He was awarded the army's Distinguished Service Cross posthumously for heroism during the defense of Bataan and Corregidor. He was stationed in the Philippines on navy shore patrol for his last three years.
He seemed to be the caretaker of the family. When his young brothers and sisters died, they were buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Cedar Rapids IA. George, when he was old enough, made the payments on the lot. He and his wife lived with his parents and took care of them. Before 1915 they moved to an 80 acre farm. George was a hard worker but the work was very hard for him because he had not grown up with it. They usually had 7 or 8 milk cows. They also raised some pigs and fed the corn from 15 to 20 acres to them. They usually had 10 to 15 acres of oats and a like amount of hay for the cows and horses. The farm house had a coal stove but coal was very expensive and had to be hauled from town, so they usually burned wood which George cut from a woodlot about 8 to 10 miles away. He would leave in early morning in the winter with 2 horses on the sled. In the evening at nearly dark, he would come home with a load of wood which he had cut during the day. He walked beside the sled to keep warm, even though he was wearing a long fur coat. Many of their supplies came by freight from Sears Roebuck, clothing and even some food. After World War I they got a car, but it was never used in the winter. The car didn't start very well and the roads were all dirt and were bad in winter. In 1923 George bought 40 acres with a nice house. They moved there in 1924. George liked to travel, but Bess preferred staying home. In about 1930 George got discouraged with the farm work and went to Maryland. He lived near Washington D.C. where he found work as a mail carrier. He lived there until his death. After he left, one of Bess's brothers helped with the farm.
Bess worked as a hired girl and saved enough money to go to a Church of the Brethren school at Mt. Morris IL where she earned a teachers certificate. She taught near Clarence IA in country schools. George Dallas was also a member of the Church of the Brethren, and attended the country church near Clarence, where they met. After George died, she gave up the farm and went to stay with a sister in California. After a year she came back to Iowa and lived in Tipton with another cousin.
Morden (MB) Monitor 27 Apr 1893: letter to the Editor - Mrs. Thompson was suffering from loss of sleep and a general nervous attack, and consulted her physician, hoping to find relief. She received from him two powders to induce sleep, but after taking half got but little relief, and sent to the physician for more medicine, telling him the result of his previous treatment. Dr. Nathan Albert3 York later theorized that she died from an overdose of morphine. After Alice's death, her recently widowed mother, Elizabeth, came to live with the family and take care of the children. Alice received a third class teachers certificate in 1872 in Ontario and again in 1876. She taught at Mount Pleasant school in St. Vincent Township. The following from the Meaford (ON) Monitor probably refers to her: 6 Jul 1874: The schools of Miss York, 9th line, and Miss Breckenridge, 7th line, will unite to hold a picnic in Mallory's grove, 7th line on Saturday first. We wish them a pleasant time. Going west with her parents, she was among the first teachers at Boyne District in Manitoba, and was the first of the York family teachers in Manitoba. It was her letters back home to Meaford that led Lydia Mallory, Selina4 York, and Ada4 York to come west to teach. The Carman (MB) Weekly Standard of 6 Apr 1893 reported: [Alice] was well known in this vicinity, having taught school at Salterville a number of years ago. She and her sister Minnie, also a teacher, had a double wedding. The night of the wedding there was a blizzard and all the company had to stay all night. The fires had to be kept burning or they would all freeze. Alice is listed as a prize winner in 1881 for Berlin wool work, a hair wreath, a crock of butter and a child's dress, in 1883 for 'hair work' and woollen socks. Other prizes include in 1884 for woollen mitts, and in 1888 for a woolen rug and a log cabin quilt. She is remembered as one who wanted more settlers in Manitoba - even writing to England to attract interest to the Thompson district. The building of a church was another of her projects.
Edmonton (AB) Journal On Monday last he was in the city on business and appeared to be in his usual good health. It is supposed that he caught cold on the drive home. He had never fully recovered from the shock of the tragic death of his only son. He was a prominent Conservative, having been president of the Conservative Association at Belmont and a delegate to the 1908 Conservative convention. He was married, second, on 2 May 1904 at Uxbridge ON, to Mary Littlejohn. From Ontario, he filed for his homestead in 1877 on Sec.7 of the Thompson District (Miami MB). While there he suffered several setbacks ... Morden (MB) Monitor 23 Apr 1886: ... the granary of Mr. R.P. Thompson, 5-5, was destroyed by a prairie fire on Wednesday. 400 bushels of wheat were consumed. and some successes: 8 Aug 1889: Rosebank - The harvest is coming in very fast, several parties have commenced cutting wheat. There are some extra good fields of grain along the foot of the mountain this year. Wm. Thompson, sr., postmaster, Miami, has a splendid crop, so has Robt. Thompson, .... He was a pathmaster in Ward 3 of North Dufferin in 1881. In 1899 he sold his farm to William Alexander for $2,600, and bought the old York homestead on Section 12 for $4,800. He was one of the executors for the estate of his wife's brother-in-law, Samuel Stevenson. Dufferin (MB) Leader 4 May 1899: Mr. R.P. Thompson, west of here, is laid up with a sore toe, caused by blood poisoning of a corn. It is thought that amputation may be necessary. He also lost a fine colt last week, it having fallen into an old well. 2 Apr 1903: Miami - We are glad to see R.P. Thompson on our streets again. Mr. Thompson was confined to his room for several weeks this winter from an attack of pneumonia. ... Mr. R.G. [sic] Thompson is announcing a sale of stock, implements and household furniture, as he intends retiring from farming. From Saskatchewan he moved to Belmont AB where he was a large landholder. Miami (MB) Herald 14 May 1903: Mr. R.P. Thompson is leaving today (Thursday) on an extended trip through the Territories. 23 Jul 1903: R.P. Thompson returned from Edmonton last week where he has purchased land.
Edmonton (AB) Journal ... death occurred as the result of a fall from a coal wagon he was driving on the Seventh street grade ... Joseph was a bright, active young man, aged 22. He was hauling coal at the time of his death under contract and had four teams working. He was very popular in the Belmont community ...
His son Ethbert told of a time as a young man when Thomas was a pilot on a small boat carrying freight, and called a steam packet. Thomas went to Manitoba with his parents in 1879. He soon became involved in local responsibilities, serving as chair of the Rosebank School District ratepayers in 1880, secretary and trustee in 1882 and secretary treasurer in 1884. In 1884 he was elected to a committee of the Farmers Union at Miami MB and a Senior Warden of the Belmont Lodge, A.F. and A.M. No. 13, at Nelson MB. The newspapers reported on some of his early farming activities: Manitoba Mountaineer 22 Sep 1880: Mr. Thos. York is getting his "Paragon" threshing machine thoroughly refitted for the season's work, and will commence threshing operations at once. Mr. York is a first-rate thresher. 22 Nov 1881: Mr. T.H. York threshed the other day, on the farm of A. & J. Riddell, Tobacco Creek, 75 bags of oats in one hour and two minutes. Pretty lively work. He also got involved in activities before the North Dufferin Council regarding a needed bridge. Manitoba Mountaineer 13 Sep 1881: North Dufferin Council ... Communication from T.H. York and others for a bridge between section 31 in township 4, range 3, and section 36 in township 4, range 6. About 1882 Thomas decided to look for carpenter work, as he had some skill in that direction gained from working with carpenters back in Ontario. He went to Rat Portage on the Lake of the Woods where he and another man contracted to build a saw mill and set up the machinery. He rented his farm to his brother Levi3 who made enough money from the crop to attend business college. Apparently Thomas returned to his farm. Late in March of 1886 a neighbor named Porter heard that cattle were cheaper in Dakota. As they needed another team of oxen and some more cows, Henry allowed Tom to take one of their teams and go with Porter on a buying trip. The country was open west of the Pembinas and the snow was deep. The Mounties were not very active along the boundary line. They bought all the cattle they could with the money they had and one dark night started back across the line. They put some hay in the sled and the cattle followed along, lured by something to eat. They headed for a Mennonite village some miles to the north. Tom went ahead toward the village to make arrangements for themselves and the stock. He saw a light and started toward it but before he got there the light went out. He continued, thinking he was going in the right direction but when he came upon his own footprints again, he realized he was lost and had been walking in a circle. He had an army overcoat and a cape. Wrapping these around him, he crawled under a snow drift and let it drift over him. In the morning he discovered he was quite near the village. The friendly Mennonites gave him breakfast and he was little worse for his night out. Porter had spent the night in the sled. They continued the trip home without further incident. (Morden) Manitoba News 23 Apr 1886: The stables of Mr. T.H. York and the granary of Mr. R.P. Thompson, 5-5, were destroyed by a prairie fire on Wednesday. 400 bushels of wheat were consumed. Four horses in Mr. York's stable had a close call, but were got out without injury. And his farming was mentioned in the successor of the News. Morden (MB) Monitor 25 Jul 1889: T.H. York lost a valuable mare last week. The animal got entangled in a barb wire fence, where she was found the next morning, dead. He had a front row seat for the building of the railroad in 1889, as one outfit was stationed on his farm. Apparently, he again lost interest in farming, for by 1889 he was the land agent in Rosebank, selling land to all comers, and in June 1891, he sold his own farm. His first wife was a younger sister of Tacy Markle, the first wife of Nathan Albert3 York. Thomas went to Cedar Rapids IA to visit his older brother, Henry3 York, and somehow got acquainted with the Markle family. Thomas married Calla and took her to Canada to live on his farm near Miami MB. In 1893, Tom was living in Cedar Rapids IA and was feeling the pinch of the depression. He had purchased a house in Young's addition but had to give it up because of a faulty title. He then rented a small farm on the Vinton Road, expecting to start a small dairy. In the spring the place was sold and Tom rented a place on Bowling Road. Here he started a dairy with a small herd of cows. The dairy business failed and Tom moved to Iowa City, where he and his brother Nathan hauled wood from the Markle farm to supply them for the winter. In 1896 Thomas and Callie were living at 1247 S. 7th St. in Cedar Rapids IA where Thomas worked for the Singer Manufacturing Co. By 1900, Thomas and Calla had separated, and she and their son went to live with her father on his farm in Springdale Twp, Cedar Co. IA. Thomas took lodgings in Rock Island IL.
He tells of his younger years: I'd spent the better part of a year as a box car Johnny roving over the Central West, viewing the countryside from an open box car door, and sleeping in the warmer climes in the Hobo camps. By 1920 he resided in Independence IA where he remained for the rest of his life. In 1920 he was the proprietor of a garage, a Hudson Essex dealership.
Manitoba Mountaineer 15 Nov 1881: Epicures are enjoying venison steaks just now. Mr. Sam. Stevenson of Miami slaughtered a deer or two the other day and Watson Bros. purchased the meat. In 1881 Samuel was appointed a pathmaster in Ward 3 of North Dufferin. In 1884 he was the Vice-President of the North Dufferin Agricultural Society. In 1886, the four Stevenson children were pupils at the log school house in the Sharon School District which opened in 1881. Morden (MB) Monitor 18 Jul 1889: Mr. Sam Stevenson has bought one of Pound Bros. latest style and best finished top buggies. Sam says he bought it to use - not to look at - as did another individual here who never suffers his buggy to go out in the open air if there is a speck of cloud in the sky. Sam and Lydia found that they had to take their son, Reggie, to the city when he was only two years old for a hernia operation. They put a small trunk in the back of the buckboard and set out. As they were crossing the river near Headingly the rig tipped and the trunk, followed by the horses, went downstream. Lydia held the baby above her head and Sam grabbed and caught her hair. He was able to pull her to shore in this manner. People living nearby came to the rescue. They caught the team, and gathered in the trunk and other loose articles. Then they took the wet people in to dry their clothing before they continued their journey. In the early days of the settlement, the road from their farm to the Thompsonville post office ran two miles in a south westerly direction. It was indeed only a path through a dense woods and scrub. One evening when Sam and a friend were on their way for the mail, they met a huge black bear on the path directly in front of them. The two men treed the bear and Sam stayed to watch while the friend left to get a gun. By this time night had closed in and to keep the bear in the tree, Sam kept a fire burning all night. In the early dawn the friend returned with the gun and the bear was shot. Like other family members, the Stevensons won prizes at the Dufferin fairs: 1881 Samuel for a collection of pigeons, 1884 Samuel for a water melon and winter radishes and Lydia for a child's dress, Lydia in 1909 for a fancy lady's collar.
Dufferin (MB) Leader 21 Sep 1899 Rosebank - Mr. Reginald Stevenson spent Sunday under the parental roof. We are pleased to see his smiling countenance. 27 Jun 1901 Miami - Reginald Stevenson dropped in on Saturday and was noticed later driving home with a new mower, happy as a nightingale. He worked in the community until the 1900's, then left for Vancouver BC where he worked in the fishery and canning industry. He was a logger at the time of his death. He did not marry.
She won a prize at the 1909 fair for her Wallachian. She was within a few weeks of delivering her third child when her sister Natalie was married. Her mother would not allow her to come downstairs for the service due to her condition.
He became a grain elevator employee and later a grain buyer, continuing in this occupation until his retirement. Miami (MB) Herald 2 Nov 1905: John Garnett has erected an office and workshop on Main street west. 3 May 1906: John Garnett has the contract of painting the Methodist church at Rosebank. 3 Jul 1907: (Ad) John G. Garnett/begs to announce to the public/that he is prepared to do all kinds/of ordinary painting as usual by/ day or contract. Estimates furnished. Work guaranteed./Agent for Sherwin-Williams/Mixed paint for all purposes. He was Secretary/Treasurer for the school for about 20 years and financial secretary of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for 46 years. He was apparently also a sports enthusiast. Miami (MB) Herald 27 May 1909: A great game of baseball was played on Friday evening between teams made up of the town boys and a side picked from the public school. J.G. Garnett umpired a good bit of sport. ... 10 Jun 1909: Return game of baseball between the Town and School - John Garnett again undertaking the duties of umpire in the performance of which he gives all round satisfaction. The paper also followed his residence activities: 7 Jun 1906: Telephone subscribers ... No. 16, J.G. Garnett, residence; 1 Jul 1909: J.G. Garnett has purchased for $80 a lot 26 feet x 130 feet from J. Holland. The lot is to the west of the seller's residence. A stable is to be erected on the property. 5 May 1910: J.G. Garnett and ... have had cement front walks laid to their houses by S.E. Bell. 14 Nov 1910: Piano-box Cutter (new) for Sale cheap. Apply to J.G. Garnett.
Rev. H. Bowman, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Miami told the following anecdote: The Xmas tree concerts held in the Aberdeen Hall over the store of Collins and Munro were events to be remembered and one might have been disastrous. Dr. Shanks was illuminating a tableau (Nettie Stevenson posed as an angel on top of a table) by burning flash light powder, when it suddenly exploded. Quick as a flash he smothered the flames with his coat and no harm resulted.
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