Text

The Descendants of John Williams and Selina Brewster

Text, continued

John Milton2 Williams
He died of consumption "caused by him in the army".  He farmed the south 60 acres of E1/2, Lot 14, Concession 9 in St. Vincent Twp.  He never married.

Return to Descendant Chart.

George Newton2 Williams
He was baptized in 1856 at Meaford (ON) Church of Christ.  About 1890 he and his family moved to Touchwood Hills SK.

About 1897 they moved to Salterville MB where their son Rance had already settled.  In 1900 they lived on Sec. 22, Twp 6, Range 4, Carman.  George later moved to Haywood.

Meaford (ON) Monitor: 8 Nov 1889 Mr. George A. [sic] Williams farm, being the north quarter lot 13, con. 9, St. Vincent, containing 50 acres, was sold the past week by Walter FC Arlidge of the Farmer=s Agency, to Mr. Joseph Boyes.  Mr. Williams, we are informed, leaves for the far West shortly.

27 Dec 1889 On the evening of 23rd Dec. a number of the friends of Mr. & Mrs. George Williams, 9th line St. Vincent, met at their residence for the purpose of expressing their regret at the family=s intended removal to make their home in the North-West.  The visitors came prepared with some of the good things of life which were heartily enjoyed by the company.  However, before the enjoyment of the evening commenced, Mr. Chas. Boyes read the following address,

To Mr. and Mrs. George N. Williams and family, St. Vincent.  Dear Friends, - Hearing you are leaving this neighbourhood shortly for the far North-West, we, your neighbours and friends cannot allow this opportunity to pass without expressing to you our kindly appreciation of your many virtues and good qualities.  We have found you always kind and true meighbours, ever ready to do any friendly act, and we feel sorry that you are leaving our midst, knowing as we do that your absence will be long felt among us.

We beg to herewith present you with this cruet stand as a small token of our regard and hope and trust you may meet with good and kind neighbours in your new home, and that you may be long spared to enjoy this world=s richest blessings, and after our life in this world is o=er we hope to be neighbours in that world above where partings shall be no more.  Signed on behalf of friends. ENOCH BOYES, CHARLES BOYES. St. Vincent, Dec. 23rd, 1889.

A short but hearty acknowledgement was made by the family when the party went in with a hearty relish for the evening=s enjoyment, consisting first of the refreshments referred to and after social chat, songs, games, &c., until the wee small hours arrived, when the party dispersed, much pleased with the entertainment.

Dufferin (MB) Leader: 28 Aug 1902 Mrs. James Trout, of Meaford, arrived on Monday on a visit to her brother, George Williams.

Christian Monthly Review, Vol. 12, No. 12, December 1927, p. 13: (transcribed by Myrna Perry)

Obituary Bro. George Newton William [sic] was born in New York State 1838.  And was moved to Meaford, Ont., in 1840.  He moved to Saskatchewan in 1889, thence to near Carman, Man., in 1897.  His long life on earth ended on Oct. 11th at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Herbert Sterling, near Carman.  The writer conducted the funeral services at Carman on Oct. 12th, assisted by Bro. Daniel Stewart.  Bro. Williams was "baptized into Christ" about 68 years ago, and had been faithful to his Lord through many years of joy and sorrow.  His wife Phoebe Saunders pre-deceased him by 23 years.

We thank God for the faithful, patient, godly life of our brother, and we rejoice with him in the hope of eternal life and glory, in the "home where sorrow never comes", when the "eternal morn shall dawn and the shadows flee away."  Chas. W. Petch.

Return to Descendant Chart.

Albertha Roena3 Williams
She moved to Touchwood Hills SK about 1890 with her parents.  Before 1897 she and her husband moved to Manitoba where they lived with her brother Rance before moving to a place of their own near Sperling which they rented out in 1907 and moved to Carman.  In Nov 1906, she was treated for typhoid fever in Carman MB.  She resided in Bates circa 1908 and in Los Angeles CA in 1927.  She won many prizes at the annual Dufferin exhibitions at Carman, mostly for sewing but also for cakes, home made soap, butter, pickles and catsup.

At the time of her wedding, the Williams family was still living in the log shack that they built on their homestead, until they could build a larger log house.  (The shack then became the hen house.)  A length of white cotton cloth brought from Ontario was unrolled and tacked around the walls.  Her cousin, John H.W. York, was best man.  The ceremony was performed by an Anglican missionary named Owens.

While a home was being prepared on the Boyes homestead, the S.E. Quarter of Sec. 6, the newly married couple remained in the Williams home for a time.  One evening Bertha went to bring home the cows, and did not return.  It became so late that her mother and sister knew she was lost.  Elsie went out and fired the shot gun.  Mrs. Williams shouted.  Bertha did not hear the shot but did hear the yell once, and started in its direction, but soon became confused again.

She knew enough to remain in one place when lost, but when hearing a cow bell which she thought was their own, she followed it, only to find it belonging to a band of ponies.  When her father and husband came home they began a search on horseback, Mr. Boyes taking the gun and Mr. Williams his Fife in which he was not to make music, but on which he could make a very loud, shrill sound.

It was the young husband who found his bride.  The night was in late October, there was a very heavy fog, and by morning the ground was covered with snow.  Someone said that if Bertha had been out all night she would scarcely have been worth looking for.

Return to Descendant Chart.

Enoch Boyes
Dufferin (MB) Leader 17 Mar 1898 Bates - Settlers are arriving on nearly every train for Bates.  Among those who lately have arrived here are messrs. Boyes ... from Meaford. 22 Dec 1908 Mr. Enoch Boyes will spend the holidays with friends around Meaford and Toronto.  He left here on Monday.

In 1909, Enoch advertised in the Carman (MB) Standard to breed his pedigreed Clydesdale Stallion.

Return to Descendant Chart.

Rensselaer Saunders3 Williams
He was known as Rance.  As he grew to manhood, friends and acquaintances were moving "out west" hoping to find better opportunities for making a living.  At twenty-one years of age he went on a harvest excursion train to Carman MB where some of these people had settled.
Meaford (ON) Monitor 1 Mar 1889: Mr. Ranselar Williams and Alex. Durant left for Manitoba on Monday afternoon, intending to take the same train from Allendale as Mr. Henry Laycock.  Mr. Williams is a son of George Williams, St. Vincent, and Mr. Durant a son of Stephen Durant, St. Vincent.  They both intend staying in Manitoba if they like the country.  They procured their railway tickets at the monitor office.

He worked for farmers in the area until he was able to buy NE 14-6-4w in the Municipality of Dufferin.  The buildings in his quarter section were near the south edge of it in a bush near a ravine.  To the northeast, one could see for miles.  In the winter, the snow would blow into the bush from the open prairie and swirl around the house until, near the north side, the drift stood like a wall and as high as the roof on the back kitchen.  The drifts were so hard the children made steps in the face of the snow cliff, climbed up it and walked all over the fields.  To go anywhere with a team and sleigh, the men had to make a road through the ravine to the main road by a cirvuitous route.

Eking out a living on a quarter section of land took a lot of hard work and careful planning.  Eggs and butter were traded in at the store for groceries and sometimes for yeard goods.  All of their clothes were made at home, including workshirts, pants and smocks.  There was a big garden.  They sold a few cattle and some horses that Rance had raised and trained.  There was grain to sell, and a few pigs and a few dressed chickens.  While in Manitoba he was an officer of the Carman (MB) church of Christ.

Miami (MB) Herald 1 Oct 1908: Carman - R. Williams, at one time a farmer of this part but now of Lloydminster, has been visiting here and is convinced that the land around here cannot be beaten for wheat growing.


Isabelle Rae (Williams) Perry 1896-1989
Rensselaer Saunders Williams 1867-1948 (in back)
George Brown Williams 1905-1981
Margaret Thorburn (Rae) Williams 1870-1956
John Williams 1899-1975
At Rance's home in Beamsville c.1920
Does anyone know the dog's name?

After twenty years in Manitoba, he moved his family to the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario.

Dufferin (MB) Leader 22 Dec 1908: Mr. and Mrs. R. Williams and family were among those who went east on Monday.  They go to Niagara Falls.  3 Mar 1909: Remember the auction sale of R.S. Williams on Monday next at his place, section 14-6-4.  Alfred Larson auctioneer.  11 Mar 1909: The Auction sale of R.S. Williams, on Monday, by A. Larson, auctioneer, was very satisfactory to all concerned and good prices were obtained for stock and implements.  25 Mar 1909: R.S. Williams and family left here by C.N.R. on Wednesday of last week to reside at Beamsville, Ont.

They rented for a few years, then bought land near Beamsville where he and Margaret lived the remainder of their lives.

Return to Descendant Chart.

Margaret Thorburn Rae
She came to Canada at the age of eight.  When a girl she lived at Owen Sound and Meaford.  She was a faithful member of the church of Christ.  She knew her Bible and had the natural ability to explain it intelligently to others.
Return to Descendant Chart.
Isabelle Rae4 Williams
She was raised on the family farm in the Carman district and received her education at the Boyne School.  They were three miles from the Boyne School and were not sent until she was ten and John was eight, being taught at home until then.  They went to school in a cart pulled by a horse owned by their Grandfather Williams.  Once a bronce, this horse, usually slow and lazy, was also tricky on occasion and could move incredibly fast.

One morning they suddenly found themselves thrown out into the ditch among the brush.  The horse was calmly going back into their grandfather's yard.  The cart and harness were damaged.  There was no one home but a housekeeper.  She made them some sandwiches to replace those that had fallen in the dirt when the lid came off one of their lard-pail lunch kits.  The horse was tied in the barn and they walked the remaining two miles to school.

In 1909 the family moved to Beamsville ON and Isabelle continued her education there.  She then took a business course and worked in Hamilton ON for a few years.  She wrote the family account in Tales of the Touchwoods.

Return to Williams Descendant Chart.
Return to York Descendant Chart.

John4 Williams
He moved to Vineland in 1909 and farmed for 51 years before retiring in 1970.  He and Lillian farmed and lived with his parents, eventually taking over the farm.  He was an elder with the church of Christ at Wellandport.  He was secretary for many years of Union six in the former Clinton school section and was on the board of directors of Great Lakes Christian College in Beamsville ON from 1950 to 1967.

Return to Descendant Chart.

George Brown4 Williams
He never married and spent most of his life as a mechanic and car salesman.

Return to Descendant Chart.

Elsie Addelina3 Williams
She moved to SK about 1890 with her parents.  In 1897 she and her husband moved to Haywood MB.  After 1904 they moved to western Ontario.  She resided, in 1927, in Graysville MB.  In 1958 she resided in Winnipeg MB.

She remembered shooting prairie chickens.  One time she got four at one shot as they sat in a row on the garden fence; another shot brought down three from a tree.  She also shot the first wild goose and crane she had ever tasted.

Return to Descendant Chart.

James Herbert Sterling
He was known as Herbert.  He purchased the SE ¼ of Section 28, Township 7, Range 6W in the Municipality of Dufferin MB on 15 Jul 1896.  They lived on a homestead south of Haywood MB for some time, where they built a schoolhouse and named it "Stirling School."  Later they moved to Amesdale, and later to Winnipeg.
Dufferin (MB) Leader 1 Jun 1899: Almasippi - We are glad to see that Mr. Herb Stirling, who has been confined indoors for the past month, has so far recovered as to be able to be out again.  19 Nov 1903: Geo. Jenkins, Herbert Sterling and Joe Ayrnot have gone on a camping expedition and deer hunt.  6 Oct 1910: Court of Revision - Herb Sterling struck off Carman's voter list.

Return to Descendant Chart.

Clare Bertram3 Williams
He moved to SK about 1890 with his parents.  After 1904 he moved to western Ontario.  He resided, in 1927, in Graysville MB and in Winnipeg MB in 1958.
Dufferin (MB) Leader 10 Mar 1898: A son of George Williams, south east of Carman, was kicked early this week by a horse that he was trying to catch, and received injuries in the head from which at present writing he is insensible.  17 Mar 1898: Salterville - Clare Williams, who was severely kicked by a horse about a week ago is slowly recovering.

Return to Descendant Chart.

Lydia Jane2 Williams
She was a teacher in St. Vincent Twp.  In 1868 she and her husband moved to Pilot, Kankakee County IL.

Return to Descendant Chart.

Hiram Julius Converse
About 1836, he was adopted by his aunt, Mrs. Sarietta Converse Bull, residing in Wellington, Prince Edward Co. ON and his home was with her family until her death about 1850.  He then left the family, sought employment at manual labor, and when not at work attended public school.

In 1852 he went to Port Dalhousie ON, a village at the mouth of the Welland Canal.  Part of the time he attended school and part of the time he taught school, until the winter of 1857 when he moved to St. Vincent Twp, Grey Co. ON.  In 1861, he was a schoolmaster in St. Vincent Twp. and his religion is given as "Friends."  In 1870 he was a grocer in the Town of Pilot, Kankakee Co. IL.

In 1883 he and his second wife moved to Joliet IL where he was a grocer.  He was a deacon of the First Baptist Congregation for 30 years.

Joliet City Directories:
1884 (Herman J.) s.s. E. Washington, 2e. Spring Creek, expressman
1885-6 624 S. Chicago expressman
1887/1888 expressman, n.e. cor. Miller and Second aves.
1889-90 n.e. corner Miller and Second aves., grocer same address
1891 grocer 701 2d av

1903-4, 701 Second Av, grocer, same address
1906-7, 701 Second av, expressman
1909-10 701 2d av, grocer 215 Miller av
1914, bds 503 Grant av

Return to Descendant Chart (first marriage).
Return to Descendant Chart (second marriage).

Milton Everett3 Converse
He served in Co.B, 4th Regiment National Guard from 1883 to 1888, and was in service at Lamont and Nobes Hill during a Quarry strike in 1883 and at a Braidwood Mine Strike in 1888.

He owned and operated Converse Music House in Joliet where he sold musical instruments and musical merchandise, was a piano tuner and did other piano repairs.  The music house was established in 1888.  At the time of his death it was the oldest music store in the city.


Joliet City Directory, 1889-90

He was a member of the Board of Directors of the YMCA, and a deacon of the First Baptist church.

Joliet City Directories:
1884 s.s. E. Washington, 2e. Spring Creek, expressman
1885-6 624 S. Chicago, teamster
1887 driver, n.e. cor. Miller and Second aves.
1888/1889-90 pianos and organs 620 Jefferson, res n.e. cor Miller and Second Aves.
1891 pianos and organs 620 Jefferson, res 701 2d av; 1903-4, 909 Second Av
1906-7 109 Mound; 1909-10 416 Richards
1914 305 Sherman; 1916, 212 Richards

Return to Descendant Chart.

Lillian Ethel Holmes
She was active in civic and community affairs.

Joliet City Directories:
1930 Lillian (wid Milton), r Carl R. Kircher (west side Barr Elms 7 S Washington)

Return to Descendant Chart.

Marshall Hiram4 Converse
Joliet City Directories:
1930, (Amelia; 1), 2504 E Washington, teamster John F. Uhde Dairy;
1945, (Amelia E.) slsmn Beatrice Creamery Co. h 1618 E. Washington;
1959-61, Amelia E. (wid Marshall) slswn Kline's [dept store] r 1100 Helen Av

Return to Descendant Chart.

Lydia Ann4 Converse
Joliet City Directories:
1920 student, bds 212 Richards;
1925 Kircher, Carl R (Lydia A) switchman, E J & E Rwy, h 406 Mississippi Av;
1927 Carl R (Lydia A, 1 child) switchman, E J & E Rwy, h ws Barr Elms 1 s. 3d av;
1929/1930 Carl R (Lydia A, 1 child) laborer, h ws Barr Elms 7 s Washington;

1933-4 Carl R (Lydia A, 1 child) laborer, h 301 Barr Elms;
1935 Carl R (Lydia A, 1 child) switchman, E J & E Rwy, h 301 Barr Elms;
1937/1938 Carl R (Lydia A, 2 child) switchman, E J & E Rwy, h 301 Barr Elms;

1940 Carl R (Lydia A, 2 child) switchman, E J & E Rwy, h 355 Union;
1942 Carl R (Lydia A, 2 child) switchman, E J & E Rwy, h 656 Whitley Ave;
1945 Carl R (Lydia A) switchman, E J & E Rwy, h 656 Whitley Ave;

Return to Descendant Chart.

Mettie Theodie3 Converse
She resided in Joliet IL and apparently never married.  She assisted her brother in the Converse music store in Joliet, in which she was a partner.

Joliet City Directories:
1888 clk res n.e. cor. Miller and Second aves.;
1889-90 clk res n.e. corner Miller and Second aves.;
1891 (Miss) clk. M.E. Converse, res 701 2d av;
1903-4, 701 Second Av, clerk;
1906-7& 1909-10, bds 701 Second Av;
1916, bds 212 Richards;
1930 105 2d av, canvasser

Return to Descendant Chart.

William Fleming
Owen Sound (ON) Times 20 Jan 1871 Messrs. Fleming and Marshall have now opened out their office next door to Marshall's Bakery, Poulett Street, and as will be seen by advertisment, Mr. Fleming has been appointed agent for the Amicable Life Assurance Company a first class British Company, whose rates are very low.  Mr. Marshall is agent for the well-known Wanzer Sewing Machine, the advertisement of which will appear next week, and has a stock of them on hand, which can be seen at their office.  They are also lending any amount of money. 12 May 1871 Ad: money to lend.  The undersigned, Agent for the ontario savings & investment society, has any quantity of money to loan on farm or Village Property, at the Lowest Rates at which money has ever been loaned in Canada. ... Wm. Fleming, General Agency Office, Owen Sound.

At one time, he was a dealer in musical instruments.  Sometimes he ran into problems.

Meaford (ON) Monitor: 24 Nov 1876 Grey Fall Assizes - McGeary vs. Fleming - This case excited a good deal of interest, occupying the whole of Thursday afternoon and a greater part of Friday.  The action was brought by Walter McGeary, blacksmith of Owen Sound, to recover damages from Wm. Fleming, dealer in musical instruments, for selling him a piano, through fraudulent representations, far beyond its value.

The evidence of the principals to the transaction was in many points diametrically opposed, making it evident that McGeary had purchased a Hardman piano from Fleming for $600, the amount being made up of a buggy $130, lumber $170, and note at four months $300.  The plaintiff alleged that Fleming represented the Hardman piano to be the best in the market, better than the Chickering, the Steinway, or the Decker - better than the piano in the hall - that the price was $625, but that he would let him have it for $600.  A piano-tuner named Bothwell was introduced to McGeary, played on the piano, and represented it as a first class instrument, better than the one in the town hall.

After getting his piano, McGeary seems to have been proud of it, introducing his friends in to see it, until he began to find from their remarks that he had been sold - that the piano, instead of being the best in the market, was a poor, cheap one.  Making enquiries, and believing that he had been imposed upon, he then entered the suit.  He alleges that after the suit was entered, Fleming had a couple of interviews with him, and offered to reduce the price first to $525, then to $480, to $450, and at last to #375, if the suit was withdrawn.  The evidence of the plaintiff was corroborated on material points by several witnesses.

The defendant aware [sic] that McGeary had never negotiated for a piano with him at all, but that the whole transaction was with Booth, who had sold the piano to him - in support of which view it was shown that the note was in favor of Booth and the guarantees signed by him.  The Court held, however, that Fleming and Booth were so mixed up in the matter, that in anything the latter might have done he was simply Fleming's agent.

The defendant denied the conversations sworn to by McGeary and his witnesses; but admitted that he had offered on behalf of Booth to reduce the price to $525, that being the catalogue price, giving as a reason why it was charged more that it was not considered a cash transaction.  The defendant was corroborated on some points by other witnesses.

As to the value of the Hardman piano, Mr. Johns, bandmaster, Mr. Boddy, music teacher, and others, testified that it was an inferior piano, Mr. Getzel, piano-tuner, stating that he would not tune the Hardman pianos, because they could not be kept in tune, and that comparing them to the Steinway or Chickering was like comparing a brass plate to gold.  Mr. Booth on the other hand testified that it was a first-class piano, and Mr. Bothwell, piano-tuner, though not classing it with Steinway or Chickering, considered it a good piano.

Mr. Bell of Bell & Co., Guelph, the exclusive wholesale agents for the Hardman in Ontario, maintained that it was a first class piano.  This witness gave some interesting revelations of the profits in the piano trade.  The Hardman piano cost them about $190 in New York, or about $210 laid down in Guelph, and they sold them to Fleming at $256.  When asked what would be a fair profit for the retail dealer, he said "that depended on the conscience of the dealer."

Fleming's books were produced and showed that he sold a Hardman piano acknowledged to be $50 better by the catalogue than that sold to the plaintiff, to Mr. Sutherland for $450 on time.  He accounted for the discrepancy by saying that he considered Sutherland's notes better than plaintiff's.

His Lordship submitted several questions to the jury, which they answered by finding that the piano had been warranted a first class instrument, that it was not such, and that a fair price would be $300.  His Lordship accordingly entered a verdict of $300 for plaintiff, being the overcharge on the price.

On his death record his occupation is given as nurseryman.

Return to Descendant Chart.

Children and grandchildren of Elizabeth Ann2 Williams & William Fleming and their spouses
Augusta Lavinia Pauline3 Fleming She was a school teacher.

Charles Vanhorne Mutart He was a railway agent in 1901.

Francis Reginald4 Mutart He was a clerk for the Canadian National Railroad.

Lincoln McGarvy Elmore3 Fleming Occupation: (1891) tailor, (1913) gardener.  He resided in 1913 at 724 4th Ave. W. in Owen Sound.

Edna Isabella4 Fleming She was a teacher.

Walter Kerr Liddell He was a druggist.

Olga Alexandra3 Fleming In 1902 she was a teacher at Northern Business College in Owen Sound.  At her death she was a stenographer.

Rita Mabel Franc3 Fleming She attended Owen Sound Collegiate Institute.

William Lawrence McFaul He was a Civil Engineer.

Return to Descendant Chart.

Sarah Angeline2 Williams
She passed the Second Class teachers examination in October 1869 and taught in Ontario and in Kankakee Co. IL before her marriage.  After her marriage the family lived in and near Gardner, Grundy Co. IL, until 1883 when they moved to Joliet where they remained.

Return to Descendant Chart.

Theron Julius4 Converse
He studied at the Sherwood Conservatory of Music.  He was a music teacher and resided in Joliet IL where he established the Joliet Conservatory of Music.

Joliet City Directories:
1903-4, bds 701 Second Av, music teacher;
1906-7, bds 109 Second av, music teacher;
1909-10 600 2d av, music teacher 9 Fargo bldg;

1914, 600 2d av, music teacher 619 Woodruff;
1916, 515 Florence av, music teacher 619 Woodruff Bldg;
1930, (Ethel) 819 Cornelia, music teacher;
1945, (Ethel D.) mus. techr, 156 N. Chicago 3rd fl, h 419 Cornelia;

Return to Descendant Chart.

Ethel Brooks/Brooker
Joliet City Directories:
1959-61, Ethel B. (wid Theron J.) 614 N. Reed St.

Return to Descendant Chart.

Hiram Arthur3 Converse
He was a music teacher.  In 1920 he was teaching violin at the Joliet Conservatory of Music and Dramatic Art.  He also worked in the office of the American Steel and Wire Co. in Joliet.  He later became a music teacher at Joliet Township High School.

Upon his retirement, the 1948 Joliet Township High School yearbook included the following:

Hiram A. Converse has been connected with Joliet Towhship High School since 1913 when he organized the first orchestra.  This first twelve-piece orchestra has developed into a large organization of sterling performance whose recitals have given much pleasure to the school and community.  This group regularly won first in state and regional competitions.

A graduate of the American Conservatory of Music, Mr. Converse is himself a fine violinist and has composed several selections which have been performed here and elsewhere.  Among them are "Gavotte" for orchestra and "Romance" for strings.  He has served several times in the Illinois School Orchestra Association as president, vice-president, and secretary-treasurer, and also as vice-president of the National School Orchestra Association.

Modest and unassuming, Mr. Converse has a loyal love of finer things which has engendered a kindred feeling in members of his organization.  His influence will live in the true love of music he has developed in the community and in the lives of boys and girls whom he has helped to become fine men and women.

Following his retirement from Joliet Township High School, he became string and orchestra director at St. Francis Academy, retiring in 1955.

Joliet City Directories:
1906-7, 220 Rockdale av, clerk;
1909-10, 701 2d av, music teacher 9 Fargo Bldg;
1914 & 1916, 503 Grant av, music teacher 619 Woodruff Bldg;

1930, (Eva M; 1), 818 Cornelia, violin teacher Joliet Conservatory of Music & Dramatic Art, 3rd floor, 205 N. Chicago;

1945, (Isabelle B.) dir Joliet Twp Hi Sch & Jr College, h418 Cornelia;
1959, (Isabelle B.) music tchr 418 N. Reed, h do;

Return to Descendant Chart.

Isabelle Boyd
Joliet City Directories:
1960, Isabelle B. (wid Hiram A) mus tchr 418 N. Reed, h 418 N. Reed St.;
1961, Isabelle B. (wid Hiram A.) h418 Reed St.

Return to Descendant Chart.

Mary Amanda2 Williams
In 1874 she was a judge of ladies work at the Euphrasia (ON) Fall Show. In 1881 they won prizes at the Horticultural Society Exhibition for their flowers.

Mary's sister, Abigail, was living with them in 1881 and 1891.  And in 1891 an "adopted" daughter, Emily Folles, age 16, was living with them.  Also, the Trout home served as a home-away-from-home for children from families that had moved west.  Maud York, daughter of Frederick York and Catherine Williams, lived there while she went to high school.

Trout Family History Mrs. Trout still retains her home in Meaford, looks after the property left her, which is ample for her needs and the help she may give to others.

Return to Descendant Chart.

James Trout
Meaford Monitor 15 Jun 1871 Mr. James Trout lost a fine horse on Saturday morning the 10th inst., which was struck by lightning while running in the pasture field close to the house.  He was worth $120 and was insured in the Beaver and Toronto Mutual fire Insurance Co. for $70.  This is a practical illustration of the benefit of insuring stock, which no farmer should neglect to profit by.  [He was obviously already an active insurance agent.]

Meaford (ON) Monitor 23 Nov 1875: Trout's agency continues to increase the volume of its business.  In addition to all kinds of farm implements and machines, he can supply pianos, organs or melodeons, steam engines, shingle machines and in fact any kind of machinery.  He buys and sells lands on commission, lends money on easy terms and insures your buildings, your stock or your life - and claims to be "always at home and in good humour."

15 May 1885 Mr. James Trout commenced his business about 20 years ago; spending a day or two each week in Meaford, and 15 years ago settled in town permanently, his office business was then all conducted in a room about 6x8 feet, with no assistant; shortly after this Mr. Jay began to operated with him, and soon became a partner.  Since his first commencement there has been one steady stream of business, eachmonth and year exceeding any of its predecessors; during their time as a firm it is safe to say they have bought and sold more land than the combined land agents of the county.

... they have inaugurated a new business to a great extent, which consists in the exchange of large farms for small ones - or vice versa - town property for farms, etc.  This branch of their business has given universal satisfaction, and to the farmer who wants to sell his small farm and get a larger one he saves the commission he would have to pay to dispose of it, by making a direct exchange.  Their success is certainly due to good business ability; and their new premises gives them increased facilities for continuing to do business more successfully than ever.

Meaford (ON) Monitor 24 Nov 1876 described their home: West Ward 1875 J. Trout, brick cottage, 2 storeys, 28x36 with kitchen 14x34, Nelson Street, Law Co., contractors, $2200.  Further improvements were reported in the 20 Sep 1878 issue: West Ward - Mrs. Williams, new verandah, rough casting house, new fence &c $350.  22 May 1896: Mr. James Trout is erecting a fine, fancy fence round his dwelling house ground on Trowbridge street, which will improve its appearance 200 percent.

Trout Family History He was the farmer boy that stayed at home.  The only one that farmed with any real farming purpose; and even that did not last very long.  The only farming feature in which he made any distinction was in his breed of pigs, and that was only on a moderate scale; but he always carried off first prizes at the township shows, and sold his pigs at fancy prices. ...

The farm was their home for only three or four years.  James sold it and they moved into the town of Meaford, and engaged in money lending, insurance and real estate business, with C. Ch. Jay as partner.

On the door of their large office safe they had a well-painted significant pucture.  It was a water scene - a fine big trout was making his leap out of the water to catch a big fly; and above the fly was a jay perched on a limb ready to pounce down on the fly should the trout miss him.  Indicating that they were sure to catch and serve their customer; whether to his benefit or their own, or both, might only be afterwards determined.

James regarded his business as a useful public service, and ... had a right to so regard it. He had the quality of mind in a high degree of readily understanding people; and not only adapting himself and what he might have to sell them to their benefit; but also to adapt people to one another.

Sometimes, among family connections, there would be a property row hard to understand and still harder to settle; but he would soon see through it and what could be done with it, to the general satisfaction of all and some profit to himself.  Or, in the winding up of a heavily involved, complicated estate, his genius was in seeing at once all the possible solutions of the problems and working them out to the interest of those concerned.  His abounding good nature, tact, and agreeableness, helped him through everything.

... the welfare of the church and the cause of Christ were matters of chief concern.  He was never associated with any other than the Meaford congregation of the Disciples of Christ.  Like many more of those brethren, his beliefs in the New Testament teaching were exceedingly well defined and there seemed to them no possible logical basis for any difference of view.  However, he was never harsh in judgment on those who might not agree with him. He was too kind for that.

About a month previous to his death ... He had been fighting against a slow, but fatal, kidney disease for a good number of years.  Its final grip was then upon him. ... During that winter, 1905, he had been confined to his room; ... His mind was clear, and his resignation and cheerfulness constant. Toward his helpful, loving wife he had that cordial easy, kindly manner that cuts out trouble, and leaves no place for pain. When she would be helping him, [he would remark] 'Mary and I have been having the time of our life this winter. We had some of our courting over again, and we are having a second honeymoon too.'

Return to Descendant Chart.

William Ernest3 Trout
Meaford (ON) Monitor 18 Mar 1887: Mr. and Mrs. James Trout and Son, Mrs. Jos. Whitelaw and family, and Miss Cassy Jay, left of Wednesday morning on a visit to United States via London, where Master Willie Trout will remain at college. ... 22 Aug 1890: Mr. James Trout and Miss Abie Williams left on Wednesday morning for Detroit to take their holidays.  Mrs. James Trout and son William are at present in that city, the latter taking a college course.  21 Aug 1891: Mr. William Trout of Detroit is spending a week's holiday at home.  8 Jan 1892: Mr. Wm. Trout, of Detroit, has been spending some holidays with his parents this week.

In a letter from W.E. Trout, 425 W. Cambourne, Ferndale MI, to "cousin", apparently a Perry cousin, dated 13 Mar 1951:

Did you know that Mother took a lot of us to Nashville for the winter of 97-98, rented a house ... across the street from the old Nashville Bible S., ... In the party were, Father & Mother, John Deegan & wife, Stanley & Maud York, W. F. Cox, I. H. Jackson, self & Emily my wife and Paul (about 18 mos.).  I had a class in spelling, penmanship, bookkeeping, mental arithmetic.

Gospel Advocate 10 Nov 1898, p.723: Among the late arrivals at the Nashville Bible School from Meaford, Canada are Mr. and Mrs. John Deegan, Mr. and Mrs. James Trout, Miss Maud York, ... W.E. Trout, who is in charge of the Commercial Department of the Bible School, came with his wife and child the last of September.  From ... Carman, Manitoba we have Brothers Stanley York ...

Trout Family History p.293: Their first homekeeping and business venture was in Detroit.  Afterwards they removed to Toronto, where he held, for a good number of years, a leading place in a manufacturing plant for business office conveniences and supplies.  Of late years he has followed his father's pursuit; hoping, if possible, to rival his dad in the handling of real estate.

He is a good singer.  This was undoubtedly his mother's share in his heredity, she being a good singer.  William taught singing and led a good choir at the Toronto Bathurst street Church of Christ.  He enjoyed immensely the service of a fine speedy horse to which he would willingly give his personal attention, and the horse would most sympathetically respond to his master's wish.  He would spring at a hint, and slacken as required. A ride with William behind one of his favorites was a spell of fine mental exhilaration.

Return to Descendant Chart.

Emily Eliza Abigail2 Williams
She died of cancer.  Both the 1881 and 1891 census show her living with her sister Mary and her family.  In 1891 she is shown as blind and "unsound of mind".  She is probably the Emma Williams who scored 723 in the teachers examinations in 1878.

Return to Descendant Chart.

John Deegan
He was a farmer on Lot 12, Concession 5, St. Vincent.  He was married, second, in 1923?, to Edna Hogg.  She died in 1937.  He was married, third, in 1942, to Ida Lehman Stoufville.

Return to Descendant Chart.


Home  |  Contact  |  Introduction to Ancestor Charts  |  Surname Index

© Shirley York Anderson and Margaret Johnson