Help for a viewer regarding his gggrandfather- surname Morrow

I've been offline for several months but thought I'd post this today in hopes of helping this viewer - Mel Morrow.
Here is a copy of a request from him in August 2013. Maybe one of you know something about the Inistioge Cemetery, Ontario, Canada or the Morrow family.
It's a longshot but I'm amazed at what happens on the net!

August 14, 2013 at 6:21 PM
Hi, my name is Melvin J.Morrow, my gggrandfather is in the Inistioge Cemetery. I visited there about 10 years ago. He was killed in a farming accident in 1860. I was concerned with the condition of his headstone. I saw a picture of it today on the internet that was taken in 2009 and it actually looks better than when I was there. If it is still legible I would appreciate some one dropping me a line. My email is: melandmarsha@live.com. Thanks, Mel

Workday Wednesday ~ Life's Work Well Done

"HORSE POWER" ~ late 1920's early 1930's

George and Emma JOHNSON ~ farm in Milden, Saskatchewan

The cars are probably their sons' the horse and buggy would be George's.

My Mother told me that he father, George, refused to drive his car during the Depression.

An early environmentalist!

George Albert JOHNSON and Emma CLARK

with one of twenty-two grandchildren

 At their home/farm, Milden, Saskatchewan, 1940
George and Emma's tombstone epitaph:
LIFE'S WORK WELL DONE

 Well a lot of my ancestors were farmers. However, along with farming they also were instrumental in building the communities that they settled in.  

Emma CLARK:
pianist and music teacher - piano and violin (1891 Census Canada - at age 17 Emma is listed as a pianist);
pioneer and settler;
Choir Director, Church organist and music director for various community functions; 
Midwife - she assisted the pioneer doctor, a young 20 year old just starting his practice.

Pianist:
In the 1891 Census Canada, at age 17 years old, she was considered to be a piniest. Emma studied music with the Conservatory of Music, Ontario.
In about 1887 or 1888, Emma  and George met at a music recital. She was the dainty, educated young pianist; he was the tall, ruggedly handsome Irish farmer, who loved to sing. Opposites attract. In 1899 they were married in Penetanguishene, Ontario, where she was born.

In 1905, when they settled in their sod house on the barren prairies,  her parents shipped her baby grand piano to them. Little did her parents know that the piano would give them shelter when the roof of their sod house was torn off in a tornado!

In 1911, the Village of Milden was incorporated. For at least 20 years Emma was the only music teacher. She provided music lessons for the children and played the piano and organ at the Methodist/ Presbyterian United Church. She and George were also responsible for the Church choir.
In 1925, silent moving pictures were introduced to Milden. They were shown for five years, until 1930, when the Depression forced the closure of the theatre. Emma played the piano for the silent movies at that time. In 1940, the movies resumed, but now they were 35 millimeter with sound.

Midwife:
In 1912, the second doctor to serve the community was a young man in his early 20's. By then Emma would have been in her mid 30's. My mother told me that Emma was called upon many times to assist the young doctor with pregnancies and births. During the 1918 flu epidemic she also helped to nurse her neighbours.

Mother and Farm wife:
Emma was skilled at knitting and crocheting. My Mother told me that when she or one of her six siblings lost their mittens, there was always a new pair waiting for them in the morning. They had a large garden and had their own livestock. The cold cellar was well stocked with preserves for the winter.
In the 1930's, during the Depression, my Mother told me that there was always a meal for the "hobos" who travelled the rails looking for a days work. During harvesting, Emma always provided their farm hands with substantial meals.

George Albert JOHNSON:
farmer, carpenter, pioneer and settler;
School Board Trustee (founding Member); 
Choir Director (he was an Irish tenor, his wife Emma was the pianist and organist); 
Telephone Company Board Trustee (1923-1940); 
President, Milden Local, Grain Growers Cooperative Association Ltd.; 
well respected neighbour and friend.

Farmer and carpenter:
My maternal grandfather, George Albert JOHNSON, only had a Grade 8 education. That was all that was available in the little community where his Irish parents settled. Of course later, after he had grown up, there was more schooling available for his eight younger siblings. Like his Irish parents, he was a farmer and a carpenter. His paternal grandparents emigrated from Ireland in 1839; his maternal grandparents in 1850. both his father and mother were born in Ontario.

In about 1897 or 1898, George left his parent's farm. He was married to Emma CLARK in 1899, in Penetanguishene, Ontario.

Labourer:
In 1900, at the age of 25 years, he worked on the Locks of the St. Lawrence Seaway, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

Carpenter and Labourer:
In 1903, he and his wife Emma (CLARK) moved West to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he worked as a carpenter. My mother thought that he also worked on laying the grade for the railroad as it was built Westward across Canada.

Pioneer and Settler:
In 1905, George and Emma with their first two children, traveled further West to Saskatchewan. I'm not sure how far the train would have taken them, but the end of their journey would have been by a settler's wagon to what would become the farming community of Milden, Saskatchewan. The Canadian Government was giving land to the early settlers. The condition being that they worked the land for three years, then they could pay the $10.00 fee to register their land in their own name. In 1908, after living in a sod house for three years, George had "proved up" his quarter section.

Co-Founder and School Trustee:
In 1907, his two oldest children, ages six and eight years needed to attend school. So he and a few other settlers submitted a request to the Saskatchewan Commissioner of Education to establish a school. It was approved in November 1907. George was appointed a School Trustee on the four member Board. He was appointed to travel by wagon to purchase lumber and the necessary school supplies, desks, chalkboards, etc. He served for thirteen years, from 1908 to 1921.

President, Grain Growers' Cooperative:
January/February 1910, the first Local of the Grain Growers' Cooperative Association Ltd. was formed. George was the first Wheat Pool delegate for an annual convention to represent the Milden community.

Board Member, Milden Telephone Company:
In 1915, the first telephone switchboard was installed in the town drugstore. In 1918, George JOHNSON and my uncle Edmund GATES, were elected to the six-member Board.

Survived 1905 Prairie Grass Fire while helping a neighbouring farmer:
The pioneers and settlers were a close knit community, helping neighbours in their hour of need. In 1905, there was a major prairie grass fire that swept across Saskatchewan. The flames leap more than twenty feet in the air. Grandpa George had gone about a mile to help another farmer set up his fire guard. The fire overtook him and he had no choice but to run over the burnt ground to get back to his sod house where his wife, Emma, and their two small children were. Fortunately he was not badly burnt, however, his did carry some small scars on his hands and face for the rest of his life.

Sources: Personal knowledge; stories my Mother told me; LOOKING BACK - 1905-1965; The History of the Milden Community; published 1966. (Copy given to my parents in 1969.)

Treasure Chest Thursday ~ The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier ~ Canada and USA

                                    Canada

Ceremonial Tomb Guards, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

National War Memorial, Confederation Square, Ottawa, Canada

SOURCE: Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Tomb_of_the_Unknown_Soldier

United States

Ceremonial Tomb Guards, Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers,

Ceremonial Tomb Guards stand watch all day over and unknown Vietnam soldier.

Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia

Photograph is owned by the Tomb Guard at the back facing the camera. He has released the photograph to the public domain.

SOURCE: Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_the_Unknowns#Tomb_Guards

Peace perfect peace.

Those Places Thursday ~ Remembrance Day Canada and Veterans Day USA

The Poppy - Papaver Rhoeas

Antique botanical illustration - 1897 (cropped)

SOURCE: Wikipedia

The language of flowers:

The symbolism for the poppy is "sympathy."

Not to be confused with Rosemary which is "remembrance."

SOURCE: various internet searches

Lieutenant Colornel John A. McCrae, M.D.

Poet, physician, author, Lieutenant Colonel

of the  Canadian Expeditionary Force 

Born: 30 November 1872

Guelph,Ontario, Canada

Died: 28 January 1918 - aged 45 years

Boulogue-Sur-Mer,  France

While still commanding the Canadian No. 3 General Field Hospital (McGill) at Boulogne, he died of pneumonia.

He was buried the next day with full military honours. His flag-draped coffin was preceded by his charger "Bonfire" with his boots reversed in the stirrups.

SOURCE: Photo circa 1914. Several pages of information on Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCrae

Postcard of the John McCrae Memorial,

Guelph, Ontario, Canada

SOURCE: Personal collection.

---

IN FLANDERS FIELDS

by John McCrae - December 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies brow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place, and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The Torch: be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

---

IN FLANDERS FIELDS

Illustrated book published 1921

SOURCE: Wikipedia.

---

Remembering all those who have served and who serve today.

Peace.

Wordless Wednesday ~ World War I ~ 1914 to 1918 and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD

Lest We Forget

SOURCE: public domain

The First Battle of Ypres

Headlines: BRITISH REPULSE A FIERCE ATTACK

The Evening News, 19 November 1914

"The battle was not without substantial Belgian and French participation."

SOURCE: Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_Ypres

Second Battle of Ypres

German Barrage - Fire at Night - Ypres, Belgium - 1915

The Ruins, Ypres, Belgium, 1915

From: The History of the World War by Francis A. March, Chicago-1919

The Second Battle of Ypres, 22April - May 1915

by Richard Jack (1866-1952)

Canadian War Museum (Crown copyright expired)

Honourable Canadian:

It was during the Second Battle of Ypres that Canadian officer Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD, of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, wrote the world famous poem "In Flanders Fields."

It was first published in Punch Magazine December 1915 and is still recited today.

SOURCE: Three images above and information from Wikipedia.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Ypres

Peace.

Friend of Friends Friday ~ GATES and MILLER

As a Canadian, my interest in posting for this topic is due to my family connection to the USA.

My father, Floyd Jacob GATES, was born in Beattie, Kansas, 30 August 1910. At the age of twelve, he immigrated to Saskatchewan, Canada with his parents and siblings 23 February 1923.

In addition, my 2nd great grandfather, Edmund Uriah GATES, served with Company E,  13th Regiment , Iowa Infantry, 1864-1865. Edmund was born 8th July 1882, Holmes County, Ohio and died 7th January 1917, Flagler, Kit Carson County, Colorado. In 1856, he was married to Harriet A Sponsler in Wapello County, Iowa.

1917 ~ According to the Obituary that appeared in "The Flagler News" of Kit Carson, Colorado, Edmund had the following residences:
1832-1850 ~ Thomas County, Ohio, where he was born.
1850-1873 ~ moved to Iowa.
1882-1896 ~ moved to Marshall County, Kansas.
1896-1917 ~ moved Flagler, Kit Carson, Colorado.
Here he first lived on a ranch with his son George.
Then the last few years of his life he lived in Flagler with
one of his two daughters, Sarah (GATES) WHITE.

---

SERVICE RECORD: THIRTEENTH REGIMENT IOWA
VOLUNTEER REGIMENT, COMPANY E:
Page 62.

Gates, Edmund W. Age 32.
Residence Fourth Congressional District, nativity Ohio.
Enlisted Nov. 2, 1864. Mustered Nov. 2, 1864. Mustered out July 21, 1865, Louisville, Ky.
SOURCE: http://iagenweb.org/civilwar/books/logan/mil405.htm

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The MILLER Family: Ada May MILLER, my paternal grandmother, and her parents, William Howard MILLER and Sarah BEEGHLY, were originally from Pennsylvania and moved to Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas  in 1887/1888. Nine of their thirteen children were born in Sabetha.

---

Some time ago I found an article about the "Lane Trail" that was part of the Underground Railroad. Its paints a detailed picture of the journey on the Underground Railroad.

The article mentions Edwin MILLER and William MILLER. According to the article, Albany, Kansas was a "station" on the "Railroad."

". . . Grand Island Railroad by-passed Albany in favor of Sabetha in 1870, Albany had faded away."

So, I'm wondering if Edwin MILLER and/or William MILLER are related to my MILLER ancestors that eventually moved to Sabetha in 1887/1888

ROUTES OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD 1850-1865

From: "The Underground Railroad from Slavery to Freedom"
SOURCE: Wikipedia.org

This map includes Iowa but doesn't go quite far enough West to show Kansas.
Montreal, Quebec, is shown as one of the destinations in Canada. Others were St. Catherines and Waterloo, Ontario as well as Nova Scotia (not shown).

EXCERPT ~ "Lane's Trail and the Underground Railroad"

In the wintry twilight of a January day in 1859, a small caravan of wagons occupied by 30 or 40 escaped slaves approached the log cabin dwelling of Charles Smith in the southwest corner of Brown County. Several outriders escorted the party, whose leader was the notorious abolitionist, John Brown. This was Brown's last adventure in "Bleeding Kansas." A few months later he was captured and executed in an ill-conceived slave insurrection at Harpers Ferry, Virginia: martyred in the cause of emancipation. Sear fields and bare tree branches bracketed the lonely cabin in stark relief, but hot food and shelter from the elements was a welcome prospect for the exhausted little band on their long journey to freedom in Canada on the Underground Railway.
(This is a lengthy article, so I'm skipping down to where the MILLER name is mentioned.)

Albany was two miles north of present Sabetha on the east edge of Nemaha County. Among these pioneers were the families of William and Samuel Slosson, John and William Graham, Noble H. Rising, John Tyler, George Lyons, Edwin Miller and Elihu Whittenhall. These men were destined to exert considerable influence on the civil, military, and economic affairs of the two counties in the next quarter century. Educated, cultured, and possessed of sound business acumen, they were whole-hearted supporters of Free State principles.
(Skipping further down. . . )

By the time the St. Joseph and Grand Island Railroad by-passed Albany in favor of Sabetha in 1870, Albany had faded away. Today only a two story frame house built of native black walnut, and a pioneer cemetery remain from the original settlement. Edwin Miller physically removed his hotel to Sabetha. John Tyler settled on Cedar Creek two miles southwest of Fairview at a crossing which may have been used by emigrant parties as early as 1844. It is logical to assume that it was used by Gen. Lane in 1856, since it aligns north and south with Lexington and Smith's Station at the Gregg Creek crossing. The Tyler family cemetery is a mute testament to the contributions of this pioneer family. Noble H. Rising built the Granada Hotel at Pleasant Spring in 1858, and was a partner with George Lyons in a store at Sabetha in 1859. The following year he built Log Chain Station for the Pony Express on a branch of Muddy (Locknane) Creek.
John Graham, William Miller, and Robert Hale of Albany were killed at the Battle of Chickamagua in 1863 while serving in the 8th KS Vol. Inf. The 8th sustained more than 50% casualties in the fighting. Arthur W. Williams, who founded Sabetha on his farm in 1859, was captain of Company D. He moved to Seneca after the War, where he died in 1886. Graham County, Kansas, is named for John Graham.

Read the complete article on the KansasHeritage.org Scroll down the list of "Pioneer Trails Articles"  to "Lane's Trail and the Underground Railroad."

I haven't been able to connect Edwin MILLER to my MILLER family. It is probably a coincidence that there is a William MILLER mentioned.

More research to do!

OTHER SOURCES: Handwritten Family Tree "Oliver Uriah GATES and Catherine HULL" (1988) and information from other family members.

Friend of Friends Friday ~ African Canadian Cemeteries ~ Grant Tombstones, Grey County, Ontario

"Who goes there?" ~ "A friend of friends." 
A password used on the Underground Railroad.

I have also been inspired by the essay of Sandra  Talioferro. 

.
This is my first post for "Friend of Friends Friday." I have a couple more that I'll add in the coming weeks.

I recall that sometime last year while I was searching for my ancestors in the Ontario cemeteries, I noticed this little cemetery with only two tombstones. It appears that these last two tombstones were brought together to mount and preserve them. Notice the chain around them. The Normanby Township is close to the Proton Township where my Irish ancestors settled in the 1850's.
I tried to enhance the image to see if I could make out any of the information, but to no avail.

Negro Cemetery

Normanby Township, Grey County, Ontario, Canada

Concession 3, Lot 50, East 1/2

"It is not know how many people were buried at this site as some of the headstones were stolen a number of years ago. All that is left are two headstones of the Grant family."

SOURCE: "Field of Stones - Ontario" http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~clifford/Grey.htm
Scroll down to GREY COUNTY CEMETERIES and chose Normanby Twp.

While you're at this site, click on Cemetery Articles. Sadly a few articles on the vandalism and desecration of several cemeteries with a few photographs. What is wrong with people!

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There is another Negro Cemetery listed at CanadaGenWeb.org.

LISTING:

Name: Negro

LOCATION:

Lot/ Concession Concession: Concession  1,   Lot 50

Township: Osprey Township

County/District: Grey County

Municipality: Grey Highlands Township

Province: Ontario

The Osprey Township is also close to where my Irish ancestors settled in Proton Township.

SOURCE: Cemetery.CanadaGenWeb.org - http://cemetery.canadagenweb.org/
Then search "Ontario - Grey County" and scroll down the alphabetical list for Negro. There are no photographs here.