Funeral Card Friday ~ Henry JOHNSTON

In Memoriam

DIED

In Dundalk on Sunday, December 7th, 1913,

Henry Johnson

*Aged 86 years.

Henry JOHNSON was the eldest son of John JOHNSTON and Cathern (RUTLEDGE) JOHNSTON who emigrated from Ireland between the births of two of their children, Ann - born 1836, and John - born 1838. The 1852 Census Record below shows Ann born in Ireland and then John born in Canada.

This is the JOHNSTON family that were my Mother's paternal great grandparents.

1852 Census Canada West (Became Ontario);
John JOHNSTON, head of household; farmer, born Ireland, Episcopalian, age 52,
wife Cathern born Ireland, age 48;
*Henry born Ireland, age 20;
and Ann born Ireland, age 16.
John born Canada, age 14;
Christy born Canada, age 11 and
Joseph born Canada, age 8 born.

`Christy` would be Christopher JOHNSTON Senior, George Albert JOHNSTON/JOHNSON`s father. According to this Census Record Christy would have been born in June 1841.

*NOTE: The discrepancy of 5 years between the dates of birth on the Funeral Card and the 1852 Census Records are calculated as follows: Funeral Card - subtract 86 years from 1913 = 1827 and 1852 Census - subtract 20 years from 1852 - 1832. This discrepancy also shows up in other family trees and PAFs.

SOURCE: AutomatedGenealogy.com/census52/
NOTE: It states on the site for the 1851/1852 Census Records that almost 80% of the documents were either lost or destroyed. I consider myself lucky to have found this record for my 2nd great grandfather and his family
Searched 16 July 2009 by CG

SOURCE: This Funeral Card was lent to me by my first cousin K. Johnson. It was in "Grandpa JOHNSON's suitcase of memorabilia" which was passed on to his son by George Albert JOHNSON, sometime in the later years of his life. George died January 1964.

NOTE: The family surname was JOHNSTON, but was often misspelled as JOHNSON. Some of the family did use the spelling JOHNSON, including my Mother's father George Albert JOHNSON. George Albert was born George Albert JOHNSTON, but dropped the "T" after moving West to Saskatchewan in 1905.

It just adds to some of the usual confusion in researching for ancestors!

Treasure Chest Thursday ~ ACHESON Log House circa 1865

~ ACHESON Homestead ~ Proton Station, Proton Township, Grey Country, Ontario ~ circa 1865 ~
There is a woman and a child standing on the porch.

One of the family Treasures is our Grandpa George Albert Johnson's suitcase. Early 1960, nearing the end of his life, George gave a suitcase with various documents, funeral cards, photographs and other memorabilia to the eldest of his two surviving sons at this time. This son, William JOHNSON, passed his suitcase on to one of his five sons at the time of his own death in 1995.

In January 2003, I began contacting relatives to help celebrate my Mother's 90th birthday, March 2003. The cousin I mentioned above, sent me a package with funeral cards and photographs from Grandpa George's suitcase.

This log house was one of those photographs. Although there was nothing written on the back, I'm certain that it belongs to George's ACHESON family in Proton Township, Grey County, Ontario. There are other photographs and postcards from the ACHESON family to George in Saskatchewan.

In a booklet entitled "The Acheson Family 1850-1950," there are various references to the first log homes that the ACHESON families build when there arrived from Ireland in 1850.

"In 1863, they [William ACHESON and his wife Christina FALLIS] moved again, this time to what was to be knows to future generations as "the Acheson homestead" - Lot 205, Range 3, Proton Township, in Grey County - then covered by virgin forest."
SOURCE: "THE ACHESON FAMILY 1850-1950" page 11.

"They [Acheson pioneers] knew nothing of luxury in those early days; everything they had was acquired only by had work. Even the logs from which their homes and stables were made had to be labouriously hewn by hand, the simple household furnishings usually being also homemade."
SOURCE: "THE ACHESON FAMILY 1850-1950" page 12.

". . . a log cottage on the groom's fifty acre farm." [1896]
SOURCE: "THE ACHESON FAMILY 1850-1950" page 23.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories 2010 ~ Grab Bag

I've missed the first few days of the Advent Calendar, so I'm going back to the Christmas Cards.

These two are from Grandpa George Albert JOHNSON's suitcase of memorabilia. When Grandpa George was nearing the end of his life in the early 1960's, he gave the suitcase to one of his four sons, William "Bill" Lester JOHNSON. Uncle Bill was the eldest of George's two surviving sons at that time.

William Lester JOHNSON, was born 22 January 1911 and died 21 January 1995, aged 84 years.

George Albert JOHNSON, was born 2 November 1875 and died 29 January 1964, aged 88 years, 3 months.

Several photographs, greeting cards and Funeral cards were lent to me in early 2009 by Uncle Bill's son,  who is now the caretaker of this suitcase. He's one of my first cousins.

To You and Yours

As on this joyful Christmas Day

the bells are gladly ringing

A wish sincere, to you and yours,

this little card is bringing.

Mr. George A Johnston

Milden Sask

Dec 1921

Christmas Greetings

to my Dear son George i send you

my love and good wishes i

hope you will be

good and happy all your life.

from your Dad

In 1921, Christopher JOHNSTON was 80 years old. George Albert was 46 years old. George was Christopher's eldest son with his second wife Mary Jane ACHESON.

Christopher lived to be 83 years and 7 months old.

George lived to be 89 years and 2 months old.

  

Still closer Knit in

Friendships ties

each passing year

Christopher "Christie" JOHNSTON ~ Circa 1930

Proton Township, Grey County, Ontario
(Text added by me.)

This photograph was pasted over top of a verse and someone elses' signature. Perhaps recycling during the Depression!

Inside left front.

Inside verse.

Xmas comes with joys abounding,
Happiest, best of Days,
May it fill your home with gladness,
And your heart with praise.
A. G. Fisher.

Funeral Card Friday ~ Mary Jane ACHESON - Life of a Pioneer Woman

IN MEMORIAM

Mary Jane Acheson

Beloved Wife of Christopher Johnson

died August 10th 1901

DIED

In Proton, on Thursday, Aug 10, 1901

MARY JANE ACHESON

Beloved wife of Christopher Johnson age

45 years.

THE FUNERAL

The funeral will take place from her late residence

to Flesherton Cemetery on Monday,

at 1 o'clock p.m.

Friends and acquaintances will please

 accept this intimation.

---

This very pretty flowered funeral card is for my maternal great grandmother. I find it interesting that they have used her maiden name rather than her married surname.

This was in a suitcase of memorabilia that belonged to my maternal grandfather, George JOHNSON. George was the first child of  Mary Jane and Christopher. This card was nibbled by some little critter. I filled in her name "Mary" by hand.

 A tragedy for George and his wife, Emma CLARK, who where being nursed by Mary Jane when she contracted Typhoid Fever from them, and subsequently died 40 days later. Also, their first born son (seven months old) was ill at the same time too.  (See biography below.)

Mary Jane (ACHESON) JOHNSTON

Born 12th October 1856

Died 10th October 1901

Buried Flesherton Cemertery

Flesherton, Grey County, Ontario

---

THE ACHESON  FAMILY ~ 1850-1950

The Life of a Pioneer Woman ~ Biography:

(Excerpt - pages 11 and 12)

Born on October 12th, 1856, Mary Jane was the first daughter of William and Christina Acheson.

Being the eldest girl in a large family of pioneers, she early learned to accept responsibility, thus sharing with her mother love's tasks of caring for the younger children in the home.

"I was only nine years old when she was married," remarks her sister Rachael ( now in her 86th year) "yet I well remember what a dear, thoughtful sister she was. Always kind and unselfish, she served In her own quiet way, with never any fuss or talk about her good turns."

"Words seem but a poor expression of my regard for her, for she was a model girl and a model woman. I think of her as next to my saintly Mother. Although I was only a child when she was grown to womanhood, I can remember her getting up at five o'clock in the morning to spin rolls of wool from which the material was made, not only for stockings and socks, but for shirts, dresses, and blankets as well - just an example of her devoted and loving service in the home." - Sister Rachel

She was only eighteen years old when, on December 23rd, 1874, she married Christopher Johnston, the marriage ceremony being performed before daylight in order that they might leave for their honeymoon on the early morning train. "Christie" was a widower with five small children, and the care of these little ones was no small task for one so young to accept. Besides, there were born ten more children, one of whom died in infancy. So, what with caring for her large family and the extra work which falls to the lot of a woman in the building of a fine new barn and house, hers was no easy life. Yet she found time for hospitality, and, in those early years, her home and Christie's was always a home for the Minister when he needed one.

"This kind and affectionate sister  -  this devoted wife and mother has gone to her reward. Her decease was caused by Typhoid Fever contracted while nursing her son, George, and his wife, who were ill in Sault Ste. Marie. She went to Sault Ste. Marie on August 29th, came home on September 29th, and went to Heaven, October 10th, 1901, one day before her 45th birthday.

Her funeral, sermon was preached at Inistioge, October 20th, by Rev. Thomas Campbell, from the words:
"She hath done what she could."

"I used to wonder who would be the first to go, now I wonder who will be next." - Sister Christina (Chan). NOTE: Christina was, herself, the next of the brothers and sisters to answer the summons to the Life Beyond.

Mary Jane was survived by her husband by twenty-four years, he passing away on February 3rd, 1925.
A high tribute was paid by her step-son, William Johnston, who spoke of her as "the best woman that ever lived."

---

SOURCES:
Funeral Card - lent to me by a first cousin in the JOHNSON (JOHNSTON) family.
THE ACHESON HISTORY 1850-1890 - a copy was mailed to me by a first cousin in the ACHESON family. Photograph of Mary Jane - mailed to me by the same ACHESON cousin.
All provided in 2003 while I was researching for my Mother's 90th birthday, March 2003.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Million Dollar Ballrooms!

Not so wordless!!

"Japanese Gardens"

POST MARK: 

LOS ANGELES CAL

Oct 20 3PM 1930

ARCADE STA 8

To: Mr Geo Johnson

Milden, Sask, Can

Dear Dad   We arrived here Thurs nite. The mountains and ocean sure are grand. We've been out to the beach all afternoon dancing in million dollar ballrooms. Work is fairly easy to get down here. Our address is 407 46 st E. Los Angeles Calif. Will write a little later.   Bill

Dated October 20, 1930, this postcard was sent to my grandfather, George JOHNSON, from one of his sons, my Uncle Bill. 

George and his family lived in a small farming community in rural Saskatchewan. Bill would have been just 19 years old in 1930. His trip from a small village to a city the size of Los Angles must have been a thrill. Seeing mountains, oceans, beaches, and "million dollar ballrooms" would have been a great experience during the early years of the Great Depression.  

My Mother often talked about how much she and her brothers and sisters loved to dance. A popular form of entertainment, especially during the Roaring Twenties and beyond!  

One of her favourite dances was the "Quick Step." Now I get to see it on Dancing with the Stars!

Wordless Wednesday ~ From the big city to the little village!

To: Mr. George Johnston, Milden, Sask 

Feb 7, 1917

Los Angeles  Cal

This is the way we

we go riding here.

Best wishes to you all

Yours Truly

Henry Roux

Dated  February  7 1917. Amusing and unique! This postcard was sent to my grandfather, George JOHNSON, from his friend and neighbour, Henry Roux.

Surname Saturday - Is it Johnson or Johnston?

George Albert JOHNSTON
Aged 20
Born: 2nd November 1875 ~ Lot 10, Concession 2,
Proton Station, Proton Township, Grey County, Ontario

George Albert JOHNSON was the eldest of the ten children of 

Christopher JOHNSTON and Mary Jane ACHESON.

This first photograph was taken at George's parents homestead, which was his birthplace. It was found in a suitcase with other photos and personal papers. He had given this suitcase to one of his sons sometime in the late 1950's before his death in 1964.

George Albert JOHNSON

Aged 85

This photograph was taken in Saskatoon where George was living with one of his daughters and son-in-laws. Although he had retired from farming in 1959, he still lived at his farm when the weather permitted. Saskatoon was only a short distance from his farm in Milden, Saskatchewan.

~ ~ ~   ~ ~ ~   ~ ~ ~   ~ ~ ~    ~ ~ ~   ~ ~ ~

My mother's name was Eva Carlotta JOHNSON. However, she knew that at some time her father, George Albert JOHNSON, had spelled his surname as JOHNSTON.

Why George changed his name is unclear. My Mother and other members of the family thought that it had to do with how George's Homestead Records were registered between 1905 and 1908 in Saskatchewan.


I recently (August 2009) found George's Homestead Record on the Government of Saskatchewan, Canada website. That record shows both George JOHNSON and one of his younger brothers, Joseph JOHNSON, listed without the "T."

George claimed the Northeast quarter Section 34, Township 29, Range 11, West 3rd Meridian; and Joseph claimed the Southeast quarter Section 34, Township 29, Range 11, West 3rd Meridian, Rural Municipality of Milden, Saskatchewan, #286, incorporated 1911.
Here the JOHNSON brothers farmed as neighbours all their lives.  Both brothers were actively involved in the building of this rural community.

George and his wife, Emma CLARK, had settled their homestead in 1905, living in a sod house for the first 3 years. The home that they lived in for the rest of their lives was built in 1908.
Joseph and his wife, Jenny MORTIMER, settled their homestead in about 1910. Joseph died in about 1954.

Also, correspondence from his father, Christopher JOHNSTON,  in December 1921, shows George being addressed as "Mr. George JOHNSTON."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
POSTCARD:
To: Mr. George A. Johnston
Milden, Sask
Dec 1921

Christmas Greeting to my Dear son George i send you and love and good wishes

i hope you will be good and happy all your life.
from your Dad
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In 1921, Christopher Senior was 80 years old, and his son George was 46 years old.

Christopher lived to be 83 years and 7 months old. George lived to be 89 years and 2 months.

SOURCE:  © private collection.