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.

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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.

Sentimental Sunday ~ Poem ~ Carte de Visite Album

Yes, this is my Album.
But learn ere you look,
That all are expected
To add to my book

You are welcome to quiz it

The penalty is.

That you add your own Portrait.

For others to quiz. 

       Circa 1880.

Surname Saturday ~ MILLER

My paternal grandmother was Ada May MILLER. We are fortunate to have her little carte de visite (CDV) album. Unfortunately, she passed way several years before it came into our hands.

We have taken each photograph out of the album and there isn't a single name on any of them. There are nine on cardstock and nineteen are tintypes. Only six of the cardstock have the name of the photographer on the back (verso). Ten of the tintypes have thin paper frames, the other nine have none.

From what I can determine in searching about identifying photographs on the Internet, it probably dates from about the 1860's (tintypes) to about the late 1890's (cardstock). Now about 150 years old! A real treasure.

Ada's parents were Sarah BEEGHLY and William Howard MILLER. William and Sarah had 13 children, Ada was the eldest.

William Howard's parents were Mary FIKE and Phineas MILLER. (Their names appeared on the FIKE Memorial that I posted on Tombstone Tuesday.) Mary and Phineas had 10 children. 

I don't have a photograph of Mary or Phineas. However, I recently found a photograph of  one of Phineas MILLER's younger brothers, William MILLER Jr.

William MILLER Jr.

 Born 26 Sep 1827 - Somerset County, Pennsylvania

 Died 10 Jan 1908 - Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa

 SOURCE: http-phillippy.com/wkpancestry/wkpg105.htm

There is a very large GEDCOM available for download, but I don't plan to do that.

Two Mystery Men!

Photographed by D. B. Rugg,

 Main Street, Hiawatha, Kansas

Old pictures copied and enlarged.

J. M. MUNN,  PHOTOGRAPHER,

ATCHISON, KANSAS

SOURCE: Personal family collection.

I'm thinking that these young men may be members of the MILLER family.

Comparing them to William, they have the same slim face and straight hair. 

The back (verso) of the photographs became a work of art in its own right. At first they were blank and then had a very small imprint of the photographer's name. Finally, the artwork became worthy of collection for that alone. Although these small photographs were know as carte de visite (visiting cards) they were an excellent way for the photographers to advertise their service.

These photographs/business cards became so popular, that trading them with family and friends became know as "carte mania."

I have a poem about the CDV albums and collecting and sharing the photographs. I'll have to dig it out.

 

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!

---

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.

Wordless Wednesday ~ 1917 Postcard from California USA to Saskatchewan Canada

Mr. George Johnston

Milden Sask

Feb 17, 1917

Los Angeles Cal

This is the way

we go riding here

Best wishes to you all

Yours truly

Henry Roux

This post card was sent to my grandfather from his neighbour. The village of Milden, Saskatchewan is a small farming community. My grandparents, Emma (CLARK) and George JOHNSON (a.k.a. JOHNSTON) moved to Milden in 1905 and were one of the first pioneering families. They lived in a sod house from 1905 until 1908. I still have cousins living in Milden. The 2006 Census Canada recorded a population of 172.

SOURCE: Family photograph collection.

 

Tombstone Tuesday~ The FIKE Family ~ Peter FIKE and Magdalene ARNOLD

Peter FIKE ~ Magdalene ARNOLD

and Family

Maple Spring Cemetery near

Elgon, Preston County, West Virginia

---

PETER FIKE

B - NOV 3, 1794

D - NOV 28, 1871

WED - MAR 12, 1818

MAGDALENE ARNOLD

B - NOV 16 1796

D - SEPT 1883

CHILDREN ~~ MARRIED

SUSANNA ~~ JOHN L SNYDER

SAMUEL A. ~~ RACHEL SNYDER

DAVID ~~ ELIZABETH SNYDER

LYDIA ~~ HENRY SPIKER

CHRISTENA ~~ JACOB WEIMER

MARY ~~ PHINEAS MILLER

ANNA ~~ JEREMIAH MILLER

MAGDALENE ~~ JOHN WEIMER

MOSES ~~ SOPHIA RUDOLPH

AARON ~~ REBECCA RUDOLPH

PETER FIKE ~ THE ORIGINAL FIKE IN THIS

COMMUNITY CAME IN 1854 -

ACTUAL GRAVE SITE 1 MILE EAST 1/4 MILE NORTH

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(The reverse of the FIKE Memorial)

PARENTS

CHRISTIAN FIKE

B                     1761

D                     1850

WED  APR 18 1784

CHRISTENA LIVENGOOD

B   MAR 2 1763

D  MAY 5 1857

BURIED NEAR MEYERSDALE PA

SAMUEL ARNOLD

B     FEB   9  1765

D    MAY 29 1831

WED  APR 15 1788

MARY LUDWIG

DEDICATION: "On May 26, 1985, a Homecoming was held for the Eglon WV congregation and the Peter Fike Memorial Dedication. The Master of Ceremonies for the Event was Galen Fike, and the pianist Cynthia Fike.

Alonzo Fide conducted the Minute Moments of Reflection and Roger Fike performed the Dedication. Special music was provided by all the Fikes, and many other descendants and guests gathered around and performed special roles.

By 1986, Peter Fike and Magdalene Arnold are said to have 10,000 living descendants among which there are 125 ministers of the German Baptist Brethren Church."

---

SOURCES:  Search for FIKE and MILLER families:

Found FIKE etc: www(dot)concentric.net/pvb/GEN/pfike.

Search for FIKE in the *BRIDE INDEX:  http://brideindex.info/

Found Mary FIKE and others.

*The Bride Index is a huge site that I stumbled upon some time ago. Alphabetical index for brides, includes personal details. Worth checking out.

---

Rather than the original tombstone, this is the Memorial for the FIKE family. It is unique in that it shows all of the children and their spouses. The reverse shows the parents of Peter FIKE and Magdalene ARNOLD. Three generations on one marker!

My connection to this family is with Mary FIKE and her husband Phineas MILLER.

My paternal grandmother was Ada May (MILLER) GATES. Ada's parents were Sarah BEEGHLY and William Howard MILLER.

William Howard's parents were Mary FIKE and Phineas MILLER. So Mary FIKE and Phineas MILLER are my great great grandparents.

Also, interesting to note that Mary's sister Anna Fike married Jeramiah MILLER.

In addition, there are three spouses with the surname SNYDER; two with the surname WEIMER; and two with the surname RUDOLPH.

Tombstone Tuesday~George ARMSTRONG - Inistioge, County Kilkenny, Ireland & Inistioge, Grey County, Ontario, Canada

Inistioge United Church Cemetery,

Proton Township, Grey County, Ontario

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF

GEO. ARMSTRONG

Who died   . . . . . . . . . . . .

JULY 29, 1867

Aged 70 years

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SARAH FREACHAN

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

EDWARD FREACHAN

Died July 12 1867

Aged 95 years

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Natives of Inistioge

Co. KILLKENNY IRELAND

W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . and open'd Mercy's door

. . . . . . . . . . with Faith eternal.

NOTE: The dotted lines represent inscription that was illegible.

County Killkenny should be spelled Kilkenny.

I have no information on Sarah and Edward FREACHAN.

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CANADA WEST / Grey (county) 84 Artemesia Township p. 7d, 8a, (15).

TAKEN UNDER THE ACT 14TH & 15TH Vict. Chap. 40 George ARMSTRONG ENUMERATOR.

Line   9  George Armstrong, Builder & Carpenter, Born Ireland, Wesleyan Methodist, Age 61
Line 10  Margaret Armstrong, ------------- Born Ireland, Wesleyan Methodist, Age 58
Line 11  Frederick Armstrong, Carpenter, Born Ireland, Wesleyan Methodist, Age 30
Line 12  Henry Armstrong, Carpenter, Born Ireland, Wesleyan Methodist, Age 23
Line 13  Mary Ann Armstrong, --------- Born Ireland, Wesleyan Methodist, Age 19
Line 14  John W. Armstrong, Carpenter, Born Ireland, Wesleyan Methodist, Age 10

Line 50  W. Hill, Rev, Wesleyan Minister, Born Ireland, Wesleyan Methodist, Age 33

---

The Census is recorded in a beautiful flowing legible handwriting.

Of interest: John W, the youngest son is listed as a carpenter even though he is only 10 years. Like father, like sons! Also, if John W was born in Ireland, then the family had to have left Ireland between 1842 and 1850.

There is evidence that George and his family had arrived in Inistioge in the late 1840's. George is also attributed with being the 'father' of Inistioge, County Grey, Ontario.

I just happened to notice that the Wesleyan Minister was included on the page of the Census.

---

As mentioned before, George ARMSTRONG and his family were lifelong friends of my ancestors the ACHESON family. Both families had emigrated from Ireland in the late 1840's. George's son Henry is mentioned in the ACHESON Family History 1850-1950, (page 11).
Both families lived in the small pioneer community of Inistioge.

The ACHESON Family History 1850-1950, (page 11) shows that the Christina and William ACHESON lived on a farm across the road from the little log church - the Methodist Church - from 1856 to 1863. In 1863 they family moved to their final destination, a homestead about one mile away.

ACHESON families still own some the property 160 years later. There were five lots that the ACHESON families occupied. Four were situated at an intersection that was dubbed "Enniskillen Corners" after the eldest family members that emigrated from Ireland in 1850.

As the years passed, the younger generations called it "ACHESON Corners."

That's another story!!

Black Sheep Sunday ~ Jail House Census!

From "Mother Goose" 1901

W. W. Denslow 1856-1915

I've been researching George ARMSTRONG and his family. Henry ARMSTRONG is mentioned in our ACHESON family history. I thought Henry might be George's son.

First I searched for Henry and found him in the 1851/1852 Census Canada. Using the "split view,' I'm able to see the original handwritten documents.

To my surprise the heading is "Name of Inmate" rather than just "Name." Included on this page are are 50 names which include 6 or 7 families with their children.
How curious! Have they all been arrested or is the jail being used for additional housing?

Since there was an influx of settlers at that time, perhaps there was nowhere else for them to live.

Henry ARMSTRONG is shown as the Enumerator.
All entries in a lovely legible flowing script.

---

TAKEN UNDER THE ACT 14TH & 15TH Vict. Chp. 40
Henry Armstrong ENUMERATOR.

1852 CANADA WEST/Grey (county)/95 Proton - see Sub-district 92; p. 7d, 8a, (15)

Henry ARMSTRONG, Carpenter, Born Ireland, Wesleyan Methodist, Age 24.

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Other listings of interest:

Mary A. Hind, Born "On Sea." Wesleyan Methodist, Age 20
(She is listed by herself, there is no other HIND listed with her.
Her parents would have been aboard a ship sailing to Canada in 1832.)

Hugh Hodgins, Weaver, Born Scotland, Wesleyan Methodist, Age 31.

The fun and free vocabulary game for all ages.
An easy way to give and make a difference.

Sunday Services ~ Bethel United Church, Proton Township, Grey County, Ontario

Bethel United Church, Proton Station

Proton Township, Grey County, Ontario ~ Built 1896

The little Church still stands today and is opened to the occasional special Service.

It was originally the Bethel Methodist Church. In 1925, the Methodist Church of Canada, the Congregational Union of Canada, seventy percent  of the Presbyterian Churches in Canada and the small General Council of Union Churches amalgamated to form the United Church of Canada.  SOURCE: United Church of Canada, internet search.  

The Bethel (Methodist) United Church was built in 1896, some 45 years after the Inistioge (Methodist) United Church. In 1851, that first Methodist Church at Inistioge was built of logs. It is likely that that log Church was built by George ARMSTONG, who was a builder and carpenter. His three sons, Frederick ages 30, Henry age 23 and John W. age 10 are all listed as carpenters in the 1851/1852 Canada Census. They were likely assisted by their pioneering neighbours. The log Church was replaced with a brick one 20 years later, The last service at the Inistioge United Church was held in 1961 and dismantled in shortly after. The bricks sold to a farmer to build a machine shed.

These two little Churches served the community of the earliest settlers, which included my 2nd great grandparents, Christina (FALLIS) and William ACHESON; my great grandparents, Mary Jane ACHESON and Christopher JOHNSTON; and my grandfather George Albert JOHNSTON/JOHNSON.

My Grandfather left the family homestead in about 1898.

EXCERPT FROM THE ACHESON FAMILY ~ 1850 - 1950:

         Christina (FALLIS) and William ACHESON:

The true spirit of adventure was theirs, and with their two-year old son [born November 1851] they travelled northward [on foot] by forest paths, and settled on Lot 205, Range 2, Artemesia. . . . Here two other children were born, John [June 1854] and Mary Jane [born October 1856 my great grandmother]. They then moved to the farm opposite Inistioge Church on the Toronto-Sydenham Road (now Highway 10). . . .

"Here at Inistioge the Achesons enjoyed the rich friendship of their near neighbours, the Henry Armstrong family -- a friendship still retained by the surviving members of these two families after a lapse of nearly one hundred years. Here, too, in the old log church, under the preaching of a Rev. Mr. Green, and the influence of the Holy Spirit, they gave their hearts to the Savior. Consequently, they endeavoured to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, they, themselves, living consistent Christian lives." -- Aunt Kate.

[Aunt Kate is Catherine, youngest daughter, born August 1867.]

SOURCE: The Acheson Family 1850-1950; self published 1951;

family committee of ten; page 11.

NOTE: The Toronto Grey & Bruce "TG&B" Railway line to this Northern community was built in 1873.

As mentioned before, George ARMSTRONG was also one of the earliest settlers in this small community.

George died 29 July 1867, age 79. He is buried at the Inistioge United Church Cemetery.

The 1851/1852 Census Canada records show George, carpenter, age 61 (born 1791 in Inistioge, County Kilkenny, Ireland)  with his wife, Margaret, and four children, including son Henry, carpenter, age 23, (born in 1829 in Inistioge, County  Kilkenny, Ireland.
All are born in Ireland and are Wesleyan Methodists.

2010 Copyright © Carole Gates

Inistioge, County Kilkenny, Ireland

Ancient bridge on the River Nore, County Kilkenny, Ireland

SOURCE: Wikipedia - public domain

CANADA:

Inistioge, County Kilkenny Ireland is the birthplace of George ARMSTRONG, who emigrated to Canada sometime before 1850. George died in 1867 aged 79 years and is buried in the little United (Methodist) Church Cemetery at Inistioge, Grey County, Ontario. The Cemetery is now 170 years old.

As mentioned in the previous post, George was the 'father' of Inistioge,  Grey County, Ontario. A hamlet in the area of Ontario where many of the Irish immigrants settled in the eary 1850's.

IRELAND:

Inistioge is a scenic and historic village in County Kilkenny, South East Ireland. Know as the "Jewel of the South." It was the location for the filming of "Circle of Friends" and "Widow's Peak." Hollywood Ireland!

LINKS:

INISTIOGE, IRELAND : http://www.inistioge.ie/ 

Site includes beautiful photos as well as visitor and  local information.

LOOK AROUND IRELAND: http://www.lookaroundireland.com/ 

Extensive site with travel and history.  Includes Genealogy.

IRISH GENEALOGY: http://www.lookaroundireland.com/genealogy.php 

Includes Irish Diaspora and The Great Famine: 1845-1850.

2010 Copyright © Carole Gates

Inistioge, Canada and Ireland

Hello from Canada to Inistioge, County Kilkenny, Ireland. ;-)

I've recently been in contact with a visitor who left a comment about a post regarding the "Inistioge United Church Cemetery, Inistioge, Proton Township, Grey County, Ontario.

Hi, I am facinated to see that there is a little place in Ontario called Inistioge, named after the one in Co. Kilkenny, Ireland. I am from Inistioge, Ireland and would love to find out the name of the founder that travelled from our little village. I would appreciate any information that anyone may have. My email address is rayslocalnews@yahoo.ie Thank you. Ray.

So I thought that I would collect what information I have about Inistioge, Proton Topwnship, Grey County, Ontario and put it together here.

HISTORY: GHOST TOWNS OF ONTARIO ~ INISTIOGE

Inistioge was born in 1851 and died in 1971. Its father was a George Armstrong who fled his native village of Inistioge in Ireland for a better life in Canada. It too was a stopping place along the Toronto-Sydenham Road, a resting place for weary travelers. Armstrong donated a portion of his land for use by a Wesleyan church and the early settlers quickly built a small log chapel. Twenty years later it was replaced with a small red brick building. The hamlet might have flourished had it not been for the railroad locating its station closer to Proton, a village just a mile away. The last building to survive was the church. Its last service took place in January, 1961 and was dismantled shortly afterwards. REMAINS: All that survives today is the cemetery and commerative plaque that proclaims: "Inistioge ~ 1851 - 1971" 

SOURCES: HOME PAGE: http://www.ghosttowns.com/bottomcanada.html 

INISTIOGE PAGE: http://www.ghosttowns.com/canada/ontario/inistioge.html

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Inistioge United Church Cemetery ~

Proton Township, Grey County, Ontario ~ 1851-1971
1851-2010 = 159 years

SOURCE:

http://www.ontarioobits.com/genealogy/cemetery/GreyCountyCemeteries.htm

The Church was originally Methodist, until the amalgamation of the Methodist, Presbyterian (2/3) and Congregational Churches across Canada in 1925.

From what I can determine, these grave markers were gathered together at the location of the little Church in order to preserve this cemetery site. There are 47 markers, the earliest date I see is 1856 and the latest date is 1942. However, several of the markers (8) are so worn that the dates cannot be read. It appears that the oldest stones (14) are the ones lying flat in the front row, along with the two that are for children. The gray one on the left is too worn to read, but has a little lamb on the top of it. The white one on the right is for the three ACHESON children that I have posted about before. The ACHESON families are my ancestors.

May 18, 2010
Thanks to Janet Iles for her comment providing the following information:

"In my information on the Inistioge United Church, (originally Methodist) was not torn down when the church closed in 1961. The church shed, where the horses had been tied in early days, was purchased by a farmer. William Crockford removed the bricks from the church building and he hauled it away to become a machine shed."

2010 Copyright © Carole Gates

I'm taking a break from blogging.

I'm taking a break for the next few weeks while I get a treatment for my chronic and severe neck and shoulder pain.

The treatment is over four to five weeks. I'll check in to give a progress report. Here's hoping!

Tombstone Tuesday ~ JOHNSTON Family ~ 1872 to 1942 - 72 Years ~ Grey County, Ontario ~ Part Two

Christopher JOHNSTON Family Tombstone

1872 to 1941 ~ 70 years

Flesherton Cemetery

Artemnesia Township, 
Grey County, Ontario

W. H. JOHNSTON

DIED 1942

AGED 75 YRS.

William Henry JOHNSTON was the son of  Margaret SCOTT and Christopher JOHNSTON. "Will" did not marry.

GEORGE A.

FOGARTY

DIED 1939

AGED 79 YRS.

George Armour FOGARTY was the husband of Christina Maude, the daughter of Mary Jane ACHESON

and Christopher JOHNSTON.

C. M. JOHNSTON

WIFE OF

GEO. FOGARTY

DIED 1925

AGED 45 YRS.

Christina Maude JOHNSTON was the daughter of Mary Jane ACHESON and Christopher JOHNSTON.

J. J. JOHNSTON

DIED JAN 9TH 1923

AGED 39 YRS.

John James JOHNSTON was the son of Mary Jane ACHESON and Christopher JOHNSTON. "Jimmy" did not marry.

 THE FAMILY OF CHRISTOPHER JOHNSTON

Christopher JOHNSTON 1841 - 1925 *
Margaret SCOTT 1840 - 1872 *
Children:
     Jane Ann 1863 - 1899 *
     Margaret Marie 1865 - 1935
     William Henry 1867 - 1942 *
     Katherine Kelso 1868 - 1923
     Mary Eileen 1870 - 1899*
     Infant born and died 1871

Mary Jane ACHESON 1856 - 1901 *
Children:
     George Albert 1875 - 1964 ~~ my Grandfather
     Alice Victoria 1877 - 1938
     Christopher 1879 - 1956
     Christina Maud 1882 - 1925 *
     John James 1883 - 1923 *
     Joseph Samuel 1886 - 1954
     Eva Mae 1889 - 1974
     Robert Edgar 1891 - 1975
     Infant
     Carlotta Lillian 1895 - 1986
* Family members buried here at Flesherton Cemetery.
Including George Armour FOGARTY, Christina Maude's husband. 

After the untimely death of Mary Jane, Christopher married Agnes WRIGHT in 1907. Agnes was born in 1863 and died in 1933, eight years after Christopher's passing in 1925.

Christopher JOHNSTON was my great grandfather and Mary Jane ACHESON was my great grandmother.

Photographs courtesy of a great granddaughter of Jane Ann (JOHNSTON) TAYLOR, received by email October 2009.

SOURCES: Family records and personal knowledge of my Mother.

NOTE: See post "Sentimental Sunday" May 23rd for the other two sides/faces of the JOHNSTON family tombstone.  

2010 Copyright © Carole Gates

Surname Saturday ~ JOHNSON - A story of survival.

George Albert JOHNSON

Born 1875 - Died 1964 - Aged 89 years 3 months

 George is 85 years old in this photograph.

George Albert JOHNSON was my maternal Grandfather.

"PRAIRIE FIRES"

"Always a source of worry and of fear, a prairie fire caused great concern among the very early homesteaders. The first such fire to cross this particular area was in the fall of 1905. As remembered from conversation by those who were here, it appeared to have started not too far west.


In the long thick grass of many years it swept forward at tremendous speed. Flames rose 20 to 25 feet in the air with thickening acrid smoke. Unfortunate was the odd settler who did not have an excellent fire guard.


One neighbor who witnessed and survived the fire was George Johnson. He had gone west over a mile from their own sod house to see about a fire guard of another settler, James McCracken, when it overtook him on the way home. There was only one salvation - to run through the fire to burned over ground. In so doing he carried scars of that episode to the end.  .  .  ."

SOURCE: LOOKING BACK - The History of the Milden Community; 1905-1965. Published by: The Milden Historical Committee, 1966. Page 14.

In 1969, this 150 page book was given to my parents by one of my father's first cousins. The Village of Milden and the surrounding farming community is where my parents grew up.

NOTE: The fall of 1905 would have been just months after George, his wife Emma (CLARK) and their first two children arrived by wagon on the barren prairies to claim their homestead. George would have been 30 years old; Emma 26 years; Gordon Clark 4 1/2 years; and Mary `Mae` Jane 3 years old. Two more children were born in the sod house. Florence Irene born 1906 and Clifford Fallis born early 1908.

In the spring/summer of 1905 they would have built their first home, the sod house. The family lived in the sod house 3 years, until 1908 when they built the wood frame/cedar house that was their house for the rest of their lives.

This must have been a frightening experience for George and his young family.

Also, over the years, I heard the story of "Grandpa and the prairie fire" as told by my Mother. Although Grandpa did have some scars, fortunately he was not disfigured. As children and young adults, he looked fine to us!

SOD HOUSE IN SASKATCHEWAN ~ 190?

SOURCE: Wikipedia.org -  
This United States Congress image is in the Public Domain.

Wikipedia.org

Notice the very fancy hats that the two women standing in the center are wearing.
One with a 'bunch' of pink flowers. The other has a hat matching her purple dress.

However, I think this photo has had the colour added, that prairie grass just looks too green!

Wikipedia.org article on the history of Sod Houses

UPDATED: Sunday, May 30th 2010 with images from Wikipedia.org. 

2010 - copyright © Carole Gates