Hallowe'en Pleasures! Bobbing for apples.

   Hallowe'en Pleasures

Of all the fun and

merry jest,

To bob for apples,

is the best.

Circa 1912

SOURCE: public domain

I just love these olde post cards. Funny and sweet!

Happy Hallowe'en!

Hallowe'en

Softly

Cross your fingers

At the Witching Hour;

Over Fates and Fortunes

The Moon will give you

power.

Circa 1910

SOURCE: public domain

The Snowflake Man and his Ice Flowers

SOURCE: public domain clipart

Well that was fun! I've always included snowflakes in my Christmas decorations So how can I resist finding out more about Wilson Alywn Bentley?

There is The Snowflake Bentley Museum in his hometown of Jericho, Vermont. Includes an exhibit of his work and a gift shop with books and "snowflake jewellery."

There is also a short documentary by Chuck Smith about Wilson Alywn Bentley. It captures the magic of his childhood dreams and the passion for his life's work of the study of "ice flowers." I see the elderly woman, a family friend, being interviewed is wearing snowflake earrings! Really takes one back to his era.

Now I can't wait for the next snowfall. That could be quite a while since I live on the balmy West coast.

Mystery Monday ~ The Snowflake Man and His Ice Flowers!

This feels like a Magical Mystery! Yesterday I posted the photograph of the photographer. I had no way of identifying who he was, since there was no information given on the GimpSavy.com site. It was included in the section of the NOAA, US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

I was curious about that and searched that site for other photographers but found none.

Today, I did a search for 19th Century photographers and antique cameras. Eventually ended up on Wikipedia.org. I couldn't believe my eyes when I found a photograph of the same man.

Something magical about that!!

I think that someone may have added the snowflake images in the left and right corners of the photo below.

---

Wilson Alywn Bentley "The Snowflake Man"

SOURCE: Wikipedia.org

"No two snowflakes are alike."

Wilson Alywn Bentley's "Ice Flowers" - c. 1902

He is Wilson Alywn Bentley, born 9th February 1865 in Jericho, Vermont. 

As a teenager, he became fascinated with snowflakes. His mother, a teacher, gave him a old microscope which he used to examine the images and then attempt to draw them before they melted. What fun!

Some time a little later he acquired a camera and set about to modify it so he could photograph snowflakes.

He was a farmer, a bachelor and his hobby was photographing snowflakes. He is the first person to photograph a snowflake. He used a black velvet tray to catch the snowflakes. Then a feather to pick out the one that he wanted to magnify and photograph. Amazing!

This became his lifelong passion. His family thought his hobby was a waste of time, but he eventually became famous for his unusual hobby. He went on to publish his work, including an article, 'The Magic Beauty of Snow and Dew', National Geographic (January 1923). He would photograph over 5000 snowflake images in his lifetime.

I see that in 1931, he also worked on a joint project with William J. Humphries of the US Weather Bureau to publish Snow Crystals, which included some 2500 photographs of snowflakes. (Presumably this is why his photograph is included in the NOAA images at GimpSavy.com.)

Ironically, he caught pneumonia walking home in a snowstorm and died a few days later, at age 66, on 23 December 1931.

---

I'm awestruck. Now I'll always think of snowflakes as "Ice Flowers!"

Apparently his photographs were of such high quality, that no one else attempted to photograph snowflakes for another 100 years.

To view a more detailed biography of Wilson A. Bentley. his work and his famous snowflakes, go to the Wikepedia.org site below:

SOURCES: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowflake_Bentley 

Sentimental Sunday ~ Photograph of a Photographer

Monday 25th October 2010 - Update. I found out who this photographer is. Read the details above for this remarkable man, Wilson Alywn Bentley who was born 9th February 1865 in Jericho, Vermont and died 23 December 1931, aged 66 years, at his home in Jericho, Vermont.

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

Sunday 24th October 2010 - I found this fantastic old photograph of a photographer!

Update: When I first posted this image, I thought that this gentleman was a portrait photographer. However, the next day my research resulted in finding other photographs of him on Wikipedia.org. along with his biography.

Wilson Alywn Bentley - "The Snowflake Man"

"No two snowflakes are alike."

(SOURCE: found his name and biography on Wikipedia.org)

UPDATE: What I know now is that Wilson is catching snowflakes on a tray covered with black velvet. On the stand behind him would be his microscope where he places the snowflake on a glass plate to photograph it.

Amazing!

SOURCE: I had no way of identifying who he was. There was no caption or identification given on the GimpSavy.com site. The photograph was included in the section of the NOAA, US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. I found out that Benley did a project with a member of the US Weather Bureau which is probably why the photo was included with other NOAA images.

SOURCE:  Gimp-Savvy.com (public domain)

Surname Saturday ~ MILLER

Several years ago I asked my Mom to tell me what she remembered about my Dad's family. He died 8th January 1970. She told me that his mother, Ada May MILLER, was the eldest of ten children. However, two of those children had died at a young age. She gave me these names: Elmy, George, Edgar, Roy, Harvey, Effie, Oretha and two youngsters that had died.

Well, she right, in a way. There were actually thirteen children, three of which had died at a young age.

MILLER

MARY C. age 3 years 6 months, died 24 January 1894

JOHN A. age 2 years 8 months, died 12 December 1894

ORA W. 4 years 3 months, died 26 January 1894

Mary Catherine MILLER was born 02 August 1890 in Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas and died 24 January 1894 in Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas

John Alvin MILLER was born 27 March 1892 in Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas and died 12 December 1894 in Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas

Ora William MILLER was born 04 November 1889 in Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas and died 26 January 1894 in Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas

Tragically little Mary Catherine and Ora William died within two days of each other.  Perhaps from an infectious disease. All three of the children died in 1894.

The results of some of my research are shown below.

---

1. William Howard MILLER was born 09 January 1859 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania and died 14 March 1930. He married Sarah BEEGHLY 12 March 1862 in Maryland. She was born 12 March 1862 in Maryland and died 17 July 1943 in Kansas, daughter of Josiah BEEGHLY and Sarah HORNER.
		Other events in the life of William Howard MILLER Burial: in Rock Creek Cemetery, Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas
Children of William Howard MILLER and Sarah BEEGHLY:
	i.		2.		Ada May MILLER was born 28 April 1883 in Accident, Garrett County, Maryland and died 06 August 1958 in Milden, Saskatchewan
	ii.		3.		Harvey Ernest MILLER was born 04 June 1971 in Accident, Garrett County, Maryland and died 06 November 1971
	iii.		4.		Milton Earl MILLER was born 20 September 1885 in Eglon, Preston, West Virginia and died 02 Sepember 1954
	iv.				Roy Clell MILLER was born 12 June 1887 in Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas and died 15 January 1945
	v.		5.		George Aaron MILLER was born 10 January 1889 in Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas
	vi.				Mary Catherine MILLER was born 02 August 1890 in Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas and died 24 January 1894 in Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas
	vii.				John Alvin MILLER was born 27 March 1892 in Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas and died 12 December 1894 in Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas
	viii.				Ora William MILLER was born 04 November 1889 in Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas and died 26 January 1894 in Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas
	ix.				Elmie Florence MILLER was born October 1895 in Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas and died 17 April 1973
	x.				Edgar Jay MILLER was born 03 July 1898 in Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas and died 26 June 1953
	xi.		6.		Effie Dayne MILLER was born 04 May 1900  in Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas and  died Januaary 1984
	xii.		7.		Lola Delta MILLER was born 25 August 1901 in Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas and died 14 January 1947
	xiii.		8.		Oretha Sarah MILLER was born 02 January 1906 in Beattie, Marshall County, Kansas and died 17 November 1996

The above information is from my family tree program. My sources are various, some are listed below.

---

SOURCES: Personal knowledge. Handwritten Family Tree - Oliver Uriah GATES & Catherine HULL, 1984, updated 1988. Internet research: LDS Church (FamilySearch.org); RootsWeb.org; concentric.net/-pvb/GEN/whmill.html.

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

---

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.

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

---

(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.

---

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.

---

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