Surname Saturday ~ Rutherford ~ 1850

In January 2003, when I was searching for my Mother's parents, I found an email address for what turned out to be a cousin.

I was making a memory album for my Mom's 90th birthday in March. This cousin was kind enough to send me a package of information on the ACHESON and JOHNSON families.
Included was a 44 page booklet "The Acheson Family ~ 1850-1950. The inspiration for the booklet came in the autumn of 1939, when there was a chance meeting at the home of an elderly family member. He expressed regret that a written record of the family and their pioneer lives had not been made before the passing of the older members of the family.

As a result of that chance meeting, a family committee of ten was struck and the record began. It culminated in 1951 when the above mention booklet was self-published.

In 2009, I was searching for cemeteries and headstones, when I came across a name that I recognized from the booklet. One "John RUTHERFORD." What I knew was that John had emigrated with his brother-in-law (my ancestor).

"It was on a day in spring, April 14th 1850, that William Acheson, accompanied by his brother-in-law, John Rutherford, bid a last farewell to old Ireland, and set forth to seek his fortune in Canada, the great new land of promise. . . . "
SOURCE: The Acheson Family - 1850-1950; page 10.

What struck me was that John RUTHERFORD had died in 1856, just six years after arriving by ship from Ireland. His brother-in-law, William ACHESON, lived until 1910, aged 89 years and 11 months.

I've wondered what incident may have caused the death of John at a young age. From other information I have been able to find, I think he would have been about 35 years old. He was married and had children. Hopes and dreams brought to an early end.

JOHN RUTHERFORD

Native of Ireland

DIED MAY 10 1856

Inistioge United Church Cemetery

Proton Township,Grey County, Ontario
SOURCE: OntarioObits.com

UPDATE: I see that I missed the connection between John RUTHERFORD and my post of "Three Little Angels on "Sentimental Sunday" 2 May 2010. Ida's maiden name was RUTHERFORD and she is the granddaughter of this John RUTHERFORD.  

Treasure Chest Thursday ~ Antique Carte de Visite Album ~ 1860 - 1900

This antique carte de visite album was given to my parents by my father's family. It measures 4" wide x 5 1/2" long x 1 1/2" thick. The edges are a shiney gold and it has a metal clasp to secure it. The front of it is slightly stained along the top edge of the front cover and the embossing is slightly damaged. It looks like moisture damage. However, there is no evidence of damage to the inside. The photographs on the inside arein very good condition.

As I mentioned before, there are 19 tintype photographs and 9 carte de visite card-stock photographs. Unfortunately not a single name was included. Possible families are GATES, HULL, ROOT, MILLER OR BEEGHLY.

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.

As this poem reveals, family and friends were expected to join in and exchange their carte de visite photographs. This hobby was so popular at the time, it was know as "carte mania."

The first process for photography was invented in Germany in 1839 and is credited to Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre. The process bears his name daguerreotype. This process used glass plates.

About fifteen years later the next advancement  in the process was made in France in 1853. It was patented in the United States in 1856. First called melainotype, and then ferrotype, in the United Kingdom, and finally became commonly known as the tintype.  There were special multi-lens cameras manufactured to product the tintype. Portrait photography became very popular during the Civil War.

Later a process was invented in France for producing the photographs on cardstock. The paper/cardstock photographs evolved into the carte de visite photographs. The backside of the first photographs were blank. However, it didn't take long for the photographers to realize the backside was the perfect place for their logo. The earliest were stamped simply with the name of the portrait photographer. Then the backside became a work of art in itself, with some beautiful designs.

J. M. WINN

Photographer 

Negatives Preserved

No. 28 Union Block

Ottumwa, Iowa

A collection of antique  multi-lens cameras and tintypes can be found at Marcel Safier of Australia Use the links on his site to see all that he has available in his collection. An educational and interesting site. Worth a visit.

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!

Madness Monday ~ Somber faces. Who are you and what stories could you tell?!

My Mother was given a small photo album in the late 1960's by my Father's family. It's like a small bible, 4" x 5 1/2" x 1 1/2". She carefully removed each photo, only to find that none of them had names on them. How disappointing.

A few years ago I started to do some research and found that it is a "carte-de-visite" album. These were popular in the 1860's and even up to the late 1890's. They were so popular that for a period of time "carte mania" was all the rage!

Tintypes apparently were fairly easy and quick to produce. They were also affordable for most people to buy. They were usually made in sheets of 12 and then cut up with tin snips.

Because they were so durable, the soldiers during the Civil War could tuck them in a bible or carry them in a pocket without damaging them. They could also be cut quite small to be put into lockets and other jewellery.

So I have 28 antique photographs. Nineteen are tintypes (5 without paper frames and 14 with paper frames). Nine are  carte-de-visite (6 have the photographers logo stamped on the backside).

I've put these two together based on the stairway in the background. It looks like the stairway is actually a mural on the wall. Perhaps this boy and young man are brothers. They look a little alike. Don't you think?

Notice that the boy is holding a hat in his right hand. I've read that the photographer would have some clothes (hats and jackets) to lend customers for their portrait. It must have been exciting at that time to have a photo taken.

Now these antique tintypes would be about 150 years old. Amazing!

One of the sites I found a couple of years ago was Robert Vaughan's "Victorian and Edwardian Photographs"  It provides detailed  information an "how to identify" old photographs. An extensive  collection of his personal photographs and he provides excellent educational information.

It's well worth a visit.

Sentimental Sunday ~ Three Little Angels

ROSE - 1905

DOREEN 1909-1914

R. JOHN - 1913

CHILDREN OF

IDA M. & JAMES F

ACHESON

This tombstone shows that the two infants and young daughter of this couple are buried together. 

Family records show the deaths of the first three children of this couple as 1905, 1913 and 1914. Today this would be an unthinkable tragedy for any family to have to deal with.

I have found a record that showed one "living" child who was born after these three children. Probably lived to age 70 and beyond. That would be a blessing.

UPDATE: I see that I missed the connection between Ida Maude ACHESON and her grandfather, John RUTHERFORD. Ida's maiden name was RUTHERFORD.  I posted about John RUTHERFORD on "Surname Saturday," 8 May 2010. Ida's father was Edward RUTHERFORD, born 1854, Proton Station, Proton Township, Grey County, Ontario. Her mother was Elizabeth LUDLOW.

HULL ~ Resources for Family Research

I've found the following sites helpful in my search for the HULL family who are among my ancestors.

"The Hull Family Association" is a non-profit organization with memberships available.

"The Hull Family in America" by Colonel C. H. Weygant is available to purchase online.


An extensive site is The History of Redding which includes a genealogy of the HULL family It states that the site is "not a business or organization." It is the work of one dedicated individual wishing to preserve and provide education for others interested.

These sites have provided very useful information and are well worth the visit.

Good luck in your continued research.

By the way, I've been enjoying "Who Do You Think You Are?" Have you?

Surname Saturday ~ HULL Family

My Mother received a 34 page handwritten family tree from my Father's cousin in about 1989. It includes a reference to George HULL emigrating from England, arriving in America in 1630 and settling in Dorchester, Massachusetts. George was a lineal ancestor of Samuel HULL (1755-1840), who was my 5th great grandfather. His daughter, Catherine (HULL) WEBB GATES (1800-1875), who was was my 4th great grandmother.

"Catherine Hull, married Oliver Gates 1825 in New York.
Catherine Hull, dau. of Samuel Hull, was born April 9, 1800 in Conn. She died April 13, 1875 Wapello Co. Iowa. Buried in Burns Cemetery, Center Twp, 2 miles West of Ottumwa Iowa.
She was one of twelve children, Jonas, James, Samuel Lebbeus, Russell, Electa, Hubbard, Phoebe, Curtis, Catherine, Alanson, & Hannah.

Catharines father, Samuel Hull was a son of George Hull, Jr., and a lineal descendant of George Hull, who came from England in 1630 and settled in Dorchester, Mass.
Samuel Hull, father of Catharine, was born June 15, 1755, married Freelove Kelsey, June 20, 1781, and reared twelve children.
This family moved from Killingworth Conn., in the fall of 1809, to Candor, Tioga Co. New York State, and made the first settlement on a farm.

Taken from Historical Gazetteer of Tioga County, New York, 1785-1888, Compiled & Edited by W. B. Gay, (published by W. B. Gay & Co., Syracuse, N. Y.) pages 181-182.
And Our Country & its People, A Memorial History of Tioga County, N.Y., edited by LeRoy W. Kingman (published by W. A. Fergusson & Co., Elmira, N.Y. c. 1897) pages 705-706.

A search on the net resulted in finding a readable copy of the Historical Gazetteer of Tioga County, New York, 1785-1888, pages 181-182.

The page shown above is from the handwritten document dated 1984, updated 1986 and 1988. Great research without the benefit of internet access. Sources were family records, bibles and interviews. Also Census and Federal War and Pension records.

Thanks to L. B. (Gates) Greenall (1904-2002), family historian. One of my inspiring relatives.

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.

Tombstone Tuesday ~ George Albert JOHNSON and his wife Emma CLARK

JOHNSON

1875  GEORGE  1964

1879    EMMA    1956

~ LIFE'S WORK WELL DONE ~

Marriage: 13 September 1899,
Penetanguishene, Simcoe County, Ontario

George Albert JOHNSON was born on 2 November 1875 and he died on 30 January 1964, aged 89 years. His wife, Emma CLARK was born 17 February 1879 (but there are Census Records with dates as early as 1874 for her birth). Emma died 24 November 1956, aged 77 years. (or using 1874 as her birth date, aged 82 years).

LIFE'S WORK WELL DONE ~ George and Emma moved from their birth places in Ontario, first to Manitoba in about 1902, then on to Saskatchewan in 1905. Their first home on the Prairies was a sod house that they built in 1905 and lived in until their homestead was proved up in 1908.

They were prominent members of this farming community, helping to build churches and schools. The village of Milden, Saskatchewan was incorporated in 1911. They spent the rest of their lives in the community that they helped to establish.

George Albert JOHNSON and Emma CLARK are my maternal grandparents.

A Gift to Me ~ A Gift to You

Boogie Jack is one of my favourite sites. It's creative, educational, informative, inspirational and humourous. On a recent visit I saw that Dennis has a wonderful give-away: REASONS FOR HOPE. It's a collaborative effort and a special gift for me and you.

It's hard to compare BoogieJack.com with other sites. Created by a published book author on web design, the web design tutorials are written with humor and ease, the free graphics archive has some beautiful works of art, and his writings about life are always enlightening.

My great marbleized header is one of many headers and backgrounds designed by BoogieJack.com and available for free. 

Your gift is waiting for you. REASONS FOR HOPE You'll see there's even more when you visit Boogie Jack. Thank you Dennis.

Hope, like the gleaming taper's light,
Adorns and cheers our way;
And still, as darker grows the night,
Emits a brighter day.

~ ~ ~ Oliver Goldsmith

Vintage and Antique Jewellery ~ Family Heirlooms

The popularity of vintage jewelery never wanes. Instead, it seems to grow with each passing year. Rings, brooches, necklaces, charms, bracelets, lockets and other adornments quickly become families’ most precious heirlooms as they pass from one generation to the next.

I've always enjoyed wearing jewelery; glitzy brooches and dangle earrings. When my 12 year old grandson was little, he liked to wear my pretty brooches and help me make dangle earrings!

What is more fun to a young girl than to poke about in her grandmother’s jewelery box searching through these treasures? The memories alone of such ventures, coupled with the historical accounts of each item of jewelery, can endear grandparents to their descendants in unexpected ways, forming close personal ties forever.

The cost doesn't necessarily determine the value. Even inexpensive trinkets can bind lives and hearts becoming a woman’s most cherished possession if they once belonged to her mother, her grandmother or her great-grandmother.

Of course, although antique jewelery can be fun to flaunt in front of friends, family and associates, it can also be a great investment. Even if the component parts of jewelery have little inherent value, it can become something of value by virtue of its maturity. Jewelery can become valuable just by surviving to a ripe old age. Many people love to adorn themselves with jewelery from various periods such as Edwardian, Art Deco, Retro and Art Nouveau, or even older when it can be found.

If you plan to make purchases from jewelery dealers, make sure you use reputable ones. With reputable dealers you can be more certain that you are buying authentic pieces.

At estate sales, auctions, collectible shoppes or even yard sales, you may be able to find some nice antique or vintage jewelery items. However, if you aren’t a jewelery expert you may be disappointed with some of your purchases. Some items may not be as valuable as you hope. Still, much of the pleasure comes with the search.

CLICK HERE for this comprehensive antique jewelry reference guide may help you become your own expert! Learn about history, design, hallmarks, precious gem stones, metals, etc.

Surname Saturday ~ CLARK

We know that my grandmother's father was Robert CLARK, Scottish, emigrated from the US, and was an engineer (of what?). Robert was married to Sarah SMITH, an American. I found Census records that confirm he was born in Scotland and show his occupation as "Engineer in a Mill."

My grandmother, Emma CLARK, was the tenth of twelve children, born between 1854 and 1875.

Emma CLARK was born 17 February 1874, Penetanguishene, Simcoe County, Ontario. She died 25 November 1956, Rosetown Hospital and is buried in Milden Cemetery, Village of Milden, Saskatchewan.

George Albert JOHNSON and Emma CLARK were married 13 September 1899, Penetanguishene, Simcoe County, Ontario.

Their marriage was witnessed by one of Emma's younger brothers, Wesley CLARK and one of Emma's older sisters, Mary Jane CLARK, both of Penetanguishene. The ceremony was performed by Reverend G. M. Kingston.

They were married for 57 years, until the time of Emma's death in 1956. George lived on for another eight years, until 30 January 1964, aged 89 years.

This photograph had been tucked away for 45 years by a cousin of mine. Although it was badly damaged, the restoration worked quite well. Also, this is the only photograph that we have as Emma as a young woman. Other photographs of her are when she is a grandmother in her 60's.
SOURCE:  © private collection.

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.

The Enniskillen Castle, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

The Watergate at Enniskillen Castle

Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

Image © Copyright Raymond Millar and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

"Built in 1611 by Sir William Cole. Described at the time as a ‘fair and strong wall’ twenty-six feet high, ‘newly erected’ with flankers, parapet and wall walk. An impressive building with twin cor belled turrets projecting so as to give protection to the wall on two sides."

My maternal grandfather, George Albert JOHNSON/JOHNSTON, was Irish. Both his mother's and his father's families emigrated from Ireland in the mid 1800's.

The 1851/1852 Census Canada record shows that George's paternal grandparents, John JOHNSTON and Catherine RUTLEDGE, emigrated between the birth of two children, born 1836 and 1838.

A small family book written and self-published in 1951, indicated that his mother's parents sailed from Ireland in the Spring of 1850, a 28 day voyage.

"It was on a day in Spring, April 14th, 1850, that William ACHESON, accompanied by his brother-in-law John RUTHERFORD, bid a last farewell to old Ireland, and set forth to seek his fortune in Canada, the great new land of promise."

Later in 1850, Christina (FALLIS) ACHESON and her sister, Mary (FALLIS) RUTHERFORD, sailed from Ireland to Canada to join their husbands in Canada.

According to this family book, George's grandparents, William ACHESON  and Christina FALLIS, were born near Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

A family committee was struck to begin the research in 1940, after an uncle's death bed request for someone in the family to begin their history while it was still possible to gather information from the elder members of the family.

Although it took ten years to complete, the book was published in 1951, just shortly after the 100th anniversary of the arrival of one of two brothers who left Ireland for the land of promise ~ Canada. (The elder brother, George ACHESON, had arrived a year or so earlier, in about 1849.)

RAGAN & MUNN, Photographers, Atchison, Kansas

Pink image:
"RAGAN & MUNN, Photographers, 317 Com. Street, Atchison, Kan. Negatives preserved. Copies can be had at any time."

White image:  
"J. M. MUNN, Photographer, Atchison, Kansas."
Very small lettering at lower left: "Riches Co." 
This is probably the name of the printer.
Images ©   Personal collection.


These are the reverse side of two more carte de visite photos from my Grandmother's little olde album.
The pink one is fancier that the first one that I posted on October 25th.  Note the camera with the painter's palette and the cloak. Two little angels are holding the banner.I have found a record that puts Ragan and Munn in business in Atchison, Kansas in 1880.
The logo on the black and white one, is much larger, taking up almost the whole back of the photo and even more artistic. Note the camera is a bit smaller and the artist's palette now is larger and  has brushes.
From what I have read, the photographer's logos became larger and more artistic as the years pasted. Knowing this, helps to date these little keepsake photographs.

An excellent site for information on how to date these vintage photographs is Roger Vaughan's site.
This extensive site is a great resource.
It also shows pictures of the clothing during the late 1800's and early 1900's another helpful technique.
Roger Vaughan is from the UK and appears to have been collecting and researching vintage photographs for a number of  years.