SARAH
SCHERMERHORN Forest Mills Lady Reaches Fine Old Age
Marks
91st Birthday - Has
Been Active All Her life -- Keen Memory Kingston Whig Standard July 8 1938 FOREST MILLS
- Mrs. Sarah Schermerhorn of Forest Mills,
on July 5 celebrated her 91st birthday and received the hearty
congratulations of a host of relatives and friends throughout the entire
district on having accomplished that venerable age. Mrs.
Schermerhorn was Sarah Gordon Metcalf and was born on July 5, 1847, the
daughter of Mary Gordon Metcalf and William Metcalf shortly after they came
from Belfast, Ireland, to Canada and settled in North Fredericksburgh. They moved from there to Clarks Mills which
is now Camden East and from there to Forest Mills where on Christmas Day in
1864 she was married to Leonard Schermerhorn of the same place. Her husband, who was of Dutch descent,
always impressed it on his children that their long, difficult name, was
“spelled with three R’s”. Many Descendants
They spent all
their married life in the Forest Mills and Roblin districts. Fifteen children were born to them, of whom
seven girls and five boys are living.
She has sixty grandchildren and ninety-five great grandchildren. She was baptized in the Anglican church at
Clarks Mills, and was married by a Methodist minister, Rev. M. Thompson. All her married life she was a staunch
Methodist but after the union joined the United Church. Her living
children are as follows: Mrs. Mary
Tyrrell, Watertown, N.Y.; Joel Schermerhorn,
Nokomis, Sask.; James Schermerhorn,
Notikewan, Alberta; Mrs. James
Dudgeon, Selby; Mrs. Marcus Welsh,
Picton; William Schermerhorn,
Notikewan, Alberta; Mrs. William
Waddell, Napanee; Mrs. Theodore
Waddell, Marlbank; Mrs. John Guest, Picton; John Schermerhorn, Roblin; Mrs. Ada Kimmett, Marlbank; Gordon Schermerhorn, Forest Mills. A daughter, Jane, and a son Leonard, died
in California and Pearl died at home.
In October, 1921, her husband passed away at Forest Mills. Her
sons, James and William were the first white pioneers of that part of Peace
River district where the village of Notikewan is. Her children and grandchildren are
scattered all over North America from California to Peace River. She has two
living sisters, Mrs. Eliza Carscallen, Deseronto, and Mrs. Jane Sexsmith,
Portage La Prairie, Man.
A Keen Memory
Mrs.
Schermerhorn’s mind is very active and she can recall many incidents of
pioneer days, she recalls the days when the settlers made a little extra
money by the sale of potash which was made on the well wooded farms. An old lime kiln can still be seen on the
farm of Mr. J. Sweet and nearby across the road from it is a field on the
farm of Mrs. Charles Walroth that is still called the “Potash Field”. Mrs. Schermerhorn remembers when these
places of industry were active, where huge ash logs were burned and the
resulting potash bagged and sold in Napanee.
An Active Woman
Maple sugar was
used almost entirely for sweetening.
She tells of the big “drives” of beautiful oak logs which came down
the Salmon river each spring. Cheese
factories were often “manned” by young women in those early days and a young
woman would hire out for domestic service for three or four dollars per
month. This venerable old lady was a
great help to her husband in raising their large family. She used a hand loom and wove beautiful
rugs and carpets, which sold readily.
She also wove flannel and fullcloth.
More than 53 years ago she wove 40 yards of carpet for the first
Methodist parsonage in Roblin district for many miles around. With the
exception of last Christmas she has knitted beautiful woollen socks for her
boys in Peace River and at home. Mrs.
Schermerhorn, till within the last year, was never idle. Candlewick bedspreads, quilts and hand-woven
floor coverings were made by her in great numbers. Mrs. Ada Kimmett is with her mother, who is
now confined to her room, and gives her every loving care. A birthday celebration was held for her on
July 5 when all who were able to be present gathered at her home and spent
the day. She is decidedly Conservative
in politics and is also an ardent Protestant. See also: Obituaries:
Sarah Schermerhorn |
SCOBELL FAMILY The Last of the
Family The Original Family
isNow Extinct The Last Member Was
Buried on Sunday Nearly All of Them
Were Residents of Kingston A Disaster Over Half
a Century Ago - A Timely Sketch of an Old Line Daily British Whig
July 17 1894 The funeral of the late Mrs. Amelia Gould, relict of the
late Henry Smith Gould, of London, Eng., took place on Sunday afternoon from
the residence of her son, Joseph S. Gould, 123 Ordinance street. She had
reached the advanced age of eighty-two years and five months. She was the
youngest of a family of sixteen children born to Joseph Scobell, architect
and builder, of Colyton, Devon, England, and his wife, Mary Spurway. Nine of
this large family reached the age of maturity, the others died in their
childhood. Of those who grew up, the greater number were well-known residents
of this city. Taking them according to age, Joseph, the first-born,
followed the profession or calling of his father. He came to Kingston, some
time in the twenties. He erected the block of cut stone stores for the late
William Wilson, on the corner of Brock and Wellington street. He afterwards
removed to Montreal, and from thence to Quebec, where he died in 1856. The next son, William, also came to Canada in the early
part of this century. He was for a time a resident of Kingston; afterwards he
removed to Hamilton. In 1839 he paid a visit to his native land, and was on
his way back to Canada, his brother, John, and family being with him, but
they never reached Kingston; they were wrecked in the Gulf of St. Lawrence
and all perished. G. and M. Creighton, "News" office, are grandsons
of William Scobell. Next comes Richard. He was the pioneer of the family, and
came to Canada in 1818 and settled in Kingston. For fully half a century he
was one of Kingston's prominent men. He did business as a wharfinger, etc.,
in the premises at the foot of Brock street, now known as Folger's wharf. He
was also for many years government inspector of pork, potash, etc. His
cooperage for the manufacture of casks and barrels, was in a part of the
lower flat of the store house, about where the electric light company's works
now are. His residence and office was in the building now known as the Union
hotel. He passed away in 1862. His body was interred in Cataraqui cemetery. John, the next son, was a clock and watch maker. He was
doing business in his native town, but was persuaded by his brother William,
then home on a visit, to leave it, so with a large family of children, and
some of his sister Mary's, he started in 1839 with his brother William for
Canada, but as before stated, they all met a watery grave. The next son, Thomas, a baker by trade, came out to Canada.
He resided in Kingston for a short time, then returned to London, Eng. and
died. Next in order was a daughter, Mary, who was married to
Charles Hawkins, of Colyton. She died many years ago in London, Eng. Next in seniority comes Betsy Nott, wife of the late Samuel
Phippen. She came to Kingston with her husband in 1831. In the month of April
of last year, Mrs. Phippen was called to join her husband, who had preceded
her a few short years before to the shadow land. She had reached the age of
eighty-four years and ten months. Her brother Sidney, was her junior by about two years. He
was, so to speak, a life-long resident of Kingston, and for so many years did
business as a contractor and builder, being a prominent man in his line. He
and the late Richard Tossell erected the court house - still standing - and
which for so many years had the reputation of being the best court house in
Ontario. He passed away in 1872. Cataraqui cemetery received his body when
laid away to rest. And now, the youngest, the last born of Joseph Scobell's
children, has passed away in the person of Mrs. Gould. They have all gone
where the eye of human reason cannot penetrate, except by faith. Just
twenty-five years ago she and her son arrived in Kingston. She wished to meet
again two daughters as well as her other relatives who had so many years
before preceded her on the journey across the Atlantic. Her illness was long
and painful, but loving hearts and hands ministered to her wants. At last her
end came, and that end was peace. The funeral services were conducted by the
Rev. Richard Whiting. A large number of relatives and friends attended the
funeral. |
JOHN O. SEXSMITH Is a Sterling
Pioneer A Sketch of One of
Lennox County's Residents He Did His Duty Well
in Making the Community He Lived in One of the Best in the County He Took the Oath of Allegiance
Three Times Daily British Whig
Nov 30 1896 John O. Sexsmith, J.P., one of the oldest residents of
Richmond township, is nearing the eightieth mile-stone of an industrious and
useful life. He was born in Delaware county, New York state, on the 14th
April, 1817, but his parents moved to Canada in 1821, when he was but five
years of age, and they settled in Richmond, then an all but unbroken
wilderness, and he has resided on the same farm ever since. He has lived to
see that unbroken wilderness one of the wealthiest and best cultivated
sections of all Canada, and he has done well his share in making the locality
what it is. George Sexsmith, the father of John O.S. came to New York
with his parents when a young man and married there, we believe. He moved to
Upper Canada and became one of its hardy and respected pioneers. He died many
years ago, and was buried in the old burial place on the Carscallen farm, a
couple of miles down the Napanee river, where numbers of the well-known early
settlers found their last resting place. His wife attained the ripe old age
of ninety-three years. She died over forty years ago and was buried in the
old "Vandebogart burial ground", now a part of the Napanee
cemetery, where her monument now stands. They reared several children who
became well-known citizens but the subject of this sketch is now the last
surviving member. Mr. Sexsmith, though a British subject by birth, as has
already been intimated, long ago became one legally, and that without doubt;
for he has three times taken the oath of allegiance to the British crown.
When a young man he took the oath before casting his first parliamentary
vote. Then again, in the troublesome times in connection with the Mackenzie
rebellion of 1837, many well-known reformers, who had supported Marshall
Bidwell and his friends in this couanty, found it judicious to take the oath
again, though there was no tincture of disloyalty about them. Over forty
years ago he was appointed a justice of the peace, on the recommmendation of
David Roblin, who then represented Lennox and Addington in parliament, and
for the third time he took the oath. Mr. Sexsmith has been all his life time a farmer and a good
type of the intelligent yoemanry of which our old county is so justly proud.
By his own industry and good business habits he provided amply for this
family and a competence for his old age. He had only the advantage of a
country school education, but by his own reading and study he has become one
of the best genereally read and informed men among the farmers of this
country. For years he was superintendent of schools for his own township and
performed those duties well. Mr. Sexsmith has been from his boyhood an active and
prominent member of the Methodist church. For fifty years or more he has been
a well known local preacher in that church. In the early days in this county
when ministers and churches were few, he did much valuable and gratuitous
service in that capacity. Then the Napanee circuit extended from Casey's
point on the bay to beyond Switzer's church, and north and west to the rear
of the county and some miles into Hastings. In all that section, including
Napanee, Newburgh, Deseronto, Selby, Roblin, Forest Mills and Kingsford,
there was but one church - at Switzer's. His health still remains good; though not so physically
strong as years ago; his mind is still as active and his memory as good. He was married over half a century ago to Miss Eliza
Robinson, also a resident of Richmond, who is still a help-meet indeed to him
and is also still active in body and mind. They have had four children, all
of whom are still living. These are Mrs. J. S. Hullet, of Napanee, Mrs. Ira
Hudgins, of Selby, George A., of Sheffield, near Erinsville, and David R.,
who resides on the homestead with his father. |
MRS. ERASTUS B.
SILLS (nee Mary B. Hawley) Recalls Life in
Early Days of Napanee Active
Despite Nearing of 86th Birthday Kingston Whig Standard Mar 18 1937 Napanee, March 18 – The Whig Standard
had the pleasure on Wednesday of having an interview with one of the oldest
residents of this community in the person of Mrs. Erastus R. Sills, who if
spared will on July 12 observe her 86th birthday. Although Mrs.
Sills has passed the four score and five years, she is as smart as the
majority of people from 20 to 30 years younger and one would not take her to
be over 60 years of age. Her hearing is good and she informed the Whig
Standard that during the past winter she has attended to her household duties
every day while at home. Mrs. Sills is the possessor of a
keen memory and interesting details of the early history of Napanee were told
your correspondent. She has in her possession a copy of the Napanee Standard
of 1881, a copy of the Napanee Express edited by the late John Pollard of
1891 date, a Christmas copy of the Napanee Express of 1889 which was then
edited by the late John Drewery and a copy of the Napanee Beaver of 1886. She
has been a life-long reader of the Kingston paper as has her two sons W.B.
Sills and Garfield Sills. Asked if she would like to see
the old days return, Mrs. Sills replied; “I think I would, although I like
the modern times with the radio, the telephone, the electric lights and the
cars.” Mrs. Sills remarked that the modern days concentrate mostly on style
which was practically unknown in the early days. This remarkable lady was born
near Reidville in the year 1851 and is the eldest of a family of eight, four
of whom have passed away. During the past two weeks, Mrs. Sills has suffered
bereavement on two occasions, her sister, Mrs. thomas French passing away at
Bancroft and a brother, Mahlan Hawley, passing away at Marlbank a few days
ago. The remaining member of the family are Sanford Hawley, Jeptha Hawley,
John Wesley Hawley and the subject of this sketch. Married in 1872 On September 10, 1872, the
marriage was solemnized of Erastus R. Sills and Mary B. Hawley and after
their wedding trip they returned to the farm of the groom where they resided
for a long period of years. The farm on which they resided was the farm where
Mr. Sills was born, which is in the Township of Richmond, north of Napanee.
Retiring from the active duties of the farm, Mr. and Mrs. Sills came to
Npaanee and purchased a lovely home on Thomas Street. Mr. Sills passed away
in Napanee on November 26th, 1929. The entire life of Mrs. Sills has
been interwoven with Grace United Church and weather permitting, she is a
regular attendant at the morning services as well as at the session of the
Sunday School. Mrs. Sills worshipped in the old frame church, which preceded
the present brick church which was dedicated in the year 1873. The minister
at the time the frame church was torn down was Rev. George Stone, who was the
first minster of the newly named Western Methodist which name was changed to
Grace United Church several years ago. Husband Was Steward Mrs. Sills’ husband was steward
in the old frame church, having been elected in the place of the then William
Gibbard who moved to Belleville. Mr. Sills was steward for one year in the
old frame church and while it was being torn down to make way for the new
church, the services were held in the town hall. A portion of the home owned
by Miss Katherine Sharp is made up of material from the old parsonage. Mr.
Sills remained a member of the official board when the new church was erected
and continued as an official until his death. Many years ago, Mr. Sills and
his two sons, also members of the board, assisted in a communion service. In the early days, it was the
duty of Mr. Sills to collect money and vegetables for the minister, whose
salary was considerably lower than that paid today. Mrs. Sills has worked in
every department of the church, including the Missionary Society, the Ladies
Aid Society and the Sunday School and is very proud of the fact that she has
a life membership in the Woman’s Missionary Society. She and Mrs. Irvine
VanAlstyne are the two oldest members of Grace United Church. Mrs. Sills remarked that the membership
in the various societies in the early days was not as large as today, also
that the givings were smaller, although the members did their best. She also
stated that she was one of the canvassers for the supper which was held at
the time of the dedication in the year 1873. Her choice of ministers in the
early days was the late Rev. Dr. J.P. Wilson who was twice minister of the
church. The late Rev. D.O. Crossley was also one of her favorite ministers. Conditions Change Mrs. Sills said that farming conditions
in the early days were much different than today inasmuch as there was not
the machinery as there is today. Regarding the prices of farm produce, etc.,
in the early days she said that on many occasions she sold eggs for 8c a
dozen and also sold a good plump fowl for 25c and sometimes 2 for 25c. Other than mild attacks of the
grippe or flu, Mrs. Sills has never had a serious illness and her health at
the present time is exceptional. She has a family of four living,
W.B. Sills of Napanee, Aylsworth Sills of Toronto, Garfield Sills of Richmond
Township, who resides on the old homestead and Mrs. W.A. Balance of
Strathcona. Two daughters, Mrs. John Funnell and Mrs. Bert Davis of Oshawa
have passed away. |
OBADIAH SIMPSON Leader Post Regina June 3 1933 Pioneer Blood Flows In Veins of
Regina Woman – Mrs. T.A. Anderson Great-Grand-Daughter of First Settler Near
Brighton, Ontario A great granddaughter of Obadiah
Simpson, the first settler in Cramahe township, Bay of Quinte district,
Ontario, is Mrs. T.A. Anderson of Regina. A few days ago a cairn was
unveiled at Presquille Point on Lake Ontario, near Brighton, to mark the spot
where Obadiah Simpson first settled in the wilderness in 1796. Obadiah Simpson was the son of a North
Carolina planter who stood by the British king in the days of the American
revolutionary war. His wife was Mary Lord, daughter of a member of a firm of
New York merchants, whose name comes down ot the present through the New York
firm of Lord and Taylor. In the summer of 1783 the family had to leave New
York, and sailed with the British fleet, settling later in Antigonish county,
Nova Scotia. Here Obadiah Simpson learned to be a ship’s carpenter. Later, he
returned with his family to West Chester, N.Y., but in 1792 was forced to
vacate the country. He built a boat and sailed to Ontario, arriving at
Adolphustown but finding all the land taken. He remained in that neighborhood
until 1796, when he struck out with his eldest son, John, aged 12, an ox team
and one cow and followed the Bay of Quinte until he settled on lot four,
concession two, Cramahe township. Relatives remain on the farm to this day. The Courage of a Lad After building a small log house
and a shelter for the cattle, Obadiah walked back to Adolphustown on
snowshoes to bring out the family in the spring. In the meantime the
12-year-old lad remained alone in the wilderness cabin for six weeks, looking
after the cattle and doing other “chores,” during which time he did not see a
human being. The family arrived in April. The
wife and mother died in 1805 and Obadiah in 1809. They were buried in a sand
dune a few miles north of where the cairn was unveiled recently. A grandson of the first Obadiah Simpson, the
late F.W. Simpson, settled on the banks of the Red river, near Morris, Man.,
in 1887, North West Territories, near the present site of Stoughton. Mrs. T.A. Anderson of Regina is a
daughter of F.W. Simpson and was born on the old farm in Ontario, near where
the cairn has been erected. A large crowd attended the
unveiling of the stone cairn.
|
MRS. MARGARET SMITH
(nee Allen) Ninety-Nine Years
Old Mrs. Margaret Smith,
Collin’s Bay, Born on Oct. 18th,
1821 Weekly British Whig, Oct 18 1920 “If I am spared until Monday which
is Thanksgiving day, I will be ninety-nine years of age,” said Mrs. Margaret
Smith, widow of the late Darius Smith, to a Whig representative who called at
her home at Collins Bay on Friday afternoon. Mrs. Smith, who has almost
completed five score years, is indeed a remarkable woman. She is
exceptionally well and enjoys talking to her many friends who often drop in
to visit her. Were it not for the fact that her eyesight is somewhat failing,
she would still continue to read the daily papers. Even now, she is able to
read any article which has larger print than the newspaper. She is well
versed in what is going on, as her daughter, Mrs. Thomas VanLuven, with whom
she resides, reads to her. On Friday afternoon, the Whig man
found Mrs. Smith dozing in her arm chair on the verandah in front of her
home. After she wakened, with the assistance of her cane, she made her way
into the living room, where she told many interesting things which occurred
during her life time. Mrs. Smith is the widow of the
late Darius Smith, who was superintendent of light houses for many years. She
was born in the township of Ernesttown, Oct. 18th, 1821, being the
oldest daughter of the late Timothy Allen, who was a local preacher. The
Allen family consisted of seven boys and two girls, of whom Mrs. Smith is the
only surviving member. On July 11th, 1848, she was married by Rev.
C.R. Allison at Cataraqui. Her husband lived until 1880. She remained at her
home near Wilton until she was sixteen years of age and then left for the States
to complete her education for a school teacher. For seven years after
returning from the States, she taught school. Her first school was in the
fourth concession in the township of Ernesttown and her last school was on
the Highlands (near Westbrooke). It was very difficult for the
children to get to school. From childhood, Mrs. Smith was very fond of horses
and learned to ride so that she could travel to and from school on horseback.
It was all woods in those days and the trip to school was very hard. The
trustees in those days did not pay big salaries for school teachers, which is
shown in the fact that Mrs. Smith only obtained $5 a month for her services.
In her first school there were thirty scholars. When asked about where the
teachers boarded, she stated that the parents of the scholars were obliged to
board and lodge her. The teacher would stay with the farmers, who sent their
children to school, for the period of one week and then move on to another
home. Mrs. Smith stated that the Bells and the Harkers were among her
scholars. School opened at nine o’clock in the morning and closed at four,
the same as now. One of her schools was only a block house, but later a frame
school was built and later on a stone building was erected. There were no railroads in the
early days and the only way to get to Kingston was on a lumber waggon. Many
and many a time, Mrs. Smith rode to Kingston on a lumber waggon and when she
arrived in the city would find that her elbows were badly bruised as a result
of her passage. Since she was seventeen years of
age she has attended the Methodist church and Sunday school. When a child,
she used to jump on her horse and ride to the church services. In the early
days many people were too poor to contribute to the minister’s salary in
money and she can well remember her father who was a steward in the Methodist
church, going around to the farmers to collect produce, which was given to
the preacher to tide him over the winter. In the early days, Mrs. Smith
remembers the cooking of the meals in front of the big fireplace. It was a
common occurrence to roast a goose or bake bread in front of the big open
fire. Her family consists of three
daughters, Mrs. (Rev.) Ferguson, mother of Mrs. (Rev.) A.W. Stewart,
Harrowsmith; Mrs. T.F. VanLuven and Mrs. W.E. Grass, Collins Bay. All her
sons died. There are thirteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Mrs.
Smith voted when she was ninety-eight years of age. She remarked that the Whig had
been coming into her home all her life, and she would be very lonesome
without it. The Whig, as well as her many
friends, congratulated Mrs. Smith on attaining the age of ninety-nine and
hope that she will be spared to pass the century mark. |
MRS. MARY SMITH (nee
Leeman) A Century Passed A Lady Who Heartily
Enjoyed Her One Hundred and First Birthday Weekly British Whig
Oct 23, 1884 Old age is honorable, as the old proverb proclaims, and
Mrs. Smith of Ernesttown is having a full share of the honors she can safely
lay claim to. Though the committee of the recent Olde Folkes’ Concerte, in
its bulesque announcements declared that ladies five score years and over
should be admitted free, it would have been surprised had some one walked up
briskly and claimed the privilege. Yet the lady we speakof could have done it
and not have made herself ill over the exertion. She has very few
contemporaries in the race for longevily and it was, therefore, fitting that
her birthday, Monday last, should be the occasion of a large family reunion
and much congratulation. One of the WHIG staff became by invitation a caller upon the
centenarian at the residence of her son-in-law, W.H. Benjamin, near Odessa.
He found that a levee of the proportions of a Governor General’s was in progress
and the venerable recipient of the attention was both happy in the thought
that so many remembered her and grateful for being spared to enjoy her old
age so heartily. Fully forty of the family dined with her and it will be a
memorable day in their harmonious circle. THE LADY’S HISTORY Mary Smith is widow of the late D.C. Smith, who died
sixteen years ago at a ripe old age. She came from Schoharie county, New
York, with her father, Andrew Leeman, about 1812 and settled near Wilton.
Being United Empire Loyalists they found the republic a very warm country at
that time of international trouble and Canada was to them a land of refuge.
They settled at Collinsby for a while in the early days of their sojourn in
the province. Her father and mother were long-lived, living to be ninety and
eighty years respectively, and her sister, Mrs. Dewitt, died last year near
Wilton at the great age of 96 years. Mrs. Smith had nine children, of whom
some seven survive and there is a following of 40 grandchildren. Three of her
daughters married three brothers named Hartman and have survived them. They,
with Joseph Smith and widow Booth, and our hostess of Monday (Mrs. Benjamin),
brother and sisters, live in that section. Mrs. Horning, of Dresden, Ont., is
the only daughter away from the neighborhood of the family’s first
settlement. The youngest child, Mrs. Benjamin, is 52 years old. Thus, for
longevity, the family is remarkable. Andrew Leeman came over in company with
Elisha Lewis, Matthew Dice and J. Dewitt and their families and they early
became connected by marriage and have lived as a happy circle since. D.C.
Smith, husband of the centenarian, was engineer of the main road between
Kingston and Napanee and of many of the side roads. Later in life he was
Superintendent of Lighthouses, a post he relinquished to his late son, Darius
Smith, so well known and regarded by Kingstonians. Mrs. Smith is able to move rapidly about the house and to
eat heartily three or four meals a day, her digestion being remarkable, a
result of hardy pioneer life in her young days. Her hearing is not good, but
her daugthers are able to converse with her; while her eyesight enables her
yet to do a little sewing. She still “Keeps house” in her own room and makes
up the bed daily. She does not furnish a startling evidence of the ill
effects of tobacco, as she has been for years a votary of its pleasures. EARLY SCENES AND
INCIDENTS Mrs. Smith related to her visitors on Monday many incidents
attending her arrival in Canada. The refugees came over in sleighs with
horses and were nearly drowned in crossing the ice at Kingston. A foot path
traced out by blazed trees was the only route from Kingston to what is now
Odessa. The only house on this latter spot was Booth’s mill, to which the
settlers carried their grain on horseback, not knowing enough (as she
laughingly said) to divide the grain into two bags to balance it on the
horse’s back; they balanced it with a stone on one side. The next house to be
erected in Mill Creek, the first name for Odessa, or within a mile of it, was
Paul Somers’ tavern, and a few years later every other house on the road to
Kingston became a tavern, or “canteen” as then styled. It used to be said that if a man took care
to stop at every canteen on the road he might go to Kingston bareheaded and
barehanded without suffering. Mrs. Smith still bitterly denounces the
drunkenness of the old times. Booth’s mill was owned by a grandfather of
Phillip Booth, of Odessa. It was a regular custom to go to church on
horseback, and many a time Mr. and Mrs. Smith took their young family along,
sitting them in front and behind on the animals. IN A PORTSMOUTH
ROMANCE An uncle of Mrs. Smith figured, early in the days of
American independence. He came to Kingston on a visit to friends and in the bay
that now makes Portsmouth Harbor, saw with the Indians two white girls named
Rogers. One of them made known her desire to escape. They had been captured
in New York state by the savages, their four grandparents being murdered as
too old to take along. Families grouped in those days because of the danger
to life in detached settlements and their parents were both working in the
bush and knew nothing of the massacre and capture until they saw the flames
of their house and hurried home. The visitor secured the girl’s release by an
offering of presents and afterwards married her and lived very happily. Her
sister could not be persuaded at first to leave the Indians but finally
joined her sister in her home in N.Y. state. |
FRED SPENCER Lennox County
Blacksmith, , 92, Still Spry Called “Uncle Fred” Kingston Whig Standard Aug 30 1958 HAY BAY – Frederick Wilmot
Spencer, son of John Spencer and Cynthia Jane Hicks, celebrated his 92nd
birthday on Wednesday, August 27. He was the youngest of a family of eight,
six boys and two girls. His deceased brothers are George, Lorne, John, Sydney
and Henry, and deceased sisters, Cynthia and Irene.
Mr. Spencer resides with Mr. and
Mrs. Arthur Ruttan and family, on Deseronto road. Mr. Spencer is in excellent
health and has all his faculties, can read perfectly without glasses and can
recall incidents of his early childhood. He makes a practice of going to
Napanee on an average of two or three times a week where he enjoys visiting
with all his old and young friends, from the Hay Bay and surrounding
districts. Mr. Spencer is called “Uncle Fred” by many of the Hay Bay
residents and many of them speak of his kindness and patience with them when
children. Mr. Spencer was a blacksmith by
trade, having learned the trade from his father, the late John Spencer. He
enjoyed having the neighboring children visit him at his shop and many of
them can recall amusing incidents that happened in “Uncle Fred’s” little
shop. He was married to Charlotte McWain
and has been predeceased by his wife and two step-children, Arthur and Dora
(Mrs. William Spencer.) Mr. Spencer also farmed on the
north shore of Hay Bay. He sold his farm to the late John Sexsmith, then
drove a taxi in Deseronto for three years and since then has been boarding
for several years. Mrs. Richard Chalk, sr., and Mrs.
Arlie Davey are nieces. He has several great-nieces and nephews, all of whom
take a great interest in their aged uncle. He spent his birthday with his
nieces and relatives, at the home of Mrs. Arlie Davey, South Napanee. Mr. Spencer attended the Hay Bay
Methodist Church, where he sang in the choir. He can still sing the beautiful
hymns that he rendered so many years ago. Mr. Spencer has a wonderful memory
and can remember practically all the songs that were popular in his boyhood
days. He takes a keen interest in music and likes radio and television
programs. He amuses the children where he resides by showing them the step-dances that he used to do and there
are few of the present day who could excel him in this. It is nothing short
of a marvel for a man of his years to be so active and alert. He is a good coversationalist,
for while he can vividly remember all the events of the past, he keeps
himself attuned to the modern trend as well. When reminiscing he can recall
when the steam boats used to call on the south side of Hay Bay near the old
UEL church and load the grain, transported then by horse and lumber wagon.
There were also two docks on the north side of Hay Bay for the shipping of
grain. It is amusing to hear him tell about his experiences in trying to use
his mother’s spinning wheel at which he never seemed to have exactly
succeeded. To quote Mrs. Arthur Ruttan, with
whom he resides, “If one could be given the chance to live his number of
years and live it in such a manner – materially, as well as spiritually – the
declining years of life would be well worthwhile.” For Frederick Spencer,
many will wish many more years of health and happiness. |