[Welland Tribune January 25, 1947]
Rev, H,G, Marsh officiated at the marriage of Sally Joan Keenan, to Douglas Frank Mountain of Crystal Beach. The attendants were Colleen Mountain, sister of the groom, and Clarence Platt of Crystal Beach. Mr. and Mrs Mountain will live in Crystal Beach. The wedding took place in Knox Presbyterian Church, Fort Erie North.
Sectionman Killed
[People’s Press, 25 July 1905]
St. Catharines-July 20-Wm. Wiley, sectionman, in the employ of the G.T.R was killed on the track just west of the city this afternoon by a freight train. Wiley was at work on the track and it is supposed when the freight train came along he stood too close to the track and was struck by the engine. He was 68 yars of age, and leaves a wife, two sons and five daughters.
[People’s Press, 25 July 1905]
Many friends will learn with deep regret of the death of Matthias Martin of South Pelham, which occurred at his residence on Saturday evening. Although Mr. Martin had suffered a slight stroke some years ago, he had entirely recovred from it and was in good health, eating his supper when the summons came with startling suddenness in the shape of a stroke of apoplexy, rendering him unconscious, death ensuing three hours later.
Mr. Martin was born in Clinton township, but for the past thirty years had been a resident of Pelham, living on the farm on which he died.
A widow (daughter of late John Hipple of Clinton) survives, also one daughter and four sons, Viz: Sarah (Mrs. Fred Fisher jr.); William and John of Niagara Falls and Elmer and Edgar at home. The eldest daughter Valeria, predeceased her father.
Deceased was a quiet, useful, unobtrusive, conscientious member of the community, who enjoyed the respect and good will of all who knew him and the deep affection of those nearly related, who have the heartfelt sympathy of a wide circle of friends in their great and sudden bereavement.
The funeral will be held today (Tuesday); services at the house at 2 o’clock; interment at Fonthill cemetery, Rev. Mr. Clemens of Pelham Centre will conduct the services.
[People’s Press, 4 April 1905]
An accident occurred to one of our prominent citizens in the person of Charles Taylor, part owner of the famous stallion “Langton Swell,” on Friday morning last. Mr. Taylor saw his stallion needed exercise, but was not disposed to walk, so got into a cart and drove leading the stallion behind. All went well until the horse he was driving became frightened and jumped into the cart, knocking Mr. Taylor off with his fore feet. He lit on his side and was bruised considerably so as to lay him up, but fortunately no bones were broken. The stallion did not get away from him, as he hung onto him tightly, and the other horse stopped after running a mile. The cart was smashed considerably.
[People’s Press, 4 April 1905]
There occurred on Thursday, March 30th, the death of Leonard Misener at the advanced age of over 71 years. Deceased had not been in good health for many years and was seriously ill for about a week, heart trouble causing death. He was a retired farmer, formerly of Crowland, but had been a resident of this place (Fonthill) for a great many years. He was unmarried, a brother of Mrs. N.C. Damude of this place, and an adherent to the Methodist church. The funeral was held on Saturday and interment made in Fonthill cemetery.
[Written by Sharon Misener June 26, 2024]
In the 1960s many small farms dotted the lands of Ontario. “Ma and Pa operations” with 100-200 acres of land with 20-40 Holstein cows, sending milk to the local dairy.
As time went on the farmers retired and the farms were turned into hobby farms or swallowed up by the big farms of today.
I grew upon on a dairy farm in Fenwick, Ontario, was an only child. My maternal grandparents lived two miles down the road in Boyle.
A typical day on the farm, my dad was up at 7 a.m, went to the barn to milk the cows. He came into the house at 9a.m. to have breakfast. His favorite cereal was puffed wheat with a good strong perked coffee from A&P.
We had Holstein cows about 40 along with pigs, chickens and sheep. We sent milk to Sunnyside Dairy in Welland. Had a big bulk tank to keep the milk cool, a truck picked up the milk daily. My mother washed the milking machines, the milkhouse had to be clean.
After school I came home, and read the Hamilton Spectator Newspaper then made my way to the barn to feed the cows. They ate chop, silage and hay. I also fed the pigs and calves.
We came into the house and had supper that my mother had prepared. Usually meat, potatoes, vegetables and cake or cookies for dessert. After supper my dad went to the barn to milk the cows. He usually got back to the house about 9 p.m. Myself I played the piano and did homework, afterwhich I watched a bit of TV. 10P.M. was the usual bedtime.
My mother grew a big garden, had potatoes, usually enough to last the winter. Also planted tomatoes, onions, radish, cucumber, pumpkin, cabbage lettuce and peppers to name a few.
We also grew raspberries apples, pears, quince and she always canned 5 bushels of peaches each year. In the yard we had lilacs, rhubarb, and willow trees. My mother planted pink petunias, her favorite, also window boxes of colorful flowers.
We had a hammock in the yard, tables and chairs with flowers all around. Many older evergreen trees grew as well.
In many ways we were self-sufficient.We butchered a cow to have frozen and canned meat. My mother also froze and canned vegetables and fruits. Many weekends I would bake cookies and freeze them.
I went to a one-room school at Boyle, we had grades 1-6, with one teacher. For grades 7-8 I went to Wellandport and for high school Pelham High in Fenwick.
At Boyle we had one teacher who seemed to control the classroom.We had special events at Christmas. I played the piano. We had a concert and a play where the community could attend. Valentines Day we had special treats gave each other valentines. One year we brought our skates and skated on the neighbor’s pond.. There was a field day in Wellandport. We boarded a bus and participated in the field day events.
We had a little library, I remember reading all of the Nancy Drew books. We played marbles, skip rope, Simon says, and baseball.
During the summer I worked on the farm, drove the tractor for haying, baled hay and stooked it. I also sewed my mother shift dresses for summer and made clothes for myself.. I also mowed the grass all summer which took 3 hours to mow.
I had a dog names Petunia, she would fetch the cows from the field. I remember a time when the cows crossed the bridge over the Welland River and a cow decided to swim across the river, I held my breath.
I had a swing near the Boyle Road and watched the traffic on Hwy 57.I spent many hours contemplating life on the swing.
On a Sunday afternoon my dad might take a drive around the countryside. When I was 16 I got my drivers license.. The bridge was out between out farms so I had to drive bales of hay around the farms..
One year m dad gave me a calf—a Hereford, I called her Morticia. Then one day my dad sold her.I was so sad.
At the end of the summer my dad ask what I wanted, I said I wanted a typewriter. I had the typewriter for years and wrote many stories. One year my dad made me a bookcase, which I still have today.
Christmas on the farm was a special time. My dad would go to the bush and cut down a tree and my mother would put it in the livingroom and decorate it with lights and tinsel. I would help her decorate too. My parents never traded Christmas gifts. Myself I received three gifts, stiffed animals, clothes and dolls.
We would have my maternal grandparents for Christmas dinner. My mother made dark Christmas cake. She cooked and stuffed a turkey along with potatoes, vegetables and salad. Dessert was jello and whipped cream.
I wrote letters to Santa in Buffalo, NY, still have his photo. My mother sent many cards and received many in return.
[People’s Press, 12 September 1905]
There occurred on Sunday afternoon about three o’clock the death at his home on Beachin road of Elias F. Palmer, aged 79 years. Death was caused by gangrene, after an illness of five months. Mr. Palmer was a Liberal in politics and was councillor of Wainfleet for a term of four years, and at one time ran for reeve, but was defeated by a small majority. He was a descendent of Walter Palmer, who came out with the Pilgrims in the “Mayflower” and was the last living of eleven children. He has one son, Charles, of Wainfleet, and one daughter in Alabama. His wife predeceased him by a number of years. The funeral will be held today at one o’clock from his late residence on the Beachin road, thence to the Tunker church and thence to Willson’s burying ground, where interment will be made.
[Welland Tribune, 23 June 1905]
A quiet but happy social event was consummated at the home of William Trimble, Cameron Ave. Essex Centre, on June 1st, at 10 o’clock, when Mr.. Trimble’s sister-in-law, Miss Isabella F. Pettapiece, was united in marriage to John A. Abbott, operator at the M.C.R. station, formerly of Welland. The ceremony was performed by Rev. J.A. Rass, B.A., in the presence of few immediate relatives and intimate friends of the contracting parties.
The bride was attired in a travelling suit of brown silk and was unattended. The ceremony over, a dainty dejeuner was partaken of, and the newly-married couple left on the east bound noon-train on a wedding trip to Welland, Buffalo, New York and other points east.
The bride was a member of the public school staff for many years and is one of the most estimable young ladies in the community, while the groom has been connected with the M.C.R.R. at Essex for so many years that he is known by almost everybody and the young couple have the best wishes of a host of friends.
Mrs. Abbott was the recipient of a number of costly and appropriate presents.
[People’s Press, 23 May 1905]
Jacob Reuter was the victim of an extremely serious accident on Friday afternoon last while at work for Contractor Hogan. The drill Volcanic was being drawn up on the ways by capstans which were drawn by horses. Mr. Reuter was sitting on top of one of these capstans driving his team, when the bar broke and the short end attached to the capstan spun around striking his leg about half way between the knee and the ankle. The large bone of the leg was fractured in two places and the small bone in one place.
The injuries are serious and painful, but the limb will probably be saved.
[People’s Press, 23 May 1905]
Elizabeth Laura Daley of St. Catharines, who, with her mother, was stopping at Mrs. W.A. Gilmore’s died on Saturday, aged nine years, four months and seven days. Death resulted from an illness of meningitis of thirteen days’ duration. Mrs. Daley, her mother, is a sister of Mrs. Gilmore. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon, Rev. A.C. Mackintosh conducting the service. Interment was made in Overholt’s cemetery.
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