untitled

This was original post on this list. I called Woodstock Museum who put me in touch with a past member and got permission to post them on my website in 2001 when Judy was transcribing as someone told her that this could not be done because of copyrights. My original site was on Dreamwater for almost 2 years and I transferred to my personal site.

 

CAN-ONT-OXFORD-L Archives http://archiver.rootsweb.com From: "Judy Robinson"  jarz@hawk.igs.net To: <CAN-ONT-OXFORD-L@rootsweb.com> 

Subject: [[OXFORD]] More or not    Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2001 20:44:17 -0500

 

Winter continues and another book is at hand: The Axe and The Wheel; A history of West Oxford Township; Compiled

in 1974 by the West Oxford Women's Institute.
This was in the book:
I hereby certify that on the twentyth day of May in the year of our

Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty CHARLES BLUNK?{BLINK}of the township

of Oxford West in the District of Brock and ELIZABETH WILLSON of Oxford

North in the above district were married by me THOMAS FAWETT? Minister of

the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada in the presence of JAMES DUNDAS

and ROBERT BOLLERIGOLD?. Which marriage was solemnised by Banns.
Dated this 20th Day of May 1840 As witness my hand Thomas Fawett

[This is the one and only Marriage Transcription in the book but there is lots about the people and the villages of Beachville, Centreville,  Piper's

Corners, which don't exist any more; as wekk as Folden's, Sweaburg etc.] If interested let me know.

 

Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 11:09:23 -0500 Subject: [[OXFORD]] The Axe and The Wheel-

History of West Oxford

This area was first named "Oxford Upon the Thames" and included the townships of East Oxford and North Oxford. It is

believed that East Oxford was detached 1820-1822 and that North Oxford was detached in 1842 and the town of

Ingersoll on Jan. 1sth 1852. John Graves Simcoe issued aproclamation offering a township to those in the United States

who were U.E.L and who would come to Canada and provide 40 families to settle. Each permanent settler was to have

200 or more acres at 6 pence per acre. MAJOR INGERSOLL made application.

Accompanied by CHIEF BRANT of the Six Nations Indians of New York State and a group of hunters, he explored the

lands west of the Grand River and chose the section which later became East, West and North Oxford.

In 1793 a surveyor, AUGUSTUS JONES, partially surveyed that area. A grant of 66,000 acres of land was made to

MAJOR THOMAS INGERSOLL on condition that he build a 30 mile road from Burford to Ingersoll.{Later called the Old

Stage Road}. The opening of the road brought in many settlers, who settled mainly along the Broken Front and the 1st

and 2nd concessions of the township.

The surnames of known settlers before 1800 were:

BEACH, BRINK, BURTCH, BURDICK, CARROLL, CANFIELD, COOK, CRAWFORD, CHOATE, DICKSON, DODGE,

DYGERT, EDWARDS, HARRIS, INGERSOLL, KARN, MABEE, NICHOLS, SAGE, SCOTT and TOPPING.

 

"Oxford on the Thames" was considered the 1st settlement of the county and was the nucleus around which the entire

county was settled. A fire destroyed the township books on July 6, 1856 so there are few records from this time.

An old Treasurer's book starting in 1892 lists these interesting entries.

JAMES McINTYRE for six chairs for council $7.50

GEORGE CUTHBERT for burying horse found dead in the town line $1.00

J.W. BROWN for vaccinating children in several school scetions in West Oxford Township $75.00 Paid

JAMES WEST for digging a grave for an indigent $2.00 Paid

DR. WILLIAMS $15.00 for medical services Paid

JAMES McINTYRE $8.00 for coffin and shroud Paid

ALBERT PULLIN for repairing culvert and furnishing plank on Sweaburg Road $6.00 Paid

RICHARD MAYBERRY $3.00 for use of Harris Street Hall

At this time there were 4 commissioners, JOHN PROUSE, JOSEPH JARVIS, JAMES CUTHBERT and J.H. FORDEN.

Road overseers were C.E. GAMSBY, GEORGE NICHOLS, THOMAS POOLE, WILLIAM ARTHUR and ARTHUR

CLARKSON. Apparently each commissioner was responsible for certain section of road and paid out various amounts for

repairs and then was reimbursed by the Treasurer. The roads were maintainer by statute labour.

All farmers were requested to do a certain number of days road work. A man shovelling gravel counted as one day. A

team to haul gravel and dump it counted as 2 days.

One record in 1894 from the Shelton Gravel Pit{Dereham and West Oxford townline} shows that

GEORGE SHELTON SR. sold 14 cords of gravel for $5.60. {information from the then present MRS. GEORGE

SHELTON

{JOSIE}.

The largest gravel pits in the area were owned by JOHN CUTHBERT, JAMES CURRIE, J.R. ELLIOT, J.S. REYNOLDS,

GEORGE BRAGG, DR. CARROLL, JOHN WORET and A. WILLIAMSON.

Cattle were pastured on the road in early days. Stock lags or cow tags were sold by the township for $2.00 per cow.

 

 

 

Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 15:03:26 -0500 Subject: [[OXFORD]] the Axe and the Wheel

The chapters tend to flip around in time depending on the subject.

 

In 1942 GORDON WISEMAN was paid $3.50 an hour for plowing snow, also a grant was given to the Treasurer of

West Oxford cemetery board, MR. CLARENCE SCOTT to be kept as a trust fund.

 

January 1945 council consisted of CHARLES M.SWARTZ,reeve, Councillors F.C. SHELTON, J.G. MASSON, W.B.

BLANCHER and PERCY SAGE. Clerk treasurer was F.J. CURRY but CHARLES C. BRINK was elected deputy-clerk

and

treasurer because MR. CURRY was ill. In February L.B. CURRY was elected following the death of his uncle.

 

WEST OXFORD TOWNSHIP COUNCIL 1914-18

FRED CURRY, JAMES PULLIN,reeve, EDMOND MEEK, GEORGE WOY, B.G. JENVEY, clerk, and HENRY

MERRILL.

 

WEST OXFORD COUNCIL - 1965

ARCHIE LONGWORTH, L.B. CURRY, clerk, BRUCE AMOS, VERNON CUTHBERT,reeve,

CHARLES WILLIAMS, road superintendent, MAX FRANKLIN, and JACK HARGREAVES.

 

From 1850 to 1975, the Township of West Oxford had 9 Wardens:

JACOB TOPPING, 1st warden 1865 GORDON H. COOK 1875 THOMAS R. MAYBERRY 1888 GEORGE J. COOK

1912 JAMES PULLIN 1916 JAMES INNES 1925 ARLINGTON D. ROBINSON 1934 THOMAS F. PELLOW 1953 J.

VERNON CUTHBERT

 

[This is a long one: I would suggest using your FIND Feature as some families are mentioned more than once. ]

 

1967 REEVES:

BENJAMIN THORTON 1850, JOHN McDONALD 1851, CHARLES MASON 1852-1853, WALTER B. MABEE 1854,

THOMAS HOLCROFT 1855-1857, WRIGHT SUDWORTH 1858, HENRY F. MARTIN 1859-1860, JAMES HARRIS

1861-1862, SENNECA LEWIS 1863, JACOB TOPPING 1864-1866, WALTER B. MABEE 1867-1870, GORDON H.

COOK 1871-1875 and 1877-1879, NICHOLAS SMITH 1876 and 1880, THOMAS HISLOP 1881-1882, FREEMAN

KARN 1883-1885, THOMAS R. MAYBERRY 1886-1889, JOHN CUTHBERT 1890-1894 and 1903-1904, JOHN

PROUSE 1895-1896, JAMES S. CUTHBERT 1897-1898, DONALD GUTHRIE 1899-1900, FRANK FOLDEN 1907,

WILLIAM PULLIN 1908-1909, GEORGE J. COOK 1910-1911, JAMES PULLIN 1912-1917, WILLIAM LONGWORTH

1918-1920, JAMES BASTEDO 1921-1922, JAMES INNES 1923-1925, P.N. LANGFORD 1926, CHARLES BRINK

1927-1930,ARLINGTON D. ROBINSON 1931-1934, STANLEY ALLIN 1935-1936, WESLEY J. CUTHBERT 1937-

1940, BASIL WILSON 1941- 1942, CHARLES SWARTZ 1943- 1946, PERCY M. SAGE 1947-1948, THOMAS F.

PELLOW 1949-1953, JOHN R. HARGREAVES 1954-1957, WIBUR W. BUDD 1958-1960, GEORGE WALLACE 1961-

1963, ELMER KARN 1964-1965, J. VERNON CUTHBERT 1966- 1967, BRUCE AMOS 1968-1970, ARCHIE

LONGWORTH 1971-1972, GEORGE F.

JAKEMAN 1973-1974. CLERKS: JAMES BERRY 1856-1861, CHARLES MASON 1861-1886, W.G. FRANCIS 188-

1903, THOMAS R. MAYBERRY 1903 AND 1909, B.G. JENVEY 1909-1918, FRED W. CURRY 1918-1945, LESLIE B.

CURRY 1945-1975.

 

 

Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 18:05:12 -0500 Subject: [[OXFORD]] The Axe and The Wheel

 

From information provided by CAPTAIN T.F. WILLIAMS: Some of it is information written in letters by the CODY family.

This was his wife's family but he never mentions her name.

FRANKLIN CODY was born near here in 1826. This was Capt. Williams daughter's; ALENA WILLIAMS {FINES}; great-

grandfather. He had a son that left home in 1867 and moved to Northern Michigan, name not mentioned. MR. CODY

was

always referred to as Pa. MR, CODY had acquired considerable land through his logging business, which he then

converted to farmland. He had 6 sons and 2 daughters. On Saturday April 10, 1869,between 8 and 9 am, an earthquake

hit the area. A young boy named WILLIE LOUNSBURY died as a result of being hit in the head with a rock at a

barnraising. Mr. CODY had a son who became a Doctor, lived in Detroit and died in middle age. Mr. Cody was and Elder

in the Church and Councillor and a Deputy Reeve. ALFRED {ALF} CODY was one of FRANKLIN CODY'S sons.

ROBERT DOWL was the Worthy Chief of the Masons. CHARLES G. CODY was secretary. The Sweaburg Postmaster

was ARVEY FLOOD from 1868 at least. There was a J. FLOOD living in Sweaburg in 1861. The village was once

known as Floodtown.

NEWS: June 5, 1869,

THOMPSON was hauled up for selling liquor on Sunday and fined $20 and costs. As soon as the fine was paid he was

hauled up again for it the next Sunday. His trial is to be next Wednesday. April 19 1869,

MR. PIPERS has sold their place and are going to Iowa next Tuesday. We will miss them very much.

June 5, 1869,

KATE COMSTOCK'S husband was hauled up for setting out cabbage plants on Sunday. He set out 18 plants and was

fined $8.50.

April 24, 1871, There is to be a great sale in the Burg on Wed. April 26.

J.R. BASTEDO sells his sawmill, house and lot, all of his property in the Burg{Sweaburg}.

June 5, 1869,

ALFRED CODY writes: A heavy frost last night. Nobody is getting married now; they did it last winter when it was really

cold.

Jan 8, 1877,

WALTER CODY will be teaching at Newark as from this date at a salary of $400 a year. {At one time or another three of

the Cody brothers and both sisters taught school at each of the schools here and at Foldens. They attended high

schools in Ingersoll, London and Woodstock and Albert College in Belleville.}

ALFRED CODY will be marrying MARY ANN CARR on May 19, 1875. July 10, 1875,

Good hard timbered land is selling at $60 to $100 an acre.

There was a Cheese factory at Sweaburg on the JAMES PULLIN farm and another at Foldens.

When we were building a new barn here at Sweaburg I

{Capt. Williams} remember STEVE HOUGHTON starting to break a huge rock with his sledge.

T.R. MAYBERRY of Foldens was the Colonel of the Gray Horse Calvalry Unit.

My {Capt. Williams} Uncle STEVE HOUGHTON, built many of the foundations for the barns in the area.

There was a Threshing outfit owned by CHARLES HUGHES, he was assisted by JAMES GROVES.

They would do custom work throughout the district.

At the farm of GEORGE SHELTON in 1909 these men were there to help with the threshing.

EMERSON MANZER, JAMES GROVES, ROY PHILLIPS, CHARLES HUGHES, ED BRIGGS, GEORGE SHELTON

with his son JACK, and GEORGE MANZER.

 

Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001 09:55:48 -0500 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

BEACHVILLE:

The village of Beachville, rambling for two and a half miles along the banks of the River Thames, and situated on

Highway 2 between Ingersoll and Woodstock. Beachville was settled early, partly because of the huge grant of land to

THOMAS INGERSOLL; also, because it was an ideal location as the soil was extremely fertile, the river could be forded

and there was ample water power for mills. By 1791, Beachville, named after a MR. BEACH who owned the only grist mill

between the head of Lake Ont. and Detroit, had sufficient residents to apply for postal service. JOHN CARROLL, known

to be the first white settler in the area, is believed to have purchased his land from the Indians and after proving his clain,

returned to New Jersey for his family. Upon his return he located on lots 23 and 24 on North Oxford, overlooking the

future village of Beachville. In February, 1793, Governor Simcoe reached Beachville and selected a site 5 miles east of

the village where a fort and settlement was to be established to be known as Oxford{Woodstock}. Beachville settlers

were furious when it became known that 66,000 acres had been granted to THOMAS INGERSOLL; his grant was

revoked by

the succeeding Governor in 1799 and he left the district. In 1818 JAMES INGERSOLL returned to cultivate his father's

farm and soon after his brother CHARLES arrived. Both men were instrumental in developing the area. After the War of

1812 the village of Beachville began to grow phenomenally. In 1819 JAMES FULLER'S blacksmith shop stood on the

river bank on thw SW side of the road. In 1821 elections were held for Upper Canada at MARTIN'S Tavern and

THOMAS HORNER was elected. Beachville was established as an official Post Office in 1836 and W. MERIGOLD

served as postmaster.

During the rebellion of 1837, GEORGE NICHOLS home was burned. One local rebel, CORNELIUS CUNNINGHAM, a

wagon maker of Beachville, was captured and hanged in London in 1839. The Great Western Railway was opened btw.

London and Hamilton in 1853 and 3 railroads were built through the village. Beachville station became the shipping

point for the Embro district. However the river flats at the Beachville station were not large enough to accommodate

extensive shipping yards and this gave the impetus for Woodstock to be developed. In 1838 a plot for a chapel and

burial ground was purchased from R. MARTIN on Church St. This chapel, erected by Father BURKE was in use until

1876 and

later was destroyed by fire. In 1804 REV. NATHAN BANGS, held a congregational meeting, when the 1st church was

organized in the Beachville area. Around 1806 a "Meeting Place" was constructed on lot 7, B.F. Conc. where the Karn

Burial Ground was established. The 1st Presbyterian Church was a small frame building standing just west of

MR. CHARLES LILLYWHITE'S home. REV. ROBERT WALLACE was the 1st minister. The methodists worshipped in

the school, Baptist Church and an unused woolen mill near the home of CHARLES BUCHANAN. THE 1927

BEACHVILLE ORIOLES {Girls baseball team} EDITH BAIN, ANNIE JANES, MARGARET BAIN, VERNA TOWNSEND,

JESSIE MOGGACH,catcher, MARY MOGGACH, pitcher, GLADYS OLIVER, LAURETTA OLIVER, WINNIE TURNER

BEACHVILLE METHODIST CHURCH BIBLE CLASS 1915 World War 1 DON GRAHAM, TOMMY FIELDS[killed in

action], WALTER KNOTT, FRED FAIRBANKS, ARTHUR CRAWFORD[missing], FRED CRAWFORD, RUSSELL

CRAWFORD, ALBERT REEVES, EDWARD THORNTON, REV. KAYS, MR. COLLIER, ERNIE LOWES, FRED

KNOTT, ALVIN SWARTZ, BILL BREMNER. QUARTERLY BOARD, BEACHVILLE CIRCUIT at the home of FRED

BRINK when Folden's Methodist Church was built in 1911. REV. MR. C.D. DRAPER, FRED BRINK, MRS. A.J. BUDD,

REUBIN NANCEKIVELL, CHARLES BUDD, WESLEY OSMOND, GEORGE FAIRBANKS, HEMAN THORNTON,

FRANKLIN FOLDEN, MRS. FRED BRINK, MR. and MRS. JOE BARNETT, GIFFORD POOLE, GEORGE SHELTON,

MARY

OSMOND, MRS. G. POOLE, MRS. CHARLES BUDD, MRS. GEORGE SHELTON, MRS. FRED SERVICE AND FRED

SERVICE. CHOIR AT UNITED CHURCH, BEACHVILLE no date J. DAVIDSON, B. LAMBOURNE, HAROLD

FAIRBANKS, JAMES COLLIER, ED THORNTON, MRS. A SUTHERLAND, MARION FISH, MARY BREMNER, MAMIE

WESTON, HERB BREMNER, JOSIE COOK, HELEN RAYMER, MRS. J. DAVIDSON, MRS. JAMES COLLIER,

MARGARET THORNTON, LOTTIE BOWIE, EVELYN DOWNEY, RACHEL PULLEN, MARGUERITE DICKIE, MRS.

GEORGE COLLIER, STELLA CAMPBELL, JESSIE BREMNER, MRS. G. RAYMER AND DONNA [I am going to

assume RAYMER]. BEACHVILLE GRIST MILL 1831-1971 Some of the early owners were-DAVID LEWIS FORD,

WILLIAM HOOK SR., BENJAMIN THORNTON who built the main part, MR. ARCHIBALD, MR. MORGAN, MR BAIRD,

CHARLES GIBSON and WALTER WINLAW. In August 1971 this historic old mill was purchased by DONALD LAMB.

more on Beachville later

 

 

Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001 14:33:41 -0500 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

The Limestone Quarries:

Very early settlers discovered the limestones usefulness in building their homes and buildings.

In 1838, MR. JOHN DOWNING, a Quarryman, emigrated from Clovelly, Devonshire, England, and recognized the great

potential if this immense lime deposit. He formed the Beachville White Lime Co. His grandson, CHARLES carried on the

business until 1929. A CAPTAIN GRAHAM recorded in 1833 that lime was burned at his property {east of Beachville

toward Woodstock} for CAPTAIN DREW'S Anglican Church, "Old St. Paul's". The COLE and HACKER Grey Limestone

Co. operated east of Beachville from the 1870's till the end of the century. MODERN CONVENIENCES:

In 1864 the first coal oil lamp was demonstrated in JOHN BUCHANAN'S tin shop.

In 1883 the first telephone poles were erected through the village.

Though electricity was available in 1895, it was not until 1912 that hydro was installed throughout the village.

On June 25th, 1912 the Board of Trustees of Beachville celebrated the inauguration of Hydro-Electric power by having

an exhibition of electrical apparatus and gadgets in the driveshed of the Methodist Church. MR. ADAM BECK made a

speech and then the street lights were lighted for the first time

The "Volunteer" Bible Class for Men in Beachville was orgainzed in May 1909, with E.

DAMUDE as teacher; JOHN HACKER, President and E. KARRAN, Secretary. When Mr. DAMUDE left in July, REV.

C.D. DRAPER became the teacher.

Another Long List of Names:

ERNEST BARTON, ALBERT FINDLAY, LYNN ZUFELT, DRURY BRINK, ALBERT ELLIOT, WILL BRINK, AMOS

REEVES, NEWELL FORDEN, MORTON GERRIE,FRANK ELLIOT, ARDWIN BRINK, ED MAJOR, FRED BRINK,

CHARLES WESTON, ALBERT SWARTZ, HARRY ZUFELT, HARLEY BARTON, TOM NIXON, THOMAS

McCLELLAND, GEORGE CRAWFORD, TOM BAIRD, JOHN HACKER, GLEN PATERSON, SIMEON SWARTZ, REV.

C.D. DRAPER,

ERNEST SANDICK, LOUIS SANDICK, GEORGE COLLIER, ALBERT SUTHERLAND, ED. McCLELLAND, HENRY

FORDEN, GORDON DICKSON, JOHN PYATT, DANIEL DUNDASS, ANDREW CRAWFORD, MR. MAJOR,

JAMES DICKIE, THOMAS SHARP, JAMES GRAY, GEORGE CLIFTON.

 

SCHOOLS: The earliest one seems to have been a log school, located on Lot 13, Conc. 1, West Oxford.

The 1st Union School , built in 1886, was located on the south side of Highway 2, on land given by MR. BEN

THORNTON.

Some of the teachers who taught in the latter half of the 19th century were: MR. SMITH{Long-legged Smith}, MISS

ELIZABETH GILBERT, MISS CANFIELD, MR. ORLANDO WHITE was teacher in 1890, MR. TOPPING, MR.

STEWART CANFIELD and MR. ARCHIBALD. MR. B. A. FINCH was principal of the 4 room school house at Beachville

for 37 years. MR FINCH was also superintendant of the Baptist Sunday school and Secretary-Treasurer of the Beachville

Hydro-Electric Commission.

NEILSON'S CREAMERY:

In 1914 MEILSON"S Creamery was built just east of the school along the C.P.R. Railway, taking over the business from

MR. IRELAND'S Butter Factory which had been located on Queen st. This butter factory had once been owned by a

MR. HUNSLEY.

News: The flood of 1937 was a disaster in the Beachville area. Considerable damage to many premises, tearing

down one house, ruining machinery at the quarries and derailing the C.N.R. train. An Ingersoll Doctor was drown trying to

reach the scene of the derailing and several others became victims of the flood. It was decided to construct a new river

channel between Beachville and Ingersoll. This was completed in 1949. The rivers beauty was considerably diminshed.

The local Legion was built on property purchased from JOHN LOWES, which was formerly the home of MRS. NELLIS

[MRS. POOK'S mother]. End of Beachville

 

 

 

 

Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 15:20:52 -0400  Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel Content

 

The Woodstock-Thames Valley and Ingersoll Railway Company In 1900 an Electric railway line bean operating between

Beachville and Woodstock. This was promoted by Misters ICKES and ARMSTRONG. The first car was called the

ESTELLE believed to be named for DOCTOR ICKES daughter. Mr. IRA WARFIELD came from Pennsylvania to be the

superintendent of this Railway. The last run was made in 1925.

 

CENTREVILLE:

Was part of the original 66,500 acres of land granted to THOMAS INGERSOLL and in the 1790's was already occupied

by squatters.

In 1824 a fanning mill factory was built by MR. ASHELBY.

The HOLLYLOCK family ran the General Store.

About 1805, MR. JAMES BURDICK built a sawmill on Lot15, Concession 1, on the Old Stage Road. It was sold to

ANDREW WESTBROOK in 1810, who operated it for a couple of years before leaving for the States. He returned

during the War of 1812 with a band of soldiers and burned the mill and other buildings including the home of GEORGE  

NICHOLS, the owner of lots 15 and 16 and a British Scout.

The home of MR. NICHOLS{united empire loyalist} was erected in 1805 for his bride. The home that was built to replace

it is now (late 1970's) owned by MR. and MRS. MAX HEENEY.

The early millstones of fine Scotch granite stood at the entrance of the historic Nichols home until the 1940 when they

were removed by MRS. GORDON {MARGARET WISEMAN, of Sweaburg, following the death of her father, MR. JACK

U. NICHOLS, the great-grandson of GEORGE NICHOLS. Couch's pond, 11/2 miles from the Nichols home was used by

MR. AMBROSE FRENCH as a boating and skating area and was called Oxford Park.

From 1918 to 1928 MR. JACK NICHOLS generated his own electric power from a dynamo he installed. The

WILLIAMSON Mill was erected about 1880 by ROBERT

WILLIAMSON, a settler from England. His son ASHTON and his grandson FRED WILLIAMSON did not like milling. Later

CARL MILLARD, an enterprising young farmer, later a pilot for Air Canada and operator of his own airline, operated the

grist mill with ARTHUR BUDD. In 1951 the building was bought by MELBOURNE CUTHBERT.

 

CENTEVILLE HOCKEY CLUB 1947-1948

RAY CONNOR, coach; AUBREY HUNTLEY, sec-treas; CECIL CONNOR; RAY VOIGT,alt; JACK BARKER,r. defence;

HARRY CONNOR, manager; JOE HUNTLEY, stick boy: ROBERT CONNOR,l wing; JIM BARKER, r wing; ROY

FRANKLIN, MERVYN CONNOR, MAX FRANKLIN,alt: MAC FURTNEY, l defence; KEN CONNOR, alt; LEO CONNOR,

goalkeeper; RALPH CONNOR, centre; WILFRED CROWN, alt.

 

Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 13:07:19 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel Content

 

Centreville Schools

The 1st was a log school on the north part of Lot 13, Conc 1, on the property of WILLARD SAGE. Public meetings were

held here until 1830.

In Dec 1817, a meeting was held at the request of ROBERT GOURLAY, to answer questions of settlers. PETER

TEEPLE, Justice of the Peace presided over this meeting.

In July 1827, a Sunday School was started in another small school across from the West Oxford Church, by WILLARD

SCOTT. LYDIA PIPER memorized the highest # of bible verses.

Other pupils' were GALLOWAY, JANES, SAGES and WOOD. MR.RUFUS FOSTER was an early teacher.

Trustees were WILLARD SAGE, WILIAM REYNOLDS and HENRY CARROLL. Pupils were LOUISA CARROLL,

JUSTUS REYNOLDS, ABIGAIL FOSTER, WILLIAM GALLOWAY, ZACHARIAH and JAMES SAGE, HORACE

FOSTER, 4 McCARTNEYS, LYDIA PIPER, FANNY NICHOLS, PHOEBE and DANIEL CURTIS, FRED and AVERY

SCRANLLING, EBENEZER GALLOWAY, ENOCH and MARY SAGE.

A school was built on Lot 15, B.F. Concession. Land for the 1st school was acquired from MR. and MRS. DAVID DOTY

in 1843, and for a second school at the same location from ROBERT WILLIAMSON in 1878.

A MISS PATTERSON was the 1st teacher in the 2nd school.

Trustees at the time were; THOMAS HEENEY, ROBERT WILLIAMSON, JOHN NICHOLS, ARCH. PARK and JAMES

NICHOLS. COZA SKUSE, whose father farmed Lot 13, con 1, was a pupil in the 1890's and later taught there from

1901-1904. MR. LEONARD CAFFYN taught in the school in 1935.

Teachers were: MISS WAITE, a relative of ELISHA HALL, taught in 1864-65; MISS MAGGIE ROSS, later MRS. HALL,

taught from 1866-69; and her borther JOHN ROSS, substituted. MISS M. McMULKIN, MISS GERTIE SMITH,

MISS ALBERTA McCONNELL, MISS H. DYKE and MISS HELEN ALEXANDER taught in the old school. MISS

PATTERSON, MISS ELIZA McKELLAR, MISS HELEN CHOATE, MISS HOCKEY and MISS ARCHIBALD were

teachers in the 2nd school, prior to 1900.

CENTREVILLE SCHOOL- CLASS OF 1905

MISS ROSS, teacher; MYRTLE JENVEY, VERA UREN, NORA UREN, SADIE BAILEY, GLADYS UREN, FLO

CHATTERSON, WINNIE JENVEY, JOE BLANCHER, JOHN MINIER, BEVERLEY BLANCHER, GEORGE CURRIE,

FRED WILLIAMSON, FRED LAZENBY, WILL BAILEY, WILL LAZENBY, CLARENCE CUTHBERT, EMERSON TITUS,

EARL JENEY, JESSIE CHATTERSON, MAGGIE CHATTERSON, PHOEBE BLANCHER, MAY MINIER, ELMER

HEENEY and SAM TITUS.

From 1890 to 1094 MR JAMES CURRIE was secretary of the school board, MISSES AGNES CURRIE, DELLA NIGH,

LENA FEATHERSTONE, ROBINA HEENEY, COZA SKUSE and RUBY COBBAN were teachers.

After 1905, MISS ROSS, MISS DUNDASS, MISS CODY, MISS CANNY, MISS LOUCKS, MISS WHITMORE, MR

HARE, MISS COLDWELL, MRS JOHNSTON, MISS MacDONALD and MR. C. DUNN. CENTREVILLE SCHOOL-1926

VIOLA FRANKLIN, CECIL NADALIN, VERA JENVEY, MARJORIE LASENBY, STELLA CONNOR, TINA STATES,

CECIL CONNOR, EDNA BERDAN, JOHN NEILSON, DOROTHY MORRIS, MARTHA BERDAN, IVA BIDDLE,

RAYMOND CONNOR, JOHN NADALIN, RITA NICHOLS, HARRY FELLOWS, HELEN NICHOLS, MARGARET

NICHOLS, HOWARD JOHNSTON, JACK MORRIS, JACK KIMBERLY, GORDON STATES

and MARIAN JENVEY

There is a picture of people at the NICHOLS [mentioned yesterday]. A hunting party: SAM TITUS, GAIL GERMAN,

MABEL CLARK, JACK NICHOLS, SPURGEON POOLE, FRANK ELLIOTT, GEORGE NICHOLS, GERTIE

NICHOLS, ?? SMITH, BILL BULL, ALMOND ALMOS, ASHTON WILLIAMSON, CHARLES ALMAS, ROY GALLOWAY

and HARRY SAGE.

 

[Next will be PIPERS CORNERS: ]

 

Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 12:10:20 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

PIPER'S CORNERS:

JOEL PIPER, a United Empire Loyalist from Massachusetts, came with THOMAS INGERSOLL'S party of settlers to

OXFORD UPON THE THAMES in 1793. He settled on lot 12, Conc 2, one mile south of the Old Stage Road on the east

side of the North and South trail. The community which developed here was named after him. On Tremaine's map of

1857, there are PIPERS on three of the four corners.

The MABEE family occupied the southwest corner, Lot 13, Con 2, as they had ever since SIMON MABEE, a fellow

U.E.L. from Massachusetts, had arrived from Norfolk County, in the early 1800's.

The PIPERS were prominent citizens in the area to which they gave their name. JOEL, the pioneer, was an Ensign in the

Army in the War of 1812, an assessor for Oxford in 1813, and a Charter member of the King Hiram Lodge, Masonic

Order. He supported the Methodist Church, he served the West Oxford Chapel as a Trustee, and member of the

Cemetery Board, until his eldest son ISAAC, succeeded him on his death in 1858.

In 1867, his youngest son, JOSEPH was a member of a committee of the West Oxford Church. On the 1876 map, some

PIPERS are still landowners at the corners; but on the 1896 map the name has disappeared.

MR. SIMON MABEE played a vital role in the development of Piper's Corners. It was on the north east section of his

property that the 1st Baptist Church in Oxford was established, and the Piper's School was built. Towards the south end

of his farm, he constructed a dam and pond, and built a grist mill for the early farmers. The impressive stone house that

he erected with the date 1808 inscribed above the doorway is still standing, and is now {late 1970's} occupied by its

present owners, MR. and MRS. MURRAY BUDD.

 

THE PIPER'S CORNERS BAPTIST CHURCH:

Was the 1st Baptist church in Oxford County. In July 1808 PETER TEEPLE, SIMON MABEE, ZACHARIAH BURTCH,

DEBORAH SALES, ABIGAIL BURTCH and ELIZABETH SCOTT met at the home of PETER TEEPLE to come under

each other's watch-care.

In 1809 they organized the Church. Mettings were held in the homes of the members. In Feb. 1841, ELDER MABEE

offered 11/2 acres on the northeast corner of his farm for a church and cemetery. It was located just south of the school

with the cemetery at the rear of the church and school.

 

[IF YOU ARE MISSING ANCESTORS THIS MAY BE WHY.]

this cemetery became neglected and when owned the farm he allowed his cattle to pasture there. The markers, which

were numerous, were broken and he gathered them up and put them in the fence corner near the cemetery around 1890

to 1900. They remained there for some years, then he made a nice smooth marble walk from the house to the barn with

these tombstones.

There was another Baptist Church in the Harris St. Cemetery and in the late 1860, the two churches united and

then built in Ingersoll. As far as it is known, no bodies were removed from either of these pioneer cemeteries.

 

Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 22:52:09 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel-Piper's

 

The first Methodist Church was built in 1856 on 1/8 of an acre on the same section of land as the Baptist Church; the

Northeast section of Lot 13, Con 2. Misters SAGE, CURTIS, HALL, JANES, HENNER and DYGGERT were the

Trustees. Its' cemetery was a mile to the west, on the north side of the road. After many years, the marble tombstones

were piled in the fence corners and then buried under plough depth by the owner at the time.

SIMON MABEE built the Grist mill to serve the settlers.

This mill continued in operation for many years. MR. ERNEST MABEE a great-grandson told MISS HATTIE MABEE of

Ingersoll, about its operation. MR. AMBROSE FRENCH owned the property after 1885. MR. JOSEPH COUCH

purchased the farm from his uncle, MR. FRENCH.

Immediately to the west of the entrance to the Mabee farm, the GALLOWAY pioneer cheese factory was founded by

GEORGE GALLOWAY, in 1866. This was lot 14, Con 2. MR. ERNEST CLIFTON {later REVEREND} recalled

transporting milk there. A MR. DICK CHENOWETH took his milk there on the 1st Dominion Day, with a flag proudly

fastened to a staff on the wagon. The Galloway enterprise flourished until 1899. GEORGE MAYBERRY was an

apprentice at the Pipers blacksmith shop. He returned to Salford and opened his own shop. The last owner of the

smithy was SOLON MARTIN COOK, of lot 9 Con 2, a grandson of U.E.L. settlers, MANSON and MARY {WHIPPLE}

COOK. He later ran a blacksmith shop at Centreville.

The DYGGERT family, of United Empire Loyalist origin from New York state, lived east of Piper's on Lot 9. Their farm

bordered the sideroad. For many years the road was called the Dyggert sideroad. The DYGGERTS are ancestors of the

FOLDEN family, founders of the village of Folden's.

The THORNTONS on the 3rd farm east of the corner, lot 10, were early settlers.

REUBEN JANES, a farmer at Piper's became an early school inspector around 1870. His father, HEMAN JANES, was

an early settler, and a tax collector in 1825.

WILLIAM REYNOLDS, was a teacher at a very early log school, possibly at Lot 7, Con. 1, near MARTIN'S tavern. he

later took up land on the corner farm, the west part of lot 14, Con 2, right next to the Galloway Cheese factory farm. The

creek that furnished the water power for the various mills was named for him. His geatest claim to fame is probalby that

he lived to be 100 years old and is buried with his three wives in the West Oxford Cemetery

 

Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 11:31:21 -0400 : [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

In 1834 the first log school was erected a mile south of Piper's Corners at what was known as BURTCH'S Corners. The

land was bought from JACOB WHITING, lot 12 Con 3, on the east side of the north south trail.

The Second school was built in 1856 by MR. CHRISTOPHER. The land was obtained from WALTER BISHOP MABEE,

the son of the pioneer SIMON MABEE. JOSEPH PIPER made the desks.

A MR. TOPPING, a farmer in the area, planted trees aroun the school about 1870.

In 1885, the school borrowed money to buy on half acre of land for a playground from AMBROSE FRENCH, who had

bought MR. WALTER B. MABEE'S farm.

 

MR. JAMES MILLINGTON taught in 1904; A MISS McLEOD after him then a MISS TOWLE MISS McCORQUODALE in

1910, MISS BEATTIE and a MR. BOWES. MRS. CARL McINTYRE taught in the school in 1921. E.P. MILLER, J.P.

LEGG, M.E.STEWART, JEAN ARMOUR {Who wrote a history of the school}, JEAN BROWN, W. VINING, P.

SUTHERLAND, KATHLEEN BUDD{later MRS. BRUCE HUTCHESON}, MARJORIE GILLESPIE, MRS. LaBELLE

PHINN. PIPER'S SCHOOL about 1910 FRED SCOTT, EVELYN POST, JESSIE POST, IRMA BARTON, EDITH

WOOD, IRENE BATTEN, HAZEL BATTEN, ANN THORNTON, LILY WILKIE, CLARENCE SAGE, CARL McINTYRE,

MAY SCOTT, ROYAL COOK, VIOLET GOODWILL, ROSS McINTYRE, PEARL COUCH, HARRY SCOTT, HARRY

RUCKLE, HARLEY BARTON, HAROLD SAGE, JIM WOOD, ROY COUCH, GEORGE SCOTT, ALBERT FINLAY,

ALBERT BATTEN, EMERSON SCOTT and Teacher, MISS McCORQUODALE

 

PIPER'S CORNERS' SCHOOL 1925-26

DOROTHY WHATLEY, MARGARET FRALEIGH, GRACE WHATLEY, HILDA BRINK, MAX ALMAS, LORNE

CRAWFORD, GORDON POST, ROY WHATLEY, LLOYD BLANCHER, DORA CRAWFORD, ELEANOR POST,

DOROTHY BUDD, BERT WHATLEY, MURRAY BUDD, JACK HASKETT, HAROLD COUCH, PEARL COUCH,

KATHLEEN BUDD, GERALDINE BUDD, MAISIE DAWDRY, ? DAWDRY, CECIL COUCH, FRED FRALEIGH, ROY

CRAWFORD, ? DAWDRY, and TEACHER MISS GLENNA THORNTON.

 

 

Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 08:59:57 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

FOLDENS The village of Foldens had its earliest beginnings in 1803. The HON. ROBERT HAMILTON acquired from the

Crown what is now Lot 12, Con 3, just northeast of the village corner.The old log road, crossed the northern portion of

this lot about 1/2 mile from the present village. In 1873, 21 acres in the SW portion of this lot was purchased by JOHN

DAVIS. This portion became the first part of the centre prtion of the village to be settled. MR. DAVIS gradually sold off

parts for school grounds, cheese factory and homes.

In 1804, ROBERT HAMILTON acquired from the Crown the 200 acres of Lot 12, Con 4. This was eventually broken up

into several lots . In the same year he acquired the 200 acres of lot 13, Con 4. In 1856, MR. HAMLTON gave a life lease

for the north half of this lot 13, 100 acres, to FRANKLIN FOLDEN SR. FRANKLIN FOLDEN SR. emigrated from Ireland

at that time. His name came to be applied to this village soon after 1866. It appears from the registry office records that

FRANKLIN FOLDEN SR. leased his farm to BENJAMIN THORNTON and moved to another farm which later was

occupied by the RAWLINGS family. This 2nd FOLDEN home was a mile west of the main corner of the present village.

The first Methodist church was built on the present site of Folden's United Church, in 1866. It was constructed on a

parcel of lant 50' by 60' leased by FRANKLIN FOLDEN SR. and BENJAMIN THORNTON. FRANKLIN FOLDEN JR.

relocated to the original Folden farm then sold it to JOSEPH BARNETT.

In 1906 the BARNETTS sold it back FRANKLIN JR. and he moved his family back. His oldest son, RALPH, who was

born on the RAWLING farm, Lot 15, Con 3 passed away in 1975. His son LAWRENCE {LAURIE}, the only surviving

male member of the Folden family resided on the family farm. Lot 13, Con 3 of West Oxford which makes up the 4th

corner of the village was acquired by DAVID PRICE from the Crown in 1837. He, in turn, sold several lots in the north

half. One of the 1st was pruchased by ALMOND ALMAS, the 1st blacksmith and mail carrier. He lived close to the

corner a mile north of the village known then as BURTCH'S Corners. The south half was evenually purchased in 1873

by JOHN DAVIS. Upon his death, his son ROY, inherited the Davis farm .

The first Methodist Minister was REV. LEWIS WARNER of the Ingersoll circuit, who travelled on horse back.

WILLIAM RIVERS would bring people from "The Pines". The 1st Trustee Board were: REV. WARNER; Chairman,

HEZEKIAH C. WILSON; Secretary-Treasurer,JOHN R. WAITE; GEORGE GALLOWAY; WILLIAM LOWES; WILLIAM

RIVERS; ENOCH SAGE; FRANKLIN FOLDEN SR. and RA. JANES.

 

Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 18:21:29 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

In 1903 the original lot that the Church was on was enlarged when JOSEPH BARNETT sold 1/3 of an acre to the

Trustees. In 1911 the original Methodist Church was replaced.

The Building Committee were: WILLIAM PULLIN, JOHN SHELTON JR. and CHARLIE W. BUDD.

The finance committee were: GEORGE SHELTON, FRANKLIN FOLDEN JR. and RICHARD WILSON.

The new church was built by ADAM OLIVER.

Corner stones were laid by; M.S. SCHELL, former M.P.; LT-COL. T.R. MAYBERRY, M.P.P.; WALTER PULLIN,

Woodstock; JOHN SHELTON SR., Ingersoll and MRS. W.B. SAGE of Foldens. WALTER PULLIN, a pioneer resident of

Oxford County, came in 1873 to Foldens. He was born in England in 1834.

The stained glass windows were presented in the memories of DAVID OSMOND, ENOCH SAGE{donated by his sons

ALBERT and EMERSON}, MRS. FRANKLIN FOLDEN{donated by her son FRAKLIN JR.}, DR. J. ROGERS{of

Ingersoll}, MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM RIVERS{by WALBURN and ELSIE}, one donated by the West Oxford Council,

GEORGE J.

COOK, HENRY MERRILL, MARTIN WILLIAMS, HENRY SEALEY, JAMES PULLIN and BYRON JENVEY, One

donated by DR. RALPH WILLIAMS{of Ingersoll} One by MRS. J. MARTIN in memory of her 2 daughters, MRS.

ROBERT G.

ANDERSON and MRS. RICHARD H. WILSON. One in memory of LELA, daughter of REV. and MRS. DRAPER One in

memory of MRS. STEPHEN HILL Two members have entered the ministry: WILLIAM COMFORT SAGE, son of MR. and

MRS. ALLEN SAGE and ERNEST S. CLIFTON, son of MR. and MRS. GEORGE CLIFTON. MISS JOSEPHINE

NANCEKIVELL, gave herself to Evangelistic work.

MARION FOLDEN was the 1st bride married in the church to MR. JAMES GUTHRIE.

THERE ARE TWO LONG LISTS OF NAMES TO FOLLOW: Folden's Methodist Bible Class and Foldens United Sunday

School Class

 

Date: Sat, 7 Apr 2001 17:28:40 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

Folden's Methodist Bible Class and Epworth League 1911: These names are in no order, I would suggest using your Find

Feature: EARL SHUTTLEWORTH, ALBERT BUDD, NICK SHUTTLEWORTH, GEORGE MANZER, WILBUR BUDD,

WILLIAM FOSTER, WESLEY OSMOND, RALPH FOLDEN, ELIZABETH{BABE} SHUTTLEWORTH, EDITH BUDD,

CHARLES HOYLE, MRS C. HOYLE, MRS. CHARLES BUDD, MARY OSMOND, WILL ATKINSON, EDNA OSMOND,

MARION FOLDEN, HENRY BARNETT, MRS. H. BARNETT, MRS F. MYRON RUTHERFORD, MRS. M.

RUTHERFORD, REUBEN NANCEKIVELL, JOHN LAWLER, MAUDE OSMOND, HEMAN THORNTON, MRS.

MUNNS, WILLIAM

HASKETT, MRS. W. HASKETT, MARY HARRIS, MRS. J. WILSON, JOSEPH WILSON, VERA THORNTON, TILLY

SANDERSON, EVA LEWIS, EDITH HILL, MAY THOMAS, MRS. CHARLES HILL, JOSEPH BARRETT, MRS. E.

PHILLIPS, EDWARD PHILLIPS, MRS. J LAWLER, FRANKLIN FOLDEN, LESLIE PULLIN.

 

Folden's United Sunday School, May 1966 JEFFREY ALLIN, RUSSELL SHELTON, JILL TOWN, LECIA ALLIN, EVAN

MEEK, NANCY WILSON, LORI WILSON, MARY BARNETT, ANN BARNETT, KATHY SOMERS, VERNA WILSON,

BRIAN SOMERS, DAVID MAYBERRY, IVAN BARNETT, MAX KIRBY, ANN MAYBERRY, DARLENE VANDERHEIDE,

JANIS KIRBY, BERTHA VANDERHEIDE, DONNA SINDEN, RUTH WISEMAN, DOROTHY CLIFTON, MRS. R.

CLIFTON, LOREEN WILSON, LESLIE CUTHBERT, ROBERT MAYBERRY, WILLIAM JELLOUS, VERA BOND,

EDWARD WISEMAN, MITCHELL KIRBY, MARLENE DORLAND, MARIE SINDEN, JANE MAYBERRY, MRS. D.

BARNETT, MRS. G. MAYBERRY, MRS A. SHELTON, BERTRAM SOMERS, LEONARD REEVES, L.D. SOMERS,

WILLIAM MAYBERRY, JOHN CUTHBERT, THOMAS MAYBERRY, JAMES SOMERS and MR. and MRS. D.

ALLIN

I included these names from 1966 because I thought it might help people find some extended family in the area.

 

Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 14:24:45 -Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

The Baptist Church: In the late 1870's people were interested in having a church nearer than Piper's or Beachville. For

the sum of $1 a church site was purchased from ROBERT A. POOLE. A committee of 3, THOMAS POOLE, JAMES

JARVIS JR. and JOHN DAVIS, secured this property. Material from the torn-down Piper's church was used. The church

was built by a Baptist member, MR. BENT, assisted by C.W. ALMAS and JOHN DAVIS. It was erected in 1878.

Some of the early Foldens Baptist members

were the POOLE, DAVIS, JARVIS, BRAGG, BROWN, BARNETT, ALMAS and PULLIN families.

In 1966 the family names were; WILLIAM RIVERS; JAMES SOMERS; ROBERT MAYBERRY; DAVID MAYBERRY; M.

SOMERS; B SOMERS; WILLIAM JOHNSON, DOALD ALLIN, WALL, GEORGE WITTY; O. BOND; S. ALLIN; V.

CUTHBERT; A. MEEK; W.W. BUDD, TOWN; R. FOLDEN; N. DORLAND; D. BARNETT; WILSON; R. CLIFTON; H.

WISEMAN; D. BROWN; E. MERRILL, CHARLES SHELTON; A. BOND; H. SINDEN; G. HOWARD; WILLIAM

SHERWOOD; ROBERT HUTCHISON; G. MAYBERRY, L.

 

SOMERS GENERAL

STORE: The General Store had it's beginnings in 1896 when JOHN DAVIS sold 1/2 acre of land just north of the

schoolgrounds to CICERO GAMSBY, who built and opened the first store on this lot, which included a Post Office for

many years.

From the GAMSBY family it passed, in succession, to J.B. and A.E. SAGE and RALPH SAGE; THOMAS POOLE;

GIFFORD POOLE; GEORGE MANZER; FRANKLIN FOLDEN JR. and to JAMES GUTHRIE in 1920. JAMES GUTHRIE

lost the store to a fire in 1926; he then sold the property to PERCY LANGFORD, who rebuilt the store and operated it

until

1930. He, then , sold it to LORNE and MAE WILSON. The WLISONS sold to WILBUR and RUTH JELLOUS in 1957.

In 1969 the sote was sold to ALLEN PELLOW, who converted it to a private residence.

ALMOND ALMAS was the first mail delivery person, followed by OLIVER BROWN. OLIVER was the son of a famous

pioneer mother, known affectionately among Folden residents as Grandma BROWN. The post office was discontinued

during GEORGE MANZER'S tenure at the store.

The first rural mail delivery was by WALTER HARRIS, on foot.

The first blacksmith's shop was operated by ALMOND ALMAS and later by his son CHARLES. Later it was operated by

a MR. LEUSAW. This shop was located north of the village. Sometime previous to 1909 OLIVER BERT HILL began

operating this shop on the WILSON property. Soon after 1911 MR. HILL bought the shop and moved it by himself to the

house lot he purchased from JOHN DAVIS. In the 1950's BERT HILL razed the shop.

 

THE CHEESE FACTORY:

The Cheese factory was started in 1904 when JOHN DAVIS sold 1 acre of land to THOMAS CADDY. In 1907, JOSEPH

BARRETT bought the factory. MR BARRETT operated the factory for about 7 years. In 1914 the farmers raised money

by

selling shares and purchased the factory from MR. BARRETT. The 1st trustees were FRANKLIN FOLDEN JR.;

EDMOND MEEK and GEROGE SHELTON. JOHN JELLOUS was employed to operate the factory. When he retired

about 1940, his son WILBUR took over. In 1946 the company sold to WILBUR JELLOUS. In 1962 he sold the factory to

Neilsons. Neilson's sold the factory building to ARTHUR BUDD who, for a few years used it as a museum centre for the

storage of antique machinery.

West Oxford Stars- Football champions 1909,1910,1911

JOE CLIFTON, ALBERT BUDD, RALPH FOLDEN, GORDON SAGE, JIM ALMAS, BILLY SPENCE, GIFFORD POOLE,

HARLOLD COOK, NORMAN COOK, HOWARD POOLE, GEORGE CHANEY, JIM GUTHRIE, GEORGE GUTHRIE.

Winners of the Wood Trophy, donated by JAMES WOOD.

 

FOLDENS SCHOOL-1906 EDNA POOLE, EDITH HILL, VERA THORNTON, CORA MORRIS, PHOEBE BLANCHER,

MARY HARRIS, VERA PULLEN, GORDON BUDD, RUSSELL SAGE, CLIFFORD PHILLIPS, LESLIE PULLEN, WILL

RIVERS, JAMES MURRAY, CLARENCE BRAGG, OSCAR WALL, EDNA BUDD, NORA BLANCHER, EDITH SAGE,

MINNIE HILL, HELENA THORNTON, ISA SANDERSON, CLARENCE PHILLIPS, CLARENCE DAVIS, SANDY

BLANCHER, HAROLD BUTTERWORTH, EVA THORNTON, DOROTHY PULLEN, ALICE SAGE, BELLE MURRAY,

MABEL BUDD, MYRTLE OSMOND, MAY DAWSON, MILDRED WILSON, DORA MERRILL, JEAN RIVERS, ETHEL

PHILLIPS, GRANT MURRAY, FRANK BUDD, RAY DAVIS, ASHTON BLANCHER, JAMES PHILLIPS, MELVIN

PHILLIPS, REG FOLDEN, ARCHIE RIVERS, GORDON MURRAY, CHARLES BARRETT.

 

About 1/2 mile north of Folden's there was a pioneer log school prior to 1858. Pupils from Piper's Corners and

Burtch's Corners would attend as well as the Folden children. In those days pupils were accompanied to school by an

armed adult for fear of wild animals. The 1st known teacher was MR. BURTON HUGILL 1883-1890 FOLDEN'S

SCHOOL 1911 EARL HILL, RUSSEL CLIFTON, ASHTON BLANCHER, EARL MERRILL, STEWART RIVERS, EARL

ANDERSON, RALPH SAGE, MISS IDA ROWE, VIOLA FOSTER, DOUGLAS SAGE, WILFORD HIGGS, TOMMY

MUNNS, LEONA HILL, CLIFFORD PULLEN, FLORENCE BARNETT, ALVA ALMAS, WELBY MEYERS, HAZEL

FOSTER, JOHN BLANCHER, JEAN BULLOCK, HOWARD PHILLIPS, IRENE PULLIN, GEORGE GOWANLOCK,

MILDRED GREGG, JAMES BARNETT, CLARENCE DAWSON, PERCY SAGE, GERTRUDE BLANCHER.

 

 

Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 16:17:40 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

Folden's School 1920-1921

FRED SHELTON, JACK SHELTON, IDA SOEMRS, RUBY FOSTER, ABBIE CUTHBERT, LEONA HILL, FLORENCE

WILSON, BLANCHE QUINN, BLANCHE ALMAS, DAISY BLANCHER, EVA HIGGS, CARL HILL, WILFRED PHILLIPS,

MR. BERT SILCOX, HAROLD BARNETT, AUBREY MEEK, LESLIE HILL, MAURICE FOSTER, BERTRAM

SOMERS, MARION CLIFTON, MARJORIE GREGG, WINNIFRED DAVIS, MARJORIE ROBERTS, RUBY BLANCHER,

GORDON WISEMAN, FRANK AUCHINCLAUS, GEORGE WILSON, NELLIE GIBBS, ROSE WARREN, AUDREY

AUCHINCLAUS, HILDA BRINK, ELSIE JELLOUS, GRACE MILLARD, MORRIS COLLINS, ROY DAWSON, MAX

ALMAS, CARL MILLARD, EVA LOSSING, MADELINE BLANCHER, EVA DAVIS, EWART DAVIS and ED LOSSING

 

SWEABURG:

" My first memory is the music of the big saws at the village, as they cut through the huge timbers brought over from what

was called THE PINES" wrote DR. OSWALD C.J. WITHROW who was born in the village in 1878.

The 1st sawmill was built by JOHN CARR. Other sawmills included WITHROW'S, SMITH'S and MEEK'S.

Shingle mills were operated by residents CROLY & MANZER; FREDRICK GEE, HUGH McCALLEY and RICHARD

WADDINGTON, according to the Oxford Gazeteer of 1862&63 the last saw mill-grist mill-cider mill built by HENRY

SEALEY on the NW corner of the village was burned May 11 1907.

The village was originally named FLOODTOWN after MR. JAMES FLOOD who bought land here in 1840 from the

Canada co. Later the name was changed to SWEABORG after a city on the Gulf of Finland which endured a long

seige during the Crimean Was.

Later the O was changed to U and the village was known as SWEABURG.

MR. FLOOD built the 1st store in the village and in 1857 his son HARVEY was post-master.

MR. EMERSON GARFAT was the last operator of the Grist mill which was attached to the store. Owners of the store

have been: MISTERS FLOOD, SEALEY, GAMSBY, FOSTER, PULLEN, TALBOT, DIAMOND, BURTON, W. SMITH,

G.

SMITH, DUNSEITH, DAVEY, LONGWORTH and GORDON WISEMAN.

It was at this store that MR. WILLIAM PULLEN started his auctioneer business.

The JAMES A. CODY store was built some time later and stood on the N.E. corner. He was the man in the community to

go to for Wills, Deeds and mortgages. Sold Fire Insurance, Marriage Licenses and loaned money. The store was then

bought by MR. JAMES BASTEDO. His clerk was MISS MARJORIE STANTON. He opened a Bowling Green behind his

store.

The members were JIM PULLEN, J. BASTEDO, R.S. LICK, FRED WILLIAMS, CHARLES WILLIAMS, C. FOSTER,

ERNIE THORNTON and JOHN EDWARDS.

In 1932 GORDON WISEMAN bought the property and removed the old store and barn.

MISS HARRIET SEALEY ran another small store which was burned with the mill.

MR. GEORGE SEALEY, a brother, operated a barber shop on the north half of the Sealey corner lot.

Quotes from PERCY JAKEMAN'S diary: Dec 2, 1911 - Went to Sweaburg for mail which I guess is the last time that I will

be able to get it at the Old Post Office. It is to be transferred to the store across the corner {the original one} in charge of

MR. TALBOT.

Dec 3 - I bid goodbye to MISS RUBY BARNES for she is going home this weekend and MR. J. A. CODY is moving to

London.

Dec 4 - Mail given out at MR. TALBOT'S by HATTIE BUCHANAN, the clerk, today for the first time.

 

 

Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 12:23:18 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and the Wheel

 

That name that is mispelt from yesterday is IDA SOMERS: There were two blacksmith shops in the early days in which

woodworking was also done. One owned by MR. HENRY SEALEY before he constructed his mill. The other was owned

by MR. THOMPSON. Later owners were JIM LONGWORTH, who did blacksmithing in the front and JOHNNY HEATH

who did woodworking in the back and made sleighs and wagons.

One 24th of May{no year given}, one of the village men bought soem gunpowder to let off and stored it in a drawer in the

blacksmith shop. A spark flew into the drawer and it exploded. The explosion moved the shop off its foundation. There

was an old gentleman, MR. JAMES MANZER, sitting in the shop and the explosion singed his beard on one side and

also his hair. MR. MILTON DAVEY was the last operator of this shop when it closed about 1950.

There were several carpenters in the village; MR. WITHROW, MR. DOYLE and MR. GEROGE FOX and his son

EDWARD.

MR. FOX made furniture for the pioneers as well as building houses and barns.

MR. WARREN COREY was a cooper and made axe handles, barrels and wooden tubs.

MR. WILLIAM JELLOUS was a stone mason and built many of the stone walls for barns and houses

MR. JOHN ROBLEY was the county constable for some time and later was given a job at the Woodstock Jail.

 

SWEABURG CHURCHES: The 1st Meeting House was a frame building which stood in front of the present cemetery.

here Episcopal Methodist, United Presbyterians and Free Will Baptists joined together to form a Union Meeting House. In

1888 it was sold to HENRY SEALY who moved it. Older citizens have memories of another Episcopal Church which

stood south of Sweaburg. The present church was 1st the Episcopal Methodist, the Methodist Church and then the

United Church Of Canada. It was dedicated On Oct 14, 1888. The builder was MR. JUSTUS MILLER of Mt. Elgin.

The building committee were:

GORDON COOK, FRANKLIN CODY, WILLIAM HUGGINS, REUBEN THORNTON, PETER HUGHES and SAMUEL

HOLDEN. MR. GORDON COOK donated the bell for this church. DR. FIELD of Woodstock was the Chariman of the

Funds committee, he was also the local Justice of the Peace. Some of the organists have been

GERTRUDE MILLARD, BESSIE WOOD, MRS. LESLIE THORNTON. The organ was pumped by different young

people: CECIL WOOD, WALLACE FOX, EMERSON GARFAT and the THORNTON brothers. The elders, during the

'50's were WILLIAM LONGWORTH, GEORGE THORNTON, ROSS HARGREAVES and GEORGE JAKEMAN.

The 1st Ladies Aid was started in 1899, the members were:

MRS. JOHN CUTHBERT, MRS. GEORGE JAKEMAN,SR., MRS JOSEPH GARFAT, SR., MRS. WARREN CODY,

MRS. REUBEN LICK, MRS. WILLIAM CLARKSON, MRS W.B. THORNTON, MRS WES LICK, MRS E.W. FOX, MRS

CHARLES McKAY and MRS. VOLICK, the ministers wife.

Loyal Daughters, Sweaburg Sunday School Class-1918

RACHEL PULLEN, VIOLA FOSTER, ENID HOYLE, VERMA THORNTON, RUBY CHILTON, GLENNA THORTON

The Sweaburg Cemetary is on land deeded in 1862 by CALVIN MARTIN.

The trustees were FRANKLIN CODY, JOHN CARR and WILLIAM ARNOLD.

In 1920 the trustees were: JAMES PULLIN, JAMES BASTEDO, ERNEST THORNTON, WILLIAM EDWARDS and

CHARLES FOSTER.

Forester Officers of Sweaburg in the 1920's were: EDWARD GILBERTSON, FRANK GARFAT, CHARLES WILLIAMS,

WILLIAM CHEW, WALTER WISEMAN, WILLIAM LONGWORTH, WILLIAM EDWARS and JAMES PULLIN.

 

 

Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 13:45:23 -Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and the Wheel

 

Sweaburg Schools The 1st schooll was a small log one in the Gore between the Old Stage Road and the 3rd Con. This

school was sold by auction to BLEAKER THORNTON. South Sweaburg school was started in 1857. It was erected on

the property now owned by MELVIN PULLEN, across from CAPTAIN TOM WILLIAM'S home. In 1858 the following men

were present at the school meeting: BENJAMIN THORNTON, JOSEPH HOWARD, WRIGHT SUDWORTH, JOHN

LONG, ADAM DODGE and BLEAKER THORNTON. BENJAMIN THORNTON built the school. Wood was supplied by

CHILON REYNOLDS. In 1860 the teacher was MR. JAMES WINTERBORO. On Jan 25, 1877, a special meeting was

held to choose a new school site. It was 1st moved that the new site be on the corner of JOSEPH THORNTON'S farm,

lot 4, con 2 of West Oxford. An amendment was moved that the site be on the corner of REUBEN THORNTON'S farm,

then amended again that the site be on the corner of both farms, one acre each. The original motion was carried.

BENJAMIN THORNTON provided the land. R. CARR provided sand and stone J.J. PEARCE brick J. ACKERT pump J.

TODD dug the well and banked the building A. MURRAY built a woodshed This building was later moved to Lot 1, Con

2. SOUTH SWEABURG SCHOOL 1912:

OTOWLENE TABOUR, MARY FALLOWFIELD, MARJORY LOUNSBURY, MILDRED LOUNSBURY, MARJORY

STANTON, CONSTANCE CUTHBERT, CARL TABOUR, CLARENCE COVENTRY, REUBEN ARMSTRONG, FRANK

ARMSTRONG, VERA TABOUR, KENNETH STYLES, JOHN FALLOWFIELD, NORMAN CUTHBERT, CHARLES

PULLIN, WILBUR CUTHBERT, WILLIAM LONGWORTH, EMERSON GARFAT, LORNE COVENTRY, MELVIN

STYLES,

WALLACE CUTHBERT. NORTH SWEABURG SCHOOL 1914 WALTER WISEMAN, ERIC BRINK, MAC CLARKSON,

IRWIN CLARK, MR. J.P. COOK, IZET LICK, EDNA FOX, WAITIE EDWARDS, MABLE DAVIS, HAZEL FOSTER,

FRANK BRIGGS, WELLINGTON TALBOT, WALTER PULLEN, PEARL JAMES, RUBY EDWARDS, GRACE

GODWIN, ANNIE JAMES, MARTHA JELLOUS, GLADYS FOSTER, KARL PULLEN, WALLACE FOX, CAMERON

DeGROAT,

VERNON CORMACK, JESSIE DOWNEY, MABEL GARNER, NELLIE BRACKENBURY, GLADYS COREY, CLARA

JAMES, VIOLA FOSTER, VELMA THORNTON, BESSIE BASTEDO, CHARLES DOWNEY, RUSSELL MASSON,

JAMES COREY, ELMER LICK, EARL PULLEN, GARFIELD COLE, ALEX ROBLEY, LLOYD CORMACK, CHARLES

COREY, ROSE DOWNEY, NELLIE COLE, AMY PULLEN, BETTY GARNER, GEORGE SPICER, MILTON ROBLEY.

NORTH SWEABURG SCHOOL 1926 ILA PULLEN, EDNA PULLEN, BLANCHE FOSTER, PEARL EDWARDS,

STEWART CURRY, HOWARD CHILTON, ALBERT FRALEIGH, GEORGE JAKEMAN, MR. ROBERT SWAN, KATE

TRACEY, MIRIAM JAKEMAN, DORIS FOSTER, FRANCES KNAGGS, MABEL CORMACK, CALVIN DAVEY, DENNIS

READ, JAMES READ, INA JAKEMAN, ALBERT SMITH, MABEL SMITH, GOLDY CORMACK, BARBARA

THORNTON, ALLAN DAVEY, TOM JAKEMAN and GILBERT THORNTON.

The trustees in 1865 for Sweaburg South School were: JOHN CARR, PETER CUTHBERT and WILLIAM ARNOLD In

1913, the trustees were ARTHUR LONGWORTH, R.D. CUTHBERT and JAMES PULLIN

In 1936 the school held a reunion. Over 700 residents attended. Former students arrived from Sask, Illinios and

Michigan. HERBERT SOWERS staged a scramble of 200 all-day suckers. GEORGE F. JANES of Ingersoll was

chairman of the

entertainment. Music was provided by KENNETH HILL'S orchestra; a quartet: MILTON DAVEY, GILBERT SMITH,

EMERSON GARFAT and LLOYD GEE; duet by ANNIE LONGWORTH and JEAN WILLIAMS; readings by WILIAM

GEE of Almonte, Michigan; Songs by FRED BUCHANAN and a sketch by LLOYD GEE and EMERSON GARFAT. MR.

JAMES PULLIN wrote a poem MR VICTOR CUTHBERT purchased this building in May 1960.

Committee in 1927 for the Community park:

JOHN GRANT, LESLIE CURRY, JOHN THORNTON, GEORGE CUTHBERT, FRED MILLARD and WILLIAM

LONGWORTH. Tennis Players of Sweaburg: GORDON BASTEDO, BESSIE BASTEDO, IDA PULLIN and MARGARET

MOLLINS{ of Burgessville} Hunt Club of 1908 AMOS EDWARDS, JOHN EDWARDS, FRANK GARFAT, BEN

THORNTON, SAM MANSER, BILL CODY, ERNEST BARTON, JACK JELLOUS, NORMAN THRONTON, TOM

WILLIAMS, LORNE CLARKSON, GODFREY BRAGG, JOHN ROBLEY, FRANK WISEMAN, JACK LAARTZ, GEORGE

WISEMAN, ED WISEMAN, ALF CARR, JIM LONGWORTH and JIM PULLIN

 

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 12:07:17 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

Sweaburg Rifle Association: Winners of the SCHELL-MAYBERRY trophy 1911

F. WISEMAN, ED WISEMAN, J. JELLOUS, WILLIAM PULLIN, G. WISEMAN, A CARR, J LONGWORTH, B

ARMSTRONG, J PULLIN, W J CODY, ED FOX, J ROBLEY The range was on the farm of JOE NANCEKIVELL, lot 7

north west corner.

Winners of the ORSA trophy {no year given}:

DON WISEMAN, HOWARD SHELTON, AL HARGREAVES, JIM CHAMBERS, LES HUGHES, BOB WATT,

RON McMULLEN, JERRY SHELTON, HAROLD BURRELL, BRUCE BURRELL.

 

PEEBLES: Came into existence around 1850, about 21/2 miles south of folden's Corners and SW of Sweaburg. The

area between Sweaburg and Peebles was covered with magnificent, towering Pines and hence was known as THE

PINES. The first name of the hamlet was PINE GROVE, the first building was a large frame hotel call the Pine Tree Inn

now owned by MR. JACK HANEY. previously owned by the SERVICE family. Firsted operated by a MR. LOSSING. In

1871, the population warranted the establishment of a Post Office and the name of the village was changed to

PEEBLES, a royal burgh in Scotland north of Edinburgh, as many of the original settlers were Scottish. GEORGE COREY

was an early postmaster, also MRS. FRED SERVICE. MR. and MRS. FRANK WISEMAN, owned the home that housed

the post office. MR OLIVER BROWN of foldens, son of the very well-known "GRANDMA" BROWN delivered the mail

to the

SERVICE home by horse. ERNEST and BILL SERVICE, sons of the postmistress, built and operated a store. Other

proprietors of the Inn were MR. JAMES DENNIS, and later his son, BEN, who also served as the community Butcher.

Later ED WISEMAN served in this capacity. Another General store, operated by ELIAS PALMER, was located on the

corner of the CHARLES LEWIS farm, now owned by JAMES SOMERS. The late DAN BARRATT and son-in-law ED

FAIRBANKS, turned up what was apparently an early brickyard on the 6th concession. The people worshipped in a tiny

chapel on the farm of JOHN THOMPSON, 1st concession of Dereham.

In 1890 an unusual late killing frost froze the hay and grain; farmer had virtually no grain to harvest. Young men from the

community went West to find work: eg. JAMES GROVES, JOHN PHILLIPS, CHARLES ALMAS and STEPHEN HILL. A

horse was sold to BEN DENNIS for .75 cents. In 1873, on lot 8, con 6; property now owned by JOE MANGOLT, a great

tragedy occurred involving a MR. TIMOTHY TOPPING and his family.

By the early 1900's Peebles faded into history

 

 

Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2001 16:41:35 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

Cook's Corners: Was located at the intersctin of the Ingersoll and Port Burwell Plank and Gravel Road[now Hwy 19]and

the 3rd Conc. of West Oxford. Its name was derived from the JOSEPH COOK family who owned property on both sided

of the concession line. The 1st land grant, lot 18, con. 3 was to ELIZABETH SCOTT in Dec 1798. This is the farm

across the road from the Harris St. cemetery. The farm Lot 20, Con. 3, to the west of the cemetery was owned by

JOSEPH and LUCINDA COOK.

The 1st co-operative cheese factory in this part of Oxford County was north of the corners on the farm of JAMES

HARRIS, built in 1865 and later owned by his son, JUDD C. HARRIS. JAMES HARRIS learned the art of cheese-

making from MRS. RANNEY at Salford whose daughter, JULIA, he had married. This factory was later moved to

Thamesford. In

the 1870's a cheese factory was built by MR. WILKINSON on the farm south of the cemetery, now owned by FRANK

and CURRIE WAY. MR. JOHN WILFORD made cheese in this factory from 1882 to 1884.

 

The 1st school was opened in 1856 on the farm of JOSEPH COOK. The 1st trustees were THOMAS HISLOP and

MOSES CLARK.

A womens group was started in 1910. A meeting was held at the home of MRS. HARLEY MAYBERRY. The president

was MRS. M.C. BELL, secretary MRS. D.W. CLARK and treasurer MISS CARRIE WAY, MRS. B.G. JENVEY, MRS.

W.H. GREGG, MRS. W.O. EDWARDS, MRS. R.H. MAYBERRY, MRS. J.H. NANCEKIVELL.

The JUDD HARRIS HOUSE was built in 1871 for JAMES and JULIA HARRIS.

 

HARRIS STREET CEMETERY: Believed to be established before 1812.

In 1872 a committee was appointed to preserve the graveyard as a public cemetery: JOSEPH L. COOK, HOMER

RANNEY, RICHARD MAYBERRY WALTER HARRIS and NICHOLAS SMITH. In 1925 MR. JOSEPH JARVIS, JOHN

BANBURY, JAMES GROVES, JOHN W. GREGG and T.R. MAYBERRY. Other secretaries were R.H. MAYBERRY,