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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,

LEONARD CAFFYN, CHARLES WHEELER and HAROLD W. MAMICOM. B.G. JENVEY was chairman for

17 years. Other chairmen have been GEORGE NAGLE, AUSTIN J. WILSON and CURRIE WAY. Custodians have

been JAMES GROVES, HARRY BLACKMAN, FRED PECK, F.J. MILLS and KENNETH MURRAY.

 

 

Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2001 16:38:29 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

CLARK'S CORNERS: This community was named after the CLARK family. DAVID and MARY CLARK received a Crown

Deed for 100 acres in 1854, located at lot 22, Con 2. Years later the Culloden Rd. divided the farm but the property on

the west side of the road remains in the Clark family. There was a pioneer brick making plant a quater of a mile south of

the corners on the west side of the Culloden Rd. operated by MR. FOREMAN.

In early 1880's WILLIAM O'DELL established a brick and tile yard to the north of the corners. After his death his 2 sons,

HENRY and ALBERT, carried on the business. In 1908 they rented the business to ALBERT DELLER and his brother-

in-

law, GEORGE WOOTTON for three years. The O'DELL home was the brick residence which was dedicated Feb. 15,

1958 as Faith Haven Home for the Aged, the owner being the REV. EDGAR and MRS. GILL.

In the corner west of the Culloden rd. and south of the concession line was the residence and workshop of MR.

CHARLES TURNER, a tinsmith. He was succeeded by his son ERNEST. His son KEITH worked for the Ontario

Conservatory of Music.

West of the Turner's was a cider mill operated by MR. HARRY LEIGH. This acreage was once a part {Lot 22, Conc. 2}

of the CLARK farm until purchased by the REV. WILLIAM C. BEARDSALL. The Rev. was a member of the Regular

Baptist Church and 1st clerk of the Grand River Association South. Here, he built an Octagon shaped house. It had a

well inside with steps of stone. On the top of the house in the centre, is another octagonal structure which was supposed

to contain a secret panel. This was ELDER BEARDSALL'S private den. He is buried in Harris St. Cemetery. In 1952 the

Ingersoll Golf and Country Club purchased land to the east. This farm had been occupied by the three MISSES TUCKER

since 1893 but it had been purchased in the pioneer days by COL. THOMAS HOLCROFT who served with Col. Ingersoll

in the War

of 1812.

The portion of Clark's Corners west of the old Cody Road and north of the 401 was annexed by Ingersoll on Jan 1 1971.

S.S.NO 2 WEST OXFORD No year RALPH GALPIN, BROCK WILSON, TOM WAY, ELLA WAY, JENNY HEENEY,

GLADYS GREGG, MAY THOMAS, NELLIE HUGGINS, STANLEY GALPIN, FRED WILSON, HARLEY GREGG, ART

McLERKIN, LLOYD BELL, ESTHER GARTON, VERA GREGG, JENNY GROVES, CARRY WAY, MAY BELL, EDITH

THOMAS, FRED McLERKIN, LEVI GARTON, JOHN TAIT, RALPH CLARK, GRANT WRIGHT, GEORGE TAIT, MAX

BELL, BILL McKAY, GEORGE FORMAN, ALBERT HARGREAVES, FRANK WAY, MARY FORMAN S.S. NO 2, WEST

OXFORD 1900 MR. HUGH ROSS, TEACHER JENNIE MacKAY, HOWLAND MacKAY, WILLIE BANBURY, WILLIE

GROVES, ERNEST NORMAN, HARRY BANBURY, DAVID HILL, ANGUS ROBERTSON, CHARLIED NORMAN,

CLARKE ROSS, THOMAS HEENEY, BEATRICE HILL, THOMAS HILL, HATTIE JOHNSON, ARTHUR GOTT,

CHARLIE GROVES, JENNIE HEENEY, ROY BANBURY, ALLEN NORMAN, MURRAY WRIGHT, MYRTLE

ROBERTSON,

BROCK WILSON, FLORENCE WRIGHT, LAURA GRIFFIN, WILLIE GRIFFIN 1884, HUGH KERR was teacher 1912

MISS NASH was teacher

 

 

Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 07:51:55 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

HAGLE'S CORNERS: This place was named after PETER HAGLE who owned the 200 acre farm on the south-west

corner of the intersection of the Ingersoll and Port Burwell plank and gravel road and the town line between West Oxford

and Dereham

There was a hotel built on the north corner in the 1820's from bricks made on the farm. This hotel was owned from 1858-

1878 by GEORGE WISEMAN and previous owners were GEORGE BALL, PETER HAGLE and DANIEL HARRIS. Later

owners were WILLIAM GALLAGHER, ISABELLE WISEMAN, ED WISEMAN, FRED GALPIN, STANLEY GALPHIN,

BERT NANCEKIVELL and FRED WILSON.

Easterly across the road from the hotel stood a frame house occupied by ALVIN HILL who performed the

duties of medical doctor, dentist and veterinary.

Next to MR. HILL'S house was the home of RICHARD MAYBERRY SR. who had a large wagon and carriage shop

nearby.

On the north-east corner of the gore was a blacksmith shop operated by RICHARD MAYBERRY JR.

There was a boot and shoe shop operated by MR. BROWN, MR. WISEMAN'S grandfather. His wife was the community

nurse.

 MR. FREDERICK WILLIAM GALPIN brought his bride to reside in the old hotel. He was the first man to purchase a

railway ticket from Salford to Delhi on the line that connects Ingersoll with Port Burwell{affectionately called the Peanut

Line}.

 MRS. GALPIN remembered the tailor shop owned by MR. and MRS. WILLIAM GREGG.

The 1st telephone in the community was installed in the hotel at the expense of the veterinary, DR. GEORGE and an

Ingersoll physician DR. J.M. ROGERS.

The 1st brick house built in West Oxford, about 1840, by a MR. HAYES from Scotland. Later owned by MR. JOSEPH

GROVES who sold it to MR. BASIL WILSON in 1917.

Sutherland's Gazette 1862-63 lists the following residents and occupations:

HILL, ALVIN - physician and accoucheur LEWIS, BENJAMIN- cooper MAYBERRY, RICHARD- blacksmith

MAYBERRY, RICHARD JR. - wagonmaker SANDO, JOHN - butcher WISEMAN, GEORGE - farmer ELDER

BEARDSALL preached in the large wagon shop here as well as in neighbouring Churches. PROUSE'S CORNERS:

Prouse's Corners, named after JOHN and WILLIAM PROUSE, was located one mile south of Clark's Corners on the

Culloden Road, where this road intersects the townline which divides the townships of West Oxford and Dereham. JOHN

PROUSE owned farms on the north side of the townline, while WILLIAM'S farms were on the south side. On the WILIAM

PROUSE farm was a brick-making plant. The clay holes filled with water during the winter and became outdoor skating

rinks. There was a building moved on to the JOHN PROUSE farm used ans a community hall. This was sold to a Salford

merchant, R.R.

NANCEKIVELL, who had it moved to Salford. In 1929 SAMUEL SPENCER purchased the JOHN PROUSE farm. The

1st demonstration to farmers in the use of hydro power and its value to farmers took palce on the CLARK farm. Electricity

had come to Ingersoll in 1911 and a short time afterwards SIR ADAM BECK caused a transmission line to be constructed

from Ingersoll along the Culloden road to Prouse's Corners. MRS PROUSE was presented with on of the 1st electric irons

at this demonstration. The PROUSE'S had three daughters; MAY[MRS. GEORGE WOOD]; ETHEL MAUD, who married

OSCAR BAILEY and ALBERTA. The Culloden road was owned by a company of shareholders.

There was a toll-gate at these corners which charged .5 cents per horse, or .8 cents if returning the same day.

COTERIA LITERARY SOCIETY about 1899

RUBY MAYBERRY[REV. MRS. L. THOMAS], CARRIE WILSON[MRS. D. McKAY], NELLIE JARVIS[MRS. W.J.

CUTHBERT], DAVID McKAY, ALLIE BRINK, C.J. SPROULE, MISS M.B. MORRISON, EMMA JARVIS[MRS. JOHN

GREGG], FRED CURRY, MELBOURNE WILSON, HUGH KERR, HATTIE MAYBERRY[MRS. WELSH], HERB

NANCEKIVELL.

 

 

Date: Sat, 28 Apr 2001 12:01:42 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

THE WEST END: CHOATE'S CORNERS or FIVE POINTS:

As noted previously, West Oxford is triangular in shape. This westerly point of the Township has become known by 3

names: The West End, Choate's Corners and Five Points. The records of 1809 show that lot 27, B.F., was deeded to

JACOB CHOATE and the indenture reads that in 1811 there was a sawmill here, and the description of the property

reads " to a cherry tree marked".

A grist mill was started up in 1818 under the ownership of JAMES CHOATE. Altogether 3 CHOATES, JACOB, THOMAS

and JAMES owned lots 24 to 27 and gave this area its name. The early surveyor was W.G. WONHAM. The earliest

settlers on the last lot, no. 30, were STENABAUGH and INGRAM.

Other names were

HOLCROFT, BENSON, WILSON, McMULKIN, ADAMS, EMPEY, ROBINSON and WORTHY by the year 1876. 20

years later these names appeared on the roll; LEE, BUCHANAN, COOK and MEATHRELL.

The first school was built on the north side of the Hamilton Rd. in 1864. The CHOATE family offered to give the land for a

new school if it were located more centrally in the section. Early teachers were MISS BESSIE HULL, GEORGE

FRANCIS, MISS ANNIE CHOATE, MISS DYGERT, MISS J. POOLE, MISS J.R. WILLIAMS, MISS E. WARING, MISS

M. ADAMS, MISS HELEN CHOATE and MISS J. BARDWELL.

In 1887 a new white brick school was built on the road south of the Hamilton Rd., and just a short distance from the CPR

tracks. The old school was sold to THOMAS CHOATE. Surnames FOSTER, BAILEY, WORTH, WHITE,

MEATHRELLM, HARRIS, HALPIN, DAINES and HEWER were the first on the register. In those days the members of

the section elected a secretary-treasurer with 2 trustees to be responsible for all matters pertaining to the school.

Some of these were:

CHARLES WILSON, JOHN PROUSE, DAVID ROBINSON, JOHN ADAMS, A.B. CHOATE, A.R. McNIVEN, PERCY

LANGFORD, A. UPFOLD, H. WORTH, R. MEATHRELL, ED MEATHERALLM A.D. ROBINSON, GORDON RENNIE

and

JAMES WILFORD. They were given no remuneration for these duties. Later teachers were: MESSRS. E.L. VARDON,

C.H. WALLER, THOMAS NANCEKIVELL, H.C. ROSS, EDWIN BOWES and MISSES F. HOGG, L. FLEET, MAY

RUCKLE and MRS. M.R. HULL. In 1920 MISS GLADYS WOOD was in charge, followed 2 years later by MISS NELLIE

TUTT.

 

 

Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 10:29:16 -Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

Christmas Concert at S.S.# 6 about 1925

JEAN ELLIOTT, HAZEL ELLIOTT, MURIEL LOCKEY, RHEA ELLIOTT, RICHARD MATTSON, MILDRED

LOCKEY, FRANCIS PYE, MARGARET MATTSON, DORA LOCKEY, SADIE MATTSON, WALLIS MEATHERALL,

DONALD HEALD, HELEN WORTH, LAWRENCE PYE, GLADYS MEATHERALL, BILL MATTSON, BOB HEALD,

RALPH LOCKEY, and MARGARET LANGFORD.

S.S.# 6 West Oxford 1927

JANE PYE, CORA DAINES, LAWRENCE PYE, WALLIS MEATHERALL, RALPH LOCKEY, FRANCES VALENTINE,

DORA LOCKEY, HELEN WORTH, RUTH BURROUGHS, LEILA DUNDAS, DORIS WORTH, MARGARET WORTH,

OLIVENE DAINES, JEAN MEATHERALL, DONALD WILSON, GADYS MEATHERALL, JOE PYE, GLEN METCALFE,

MAURICE WILSON, ? APPLEY, MRS H. WILSON, Teacher

S.S.# 6-Choate's-1936:

VIOLA DAINES, IRENE WORTH, RUTH WORTH, BERNICE McKELVEY, ZEPH. PYE, BOB EDGINGTON, MELVIN

JOHNSON, HELEN LANGFORD, JEAN ROBINSON, SHIRLEY JOHNSON, DONALD ROBINSON, BENJAMIN

DAINES, KEITH McKELVEY, JEAN McKELVEY, RUTH BERDAN, REG RENNIE, EDNA JOHNSON, JOAN

EDGINGTON and JOSEPH JOHNSON

S.S.# 6 West Oxford 1948

ALFRED NEAVES, NANCY HOLMES, CHARLES HOLMES, LARRY JONES, KEITH LANGFORD, SONIA WILFORD,

WILMA HOMES, CARLITA PHILLIPS, ALICE PRIDDLE, RICK ARMES, LYN WALLACE, BILL ARMES, GEORGE

LANGFORD, MARLENE MEAD, DOROTHY HOLMES, DONNA KENNEDY, RAY McCORQUADALE, DANNY

MINARD, ALVIN SHERMAN, JACKIE SCOTT, CAROL BONIFACE, LOUISE HOLMES, RONALD SHERMAN, BILL

FICK,

BARBARA DADSON, ROSIE KENNEDY, DOROTHY LANGFORD, JIM SCOTT, DONALD ARMES, KEN BONIFACE,

HARVEY MEAD, WAYNE CLIFFFORD, STEVEN JONES, DAVID MINARD, BLANCHE PYE, MARIE APPLEBY,

KAREN

CLIFFORD, ROGER FICK, FRANK WILSON and MR. TERRY HEENEY, teacher

Teachers during following years were: MISS L. DUNDASS[MRS. H. WILSON], MISS JEAN ARMOUR[MRS P.

SILCOX], MISS ANNIE HAWKINS[MRS R. LOCKEY], MARJORIE ALLEN, E. SLOAN, RUTH HAWKINS, TERRY

HEENEY and MRS. LIVINGSTON.

The site of this school was purchased by DOUGLAS WILSON - just a few stately maples mark the location of the old

school grounds

 

 

Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 20:17:50 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

The Harris Cheese Factory:

To promote a cheese market in England and Europe a mammoth cheese was manufactured in 1866 at the Ingersoll

Cheese Factory Company's establishment one mile south of the town. MR. HARRIS, MR. RANNEY and MR.

GALLOWAY worked on this project with their cheese makers ROBERT FACEY, MILES HARRIS and WARREN

SCHELL. The cheese was first made at each of the 3 factories then moved to the JAMES HARRIS factory. There it was

cut up and put through a curd mill and ground into small pieces so that it could be evenly and properly salted to ensure

perfect curing. it was then put into a large hoop manufactured by the NOXON Company of Ingersoll and so constructed

that the immense weight of three and a half tons could be turned over, once a week. It took 35 tons of milk to produce a

cheese six feet, ten inches in diameter, three feet in circumference. Six horses were needed to haul this huge cheese on

a special wagon on August 23rd, 1866 to the Ingersoll railway station. It went first to the New York State Fair at

Saratoga. Then it was loaded on a ship and sailed for England to be on display at the London Exhibition. It was

eventually sold to a cheese merchant in Liverpool. This cheese achieved its purpose, it was the forerunner of Canada's

export cheese trade. As a direct result of seeing this cheese at the London Exhibition, ALBERT and ENOCH

TATTERSOLL and THURSTON HARGREAVES moved their families to the new country.

 

 

Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 21:05:14 -Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

Early Educational Systems:

From the stories told by MRS. LAURISTON CRITTENDEN, a daughter of DANIEL DODGE, an early settler on the Old

Stage Road in West Oxford, the first school would be located on the SE corner of the Stage Road on the 1st sideroad

east of Beachville.

The school faced the sideroad on lot7, 1st concession of the Broken Front near MARTIN'S Tavern. This school was

mentioned in 1852 by SHENSTON, the historian. A local shingle maker, ELIZEAR COOK of Beachville, made

the shingles.

Names of some of the pioneer people whose children attended this school were:

LUTHER HASKINS, JOHN CARROLL, SYLVERSTER DYGGERT, ISAAC PIPER, BENJAMIN THORNTON, WILLARD

SAGE and the DODGE families. The first Master was WILLIAM REYNOLDS, who later took up land on Lot 14, Con. 2 of

West Oxford.

Across the road from the school on the DAVIS farm at Folden's the children skated in Winter In 1946 and 1947 MR and

MRS E.R. CARFAT drove the High school pupils from Folden's and Sweaburg.

The pupils were:

ARLENE BOYSE, ALLEN TOWN, RUTH BUDD, VERNA WITTY, ? CLAYTON, BETTY KITCHING, JUNE BRAGG,

MARY McKNEELING, STANLEY WILSON and BERT HILL

 

Date: Mon, 7 May 2001 11:52:58 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

Some of the information to follow may repeat previous information but I believe there is more information on the people

involved:

 

THE EARLY CHURCHES:

METHODIST: In 1794 the 1st quarterly meeting of the Methodist demomination in the Niagara district was held.

NATHAN BANGS of Connecticut became an itinerant Methodist preacher and travelled as early as 1802 into Burford

and Oxford Townships.

In August 1804 NATHAN BANGS attended a quarterly meeting in Oxford.

The war of 1812 gave the work a setback. Most of the missionaries were American. The result was that for a time

Methodist congregations were prohibited from holding property and their ministers were not allowed to conduct the

marriage ceremony.

The log church on Lot 7 B.F. was burned by Americian troops.

A chapel was erected in West Oxford on Lot 15, Con.1. The deed was dated Nov. 29, 1823. BAPTIST: In July 1808,

PETER TEEPLE, SIMON MAYBEE{ABIGIAL MAYBEE,joined later in the meeting}, ZACHARIAH BURTCH,

DEBORAH SALES, ABIGAIL BURTCH and ELIZABETH SCOTT, members of different Baptist churches, met at the

home of PETER TEEPLE and heard a sermon by ELDER FAIRCHILD of Townsend. JAMES CORLIS from Townsend

was Clerk of this meeting.

In Sept of the same year they formed a branch of the Baptist Church at Townsend, and in the following year they were

organizws as a Baptist Church.

PETER TEEPLE moved up from Norfolk County and settled on land granted by the government, being Lot 15 along

the Thames River in Oxford. He had 3 sons and 1 daughter, SUSAN, who married ARCHIBALD BURTCH. ELIZABETH

SCOTT settled on Lot 18, Con. 3 and received her deed with the 1st registration on Dec 31, 1798{see Cook's Corners}.

SAMUEL AND LUCY CANFIELD with their 2 sons, ABRAHAM and SAMUEL JR., were members of a party of 40 settlers

who were granted land by Gov. Simcoe in 1793. SAMUEL CNAFIELD SR. settled on Lot 10, Con 1, West Oxford, and

his son SAMUEL JR. on Lot 29, Con 1. ABRAHAM settled in East oxford.

By the folowing fall JAMES and ELISHA HARRIS had joined, ZACHARIAH BURTCH was chosen Deacon of this

church

and JAMES HARRIS, clerk.

In July 1812, SIMON MAYBEE was ordained by a missionary from the Northern Baptist Missionary Society in New York

state. After his ordination MR. MAYBEE was pastor of this Oxford Church for some years.

In the early 1820's the work of the Regular Baptist Church was influenced and disrupted by the Baptist missionaries from

the US. There were Freewill Baptist and Free Communion Baptists. ELI HARRIS had moved into the township with his

family of 8 sons and 3 daughters. He died in 1813 and was buried on his farm. Six of his sons became ministers although

not all Baptist.

JAMES HARRIS preached for the Free Communion church. He was ordained in Oct. 1822. These early ministers

received no salary but had an occupation as well as preaching. They were often paid with clothing. When a chapel was

built south of Ingersoll at Cook's Corners on the west side of the Ingersoll and Port Burwell road, a cemetery was

established and the bodies of ELI HARRIS and others were removed to this cemetery.{See Harris Street Cemetary}.

NICHOOLAS FRENCH was pastor at this chapel in 1834. To be continued

 

 

Date: Wed, 9 May 2001 14:30:05 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

Baptists continued:

 

When the Free Communion lapsed, many joined the Regular Baptist Church. In Feb 1841 Elder MAYBEE offered the

church on and a half areas near Piper's Corners on Lot 13, Con 2 of Oxford West for a meeting house and

burying ground. Elder MAYBEE died in jan 1843.

In 1858 the Elder was GEORGE WILSON.

In 1859 they had an outdoor service at DANIEL HARRIS'S. The Baptist organization on Albert St. in Ingersoll under

Elder BEARDSALL vigorously opposed a church at Pipers Corners.

 

ROMAN CATHOLIC:

The first Mass was celebrated in O'NEIL'S blacksmith shop in 1833 by a travelling priest, FATHER VERIOTTE. Seven

people partook of the Sacrament: JAMES O'NEIL, MRS. JAMES HENDERSON, her children, ANDREW and JOHN,

MRS. GEORGE ALLEN, JOHN DUNN and NICHOLAS DUNN.

In 1839 a MR. MARTIN sold them a lot on the south side of Church St., now the property of MR. J. SMITH. Father

BURKE was followed by FAthers MILLS, LEES, O'DWYER and QUILAN.

 

ANGLICAN:

The Anglicans built a church in Beachville about 1858. St. Micheal's Chapel was built on the NE corner of Lot 25, Con. 1

or 2 on the CHARLES WILSON farm in 1870. Rev BLAND was the 1st minister. This building was at Choate's Corners

and the church was largely supported by CHARLES, JACOB and THOMAS CHOATE and by 4 maiden ladies of the

same name; cousins to the 3 brothers. the organist was MISS WILHELMINA NANCEKIVELL.

 

PRESBYTERIANS:

Prior to 1844, a small frame church was built in Beachville. Most of the Scots coming to Middlesex and Oxford belonged

to either the "Free Kirk", or the "United Presbyterians", two of the 4 major branches of presbyterianism existing at that

time. The Church in Beachville was a "Free Church. Its members insisted on the right to choose their minister without

interference from the mobility and followed strictly "the confession of Faith" of Knox and Calvin. The United

Presbyterians, "U.P.'s", who had a somewhat less rigid interpretation of doctrine formed a congregation in Sweaburg in

the 1860's. The

impetus to form these little churches was freguently provided by the REV. DONALD McKENZIE, the Presbyterian

counterpart of the indefatigable Methodist preacher, the REV. NATHAN BANGS. Sent out by the Synod of Ross in

Scotland, he travelled thoughout this part of the country, preaching to small groups of the faithful, gathered amidst

groves of trees.

A little church was built near the CHARLES LILLYWHITE home, Beachville. A "Free Kirk" called Knox Presbyterian, was

established on St. Andrews st. Ingersoll, on land granted by JAMES INGERSOLL, in 1847. In 1849, the 2 Free Churches

called the Rev. ROBERT WALLACE, to minister to them.

Performing valuable service at St. Paul's in Ingersoll were members of the CURRIE and CUTHBERT families, such as

MR. JAMES C. CURRIE, an elder for many years, his son GEORGE and his daughter, MISS EDNA; MR. JAMES

CUTHBERT was an Elder and his sister MISS SARA a member. MR. BASIL WILSON served as Elder.

THOMAS HISLOP led the singing{was a precentor}, in Erskine Church, the United Presbyterian one, in Ingersoll.

THOMAS JR. was an elder in St. Paul's in 1900.

Other names associated with St. Paul's were WILKIEE, LAW and CROMBIE.

Others from West Oxford gave valuable support to Knox Church in Woodstock, such as members of the DEWIT family of

Folden's. The Rev ERNEST DEWIT had the pleasure of having his son LLOYD and his grandson LLOYD ordained as

ministers and his granddaughter, a deaconess.

 

Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 20:13:38 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

METHODIST: The West Oxford Methodist Church was established around 1804. The site of this church is aobut half

way between the first and second concession lines of West Oxford and two miles east of Ingersoll. REV. BANGS was

among the 1st converts to Methodism in New York State. In 1802, as a circuit minister with a tremendous faith in God, he

came into Ontario via the Niagara District. He organized churches there and as far west as Burford in Upper Canada.

Having heard of a settlement farther west, known as "Oxford on the Thames", he set out to find it. When he arrived at

the Grand River at Brant's crossing, the Grand was at flood stage. In attempting to cross the river his horse was

drowned, forcing him to turn back. People from the Bay of Quinte area heard of NATHAN'S loss and bought him another

horse.

In the spring of 1804 REV. BANGS set out again for the West, arriving at " oxford on the Thames" in August. Meetings

were held in settler's homes and sometimes under the trees. A church was organized as a result and then this

enterprising minister pushed on further westward. His travels took him to Delaware, Amherstburg and finally Detroit. He

arrived back at Burford in late fall.

In about 1805 a log meeting house was built on the SW corner of Lot 7, Broken Front Concession, of West

Oxford, where Karn burial ground was located.

This church was burned in 1813 by Westbrook Raiders.

From 1813 to 1823 services were held in a schoolhouse which had been built about 1807 on Lot 15, Con 1, where the

present west Oxford Church and Cemetery are located. The original community was composed largely of United Empire

Loyalists, a hardy, moral, deeply religious people.

Some of these pioneer names are:

UREN, PIPER, BRINK, SCOTT, HARRIS, GALLOWAY, PIERCE, WOOD, REYNOLDS, JANES and SAGE.

In 1842 Woodstock was the head of the circuit with REV. HENRY BYERS as pastor.

In 1849 Ingersoll was the head and the REV. JAMES SHEPLEY as pastor

In 1868 the church was placed with Salford as the head, then in 1944 Beachville became the head of the circuit with

West Oxford and Sweaburg.

In 1854 REV WILLIAM RYERSON gave a sermon. The REV. ALEX G. HARRIS, then a boy of 13,

clearly remembered the sermon.

In 1904 REV. ALEX G. HARRIS preached the Jubilee Anniversary services.

In 1923 REV ALBERT C. CREWS, D.D. of Toronto, a former pastor whose father had also served as pastor if this little

church, gave a sermon.

Four of the members of the Church in 1974 were: LAWRENCE JOHNSTON of Avon who, in August celebrated his

106th birthday. MRS. MARY BROWN of Foldens, West Oxford, who celebrated her 100th birthday. DUNCAN

McLAUCHLIN, aged 84 and EBEN W. UREN, 82 both of Ingersoll.

 

MISS SARA CUTHBERT'S SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS: Early 1900's

CLARENCE ARCHER, HARRY SCOTT, STANLEY LAZENBY, SAM TITUS, GEORGE SCOTT, ROYAL COOK,

HARRY RUCKLE, ALEX BRINK, EMMERSON SCOTT, ALBERT BATTEN, ELMER HEENEY. WEST OXFORD

 

LADIES AID - 1921:

IRENE BATTEN, VIOLA FRANKLIN, RUTH CURRIE, MILDRED MUNROE, HAZEL BATTEN, MRS. E. HEENEY,

MRS. FRANK HEENEY SR. MRS. HARRY O'DELL, MRS. WILLIAM BATTEN, MRS. FRANK SCOTT, EDNA CURRIE,

MRS EDWARD DODGE, MRS GEORGE FRANKLIN {FLOYD FRANKLIN;baby}, MRS. {REV} FYDELL, MRS. J.

MILLINGTON, MRS F. HEENEY, MRS. C. CUTHBERT, MRS. A TUNKS, MRS. A HUNTLEY, MRS. H. O'DELL, MRS

WILLIAM HASKETT{ROWENA HASKETT, Child} and MRS. GEORGE RUCKLE.

 

Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 17:49:22 - Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

FUNERALS AND OBITUARIES:

Early Funerals There were no places established as cemeteries in the late 18th century. Usually a space in a clearing

was set aside for the family cemetery. This place was not far from the farm buildings. Markers were placed on the grave

bearing the name of the departed and other information. Crosses made of pieces of plank, flat stones or marlbe slabs

were used. As farms changed ownership, these markers disappeared and nothing was left to mark these family plots. In

the 1820's religious organizations began to form and erected meeting houses along with burying plots. In areas without

churches land was selected and set aside for cemeteries. The first hearses were elongated boxes on democrat gears

and wheels. These were painted black and if the party being buried was an adult the hearse was decorated with black

plumes and drawn by a team of black horses. If a young person was being buried the plumes were white and white

horses were used. The first motor hearse funeral from Ingersoll was that of MR. CHARLES JENVEY, in August of 1917.

 

EARLY CEMETERIES OF WEST OXFORD:

Burials were probably made in the West Oxford church cemetery prior to the purchase of the site in 1823. There are

some markers that bear earlier dates. It seemed to be the custom to bury the departed members of the families on the

home farm. Deeds were not usually secured for such burial areas but permission was granted by the owner of the area

selected.

 

One of the earliest undeeded cemeteries, wherein pioneers were buried was an elevation of land on the THOMAS

INGERSOLL farm. This is now the north west corner of King and Harris Sts. Ingersoll.

The Baptist cemetery at Pipers Corners immediately west of the former school and marked by a clump of cedar trees, was

granted by SIMON MABEE, who owned the farm on which the cemetery was located.

The old Methodist cemetery, about half a mile south of the West Oxford Church on the east side of the Jordan Road was

granted to the Piper's Corners Free Methodist group by JACOB WOOD, the farm owner.

These 3 cemeteries, wherein lay buried many of the pioneer settlers and their families have long since lost their

indentification. All markers have been removed and the land has been put under cultivation.

A very early Methhodist Church stood on the south part of Lot 7, BF Concession. This small church was on the north side

of the Old Stage Rd.

There was a cemetery on one side of the church in which some members of the COOK family were buried. NEIL

SWARTZ owned the farm for many years but now it is owned by JOHN JULIAN.

There were many private family cemeteries on the farms.

On the DANIEL HARRIS farm, lot 18, concession 2, there were 2 cemeteries for the several HARRIS families.

One cemetery was near the north east corner of the farm, in a gravelly knoll, the other was also in a gravel knoll near the

west boundary of the lot. All the bodies were later moved to the Harris St. cemetery.

There was a frame church on Lot 25, Concession 1, which was Anglican and served by the minister of Ingersoll.

There was a cemetery on the north side of the lot. The church burned.

 

 

Date: Mon, 14 May 2001 08:42:07 -0400  Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

DUNELG:

Written by MRS. E. S. SMITH; formerly JULIA A. PHELPS, with assistance from relatives.

Was located on Lots 3 and 4 Broken Front Concession West Oxford: Dunelg, meaning Beauty of the Hills. Local

Registry Office records indicate that the original 158 and a half acre estate was purchased in 1856 from RICHARD

CAREY ELVES by HENRY and CHARLES INGLES; In 1862 from CHARLES INGLES by COLONEL JAMES A

SKINNER; in 1905 from AGNES SKINNER by CHARLES THOMPSON; In 1911 from FLORENCE THOMPSON by

CHARLES PHELPS.

It is said that RICHARD CAREY ELVES built the original brick house for residence only. He did not farm at all. It is said

that MR. ELVES had a son who died and was buried in this area, after which he sold the property and returned to

England.

During COLONEL SKINNER'S ownership, he purchased the Presbyterian Church in Beachville and used the materials to

add an addition to the house. Colonel SKINNER was a native of Tain, Ross-Shire, Scotland and commanded the 13th

Battalion of Hamilton. He represented South Oxford in the House of Commons from 1874-1882. In 1871 he organized

and commanded a team of Ontario riflemen, who represented the first British colony to compete at Wimbledon. He retired

from the army in 1885.

CHARLES THOMPSON purchases this property in 1905 for farming. MR. THOMPSON did not live to see the fruits of his

labours as he was gored by a bull and died as a result.

CHARLES PHELPS purchased this estate from Mr. Thompson's widow, FLORENCE, and moved his family from the

Hickson sideroad. He had learned the trade of blacksmithing and had practised in Beachville but had always wanted to

farm. He did his own horseshoeing but from time to time did some custom work. He added an extra 50 acres and the

property extended from the 1st concession to the Thames River. MR. PHELPS won several prizes from the Head Office

of Toronto City Dairy for being the largest, individual producer of milk shipped from the Woodstock Branch

on Winnett Street. MR PHELPS died in 1923 and for a time his wife carried on. Later sons MERVIN and FREDERICK

inherited the property. MERVIN'S widow HARRIETT and sons LOUIS and WILLIAM still live on the old house and a

portion of the acreage has been retained.

 

FAIRMOUNT FARM:

This property, Lot 5 and 6 Broken Front, was bought by MR. SHANN in 1873.

ALFRED SHANN built the brick house in 1880. He had come from England and his twin brother lived where Borden's

factory in Ingersoll now stands. SHANN brought cement watering troughs from England and one of these is still in

use today{1974}. Before MR. SHANN came , it is believed that 2 brothers by the name of MILLAR lived on this farm.

They had buildings facing on Concession 1. Later some of these were moved to the middle of the farm. MR. DUNN

remembers a log cabin and well near the middle of the farm.

In 1903 the DUNN family came to work for Mr Shann. Mr. SHANN often preached at the Anglican Church. Shann's

housekeeper MISS BARBARA McCORQUODALE was permitted visits from young CLARA DUNN.

In 1913 MR. WILLIAM DUNN bought the farm. His son E now lives on this farm. Four generations of the DUNN family

have lived on this farm. The land for Fairmount park was leased by JUDGE WALLACE, one of The Street Railway Co.

directors, from the DUNN family.

 

 

Date: Tue, 15 May 2001 09:16:19 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

NORTHCOTE "DORLANDS":

Dorland's subdivision was built on very historic property on Lot 2, Broken Front West Oxford. From the beachville

museum we obtained the following description of this beautiful property as it was in the beginning. "The house was at the

end of a long beautiful drive and was made of sun dried adobe bricks.

Records of 1837 show that a MR. DEEDES received a grant of 200 acres and MR. EDMUND DEEDES of Sandling

Park, Kent County, England was the builder. In CAPTAIN GRAHAM'S Diary it was brought out that MR. DEEDES and a

brother were already living there before 1837. Many celebrated personages were regularly entertained at Northcote. One

of the most famous was SIR FRANCIS BOND HEAD, then Governor of Upper Canada. Sir Francis had been a

classmate of MR. DEEDES. After Mr. DEEDES appointment as Sheriff of Norfolk his property was sold to Flaxman JOHN

H. BROWN.

Other owners included S.H. JANES, E.B. VAREY, AL CORMACK and DR. J.J. BROWN. DR. BROWN gew herbs fo

rmedicinal purposes and many oldsters will remember the beds in ginseng grown on the hill below the house and the

slatted covers to provide the herb with shade.

MR. AL CORMACK bought the farm about 1915. He was a famous jockey of his day, having been employed as jockey

for King Alphonse of Spain. Upon retiring he returned to his native county, married a Woodstock girl, and for a time

farmed the land.

About 1942, MR GEORGE DORLAND of Bradford bought this farm and set it up for farming. During MR. DORLAND'S

occupancy he drew up plans, surveyed the land and laid out a subdivision in multishaped design in 1947. Such basics

as a well, paved streets and school were provided. MR. DORLAND also built a factory across the lane and below his

house as a paper factory. When this ceased to operate he sold it and a small acreage to MR. J. PYE, who later sold to

MR. O. McMULLEN, a John Deere Implement agent. MR. DORLAND farmed here for abuot 6 years but as his young

sons did not wish to continue farming he sold the remaining property to MR. and MRS.O. ROSZELL of Woodstock.

 

Date: Tue, 15 May 2001 14:21:15 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

THE WAR OF 1812 IN OXFORD COUNTY:

Oxford County did not experience any actual fighting in the war, but did see plunderings, raids, etc. The heavy

fighting was on and along the Great Lakes from Detroit to the St. Lawrence River. When the Americans invaded Ontario

{Upper Canada} in 1812, the Oxford Militia was mobilized under LT. COL. HENRY BOSTWICK, and was in almost

continuous service till the end of the war. It took part in numerous skirmishes and in actual battles at Detroit, Fort Erie,

Nanticoke Creek, Lundy's Lane and Malcolm's Mills. After the defeat of CAPT. BARCLAY in 1813 on Lake Erie by the

Americans, all supplies for the army at Detroit had tom come over land from Brantford by way of an almost impassable

road alon the Thames River, through Oxford County. One of the paymaster's wagons from Montreal was looted at

Martin's Tavern on the Old Stage Road south of Beachville. Legend has it that two tons of gold are still buried there. A

flour mill, erected in 1805 by JAMES BURDICK, where Centreville now stands, was later sold to an ANDREW

WESTBROOK. WESTBROOK, after many years' residence in Canada, declared his loyalty to the American cause, and

he was reponsible for most of the raids in Oxford County. He and EBENEZER ALLAN were seized and had their holdings

confiscated by order of GENERAL ISAAC BROCK. ALLAN died shortly after, but Westbrook ESCAPED. He later

returned, leading a raiding party and burned his buildings and the mill. One of his old neighbours, a MAYOR SYKES

TOWSLEY of the local Militia, was stationed in Oxford County. Westbrook entered TOWSLEY'S home and carried him

off, tied to his own horse. During the sring and summer of 1814, Westbrook led many raids up the Thames, burning

property and taking prisoners. In August he returned to the Beachville area, burned the mill and carried off sveral officers

and prominent citizens. One man, whose buildings were destroyed was GEORGE NICHOLS, who lived on the 1st

concession just south of Centreville. NICHOLS and his family hid in the woods to escape the enemy. Amongs those

carried off were three men by the name of HALL, CURTIS and CARROLL. CARRILL'S father, JOHN CARROLL, had

settled near Beachville in 1784. He bought his land from the Indians and then in 1789 returned to New Jersey for his

family of nine sons and two daughters. The one son CAPTAIN JOHN CARROLL JR., who was taken prisoner by

Westbrook, was forced to ride Westbrook's pinto, which was known all over the province. The ruse worked. A rescue

party followed the raiders down the river, and CAPTAIN CARROLL was shot and killed by his best friend, who supposed

the rider was Westbrook. Besides the CAPTAIN JOHN CARROLL JR., who was killed in 1814, there was HENRY

CARROLL, killed in the Battle of Stoney Creek on June 16, 1813. Another son, DANIEL, was married to CLARISSA

HALL and was active in business around Ingersoll. One of the daughters, GERTRUDE, married CHARLES

INGERSOLL, who opened the first store and Post Office in Ingersoll in 1822. One BURDICK family, who had settled

west of Centreville in

1803, reported horses seized and buildings burned. It is reported that two young lads from Beachville, WILLIAM DODGE

and WARNER DYGERT, hardly big enough to hold a musket, fought through the compaign and when the army

disbanded, found their way home on foot, begging food and lodging on their way. The story is told that CHRISTOPHER

KARN, living just north of Beachville, hitched up his oxen and drove a wagon-load of recruits to Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Later, a Beachville woman walked to Niagara with socks she had knitted for her husband. It is told that the KARNS

entertained the Indian Chief, Tecumseh, a short time before he was killed. COMFORT SAGE and CALEB HOPKINS,

whose families wer original settlers on the Old Stage Road, enlisted together, were also veterans of the 1812-1815 war,

and were said to have fought at Chrysler's Farm. HOPKINS lived near Centreville and C. SAGE at Lot 11, Con.3.

 

 

Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 13:35:25 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

THE REBELLION OF 1837 IN WEST OXFORD:

The tranquility that the "Old Stage Road" had enjoyed since 1814 was again disrupted when the discontent of the

settlers in Upper Canada flamed into open rebellion under the leadership of William Lyon MacKenzie. For 13 years he

had been battling, through the columns of his newspaper, on the public platform and in the Legislative Assembly, against

abuses occasioned by the form of government given to the Canadas by the Constitutional Act of 1791. Most of the

Executive Council were chosen from the Legislative Assembly. They seemed to hold office for life and even

recommended their friends as their successors. Thus the real power fell into the hands of a social clique nicknamed "The

Family Compact". This Tory government gave thousands of acres to the Clergy Reserves{Church of England} who paid

not a farthing toward education or roads, as well as large grants of land to themselves and their friends.

The government took no action to redress these intolerable conditions. DR. DUNCOMBE, who led the uprising in the

London district, was himself the member for Oxford in the Legistative Assembly in 1836. He was successful in raising a

company in Norwich district which was joined by several groups including the Old Stage Road contingent at Scotland

near Burford. They had scarcely come together on Dec 14 before word was received of Col McNab's{Dundurn Castle,

Hamilton} approaching force. After MacKenzie's men were scattered in a sort of sham fight near Montgomery's Tavern

on Yonge St. Toronto, MacKenzie escaped to the United States. This disturbing news was kept from the Oxford

insurgents. COL. ALEXANDER LIGHT, commanding officer of the Oxford Militia, led the hunt for the rebels.

DUNCOMBE'S little force of not more than 300 poorly armed, hungry, and tired men was so surely doomed to disaster

that the decision to disperse and seek safety in flight was inevitable. When MCNAB'S army arrived the next day, the

enemy had flown. The HARRIS family on the edge of Ingersoll helped DR. DUNCOMBE to escape. He was hiding in the

barn of ELISHA HARRIS when COL LIGHT came looking for him. MR. HARRIS was able to delay the search long

enough to allow the Doctor to escape. The Old Stage Volunteers were led by ELISHA HALL, LUTHER HASKINS,

WILLIAM CARROLL, JAMES CANFIELD, DAVID CURTIS and PELHAM C. TEEPLE. Many of the ringleaders were

captured and taken to London to stand trial. Old St. Paul's Church in Woodstock was used as a jail also. One who was

kept a prisoner in his own home was ELISHA HALL. The guards became used to seeing MRS. HALL go each evening

to the well with two pails for water. Then one morning they discovered the empty buckets at the well. They found MRS.

HALL'S hoops in the bushes. HALL had escaped. His trail was picked up at Salford where the friendly HIRAM RANNEY

had hidden him in his barn.

HALL eventually made his way to Michigan accompanied by SAMUEL EDISON of Vienna, father of THOMAS A.

EDISON, and about 60 others. HALL stayed away until 1841 when Queen Victoria granted an amnesty to all exiles. One

of the rebels was not so fortunate. CORNELIUS CUNNINGHAM, a Beachville wagon-maker was hanged at London in

1839. ELISHA HALL, returned to Ingersoll to become a Justice of the Peace. The "Family Compact" government

realized that discontent was rampant and to save themselves from being overturned agreed to Lord Durham's

recommendations that Upper and Lower Canada be joined, and that Canada should have Responsible Government.

 

 

 

Date: Thu, 17 May 2001 10:45:46 -Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

WORLD WAR 1 AND WORLD WAR 11:

World War 1:

No army unit was ever specifically of West Oxford, all were tied in with such units as the 22nd Oxford Rifles, Grey's

Horse, 168th battalion{Oxford's Own}, Corps of Guides, etc. We do not have a record as to which township any recruit

came from. Through the courtesy of LIEUT. COL. W.T. McMULLEN and LIEUT. T.C. HUNTER, we have this record

concerning the 168th Battalion. It comes indirectly from an article printed in the Daily Sentinel Review, Dated Feb. 8,

1919. Authorized under order of the Minister of Militia and Defence, dated Dec. 21, 1915, the 168th infantry Battalion

was organized and mobilized in Woodstock. It was the second Oxford County unit assembled, the first being the 71th

Battalion, orgainzed

in the Fall of 1914. Recruiting for this unit was carried on vigorously throughout the county, with a ready response from

hundreds of young men answering their Country's call to arms.

Between January, 1916 and the following May, a total of 937 men had volunteered their services. During this mobilixation

period the troops were quartered in the towns of Ingersoll, Norwick, Tillsonburg and Woodstock. By May 1916, the 168th

was pcompetely mobilized and ready to be moved to London on June 1st. From there they left for Camp Borden for

training. On Nov. 1st, 1916 the 168th left Halifax aboard the steamer "Lapland". Accompanying them were two other

Battalions, the 161th and 133rd. Their ship was part of a convoy escorted by warships. A ten days' voyage brought the

"Lapland" and her sister ships to Liverpool. The Battalion of Oxford boys was immediately entrained for West Sandling

Camp for six weeks of further training. After this the unit was broken up, part being sent to the 39th reserve Battalion, and

the remainder to the 12th Reserve Battalion.

From time to time, officers and men were sent from these units to reinforce the 1st, 2nd, 18th and 21st Canadian Infantry

units in the battle zones. The list of those wounded and killed of Oxford's famous Battalion was quite long, yet it forms a

glorious memorial to their valour and self sacrifice. Their blood has stained the soil of France at every battle of importance

which took place; Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, Messines, Wytchaete, Passemhendale, Arras, and Cambrai. Army records state

that 107 gave their lives 208 were wounded, 7 missing and 2 taken as prisoners.

 

CALVARY UNIT, GRAY HORSE:

Around 1910-14{had to be before 1914 as one member James Hughes died in 1913} COL. T. R. MAYBERRY was

the commander; LIEUT. JAMES BASTEDO, MELVIN SHELTON, EARL MILLARD, ROY LONGWORTH, JAMES

HUGHES, HARLEY GREGG, HARLEY MAYBERRY, BERT SHUTTLEWORTH, CHARLES DOWNING, NORMAN

THORNTON, ? STICKNER, JACK NICHOLS, AUSTIN SERVICE, GEOFFREY BRAGG.

 

Some of the Women from Sweaburg Church that did Red Cross Work during World War 1 were:

OLIVE RICE, FLOSSIE McKAY, MAY MASSON and EVA PULLIN

 

The following List of West Oxford men who served in World War 1 was compiled by CAPTAIN TOM

WILLIAMS, who spent much time and effort to make it as complete and accurate as possible. Unfortunately it may be

that some names are missing owing to the lack of information. Then, too, there may be a few included who did not

actually come from this township. We trust that any errors or omissions may be pardoned in view of the great difficulty in

obtaining complete and accurate information: THESE NAMES ARE NOT IN ANY KIND OF ORDER:

LESLIE THORNTON-168th & 21st Batt. {lost a leg at Passchendaele} STANLEY ALLIN-71st Battery-Can. Field Artillery

'17 BERT DAVEY CLAYTON DAVEY-168th Batt. VERN DAVIS-168th Batt.- Killed in Action VERNON LICK-168th- Killed

in Action PERCY JAKEMAN-46th Batt.- Killed in Action '17 HARRY JAKEMAN-52nd Can. Br.- Killed in Action '18

ALBERT HOBBS-168th Batt.- Died overseas from Influenza FRED McCUTCHEN-63rd Batt. EDWARD TOWN-71st

Batt. LLOYD GEE-71st Batt. CECIL WOOD-168th Batt.- Killed in Action JOHN E. WILLIAMS-{Cadet in RFC at close of

war}{Canada} JOSEPH BROWN-168th Batt.- Killed in Action CHARLES CRAWFORD-168th Batt. FRED CRAWFORD-

168th Batt. ARTHUR W. CRAWFORD-168th Batt.- Killed in Action WILLIAM CHEW-168th Batt. FRANK HARRIS-71st

Batt. EDWIN FAIRBANKS-168th Batt. FRED FAIRBANKS-168th Batt. ERNEST O. HOUGHTON-168th Batt. R.F.C. A.

HARRIS-168th Batt. PERCY LANGFORD- Can. Engineers. ALBERT S. LEONARD-168th Batt. ELMER LAARZ-168th

Batt. WILLIAM MOGGACH-168th Batt. JOHN MOGGACH-168th Batt.- Killed in Action BEN McINTYRE-168th Batt.

E.A.S. NOTT-168th Batt. FRED PETTMAN-168th Batt. DEL LEWIS-168th batt. FRANK DAVIS-71st Batt. ARCHIE

DAVIS-71st Batt. L. DAVIS-71st Batt. CHESTER PYATT-168th Batt. GORDON MASSON-168th Batt. BARNEY

WOLFE-168th Batt. ALFRED REED- 168th Batt. ROSS McINTYRE-3rd Siege Battery- Killed in Action T.F. WILLIAMS-

Enlisted 1st day with " Corps of Guides" HUGH ROSS TED BARTRAM JOSH GOODALL ABE GOODALL LES. COOK

EARL UREN WILL RIVERS

 

 

Date: Sat, 19 May 2001 09:40:13 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

WORLD WAR 11:

The record of West Oxford men and women who gave their service for the cause of Freedom in World War 11 Again

these names are in no order:

WILLIAM ABBOTT; ARTHUR BUDD-R.C.O.C.; WILLIAM K. BUDD-R.C.A.F.; STANLEY CONKWRIGHT; BERT

DAVIS; EARL A. HERMAN; PHILLIP W. HUNTER; JOHN E. KLOEFER-Army; GEORGE MILLARD-R.C.A.F.;

HOWARD

PECKHAM-Army; JOSEPH THORNLY-Army; JACK H. TICE-Army; JAMES WHITTEM-Army; ROBERT S. WILSON;

ALBERT DIBBLE; DONALD GUTHRIE-R.C.A.F.; GORDON GUTHRIE; RONALD SAGE; WILLIAM A. SAGE-R.C.A.F.;

WILSON THORNTON; CLEWORTH WITTY-R.C.N.V.R.; JACK SHUTTLEWORTH-R.C.A.F.; DOROTHY

SHUTTLEWORTH-C.W.A.C.; DONALD E JENVEY-R.C.A.F.-Died in Action; ALVIN HILL-R.C.A.F.; BEULAH MILLER-

W.R.E.N.; WILSON THORNTON; BERTRAM DAVEY-Army; JACK MUMMERY-Navy; HARLOLD THORNTON; JAMES

TALBOTT; WILLIAM F. GRAY; EARL TALBOT; GLENN McCUTCHEN-Army; DONALD RILEY; JOYCE TODD; JAMES

MINERS; CECIL ADAMS; ROBERT KIRKPATRICK; WILLIAM SHAVER-A.E.F.; CHARLES E. WHEELER-Army; R.W.

BOWMAN-Navy; DAVID CUMMING-R.C.A.F.; KEITH TURNER-Army; J.S. CURRY-R.C.A.F.; ANNIE LONGWORTH-

W.R.E.N.; ARCHIE LONGWORTH-R.C.A.F.; ROSTON HARGREAVES-Med cORPS; JOHN A MASSON-R.C.A.F;

RUSSELL MALCOLM-Signal Corps; ISAAC GARDINER-Army; MURRAY GRANT-R.C.A.F.-Killed in Action; MARION

MALCOLM-R.C.A.F.; FRED BUCHANAN-R.C.O.C.; NORMAN S. PULLEN-R.C.A.S.C.; ALFRED BERST; EVELYN

SPENCER; STUART McKAY; CONSTANCE CUTHBERT-Nurse; EARL GARFAT; DONALD McCUTCHEN-Army;

JOSEPH FALLOWFIELD; MAURICE BENJAMIN-R.C.A.F.C.; CARL BENJAMIN-Army; FRED McCUTCHEN-Army;

GORDON MORRISON-Army; RUTH McCUTCHEN-W.A.F.; MARJORY MUMMERY; ALGIE MUMMERY-Navy; JOHN

GRAY-Army; MARIE TERRY-R.C.A.F.; BARBARA TODD-R.C.A.F.; VINCENT TRNKA; ARTHUR COVER-Died in

Action; QUENTON MARKLE; CHARLES HARTLEY; A. KEITH MOORE-R.C.A.F.; GLENN PEARCE-R.C.A.F.; FRED

KIRKPATRICK-Army; DENNIS REID-Army; MAX A. POOLE-Navy; WILLIAM LOOSEMORE-R.C.A.F.; CECIL

WHEELER-Army; ARCHIE MUNROE; ALBERT ATKINSON; FRANK ATKINSON; C.E. BLANCHER; RAYMOND

CONNOR;

FRED CUTHBERT; ROY H FRANKLIN; LEWIS J HARVEY; JACK C. HUNTER; C.J.W. KIMBERLEY; R. RALPH

McKILLEN; GORDON C. McLEOD; JEAN L. BROWN; CECIL TITUS; RAYMOND J. VOIGT; JOHN BONE; MERVYN

CONNOR; DONALD McKILLEN; DONALD VOIGT; ARCH. L. WILSON; HAROLD D. WILSON-Died in Action

 

Since Beachville is our oldest village and is the only one in West Oxford with a Legion Organization, we are writing it

separately. There was an active Patriotic Society and each soldier who enlisted was presented with a beautiful watch.

The Wool Committee of the Red Cross presented each with a sweater and socks. The Young Patriotic Club was

organized in 1941 and they sent cigarettes monthly to the boys.

BEACHVILLE, WEST OXFORD:

JAMES TODD Army: WILLIAM BROOKER; MAX LOCK; WILLIAM MacMILLEN; CHARLES FAIRBANKS; EDWARD

NADALIN; CHARLES CLAYTON; GORDON MOGGACH; GORDON CLAYTON; MELVIN ARMSTRONG; RAY

SADLER; CLIFFORD HORTON; MURRAY HUTCHESON; OAMER McDONALD; REG FEATHERSTONE; HARLEY

COUSINS; VERNON LOWES; KEN NADALIN; DON CARTER; JOHN CLAYTON; NORMAN NADALIN; BRUCE

HUTCHESON; NELSON HUTCHESON; TOM HUTCHESON- Died in Action

Navy: ARTHUR PEARSON; WALTER BREMNER; CECIL NADALIN; ARTHUR SPRINGALL; ROBERT McCOMBS;

JOHN LOWES; JACK PAUL; WILLIAM NADALIN; WILLIAM HARRIS; NEIL WINLAW; CLARK TODD; THOMAS

NOTT; DONALD CRAWFORD; DONALD GERMAN; WILLIAM

MOGGACH; DELLOYD LIGHTHEART

Merchant Navy: GORDON TODD; JIM NADALIN Air Force: JACK WINLAW; BRUCE SUTHERLAND; LORNE

RIDLEY; JOHN CANFIELD; GRAHAM LOWES BEACHVILLE NORTH: Army: JACK

WRIGHT; VINCE CRAWFORD; HAROLD DRYER; JOHN PARK; JIM MONTGOMERY; FRANK VALE; FRANK WEBB;

FRED VALE; WILLIAM LIGHTHEART; GORDON HEWMAN; NELSON POST; HUGH HACKER; WILFRED VALE;

GERALD LIGHTHEART; STEWART HEPBURN; EARL LEONARD; W. BLANCHARD; O. POSSABON; J. SMITH

Navy: JOHN MOGGACH; JOHN NADALIN; WILLIAM VALE Air Force: JEAN PARK; GERALD PELLETIER

 

UNVEILING OF HONOR ROLL AT FOLDEN'S CHURCH: As copied form MRS. E. MILLARD'S SCRAPBOOK {No

Date} The service was held in the United Church, and REV DAVID ALEXANDER of the Baptist Church gave an

address. The

unveiling ceremony was carried out by REV R.B. CUMMING, with MRS. HOWARD RAWLINGS and MRS. EARL

MILLARD assisting. A tribute was paid to those who enlisted for active service and prayer made for their protection and

safe return.

The names were read as follows:

 WILLIAM ABBOTT; WILLIAM K. BUDD; RONALD BARNETT; STANLEY CRONKWRIGHT; BERT DAVIS; ALBERT

DIBBLE; DONALD GUTHRIE; GORDON GUTHRIE; EARL A. HARMAN, ALVIN E. HILL; PHILIP W. HUNTER; JOHN

E. KLEOPFER, GEORGE MILLARD, HOWARD PECKHAM; NORMAN S. PULLIN, RONALD SAGE, WILLIAM A.

SAGE,

WILSON THORNTON; JOSEPH THORNLY; JACK H. TICE; JAMES WHITTEN, ROBERT E. WILSON, CLEAWORTH

WITTY.

 

 

Date: Mon, 21 May 2001 11:47:04 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

THE THORNTON WINDMILL:

Lot 10, Con.2 The windmill was built in 1877 and patterned after one MR. JOHN B. THORNTON saw at the Chicago

World Fair. this windmill had five floors with a winding stairway. There was a bedroom on the 2nd floor, a 12+8 storage

tank on the ground floor. This tower had a twenty foot base tapered to six feet, with a railing around the landing. MR.

FOX of Sweaburg was the carpenter in charge. The bedroom on the 2nd floor was used by hired men. The water supply

tank

provided water for the bathroom on the end of a long hallway on this extension from the main house.

PEOPLE OF ACHIEVEMENT:

ROYAL ALEXANDER BRINK Royal Alexander Brink was born Sept. 16, 1897 at Lot 8, Con 3 West Oxford, the son of

ROYAL and ELIZABETH [CUTHBERT] BRINK. He attended North Sweaburg School and later graduated from

Woodstock Collegiate Institue. After graduating from Ontario Agricultural College he took a post graduate course in

Science of Agriculture at Urbana University, Ill. He was then awarded a scholarship to Harvard University, where he

received his doctorate in genetics. PROFESSOR R. A. BRINK became a member of the faculty of University of

Wisconsin in 1922. He was a pioneer in development of hybrid seed corn research. He developed Wisconsin's money

crop-Vernal Alfalfa. In 1967 he visited the Ontario farm where he was raised. He found that the present operator, JAMES

BROWN, was growing Vernal alfalfa. As Brink's put it "The acceptance of Vernal for use on the home farm in Ontario

seemed like a token payment, made at the source, on the considerable debt that I, as an emigrant from Canada to the

U.S. before reaching my productive years, owed that land of my birth and early education. In 1963 Brink was president of

the American Society of Naturalists, and in 1967 he was President of Genetics Society of America.

MRS. MARY {GRANDMA} BROWN:

Mrs. Mary Brown, affectionately known as "Grandma Brown", was a well-known and loved residedt of Folden's Corners.

She was born near Brantford, at a place called Burtch's Landing, on the Grand River. It was given this name after her

father, ABSOLOM BURTCH. At the time of her birth, 1823, there were no good roads, in SW Ont. The Six Nations

Indians were very numerous in the Brantford area, and the BURTCH family learned to converse with them in their own

languages. MRS. BROWN became very fluent in the Mohawk dialect. Her first home in Oxford Co. was in the village of

Foldens on what was later known for many years as the JOHN DAVIS farm{now by the JOHN JANSSEN family}. She

and her husband CHARLES, had a family of six children. The second daughter, CLARISSA ANNIE, married WILLIAM C.

HILL, the father of OLIVER BERT HILL, a longtime resident of Foldens. The third daughter, IDA MAY,

married GEORGE NICHOLS, who lived near Centerville. The NICHOLS family had a long history in West Oxford. The

oldest son, OLIVER, was, for many years, a well known and highly respected mailcarrier. In spite of much difficulty and

tragedy in her life, including a long separation from her husband, and the loss of one son, NEWTON, in childhood, she

maintained a cheerful, optimistic outlook on life. Her son, OLIVER, lived with her for a long time during her later years. He

cared for her diligently in spite of being partially crippled. His death was a great loss for her. For ten years or more she

lived alone in her home about one and a quarter miles south of Foldens. MRS. BROWN lived to be over 100 years of

age,

She pasted away in 1923. This remarkable pioneer woman lived under four British momarchs. She planted oak trees in

her yard in honor of King Edward V11 and Queen Alexander. She "imported" a better strain of black walnut trees from

the Brantford area into West Oxford.

WILLIAM MILES:

1892-1958 MR. WILLIAM{BILL} MILES was born in Merscham, Surrey, England. He attended the Royal Horticultural

College at Wisley, where he met MR. W.R. DYKES, who awakened his lifelong interest in Irises. After coming to Canada

in 1912, he acquired his own farm in West Oxford, the north half of Lot 12, Con 3, which he named Surreyhurst. He gew

and developed ever better varieties by cross-breeding or hybridization. Now, although both MR. and MRS. MILES {nee

RUBY DAVIS, of West Oxford} are gone, memories of Surreyhurst remain. His daughter, CATHERINE ROSS, keeps

alive her father's love of history by her work on the

Tweedsmuir History

 

 

Date: Wed, 23 May 2001 09:16:33 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

OLIVER BERT HILL:

OLIVER BERT HILL was one lf the fourth generation of this family in West Oxford, being a great grandson of WILLIAM

HILL who came to West Oxford shortly before 1812. He was born in 1876 in Norfolk Co. In 1897, as a young unmarried

man, he joined the Baptist Church in Folden's Corners. Soon after this he left and lived in Northern Michigan for a few

years. O.B. HILL came to live permanently in Folden's Village in 1909. He owned and operated a blacksmith shop. He

invented and made many milk carts that farmers used for moving their cans easily and quickly. He had an exceptional

talent for making new kinds of tools that were designed to do many jobs that were extremely difficult or impossible to do

with the conventional tools available. To BERT HILL and his first wife, SARAH JANE BLASHILL, were born nine

children, all of whom, except one which died in infancy, are still living {1974}. In 1929 he was married a second time to

MARY FRANCES McCOOMBS. There are two sons and one daughter from this second marriage. For some time O.B.

travelled with a musical show company in Michigan as a vocal soloist, singing comic and popular songs. About 1919 he

became very interested in Hawaiian guitar music, he went a step further and began making guitars himself. One end of

the unfinished upstaris was transformed into a guitar shop. Many of his instruments were of excellent tone and are still

treasured by those that purchased them. He made four types of instruments after some years of experimentation: The

Hawaiian steel guitar, the conventional type of guitar and two types of harp guitars, the larger having 12 strings; he also

made ukeleles. He was successful in getting together a string orchestra sexette. Two of the Hill sons, EARL and CARL,

along with himself, made up half the number.

 Three other young men from the Ingersoll area made up the other half. JOSEPH T. FITZGERALD, EARL MOULTON

and WESLEY J. HENRY. BERT HILL was a devoted member of the Christian Church of his choice. Although often

misjudged concerning his religious beliefs, he maintained a charitable attitude toward all other faiths, and was always

ready to give reasons for the Christian faith which he espoused. He passed away suddenly on the morning of his 84th

birthday, April 25, 1960.

CAPTAIN THOMAS F. WILLIAMS:

Canada's oldest living pilot{1974}, CAPTAIN THOMAS F. WILLIAMS, was born in West Oxford in 1885, the son of MR.

and MRS. FRED WILLIAMS. In W.W.1. Tom went overseas with the First Canadian Contingent, rose to the rank of

Corporal, then with the Military Mounted Police. In 1917 he joined the Royal Flying Corps. In 1927, he began operating

Oxford County's first licensed airport on his farm at Sweaburg.

Also, this same year, TOM and NATHAN COCKER brought fame to the Bond's farm Youth Club by winning the Burnaby

Cup for top debaters in Massey Hall in Toronto. In 1937-39, Tom was bush flying in Northern Ontario, Manitoba and

Quebec. In the Second World War, Captain Williams was employed as Chief Test Pilot for Fleet Aircraft Limited of Fort

Eried and tested parachutes for a Fort Erie Firm from 1939. He was awarded Britain's Military Cross and Italy's El Valor

Militaire. In 1967, Captain Williams was honored by the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association, who named him

Canada's outstanding pilot of the year. His original international flying license was signed by ORVILLE WRIGHT and

thwse original licenses were recalled in the early 1950's. Tom thought his flying days were over, but at the age of 75, he

started from scratch and got his flying license back. T.F. WILLIAMS was inducted into Canada;s newly established

Aviation Hall of Fame at Edmonton in 1974. He also has been homored by the senior Companions of the Order Icarus for

service of his aeronautical skills for the advancment of manned flight. His name is to be found in the Guinness World

Book of Records.

 

 

Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 09:29:27 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

There are also biographies of GORDON W. INNES; MICHEAL DEWAN; BYRON G. JENVEY; CARL MILLARD; JOHN

ROSTON HARGREAVES; ELIZABETH GRACE HEENEY and GEORGE C. CURRIE, who may be still alive or whose

families may be, so if you are a member of the family and would like these, please Email me separately.

 

WEST OXFORD CENTURY FARMS:

in 1967 COMORVALDY:

The CODY farm - lot 5, Con 3 This property was originally bought from the Crown by the HON. ROBERT HAMILTON,

whose son sold the entire lot to CALVIN MARTIN. In 1864 FRANKLIN CODY bought part of this property and with his

wife, ANN HOMOR BURNS, lived here and raised seven children. There is also a house across the lane built 1877 and

WARREN, a son, and his wife ALENA ELFIE WILKINS resided here for a time and in 1883 bought the entire property

from his father. WARREN CODY died in 1920 and in 1927 ALMA BURNS CODY inherited the property, her tow brothers

having predeceased their father. She married THOMAS F. WILLIAMS and they had one daughter, ALENA BEATRICE,

and about 1933 they began remodelling their house and this continued for a number of years until the house reached its

present state. In 1972 ALMA CODY-WILLIAMS died and left the remaining property to her daughter ALENA. In 1954,

112 acres of the property had been sold to HENRY and MAGDALENA E. VANDORP. COMORVALDY is a combination

of CODY and MORVAL which is an impressive family "seat" in England. BUDD - Lot 9, Con 3 The original owner of this

farm

was JOHN YOUNGS, who bought the land from the crown in 1848. JOSEPH BUDD bought the 200 acres in 1869. He

had three sons, GEORGE, CHARLES and ARTHUR. They were noted teamsters and worked in the sawmill across the

road. ARTHUR farmed here after he married CLARA MANZER

{I am related to the MANZER'S and would love it if anyone could tell me who CLARA was ??}.

They raised a family of five sons - ALBERT, VERNON, WILBUR, HARRY and FRANK; four daughters - ETHEL,

EDITH, EDNA and MABEL. WILBUR continued to farm here after his marriage to GLADYS UREN. They raised four

children: ELIZABETH, WILLIAM, GEORGE[died at age 6] and RUTH. WILBUR was very active in community affairs,

having served on School Board and in council as reeve. WILLIAM K. moved to the farm after his father's death in

1972. He and RITA[RUCKLE] have two children; CRAIG and MARCIA who are the fifth generation on this farm.

 

 

Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 20:29:34 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

BRAGG -

Lot 8, Con. 5 The original owner was WILLIAM BRAGG who settled here in 1865. He built a log house and a small barn

on the 50 acres. Later more land was purchased until it became 200 acres. There were three daughters - VIOLET,

MARJORIE and PEARL, two sons - CLARENCE and JAMES. CLARENCE purchased the farm from the estate in 1948.

He and his wife, LUELIA CLINE raised a family of eight daughters - DOROTHY, JEAN, MILDRED, RUTH, JUNE,

BERNICE, DONNA and GLORIA, three sons - WALLACE, ROY and DOUGLAS. The house burned in 1952. A

new home was built soon after. Five generations have lived here.

COOK -

lot 8 and 9, Con 1, and Lots 9 and 10, Con 2 MUNSON COOK and his wife MARY WHIPPLE, U.E.L. from Vermont first

settled here in 1824. since then five generations have worked these farms. JOSEPH COOK and his wife CLARISSA

WHITE lived here until 1870's with their five children. Their son GORDON HARDIN COOK was Warden in 1875 and his

son GEORGE JOSEPH became Warden in 1912. He and his wife MARTHA JANE COVERHILL, raised seven children

on this farm. One of these, MORLEY ADDISON, married CORA O'DELL at which time the old house was moved west of

the new red brick built in 1915 for MORLEY and CORA. The barn was built in 1891. The farm is now operated by a

grandson, ALLAN OSBORNE and his wife KATHERINE FIRSTBROOK.

 

CURRY -

Lot 1, Con 2 THOMAS CURRY and brother-in-law RALPH LUND and JOHN HOWDEN came to Canada in 1839 and

decided they would like to buy land and make a home for themselves near the Old Stage Road. This was crown land

and in order to buy it they had to go to Toronto. As money was scarce only one could go and JOHN HOWDEN was sent

to buy each of them 100 acres. On April 29th 1839 JOHN HOWDEN became the registered owner of 200 acres. When

he returned he informed CURRY and LUND the property was all in his name and they could have 80 acres between

them or nothing. On jan. 16th, 1840, 80 acres was registered to THOMAS CURRY and RALPH LUND. THOMAS

CURRY sold to JAMES CURRY who sold to GEORGE CURRY. in 1943 he sold the property to his son, Leslie. He had

another son named STEWART. The present owner is GRANT CURRY, the fifth generation.

FOLDEN -

lot 13, Con 4 The Hon ROBERT HAMILTON obtained this 200 acres in 1804. Fifty years later this farm was sold to

BENJAMIN THORNTON. He gave a life lease to FRANKLIN FOLDEN SR. for the north half; 100 acres. In 1867 a

portion was leased to the Zion Methodist Church. In 1906 FRANKLIN FOLDEN JR. bought the property. His son RALPH

now operates the farm. He married the former MILDRED WILSON, a noted musician. They had a daughter, ELEANOR,

and a son, LAURIE, who still lives on the farm. Now, on the corner of this farm stand the United Church, a community

park and hall.

 

 

Date: Fri, 25 May 2001 11:15:41 -0400 Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel

 

KARN -

Lot 1, Con 1 The original owner was CHRISTOPHER KARN who purchased the land from the Crown in 1800. The first

home was built on the bank of the Thames River, with part of it over the river so they could use water for cooling their

food. This home was always open to any traveller. It was a common occurrence to find an Indian rolled up in his blanket

by the great stone fireplace in the basement kitchen. During the War of 1812 COLONEL McNAB and his officers were

entertained as well as the Indian Chief Tecumseh, a short time before his death. Originally 1400 acres were included

in this holding, part in West Oxford and part in North Oxford. Descendants still maintain 1200 acres in West Oxford.

There are at least two KARN homes on the property; that of MR. and MRS HOWARD KARN and MR and MRS.

ELMER KARN. {In the book, there is also a picture of an invitation addressed to/ or from MISS VERA KARN - At home -

Monday, December Twenty-ninth, Dancing} In 1923 while Lord Byng was Governor-General he made a tour of four

farms in Oxford County. The KARN farm was the one selected in West Oxford. He arrived in a chauffeur-driven Pierce-

Arrow accompanied by Major Gordon and Col. McEwen.

MAYBERRY -

Lot 17, Con 3 This land had been granted to the SIBBALD family. RICHARD MAYBERRY married MATILDA SIBBALD,

and they built the present Mayberry home about the year 1858. Their son THOMAS RICHARD remained on the farm and

contributed a great deal to all phases of community life. He was one of the founders and first manager of Ingersoll

Telephone Co. He was M.P.P. 1910-12. He was the first Colonel of the 24th Gray's Horse established in Oxford County.

Five generations have lived on this farm. The present owner is GLENN MAYBERRY.

MEEK -

 Lot 9, Con 4 The first WILLIAM MEEK with his wife, ANN CORBETT, sailed from Edinburgh, Scotland about 1832.

While working in Hamilton as a stone mason he was offered 400 acres in West Oxford in payment for work done for the

Hon. Robert Hamilton. When he discovered the land still covered with pine and no one living nearby, he returned to East

Oxford and bought a farm. He returned to his property in West Oxford about 1850. His son, PETER, and his wife,

MARGARET BERTRAND, added the stone part to the original frame house. He built a sawmill and several employees

lived in houses built in the front field. Cheese was also made here and the barn where it was made still stands. The dairy

barn was destroyed by fire along with the contents and livestock in 1944, while the only son AUBREY and his wife,

EDNA NANCEKIVELL, operated the farm. Their sons, WILLIAM E. and PETER A. are the fifth generation. The original

frame

part was covered with red insul-brick in 1944. The French windows were replaced. The Meeks pioneer barn. The

basement was used as a horse stable, ground level was for carriages, upper floor housed the cheese factory, operated

by MRS. PETER MEEK and neighbourhood assistants.

RIVERS -

lot 9, Con 3 The original owner was RICHARD GALLOWAY who got it from the crown in 1848. WILLIAM RIVERS

bought the farm in 1863. The founder of this homestead was a very religious man. The family still have the yoke

WILLIAM used when he gathered the people for church meetings from " The Pines". WILLIAM was killed when trying to

move a boulder on the farm. His son, WALBURN RIVERS was a well known breeder of purebred Holsteins and one of

the first in the district to put his cows on R.O.M.[record of merit]. At present the farm is owned by BILL RIVERS. Five

generations have lived on this homestead.

SWARTZ -

Lot 7, Con 1 This farm has been in the SWARTZ family for five generations. LUTHER HASKINS chose Lot 7, Con 1,

when offered 200 acres under a proclamation by Gov. Simcoe when they came from Pennsylvania, with the United

Empire Loyalists. This lot and lot 6 were registered in 1798. A large log house known as "Half-way House" and a stable

were built for travellers between Niagara and Detroit, following the Old Stage Road. The large stone house was

built in 1863, They had one son CALVIN and Three Daughters. MARIA married JAMES SWARTZ. Their son NEIL

married LUCINDA DODGE, and they were blessed with a family of 10 children. The east half of lot 7 was willed to

SIMEON and the west half to ALBERT. SIMEON married EDITH COLE and their eldest son, CHARLES, continued to

carry on the high standard of farming. CHARLES married HAZEL BATTEN and they had a son, LLOYD, and a daughter,

RUTH. CHARLES purchased the west half of lot 7 and his son, LLOYD, lived there. LLOYD married BLANCHE

CHESNEY and their family

consisted of KEITH, SANDRA, GREG, BRADLEY and DOUGLAS.

 

Sent: Friday, May 25, 2001 8:32 PM Subject: [OXFORD] The Axe and The Wheel 

 

THE FOUNDING AND HISTORY OF WEST OXFORD WOMEN'S INSTITUTE: 

The organization grew out of The United Farm Women of Ontario Progressive  Club.

In Jan , 1929, our branch was organized at the home of MRS A.J. BUDD by MRS.  JOHN DUTTON, Mt Elgin.

MRS BUDD lived to be 94 years of age and raised nine children.

MISS MARGARET THORNTON was the first president and MISS ALMA GRAY was the first secretary 

As far back as 1907 there had been a branch of the W.I in Folden's - MRS  EVERETT SAGE, MRS BEN SAGE, MRS

ROBERT PULLIN, MRS RICHARD WILSON and daughter MILDRED, MRS JOHN SHELTON, MISS VILETTA JARVIS

{MRS MILTON  BANBURY}, MISS THERESA POOLE and MISS FRANCIS were members. 

In 1930 the Institute put on a play. Cast members were: MISS MILLER, MR and  MRS WALTER PULLIN, LLOYD

ALMAS, STANLEY POST, BETH BRINK, HARRISON CODY,  STANLEY ALLIN,NORMAN PULLIN, MARGARET and

EDMUND THORNTON. MRS NORMAN  PULLIN was the director. 

At one meeting, MRS CHARLES MERRILL and MRS WILBUR BUDD were appointed as a  committee to interview the

Folden's School Trustees. 

In 1940 they compiled a History of the Village of Tweedsmuir.

The curators  have been EDNA MEEK, MARGARET THORNTON, DOROTHY CURRIE, BETH SHELTON, ANN 

JAKEMAN, LAURENE HARGREAVES, with ELIZABETH HEENEY designing the cover and  DOROTHY CURRIE

printing and decorating the title pages.

In 1953 MRS FRED SHELTON was chosen by the county as Women of the Year.

In 1960 the institute won first prize in Ontario in a rug hooking contest. ELIZABETH HEENEY drew the designs. The

hookers were LILY HEENEY, EILEEN HAMMERTON, COYLA HARGREAVES, EDNA MEEK, FLORENCE RAWLINGS

and AUDREY  VANLOON. 

The same year, ELIZABETH MAYBERRY won first prize in the Ontario division  A.C.W.W. essay contest. The following

members of the branch had served as presidents in the South  Oxford District. EDNA MEEK, AUDREY HOWARD, KIT

CAFFYN and BETH SHELTON.  GLADYS SOMERS was district Secretary Treasurer

The Committee who compiled this history of West Oxford were: KIT CAFFYN; DOROTHY CURRIE; LAURENE

HARGREAVES; GRACE HILL; ANNE JAKEMAN; HILDA JULIAN; SHIRLEY LAW; EDNA MEEK; BETH SHELTON 

ELIZABETH HEENEY - Art and Cover design EARL HILL - Photography

 

[That is the end and I apologize for the fact that my typing appeared to get worse instead of better  Judy]