Category: Uncategorized

Memories

Posted on by admin
  • Thunderstorms and Lightning
    (from Wayne’s Storyworth memories) These events happened a lot on our farm in the 60’s. Mom was terrified of them. She would get us all out of bed and down to the living room. Often the power was out so we all sat in the dark till it has over. In the dark you could look out the window and watch the lightning racing across the sky. You would often see Beatrice, Melvin and Randy Sullivan driving around in the middle of the night. Beatrice was so afraid she wouldn’t even stay in the house. The belief was that… Read more: Thunderstorms and Lightning
  • Making Butter
    (Wayne’s Storyworth) Before the government decided that only their supporters could sell milk , farmers had a way of making a few dollars by selling milk, cream and butter.(More on this in a future story about Chester). We had many chores on the farm in the 60’s . I was six years old in 1960 and was expected to contribute to the vast enterprise of dads farm when I was able to walk and carry something. Often what I had gladly done to be more like dad quickly turned into something that I wished I had never learned how… Read more: Making Butter
  • Higher Education (Wayne’s Storyworth)
    Answering the question, “What motivated you to go to graduate school?” Well it is the 60’s . It’s Christmas. I wake up and wait for dad to light the fire in the wood stoves. There was one in the kitchen and one in the living room . An annex and a box stove. After the down stairs warmed up a bit we were allowed down stairs to see what Santa had brought. Dad had to wait for Santa to come down the chimney before he lit the stoves or Santa wouldn’t come. There it was – an electric train… Read more: Higher Education (Wayne’s Storyworth)
  • Flying Emmett (Wayne’s Storyworth)
    Answering the question “Have you ver feared for your life?” Dads tractor had no brakes among other broken stuff . Learning to drive this way was truly dangerous. Its funny how it became normal to expect things to suddenly go from boring to near death in a few seconds on the farm.  We were haying in the back field which required going over a hill to get to and from the field.  The normal setup was Dad on the tractor pulling the baler with Emmett on the wagon behind the baler stacking the bales. The second tractor sat idle.… Read more: Flying Emmett (Wayne’s Storyworth)
  • Favourite Childhood Memories
    Lets see. Getting my Electric Train. Getting my Mold Master. Using Wendy’s Easy Bake Oven. Getting my Red Tractor when I was two(That I still have) Christmas in General Phillip coming for a visit in the summer (we built the tree house together) The sound of rain on the roof (I could sleep in, didn’t have to work) Hiding in my tree house (having a smoke). Building the tree house. Learning to drive the tractor ( I was about 5 ) Going swimming at Joe and Jake’s Going swimming at Edna and Cliff’s Going swimming at Champlain park and… Read more: Favourite Childhood Memories
  • My Childhood Bedroom
    My bedroom from when I can remember till we moved away from Rutherglen when I was 13 in 1967. It was on the second floor north-east corner of the old farm house. Part of the ceiling was slanted to match the roof of the house. It had one window facing east. Had bunk beds with wagon wheels on them on the North side. Had a tall dresser on the south-west corner. Book shelf on north-east corner. Closet with a door north-west corner.  I can remember catching fire flies and letting them go in my room at night. I could… Read more: My Childhood Bedroom
  • My Hospital Adventures
    Oh yes . I was there several times. I can remember four.  It was a 20 mile drive from Rutherglen to the Civic Hospital in North Bay Ontario. Once for stitches on my right knee. Caused by a peace of glass on the ground and wearing short pants .  Once to get a sliver ( it was very large ) removed from beside my right eye. Caused by following Buster under a spruce tree without paying attention. Once to get a burn on my back bandaged up. Caused by reaching across the kitchen table and bumping moms arm that… Read more: My Hospital Adventures
  • Music in My Life
    In the beginning I tried to take piano lessons from Aunt Edna. This didn’t work out. I couldn’t sit still long enough. Music was all around me however when I was little.  Uncle Emmett was an excellent fiddle player . He competed in fiddle contests in Mattawa and won a few. He also played at square dances . Its a shame he didn’t make use of this skill when he retired. I think he tried giving some lessons .I guess living in Rutherglen wasn’t a great place for a music teacher. Elmo’s wife Marie was a fiddle player too.… Read more: Music in My Life
  • Childhood Moves
    Yes we moved in 1968. I Was 13 and living in Rutherglen ,Ontario GPS co-ordinates 46.256409, -79.080538. Dad and his brother Emmett ran 400 acres as partners . Dad also drove school bus to make ends meet. Dad slipped a disk in his back throwing hay ,around the summer of 1966. The building they where putting the hay into was an old brick school house. It was never intended to store hay in . The windows where too small and too high off the ground. They should have knocked a bigger hole in the school house. It was difficult… Read more: Childhood Moves
  • Christmases
    The best Christmas we had was when I rented the chalet on Sylvan Lake in Alberta. But I already told that story. Most Christmas’s we managed to get together some where. Red Deer , Bentwood Bay, Saskatoon . It depends a lot on the weather . Last year 2023 was great there was no snow believe it or not. We drove to Red Deer no problem. I can remember when we lived in Blind River we would load the kids into the car and head for Timmins then load them up again and head from Timmins to North Bay.… Read more: Christmases
  • Pets I Had
    I grew up on a farm so my world was full of animals. Not many were considered pets however ,even my dog Buster had a job to do . We had 1 dog, 13 cats , 20 cows , 1 bull, 2 horses , 50 chickens , 1 rooster, 20 sheep and  1 pig. Busters was the same age as me and was sort of my brother. He was a white and orange border coley(Heinz 57) .His job was to bark like crazy if any wild animals came around . He saved my life once by attacking the bull… Read more: Pets I Had
  • Favourite Scouting Memory
    With out a doubt it was CJ97. Thanks to the support from companies like Esso , Flint , etc. in Whitecourt we raised $30,000 selling sand bags to the oil patch. We rented a grey hound bus and sold the empty seats to other scout troops (Kitscotty , Marthorp ) . We took 30 kids from Whitecourt. The Jamboree went off without a hitch thanks to the premium planning by scouters and Thunder Bay city officials, and countless helping citizens. Over 13,000 scouts, parents, volunteers, and leaders made this event into one that is still remembered fondly today, and… Read more: Favourite Scouting Memory
  • My Children
    Start with Amy .. watching her  and her friends jumping around in the wreck room dancing to “Girls Just Want to have Fun”. Joey .. Having the doctor wrap his whole head in a bandage after he burned his face with gun powder in Powell River. Thank god he had his glasses on. He went trick or treating with the bandage on that night. He didn’t really need the bandage. It was a joke between me and the doctor.  Darren .. tracking him down at CJ93 in Kananaskis Alberta. It took me a while to find him. He was… Read more: My Children
  • Admiration for My Dad
    Dad was a farmer who quit farming when he was 50 because he hurt his back. To go from farming to being an hourly paid employee took a lot of courage. With some help from his friends he pulled it off.  One of dads sayings was “If you can’t say anything good about somebody don’t say anything at all” . Dad was a past master of the Mattawa Masonic Lodge 268. Much of what dad did was because he was a Mason. I know they helped many people that were in trouble. Dad was a supporter of the United… Read more: Admiration for My Dad
  • Most Beautiful Places
    Helmcken Falls, in Wells Grey Provincial Park in BC.  Desolation Sound Marine Park , Lund , BC. I’ve been to Europe , Australia , Arizona  all over Canada but the two above are pretty unbelievable. To see Wells Grey properly you need a canoe and tent . You can see the falls with a car but not the volcanoes and true wilderness of the park .  Candle Lake Sask .. Northern Lights Candle Lake Sask .. 50 teenage Canada Geese with 5 mothers all in one flock on the beach. The mothers were watching me very carefully but they… Read more: Most Beautiful Places
  • What was Mom like (from Wayne)
    What was my mom like? My mom was awesome. She always had my back . Even made my sisters angry because she spoiled me so much.  She was a city girl who had to become a farmers wife and she did most things better than the farm girls like. Knitting , CREWEL EMBROIDERY, CROCHET, QUILTING , SMOCKING , she made shirts and pants too. I learned knitting , embroidery and sewing from her. She was into many crafts too like copper tooling, paint by numbers. Mom was a leader / member of the 4H , UCW(United Church Women) and… Read more: What was Mom like (from Wayne)
  • Simple Pleasures
    A drink of iced water. When doing hard work like loading and unloading wagons full of hay-bales on a hot summers day there’s nothing better. Camping . watching the fire burn and tending it. Going for a bike ride through the camp ground. Meeting different people at the camp ground. They all seem to have interesting stories about why they are at the camp ground. Like: just got divorced. Looking for a job in Alberta (They were from New Brunswick). Installing wind turbines in the summer and living in Florida in the winter. Watching the wild life .  The… Read more: Simple Pleasures
  • Wayne’s Favourite Childhood Store
    My favorite store was “The Joke Shop” on main street in North Bay , Ontario. Why? You could buy itching powder and little fire crackers to put in cigarettes. The itching powder was sprinkled down my sisters back . The little fire crackers were pushed into the end of a cigarette . When somebody bummed a smoke you would give him the one with a fire cracker in it. When you lit the smoke for him it would blow up. The smoke ended up looking like a peeled banana.  The store had many neat things in it. (Originally written… Read more: Wayne’s Favourite Childhood Store
  • Random Memories of Wayne and Wendy
    There’s a few things to point out in this picture. Dad had a push-lawnmower that he obviously hadn’t used in awhile. The tub was our “swimming pool”. My memories of it were very exciting. As you can see by my face I was totally happy. The “playhouse” is behind us. I’m told, it used to be the chicken coop and it was in a different location. But Dad moved it here for us to use as a playhouse. It also was very exciting. And then there’s Buster!! Our fantastic, great dog. Half collie, half husky. The best dog ever.… Read more: Random Memories of Wayne and Wendy
  • The Clothes Line Stand
    This picture is one that I had developed from a box of negatives that I found in the old Pennell home in Rutherglen.  This clothesline stand is a big memory for me and was still there beside the porch door when we moved from house in 1968.  Although I can’t make out her face well, I’m assuming this is my grandmother, Alice Pennell. This stand was Buster’s (our family dog) summer home.  Off to the left, you can see someone on a ladder, likely picking apples from the small crab apple tree that was beside the house.  It was… Read more: The Clothes Line Stand
  • Our Farm
    We moved from the farm in 1968.  Its hard to believe I was close to being 12 years old – I seemed so much younger. This is my “childhood” memory of the layout of the farm.  Aunt Liza’s (Eliza Pennell) house is no longer there and our house burnt to the ground some years after we moved.  The “Pioneer Baby Graves” (“Indian Baby Graves”) were not graves – that’s just what Dad said they were.  They were just different shaped mounds.   Wayne built a fabulous tree house in the Forest (bottom right).  The “Lamb Pasture Hill” (bottom centre) was… Read more: Our Farm
  • Living in Rutherglen
    Introductory Memory from Wayne of the fields in front of the house: I can close my eyes and visualize just about any part of the farm. Its all still there. Getting a little foggy but still in pretty good shape. So let’s take a look at the front fields… On the left I see hay which also called timothy. It blows in the wind like waves on the ocean. In the middle on the field there was a rock with a sharp edge on the top of it. Dad had Fielding McLaren dig it out one year. There is… Read more: Living in Rutherglen

Crew

Posted on by admin
  • Alexander Escar Pennell
    Alexander Pennell, b. 1892, son of George Matthew Pennell (Gramma Smith’s brother) and Charlotte Edmunds.  This Alex served 4 years in WW1 as a gunner.  He was severely wounded twice and sent to England where he met his future wife, Dorothy Rhodes, a nurse.  Alex worked as a Game Warden in Gravenhurst.  He had one child, Gabriel Pennell.  Alexander’s brother was Herb Pennell, who also served in WW1. Alexander Pennell’s brother, Richard William Pennell married Carrie Sullivan (Melvin’s sister). He was a Fireman. Their children were Walter Pennell and Austin Pennell. Then Richard… Read more: Alexander Escar Pennell
  • History of Rutherglen
    Squatters in Bonfield in the register of “Free Grants” under “The Free Grants + Homestead Act” Dated November 22, 1882 Richard Pennell (SR) (lot-26)(Conc 8&9) took claim 200 acres with 16 cleared, length of occupation 2 years, value at $400 Richard Pennell (JR) (lot-25)(Con-9) took claim 100 acres with 8 acres cleared, length occupation 2 years, valued at $200 The Railroad came through Rutherglen in fall 1879, Bonfield – January 1, 1879. First train to arrive in North Bay August 1882… I believe it would be safe to say the Pennells worked their… Read more: History of Rutherglen
  • James Hone
    Throughout my childhood, I had no idea I was related to the Hones, much the same as I was totally naive to the fact I was related to Alice McLaren and her family. Yet I knew I was related to Alice’s sisters out west because I didn’t clue in that they were all siblings. Stupid. Alice and Kenny McLaren were always at all the family functions and I always wondered why. HOWEVER, the Hones were never at family functions. I guess once relatives get too many times removed, they stop being invited or… Read more: James Hone
  • John Job Crew Bradfield
    J. J. C. Bradfield is by far our family history’s “claim to fame”. Its unfortunate that he is not known by the Canadian Crew descendants unless they read any family genealogy about the Australian immigration in the mid to late 1800s. I’m not going into the history and stories surrounding J. J. C. Bradfield here because you can simply Google his name or buy or borrow a book about him from the library. I’ll only summarize: John Job Crew Bradfield was the engineer behind the building the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the engineer… Read more: John Job Crew Bradfield
  • Susan Sheppard
    It has been very difficult to pin down the ancestry of Susan Sheppard. Any documents that I can find that I believe to be associated with Susan, is signed with an X, and this is the same for William Crew her husband. So if neither of them could read or write, I’m not sure who determined the spelling of Sheppard as there are documents that could be related where the spelling is Shepherd. I believe this is Susan and William’s marriage record of July 6, 1817. Going back further than this has been… Read more: Susan Sheppard
  • William Albert Keech, M. D.
    Bill Keech was born June 5, 1920 in North Bay, Ontario. He was the son of Lester William Keech (WW1) and grandson of Jane McNamara. After he graduated from North Bay Collegiate, he married Iola Grace Berry, December 2, 1939, who became a Registered Nurse. He enlisted in the R.C.A.F. and received the rank of Flt. Lieut. during World War II. On April 27, 1942, Bill was shot down over Belgium and taken prisoner, spending three years in Stalag Luft-3, near Sagan. He participated in the operation of “The Great Escape”. The tunnel… Read more: William Albert Keech, M. D.
  • Jane McNamara (Keech)
    Jane was born in Ottawa September 1, 1875 and was the daughter of Elizabeth Pennell and James McNamara. Jane was a hairdresser. She died May 5, 1961 in Haileybury, Ontario. Jane married William John Keech, son of Edwin James Keech and Elizabeth Forsey, all of England, on April 22, 1896, in Ewen, Michigan. William was a Butcher. The Keech’s arrived in Quebec City July 1, 1883. The Captain (Molson) had a farm at Sherbrooke and hired William, who stayed with the Molson family for two years. Then he moved to the U.S., meeting… Read more: Jane McNamara (Keech)
  • Eliza “Liza” Jane Pennell (James)
    Liza was born September 8, 1872, in Horton Twp., Ontario, the first child of Richard and Rachel Pennell to be born in Canada. She married John “Jack” James, the brother of William C. James who married her sister Mary Ann. Liza lived in a small house right across the road from our farm in Rutherglen. Even though I never knew her, “Aunt Liza” was very much a part of my life and I explored her abandoned home many times. Liza died March 6, 1955 in a sanatorium in Gravenhurst, Ontario from tuberculosis. She… Read more: Eliza “Liza” Jane Pennell (James)
  • Mary Ann Pennell (James)
    Mary was born January 19, 1868 in Greenwich, England. She immigrated with her family on the S. S. Niger from Liverpool to Quebec City when she was only 3. She married William C. James of Rutherglen, who was the brother of John “Jack” James who married her sister Eliza. Mary died October 3, 1955 in North Bay, Ontario. The family gossip is that Mary and William “adopted” a daughter Mary. Mrs. McNeilly felt that Mary was overworking the adopted daughter, so took her from Mary and William to the United States. I have… Read more: Mary Ann Pennell (James)
  • Frances Ann Pennell (Smith)
    Frances was born May 15, 1865 in Land’s End, England, and would have celebrated her 6th birthday of the S. S. Niger when they immigrated from Liverpool, England to Quebec City. She married Reuben James Smith (not related to my Smiths), on October 22, 1882 in Renfew, Ontario. Reuben was the son of William and Catherine Smith. Reuben and Frances lived in Rutherglen for a short time in the house across the Trunk Road from the maple tree hill once owned by Richard and Rachel Pennell. Some may remember it as Carl and… Read more: Frances Ann Pennell (Smith)
  • George Matthew Pennell, Sr.
    Born April 27, 1858, Lewisham Place, Kent, England, George immigrated with his family on the S. S. Niger on May 11, 1871. George married Charlotte Edmunds and lived in Rutherglen, Ontario. He died August 31, 1930 and is buried at St. Margaret’s Anglican Cemetery in Rutherglen. When Richard Pennell, James Hone and the Crew sisters made their way to Rutherglen, they brought their “children”, but Richard Jr. and George would have been in their 20’s, ready to have their own farms. George Pennell’s descendants are many and integral to the fabric of Rutherglen,… Read more: George Matthew Pennell, Sr.
  • Richard “Dick” William Job Pennell
    Born June 26, 1855 in Greenwich, England, Richard was the 2nd oldest child of Richard and Rachel Pennell. Richard immigrated on the S. S. Niger with his family from Liverpool to Quebec City May 11, 1871. He married Margaret “Mag” McLaren in 1879. According to the 1891 Census, Richard Jr. lived at the property next to (across the road from) Richard Sr. In 1901, Richard Jr. was in Langford, Manitoba; 1916 and 1921 Marquette, Manitoba; Edna Ollivier remembers her Uncle Dick cutting all the cherry trees down on the maple hill on the… Read more: Richard “Dick” William Job Pennell
  • Elizabeth Pennell (McNamara)
    Elizabeth was the oldest child of Richard and Rachel Pennell, born May 29, 1853, in Greenwich, England. She immigrated with her family to Canada on the S. S. Niger May 1871, and celebrated her 18th birthday on the ship and remembered having cake. Fourteen months later, Elizabeth married James McNamara, son of John (of England) and Jane (of Lanark Co., Ontario) McNamara, on July 17, 1872. James was a Chef/Hotel Manager. Elizabeth was confirmed on March 10, 1886 in Renfrew with her son James and her daughter Jane. She was short and stout,… Read more: Elizabeth Pennell (McNamara)
  • Richard Pennell & Rachel Crew
    Rachel wanted to return to England after the Pennells and the Hones brickmaking business in Carlton Place failed. But, undeterred, Richard tried again by applying for a land grant in Bonfield Township at Rutherglen where they obtained crown land in approximately 1879. Richard loaded his family (now 6 children) into a sleigh and made his way in the middle of winter to his 200 acres. The original log house stood on the property until 1990, when it was dismantled by Jourgen Mohr who was planning to rebuild it in another location as a… Read more: Richard Pennell & Rachel Crew
  • Pennells, Crews & Hones – Canada
    As I posted in a Crew History, Tales and Truths, Bethnal Green was not a great place to live and everyone had a brickyard. Competition likely made eking out a living extremely difficult. Mortality rates were high and life expectancy rates were low. Rachel had lost a baby in 1863 and Eliza lost her last two babies in 1868 and 1870. Life expectancy was low. Of 1,632 deaths in 1839, 1,258 (77 per cent) were of ‘mechanics, servants, and labourers’, who had an expectancy of 16 years, 273 of tradesmen, with an expectancy… Read more: Pennells, Crews & Hones – Canada
  • Crew History, Tales & Truths
    As with the Pennells, it has been a challenge to get any solid proof of heritage. However, when the Crews immigrated to Canada, they brought with them tales that, regardless of how much work and research is done, cannot be verified in any way. The original source of these stories seems to be from Effie Scott who was the granddaughter of Eliza Hone. Tale #1: Marie deFawcett It has been verified that Rachel’s father, William Henry Crew was a successful brickmaker in London, England. His sons, Richard and William (the younger), as well… Read more: Crew History, Tales & Truths
  • Bradfield
  • Pennell, Crew, Bradfield – Australia
    This is a letter sent to Myrtle Connolly (nee Keech), daughter of Jane Keech (nee McNamara), granddaughter of Elizabeth McNamara (nee Pennell) by William Pennell of Brisbane, Australia, April 1, 1973. Brisbane–Queensland, Australia Until near the end of 1859, the State now known as Queensland was part of New South Wales. When Charles and his wife Susan Pennell arrived in Moreton Bay in the little sailing ship “Glentanner”, it was N.S.W. they came to and not Queensland which did not then exist. The Glentanner anchored in Moreton Bay and the passengers were taken… Read more: Pennell, Crew, Bradfield – Australia
  • Pennell, Crew, Bradfield, Hone
    When I began researching my family history in the 1980’s, the Pennell and Crew lineage were the first surnames where information was readily available. My Aunt Edna (Ollivier nee Smith) had been gathering information about her maternal heritage for years, before personal computers, printers and photocopiers and the internet, when researching involved a pen and a family group sheet. I visited her several times where she shared copies documents and letters, memories and family gossip. Those visits were great. However, she only shared what was “respectable” and kept silent on anything that would… Read more: Pennell, Crew, Bradfield, Hone
  • Alice Maria Pennell
    It seems strange to say that I don’t have a lot of information about my Grandmother Smith. There were certainly lots of people in my life who knew her well. Most of what I know came from my mother who did not get along with her and didn’t have many good memories of her. Alice was born April 5, 1876 in Horton Twp., Ontario. She married Adoniram Warner Smith April 13, 1904 in Rutherglen. She became a large woman as her children were born, but developed diabetes in her later years and lost… Read more: Alice Maria Pennell

Pennell

Posted on by admin
  • Alexander Cecil Pennell
    Family rumor was that Alexander Cecil Pennell was gassed during the war and this was the cause of his death, so its with no surprize there’s no mention of “gassed” in his death certificate..  It says coma due to diabetes. Included in his military records is how they were treating him with insulin and watching his diet. He is buried in Mount Pleasant cemetery at Ogleston’s Corners in Rutherglen.
  • Alexander Escar Pennell
    Alexander Pennell, b. 1892, son of George Matthew Pennell (Gramma Smith’s brother) and Charlotte Edmunds.  This Alex served 4 years in WW1 as a gunner.  He was severely wounded twice and sent to England where he met his future wife, Dorothy Rhodes, a nurse.  Alex worked as a Game Warden in Gravenhurst.  He had one child, Gabriel Pennell.  Alexander’s brother was Herb Pennell, who also served in WW1. Alexander Pennell’s brother, Richard William Pennell married Carrie Sullivan (Melvin’s sister). He was a Fireman. Their children were Walter Pennell and Austin Pennell. Then Richard married Mary Ellen Farmer (Aunt Hazel’s sister). … Read more: Alexander Escar Pennell
  • Alice Maria Pennell
    It seems strange to say that I don’t have a lot of information about my Grandmother Smith. There were certainly lots of people in my life who knew her well. Most of what I know came from my mother who did not get along with her and didn’t have many good memories of her. Alice was born April 5, 1876 in Horton Twp., Ontario. She married Adoniram Warner Smith April 13, 1904 in Rutherglen. She became a large woman as her children were born, but developed diabetes in her later years and lost her excess weight. I was born in… Read more: Alice Maria Pennell
  • Cecil Francis James
    Cecil was born February 1, 1898 in Rutherglen, Ontario, to Eliza (nee Pennell) and John “Jack” James. Cecil married Marie Tremblay and had two sons. From his will below, I can only make out the name of his 2nd son, Leonard. He fought in World War I in the 12th Reserve, 1st Corp., 75th Battalion CEF, D Co., #3035764 and held the rank of Private. He was discharged May 12, 1919 and returned home in June of 1919 on the R.M.S. Mauretania. In 1950, Cecil was living in Kapuskasing, and later in New Toronto. He died February 12, 1959.
  • Eliza “Liza” Jane Pennell (James)
    Liza was born September 8, 1872, in Horton Twp., Ontario, the first child of Richard and Rachel Pennell to be born in Canada. She married John “Jack” James, the brother of William C. James who married her sister Mary Ann. Liza lived in a small house right across the road from our farm in Rutherglen. Even though I never knew her, “Aunt Liza” was very much a part of my life and I explored her abandoned home many times. Liza died March 6, 1955 in a sanatorium in Gravenhurst, Ontario from tuberculosis. She is buried at St. Margaret’s Anglican Church… Read more: Eliza “Liza” Jane Pennell (James)
  • Elizabeth Pennell (McNamara)
    Elizabeth was the oldest child of Richard and Rachel Pennell, born May 29, 1853, in Greenwich, England. She immigrated with her family to Canada on the S. S. Niger May 1871, and celebrated her 18th birthday on the ship and remembered having cake. Fourteen months later, Elizabeth married James McNamara, son of John (of England) and Jane (of Lanark Co., Ontario) McNamara, on July 17, 1872. James was a Chef/Hotel Manager. Elizabeth was confirmed on March 10, 1886 in Renfrew with her son James and her daughter Jane. She was short and stout, had brown eyes and was a happy… Read more: Elizabeth Pennell (McNamara)
  • Frances Ann Pennell (Smith)
    Frances was born May 15, 1865 in Land’s End, England, and would have celebrated her 6th birthday of the S. S. Niger when they immigrated from Liverpool, England to Quebec City. She married Reuben James Smith (not related to my Smiths), on October 22, 1882 in Renfew, Ontario. Reuben was the son of William and Catherine Smith. Reuben and Frances lived in Rutherglen for a short time in the house across the Trunk Road from the maple tree hill once owned by Richard and Rachel Pennell. Some may remember it as Carl and Millie Sullivan’s house. Frances and Reuben eventually… Read more: Frances Ann Pennell (Smith)
  • George Mathew Pennell, Jr.
    George Jr. was born March 22, 1883. He was the son of George Mathew Pennell Sr. and Charlotte Edmunds of Rutherglen, Ontario. George Sr. was the brother of my grandmother, Alice Smith (nee Pennell).
  • George Matthew Pennell, Sr.
    Born April 27, 1858, Lewisham Place, Kent, England, George immigrated with his family on the S. S. Niger on May 11, 1871. George married Charlotte Edmunds and lived in Rutherglen, Ontario. He died August 31, 1930 and is buried at St. Margaret’s Anglican Cemetery in Rutherglen. When Richard Pennell, James Hone and the Crew sisters made their way to Rutherglen, they brought their “children”, but Richard Jr. and George would have been in their 20’s, ready to have their own farms. George Pennell’s descendants are many and integral to the fabric of Rutherglen, Ontario. George was a short stout man… Read more: George Matthew Pennell, Sr.
  • Herb Gordon Pennell
  • History of Rutherglen
    Squatters in Bonfield in the register of “Free Grants” under “The Free Grants + Homestead Act” Dated November 22, 1882 Richard Pennell (SR) (lot-26)(Conc 8&9) took claim 200 acres with 16 cleared, length of occupation 2 years, value at $400 Richard Pennell (JR) (lot-25)(Con-9) took claim 100 acres with 8 acres cleared, length occupation 2 years, valued at $200 The Railroad came through Rutherglen in fall 1879, Bonfield – January 1, 1879. First train to arrive in North Bay August 1882… I believe it would be safe to say the Pennells worked their way to Rutherglen by rail and took… Read more: History of Rutherglen
  • James Richard James
    James was born December 27, 1889 to Mary Ann Pennell and William James of Rutherglen, Ontario. He married Margaret I. McDonald and died October 12, 1976. James served in World War I. In 1953, he lived in Englehart and operated Tray Express Company.
  • Jane McNamara (Keech)
    Jane was born in Ottawa September 1, 1875 and was the daughter of Elizabeth Pennell and James McNamara. Jane was a hairdresser. She died May 5, 1961 in Haileybury, Ontario. Jane married William John Keech, son of Edwin James Keech and Elizabeth Forsey, all of England, on April 22, 1896, in Ewen, Michigan. William was a Butcher. The Keech’s arrived in Quebec City July 1, 1883. The Captain (Molson) had a farm at Sherbrooke and hired William, who stayed with the Molson family for two years. Then he moved to the U.S., meeting up with his brothers, George and Henry.… Read more: Jane McNamara (Keech)
  • John Thomas Victor James
    John was born December 29, 1887 in Rutherglen, Ontario. He served in the 59th Battalion during World War I. He was a member of Branch 23 of the Royal Canadian Legion in North Bay where he received a 50-year pin. He was also a member of the Orange Lodge and a founding member of the Elk Lake Masonic Lodge No. 507. John also spent some time in jail and he worked for the ONR as an engineer. He married Annie Gertrude “Gerti” Smith, who was the daughter of Willard Smith and Mary Johnson on Rutherglen. Gerti was a widow, having… Read more: John Thomas Victor James
  • Lester William Keech
    Lester was born March 13, 1897, Ewen, Michigan. He served in the 228th Regiment. Lester was the son of William Keech and Jane McNamara. Jane was the daughter of Elizabeth Pennell and John McNamara. Elizabeth was the sister of my grandmother, Alice Smith (nee Pennell).
  • Mary Ann Pennell (James)
    Mary was born January 19, 1868 in Greenwich, England. She immigrated with her family on the S. S. Niger from Liverpool to Quebec City when she was only 3. She married William C. James of Rutherglen, who was the brother of John “Jack” James who married her sister Eliza. Mary died October 3, 1955 in North Bay, Ontario. The family gossip is that Mary and William “adopted” a daughter Mary. Mrs. McNeilly felt that Mary was overworking the adopted daughter, so took her from Mary and William to the United States. I have no idea is this is true or… Read more: Mary Ann Pennell (James)
  • Miss Rosamond Croker
    The Pennell name was not immune to far-fetched tales, and the story of Rosamond Croker is one of them. This portrait of Miss Croker hangs in the Buffalo (NY) Art Museum. Portrait of Miss Rosamond Croker | Buffalo AKG Art Museum Rosamond Hester Elizabeth was born 5 January 1810, the 13th of 21 children of William Pennell, Esq., British consul-general to Brazil. At the age of six weeks she was adopted by her brother-in-law the Rt. Hon. John Wilson Crocker. Croker (1780-1857) was a well-known politician and essayist and in 1809 was Secretary to the Admiralty. … In 1832, Miss… Read more: Miss Rosamond Croker
  • Pennell – History of the name
    As I mentioned in one of my other posts, I have a lot of general information about Pennells, most of which is unproven to be related. I have 4 “stories”: Story #1 – source J. W. Pennell, Arroyo Grande, CA, Letter to Edna Ollivier, March 9, 1978 In about 51 B.C., when the Romans pulled out of Gaul (Normandy) they abandoned a fortress that they had called “Pinnellium”. After the Romans left, the leader of the local peasants took over the deserted fortress and began to exercise authority over the area. Then those, living inside the place became known as… Read more: Pennell – History of the name
  • Pennell, Crew, Bradfield, Hone
    When I began researching my family history in the 1980’s, the Pennell and Crew lineage were the first surnames where information was readily available. My Aunt Edna (Ollivier nee Smith) had been gathering information about her maternal heritage for years, before personal computers, printers and photocopiers and the internet, when researching involved a pen and a family group sheet. I visited her several times where she shared copies documents and letters, memories and family gossip. Those visits were great. However, she only shared what was “respectable” and kept silent on anything that would disparage the family’s reputation. As they say,… Read more: Pennell, Crew, Bradfield, Hone
  • Pennells, Crews & Hones – Canada
    As I posted in a Crew History, Tales and Truths, Bethnal Green was not a great place to live and everyone had a brickyard. Competition likely made eking out a living extremely difficult. Mortality rates were high and life expectancy rates were low. Rachel had lost a baby in 1863 and Eliza lost her last two babies in 1868 and 1870. Life expectancy was low. Of 1,632 deaths in 1839, 1,258 (77 per cent) were of ‘mechanics, servants, and labourers’, who had an expectancy of 16 years, 273 of tradesmen, with an expectancy of 26, and 101 of gentry and… Read more: Pennells, Crews & Hones – Canada
  • Richard “Dick” William Job Pennell
    Born June 26, 1855 in Greenwich, England, Richard was the 2nd oldest child of Richard and Rachel Pennell. Richard immigrated on the S. S. Niger with his family from Liverpool to Quebec City May 11, 1871. He married Margaret “Mag” McLaren in 1879. According to the 1891 Census, Richard Jr. lived at the property next to (across the road from) Richard Sr. In 1901, Richard Jr. was in Langford, Manitoba; 1916 and 1921 Marquette, Manitoba; Edna Ollivier remembers her Uncle Dick cutting all the cherry trees down on the maple hill on the Pennell lhomestead. His mother, Rachel, was enraged… Read more: Richard “Dick” William Job Pennell
  • Richard Pennell & Rachel Crew
    Rachel wanted to return to England after the Pennells and the Hones brickmaking business in Carlton Place failed. But, undeterred, Richard tried again by applying for a land grant in Bonfield Township at Rutherglen where they obtained crown land in approximately 1879. Richard loaded his family (now 6 children) into a sleigh and made his way in the middle of winter to his 200 acres. The original log house stood on the property until 1990, when it was dismantled by Jourgen Mohr who was planning to rebuild it in another location as a heritage house. To the best of my… Read more: Richard Pennell & Rachel Crew
  • Rutherglen 1901
  • William Albert Keech, M. D.
    Bill Keech was born June 5, 1920 in North Bay, Ontario. He was the son of Lester William Keech (WW1) and grandson of Jane McNamara. After he graduated from North Bay Collegiate, he married Iola Grace Berry, December 2, 1939, who became a Registered Nurse. He enlisted in the R.C.A.F. and received the rank of Flt. Lieut. during World War II. On April 27, 1942, Bill was shot down over Belgium and taken prisoner, spending three years in Stalag Luft-3, near Sagan. He participated in the operation of “The Great Escape”. The tunnel had been under his bunk, but only… Read more: William Albert Keech, M. D.
  • William James
    William was the son of Mary Ann Pennell and William James of Rutherglen, Ontario. William was born January 12, 1900 and served in World War I. He lived in Lac Vert, Sask, and died February 10, 1978 in Miracom, Sask.

Rutherglen

Posted on by admin
Documents
Images
Service Clubs
Misc. Clippings
1921 Census
1967 Fair
  • Alexander Cecil Pennell
    Family rumor was that Alexander Cecil Pennell was gassed during the war and this was the cause of his death, so its with no surprize there’s no mention of “gassed” in his death certificate..  It says coma due to diabetes. Included in his military records is how they were treating him with insulin and watching his diet. He is buried in Mount Pleasant cemetery at Ogleston’s Corners in Rutherglen.
  • Herb Gordon Pennell
  • Lester William Keech
    Lester was born March 13, 1897, Ewen, Michigan. He served in the 228th Regiment. Lester was the son of William Keech and Jane McNamara. Jane was the daughter of Elizabeth Pennell and John McNamara. Elizabeth was the sister of my grandmother, Alice Smith (nee Pennell).
  • George Mathew Pennell, Jr.
    George Jr. was born March 22, 1883. He was the son of George Mathew Pennell Sr. and Charlotte Edmunds of Rutherglen, Ontario. George Sr. was the brother of my grandmother, Alice Smith (nee Pennell).
  • Cecil Francis James
    Cecil was born February 1, 1898 in Rutherglen, Ontario, to Eliza (nee Pennell) and John “Jack” James. Cecil married Marie Tremblay and had two sons. From his will below, I can only make out the name of his 2nd son, Leonard. He fought in World War I in the 12th Reserve, 1st Corp., 75th Battalion CEF, D Co., #3035764 and held the rank of Private. He was discharged May 12, 1919 and returned home in June of 1919 on the R.M.S. Mauretania. In 1950, Cecil was living in Kapuskasing, and later in New Toronto. He died February 12, 1959.
  • James Richard James
    James was born December 27, 1889 to Mary Ann Pennell and William James of Rutherglen, Ontario. He married Margaret I. McDonald and died October 12, 1976. James served in World War I. In 1953, he lived in Englehart and operated Tray Express Company.
  • John Thomas Victor James
    John was born December 29, 1887 in Rutherglen, Ontario. He served in the 59th Battalion during World War I. He was a member of Branch 23 of the Royal Canadian Legion in North Bay where he received a 50-year pin. He was also a member of the Orange Lodge and a founding member of the Elk Lake Masonic Lodge No. 507. John also spent some time in jail and he worked for the ONR as an engineer. He married Annie Gertrude “Gerti” Smith, who was the daughter of Willard Smith and Mary Johnson on Rutherglen. Gerti was a widow, having… Read more: John Thomas Victor James
  • William James
    William was the son of Mary Ann Pennell and William James of Rutherglen, Ontario. William was born January 12, 1900 and served in World War I. He lived in Lac Vert, Sask, and died February 10, 1978 in Miracom, Sask.
  • History of St. Margaret’s Anglican Church
    St. Margaret’s, Rutherglen was built around 1855. In 1891, St. Margaret’s was entirely rebuilt after being blown down in a storm. The church was consecrated by Bishop Charles Hamilton on October 30, 1896. In 1951, construction of a new St. Margaret’s began and the church was consecrated by Bishop Robert Jefferson on July 6, 1952. The log frame of the old church was torn down and removed. St. Margaret’s is part of the parish of Mattawa. Source: http://archeion-aao.fis.utoronto.ca/ , March 9, 2009 St. Margaret’s Cemetery I tried to find out the full list of burials at St. Margaret’s Church. I… Read more: History of St. Margaret’s Anglican Church
  • Alexander Escar Pennell
    Alexander Pennell, b. 1892, son of George Matthew Pennell (Gramma Smith’s brother) and Charlotte Edmunds.  This Alex served 4 years in WW1 as a gunner.  He was severely wounded twice and sent to England where he met his future wife, Dorothy Rhodes, a nurse.  Alex worked as a Game Warden in Gravenhurst.  He had one child, Gabriel Pennell.  Alexander’s brother was Herb Pennell, who also served in WW1. Alexander Pennell’s brother, Richard William Pennell married Carrie Sullivan (Melvin’s sister). He was a Fireman. Their children were Walter Pennell and Austin Pennell. Then Richard married Mary Ellen Farmer (Aunt Hazel’s sister). … Read more: Alexander Escar Pennell
  • History of Rutherglen
    Squatters in Bonfield in the register of “Free Grants” under “The Free Grants + Homestead Act” Dated November 22, 1882 Richard Pennell (SR) (lot-26)(Conc 8&9) took claim 200 acres with 16 cleared, length of occupation 2 years, value at $400 Richard Pennell (JR) (lot-25)(Con-9) took claim 100 acres with 8 acres cleared, length occupation 2 years, valued at $200 The Railroad came through Rutherglen in fall 1879, Bonfield – January 1, 1879. First train to arrive in North Bay August 1882… I believe it would be safe to say the Pennells worked their way to Rutherglen by rail and took… Read more: History of Rutherglen
  • James Hone
    Throughout my childhood, I had no idea I was related to the Hones, much the same as I was totally naive to the fact I was related to Alice McLaren and her family. Yet I knew I was related to Alice’s sisters out west because I didn’t clue in that they were all siblings. Stupid. Alice and Kenny McLaren were always at all the family functions and I always wondered why. HOWEVER, the Hones were never at family functions. I guess once relatives get too many times removed, they stop being invited or an imaginary line is drawn. I seem… Read more: James Hone
  • Eliza “Liza” Jane Pennell (James)
    Liza was born September 8, 1872, in Horton Twp., Ontario, the first child of Richard and Rachel Pennell to be born in Canada. She married John “Jack” James, the brother of William C. James who married her sister Mary Ann. Liza lived in a small house right across the road from our farm in Rutherglen. Even though I never knew her, “Aunt Liza” was very much a part of my life and I explored her abandoned home many times. Liza died March 6, 1955 in a sanatorium in Gravenhurst, Ontario from tuberculosis. She is buried at St. Margaret’s Anglican Church… Read more: Eliza “Liza” Jane Pennell (James)
  • Mary Ann Pennell (James)
    Mary was born January 19, 1868 in Greenwich, England. She immigrated with her family on the S. S. Niger from Liverpool to Quebec City when she was only 3. She married William C. James of Rutherglen, who was the brother of John “Jack” James who married her sister Eliza. Mary died October 3, 1955 in North Bay, Ontario. The family gossip is that Mary and William “adopted” a daughter Mary. Mrs. McNeilly felt that Mary was overworking the adopted daughter, so took her from Mary and William to the United States. I have no idea is this is true or… Read more: Mary Ann Pennell (James)
  • Frances Ann Pennell (Smith)
    Frances was born May 15, 1865 in Land’s End, England, and would have celebrated her 6th birthday of the S. S. Niger when they immigrated from Liverpool, England to Quebec City. She married Reuben James Smith (not related to my Smiths), on October 22, 1882 in Renfew, Ontario. Reuben was the son of William and Catherine Smith. Reuben and Frances lived in Rutherglen for a short time in the house across the Trunk Road from the maple tree hill once owned by Richard and Rachel Pennell. Some may remember it as Carl and Millie Sullivan’s house. Frances and Reuben eventually… Read more: Frances Ann Pennell (Smith)
  • George Matthew Pennell, Sr.
    Born April 27, 1858, Lewisham Place, Kent, England, George immigrated with his family on the S. S. Niger on May 11, 1871. George married Charlotte Edmunds and lived in Rutherglen, Ontario. He died August 31, 1930 and is buried at St. Margaret’s Anglican Cemetery in Rutherglen. When Richard Pennell, James Hone and the Crew sisters made their way to Rutherglen, they brought their “children”, but Richard Jr. and George would have been in their 20’s, ready to have their own farms. George Pennell’s descendants are many and integral to the fabric of Rutherglen, Ontario. George was a short stout man… Read more: George Matthew Pennell, Sr.
  • Richard Pennell & Rachel Crew
    Rachel wanted to return to England after the Pennells and the Hones brickmaking business in Carlton Place failed. But, undeterred, Richard tried again by applying for a land grant in Bonfield Township at Rutherglen where they obtained crown land in approximately 1879. Richard loaded his family (now 6 children) into a sleigh and made his way in the middle of winter to his 200 acres. The original log house stood on the property until 1990, when it was dismantled by Jourgen Mohr who was planning to rebuild it in another location as a heritage house. To the best of my… Read more: Richard Pennell & Rachel Crew
  • Pennells, Crews & Hones – Canada
    As I posted in a Crew History, Tales and Truths, Bethnal Green was not a great place to live and everyone had a brickyard. Competition likely made eking out a living extremely difficult. Mortality rates were high and life expectancy rates were low. Rachel had lost a baby in 1863 and Eliza lost her last two babies in 1868 and 1870. Life expectancy was low. Of 1,632 deaths in 1839, 1,258 (77 per cent) were of ‘mechanics, servants, and labourers’, who had an expectancy of 16 years, 273 of tradesmen, with an expectancy of 26, and 101 of gentry and… Read more: Pennells, Crews & Hones – Canada
  • The Clothes Line Stand
    This picture is one that I had developed from a box of negatives that I found in the old Pennell home in Rutherglen.  This clothesline stand is a big memory for me and was still there beside the porch door when we moved from house in 1968.  Although I can’t make out her face well, I’m assuming this is my grandmother, Alice Pennell. This stand was Buster’s (our family dog) summer home.  Off to the left, you can see someone on a ladder, likely picking apples from the small crab apple tree that was beside the house.  It was to… Read more: The Clothes Line Stand
  • Rutherglen 1901
  • Rutherglen 1891 Census – Partial
  • Rutherglen Rural Telephone Company
    February 17, 2012 – Email to Bell Canada from me. Hello, On February 10, 1921, my grandfather A. W. Smith bought 22 shares at $5.00 each in the Rutherglen Rural Telephone Company, Limited (Ontario).  This rural telephone company would have been bought by Bell Telephone. What happened to these shares?  Are they still valid? Thank you for looking into this for me. Wendy Smith February 20, 2012 Email from investor.relations@bell.ca Good afternoon! Thank you for your email.  No, those old certificates are no longer valid.  Bell bought hundreds of rural companies 40-50 years ago.  In most cases, shareholders received their… Read more: Rutherglen Rural Telephone Company
  • Nide and his Children
    “Rutherglen – in front of the farm house before it was sheeted in. Taken in 1915.”  Dad, born in 1917,  isn’t in the picture of course. Aunt Edna said that was a big deal as every time he saw the picture, he’d get angry because he thought he was in the house and no one called him out for the picture. This house would be our farm house.  The thin sapling behind Aunt Edna’s shoulder became a huge lovely tree that shaded and cooled the back yard on hot summer days. L-R: Chester, Georgina, Grampa, Elmo, Vera, Gramma, Emmett and… Read more: Nide and his Children
  • Rahill Red Lake Mining Company Limited
    From Wayne: “Billy Hill got some money from Grandpa.  He was famous at the dances in Rutherglen because he would [become intoxicated] and step dance like crazy up on the stage.  Last time I saw him was at the Orange Lodge and he fell off the stage.  He sure could step dance.  He lived between Jackson’s gas station and Westley Rose’s grandma’s in a tiny house.”
  • A. W. Smith Memorabilia
    My Dad had a lot of memorabilia from my Grandfather and I also was able to save some from my Uncle Emmett’s home as he inherited it from his parents. These are receipts from 1942 when my Grandfather sold cattle.
  • Gas Coupons
    When I found these, I wondered how Grampa Smith got the gas he would have needed to run his tractor.  But I then remembered that he likely used his team of horses.  In my memory, Dad had a team of horses – Duke & Bess – and only later had a tractor. However, in my wondering thoughts, I did found this on the internet: “If you were employed in a factory that supported the war effort, you were issued a “B” card, while doctors, nurses, farm and construction workers, and mail employees were issued a “C” card, each of which… Read more: Gas Coupons
  • Our Farm
    We moved from the farm in 1968.  Its hard to believe I was close to being 12 years old – I seemed so much younger. This is my “childhood” memory of the layout of the farm.  Aunt Liza’s (Eliza Pennell) house is no longer there and our house burnt to the ground some years after we moved.  The “Pioneer Baby Graves” (“Indian Baby Graves”) were not graves – that’s just what Dad said they were.  They were just different shaped mounds.   Wayne built a fabulous tree house in the Forest (bottom right).  The “Lamb Pasture Hill” (bottom centre) was the… Read more: Our Farm
  • Living in Rutherglen
    Introductory Memory from Wayne of the fields in front of the house: I can close my eyes and visualize just about any part of the farm. Its all still there. Getting a little foggy but still in pretty good shape. So let’s take a look at the front fields… On the left I see hay which also called timothy. It blows in the wind like waves on the ocean. In the middle on the field there was a rock with a sharp edge on the top of it. Dad had Fielding McLaren dig it out one year. There is a… Read more: Living in Rutherglen
  • Lloyd George Smith
    Lloyd was born June 17, 1917 to Adoniram Smith and Alice Pennell in Rutherglen, Ontario. He married my mother, Joan Gallson, on June 25, 1943 and they had 4 children. Dad died March 30, 1988. My Dad learned how to farm from his Dad. He went to a one-room school house, very close to our farm until grade 8. When Mom and Dad were first married, they lived with Dad’s parents until Mom was pregnant with my oldest sister Donna. Then Mom pushed Dad to look for a home of their own. My Grandparents actually considered building another house on… Read more: Lloyd George Smith
  • Vera Myrtle Smith (Hughes)
    Vera was born April 14, 1910 and died October 11, 1951. Vera married Cyril Hughes in August 1950 and October 11 the following year, died of complications surrounding childbirth. Mom told me that they received news that a baby boy was born, and both mother and child were well. The story then says that Vera was left alone and hemorrhaged. I was told that Vera was a very warm and caring person. When her brother, Elmo, was killed March 1950, Vera made many trips to his widow and children, bringing clothes and food.
  • Chester Warner Smith
    Chester was born July 16, 1908 and died October 17, 2001. He married Hazel Farmer. They had no children, the reason being (I was told) Chester had mumps as an older youth/man and was infertile. Hazel always called Uncle Chester, “Ches”, and she’s the only person that I remember calling him that. Their farm was right next (behind) to our farm. His farm was the original farm owned by Willard Smith, Grampa’s step-brother. Uncle Chester and Aunt Hazel treated farming like a business, not a hobby. They invested in machinery that would give them better returns on their sweat and… Read more: Chester Warner Smith
  • Elmo Adoniram Smith
    Born January 3, 1907, Elmo was the 2nd child of Adoniram and Alice Smith. He married Marie Transborg and had 6 surviving children. In 1950, when the youngest, Danny, was only 2 years old, Elmo died in a farming accident. His wake was held at Andy Green’s house.
  • Edna Eliza Smith (Ollivier)
    Daughter of Adoniram “Nide” Warner Smith and Alice Maria Pennell. Born May 17, 1905 in Rutherglen, Nipissing, Ontario, Canada. Died Feb 14, 1994 in North Bay,Nipissing Dist., ON, Can (88 years, 8 months). Married Clifford Charles Ollivier Jan 10,1928 in Rutherglen, Nipissing, Ontario, Canada. Edna was baptized into St. Margaret’s Anglican Church by the Rev. Gordon Postlethwaite.She was the only child of Nide and Alice Smith to complete high school and continue toreceive her Teaching Certificate. One of her first positions was likely in Earlton, ON. Shecould also play piano. When Vera Hughes (Smith) died after giving birth, Edna and… Read more: Edna Eliza Smith (Ollivier)
  • Alice Maria Pennell
    It seems strange to say that I don’t have a lot of information about my Grandmother Smith. There were certainly lots of people in my life who knew her well. Most of what I know came from my mother who did not get along with her and didn’t have many good memories of her. Alice was born April 5, 1876 in Horton Twp., Ontario. She married Adoniram Warner Smith April 13, 1904 in Rutherglen. She became a large woman as her children were born, but developed diabetes in her later years and lost her excess weight. I was born in… Read more: Alice Maria Pennell
  • Emmett Richard Smith
    Emmett was born January 27, 1915, Rutherglen, Ontario and died March 24, 1990. He was the 2nd youngest son of Adoniram and Alice Smith. In the summer, Uncle Emmett helped Dad in running the farm as much as he could.  He’d often drive over his tractor to pull the plow or the seeder or the rake. While using the bailor, Dad and Uncle Emmett would take turns either driving the tractor or pulling the bails off the bailor and stacking them on the wagon.

Back To The Future

Posted on by admin

My own blogs and personal reflections on life in 21st Century.

  • My own DNA conspiracy theory
    I would say I’ve done an above average amount of reading about ancient history. I do wish I had studied this in post-secondary school however that’s a whole other topic. Two things I remember reading about that just seemed weird and creepy were how in the Jewish culture, you were only considered Jewish IF your… Read more: My own DNA conspiracy theory
  • The Source
    I started a book a few days ago after listening to a few podcasts featuring Dr. Tara Swart, Neuroscientist, Psychiatrist and Senior Lecturer at MIT’s Sloan School of Management. The book is titled The Source. The first principle is about changing your thoughts from negative “lack” thinking (negative) to abundance (positive). My all-time life-long nemesis… Read more: The Source
  • Memorial for a 14-year-old
    Since I only know of one person who reads my blogs, I’m feeling quick free to speak my mind, especially today. I went to a memorial for a 14-year-old girl, granddaughter of a friend of mine. How odd to attend one of these where not only were there adult goodies for visitors to snack on,… Read more: Memorial for a 14-year-old
  • Random Memories of Wayne and Wendy
    There’s a few things to point out in this picture. Dad had a push-lawnmower that he obviously hadn’t used in awhile. The tub was our “swimming pool”. My memories of it were very exciting. As you can see by my face I was totally happy. The “playhouse” is behind us. I’m told, it used to… Read more: Random Memories of Wayne and Wendy
  • Gallsons in Endicott, New York
    UPDATED March 27, 2024: Email response regarding an query I made for information from the E-J Tanner and Shoemake Archive: Thank you for contacting the Syracuse University Libraries. I’m copying our Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) on this message, as this department maintains the papers of members of the Johnson family. The SCRC appreciates your… Read more: Gallsons in Endicott, New York
  • Wayne Lloyd Smith
    Wayne was born December 3, 1954 in North Bay, Ontario, the son of Lloyd George Smith and Joan Vera Gallson. He’s my older brother. And you can hear some things about him in the posting A Song For Wayne and in the many Stories I’ve posted. Wayne recently discovered that he is a carrier of… Read more: Wayne Lloyd Smith
  • Florence’s Family
    Post UPDATED… I finally have the death registration of Philip James Peters, Grandma Gallson’s brother and Edith’s twin. It say Philip died March 9, 1907, age 4, of acute capillary bronchitis, pulmonary congestion. Place of Philip’s death is the same address as Grandma’s birth.
  • Suzan Birdsall nee Canning
    Post UPDATED… Suzan was the daughter of Brenda Canning and the granddaughter of Phyllis Vera Peters. Suzan Birdsall Obituary, Death – January 21, 2024 – London, England – Suzan Birdsall, who was affectionately known as Sue, passed away, and it is with profound grief and heavy hearts that we share this news with you. Earlier… Read more: Suzan Birdsall nee Canning
  • Freedom of Information
    Click here to read update I finally decided to make an application to the Archives of Ontario, under the Freedom of Information Act, to get any documentation existing on my grandmother, Florence Peters. It was surprizingly easy. I filled out a very simple form, giving very brief information about GG (Gramma Gallson), why I wanted… Read more: Freedom of Information
  • New Pictures of Florence
  • Mental Health Treatment in 1930
    The Treatment Act of 1930 replaced the Lunacy Act 1890 which stipulated that anyone admitted had to be “certified” which required a magistrate’s oversight – in other words, needed a warrant. Also, there was NO option for self-discharge.
  • What is Judaism?
    Below is a great 8-minute video that summarizes what I’ve always thought of Judaism. But it wasn’t until I saw the results of our daughter’s DNA on Ancestry that it really hit me – Judaism is not a religion. It’s actually in the DNA. It’s who they are. Our daughter is a solid 50% Ashkenazi… Read more: What is Judaism?
  • The Sadistic Frontal Cortex
    This should be a class in high school, part of the “Life Skills” series that should begin in grade 9. How many parents have the instinct to say “give your head a shake” to their teen-to-young-adult children? Or want to (and some do) slap their kid “up the side of the head” to try and… Read more: The Sadistic Frontal Cortex
  • A Song for Wayne
    My Great Big Brother Walking down a gravel road1 towards a haunted house2Scary bushes3 to the left of me and I’m feeling like a mouseBut Wayne is there to comfort me, to find what’s under coverHe’s big and strong, he’s brave and bold. He’s my great big brother. Running through the fields of grain, not… Read more: A Song for Wayne
  • Forgiveness
    I had an epiphany today about forgiveness. I realize I never really knew what it meant. Perhaps I should have looked it up on dictionary.com: – stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone for (an offense, flaw, or mistake) dictionary.com While I know this is part of the process, I thought there was another thought… Read more: Forgiveness
  • Gramma & My Meandering Thoughts
    My sister Carol and I have had many discussions on Gramma’s mental illness. It is puzzling to us. It makes no sense to us that one person in a family, randomly, out of no where, has a mental illness that incapacitates them so severely that they’re admitted to an insane asylum, never to be released… Read more: Gramma & My Meandering Thoughts
  • The Clothes Line Stand
    This picture is one that I had developed from a box of negatives that I found in the old Pennell home in Rutherglen.  This clothesline stand is a big memory for me and was still there beside the porch door when we moved from house in 1968.  Although I can’t make out her face well,… Read more: The Clothes Line Stand
  • My Pet Peeve For Today
    Food Basics now have green opaque produce bags that many consumers THINK are composable. One gentleman actually told me he loves to use them because he reuses them with his green waste. OMG!! Also today I saw a woman put a mesh bag of onions into a green produce bag – WHY?? Also bananas –… Read more: My Pet Peeve For Today
  • The Colon and Polyps
    Mom had and recovered from Colon Cancer when she was in her late 70’s. Her doctor found her cancer during a colonoscopy and “rushed” her (within days I think) to the operating table and removed a big part of her colon. Because the doctor “got it all”, Mom didn’t need to go through chemo or… Read more: The Colon and Polyps
  • Challenges of Genealogy
    Ever since I was little, I loved old things.  From the days of exploring my Great-Aunt’s abandoned and dilapidated home across the country road from our farm, I can remember holding viewer cards and envisioning myself as a long dead relative looking at them with amazement. Old Eaton’s catalogues with pictures of corsettes and bustles… Read more: Challenges of Genealogy