Rev Whidden

Rev William Arthur Whidden was the son of Charles Whidden & Mary Ellis - Charles being the son of Samuel Whidden & Sophia Vincent.  He was born in 1888 at Brookfield, Nova Scotia and may have started his life helping his father on the farm but he heard the call of God and pursued his studies at the University of Dalhouise - graduating in 1910

By the summer of 1912, William had met and married the other apple of his eye, Mary Louise Hamilton and they had 4 children that lived; a son died in 1920.

Travelling to various sections of Canada for the Church, the family moved to Ottawa when he was inducted into the Westminster Church in 1923.  Before that, they were in Radisson, Saskatchewan.

10 years later, the family had moved to Sudbury, Ontario and a simple cat hunt ended in tragedy...

courtesy of Jody Marie MacKeil

Winnipeg Evening Tribune, Tues, 9 May 1933
Pastor, Shot Accidentally By His Son, Dies - Rev W A Whidden Victim of Unusual Mishap at Sudbury, Ont
SUDBURY, Ont - May 9 - Rev W A Whidden, accidentally shot by his eight-year-old son, Morris, died early today in hospital here.  An older son, George, had loaded a small-caliber rifle to shoot at a stray cat and left the gun in the room.  Morris grasped the weapon and pulled the trigger just as his father entered, the bullet striking the minister in the stomach.  Late last night a blood transfusion was given the injured man but Mr Whidden failed to recover.  He was born at Brookfield, NS and in 1910, graduated from Dalhousie University.  At one time he was pastor of Zion United Church, Radison, Sask.  Last week the degree of bachelor of divinity was conferred upon him by the Union Theological Seminary of Chicago.  He was one of the most popular ministers in the city.  Keenly interested in young people's work in all its phases, he organized a strong YP society in his church and had a very active Sunday school.

1960s Obits - Marshall

What I love about some of the old obits was the inclusion of pallbearers - who more often than not, were family members.

George Robert Marshall was the grandson of Robert Marshall & Olive Vincent - she was the daughter of Charles Vincent & Sophia Murray.  Catherine, aka Cassie, was the daughter of James Cole & Mary Young.

Unknown Paper, 8 Feb 1966
The death of George Robert Marshall of West New Annan occurred at the Lillian Fraser Memorial Hospital, Tatamagouche, on January 30, after a brief illness. The late Mr. Marshall was born September 4, 1877 at West New Annan, son of Charles and Margaret (Graham) Marshall. He lived all his life in West New Annan, where he operated a farm, with the exception of a few years he spent in United States. He was predecease by his wife, Catherine, on February 3, 1965; also by a half sister, Grace and a half brother, Ralph.  Surviving are one son, Ernest, Mansfield, Mass; five daughters Mrs. Marguerite MacIntosh, Bible Hill; (Viola) Mrs. Leonard Swan, West New Annan; Mrs. Muriel Lord, Saybrook, Connecticut; (Olive) Mrs. Russell Mingo, The Falls, and (Minnie) Mrs. Sherman Tuttle, Wentworth. Also surviving are one sister, Mrs. Minnie Darling, Norwood, Mass.; one half sister, (Mabel) Mrs. Albert Arnold, New Jersey; 16 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.  The funeral was held from the West New Annan United Church on February 2 at 2 p.m., with Rev. K.M. Rogerson officiating. The hymns sung by the New Annan Choir were "Unto The Hills" and "Oh, Love That Will Not Let Me Go". Pallbearers were Freeman and Foreman Murdock, Orrin Vincent, Harold Matheson, Allan Campbell and Aubrey Kirk. Interment was in Bell Gift Cemetery in the family plot. H.R. Bonnyman was funeral director. 
 

courtesy of Jody Marie MacKeil

Unknown Paper - 8 Feb 1965
Mrs Cassie Marshall - Funeral services for Mrs. George R. Marshall who passed away at her home, West New Annan, on February 3, were held from the West New Annan United Church on Saturday February 5, at two o'clock; H.R. Bonnyman was funeral director and interment was in Bell Gift cemetery.  Services were conducted by Rev. Keith Rogerson.  Hymns sung were "Unto The Hill", "Safe In The Arms of Jesus" and "The Lord's My Shepherd". Pallbearers were Orrin Vincent, Freeman Murdock, Forman Murdock, Harold Matheson, Leonard Swan, and Warren Swan.  The late Mrs. Marshall was born March 21, 1878, daughter of the late James and Agnes (Young) Cole.  Besides her husband she is survived by one son, Ernest, of Mansfield, Mass.; five daughters, Mrs. Marguerite MacIntosh, Truro; (Viola) Mrs. Leonard Swan, West New Annan; Mrs. Muriel Lord, Soybrook, Conn.; (Olive) Mrs. Russell Mingo, The Falls and (Minnie) Mrs. Sherman Tuttle, Lower Wentworth; also three sisters Mrs. Minnie Cook, Londonderry; Mrs. Marie Lord, Ochre River, Manitoba; Mrs. Sadie Robb, Victoria, B.C.; and two brothers William Cole and Henry Cole, both of Tatamagouche. Sixteen grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and one great great-grandson also survive.  She was predeceased by one sister, Mrs. Elizabeth MacMillan, Gainsboro, Sask.

Clarence G Fisher

Courtesy of Anne Marie Cormier

Today I write about a boy who went to France during WWI and returned a man irrevocably changed.

Clarence Gray Fisher was the son of Samuel Fisher and Mary Gray ('Grandma' - Rebecca Gray Whidden was Mary's younger sister).  

Clarence was born in 1897 at Westville, Nova Scotia and was a steam engineer for the railroad.

Just shy of his 19th birthday, Clarence enlisted. 


During my research into this Fisher clan, I stumbled across a submission on The Olive Tree that allowed me to peek into the past and give life to the face in the picture below.  

The information was from Elizabeth Fisher Tambeau, the daughter of Clarence's younger brother John.

She wrote that the soldiers from Pictou were sent to Lower Dibgate, England for training and that Clarence transferred from the 106th to the 87th Canadian Infantry.  

At a battle at Vimy Ridge, he was injured and had gotten buried alive for a while as a result of a shell explosion near him. Hit in the back and suffering from a hand wound, he landed in a hospital at Paschendale for the last year of the war.  The shrapnel contributed to his death in 1941 and his disabilities reduced him to light work but more often than not he was unemployed.

courtesy of Anne Marie Cormier

Also, she shared a letter written by the young man who had already experienced a lot since he left home in February of 1916....

Somewhere in France
June 18, 1917

Dear Mother,

I rec'd your parcel and two bundles of papers today and one letter today and one yesterday. I hope what that fellow says about the war is true.Yes I was in that battle you were asking me about. I was one of the lucky ones. What that fellow says about Raymond DeCoste is about right as far as what I heard. He was coming down a communication trench and a" Whizz Bang " landed pretty handy to him and a piece of shell casing hit him on the hip. He said he had a good " Blighty " and did not think he was hurt bad but he died the next day.

I was out about two miles today to the gas school to get a gas mask. As it was so warm I went in my shirt sleeves. I was just coming back when it started to rain and thunder all in about a minute when the sun was out as bright as a silver dollar.

I was over to see some of the 106th boys. I saw quite a few of them and some other boys from Westville. I saw Sergt-Major Jollymore and Sergt. Dan Adamson. I also saw Dannie Corrigan, Edgar Murray and a Morrison of Westville. I got a letter from Sergt. H. MacKenzie about two months ago saying he was coming to France. I answered it but did not get a reply and I wondered what was the reason as he always wrote regular. They told me that he was killed just after he came to France.

I will close now with love to all from your ever loving son,

Clarence.

P.S. Would you mind sending me a thin sweater with short arms in it.They are the clear thing for here. The cigarettes were good and glad to get them. Am receiving all my parcels, now.

C.G.F.

Fisher Pictures 

1960s Obits - Langille & Simpson

A couple obits that I have...

Martin - courtesy of GenealogyBluff

Martin Wallace Langille married Elizabeth Ethel 'Lizzie' Whidden - she's a granddaughter of Samuel Whidden & Sophia Vincent.    

Elizabeth - courtesy of Heather Gorrie Mahoney

Lizzie died 26 Apr 1938 and Martin died 24 Mar 1962 and they are both buried at the Robie St Cemetery in Truro, Nova Scotia


Unknown Paper,  Mar 1962
TRURO - Martin Langille, retired CNR conductor, of Truro, died Saturday.  Mr. Langille, 77 years if age, was born at Hilden, son of William and Nellie Langille of that community.  He began his railroading career with the CNR as a brakeman in 1903. He later became conductor and ran for the most part between Halifax and Moncton until his retirement in 1947.  He was a conductor of the first train to arrive in Halifax the day of the Halifax explosion in 1917.  He was a member of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen and also of the First United Church, Truro.  Surviving are two daughters, (Margaret, Mrs. Wilbur MacRae), West Newton, Mass.; Eleanor, Mrs. Donald Arnold, Truro; and two sons, Carl and William, both of Truro.  His wife and a third son predeceased him some 17 years ago.  The body is resting at the Kennedy Memorial Residence , Truro, and funeral services will be held from there Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. , Rev. Stanley MacQueen, First United Church, officiating.  The remains will be placed in the Lewis Memorial Vault at Robie Street Cemetery and burial will take place later.



James Willis Simpson, the oldest son of William Simpson & Catherine Vincent was born in 1892 at Wentworth, Nova Scotia.  He married a Bostonian named Lillian Cecilia Thalin and had 2 children, Dorothy & Walter.

Fitchburg Sentinel, Sat, 15 Nov 1969
Lunenburg Man Accident Victim, Dies At Hospital
James W Simpson, 78, of 941 Massachusetts Ave, Lunenburg, died this morning in Burbank Hospital of injuries sustained in an accident Oct 22, when the car he was driving on Route 2A hit the curbing opposite 160 Massachusetts Ave, Lunenburg, and struck a utility pole.  Mr Simpson was born in Nova Scotia and lived most of his life in Worcester and Foxboro before coming to Lunenburg 11 years ago.  He was associated in real estate sales with the Hickory Hills Corp.  Prior to retirement, he worked for the Union Twist Drill Company in Athol as a production foreman.  He leaves his widow, Mrs Lillian (Phalin) Simpson; a son, Walter Simpson of Cleveland, Ohio; a sister, Mrs Gladys Clare of Yarmouth Port and brother, Earl Simpson of Worcester and two grandchildren.  The Longstreet Funeral Home, Worcester is in charge of funeral arrangements which are incomplete.

Mining Ackles & Tragedy

Last week I wrote about Amanda Ackles who died in Blairmore, Alberta, today I write about her siblings. Amanda was the oldest of 10 children.  The other girl, Mary Isobel or Bell, married a carpenter by the name of Robert Blair.  

Of her 8 brothers, all were miners.  

To understand the draw, we need to look at where the family was born and raised - Londonderry, Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia Archives  Photo Collection: O/S: Places: Londonderry no. 11   /  negative no. N-0578

The quiet farming community of Londonderry, or the Acadia Mines as it was once known, was made prosperous by the discovery of iron ore and the mining that began around 1849 - everyone believed that there was an enormous load of ore.  But luck was not with this little community.

Dwindling ore, poor management, expensive mining processes and dropping iron prices slowly brought the mining industry to a halt.  The town's fate was sealed with the fire of 1920 which destroyed most of it. 

A community that was once a bustling town enjoying economic growth is little more than a ghost town today.  With a population of about 200 from the 5000 during its peak (reportedly as low as 300 as early as 1956) it is better known for summer cottages and nearby ski resort.

So we have work, lots of it initially, hence, a clan of miners.  And it probably didn't hurt that their cousin Charles L Jobb (the son of Hamilton Jobb & Rachel Whidden) was the Superintendent of the Pipe Foundry, turned General Manager to President of the Canada Iron Foundaries.

With so many of one family in the mines, it was inevitable that the family would lose a couple to the depths of the ground leaving widows and children behind.

NS Archives

Charles Murray Ackles was 29 when he was crushed in the mine in February, leaving behind his wife Bella Arsenault and the son he never met, Charles Jr who was born in May.

James Robert Ackles was 23 when he died in 1894, married a mere 2 years to Minnie Meisner and left a 7mth old James Earl fatherless.

James' tombstone has the following inscription: Erected by the members of L.O. Lodge No. 1624 to the memory of Bro. James Eckles of the above lodge who was accidentally killed in Torbrook Iron Mines on the 7 April 1894 aged 23 years. He was a man loyal and true. 

courtesy of Ric Noble

Sulfuric Mishap

Amanda Jane Ackles was born in Nova Scotia, the daughter of John Ackles and Sarah Whidden - we know the Whiddens stem from the marriage of Samuel to Sophia Vincent.

Amanda was married twice.  Her first husband was John Farnan a farmer who lost his first wife when she was 41.  Amanda was 20 years his junior and together they had 6 children.  According to the Colchester Historeum, John Farnan died in 1908 but I believe that's a mistake given that by 1904, Amanda had married John Snow, a miner.  

Rockies/Crowsnest Pass

John Snow and Amanda had two children, Percy and Lucy, and by 1911, they had stopped in Ontario where John was mining and eventually, the family ended up in Alberta.

Of her children with John Farnan, Ermengarde died at 7, Rita died at 9 months, and Burton died at 8 months.  Eva married Warren Rhude and had 12 children! Phyllis, a teacher who never married lived in Kimberley, BC along with her sister Sarah who married William Miller.

I am not sure what became of Percy and Lucy but they were last found on the 1921 census in Lethbridge, AB while their father was in Edmonton mining but...where was Amanda because 2 years later she died a horrible death...

Coleman abt 1903

Blairmore Enterprise, 14 Feb 1924
Death of Mrs Amanda Snow
The death occurred at Coleman yesterday morning of Mrs Amanda Snow at the age of [56] years.  Mrs Snow was a native of Nova Scotia and came to Coleman last summer to join her husband, who has resided there for some time.  Death was due to a dose of sulphuric acid taken by mistake for medicine about six weeks ago.  She leaves a husband and family to mourn her loss.  The funeral will be held on Sunday afternoon next.

Also, there is a conflict with her burial location.  According to the Alberta Family Histories Society, she was buried at the Bellevue Cemetery in Canmore, Alberta but the work on the Sprague Project site indicates that she was buried at the Watson Cemetery in Truro, Nova Scotia where her brother John William Ackles is buried - perhaps the latter is a cenotaph?

Ghost Town - Bellevue Cemetery 
Coleman, Alberta 
Blairmore, Alberta 
Crowsnest Pass 

Updates & Thoughts

The highs and lows of genealogy.....

First, I have been working with a distant cousin Ellie for a while now on one of the Vincent lines - and it's been a huge amount of work putting this family together especially where we started off with a lot of wrong information.  What we have discovered has been amazing and today she shared some pictures she took of the gravestones - I teared up - yes!  Silly that may be but I felt like I met some family for the first time today - speechless, priceless.

Second, a while back I wrote about a 4x great uncle of mine - William H Vincent, born about 1856 and how he might have been bitten by the gold rush and headed to the Yukon. It was possible given that his uncle Benj Vincent was in Washington and he had cousins Reuben & Willoughby Mason trapping in the area.  I was excited to find the oversized yellow envelope in my mail - - unfortunately, the death entry didn't reveal anything I didn't know - he was born in NS and died in the Yukon! 

Lastly, my AW Mason mystery has been solved!!  I posted the obit I found for him in the Eastern Chronicle where his sister Mrs Kenneth Forbes received word of his passing in Arizona and it only referred to him by initials.  BUT...a few days ago I received a lovely set of emails from Pam Kirkland whose family includes the Arbuckles, Masons and connections to my mom's family, the Hubleys.  
 
Color me happy that someone found my blog but she had news on A W Mason - And, and, and - 

She had an obit for his mother Charlotte from 1918 where his name is mentioned and a beautiful 1916 article about Charlotte where she shared an old family recipe for making Sowens!  

A HUGE thank you to Pam!

Unknown Paper, Oct 1918
Mrs Charlotte Mason
At the home of her daughter, Mrs Kenneth Forbes, New Glasgow, on Friday, October 4th, 1918, there passed away Mrs charlotte Mason, aged 92 years, leaving three daughters, Mrs Kenneth Forbes, New Glasgow, Mrs Henry Flaiger, Pictou, and Mrs Adolph [Lippert of Jefferson, Ohio]; and three sons, Mr George A Mason, New Glasgow, James of Edmonton, and Angus in Texas. 

The death of this aged and beautiful old lady calls for more than a passing notice, for she was one of the grand old hand of the pioneer mothers who made the famous County of Pictou what it is - a County whose sons and daughters are known and revered in almost every country of the globe.  She was born at the Ponds, Merigomish, the daughter of William Arbuckles.  Her grandfather was Barnabas MacGee, the first settler at Merigomish.  Her grandmother was the first white child ever born in Pictou County.  The Enterprise had last year an account of her life and the wonderful pluck and work which all her life she went through, and with it all she always preserved a cheerful optimism, as a woman always ready to help and cheer others with sympathy and kindness; a devoted mother, a true friend, and altogether a true Christian woman of the broad type and of heroic mould, in always smilingly meeting the stern requirements and often the disappointments of the life that those old pioneer mothers had to meet in those strenuous days.

A loved and loving woman herself, in her declining years she was attended with the kindest and tenderest care by her devoted daughter, Mrs Kenneth Forbes, and everything that the love and skill and care of a kind and loving household could do was always done for her who did so much to help others, and especially the poor and distressed. 

Although she [received] the patriarchal age of fourscore and twelve years, she retained all her faculties to the last in a most remarkable manner, and she did also her looks, for she was as young looking, with as youthful an outlook as most women of fifty.

She was in her usual health the day she died, ate her supper as well as ever, and went to bed, when her daughter, Mrs Forbes tucked her in and coming back a few minutes later was shocked to find she had passed away.  Her death was most graceful and calm, without a struggle or sigh, just passed into the Great Beyond [faithfully] so that today the eternal springtime with the everlasting glories belongs to her who did her part in this life so [boldly- and unselfishly and well.  There is nothing to regret...

An Everett Family

An Irish gent joined our family around 1832 in Colchester Co, Nova Scotia when George Everett married our Sarah Vincent, the daughter of George Vincent & Mary Higgins.  Together they had 2 children, Philip and Mary.  

Philip married Kitty Creighton and was a farmer like his father.  Philip and Kitty had 7 children.

Philip's one and only son, George William Everitt, was a tinsmith and he left Nova Scotia for New York where he met and married an Irish lass by the name of Jennie McCretton in 1893.  They raised a family of 5 children in the Richmond Co area.

courtesy of Diane Del Priore

George W's 3rd child, Philip Vincent Everitt, was born in 1898 in New York City and he married Agnes McGill and had 4 children. After her death in 1931, he married Blanche Barcas.

Philip was in the shipping business, specifically he was a merchant marine and eventually became VP of the State Marine Corporation in NY (a 'merchant marine' is the name of the civilians who are in the business of shipping cargo and people by boat on the various waterways of the world).

New York Times, 27 Jul 1971
Everett - Philip V.  On July 25, 1971.  Beloved husband of Blanche.  Devoted father of Mrs Robert Maloy, George G, Philip V Jr, & Jane C.  Brother of Mary G Everett.  Also survived by 5 grandchildren.  Reposing at Frank E Campbell, Madison Ave at 81 St.  Friends may call 3 to 5 & 7 to 9 pm Tuesday.  Funeral service private.

New York Sun, Fri, 20 Feb 1931
Everitt - Anges C (nee McGill), on February 18, 1931, beloved wife of Philip V Everitt.  Funeral from residence, 600 Delafield Av, West Brighton, Staten Island, Saturday 930 am.  Requiem mass at Sacred Heart Church, West Brighton, 10 am.  Interment St Peter's Cemetery.