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Persoon/organisatie
Persoon · 1823-1893

Mary Ann Camberton Shadd (1823-1893) was an educator, abolitionist, author, journalist and lawyer in the United States and Canada.

Shadd Cary was born free on 9 October 1823 in Wilmington, Delaware, a slave-holding state, to Abraham Doras Shadd and Harriet Parnell. She was the eldest of 13 children. Her parents were active abolitionists and, as such, her home was a safe house on the Underground Railroad. As education was denied to Black children, particularly girls, in Delaware, the Shadd family moved to Pennsylvania in 1833 where there were more opportunities for free Black people. Shadd Cary is thought to have received a Quaker education there, although records of her attendance at local Quaker schools have not been located. Nevertheless, she became a teacher and she taught at Black schools in Wilmington, DE; New York City, NY; Trenton, NJ; and Norristown, PA until 1850.

During that period, Shadd Cary also began to participate in political discourse, writing a letter to Frederick Douglass (which would be published in his North Star newspaper) about the condition of Free Black Americans and a short pamphlet entitled "Hints to the Colored People of the North." In September 1851, following the passage of the "Fugitive Slave Act" (1850), Shadd Cary attended the North American Convention of Coloured Freemen at St. Lawrence Hall in Toronto, Upper Canada. It was the first such Convention held outside of the United States. There Shadd Cary met Henry and Mary Bibb, activists and publishers of the newspaper "Voice of the Fugitive," at the Convention who convinced her to take a teaching position near their home in Sandwich (now, Windsor, Ontario). Following the Convention, Shadd Cary moved to Windsor with her brother, Isaac. There, she gained prominence as a leader and spokesperson for Black refugees and freedom seekers who fled the United States to Canada. In Windsor, she established a racially integrated school with the support of the American Missionary Association. She also published material that outlined the advantages of Canada for Black settlers moving north, including "A Plea for Emigration; or Notes of Canada West" (1852).

In 1853, she was instrumental in founding "The Provincial Freeman," a weekly newspaper first printed on 24 March 1853. Shadd used the "Provincial Freeman" to promote emigration to Canada West. Shadd Cary hid the depth of her involvement in the publication, but from the beginning, she was responsible for much of the "The Provincial Freeman's" content. Thus, she became the first Black woman in North America to publish a newspaper and one of the first female journalists in Canada.

When the paper moved to Toronto in 1854, she took over the editorship publicly. The newspaper was published in Toronto until 1855, following which time, it was published from Chatham. Due to financial pressure, it folded in 1860. After spending the first few years of the American Civil War as a schoolteacher in Chatham, Shadd Cary returned to the United States and by 1863 was working as a recruitment agent for the Union Army in Indiana. Later, she moved to Washington, DC, where she worked as a teacher.

Years after, she pursued law studies at Howard University and in 1883 became one of the first Black women in the United States to complete a law degree. Shadd Cary continued to participate in both civil rights and equal rights movements in the United States, returning to Canada only briefly, in 1881, to organize a suffragist rally.

Shadd Cary married Thomas Fauntleroy Cary on 3 January 1856 in St. Catharines, Ontario. They had one son and one daughter. He died unexpectedly in 1860. Shadd Cary herself died of cancer on 5 June 1893 in Washington, DC. In 1994, Shadd Cary was designated a Person of National Historic Significance in Canada.

Shaw, William Frederick
051.1 · Persoon · 1858-1922

Dr. William Frederick Shaw was born to Irish immigrants Charles Shaw (1819-1900, a clerk) and Mary Ann Soden Shaw (1827-1892) November 29, 1858 in Ottawa, Ontario. The sixth of ten children, Shaw became a physician and worked in the Village of Bracebridge, Ontario (circa 1881). He married Mary Eveline Nicol Ritchie (September 24, 1857 – February 17, 1882) in Toronto, Ontario on April 13, 1881. The Shaws lived in Bracebridge and on February 14, 1882, had a stillborn daughter. Three days later, Mary Shaw died due to complications of the birth.

By 1901, William Shaw was living in Bonfield, Ontario. He married Kate Wilson (born March 20, 1874) November 26, 1902 in Callander, Ontario and carried out his practice as a physician in the Callander area for the next 15 years. During this time, the Shaws lived in nearby Himsworth, Ontario and by 1911, adopted a daughter, Murial J. Guthier Shaw.

In 1916, William Shaw became a railway doctor and moved with his family to Capreol, Ontario. In 1918, Shaw petitioned for Capreol to be incorporated as a Town under the Municipal Act and subsequently became the Town of Capreol’s first mayor. In November 1919, Shaw and his family moved back to the Callander area to open a drug store but returned to Capreol in the fall of 1920, residing at 11 Young Street, Capreol, Ontario.

Due to William Shaw’s ill health, the Shaw family went back to Callander in early 1922 and William Frederick Shaw passed away on February 27, 1922 in Himsworth, Ontario at the age of 63.

Morrison, James A., 1924 -
Persoon · 1924-01-02 -

James A. Morrison was born in Toronto on January 2, 1924. He attended Toronto’s Central Technical High School’s aircraft matriculation course. While in high school, he first joined the Army Cadets before changing over to Air Cadets. When he was old enough, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

He spent a month at 1 Manning Depot in Toronto before moving to 4 Manning Depot at Quebec, and 5 Manning Depot at Lachine. He then moved to 5 Initial Training School at Belleville, Ontario, and 10 Elementary Flying Training School at Pendleton, Ontario. In January 1943, he moved to 2 Senior Flying Training School at Uplands where he was commissioned as a flying officer in May. Morrison served as a flying instructor at various stations before he shipped out in October 1944. He was posted to Royal Air Force Squadron 62 in Burma, supporting the British Fourteenth Army.

After the Second World War, Morrison was posted to RCAF Squadrons 435 and 436, transporting troops in Europe. Flying Dakotas, Morrison and his unit also transported prisoners to the Nuremberg trials. Morrison returned to Canada, serving temporarily as a corporal in the service police force while waiting for his training in flying control. When recommissioned, he was posted as instructor at 1 Flying Training School in Centralia, Ontario. In 1951, Morrison was posted to 400 Auxiliary Squadron in Toronto, flying Vampires, the first jet aircraft the RCAF operated. He was posted to 16 Wing Headquarters in Mount Hope, Ontario, from 1953 to 1957, serving as Executive Assistant to the Commanding Officer. From 1957 to 1959, he was posted to No. 2 Air Observer School in Winnipeg where he was Training Officer for a Beechcraft CT-128 Expeditor Squadron and officer commanding Dakota flight. He was then transferred to 2 Maritime Operational Training Unit at Summerside, Prince Edward Island. He was posted to Maritime Command in Greenwood, Nova Scotia, 404 Squadron, where he flew maritime patrols and served as instrument check pilot from 1960 to 1965. Morrison was appointed Duty Officer for RCAF Headquarters at the Canadian Armed Forces Operation Centre in Ottawa. He was promoted to Squadron Leader (Major) and was commanding officer at the centre, delivering instructions when the War Measures Act was invoked in October 1970. Morrison retired from the RCAF in July 1971.

In his RCAF retirement, Morrison worked as a real estate broker and in security. In 1995, he became active in aircraft photography at Ottawa International Airport. He received an airside pass while working as a staff photographer for Karevan Air Services and was soon allowed access to all airport ramps. In this capacity, he photographed many significant visitors to Ottawa and their aircraft. Morrison was a founding member of the Ottawa Airport Watch, patrolling public areas of the airport. He specialized in night watch patrols of the perimeter road and parking areas, and his wife Betty generally accompanied him on patrol. Airport Watch volunteer groups have since spread to other cities. Morrison retired from his voluntary role in January 2014, making his final patrol with the Airport Watch on his ninetieth birthday.

Miss [?] Gunn
Persoon · [18- ] - [after 1920]

At this time no information is available on Miss Gunn, other than that she lived north of Embro.

Cowing family
Familie · 1893-2016

The son of William Rose and Rebecca (nee Hargreaves), Emery Eldred Cowing was born on February 18, 1893, on the family homestead in East Zorra Township. On December 14, 1922, he married Elsie Trussler (1897-1985) of Kitchener, Ontario. At the time of his marriage, he purchased the farm belonging to David Cowing. According to his obituary, published in the Woodstock Sentinel-Review, his home was one of the meeting places for the Christadelphians of the area, and he often took his turn giving the sermons. Following the death of his mother, he returned to the family homestead where he continued to farm. A farmer all his life, Emery Cowing passed away at the Woodstock General Hospital on August 14, 1942, in his 50th year, following a stroke. He is buried in the Innerkip Cemetery.

His son, William Robert (Bob) Cowing was born on October 8, 1927. He began his farming career at the age of fourteen on the family farm located on Lot 15, Concession 7, East Zorra Township. A member of the Innerkip Presbyterian Church, he was married to Shirley (nee Hallock) for over 61 years. Bob Cowing passed away, in his 89th year, at the Woodstock General Hospital on October 8, 2016, and is buried in the Innerkip Cemetery.

Robert David Montgomery
Persoon · 23 October 1866 - 6 May 1943

The son of George and Hannah (nee Hadden), Robert David Montgomery was born in Woodstock, Ontario on October 23, 1866. He was educated at the local schools and learned the wood-working trade, being employed at the Clarkson Mills, in Woodstock, for some years. He later went to Detroit, Michigan, where he spent several years, returning to the city in 1898. Upon his return, he took over his brother John’s music store, which he operated for decades as Montgomery’s Music Store at 472 Dundas Street.

On August 17, 1892, he married Genevieve (Jennie) Havey (1868-1937) at Essex, Ontario and they would go on to have three children: Grace Lillian (b. 1894), Robert Hadden (b. 1896), and Frances Kathleen (b. 1903).

R.D. Montgomery was active in municipal affairs and served on the city council as alderman for four years, 1913 to 1916 inclusive. He was also a major in the 168th Battalion, “Oxford’s Own”, during the First World War.

In addition, he was a high-ranking Mason, belonging to King Solomon’s Lodge No. 43, of which he was a past master. He was also a past District Deputy of Wilson District No. 6. Likewise, he took an active royal in the Royal Arch Masons and was a member and past principal of Oxford Chapter, No. 18 R.A.M. and was a past District Superintendent of Wilson District. For several years and up to his death, he was secretary of the Oxford Chapter. He was also a former member of Richard Coeur de Lion Preceptory, Knights Templar, and of Mocha Temple, Order of the Shrine, both at London, Ontario. He was also a former active Oddfellow, being a member and Past Grand of Olive Branch, No. 88.

In 1921, when the Masons of Woodstock founded their new Masonic Tempte at the corner of Dundas and Brock street, R.D. Montgomery was one of the leading workers on the project and headed the first board of directors as president, a position he held continuously until his death.

Robert David Montgomery passed away, in his 77th year, at Woodstock General Hospital on May 6, 1943, and is buried in the Woodstock Presbyterian Cemetery.

Persoon · 1824-1903

Thomas McIlwraith (1824-1903) was a business man and ornithologist; one of the founders of the American Ornithologists’ Union, and author of ‘Birds of Ontario’.

McIlwraith was born in Newton-on-Ayr, Scotland, on December 25, 1824 as one of ten children of Thomas McIlwraith, and Jean Adair Forsyth. In 1853, he married Mary Park, and they had four daughters and four sons.

McIlwraith moved to Upper Canada in late 1853 to become the Superintendent of the gas works in Hamilton, Ontario. He began publishing bird observations in the Canadian Journal as early as 1860, and the first edition of his ‘Birds of Ontario’ was published in 1886, with the second edition coming out in 1894.

Embro Public Library
Instelling · 1882-

Formed in 1882, the Embro Mechanic Institute was housed in a small brick building near a store owned by Mrs. J.C. McIntosh. It was then moved to a building on the site of the present post office, where Captain Gordon oversaw the collection. Later the library was moved across the street, where Mr. Cody looked after it. The first supporters of the Institute were R.R. Ross, G.A. Munro, John Ross (Ensign), Major William Loveys, George Gordon, Hugh Ross (Teacher), E.J. Cody, Dr. Jameson, and Miss Mary Matheson. In 1895, it became a Public Library and in 1897, when the Embro Town Hall was built, the library found a permanent location.

In 1937, the library became a member of the Oxford County Library Association and, in 1965, it became a branch of the Oxford County Library. Today, the Embro Public Library is still located on the main floor of the Embro Town Hall, located at 135 Huron Street.

Hand, Mary V.R.
Persoon · 1875-1954

Mary Violet Rhys Hand was born in November 20 1875 in Great Rissington, Glouchestershire, England to Reverend William Hand and Amy Rice. She was the second born of four daughters. Hand was raised in Taynton, Oxfordshire where her father was the local Vicar. After her father’s death in 1900, the 1901 England Census lists the family in Stratton, Glouchestershire with Hands’ mother, “living on her own means.” Not much is known about Hands’ early life, or education.

Between August 1st 1912 and July 1st 1915, Mary Hand worked as a cataloguer at the Royal Ontario Museum, making her one of the first women employees of the museum. A note in the June 21, 1915 Board of Trustee minutes states that Miss Hand also served as a door attendant at the museum.

Passenger records between the United Kingdom, Canada, and the USA make note of frequent travel of Mary Hand. Her occupation was listed as “Cataloguer” “Assistant” at the Royal Ontario Museum and “Secretary.”

By 1919, Hand had returned to England where she married Herbert Randall, a Captain in the Royal Naval Reserve. They did not appear to have any children. Mary Hand died on August 29, 1954 at the age of 78.

Hugill, Edgar Herbert
Persoon · 12 September 1859 - 26 January 1955

The son of John and Lavina Ellen (nee Baker) Hugill, Edgard Herbert Hugill was born in Ingersoll, Ontario on September 12, 1859. Edgar learned the art of photography from his father, John, who started a studio in Ingersoll in 1866. John was self-taught and during this early period of photography, he experimented with daguerreotypes and ambrotypes, finally working with glass plate negatives exclusively.

On October 8, 1883, he married Claire Grace Ida Robinson (1857-1886) in Ingersoll. Sadly, he would lose both his wife and his one-month-old daughter, Ida Claire Hellena, in 1886. On January 1, 1890, he married Minnie Eva Stevens (1866-1918).

According to the Ingersoll Public Library, “Edgar Hugill studied his father’s techniques and took over the second-floor studio on Thames Street in Ingersoll in 1888. Edgar documented small-town life in Ingersoll and became a prominent citizen, socializing with the cream of society. Upon Edgar’s wife Minnie, becoming ill in 1896. Hugill sold his photography studio and decamped to Keewaydin Island in Muskoka in hopes that the climate may improve her health. This move resulted in Edgar’s greatest opportunity, to record his beloved Muskoka and his many friends, through the lens of his camera. Hugill produced his finest and largest number of photographs by the turn of the century. Hugill’s images of Ingersoll and Muskoka are featured in the book, ‘The Hugill Chronicles: a mosaic’ by David L. Gibson.”

In the 1920s, he switched careers and worked as an insurance broker in Ingersoll for thirty-five years until his death on January 26, 1955. A member of Trinity United Church and St. John’s Lodge No. 68 A.F. & A.M., Edgar H. Hugill was buried in the Ingersoll Rural Cemetery.

Guelph Fountain Committee
F95 · Instelling · [198-]

It is believed that the Guelph Fountain Committee operated in the early to mid 1980s. The Committee was originally referred to as the Guelph Italian Fountain Committee. The committee was charged with raising money for a fountain and statue called the family which is located today at St. George’s Square in Guelph. The Guelph Fountain Committee was believed to have been headquartered on Victoria Road. There pledge cards, publicity kits, and receipt forms were distributed. The Guelph Fountain Committee was a registered charity. It is believed the committee ceased operations once its fundraising goals were met.

Instelling · ca. 1880s - [before 1940]

The Canadian Order of Chosen Friends was a fraternal and benevolent society with councils nation-wide. It was originally incorporated in the Province of Ontario in 1887, with three guiding principles: fraternity, aid, and protection. Members could be eligible for life insurance, health insurance, and benefit policies. Though membership fluctuated over the years, the Order established a sickness department in 1890 and a child insurance department in 1917. In 1943 the Order became the Reliable Life Insurance Society. It was turned into a stock own life insurance company in 1964, with its headquarters in Hamilton, Ontario.

The Woodstock Council was formed in the late 1800s, with meetings held in the C.O.F. Hall.

The 1912 Vernon’s Directory noted that the Council met on the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month over 424 Dundas Street. By 1928, the Council meet on the 4th Friday of every month in 470 Peel St, where the Oxford Harness Shop was located. By 1938, the Council is no longer listed.

Instelling · 1835-

Believed to be one of the oldest churches in the district, Brooksdale Presbyterian was founded under the Presbyterian Church of Scotland in 1835. Originally, the congregation of Brooksdale belong to the presbytery of London, however, in 1878, they were received into the union and transferred to the Stratford presbytery in 1878. That same year, Brooksdale and Burns church, located in East Zorra Township, were united as one pastoral charge and were supplied by probationers for a time. Early services were held in the village school, until a church was built.

The present church building dates to 1883 and was built on lands part of the Clergy Reserves. It was built by Franklin Youngs, as a presbyterian church. In 1919, the church was received in union with Knox Presbyterian Church in Harrington, Ontario.

In 1925, the congregation voted to become part of the new United Church of Canada and consisted of members of the former Methodist Church that was located across the street and had closed ten years prior. The Church became known as St. Andrew’s United Church. That same year, the Church was received in union with Ebenezer United Church, Embo and in July 1943 with Kintore Chalmers United Church.

Ministers of St. Andrew’s Church, Brooksdale include the following:
1879 Rev. Amos
1881 Rev. Robert Soctt
1892 Rev. R. Pyke (Interim Moderator)
1893 Rev. J.D. Fergusson
1905 Rev. H. McCullock (Interim Moderator)
1906 Rev. S.M. Whaley
1914 Rev. T.C. Overend
1918 Rev. Finlay Matheson (Interim Moderator)
1919 Rev. James Hagen
1920 Rev. A.D. Cornett
1925 Rev. Strachen / Rev. C. Tavener
1934 Dr. M.W. Goodrich
1943 Rev. Herbert A. Boyd
1946 Rev. J. N. Sceviour
1951 Rev. M.C. Gandier (Interim Moderator)
1952 Rev. John Douglas
1956 Rev. C.W. DeWitt Cosens

In the 1920s, a park, including a baseball diamond, was established east of the parking lot and in 1949 the front entrance of the building was moved to the north side of the building following a windstorm.

As of 2024, the church is also known as Brooksdale United Church.

The Burlington Braves
Instelling · 1958-2016

The Burlington Braves were a Canadian junior football league team, founded in 1958 in Burlington, Ontario. Former Hamilton Tiger Cat, and Canadian Football Hall of famer, Bernie Custis, took over as head coach in 1965. The Burlington Braves played in the Ontario Football Conference of the Canadian Junior Football League and represented the east in the Canadian Final during the years 1967, 1970 and 1971.

Other notable Canadian Football Hall of Fame players, Tony Gabriel, Peter Dalla Riva and John Bonk, started their football careers with the Braves.

Moving into the 1980’s the Burlington Braves Organization continued but changed the name of the team to the Burlington Junior Tiger Cats. In 1988 and 1989 the Junior Ti-Cats reached the Canadian Final again but failed to bring home the National Championship. As the 1990’s began, the team reclaimed their old name, and nearly a dedicate later, in 1998, the Burlington Braves returned to the Canadian final, hosted in their home city, Burlington, Ontario, Canada.

The team folded in February of 2016.

Harrington Bible Society
Instelling · 1873 - [?]

The Canadian Bible Society was established in 1904, out of the parent organization, the British and Foreign Bible Society, that operated to disseminate copies of scripture across England and the British Empire and had its origins in the Canadian colonies as far back in 1805. Organised by regions, local groups in Ontario were also earlier known as the Upper Canada Bible Society.

The Harrington Bible Society was formed in 1873 and was a branch of the Upper Canada Bible Society. The group held their meetings in the Harrington Presbyterian Church and as part of their evangelization efforts disseminated copies of scripture to the community. In the twentieth century the Society campaigns included providing copies of the bible to soldiers during both Word Wars. The group also organized community functions.

Although the Harrington branch no longer exists, the organization continues today in Canada as part of the international United Bible Societies.

Thomas Wright and Sons
Instelling · 1871 - ca. 1880

Born in Ireland, around 1814, Thomas Wright would settle in Otterville, Ontario. A mechanic by trade, in the 1870s, he conducted a business in the village, alongside his sons, Albert and Newton known as T. Wright & Sons. The partnership carried on trade and business as turners, workers in wood, manufacturers of wooden works and wares, and general machinists. Their partnership was declared in April 1872, though no information was found as to when it was dissolved.
Thomas Wright passed away on October 12, 1898. In 1903, his son Newton Wright, started a business with his son, Alvin J. Wright, manufacturing hubs, lumber and other wood goods under the name Newton Wright and Son, in Woodstock, Ontario.