| Descendants
of GEORGE HALL
Generation No. 1 1. GEORGE1 HALL was born 1777 in Doncaster West Riding Yorkshire England, and died 1864 in Lloydstown Ont. He married ELIZABETH BLACKBURN in Doncaster England. She was born 1779, and died 25 Feb 1820. Notes for GEORGE HALL: 1. George Hall 1st was born in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England. He was a wagon maker by trade when he emigratesd to canada. Some of his family were also born in England. He eventually became a farmer in Southwestern Ontario after his arrival to this country. 2. Joseph Hall, son of George 1st had a fairly large family and was married three times in all. 3. Hannah and Gilbert lived for a time in Toronto. Elizabeth and John removed to Ohio, USA. No information has been gathered concerning Thomas Hall as yet. 4. George Hall 2nd and Sarah Train had a total of fifteen (15) children. It is said that four died in infancy. Eleven have been identified. Luke Hall moved to the USA, settling in California and remained there the rest of his life.
The earliest Hall was born in 1777 in Doncaster, England and it appears he married Elizabeth Blackburn who was born in 1779. I do not have the names of any Halls or Blackburns prior to these dates however they may be available through church sources should contact be make in England. It appears that our Hall ancestors worshipped in the St Mary Magdalene Church at Askern. Apparently there is an entry in church records indicationg an event involving George and Elizabeth Hall from Norton, England but it is more probable that it is the same George and Elizabeth hall as our ancestors. Campsall was once the Mother Church for all the surrounding district but the parish now comprises the three villages of Campsall, Norton and Sutton. Norton and Sutton are mostly agricultural - Norton is a long straggling village but now has a good number of new homes. It is joined to Campsall by two more or less parallel lanes about a mile long. The old village of Campsall is most charming with its old red-roofed houses and barns etc - it really is lovely. At one time there were two halls here - Campsmount, which has now been demolished and a large modern school built on the site - and Campsall Hall which has been turned into flats. Records reveal a good many blacksmiths were of the Hall family and George was no exception. He would have brought that trade to Canada with him in the 1830's. There is a very good museum in York County, England which contains rooms furnished in the Jacobean and Georgian periods, Clothes of that time, farm implements - the sort of thing that would be made by the blacksmiths and carpenters of the Hall family and would be very interesting. George and Elizabeth Hall raised five children. Thomas: Born August 1804, Doncaster, England Mary Ann: Born 1 December 1808, Norton, England Joseph: Born 22 December 1811, Askern, England Elizabeth: Born 13 February 1814, Askern, England George II: Born 26 July 1818, Askern, England Elizabeth (Blackburn) Hall helped George raise the family of five till the year 1820 when she passes away on 25 February at the age of 41 years. She would have been buried at the family church. George remained with his family at Askern, England until he had made up his mind to immigrate to the new world. By 1830, Thomas was married and Mary Ann may well have been also. Indeed Thomas and Hannah would have had three children by 1830, all born at Askern, England. John: Born 1825 Taking the above information into account then it appears there were three George Hall's on board the vessel that sailed from England in 1830 headed for North America. There were other families aboard and it is quite probable that this is where George II met Sarah Train and would eventually result in a very large family later on in Ontario. We have yet to find the name of the boat our ancestors came to this country aboard and no one has recovered a copy of the ships list of passengers. It is felt that the Hall family and the Train family would continue to be linked together after they're arrival in Canada and was certainly bound together after the marriage of George II and Sarah. George Hall Sr. and his family first settled in the Gore of Toronto area
where George acquired a 100 acre tract of walnut, hard maple and elm. A cabin
was erected first then a shop where George Sr. could continue his trade of
wagon-making. Besides this he strarted farming to help provide the food required
by the family, his two younger sons Joseph and George providing a good deal
of assistance in so doing. All of George I children would leave home and George
would continue on alone until the time of his retirement from active life,
at which time, George II would purchase the homestead from his father. During
his life in Ontario, George I was a Conservative of the old school and was
a member of the Church of England. Thomas Hall the eldest son of George I eventually settled in Lloydtown, Ontario with his wife Hannah Heap. There four additional children would be born to them. Mary Ann: Born 1832 Thomas was a staunch Reformer in those days and raised his family accordingly. A story circulates among Thomas Hall descendents of Thomas's involvment with the political rebel William Lyon MacKenzie. Thomas, it is told was sympathetic with the MacKenzie clan and together with his oldest sons, used to convey messages between the members. The situation would come to a head in December of 1837 when a revold took place organized and led by MacKenzie. The revolt proved a fiasco and ended in arrests or escapes to the United States. There is no record of Thomas being in either group but it did force him to vacate Toronto and was probably the reason he moved lock, stock and barrell to Lloydtown. Thomas passed away in June of 1871 but his final resting place is not definetly known. Mary Ann Hall would grow to maturity and marry Gilbert Folliott and they would rear four children William: Born 1839 The Folliott's would live out their days in the small community of Temperanceville, Ontario meting out a living by farming. Mary Ann would depart life relatively early in 1853 at the age of 45 years. Joseph, the third of George I children would find employment in Toronto Gore as a printer. There is no record of Joseph in any census or land deed so very little is known about him. Elizabeth Hall, the fourth of George I children was three years younger than her older brother when she came to Canada. She would reach maturity and marry John Sherbrook. They would settle in Ohio and live out they're lives in the State. No record has been found of Elizabeth or John in records in Ohio. George Hall II was the fifth child of George and Elizabeth Hall. When his father brought the family to Canada in the early 1830's, young George was twelve or so years of age. All his siblings were older than he and there is good reason to believe that they were a good influance on him growing up first in England and later in the Gore of Toronto on the farm. There is good reason to believe that George would have gained knowledge in farming ways as well as in the trade of wagon-making from his father while at the farm in the Gore of Totonto. The Hall records indicate that George II evidently met and married Sarah Ann Train. The Train's arrived in Canada aboard the same vessel as did the Hall's so they had that in common, indeed they may have known one another in England even before immigrating to the New World. On the 23 June 1843 George II and Sarah were married in Vaughan, Ontario by banns, witnessed by Christopher Train and another gentleman by the name of Thomas Sleight. At the time of his marriage to Sarah then, there would be good reason to believe that George would probable have purchased his fathers farm. So, following the marriage George would have taken his bride of sixteen years south to the Gore and commence the partnership that would last a total of 47 years. Young females of this age and indeed younger were the norm in regards to marring and it shows up time and time again in our records of family history. Sarah was no exception and commenced rearing a family soon after marriage and continued for many years, indeed we can not be absolutly sure when the last child was born to George and Sarah but we do know that Newman Hall is the last named child that reached maturity. Newman was born two years following confederation in 1869. It appears George, Sarah and his growing large family would remain on the original homestead until about 1850. In that year George sold the land and purchased a farm in King township of York County. Sarah would have been delighted about this move as this would place her closer her family. This venture would not be a successful on because George would sell the property and move southwest to Lambton County. There he would purchase 64 acres of bush land in the Bosanquet Township area o the Warwick Township line. The move to Bosanquet took place in 1853 but it would not be the last. Several years later, George would again re-locate, this time again within Warwick township to a 200 acre tract of land on the 6th concession north of the Egremont Road. With the assistance of his older sons, George set about clearing the land and erecting buildings which included a wood frame dwelling, barns and other outbuildings. As the years past, George would find it feasible to acquire more land as his growing family would obviously supply the man-power to make this possible. George would own a total of 400 acres in his lifetime which would be a great deal of land in those days bearing in mind that land management was accomplished by horsepower or oxpower only. There are undoubtedly many stories relating to the early farming experiences of the Hall family during the early days of pioneering in Southwestern Ontario. One of these goes something like this. It was when George and Sarah and their growing family had moved to Bosanquet Township. Wheat was grown for both food for the family and for livestock but there were no mills in that area yet which could grind the wheat to flour. They say George carried a one hundred pound sack of wheat from the farm to London where it was ground to flour and then carried the flour back to Sarah at the farm. Feats such as this are but one example of the determination it took to get by in the early days.. The distance covered by George would have been seventy miles there and back but with a hundred pounds weight this must be considered a real test of endurance. George's wife Sarah was the daughter of Christopher and Eleanor (Hurry) Train who, as previously mentioned, arrived in Canada aboard the same boat as the Halls. Christopher Train became a well known lumber manufacturer on the Humber River near Kleinburg, Ontario. Eleanor would have instilled the sense of responsibility required to raise a large family in the new frontier. This is obvious from the charactor and acheivements of her sons and daughters in later life. A different point of view pervaded among people in the days in which George and Sarah lived with regards to the size of families and the amount to land acquired during the course of a lifetime. For the most part, the size of the family and the amount of land acquired went hand in hand. The head of the family strove to gain enough land for his sons and in some cases for his daughters as well so that when they married they would have that additional boost to start their lives together. A couple with a large family was considered blessed by the church and would assist greatly in the acquisition of more land. The record clearly shows that George and Sarah's family remained with them for a good number of years, even the girls were at least nineteen years of age, some well into their twenties before they entered matrimony. Normally it was not the custom in those days for the children to leave home in pursuit of employment away from home. If George had help in the fields and in his shop, then Sarah had help with the household tasks such as food preparation, sewing, laundry etc. and rest assured, all would have been supervised in a diligent manner. The surviving Hall information indicates that Sarah bore George fifteen children, a remarkable feat in any era. Eleven children reached maturity so four passed away at some stage of their lives. The record does not indicate the names or when these four children were born, but any way one looks at it, Sarah had accomplished a tremendous feat in bearing fifteen children starting when she was a mere sixteen years of age. George and Sarah would live in harmony for many years; they would see their sons and daughters marry and raise children of their own. Not all would remain in the same area but would remove to other parts of Canada and even to the United States. Luke Hall was living in San Francisco when the city was devastated in the great earthquake, but apparently was not injured at all. Then one day in April of 1887, Sarah the matriarch of the Hall family at that time suffered injuries in a fall and passed away as a result on 30 April of the same year. It would have been a great blow to the entire clan but George would continue on for another ten years and so in August of 1896, he too passed away. By now of course the children of George and Sargh were grown to adulthood and were in their 30's, 40's and 50's with a multitude of grandchildren as well. Both of the old pioneers are said to be buried at Bethel Cemetary, Warwick Township, Lambton County, Ontario. Whether or not it was too early or whether they have just been lost over the years, there are no photos of our Great Great Grandparents. Surely if we did possess any, they would examplify those qualities that they relied on to make a success of their pioneering venture during the 1800's such as deteremination, devotion, honesty and integrity. George and Sargh were among the first group of Canadian pioneers who started the development of Canada to where it is today. Even to this day, there are Halls living on farms in Warwick Township making their living from the land but now with the help of mechanical means. In 1891 a census was taken of Lambton County, Ontario which included Warwick Township. Agricultural description of Lot 16 Conc 6 reveals the following: 300 acres of of which 150 acres are improved, 90 in If one is from a rural background and studies this agricultural report of the farm, you get a good idea with what our relatives had and what they had to work the land with. I would have thought that there would have been more horses as these animals would have been the main source of power in breaking the lank as well as tilling it afterward and for pulling the vehicles at that time such as the wagon, the carriages and sleigh. The meat and butter would most assuredly have been kept in structures called ice-houses on the farm to prevent spoiling. All in all it appears that the family was well stocked with what was required to make it through. Joseph Hall was the eldest son of George and Sarah hall. Joseph was born 14 October 1843 while the family were farming at the Gore of Toronto, and he would receive his first schooling in a small log schoolhouse under the watchful eye of the noted schoolmaster Paul Henry. By 1850 Joseph had two sibling brothers, Gilbert and Robert and all three would have accompanied their parents in their move to King Township of York County. The family's stay here would be brief and so when he was a mere ten years of age he and his brothers and eldest sister Mary would move, this time to the bush country of Basanquet Township. At Bosanquet, Joseph's life would stabilize and he would know the routine of farm life and learn farming ways. Thirteen years after arriving. Joseph and his two younger brothers were strong young men, ready to branch out on their own. By 1866, Joseph would have five additional siblings, Ellen, George, John, Elizabeth and a very young Sarah born in that very year. William Thompson had married Mary Steele, were roughly in the same age group as George and Sarah and they were farmers also. Among their children were two daughters, Christina the eldest and Elizabeth. A photo has yet to be found of Joseph and his wife together however there is on of Elizabeth and she appears to be very beautiful woman. Joseph met, was attracted to and courted Christina till the couple decided that they should wed. Christina was 20 years of age by that time, Joseph 22. The wedding took place at the homestead of William Thompson, situated in Warwick Township. This date was especially significant to Christina because this was her birthday too. It must have been a gala event, the eldest son of a proud and successful George Hall, numerous relatives including Gilbert, Robert, Elizabeth and all the rest and undoubtedly a slough of Thompsons too, all well-wishing the new couple which, no one knew at that time, would last many years to 1909. With the assistance he received from his parents, Joseph was able to purchase 50 acres of land from his father-in-law Mr. Thompson and Mr Thompson gave 50 acres to his daughter Christina, so we know that the newly married couple had 100 acres to start out with. The days following the big event would be filled with alot of hard work in getting the land cleared and prepared for cultivation. Perhaps Joseph would have had help from his brother or perhaps from some of the Thompsons as well. First of all, a log cabin was built, followed by a stable so one gets an inkling that Joseph's love of animals, especially that of horses had been instilled at a young age. Clearing the land and preparing it to a condition that will accept seed to grow into good crops is no easy task and there is no reason to believe that Joseph was an exception. Soon the agricultural description of his farm would have been very much like that previously referred to and possibly would acquire more and more land. He bought 52 acres on the 4th Concession, , 52 acres known as the Beal place, Lot 22 on the 2nd Concession, Lot 21 on the 2nd Concession, 50 acres on the Mullen place, 100 acres on the 2nd Concession, and the East half of Lot 23. Joseph would own and cultivate a total of 502 acres during the course of his lifetime. he would improve the quality of his livestock immensely by purchasing purebred stock suck as Clydesdale horses and Durham cattle, indeed he was instrumental in raising the quality of livestock in the whole county. Joseph would become a noted horseman and would be known as far East as Montreal and as far West as the Pacific coast. While Joseph was busy with the cultivation of the land and caring for all of his livestock, Christina would not be idle at all the besides having the responsibility of managing the household, she would become one of the finest butter makers in the county, winning many prizes at county fairs over the years. Joseph would take an active interest in politics too. His unquestioned integrity and high sense of honour gave him the confidence and respect of all those who had dealings with him. He was a staunch Reformer and served on the council board for twelve years, none years of which he was reeve of the Township. In 1879 Joseph was elected to the office of Warden of the county and when the new law came into effect electing county councillors, Joseph was elected by the 6th Division of Lambton and filled that office two full terms (4 Yrs) among other offices of trust Joseph filled were: President of the Warwick Liberal Association, President of the Maple Grove Cheese and Butter Association and held membership in the I.O.O.F.. In 1904 Joseph retired from farming. He disposed of most of his land, all but 100 acres which his son John would manage for him. In March 1909 Joseph contracted a cold but it steadily grew worse. he went to the home of his daughter where he hoped he would recover, still the illness progressed and toward the end of the month, it would be diagnosed as pneumonia. The illness proved too much for Joseph's constitution and on a cold wintry day of Saturday, 27 March 1909, Joseph would succomb to it. The people of Warwick county were surprised and shocked that one of the most prominent and well known had been taken from them. Joseph Hall lived a fulfilling life, brought up in a frontier environment,
under the watchful eye of George hall his father, branching out on his own,
marrying a beautiful woman and becoming one of the most respected members
of his community, then ending it all by dying in the home of his beloved daughter,
Sara Bertha (Hall) Kenzie. Notes for ELIZABETH HALL: Notes for JOHN SHERBROOK: 5. v. GEORGE HALL II, b. 26 Jul 1818, Askern England; d. 1897.
2. THOMAS2 HALL (GEORGE1) was born Aug 1804 in Doncaster, England, and died Jun 1871. He married HANNAH HEAP 08 Nov 1823 in England. Notes for THOMAS HALL: Became a successful lumber manufacturer in the village of Lloydtown. Ontario.
Notes for HANNAH HALL: First name may have been Mary Ann source unknown. The name Hannah came from the book 'Commerorative Biographical Record of County of Lambton Ontario', complied by J. H. Beers & Co., Toronto. Notes for GILBERT FOLLIOTT:
Notes for JOSEPH HALL:
Notes for GEORGE HALL II: "As related to me by my mother Margaret Dewar Hall in 1951. My great, great grandfather, first name not remembered,
along with two brothers settled in Little York (now Toronto) from England
in the early 1800's. One of his children named George who was born in Little
York later married Sarah Train of Little York. They took up land in Warwick
Township, about half-way between Sarnia & London (1200 acres at $1.00
per acre.) They traveled by road as far as london where the road ended and
set off on foot paths fro the remaining 35 mile journey to the homestead location
in the middle of Virgin Forest of Walnut, hard maple, elm etc. trees. They
built a cabin and cleared enough land to sow some wheat etc. The wheat was
treshed by hand and George carried a 100 pound sack of wheat back to London
to be ground into flour and then carried the flour back to the homestead.
They had eleven children in this order: One bit of information from Edith Roxy Kenzie but not written by her shows George Hall born in Yorkshire England. George Hall and Sarah Train had 15 children of which 11 are identified perhaps the others died in infancy. This information came from the book 'Commerorative
Biographical Record of County of Lambton Ontario', complied by J. H. Beers
& Co., Toronto
Notes for SARAH ANN TRAIN: Described as an affectionate and loving wife and mother, and was highly esteemed by all for her many excellent traits of character. Died from the effects of a fall she received in
1887, and was buried at Bethel cemetery had fifteen children, four of whom
died in infancy. Notes for LUKE HALL: 15. xi. NEWMAN HALL, b. 1869.
6. JOSEPH3 HALL (GEORGE2, GEORGE1) was born 14 Oct 1843 in Toronto (Gore) Ont., and died 27 Mar 1909 in Warwick Twp buried Bethel Cem. He married CHRISTINA THOMPSON 1866, daughter of WILLIAM THOMPSON and MARY STEELE. She was born 15 Jul 1846, and died 22 Nov 1918 in Buried Bethel Cem - Warwick. Notes for JOSEPH HALL: The horse business was apparently so competative that Edith Roxy recalls (1994) an occasion when a prize stallion was poisoned. In 1853 moved with his parents from Toronto to Bosanquet Twp Lambton County Ont. Born in Gore of Totonto, 14th October, 1844. Farmer and Justice of the Peace for many years. In County Council 25 years. Died 27th March, 1909 in Township of Warwick, aged 65 years, and buried in Bethel Cemetery, Warwick. His son, William G. Hall, elected Warden in 1916.
William Thompson had married Mary Steele, were roughly in the same age group as George and Sarah and they were farmers also. Among their children were two daughters, Christina the eldest and Elizabeth. A photo has yet to be found of Joseph and his wife together however there is on of Elizabeth and she appears to be very beautiful woman. Joseph met, was attracted to and courted Christina till the couple decided that they should wed. Christina was 20 years of age by that time, Joseph 22. The wedding took place at the homestead of William Thompson, situated in Warwick Township. This date was especially significant to Christina because this was her birthday too. It must have been a gala event, the eldest son of a proud and successful George Hall, numerous relatives including Gilbert, Robert, Elizabeth and all the rest and undoubtedly a slough of Thompsons too, all well-wishing the new couple which, no one knew at that time, would last many years to 1909. With the assistance he received from his parents, Joseph was able to purchase 50 acres of land from his father-in-law Mr. Thompson and Mr Thompson gave 50 acres to his daughter Christina, so we know that the newly married couple had 100 acres to start out with. The days following the big event would be filled with alot of hard work in getting the land cleared and prepared for cultivation. Perhaps Joseph would have had help from his brother or perhaps from some of the Thompsons as well. First of all, a log cabin was built, followed by a stable so one gets an inkling that Joseph's love of animals, especially that of horses had been instilled at a young age. Clearing the land and preparing it to a condition that will accept seed to grow into good crops is no easy task and there is no reason to believe that Joseph was an exception. Soon the agricultural description of his farm would have been very much like that previously referred to and possibly would acquire more and more land. He bought 52 acres on the 4th Concession, , 52 acres known as the Beal place, Lot 22 on the 2nd Concession, Lot 21 on the 2nd Concession, 50 acres on the Mullen place, 100 acres on the 2nd Concession, and the East half of Lot 23. Joseph would own and cultivate a total of 502 acres during the course of his lifetime. he would improve the quality of his livestock immensely by purchasing purebred stock suck as Clydesdale horses and Durham cattle, indeed he was instrumental in raising the quality of livestock in the whole county. Joseph would become a noted horseman and would be known as far East as Montreal and as far West as the Pacific coast. While Joseph was busy with the cultivation of the land and caring for all of his livestock, Christina would not be idle at all the besides having the responsibility of managing the household, she would become one of the finest butter makers in the county, winning many prizes at county fairs over the years. Joseph would take an active interest in politics too. His unquestioned integrity and high sense of honour gave him the confidence and respect of all those who had dealings with him. He was a staunch Reformer and served on the council board for twelve years, none years of which he was reeve of the Township. In 1879 Joseph was elected to the office of Warden of the county and when the new law came into effect electing county councillors, Joseph was elected by the 6th Division of Lambton and filled that office two full terms (4 Yrs) among other offices of trust Joseph filled were: President of the Warwick Liberal Association, President of the Maple Grove Cheese and Butter Association and held membership in the I.O.O.F.. In 1904 Joseph retired from farming. He disposed of most of his land, all but 100 acres which his son John would manage for him. In March 1909 Joseph contracted a cold but it steadily grew worse. he went to the home of his daughter where he hoped he would recover, still the illness progressed and toward the end of the month, it would be diagnosed as pneumonia. The illness proved too much for Joseph's constitution and on a cold wintry day of Saturday, 27 March 1909, Joseph would succomb to it. The people of Warwick county were surprised and shocked that one of the most prominent and well known had been taken from them. Joseph Hall lived a fulfilling life, brought up in a frontier environment, under the watchful eye of George hall his father, branching out on his own, marrying a beautiful woman and becoming one of the most respected members of his community, then ending it all by dying in the home of his beloved daughter, Sara Bertha (Hall) Kenzie.
Notes for CHRISTINA THOMPSON:
Notes for MARY HALL: This information came from the book 'Commerorative
Biographical Record of County of Lambton Ontario', complied by J. H. Beers
& Co., Toronto Notes for DANIEL THOMAS:
Notes for HARRISON HALL: ii. LOUISE HALL. Notes for LOUISE HALL: iii. ADA HALL, b. never married. Notes for SARAH HALL: vi. GORDON HALL, b. died young. Notes for JOSEPH HALL: viii. EDWIN HALL, b. last known Warwick. Notes for EDWIN HALL: ix. EVA HALL. Notes for EVA HALL: x. WILLIAM HALL, b. last known Sask.. Notes for WILLIAM HALL:
Notes for ELLEN HALL:
Notes for ELIZABETH CRONE:
Notes for ELIZABETH HALL:
Notes for FRANK CARTER:
Notes for ROY CARTER: 15. NEWMAN3 HALL (GEORGE2, GEORGE1) was born 1869.
He married MARY VANCE.
16. SARAH BERTHA4 HALL (JOSEPH3, GEORGE2, GEORGE1) was born 17 Feb 1879 in Warwick Twp Ont, and died 13 Oct 1963 in Strathroy Middlsex Gen Hosp. She married MARSHALL LESLIE KENZIE 03 Sep 1902 in Home of Joseph Hall, Warwick Ont., son of SYLVESTER KINSEY and MARY LLOYD. He was born 27 Mar 1874 in Plympton Lambton County Ont, and died 22 Dec 1968 in Watford, Ontario, Canada. Notes for SARAH BERTHA HALL: In May of 1963 she fell out of bed and broke her back. She was in the hospital until October when she died.
Mrs. Bertha Hall Kenzie passed away in Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital on Sunday, October 13, 1963, after a long illness. She was 84 at the time of her death. Beloved wife of Marshall Leslie Kenzie, she was a daughter of the late Joseph Hall and Christina Thompson, pioneer residents of Warwick Twp. She lived her entire life in the Forest and Watford area. Surviving besides her husband are one daughter and three sons: Mrs. Carlton Beck (Edith) of Buffalo; Dr. Fred, of Bath Medical Clinic, NY; Levene, of Forest; Frank, of Point Edward, clothing dept. manager of Walker Bros. store Sarnia; 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Notes for MARSHALL LESLIE KENZIE: He was known as Les. Had a good tenor voice and used to sing with son Franklin. He was a "speed" skater in his younger days and won several medals and trophies. As a young man he worked in a general store, then was a tailor's apprentice. He made his own tuxedo or formal outfit for his wedding. Was told that his health needed a job outside and he became a farmer. The family farm was known as BIRNAM and had a Forest Ont address. A part of Birnam was built by his father Sylvester who was a fine cabinetmaker and finish carpenter. The bricks were made in the gravel pit on the farm. When BIRNAM was built, apparently Christina Hall, Sarah Bertha's mother paid for part of it so that she and her husband Joseph could move in with them. BIRNAM was sold when she died and the family moved to another farm nearby but in Watford (yellow brick house). The family ran a small grocery store from one of these houses at about this time. Ellis Franklin remembers when the store burned to the ground when he was about 5 years old. Here Marshall Leslie farmed, had ponies (Nellie & Dan Patch), raised a Race Horse that later won several races. Here his barn was burned (1929 or 1930)(arson- see William Hall). Edith Roxy was the hero here and rescued the livestock from the fire. Edith Roxy also remembers the family having one of the first telephones. They had one phone from the Forest company and one from the Arkona company and they apparently couldn't talk to one another. she remembers neighbors coming to make all sorts of calls. Here is where son Ross was killed in a logging accident in their "sugar bush". Marshall Leslie had a heart attack at about age 55 and sold the farm and moved to Watford. He sold insurance and then went back to being a tailor until he retired at about age 75. He was very interested in the local Softball League and was it's Commissioner. All his children attended what was called country schools-the one room school houses located in the farm country-then to a nearby town for high school. In a letter to his Grandson Ross Bruce Kenzie written in about 1964 or 1965 he stated that he was improperly registered in 1878. Apparently a law requiring registration of children (birth certificates) was passed about that time and the clerk simply wrote Kenzie and not Kinsey. All of his brothers and sisters were Kinseys. The letter indicated that when he applied for his "pension" there had been correspondence with the government on the subject and he said that he had the letter in his "box". This letter has been lost. A newspaper clipping from 1956 entitled "Guest
from England" THIS IS FROM AN OLD NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ENTITLED "OLDEST SUBSCRIBER?" A recent visitor to the Free Press was Mr. M. L. Kenzie of Watford. Mr. Kenzie once lived in Forest, and will be 90 years old in March of this year. While in the office he remembered with humor of the days when eggs were 6 cents per dozen, butter 10 cents per pound and 25 cents would buy two 6 pound chickens ready for the oven. Mr. Kenzie's family have subscribed to The Forest Free Press for 70 years, which might be considered something of a record. A newspaper clipping entitled "NAMES AND PLACES IN LAMBTON COUNTY" Directly north of Watford Warwick Township in Ken Hair's General Store at a site known as Birnam. The name was taken from a hill in Scotland named Birnam, about 12 miles NW of Perth, Which was anciently included in the Royal Forest and mentioned in "Macbeth" by Shakespeare. Les Kenzie, 92 years young and now retired in Watford, remembers much about Birnam when he was a storekeeper there, He reminisced as follows: "I bought out Tom Crone's store and post
office in 1905. This was on the north-west side of the corner on the farm
now owned by James Hall. This old building still stands, (used for chickens).
We erected the brick house in 1909. "On Tuesday, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, I went out on the road visiting farms with my wares and got things form freight in Watford on Saturdays. Tom Crone had this route with farmers before I purchased it." (Route was continued by Ken Hair until recently). "We sold soap at 5 cents a bar. There were
few items sold in a box. One was soda biscuits, but I purchased these first
by barrel, and put them in boxes. We had vinegar, syrup, molasses, and purchased
eggs from farmers. "There was a cheese factory and a house on the west side of the road north of the Birnam corner, where cheese and butter was made. I sold cheese on the London Market for about 12 years. About six or seven wagons drew milk to the factory every morning and it was a bid business. S. P. Brown was the first at the Cheese Factory I worked with Clare Hagle was an owner. Brown sold and went to Fern Hill. "One night in the curing room for cheese at the factory about 200 turned out to see about organizing a telephone company. Money wasn't as plentiful in those days, and when they heard it might cost ten dollars a share plus their telephone, they thought it was too much. However, 19 of us formed the original People's Telephone Company of Forest. We signed notes for $50 each to get it started and G. N. Gordon, a banker in Forest, took two shares making his $100. Now I am the only surviving one of the nineteen." Mr. Kenzie summed up that his Birnam venture was quite successful and that he make money. Later he was a tailor in Forest. Roy Cable tells that the building on the south-west corner was formerly a blacksmith shop. His father Harry Cable took it over when Amon Rogers left for the west, about 1910. John Beech was a blacksmith and Henry MacNally who came from England was one of the last. Mr. Beech went to Detroit. There were also former blacksmith shops. Seth Howard owned one. Oliver Gare tells that he purchased a store from Wellington Smith located on the north-east corner about 50 years ago, when Mr. Smith died. Mr. Gare served the community with a grocery wagon as had his predecessor. He remembers some Italian travellers who used to peddle from house to house with their wares strapped on their backs, with as much as they could carry. One evening Albert Warren came down for gas for an engine and when they went to get it with and oil lantern, the fumes caught fire and the store burned to the ground. Gordon Vance started the store on the present location, and operated it for 27 years. He sold to Melvin Parker don Vance's daughter and her husband Ken Hair took over 21 years ago and they are still the proprietors. They sell a variety of groceries, gas for cars. This store and house are on the north-eastern side of the road, farther in than the old store that burned. The Halls and the Cables have interesting back history which may be found in the 1906 large biographical record of Lambton County. The Gares originally came from France to England, then to Georgetown and up to Lambton. Mr. And Mrs. James Hall, now residing in the large house on the north-west corner, have two children, Nancy and Mason, attending school. A newspaper clipping for Mr & Mrs Kenzie with the title CELEBRATE GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY WITH DINNER, FAMILY GATHERING (note: Golden should have been Diamond) An anniversary dinner at the Colonial Hotel Sarnia was followed by a family gathering at the home of their son Frank, Point Edward, on the occasion of the diamond wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Kenzie, Watford. The bride and groom of 60 years were married on September 3, 1902, at the home of the bride's parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hall and the groom is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Kenzie, Forest. The couple have four children: Fred, Le Verne, Edith and Frank, ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Two sons, Lloyd and Ross, are deceased. The couple are members of Central United Church, Watford. Mrs. Kenzie is a talented painter and musician and attending Toronto Conservatory of Music. Her husband is associated with the Odd Fellows and Masonic Lodge, has been active in sporting circles and president of the Watford baseball club for many years. Among the many congratulatory messages, were those from Mayor and Mrs, Iven Walker, members of the Federal and Provincial governments and Prime Minister John Diefenbaker. Home to celebrate with Mr. and Mrs. Kenzie were Dr. and Mrs. J. F. Kenzie, Lynda and Joyce of Bath, New York; Mr. and Mrs. Ross Kenzie of Boston; Mr. and Mrs. Allan Kenzie, Philadelphia; Mr. and Mrs. Carlton (Edith) Beck and son Bob, Buffalo; Mr. and Mrs. Le Verne Kenzie and son Bob, Forest; Mr. and Mrs. Dale Kenzie, Toronto; Mr. and Mrs. Ken Fregin, Kathy and Diane, Sarnia; Mrs. Blanche Case, Watford; Mrs. Carolyn Ruscoe and son Alan, Point Edward; and Mr. and Mrs. Kenzie and son Roy, who hosted the gathering. Newspaper clipping entitled, "LES KENZIE REACHES HIS 92nd BIRTHDAY" Congratulations to Les Kenzie of Watford, who was born in Plympton township and spent his early life in Forest, and reached his 92nd birthday, on March 27. Les is a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Kenzie, residents of Forest for many years. As a young man he operated a tailer shop in Forest, but after his marriage to Bertha Hall of Warwick Township they moved to reside in Watford. Mrs. Kenzie passed away in October 1963. A birthday dinner was served at the home of his son Le Verne in Forest in honor of the event at which his family were present except Dr. Fred Kenzie of Bath NY, namely his daughter, Mrs. Carlton Beck, Buffalo; sons Le Verne, Forest; Frank of Point Edward and their families. Mr. Kenzie enjoys good health.
Mr. and Mrs Les Kenzie welcomed a special guest from London, England, at their Watford home when they marked their 54th wedding anniversary. The visitor was Col. Geoffrey Ward who worked for Mr. Kenzie as a young man on a farm in Warwick township. He is now secretary-manager of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in England. Always interested in sports, Mr. Kenzie has been president of the Watford Baseball Club and served on the District High School Board. The couple have four children: Franklin, of Sarnia; La Verne, of Forest; Dr. Fred Kenzie and daughter Edith.
Les Kenzie, retired Watford tailor, passed away in Sarnia General hospital on Sunday, Dec. 22, 1968. Son of the late Sylvester and Mary Ann Lloyd Kenzie, he was born in Plympton on March 27, 1874, and learned the tailoring trade at an early age. On Sept. 3, 1902, Mr. Kenzie married Bertha Hall, of Warwick , daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hall, who predeceased him in 1963. In 1905 he moved to Birnam and operated a general store for a number of years. Later he farmed at Birnam and at __.E. con. 2, 15 side road in Warwick Twp. He moved to Watford 30 years ago and returned to the tailoring business, retiring about 10 years ago. Les was a member of Arkona Masonic Lodge 307, Forest IOOF 108 and Watford United Church. He was active in community affairs, being a past president of Watford Atoms Intermediate baseball entry and member of the school board, and also thoroughly enjoyed hockey. Three sons, Dr. J. Fred Kenzie Bath, NY., Le Verne Kenzie, Forest, and Frank Kenzie, Pt. Edward,and a daughter, Mrs. Carlton Beck (Edith), Kenmore, NY along with 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren, survive.
Newspaper clipping entitled "TOLL GATE STARTS
ON THURSDAY" ; (M. L. Kenzie trained this horse.) Marriage Notes for SARAH HALL and MARSHALL KENZIE: Watford - Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Kenzie, of Watford, marked their 50th anniversary at their home, receiving friends and neighbors at a reception. Married in 1902 at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hall, by the Rev. S. A. Anderson, of Bethel Church, Warwick, Mr. and Mrs. Kenzie farmed in Warwick for a number of years before moving to Watford 13 years ago. Mr. Kenzie recently retired from his own tailoring business in Watford. Mrs. Kenzie was the former Bertha Hall, and the groom of 50 years ago is a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Kenzie, of Forest. Both are members of Central United Church of which Mr. Kenzie is an elder. President of the local baseball club, he is also active in sports circles and is a member of the Odd Fellow's Lodge and the Masonic Order. Mrs. Kenzie, a graduate of the Toronto Conservatory of Music, is a talented pianist. Present with them on the occasion were their family of three sons, Dr. J. Fred Kenzie, Bath, N.Y.; La Verne, Forest, and Franklin, of Point Edward, and one daughter, Mrs. Carl Beck, of Buffalo, New York. Guest were received by Mrs. Carl Beck, Buffalo, Allan Kenzie, Bath, and Dale Kenzie, of Forest. Mrs. Ivan Fonger, Kerwood, and Mrs La Vern Kenzie, invited to the tea room were Mrs. Lloyd Hall, Mrs. Wilfred Heller, and Mrs. Garnet Cutler, of Lafayette, India; Mrs. Frank Campbell, Mrs. B. Case, Toronto, and Miss May Reid, presided. Tea room assistants were Mrs. Franklin Kenzie,
Linda Kenzie, Carolyne Kenzie, Mrs. Hamlet Thompson, Mrs. J. Sweet, Mrs A.
Hiller and Mrs. L. Hall. Mrs. Fred Kenzie attended the register. Notes for ROSS ALLISON KENZIE: 31. v. EDITH ROXY KENZIE, b. 11 Dec 1911, Burnham
Warwick Twp Forest Ont.
Notes for WILLIAM GEORGE HALL:
William George was educated in the township school
and the Commercial College at London, and is now farming on the 3d Concession
in Warwick. His father gave him 100 acres with which to make his start, and
to this he has added 300 acres, now operating 400 acres of land in one block.
Besides farming hi is greatly interested in the raising of cattle and horses.
He married Margaret Janes, a daughter of the late Charles Meredith Janes,
and children as follows have been born to them: Russell, Joseph M., Janet,
Archie(who died in 1904) and Christina. William George Hall is a member of
the I. O. O. F., Sycamore Lodge, of Arkona, He and hiswife are members of
the Methodist Church. Politically he is connected with the Liberal party.
Notes for RUSSELL HALL: 33. ii. MILTON HALL, d. Buried in the Arkona Ont
Cem. Notes for CHRISTINA HALL: v. JANET HALL. Notes for WILLIAM BERTON (BERT) HALL: HALL - After a short illness at St. Joseph's Hospital, Sarnia, on Tuesday, January 16, 1990, William Berton (Bert) Hall in his 82nd year, of Colborne Road, Sarnia. Mr. Hall was a long-time farmer and retired from the Co-op Insurance, a member of the Board of Session and a mamber of Mandaumin United Church. Beloved husband of Grace (Steele) (Mitchell) Hall. Dear brother of Jenett Hillier. Step-father of Alfred Mitchell, Norma Griffin, Carol Monteith, Clifford, David and Lyle Mitchell. Also survived by several step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his first wife Margaret MacLean (1975), brother and sisters Milton, Russell, Margaret Fonger and Christina Hall. vii. MARGARET HALL.
Notes for JOHN HALL: John Hall, aged 79, retired farmer, resident
of Wyoming for the past five years, died on Sunday, April 10, in St. Thomas,
after a long illness. Mr. Hall was born in Warwick Tp. in 1870, the son of
the late Joseph Hall and his wife Christina Thompson. Marriage Notes for JOHN HALL and MARGARET MCFARLANE: Wyoming, Oct. 9 - Mr. and Mrs. John Hall, residents
of Wyoming, today celebrated their 50th anniversary of their marriage at their
home, Front street, Wyoming, when they held a reception in the afternoon and
later a wedding dinner for members of the family at the home of their son
and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. McFarlane Hall, Moore Township.
29. JOSEPH FREDERICK5 KENZIE (SARAH BERTHA4 HALL, JOSEPH3, GEORGE2, GEORGE1) was born 01 Jun 1905 in Forest, Ontario, Canada, and died 05 Nov 1989 in Zephyr Hills Fla buried Prattsburg NY. He married (1) RUTH ARVILLA WEMETT 03 May 1930 in Hemlock NY at Wemett Home, daughter of CLARENCE WEMETT and ADA JENNINGS. She was born 22 Jan 1911 in Hemlock NY, and died 04 Apr 1990 in St. Petersburg FL. buried Livonia NY. He married (2) BERNICE MAY HOWLAND 27 Jul 1940 in Ithaca NY, daughter of HENRY HOWLAND and ELECTA LINDERBERY. She was born 16 May 1907 in Ithaca NY, and died 09 Dec 1980 in NJ-buried Bath NY, Nondaga Cemetary. He married (3) DORA ADELIA HUGHES 20 May 1972. She was born 29 Aug 1927 in Howard NY. Notes for JOSEPH FREDERICK KENZIE: Sarah Bertha attended his Medical School Graduation in a wheelchair from the Hospital (1929). He was a 60-yr alumnus of the Univ. of Western Ontario Medical School, London, Canada. He came to Steuben County in 1930 and was a medical doctor in Prattsburg for 10 yrs. Practiced briefly in Avoca NY after divorce and remarriage. He Moved to Bath in 1942 and became a staff member of the Bath Memorial Hospital also known as the IRA Davenport Memorial Hospital. During these years he was affiliated with the New York State and Steuben County Medical Associations. He was a medical examiner for the draft board during World War II, chairman of the Public Health Commission in Steuben County for several years, medical director for the Steuben County Infirmary and jail physician for several years. He served as health officer for many of the neighboring communities. He was a post master and more than 50 years member of the Prattsburg Masonic Lodge, and a 33rd-degree member of the Scottish Rite in Corning. When Edith Roxey Kenzie was asked (in 1994) why her brother went to medical school, she replied that he had been close to a family doctor who was a Doctor Blain. She also remembered her brother sewing up a pigeon that had been hurt when he was young. Newspaper clipping from Nov. 7, 1954 entitled
"New Officers Take Over"
Steuben County Medical Society Thursday night elected officers at a meeting in Hotel Wagner in Bath, they are Dr. Charles A. Rose of Hornell, New President; Dr. F. J. Kenzie of Bath, retiring president; Dr. Henry E Elwood Jr., of Corning, vice president, and Dr. Milton Tully of Hornell, reelected secretary-treasurer.
DR. J. FREDERICK KENZIE'S OBITUARY as it appeared in The Steuben Courier-Advocate, Bath, NY Nov. 7, 1989 Zephyrhills, Fla. --- Dr. J. Frederick Kenzie, 84, formerly of Hammondsport, died Saturday, Nov. 4, 1989 in Zephyrhills. He was born June 1, 1905 in Forest, Ontario, Canada, to Leslie and Bertha Hall Kenzie. He was a 60-year alumnus of the University of Western Ontario Medical School, London, Canada. He came to Steuben County in 1930 and was a medical doctor in Prattsburg for 10 years. He moved to Bath in 1942 and became a staff member of the Bath Memorial Hospital and the Ira Davenport Memorial Hospital. During these years he was affiliated with the New York State and Steuben County medical association. He was a medical examiner for the draft board during World War II, chairman of the Public Health Commission in Steuben County for several years, medical director for the Steuben County Infirmary and jail physician for several years. He served as health officer for many of the neighboring communities. He was a pastmaster and more than 50-year member of the Prattsburg Masonic Lodge, and a 33rd-degree member of the Scottigh Rite in Corning. Surviving are: his wire, Dora Hughes Kenzie; two sons, Ross of Buffalo, Alan of Ruxton, MD.; two daughters, Linda Mahley of Lafayette, Calif., Joyce North of Richwood, NJ; one stepson John Sebring of Hammondsport; two stepdaughters, Lenette Lowell of St. Albans, Vt., Deborah Cleveland of Honeove Falls; two brothers, Laverne Kenzie of Ontario, Canada, Franklyn Kenzie of Winter Haven, Fla.; seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild. Burial will be in Prattsburg (NY) Rural Cemetery.
This artical is in the Occidentalia, dedications to the Graduates of the Class of 1929 of the University of Western Ontario. This is apparently the yearbook. J. F. Kenzie was the Secretary of the graduating class. He received the J. B. Camp Bell award in medicine at graduation and the award physiology. A quote under the picture of J. Frederick Kenzie, "He that climbs the tall tree has a right to the fruit." On June 1st, 1905, the sun rose at Forest, Ontario, to shine upon a brand new boy, who in virtue of his intellectual integrity and outstanding ability was later chosen a disciple of Aesculapius. After obtaining his rural education, Fred began High School in Forest, completed his honour matriculation at Watford, Ont., and came to Western in 1923 to join Med's '29. He has proven a worthy member and a valued friend to all; and, judging from his efficiency in winning hearts, we expect him to specialize in Electrocardiography. He spent last summer assisting Dr. Trott in his practice at Hemlock, N.Y., and next year will find Fred there a budding young practitioner. We know that wherever his shingle hangs a multitude will find their way, and hope that the future before him will be bright and prosperous. Notes for RUTH ARVILLA WEMETT: Dr. B. L. R. Kelly, a classmate of Dr. Kenzie
at the University of Western Ontario London, Canada, was best man, while Miss
Lorna Wearing of Rochester, a classmae of the bride at Keuka college, was
the bridesmaid. Mary and Mark Wemett, the 3 1/2 year old twins of Mr. and
Mrs. Clarence Wemett, carried baskets of flowers. Miss Marion Black of Livonia,
also a schoolmate of the bride, played the wedding march, and the uncle of
the bride, the Rev. W. J. Brown, pastor of the Spencer Methodist Church of
Hornell, performed the marriage by her father.
Ruth W. Woodruff wasn't one to sit idly around the house. For 25 years, she ran the 1812 Country Store on Route 15A just north of Hemlock. In December 1984, she sold the store and headed for Florida, where she spent most winters. Last Wednesday, Mrs. Woodruff died in St. Petersburg, Fla. She was 79 years old. "She was a different kind of person, an individualist," Peggy Wemett, her sister-in-law, said yesterday. "She loved arts and crafts." When it opened in 1959, her 1812 Country Store was one of the first of its kind, selling gifts, candles and spices, among other items, Mrs. Wemett said. One of the store's best-selling products was the sharp country store cheese, selling 4,000 pounds a season. Besides selling it, Mrs. Woodruff knew how to use it in her kitchen: she was famous for her macaroni and cheese, as Mrs. Wemett recalled. Not only did she cook well, Mrs. Woodruff also enjoyed weaving, painting and collecting. Mrs. Wemett said her sister-in-law spent years roaming craft shows and garage sales to collect five sets of picture postcards to give to her five grandchildren. During the summer, Mrs. Woodruff used to come back to Canandaigua to spend time in her Holiday harbour Condominium. Now and then, she would visit her former store and chat with the new owners, Judy and Harry Rapelje. "When I bought the store she helped me a lot...to learn the ropes," Said Mrs. Rapelje, who was new in the retail business. "She wanted the store to continue. It meant a lot to her." But Mrs. Woodruff obviously enjoyed retirement in sunny Florida. Sooner or later, she would always get itchy to return to Florida, where she had organized a neighborhood recycling program from her garage. Community residents would bring their recyclable materials to Mrs. Woodruff, according to Mrs. Wemett. "She knew how to encourage others not to sit and become stagnant," Mrs. Wemett said. "She wasn't going to let that happen to her - and others either." At the age of 77, Mrs. Woodruff got herself a job at an art supplies store. "The reason why they hired me was because I could count one, two, three, and knew my ABC's," Mrs. Woodruff would joke, according to her sister-in-law. As Mrs. Wemett put it, "idleness was not one of her traits."
Ruth Wemett Woodruff, 79 of St. Petersburg, Fla.,
formerly of Hemlock, died suddenly April 4, 1990 at her home. She was born
in Hemlock Jan. 22, 1911, the daughter of Clarence Wemett and Ada Jennings.
Prior to her retirement she owned and operated the 1812 Country Store in Hemlock
for 28 years. She retired in 1985.
To children it's the lure of the penny candy or a scoopful of marbles in a leather pouch; to city folks heading south to view the autumn foliage, it's a pleasant stop along the way; to grandparents, it's the perfect place to buy stocking stuffers from an era gone by; and to everyone in this area, it's a landmark - The 1812 Country Store. The store, located on Rt. 15A, just a tad north of Hemlock closed for the season right after Christmas and will reopen in May. When it does reopen in the spring, it will have a new proprietor. After over 25 years of owning and managing the business, Ruth Woodruff has sold her stately farm house, 25 acres of land, and The 1812 Country Store. Ruth is particularly pleased that the new owners, Judy and Harry Rapelje, will be living in the residence and continuing the tradition of the store. No fake replica of the old general store, the 1812 Country Store, has a history worthy of its reputation. The original store building was the barn and animal sheds for the house built in 1812 on property which was part of the Phelps-Gorham Purchase. During the 1930's the building housed one part of the well-known Roadside Craftsmen, Inc. The Craftsmen operation was started by Ruth's father, Clarence E. Wemett, who following a motor trip to Florida, was taken with the idea of roadside craftsmen and laid out a replica of a Southern primitive pottery along Rt. 5, near East Bloomfield Guy Daughterty became the resident potter, often joined by students from the State School of Ceramics at Alfred, one of whom married Ruth's brother, Norris. Later weaving and woodturning were added as crafts. In 1931, Arthur Cole from East Aurora set up a second in the roadside craft operations -- the Avon Coppersmith. Meanwhile, in Hemlock, Clarence Curtis became the skilled "smithy" turing out expertly crafted wrought iron pieces. From 1937 until 1942, he was joined by Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Manchester, artists and silversmiths of marked ability. During this time, Ruth Wemett was growing up and pursuing her own talent for arts and crafts. A native of the area, Ruth married and had two sons. Later in life, Ruth attended Columbia University getting a degree in Occupational Therapy and a masters in Guidance and Personnel. She married a second time and later returned to the Hemlock area, where she and her husband, C.H. Woodruff purchased the home on Rt. 15A from her father. The Roadside Craftsmen had disbanded as the older skilled craftsmen passed on. In the Spring of 1959, the Woodruffs opened The 1812 Country Store which included handmade looms on which Ruth taught weaving. After her husband died six years ago, Ruth continued to operate the store. Many of the old fixtures which add so much charm to the interior came from a store which had been owned by Miss Behnk in Rush. In fact, Miss Behnk, herself, made a number of visits to Hemlock to see the new home of her authentic old store fixtures. Over the years, very little has changed in the interior of the store and people like it that way. Out-of-area visitors all have had their favorites including the sharp, pungent "rat" cheese for which the store is famous. One could sample the cheese with crackers, while admiring the coffee grinder which had come from the old Knapp's Store in Hemlock. At holiday time, the store became a treasure house of unusual gifts which one could persue while listening to the music box sound of old recordings of Christmas music. Ruth has always had an eye for what would appeal to her clientele. "You don't try and put crystal in a country store," she laughed. Handmade potholders, theorem paintings, catnip balls, old fashioned paper dolls, the variety and price range was endless. The store also became noted as a haven for "miniature" collectors. One could furnish an entire dollhouse right down to paintings on the wall and doilies on the tiny tables in one afternoon's visit. Judy Rapelje hopes to retain the same nostalgic flavor that has become associated with the store over the years. Judy is a craftsman, herself, working in the medias of basketweaving and stained glass. She has done a good deal of volunteer work with the YWCA, 4-H and Girl Scouts and also operated the "Treasures from the Heart" home sale for over two years. The Rapelje's, who lived in Hilton for 17 years, have already moved into the red farmhouse at the corner of Rt. 15A and Big Tree Rd., along with their two children, Kurt and Karen. Harry Rapelje is in the Corporate Relations Department at Eastman Kodak. Sixteen-year-old Kurt plays trumpet in the school band and will be an asset to Livonia's math and computer teams--with computers being his specialty. Thirteen-year-old Karen plays the saxophone and piano and will enjoy the view out her window of the many horses residing at Graywood Farms, as she is an avid horse lover. Judy first learned of the Ruth's desire to sell the store through her parents, Vic and Marion Anderson, who have a summer residence of Gulick Rd. in Honeoye. Said Judy of the new venture, "It's really making a dream a reality and I plan to work hard, having had some good training for Mrs. 'W,' to make the 1812 Country Store a continuing success. Meanwhile, Ruth will be heading to Florida as has been her custom for a number of years. However, she hopes to return in the late spring and perhaps have a summer residence enabling her to visit family and friends in the area. She has brothers, Mark, in Hemlock and Norris in East Bloomfield, and a sister Mary, in Canandaigua. Her two sons also live in the north. Ross Kenzie is Chairman of the Board of Goldome Bank and lives with his wife, Langley and two daughters in Derby, (NY); and Allan Kenzie is resident Senior Vice-President of the Baltimore Five-Office Complex of Merrill, Lynch, and resides in Ruxton, Md., with his wife, Bette, and three children. Even as Ruth sat at her cluttered desk overlooking the winter scene in her backyard, a gentleman, seeing cars parked, stopped to see if the store was open. Stepping over boxes of inventoried items, Ruth told him that the store was closed for the season. "Oh, see you in the spring, then," he said. Ruth waved and smiled without further explanation. She is confident that come spring, The 1812 Country Store, will once again open its doors to children wanting penny candy and oldsters wanting to just reminisce a little.
Hemlock, NY Red house across from the Iron Shop Telephone - Elwood 9-2802 November 20, 1963
Marriage Notes for JOSEPH KENZIE and RUTH WEMETT: Ceremony at Bride's Home in Hemlock Last Saturday. In the presence of about fifty guests, Miss Ruth Arvilla Wemett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence E. Wemett of Hemlock, was married Saturday noon to Dr. Joseph Frederick Kenzie at the bride's residence. Dr. B. L. R. Kelly, a classmate of Dr. Kenzie at the University of Western Ontario, London, Canada, was best man, while Miss Lorna Wearing of Rochester, a classmate of the bride at Keuka college, was the bridesmaid. Mary and Mark Wemett, the 3 1/2 year-old twins of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Wemett, carried baskets of flowers. Miss Marion Black of Livonia, also a schoolmate of the bride, played the wedding march, and an uncle of the bride, the Rev. W. J. Brown, pastor of the Spencer Methodist church of Hornell, performed the marriege by her father. The bride was gowned in white georgette. She wore a veil and carried a shower bouquet of roses and lilied of the valley. The bridesmaid wore yellow taffeta and carried a corsage of lavender sweet peas and roses. The bride is a graduate of the Genesee Wesleyan seminary at Lima, class of 1928, and for the last two years has been a student at Keuka college. The groom is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario at London, Canada, and for the last two years has been associated with Dr. H. W. Trott in Hemlock. Guests at the wedding included Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Kenzie, parents of the groom, and Miss Edith and Mr. Franklin Kenzie, sister and brother of groom, all of London, Ontario; Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Kamins of Dunnville, Canada; Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Orvis of Rahway, NJ; the Rev. and Mrs. W. J. Brown and Ralph Brown of Hornell; Mr. and Mrs. Correll Wemett and family of Lima; Mr. and Mrs. James Jennings and daughter, Helen, of Naples, and the following Keuka college schoolmates of the bride: Miss Lorna Wearing of Rochester, Miss Dorathy Chesbro of Fulton, Miss Margaret Squier of Auburn, Miss Vineland, NJ, Miss Dorathea Tomlison of East Aurora, and Miss Marion Black of Livonia. The color scheme was yellow and white and the house was decorated with spring flowers of these colors. A wedding dinner was served following the ceremony. A pre-nuptial event was a dinner given by Dr. and Mrs. H. W. Trott on the Thursday evening preceding the wedding. Dr. and Mrs. Kenzie will be at home in Lyons,
NY after the 15th of May, Followinga short wedding trip. Notes for BERNICE MAY HOWLAND: Bernie, as she was known was the School Nurse at the Prattsburg NY public school. She and my father (Joseph Frederick Kenzie) became involved and as soon as the divorce of JFK and my mother became final they were married. (JFK was a notarious chaser I learned later) My best guess is that this took place in 1939 or 1940 because I was in the third grade and remember when Dad came back from Nevada where he went and established residence to obtain the divorce. I have a vivid recollection of him getting Allan and me from school and taking us for a ride in the country and telling us he was no longer going to live at home. They lived in Avoca NY for a year or two and then moved to Bath NY. My father practiced medicine in both places. I remember sitting on their front porch in the summer while visiting them and seeing a train wreck actually happen before our eyes while the train was going thrugh the town. Bernie was from Ithaca NY and her father worked for the Ithaca Gun Company. He was quite a craftsman and well known. Her brother Harry was later the General Superentendant of the Gun Company. Her father was hit by a car and killed as I recall on a Sunday going or coming from church. Her mother whose name was Electa lived with them later on and was called "Lefty" by us (Allan and I) as a sort of short name for Electa. On the occasion of my sixteenth birthday in 1947. I hitch hiked from Bath to Ithaca and with Harry Howland (Dad and Bernie had arranged it) walked down the line and built from parts a Model 37 shotgun which we then took to the engraver and had my name engraved on the trigger guard-a very big deal. Had a child Larry LaVerne Kenzie born prematurely 4/6/1941 lived only two days buried Prattsburg NY. Divorced from J F Kenzie May 1972. Notes for DORA ADELIA HUGHES: Notes for ROSS BRUCE KENZIE: Prior to joining Goldome, Mr. Kenzie was Executive
Vice President and a Director of Since coming to Buffalo, Mr. Kenzie has been
closely associated with the revitalization Mr. Kenzie, son of a physician, has long been
active in hospital affairs. He was a Director and Chairman of Millard Fillmore
Hospitals and is Past Chairman Emeritus. He served on the Board of the Kaleida
Health, Education and Research Foundation and is on its Investment Committee.
He In August 1980, Mr. Kenzie was appointed by former
Governor Hugh L. Carey to be a In 1985, the Greater Buffalo Chamber of Commerce
named Mr. Kenzie Western New Prior to his retirement, he served on numerous
industry boards dealing with federal Mr. Kenzie currently serves on the boards of
several companies including many Mr. Kenzie is an avid duck hunter, as well as
a skeet and trap shooter. He is a member Born in Prattsburg, New York, on September 22,
1931, Mr. Kenzie graduated from the Current Directorships Director, 100 Club of Buffalo, Inc. Vice President Awards / Honors 1983 Executive of Year, Graduate School of Management,
SUNY at Buffalo Director, Association for a Better New York (New
York City) Former Directorships, Memberships (Continued) Member, National Advisory Board, Federal National
Mortgage Association
N Y Times 2/2/82 Bold Moves at Buffalo Savings
Bank Dated: August 27, 2004
Notes for DOROTHY LANGLEY HOGE: Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey Sang the lead part in "The Mikado" with the Mexico City Players and also played the lead in "Iolanthe" with the Village players in New York, soloist the Choir Calvary Episcopal Church in New York City.
March 9, 1963 John, Jr. and eight brothers and sisters. John Jr. was given no birth date. However, after John Jr. had moved to Maryland he was in a census area in 1776 where he gave his age as 55. That would indicate that he was born in about 1721. I deduce from this that his mother likely died and the marriage of John, Sr. in 1724 to Ann Lenwire was a second marriage. |