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HomeMy WebLinkAbout690"Dduotang bound book, 15 pages, undated, written by Eleanor Todd. " "from Devonshire, United Kingdom to Whitby and Pickering - Ont. Canada in 1859 Routley/Beer Donald Alexander Beer 1907-1969 lifelong resident of Brougham Ont. This is my effort to research and record his paternal roots. His oldest daughter, Eleanor Todd PICKERING PUBLIC LIBRARY I apologise if these pages seem overly personal in places. They are photocopied from a family tree I made for my children. Ms.Eleanor Todd PO Box 43 Goodwood ON L0C 1A0 " T a 0 Devo V a O`ae`�Oo'i Buskl°e°d Br• . T �suslu.df St. NNack "The Beers and Routleys Came From Devonshire Devonshire is a large county when compared to other English counties, about 75 miles square. The area bordering Cornwall is similar in landscape and climate with deep valleys, endless hills and dales, more rainfall than the rest of England and a milder climate thanks to the Gulf Stream. The valleys are wider and the fields are larger but like Cornwall, it too had a number of tin mines at one time. Today the economy depends largely upon sheep and dairy farming. It never experienced the same degree of isolation as Cornwall, yet the northwest corner, especially Bradworthy Parish, home of the Routleys, is very remote with only minor roads approaching it through unspoiled pasture and moorland. Most of the Celts were driven out of Devonshire when the Anglo-Saxons arrived but I wonder about the northwest corner. Both the Routleys and Beers seem to have been little people like the Celts. The photo I have of Mary Grace Routley's parents makes them look tiny indeed. Ethel Wannop remembered Mary Grace when she was dying, as a tiny woman in a very large bed. Her neice, Mary Matthews, my neighbour as I was growing up, certainly seemed small, even to a child. I remember Uncle Bert as no taller than I was as a young teenager. However, Bradworthy Village is thought to be an early Saxon village originating from about 700 A.D. It is touted as one of the best examples of Anglo-Saxon planning and layout. A Saxon named Tovi held it when William the Conqueror arrived in 1066 but he granted it to Ralph de la Pomerai (Pomeroy). Stowford, the farm where Mary Grace was born, has been in the records from the 13th century. The Routleys seem to have originated at Peter Tavy which is farther south on the western edge of Dartmoor where there was considerable tin mining, but gradually moved farther north seeking work as farm labour. They were at Sutcombe before moving to the vicinity of Bradworthy village. By 1861 the Routleys had all disappeared from Bradworthy, some moving into Cornwall and others emigrating to Canada or Australia. Mary Grace Routley's Uncle James, her father's younger brother, left Bradworthy first. He came to Canada without his family and found a farm he could rent at Brooklin. His family joined him in 1851, ending up in the census for both Bradworthy and West Whitby for that year. " "[Picture of Mary Grace Routley] Thomas later joined his brother and Sally and the children followed in 1859-The families were Bible Christian. Apparently the Bible Christian movement got its start in the vicinity of Bradworthy. When Mary Grace's brother Thomas was an adult he returned to Bradworthy for a visit and found the house he remembered from his childhood when they lived in the village. It was a big square two storey house of cut stone near the 12th century church. Mannings of Bradworthy Parish North Devonshire William Manning & Mary Gay m. March 30, 1780 Bradworthy Parish: John Manning (May 30, 1784), James (Apr.2, 1786), Richard (Mar.8, 1789), Philip (Sept.4, 1791). John Manning (May 30, 1784) & Elizabeth Drew m. Nov.19, 1807 Bradworthy Parish: Mary (Apr.15, 1808), Betsey (Feb.25, 1810), Ann (Jan.14, 1812), Grace (Jan.22, 1815), Sally Manning (March 2, 1817-March 26, 1900) West Whitby Twp. Ont., Harriet (Oct.31, 1819), Thyrsa (Jan.17, 1821), John (June 20, 1824), Mirium (Oct.8, 1826), William (Aug.31, 1828). Sally Manning (March 2, 1817-March 26, 1900 West Whitby Twp. Ont.) & Thomas Routley (April 2, 1820- Feb.3, 1899 West Whitby Twp. Ont.) m. March 29, 1841 Bradworthy" "John Routley m. Joan ______: Joan (b. 1698 Peter Tavy), John Routley (b. Peter Tavy). John Routley (b. Peter Tavy) & Mary Bernard m. August 5, 1723: John (1723-1725), John (1725-1727), Mary (bapt. May 24, 1728) m. Wm Robins, William (bapt 1792). William (bapt 1792) & Sarah Ballamy (bapt. Holsworthy) m. Sept.4, 1751 Bridge Rule: (children all bapt. Holsworthy) William (July 11, 1756-1837) m. Marg. Robins, Sarah (Nov.1, 1758), Richard (Feb.4, 1761-1829 Pyworthy) m. Eliz. Heard, Abraham (April 1, 1763-1814 Pyworthy) m. Sarah Paddon, Thomas (Nov.2, 1765-1770 Holsworthy), Roger (May 6, 1768), Thomas (Aug.12, 1770-1846 Bradworthy). Thomas (Aug.12, 1770-1846 Bradworthy) & Mary Martin m. March 24, 1806 Bradworthy: (ch: bapt. Bradworthy) Thomas and William (bapt. Oct.16, 1806), Mary (Apr.3, 1814), Thomas (Apr.2, 1820-Feb.3, 1899) em. to Canada ca 1858, James (1822-March 29, 1890) m. Jan.14, 1841 Honor Dayman (1819-March 28, 1900), em. to Canada ca 1850. Thomas (Apr.2, 1820-Feb.3, 1899) & Sally Manning (March 2, 1817- March 26, 1900) m. March 29, 1841: 1) Elizabeth Manning ca 1842 didn't emigrate, 2) Mary Grace (March 2, 1843 Stowford) m. Nov.29, 1864 at Whitby Ont. Joseph Beer, 3) Ann (Feb.9, 1845), 4) John (Feb.9, 1845 Ryal), 5) Thomas (Nov.13, 1849), 6) Sarah Jane (Feb.5, 1851 Bradworthy village), 7) William (Dec.6, 1852), 8) Marion Manning (Oct.1, 1854), 9) James (Apr.27, 1856 Littleford). James (1822-March 29, 1890) & Honor Dayman (1819-March 28, 1900) m. Jan.14, 1841: William (1843), Jane (1845), James (1847), Hannah (1849), Margaret (1851), Fanny (1854), Thomas (1856), Mary (1858), Sandford (1860), Eliza (1865)." "Thomas Routley and Sally Manning 2. Mary Grace Routley (born Feb.26, 1843 at Stowford, bapt. March 2, 1843 Bradworthy Parish Devon, died Dec.19, 1917 Brougham Ont.) & Joseph Beer (died Feb.6, 1895 Brougham Ont.) m. Nov.29, 1864 Whitby Ont: Sarah Eliz. (Aug.4, 1865-Feb.1942) m. 1884 David Stephenson (1863-1936), Evelina Eliza (Jan.14, 1868-1940) m.1. Thos. Chinn Brooklin Ont. m.2. 1895 John Crosier Allems (Aug.3, 1870-1949), Marion (March 11, 1869-Oct.14, 1903) m. Alfred Hamilton no ch: lvd. Brougham, Thomas (____,1873-April 14, 1945) m.____1806 Annie Beatty Whannop Brougham Ont., Angelina (Oct.23, 1875-1917) m. E.J. Crowells to Detroit, Mich., Albert (Jan.1,1878-1958)m.1. Feb.27, 1901 Jane Harper Green m.2. Lena Smith (1901-1921) no ch., Arvilla (June 20, 1882) lvd. Georgetown m. Harry Wright. Sarah Eliz. (Aug.4, 1865-Feb. 1842) & David Stephenson (1865-1936) m. 1884: Fred (Nov.22, 1885), Lillie Mae (Dec.4, 1904) m. Howard Rowe. Eveline Aliza (Jan.14, 1868-1940) & John Crosier Allems (Aug.3, 1870-1949) 2nd marriage: Thomas N. (Jan.20, 1887) children Bob and Norma, Mabel M. (July 14, 1889-1975) m. Leslie Hall (1891-1962), Lewis W. (July 13, 1896) children Bruce Ross John and Paul, Marjorie Viola (April 6, 1899-1961) unm. Thomas (____,1873-April 14, 1945) & Annie Beatty Whannop m.____1806 Brougham Ont.: Donald Alexander (April 12, 1907-Jan.30, 1969) m.1. Charlotte Varnum m.2. Lela Elliott Bate. Angelina (Oct.23, 1875-1917) & E.J. Crowells to Detroit, Mich.: 1 son Harold (1905-Jan. 1963) m. Amy ____ no ch:. Arvilla (June 20, 1882) & Harry Wright lvd. Georgetown: Kathleen, Dorothy m. Maurice Hillock children Diane and Wainright. Mabel M. (July 14, 1889-1975) & Leslie Hall (1891-1962): Marguerite Hall, Audrey Young, Dorothy Fishley." "Thomas Routley and Sally Manning 3. Ann Routley (bapt. Feb.9, 1845 Ryall, Bradworthy) & Robt. Britton (born June 28, 1836) Eng. emigrated 1860 m. 1863: Elizabeth Manning Britton (July 2, 1865-Feb.22, 1935) unmarried. 4. John Manning Routley (Sept.11, 1846 Ryall, Bradworthy- Aug.11, 1909 Langley B.C.) & Ann Scott (Dec.25, 1944 Aberdeen Scot.- May 29, 1929 Langley B.C.) m. Sept.3, 1868 W.Whitby Twp: Thos. John (June 9, 1869-Dec.23, 1944) m. April 20, 1898 Christina Mars, Gordon (b. Feb.9, 1871) m. Nov.14, 1893 Ida May Williams, William (Spet.17, 1872- Jan.21, 1946) m. May 28, 1902 Ida Helen Martin, Rosetta (Sept.13, 1874) m. Sept.10, 1896 Thomas Stoddart, Edgar (b. May 20, 1876) m. Jan.10, 1890 Minnie Quincey, Levi (b. June 10, 1878) m. Apr.3, 1911 Margaret Shand, Frank Mannig (Feb.19, 1884-March 31, 1937) m. Jan.19, 1910 Mary McGregor, Minnie Louella (b. Jan.19, 1886) m. Apr.6, 1910 Bert Muttit. 5. Thomas Routley (bapt. Nov.13, 1984 Bradworthy) & Eliza Bond (b.ca.1853): William J. (c 1874) ran a grocery store in Peterborough Lloyd Routley Walter (c. 1875) ran a grocery store in Peterborough Lloyd Routley, Nelson (c.1877) no fam., Robert (c 1879) to Rochester, N.Y., Norman, Jessie (1887-1934) m. John Maynard (1881-1963). The Britton family cared for Ann's sister Sarah Jane (6) who was ""slow"" after the old folks died, and raised William's daughter Mirium from the time her mother died when she was a month old. " "Thomas Routley and Sally Manning 7. William Routley (bapt. Dec.6, 1852 Bradworthy, d. Sept.24, 1921) & Honor Jane White (b.ca.1858-July 17, 1888 Lot 27 Conc.6 Whitby): Alice Helena (Sept.1, 1879-Nov.25, 1879), Mary Edith (March 29, 1881-1963) m. Lafayette Matthews (1883-1943) lvd. The hotel in Brougham no children, Cephas Theodore (a twin) (June 15, 1883-July 13, 1883), Martin Luther (Nov.1, 1884-Nov.17, 1962) m. Edith Blair, Wesley Ezekiel (Oct. 29, 1886-July 23, 1961 Port Coquitlam B.C.) m. Anita ____, Wesley was raised by his uncle John M. Routley and lived in B.C. with them, Mirium Honor Luella (June 2, 1888-Nov.13, 1980) m. William Tordiff (Barrie, Ont.). Martin Luther (Nov.1, 1884-Nov.17m 1962) & Edith Blair: Leonard Routley (b. Nov.2, 1914 Montreal) m. Dorothy Hammel- 1 ch. Douglas b. July 12, 1951. Mirium Honor Luella (June 2, 1888-Nov.13, 1980) & William Tordiff (Barrie, Ont.): Harold Wm. m. Zelma Purvis Esther m. ____Knapp, Edward. Harold Wm. & Zelma Purvis: Wm., Robt., John. 8. Marion Manning Routley (bapt. Oct.1, 1854 Bradworthy-1923 Claremont) & Nicholas Burton (1846-1931 Claremont): Ethel M. (1889-1919) m. Dr. Love. 9. James Routley (bapt. Apr.27, 1856 Littleford, Bradworthy, d. Apr.___,1951) & Elizabeth Ann Buckley (1857 at Orono Ont.-Sept.21, 1931): Sarah Ann (b. Nov.9, 1883) m. ____Prouse, Albert (1888-1970), Charlie (1889-1959), Flora (1890-1965) m. ____Wilkes, Elizabeth (Nov.11, 1891) m. ____Penny, Arthur (1895-1944), Olive (1894-) m. Mason, Mirium (1896-) m. ___Bromell lvd Bearborn Mich, Eva (Aug.8, 1900) Markham m. Elmo Middleton, James (1903-) lvd. Toronto. Eva (Aug.8, 1900) Markham & Elmo Middleton: Gordon (June 22, 1930), Norman (Sept.6, 1931), Don. " "Beer from North Devonshire between Bideford and the Cornish Border John Beare & Ann Peat m. Jan.1, 1792 at Monkleigh: Mary (chr: Sept.16, 1792), Elizabeth (Feb.9, 1794), John (July 5, 1795), William (Jan.1, 1797), Ann (Oct.14, 1798), Joseph Beer (chr: March 1, 1801) m. ca 1826 Grace Brown (b. ca 1804 Bideford), Sarah (Sept.5, 1802), James (June 14, 1804), Rebecca (Aug.31, 1806), James (May 14, 1809), Thomas (Dec.30, 1810). Joseph Beer (chr. March 1, 1801) & Grace Brown (b.ca 1804 Bideford) m. ca 1826: Mary (ca 1827), Joseph (Apr.17, 1831 Monkleigh), Joshua (Apr.7, 1933 Buckland Brewer), Eliza (Sept.28, 1834 Burrough), William S. (Feb.14, 1836 Burrough), James (Apr.23, 1841 Shebbear on the Bible Christian Circuit) fam. living at Buckland Brewer. It is entirely possible that the above Joseph Beer Jr. is my great grandfather but it has not been proven (I had two different researchers try at considerable cost.) and it isn't likely to be proven unless more records, not available at this time, should be located, ie: ship passenger lists. But - my great grandfather was in Canada by 1861 and the above Joseph was not found in North Devon in 1861. My Joe Beer, son of Joseph and Grace, was an agricultural labourer who could neither read nor write. This also tends to describe the above Joseph, son of Joseph and Grace. And both Josephs seemed to be unsure of how old they were Joseph Beer, christened at Monkleigh in 1831, had been sent out to work by or before his tenth birthday. In 1841 at age 10 he was at Gusland apprenticed to Christian Bate. The rest of his family were at Tithecot where his father was working as an agricultural labourer. Both farms were in the parish of Buckland Brewer. Ten years later Joseph's brother Joshua was about ten miles away at Venworthy in Sutcombe Parish (where Mary Grace Routley's grandfather had lived). He was working as a ""waggoner"" and a certain Mary Routley was one of the house servants. Joseph had a job as an agricultural labourer at Pitworthy in Pancrasweek Parish close to ten more miles away to the southwest. His mother, Grace Beer, was still in Buckland Brewer Parish at Rickards working as a charwoman. His father and the rest of his siblings weren't located. " "Finding The Beers Usually when individuals become interested in drawing up their family trees they expend the most energy on their paternal grandfather's line- his surname being the one the researcher was born with. Well, I was born Annie Eleanor Beer on July 21, 1933 but BEER is the surname I've had the least success with. I could blame my failure on the fact that my parents were divorced when I was twelve but I doubt now that a closer relationship with my father would have helped because I don't think he was much interested in family backgrounds. A neighbour, Mary Matthews, once told me that we were related but when I asked Daddy about it, he just remarked that she thought she was related to everybody. Maybe he really didn't know that Mary was his second cousin! Learning Mary's maiden name, Routley, years later was a big breakthrough for me in searching out my father's family tree. I was able to track down some of my father's cousins, remembered vaguely from childhood, and his Uncle Bert who always lived in the Brougham area and Aunt Villa who came visiting from Georgetown were imprinted firmly on my memory, so it was a start. Nana and Mrs. Wannop could add a little and Robt. Miller's mother-in-law, Mrs. Malcolm, was old enough to have memories and names for my father's Beer grandparents. His grandmother, Mary Grace Routley was easy to trace once I knew her name, but Joe Beer was a mystery and tends to remain so. I keep telling myself not to jump to conclusions about him but in the absence of facts the temptation is overwhelming. My Great Grandfather, Joe Beer Joe Beer first appeared in Canada in the 1861 Census for Pickering Township. He was recorded as 25 year old Joseph Bearer living with a blacksmith, James Parker but he,and very likely the blacksmith too, were probably working for Asa Brown, a Quaker farmer on the south side of Hwy No. 2 east of Pickering. (In 1871 Joe gave his religion as Friend.) Three years later Joe was married to Mary Grace Routley whose family was living in the Brooklin area. His granddaughter, Mae Stevenson, said she always thought he came over on the same boat as the Routleys and it certainly makes sense. Mary Grace's family arrived in 1859 and Joe, a young man on his own, must have kept in contact with them, a substitute family from the some part of the world as " "himself. Mary Grace was sixteen at the time so there may have been a budding romance as well. I spent a lot of time researching other Beer/Beare families who had emigrated from England and settled in Central Ontario to see if I could find a connection to Joe Beer but while they all tended to come from the same general area of North Devon, there was no space in their family trees for my Joe. (Both the Orono Beers and the Markham Beares who spread into Uxbridge, Port Perry, Greenbank etc. came from the vicinity of Milton Dameral in Holsworthy. The Solina Beers came from Haytown on the Shebbear Circuit. Others came from places such as East Putford, Bulkworthy and Pyworthy.) Now when my great grandparents were married, Joe gave his age as 28 and the minister recorded his name as Jonah Bur. I possessed a record of that marriage in one of my source books for two years before I realized Jonah Bur was Joe Beer. I didn't yet know that my great grandmother was a Routley. Yes, I know. His age doesn't match my other conclusions, but I surmise that either Joe really didn't know how old he was, or he was knocking off a few years because he was so much older than Mary Grace. (His age given at death would have him born in 1829.) As for the name discrepancy, I can only relate what it was like to carry on a conversation with Joe's son, my great uncle Bert. Uncle Bert talked with a fast, soft, accented mumble that I could barely translate and I suggest that perhaps Joe talked the same way. Every record that I found hinted that the recorder was having trouble translating what he was being told. Also, it pays to remember that Joe Beer could neither read nor write. (1871 Census) Now it would appear from the 1871 Census that Joe and his family were living on Conc. 7 Pickering Twp. and Joe was probably working for farmers in that area, possibly even the Millers. (Hugh Miller's wife thought it was so, and that their house had burned down.) Later they lived in Brougham, their last residence being what I call the Ellicot house. Village Lot 20 on the north side of what was always the ""Back Street"" when I was a child, across the road and two doors up from Granny Beer's bouse. (Annie Beattie) The daughters worked out as hired girls or hotel maids and my grandfather, Tom Beer, and his brother, Uncle Bert worked as farm help. Joe Beer died in 1895 and while there wasn't an obit for him, both the Brougham and Brooklin correspondents mentioned him in their gossip columns. The items were gratifying but not much " "help genealogically. Found in the Whitby newspaper - Brougham Mr. Joseph Beer is dangerously ill. Miss Lena Beer Feb. 8, 1895 and Mrs. Chinn of Brooklin are home. Brooklin The funeral of the late Mr. Joseph Beer of Brougham Feb. 15, 1895 passed through town on Monday afternoon last, en route for Groveside Cemetery where his remains were laid at rest. He was the father of Mrs. Geo. Chinn of Brooklin and was universally respected. Brougham Mr. Beer who had been ill for a long time was buried Feb. 22, 1895 at Brooklin Monday, his funeral being postponed twice on account of the condition of the roads. It is said that between here and Markham there is a snowbank as high as the telephone wires. My Grandfather, Tom Beer His story is almost as illusive as that of his father. But I do have personal memories of him, and he did get a few mentions in the Brougham social news, ie: that he was home for the winter after working in Kinsale or in Whitevale. I remember when he went to work every day for Wes Slack at his farm on the southern edge of the village. Addie Coafes (George Todd's cousin) once told me that he used to work for her father on the Uxbridge/Pickering Townline and though she was only a child at the time she was quite in love with him. (According to the social column that would have been in 1902.) I think I can see why. I tend to think my grandfather was a lot like my brother - mild mannered, easy going, very comfortable with those a lot younger than himself, not overly ambitious, blond, fair-skinned, nice even features, but I think my grandfather had a smaller physique, and of course the little bit of hair he had when I knew him was quite grey. Unlike Uncle Bert, I don't think Grandad had much to contribute in any conversation. I do remember that he called me The Little Woman, and that he called potatoes, taties. For some reason, one of my most vivid memories is of him sitting on the back stoop applying ointment to his bare legs which were blistered with poison ivy. I seem to recall that he got infected while fishing in Spring Creek east of Brougham. I remember that he had prostate cancer and when he died his coffin was in Granny's parlour. I remember wondering why she didn't cry. I wrote a poem about him some 20 years ago and I still think I captured him well. " "(Picture of Granny and Grandad Beer) GRANDAD Grandad was a nice old man. I liked his company; And he was glad when I came calling. He liked to be with me. He let me fiddle with his pipe, And I could wear his hat. They smelled of Grandad, strong and warm. I liked a smell like that. And Grandad's head was shiny. With just a little hair. He let me sit upon his knee And fasten curlers there. He had a big white moustache A fine relationship. My Father, Donald Alexander Beer If one can judge by the few early snapshots available, my father was always small for his age and in adulthood never reached more than perhaps 5'6"" in height. But then, both the Beers and Routleys were small people and I gather that the Beatties, while perhaps bigger boned, weren't especially tall. He loved sports, well softball and hockey at least, but had to be content with coaching and managing positions, perhaps partly because of his size. I remember that he greatly admired George Derusha of Claremont (Gig's cousin) who was also a small man but who apparently could steal the puck and skate between the legs of the big men. * Often when there wasn't a community rink, my father would build one in our back yard and string lights for skating at night. I played hockey. It was either that or do without ice time. I also remember being taken to skate on the frozen swamp at the 7th concession. Nana tried learning to skate there with a chair. When my dad finished public school at Brougham he rode his bike the five miles north to Claremont for Continuation School. I've heard him say that he could ride all the way home again, no hands. It was mostly downhill. After Continuation School I believe he said Granny * That’s what my father said" "sent him to Toronto to business school. I think I recall him saying that the first place where he boarded had bed bugs. My father's first job was with the bank at Claremont. The manager there lost his savings in the 1929 crash and Daddy always used that as an example when people talked of buying stocks. He was an insurance agent when he met Nana and it was his main source of income while we were a family. But it wasn't the only way he made money. I know he was a bootlegger for awhile. And I remember that he often drove the teenagers to highschool in Whitby for Bruce Easton when he was too busy at the service station. Several years later my dad started buying school buses and built Rural Bus Lines, but that was after we ""divorced him."" During the war Daddy operated a taxi service and kept an office in Pickering. I remember being taken down there to answer the phone. The experiment was a failure because I was sick to my stomach in the middle of the night and then I was ravenously hungry and he had to go out and buy me an omlette. Instead of me helping him, he had to look after me. Nana always said that he didn't want anything to do with us as babies but that must have changed for me as I grew older because I have many memories of riding around with him in the car as he made his insurance rounds. I know he took me to hockey games when I was old enough, I remember the Firemen's Picnics at Greenwood Park, going swimming at the mill dam, hunting morels with him, and the Saturday night dances in the Brougham hall. He always saved the Rye Waltz for me and some round dances. I think maybe he took me into the Barn Dance where one constantly changes partners but I might have learned that one later. In my time Nana never went to the dances. Maybe the marriage was almost over by then anyway. Apparently Swifty Todd used to go to some of those dances. I don't remember him. I was only eleven or twelve and he would have been in his late teens. I had a crush on Lloyd Pascoe though. He would have been the same age as Swifty. My father was outgoing and liked to be around people. He played the violin a little, step danced and had a magic act that he performed at local functions. He was not a good public speaker but that didn't stop him from emceeing when needed. I don't think Nana was ever comfortable in social situations, nor am I. My father was always involved in community events in one way or another. He was a District Deputy Grand " "Donald and Charlotte Beer Wedding Photo They both liked cats. Master of the I.O.O.F and also District Warden. He was always involved in the organizational end of community sports and on the executive of the Ontario Rural Softball Association and the Rural Hockey association and had both an arena in Pickering and the ball park in Brougham named after him. He also served on Pickering Township Council for a term shortly before he died. My father and mother were so ill-matched that I have to wonder whatever they saw in each other to end up married. But - she was only 5'2"" and very pretty. He appeared to be a young man ""going places"". I'm sure my mother thought she was moving up in the world. She was ambitious too. "