| Notes |
- [combined.ged]
Florence Lilian Pelton Patterson says in her Pelton Jarvis book, "He was t all with black wavy hair which he claimed started to turn grey when he w as 20 years old. In my earliest recollections of him, he was snow whit e. He had the Pelton aquiline nose. Determined to get an education, in o rder to write his high school entrance examinations, he walked 13 mil es to Woodstock, where the tests were held. He passed, but never was ab le to attend high school, In his early teens he was sent via a one-way ra ilroad ticket to Fort William(Thunder Bay) to work in a general store. Aft er a couple of years he wished to leave as he had become distressed by t he unjust treatment of the Indians which he witnessed. Having saved mo st of his meager earnings, he was able to get to Toronto where, by livi ng in a room on Jarvis St, he attended Shaws Business School for a ter m. Then he acquired a position as a bookkeeper with the farm implement fi rm, Sawyer and Massey, in Hamilton, ON. One of his duties was the collect ion of outstanding accounts. When he began farming there was only one hor se and buggy to be shared with his father and brothers. His father control led all the finances until the farms were paid in full. Although he w as 31 years old when he married, for several years afterwards, when mon ey was required for necessities which could not be homegrown or produce d, he and Jenty had to ask his father for the cash and account for it. Th is rule undoubtedly applied to Herb and Sarah as well. In 1920 they we re devastated after the loss of their 9 year old son, McDonald (Mackie), w ho died of spinal meningitis; two weeks later her father passed away. mac k's death affected all of us for many years. Because it was believed th at Mack had contracted his illness partly because he had doffed his clothi ng and gone swimming in early May, For years afterwards we children we re not allowed to take off our long winter woolen underwear until the e nd of June regardless of how warm the weather. It was only a few days bef ore Jenty's death that she could bring herself to make arrangements for t he disposal of some of Mack's belongings which she had kept for 45 year s. She requested that some be burned; others to be placed in the casket w ith her. Lionel was treasurer of the Township of West Zorro for over 40 y ears. In the early 1920's he purchased one of the first automobiles in t he community--an Overland. As well, he had one of the first radios, and e arphone set which was purchased from Charlie Beagley of Embro. One of t he first in the community to have plumbing installed inside the house. In terested in world affairs and the stock market, he not only read the Toron to "Globe" daily, but would listen to the stock market reports and news br oadcasts on the radio. During his lifetime he had many illnesses and h is doctors claimed his recoveries were due, to great extent. To the good c are he took of himself. He went to bed early and rose early- neither smok ed or drank liquor. Sometimes he would take a cup of tea. He enjoyed read ing, travelling and talking. Occupied as a successful farmer and respect ed leader in the community, his honesty and integrity was beyond reproac h; self-educated, he possessed the power of reasoning and good judgemen t. As a father he was serious and stern, while at the same time, lovin g, kind and understanding. He tried very hard to treat us equally a nd to show no favoritism."
|
1875 - 1954 (78 years)