Larabee Family of Southwest Ontario

Larabee Family of Southwest Ontario Notes:

- The following uses Family Tree Maker Register Report format, copied into Word and illustrations added. - It is divided into sections by generation number and their children. Move onto the next section/generation for the next level. (See contents below.) - As the prime focus is to assist interested parties in tracing their ancestors and relatives up to about the middle of the 20 th century, this only documents up to the 5th generation, including names of children if known. Information about most of the later individuals living (or potentially so) noted here, aside from names, births and marriages (where known) is generally omitted. - For security reasons, birth day and months for individuals believed to be living are omitted.

Acknowledgements:
Several individuals assisted in providing the information and illustrations included in this summary, most especially to Carl and Cecil Bruner, Eldon Larabee, Verlin (Bruner) and Jack Mayne, Bill Bruner, Jane (Mayne) Cohen, Carol M. Ruttle, Shirley Dawson, Wanita Fletcher. some family histories which can be found online (notably Peggy Doyle and the Michael J. Doyle tree as well as Clinton W. Liezerts publication) and others (apologies for any other names omitted). Note:

Eldon Larabees book

See: http://www.scribd.com/doc/121968905/Eldon-Larabee%E2%80%99sHistory-of-the-Larabee-Family-Their-Times-and-Surroundings-in-SW-Ontario

Memories Carl and Cecil Bruner

Carl and Cecil Bruners children put together a document of about 45 pages of the memories they had of their lives through their growing up years. This was completed in about 2002 and distributed to their immediate families. It is a marvellously vivid description of their lives and times with quite different perspectives from the different siblings. That material is not included here.

Additions and Amendments:

Comments and corrections can be sent to bemayne@gmail.com (Further pre-1950 contributions of information, photos and other illustrations would be welcomed and reviewed for potential inclusion. There is no copyright on this, so anyone wishing to use it to build later and/or further in any way is free to do so.)

Contents

Larabee Family of Southwest Ontario ................................................ 2 Notes: ...................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgements: ............................................................................. 2 Eldon Larabees book ........................................................................... 2 Memories Carl and Cecil Bruner ...................................................... 2 Additions and Amendments: ............................................................... 2 Contents ................................................................................................. 3 Generation 1 - Rosel (Royal or Roswell Larby) Larabee born 1772 4 Generation 2 Beginning with Seth Larabee born 1797 .................. 8 Generation 3 Beginning with James Henry Larabee born 1838 . 14 Generation 4 Beginning with William Silas Larabee born 1866 . 24 Generation 5 Beginning with Lila May Larabee born 1898 ......... 36 Appendix A - Mary (Larabee) Ruttle 1903 Letter and Midwives Book Entries......................................................................................... 43 Appendix B - Mary Ann (MacIntyre) Larabees Parents ............. 48 Duncan and Christina (McLaughlin) MacIntyre ............................... 48

Larabee Family of Southwest Ontario

Generation 1 - Rosel (Royal or Roswell Larby) Larabee born 1772

1. Rosel (Royal or Roswell Larby) Larabee-1 was born on 22 Aug 1772 in USA. He died on 23 Aug 1834 in Ontario, Canada. Notes for Rosel (Royal or Roswell Larby) Larabee: General Notes: Shirley Dawson notes (pre-1983): "According to information received from a Larabee descendant [Mrs. Carol M. Ruttle of Regina Sask. - a great great grand-daughter of Mary Larabee and George Ruttle] who supplied the information about the oldest generation known at this time. The Larabee were said to be from Holland, as that part of Holland was believed to be taken over from Germany. It seems we are listed as German descendants. "They came to Canada via the United States, in reality they were part of the Pensylvania Dutch community; which was German in origin. "The Ontarion census records lists them as being German in nationality with some members, the older ones born in the United States and others in Canada." (A transcribed copy of this letter with some comments on it appears in an Appendix.) Birth dates and times used for many of the Larabees here were supplied by Wanita Fletcher who copied them "from the fly leaves of a mid-wife's book some years ago" (Wanita Fletcher, of RR4, Kincardine, Ont. NOG 2G0 in 1983/4 - letter dated 26/12/1983). The mid-wives book referred to is called 'Aristotle's Masterpiece, New Edition in New England 1806'. (A transcribed copy appears in an Appendix.) Rozel was born about 11 o'clock in the forenoon Archives of Ontario shows he had SW 1/4 of Lot 11, Conc. 5 with issue date 18370505 (same Rosel?) Re marriage date, Wanita Fletcher has 9 Oct. 1796 and for the death date, she notes 23 Aug. 1824 (fever) age 52 and then a questionmark for 3 Jan. 1834. If the latter death date is correct Rosel and Catrina died within just a few days of each other. Catrina (Caly or Catherine Backer or Becker) Baker daughter of Corivance (Becker) Baker and Elizabeth (Hall) Stall was born on 29 Mar
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1780. She died on 20 Aug 1834. Notes for Catrina (Caly or Catherine Backer or Becker) Baker: General Notes: Per letter from Mary (Larabee) Ruttle dated 1 Jan 1903: Catrina's parents, Corivance Baker or Becker immigrated to America from Germany, as did his wife, Elizabeth Hall or Stall [or their parents did?]. Corivance fought in the American Revolutionary War and was badly wounded. It appears the next generation moved to Canada (1851 Canada census shows Seth and brother Barnabus born in 'States'). Corivance died at the age of 95 and wife Elizabeth died at the age of 102. Information on Corivance and his wife is from Wanita (Wardell) Fletcher and Carol and Brenda Ruttle. Another ancestry.com online tree suggests Corivance's birth was in England. Rosel (Royal or Roswell Larby) Larabee and Catrina (Caly or Catherine Backer or Becker) Baker were married on 09 Aug 1796 in New York, USA. They had the following children: 2. i. Seth Larabee was born on 06 Aug 1797 in Fonda, Montgomery, New York. He died on 15 Aug 1873 in Edwardsburgh, Grenville, Ontario, Canada. ii. Barnabus (Barney Bornt Barna) Larabee was born on 15 Apr 1799 in USA. Notes for Barnabus (Barney Bornt Barna) Larabee: General Notes: Born about 5 o'clock n the afternoon. Shirley Dawson's notes from the 1851 Census (part of which is shown for Seth) continues: "5th concession Lot 8 (entire) 200 acres (165 wooded), 1 story log house, 3 oxen (bulls) steers, 6 milk cows, 3 calves heifers, 4 horses, 16 sheep, 2 pigs, 400 lb. butter, 200 lb. beef, 700 lb. pork, value $150, description of land, various soils. OCCUPATION BIRTHPLACE RELIGION AGE Farm Laraby, Barnabus er States Freepresb Laraby, Martha Wife Canada Methodist Laraby, Canad Enoch Labourer a " Laraby, Seth " " " 20 Laraby, Catherine E. ------" " NAME
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56 46 22 16

---Laraby, Abraham

"

"

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"Barnabas is a brother of ...Seth and Catherine Laraby. The same age report [as for Seth] does not mean they were twins, it simply reflects the inaccuracies of hand recorded data in these early census records." Shirley Dawson's notes continue for the "Canada-West 1861 Census Public Archives of Ontario Grenville County, Edwardsburg Township, (District No. 2, pg. 27). NAME Laraby, Barney Laraby, Martha Wife Laraby, Enoch Labourer Laraby, Elizabeth " Laraby, Abraham " Laraby, Farm Saith er Laraby, Babry Wife Laraby, Saith child (Sary) OCCUPATI BIRTHPLA ON CE Farm er States Canada " " " " " " " " " RELIGION Methodist " " " " 27 20 2 53 29 20 18 AGE 63

They occupied a 1 and 1/2 story stone house, Elizabeth is likely the Catherine E. of the 1851 census, spellings vary according to the census taker or maybe family preference." Shirley Dawson's notes go on to record the 1871 census entries for 2 of Barnabas's children (Enoch and Seth) and their families in the 1871 census (referencing Concessions 6, 7, 8 and 9, while James H. resided on the 5th Concession in Edwardsburg Township), as well as for Barnabas's son Abraham and his family in the 1881 census (also of South Grenville County, Edwardsburg Township). iii. Betsy (Becky) Larabee was born on 21 Jun 1801. She died in 1802. iv. Margaret 'Peggy/Pegg' Larabee was born on 25 Jul 1803. She died in 1804. v. John Larabee was born on 31 Aug 1806. He died in 1807.

vi. Rozel (Royal) Larabee was born on 25 Jul 1811. Notes for Rozel (Royal) Larabee: General Notes:
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per the mid-wife's book note, Rozel was born about 15 minutes after Caty. vi. Catherine (Caty Caly Calhown Katie) Larabee was born on 25 Jul 1811. She died in 1812. vii. Rachel Larabee was born on 19 Jan 1814. She died in 1815. viii. Henry Larabee was born on 18 Apr 1816. ix. Lavina (Levina) Larabee was born on 18 Jan 1819. She died in 1820. 3. xi. Mary Larabee was born on 22 Mar 1822 in Edwardsburgh, Grenville, Ontario, Canada. She married George Ruttle on 04 Oct 1841 in Clayton, Jefferson County, New York, USA. She died on 16 Jun 1906 in Lansdowne, Leeds County, Ontario, Canada. xii. David Larabee was born in 1824. Notes for David Larabee: General Notes: Wanita Fletcher received this name and birth year from a contact in Toronto. xiii. Job Larabee was born in 1823. Notes for Job Larabee: General Notes: Wanita Fletcher received this name and birth year from a contact in Northern Ontario.

Generation 2 Beginning with Seth Larabee born 1797

2. Seth Larabee-2 (Rosel (Royal or Roswell Larby)-1) was born on 06 Aug 1797 in Fonda, Montgomery, New York. He died on 15 Aug 1873 in Edwardsburgh, Grenville, Ontario, Canada. Notes for Seth Larabee: General Notes: Born about 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Birthplace used is place of christening at Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Caughnawaga in Fonda, Montgomery, New York.

Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Caughnawaga in Fonda Township, New York (near Albany) where Seth Larabee was Baptized
(Source: Jack Kinney Family Tree at ancestry.com)

Eldon Larabee writes (pp 13-15): "Seth Larabee settled in the county of Grenville around Iroquois on the edge of a stream which was either a creek or part of the Natton River. Seth spent his time hunting, on forest work, some bridge work, and later farming. ...His relations would sail for Germany with merchandise, which could be animal hides, maple sugar and a few passengers ...There were Larabees who were relations of Seth who came to America at a much earlier date when that part of Canada along the St. Lawrence River belonged to France, and the French and English were at war. ...I think the Larabees used the war for gain, by bringing guns and knives over from Germany, bartering the merchandise for things the Germans
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needed at home. As the Larabees owned sailing boats, or were in the shipping business, they were trying to make their business pay by way of trade between American and European ports." On p. 12 Eldon adds, "These relatives sometimes stopped at Seth's and his son, Henry's, for visits [on the trips up the St. Lawrence with merchandise]." He could speak English and German. Note of a land record from Ontario Archives showing a Seth Larabee owning Lot 22, Concession 2 in Tyendinaga Township issue date 18300902 (same Seth?). Received the following from Wanita Fletcher and Shirley Dawson (latter of Windsor, Ont. area?): "1851 Census Canada-West - Archives of Ontario (Toronto); Grenville County, Edwardsburg Township (District no. 2, pg 45); 5th concession, lots 10 & 11 (parts of) 200 acres (150 wooded); 1 story log house, 2 heifers, 3 pigs, 280 lbs butter, (300 pork barrels) value $50, description of land - stony and low.

OCCUPATI BIRTHPLA NAME ON CE Laraby, Seth Farmer States Laraby, Hannah Wife Canada Laraby, James " " Laraby, Catherine, Sister of SethStates

RELIGION Freepresb. " " "

AG E 56 53 14 42

[From a separate copy of this same census, received from Eldon, noted there was also an adopted child in Seth's home, Beasom Montgomery, aged 15, and James was marked as attending school. Of his 200 acres, Seth had 45 acres in crops and 5 in pasture. His stock and supplies included 60 bushels of produce, 8-150 bushels of oats, 4-102 bushels of wheat, 1-30 bushels of Indian corn, 2-60 bushels of potatoes, 4-20 bushels of turnips, 15 bundles of hay, 40 yards of fulled cloth, 30 yards of flannel, 2 milk cows, 4 calves, 2 horses, 23 sheep, 3 pigs and 700 pounds of pork. The farm was reported as having various soils.] Wanita Fletcher's/Shirley Dawson's notes continue for the "Canada-West 1861 Census Public Archives of Ontario Grenville County, Edwardsburg Township, (District No. 2, pg. 27). OCCUPATI BIRTHPLAC NAME ON E RELIGION AGE Larabee, Sayth Farmer States Church of Scot. 64 Canad Larabee, Hannah Wife a Methodist 61
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Larabee, JamesLabourer

"

"

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They occupied a 1 story log house, listed in the census as the same home for another related family - pg. 3." Hannah Main daughter of John Main was born about 1800 in Edwardsburgh, Ontario. She died on 01 Jan 1878 in Grenville, Ontario. Notes for Hannah Main: General Notes: Apparently the daughter of a John Main (Abt.1787 - 1846). This name and the dates are from an ancestry.com family tree for Michael J. Doyle. The birth dates for John and/or Hannah likely in error, as he would have been 13 when she was born. Seth Larabee and Hannah Main married. They had the following children: 4. i. James Henry Larabee was born on 22 Jan 1838 in Edwardsburgh Twp Grenville Co ON Canada. He married Angeline (Lazart or Lezart) Lazzert on 02 Dec 1863 in Pittson, Leeds and Grenville, Ontario, Canada. He died on 26 Dec 1913 in Lot 5 Conc 14 Raleigh Twp Kent Co ON Canada.

3.

Mary Larabee-2 (Rosel (Royal or Roswell Larby)-1) was born on 22 Mar 1822 in Edwardsburgh, Grenville, Ontario, Canada. She died on 16 Jun 1906 in Lansdowne, Leeds County, Ontario, Canada. Notes for Mary Larabee: General Notes: They had 10 children. Two sons went to Boisevane, Manitoba, then Saskatchewan and a third settled in Alberta. (Shirley Dawson) Both Mary and George were buried in Warburton cemetery, family farm. (Wanita Fletcher) George Ruttle son of Daniel Ruckle was born on 27 Jun 1813 in Ireland. He died on 10 Oct 1897.

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George and Mary (Larabee) Ruttle

(source: Kingery family tree at ancestry.com)

House on the farm where George & Mary Ruttle settled and where son Thomas and his wife Sarah raised their family. Warburton, 257 County Rd. 4, Lansdowne, Ontario
(source: Humphrey-Ruttle family tree at ancestry.com)

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Mary (Larabee) Ruttle and Mary Jane Ruttle gravestone Warburton, 257 County Rd. 4, Lansdowne, Ontario
(source: Humphrey-Ruttle family tree at ancestry.com)

George Ruttle and Mary Larabee were married on 04 Oct 1841 in Clayton, Jefferson County, New York, USA. They had the following children: i. Daniel Ruttle was born on 15 Aug 1842. He married Melissa Hilliker in 1864. He died on 24 Jun 1924. Rebecca Ruttle was born on 22 Apr 1844. She died on 04 Aug 1926 in Leeds County, Ontario.

ii.

iii. Henry Ruttle was born on 07 Sep 1846. He died on 28 Nov 1918 in Leeds County, Ontario. iv. John Ruttle was born on 10 Mar 1849. He died in Jun 1929 in Leeds County, Ontario. v. Levi Ruttle was born on 22 Jul 1851. He died on 03 Jan 1927 in Kincardine, Bruce County, Ontario.

vi. Margaret Ruttle was born on 09 Dec 1853. She died in Jan 1923 in Leeds County, Ontario. 6. vii. George Ruttle was born on 21 Apr 1856. He died on 10 Jun 1940 in Kincardine, Bruce County, Ontario.
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viii. Thomas Eratus Ruttle was born on 01 Mar 1858. He died on 10 Jan 1936 in Leeds County, Ontario. ix. Mary Jane Ruttle was born on 19 Aug 1860. She died on 14 Feb 1863 in Leeds County, Ontario. x. Hiram Ruttle was born in May 1863. He died on 10 Jan 1944 in Wadena, Saskatchewan, Canada.

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Generation 3 Beginning with James Henry Larabee born 1838

4. James Henry Larabee-3 (Seth-2, Rosel (Royal or Roswell Larby)-1) was born on 22 Jan 1838 in Edwardsburgh Twp Grenville Co ON Canada. He died on 26 Dec 1913 in Lot 5 Conc 14 Raleigh Twp Kent Co ON Canada. Notes for James Henry Larabee: General Notes: Eldon writes( pp. 15-17): "[Henry] Farmed at or near Iroquois, Grenville Cty, Ontario. There was a creek, part of the Natton River, which ran through the farm. ...There was a log bridge across the stream. Henry watered his cattle, sheep and horses in the stream. In the winter the stream was frozen very deep and they had to cut ice, sometimes the full length of an axe handle, before they hit water. When they did that the water would come to the top of the ice, and any animal could get a drink quite easily. Henry Larabee's house was built of stone, and the fences were also built of stone, and there was a road going through the farm. Henry grew grain which was threshed by machine, but not much more than a drum, or a cylinder, which beat the grain out of the straw and the straw and grain then came out together. The grain was next shaken out of the straw with a fork and then the grain was put through a fanning mill. The straw and chaff were shaken or forced over a screen and blown out by a fan, which left the grain clean. The threshing machine was driven by a treadmill which was a large wheel, as the horses were put inside the wheel. As the horse stepped, or walked, forward on steps, a part of the wheel forced the wheel to turn the treadmill ... [which in turn] forced the drum of the threshing machine to beat the grain out of the straw. Henry took his grain to a stone mill, which was driven by wind and had the grain ground into flour." See entries for James in the1851 and 1861 Census in the notes for his father Seth. From Shirley Dawson's and Wanita Fletcher's notes: "1871 Census Public Archives of Ontario. BIRTHPLAC COUNTRY OF ORIGIN NAME AGE E RELIGION OCCUPATION Larabee, James Ontari H. 34 o Pres. German Farm er Larabee, Angeline 25 " " " Wife Larabee, Saith father of 74 " " " Larabee, Hannah Roselia ------Larabee, William ------Larabee, Maryian 7 6 4 " " "
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" " "

" " "

------Larabee, Barbara

"

"

"

"James H. Larabee and his family resided on the 5th Concession in Edwardsburg Township [Grenville County]. Sometime within the period from 1871 to 1881 they moved to Kent County. It appears the rest of the family [James H.'s siblings] remained in Eastern Ontario or migrated elsewhere." "1881 Census Public Ontario Archives of Ontario - Kent County, Raleigh Township, District 180, p. 61. NAME BORN AGE BIRTHPLACE RELIGION COUNTRY OF ORIGIN OCCUPATION Ontari Larabee, James 43 o Methodist Labourer Larabee, Angeline 34 " " Wife Larabee, Rosilla Hannah 1863 17 " " German Child Larabee, William Silas 1866 16 " " " " Larabee, Mary Ann 1867 14 " " " Larabee, Ellen Barbara 1869 12 " " " " Larabee, Rachel 1871 10 " " " 1872 Larabee, McKenzie or 1873 8 " " " Larabee, James 1875 6 " " " " Larabee, Alma 1876 5 " " " " Larabee, David Alson 1880 1 " " " " Larabee, Esrom H. 1880 " " " Larabee, Walter John Cameron1891 " " "

Germa n French

"

"

"

"

"

Shirley Dawson notes of James's sons: "Uncle Ken - Esrom - Walter and William were all violin players, travelling miles in the winter to cater to a house party or church function. They wouldn't of made a charge for their efforts. Jim played nicely too, as did Sadie the piano, but they were a little more homebodies."
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Angeline (Lazart or Lezart) Lazzert daughter of William Liezert and Barbara Cook was born on 02 Feb 1845 in Pennsylvania, USA. She died on 17 Apr 1924 in Tilbury East Township, Kent County, Ontario, Canada. Notes for Angeline (Lazart or Lezart) Lazzert: General Notes: Shirley Dawson's records say Angeline was born on 9 Jan. (rather than 2 Feb.), 1845, and that she was born in Grenville County (as was her husband), rather than in Penn. USA. From Eldon's book: Only 18 when she married, Angeline Larabee "Lived a very busy life. She made almost everything she needed at home out of the raw material her husband produced from the soil and got from the forest. From the wool her husband sheared from the sheep, ...she made yarn which she dyed and knitted with." (pp. 18-20) Angeline reputedly burned the birch bark lease to [a large part of?] Philadelphia, which she had inherited from a Colonel K.[?] Baker, who had fought against the French in Canada. Eldon writes (pp. 63-64): "Mrs. Henry Larabee had a lot of letters written on bark, some of which would have helped the Larabees to our claim to the Colonel Baker estate, of which we are related through the marriage of Miss Lazzert [sp?] to Henry Larabee. The Colonel Baker estate was a large piece of land on which he is supposed to have given a 99-year lease. The city of Philadelphia was built on his property facing the Delaware River in the State of Pennsylvania ... Mrs. Henry Larabee had relations in Pennsylvania. She burned all these letters written on bark pertaining to the Baker estate." (pp.68-70) "I believe that Colonel Baker had a part in the wars against the French in Canada. Mrs. Henry Larabee had the lease which was written on birch bark which she burned, destroying all proof to the claims to Colonel Baker's property, the Larabees being heirs by being blood relations through marriage. Maybe Mrs. Henry Larabee was not interested in land. Living in Prescott, there was land and forest without end and, as far as she knew, land that could be had just for the taking - millions of acres nobody was doing anything with. Or maybe she thought the land in Pennsylvania was mostly worthless, not thinking that a city would be built on it, or that ships would tie up at its harbours. There were people who came to Canada from the United States a number of times, trying to find the blood relations of Colonel Baker, of which the Larabees were a part, to fight a case of law and return to its rightful heirs their interest in the Baker estate. But this took money, time and proof, of which these heirs didn't seem to have too much (as any written material to the claim had been burned). Henry's son William thought it was impossible to take land away from a city of people who had held peaceful possession for a number of years, giving them [something of a] squatters' right to the land. It almost meant consent on a 99-year lease. ...Baker did not have any use for the land himself, or he would not have given a 99-year lease on it..." M. J. Doyle's tree shows Angeline as daughter of Father: William LEIZERT b: 1811
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Mother: Barbara COOK b: 1812 in Cornwall, Stormont Cty , ON For Angeline's father's, William's, family the Doyle tree shows: Father: Charles LEIZERT b: 1782 in France or French Canada Mother: Margaret CROWDER b: 28 APR 1791 For Angeline's grandmother, William's mother, Margaret Crowder, the following family is shown: Father: William CROWDER b: 21 AUG 1768 Marriage 1 Charles LEIZERT b: 1782 in France or French Canada Married: 2 SEP 1818 in Osnabruck, ONT.

James Henry and Angeline (Lazzert) Larabee gravestone (and of two of their children, Elma and Alson). Pardoville Union Cemetery Kent County, Ontario
(source: Drouillard-Smalley records on Ancestry.com)

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James Henry Larabee and Angeline (Lazzert) Larabee and family Back row (L to R): Alson, William Silas, Esram, Rachel (Dawson) and daughter Angeline, James Ekron, Barbara Allen (Marshall), Kenny Abraham Alexander McKenzie, Nell Alma Eliza (Guark); Fr ont row (L to R): Angeline (Lazzert) Larabee, John Walter Cameron, Mary Ann (Russelo) and daughter Verlin Angeline, James Henry

James Henry Larabee and Angeline (Lazart or Lezart) Lazzert were married on 02 Dec 1863 in Pittson, Leeds and Grenville, Ontario, Canada. They had the following children: i. Hannah Rosila Larabee was born on 02 Dec 1864 in Prescott,Edwardsburgh Township, Grenville County, Ontario, Canada. She died on 14 Dec 1950 in Leamington, Ontario, Canada. Notes for Hannah Rosila Larabee: General Notes: Husband's full birth name used and date and place of birth are from M. J. Doyle tree online. If the correct Angus, he would have been 29 years older than she. According to notes from Cecil Larabee, Rosila did marry an Angus Cameron and they had 11 children.
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Shirley Dawson confirms Hannah Rosilla married Angus Simon Cameron, but says she was born 2 Nov. 1863 and that she and her husband had 12 children. She goes on to say: "Family of Hannah Larabee and Angus Simon Cameron - stories told by descendants say that Hannah Larabee worked as a cook or kitchen keep at a coach stop near Port Alma on No. 3 Highway. She apparently met A.S. Cameron there. He was from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, and worked his way westward as a logger or lumberjack and also as a blacksmith." (Shirley has further summary notes about their children and their families which are not included here.) Angus had a blacksmith's business of his own at Port Alma, and in his declining years moved to Leamington. (Some of this from Eldon, p.47) NOTE: Possible other siblings to Hannah - Cecil Bruner said there were twins, Rosilia Lisa and another which died in infancy. Not sure if that is a different Rosilia to this Hannah Rosila... 6. ii. William Silas Larabee was born on 12 Jul 1866 in Prescott,Edwardsburgh Township, Grenville County, Ontario, Canada. He married Mary Ann MacIntyre on 25 Nov 1896 in Blenheim, Harwich Twp. Kent County, Ontario, Canada. He died on 20 Jan 1941 in St. Joseph's Hospital, Chatham, Ontario, Canada.

iii. Mary Ann Larabee was born on 19 Jun 1867. She died on 21 Aug 1946 in Kent County, Ontario, Canada. Notes for Mary Ann Larabee: General Notes: According to Cecil, Mary Ann married Thomas Russelo and they had one daughter, Rita. Shirley Dawson notes Mary Ann "married a Thompson (not confirmed). Later she married Thomas Russelo. In his early life he worked in Blenheim driving an engine on the Pere Marquette Railway, and in his later years he took up farming. Mary died at the home of her daughter Rita Wright in 1946." She goes on to note that Mary had six daughters and three sons. One daughter, Beatrice, died, leaving two small children, a boy and a girl. Beatrice's husband's family raised the boy and Mary raised the girl (Dorothy) as her own." M. J. Doyle's tree online shows Mary Ann marrying a Joseph Leizert in Buxton, Kent County, 16 June 1883. Joseph is shown as born 1855 in Prescott, Ont. and has the same surname as Mary Ann's mother's maiden one. Then he shows Mary Ann secondly marrying T. Russelo in Leamington in 1888. The above marriage seems to be clarified by Clinton W. Liezert in his quite extensive Liezert Family document in this section: JOSEPH LIEZERT was born in 1855 in Prescott, Ont. He died on Mar 20, 1884 in North Buxton Raleigh Twp, Kent Co. He married
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Mary Ann Larabee, daughter of James Henry Larabee and Angeline Liezert on Jun 16, 1883 in Buxton, Raleigh Twp., Kent Co., Ont. She was born on Jun 29, 1867 in Edwardsburg Twp., Grenville Co., Ont. She died in 1946. Notes for Joseph Liezert: FROM THE CHATHAM WEEKLY PLANET, MARCH 27, 1884 "The dead body of Joseph Liezert was found the other day in the woods, a short distance from Mr. Taylor's stave mill, at North Buxton, where he had been employed. It was first supposed that foul play by poison had been the cause of death. But, though no special inquest was held, the doctor summoned on the occasion pronounced heart disease as the cause of death and deemed it unnecessary to hold an inquest." [Source: Family Report - Descendants of Charles Liezert, prepared by Beverly Williams] See: http://www.zert.info/Documents/Liezert.pdf (page 9) iv. Barbara Ellen Larabee was born on 06 Mar 1869 in Edwardsburgh Twp Grenville Co ON Canada. She died in 1929 in Pardoville, Ontario. Notes for Barbara Ellen Larabee: General Notes: Per Cecil Bruner, Barbara and her husband had 14 children. Shirley Dawson's notes say 'Ellen Barbara' was born 6 March 1870, rather than 1869. She "married James Marshall, who farmed and ran a steam powered threshing machine. She raised a family of 15 children - died at home and was buried at Pardoville year 1931." She notes that three of the chidlren died very young and that one boy they raised, Billie, was adopted. v. Rachael Alveda Hannah Victoria Larabee was born on 16 Nov 1871 in Edwardsburgh, Ontario. She married William Dawson on 03 Oct 1888. She died on 15 Jan 1932 in Kent County, Ontario, Canada. Notes for Rachael Alveda Hannah Victoria Larabee: General Notes: Shirley Dawson notes Rachel and William had 13 children. Husband William owned a well-drilling outfit. Drilled water wells, including the water well on William Larabee's farm. Later moved to Western Canada, took up farming, then moved back to Merlin and worked for Dominion Gas Company (Eldon, p. 58) vi. Abraham Alexander McKenzie Larabee was born on 06 Oct 1873 in Leeds and Grenville, Ontario, Canada. He married Edith G. Clifford on 13 Mar 1913 in Kent County, Ontario, Canada. He died on 02 Dec 1964 in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. Notes for Abraham Alexander McKenzie Larabee: General
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Notes: Shirley Dawson notes McKenzie and Edith "had one daughter, Grace (Mrs. Nile Derbyshire) and one adopted daughter Lois (Mrs. William Charlton). McKenzie Larabee bought a farm and built a beautiful home and barn and in his retiring years sold the farm and bought a home in Merlin (home burned down shortly after their deaths)." vii. Elma Eliza Larabee was born on 17 Feb 1878 in Prescott, Edwardsburgh Township, Grenville County, Ontario, Canada. She died on 19 Sep 1936 in Kent County, Ontario, Canada. Notes for Elma Eliza Larabee: General Notes: "Nellie Alisae (Alma) Larabee - born in Prescott Feb. 17, year 1878 and married Ed Guark. Her husband went to war, never to return to Nellie. They did find out he was living with another woman in the States and had six children. Although Nellie was approached about taking him back, she said she'd never take him away from the children. She was a housekeeper for Mr. Frank (Gilhula?), endured poor health for a good many years, had no children, helped to raise Meryl Gilhula - a nephew of Frank. Death occurred on Sept. 19th, 1936 at the home of her brother McKenzie Larabee. The funeral service also at her brother McKenzie's. Funeral was largely attended by her many friends and relatives, a sample evidence of the high esteem and respect in which she was held. Interment took place in the family plot at Pardoville Union Cemetery with Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Alson sharing the plot." (Shirley Dawson records) viii. James Ekron Larabee was born on 24 Oct 1875 in Prescott, Edwardsburgh Township, Grenville County, Ontario, Canada. He married Sadie L. Clemens on 03 Apr 1918 in Kent County, Ontario, Canada. He died on 02 Nov 1954 in Merlin, Ontario. Notes for James Ekron Larabee: General Notes: "James Larabee farmed and built a beautiful home. He was one of the first to use a gasoline tractor in South Raleigh and was the first to have a tractor on the 14th road between the Drake Road and the Raleigh and Tilbury town line, and almost the first to tile his land. The trenching for the tile was dug by hand for to lay the tile and to bury them. A drilled water well was put on his farm. James Larabee died Nov. 2nd year 1954 in his 80th year. He was buried in the Merlin Cemetery." (Shirley Dawson notes) James and Sadie had 4 children, three girls and a boy, the eldest of whom was Leon, who inherited the farm next door to Eldon, who had inherited his from his father William Silas Larabee. ix. David Alson Larabee was born on 05 Feb 1880 in Kent County, Ontario, Canada. He died on 11 Jun 1951 in Coatsworth, Kent County, Ontario,
21

Canada. Notes for David Alson Larabee: General Notes: David lived at Coatsworth. "...born in the town of Raleigh in the year 1880. Though he owned a farm of 50 acres, he [David] did not do his own farming. He worked for a good many years for the Union Gas Co. Later on he went in for manufacturing tile for farm drainage. Not having any education, it was often thought he was taken advantage of. Alson moved to Wallaceburg and never married. He made his home in his reclining years with his brother Walter and died in the year 1944. Interment in the family plot with Nellie, Grandma and Granpa. Uncle Alson, when a lad, had quite a severe case of scarlet fever, which left him blind in one eye, deaf in one ear and lame in one leg." (Shirley Dawson) x. Henry Esrom Larabee was born about 1883 in Con 14 Raleigh, Kent County, Ontario, Canada. He married Mary Gertrude (Banks) Bark on 03 Jun 1914 in Kent County, Ontario, Canada. He died on 18 Oct 1920 in Kent County, Ontario, Canada. Notes for Henry Esrom Larabee: General Notes: "Henry Esrom Larabee - born in Raleigh year 1883. He and his brother Walter took up farming on a partnership basis. The two of them were also among the first to own a gasoline tractor in the extreme south of the township of Raleigh. Esrom was a violin player of note with many professionals astonished with the clarity and professional way he played the violin. He played at parties, dances and church functions. Esrom married Gertrude Barks and they had one daughter, Ruth, born Oct. 18. She married Bert Brokenshire. She was only a few years old when her father died in the year 1920 - Interment Pardoville Cemetery - Esrom so dearly loved by those who knew him. Ruth was raised and cared for by her mother until she was a full-grown lady." (Shirley Dawson) Ruth had three children. (Shirley Dawson) xi. Walter John Cameron Larabee was born on 03 Sep 1890 in Kent County, Ontario, Canada. He married Mary Irene Shieves on 15 Dec 1926. He died on 01 Jul 1951. Notes for Walter John Cameron Larabee: General Notes: Walter and Irene had 4 children, 3 sons and 1 daughter. Lived in Wallaceburg. Shirley Dawson notes his wife's name as Irene Shivas, while M. J. Doyle's tree has this name as Mary Irene Schives and puts the marriage on the same date, but in 1920.
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5.

George Ruttle-3 (Mary-2, Rosel (Royal or Roswell Larby)-1) was born on 21 Apr 1856. He died on 10 Jun 1940 in Kincardine, Bruce County, Ontario. Notes for George Ruttle: General Notes: George and Eliza were Methodists. They had 9 children, but only daughter Agnes (Ruttle) Wardell is named to show link to Wanita (Wardell) Fletcher. Buried in Kincardine Cemetery. Eliza Wood. George Ruttle and Eliza Wood married. They had the following children: 7. i. Agnes Virginia Ruttle was born on 08 Nov 1882. She married Fred Wardell on 14 Mar 1916. She died on 29 Dec 1949 in Lot 53, 54 Lake Range, Huron Twp., Bruce County, Ontario.

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Generation 4 Beginning with William Silas Larabee born 1866

6. William Silas Larabee-4 (James Henry-3, Seth-2, Rosel (Royal or Roswell Larby)-1) was born on 12 Jul 1866 in Prescott,Edwardsburgh Township, Grenville County, Ontario, Canada. He died on 20 Jan 1941 in St. Joseph's Hospital, Chatham, Ontario, Canada. Notes for William Silas Larabee: General Notes: Shirley Dawson notes William came to Raleigh Township with his father Henry Larabee at the age of 14 years. William and Mary Ann married at the home of her parents in Blenheim, Harwich Township on 25 Nov. 1896. Eldon writes (p. 84): "William rented a farm on 13th Conc. facing 13th Rd on Lot 11 and 2, Twp. Of Raleigh ... On this rented farm as a house, a small barn, an apple orchard, a water well which had quite a flow of gas (enough gas to throw water above the pump head at times). ...Alson lit the gas with a match and the flame went up in the air, which scared Alson, as it was very close to the house ... the gas flame shut itself off the following morning." (p. 85) "Mrs. Mary Larabee bought 50 acres of land on Lot 6, South Township of Raleigh, from Mr. Andrew Linnin of Twp. of Edwardsburgh, Cty of Grenville, Ont. William bought 25 acres from Peter Simms."

Picture of house bought as a prefab and assembled by William and son Eldon on their farm in the 1930s to replace the original farmhouse. (It is understood this house was razed to clear the land after Eldons death.) Eldon tells the story of the ownership of this land (pp. 86-90), ending with (pp.
24

90-91): "The inheritance of Peter Simms by James and Andrew Simms was sold to James Marriatt, a farmer of Raleigh, and wife Esther, in 1902 [?], which in turn was sold to Duncan and Christina McIntyre in 1902. A sort of short form of conveyance in which William Larabee was to receive it later for the full sum of $800 and receive the 25 acres with full rights and title, which joined the 50 acres of Mary Larabee. There were no buildings on this 25 acres when William received it. There were a few bricks, broken dishes and crockery, 2 cisterns, about 10 apple trees, a few quince trees, horseradish and a few hops growing, from which they made yeast to put in bread dough, and which caused the dough to rise, so when the bread baked it would be nice and light." (pp.92-3): "When William Larabee started farming for himself, the self-binder was in use, which cut and tied the straw and grain in sheaves with twine ... it was pulled by horses, which made it easy to load on the wagon. The selfbinder made its appearance about the year 1880, the Chatham Binder being one of the first on the market, and the Brantford and Toronto Binders were also some of the first. In 1875 the portable steam engine was used and threshing machines were run by steam power, instead of horse power. So, William Larabee had the pleasure of cutting and tying his grain with his binder as fast as a team of horses would walk, and having it threshed by steam power, by someone who owed a steam-powered threshing outfit. I regret to say when William started t thresh, he had to cut the band and feed the sheaf of grain into the threshing machine by hand. At a much later date, self-feeders which cut the band ad fed the mill were made. William Larabee had the pleasure of using better plows than his father used in his early days of farming, as well as disc and clod crushers and harrows made of metal and pulled by horse, which made farming much easier and faster."

William Larabee with seedlings "I recall one night when William and daughter Lila had gone to a house party at Aunt Rachel's - when time to come home it was pitch black. Dad said he couldn't even see his hand before his face. They were in the horse and buggy (this is before our modern car days and even flash-lights) and Dad told Lila he'd just let Maude the horse find her own way home and they'd have no trouble. Maude led them all the way safely. The same horse, when Dad felt his
25

working days were over - said he'd never sell this horse to anyone else. He lived for about four years, one morning Dad went out and found him lying dead in the pasture." (Shirley Dawson)

William Silas Larabee William died at St. Joseph's Hospital, Chatham, aged 75. Children who predeceased William were Walter John Cameron and Ruby Verna. William was buried in Merlin Cemetery. For birth date, the one on the gravestone is used. Mary Ann MacIntyre daughter of Duncan MacIntyre and Christina McLaughlin was born on 14 Apr 1868 in Harwich Township, Kent County, Ontario, Canada. She died on 11 Oct 1954 in Nr. Merlin, Ontario, Canada. Notes for Mary Ann MacIntyre: General Notes: (For information on her background, see Appendix on Mary Ann (MacIntyre) Larabees Parents Duncan and Christina (McLaughlin) MacIntyre.)

26

Mary Ann MacIntyre Mary Ann lived life in a rural farming routine. She was always busy. She never adjusted to daylight saving time and was always glad when the hour was returned in the fall to the daylight time she was used to. She and her family took in daughter's Cecil's daughters during some of the depression years when things were difficult for the Bruner's (reminiscences of these times and that life can be found in the Memories - Carl and Cecil Bruner manuscript).

L to R: Cecil, Eldon, Mary Ann Larabee, Carl Bruner, Verlin and Jack Mayne in Merlin
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Mary Ann (MacIntyre) Larabee When elderly and needing more care, lived between two of her daughter's homes, one of which was Cecil Bruner's. Died on Thanksgiving Day and was buried in Merlin Cemetery.

William Silas and Mary Ann Larabee gravestone

(Source: Drouillard-Smalley Tree on ancestry.com) 28

Birth and death dates from the gravestone are used here. William Silas Larabee and Mary Ann MacIntyre were married on 25 Nov 1896 in Blenheim, Harwich Twp. Kent County, Ontario, Canada. They had the following children:

Cecil, Eldon, Ina, Walter, Gertrude; seated Mary and William; front Hazel and Lila Larabee 1924

Going to a reunion - Jones, Larabees, Dawsons and Bruners

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i.

Eldon William Larabee was born on 27 Aug 1897 in 13th Concession Raleigh Twp, 1654310, Ontario, Canada. He died on 25 Oct 1986 in Tilbury, 1654291, Ontario, Canada.

Walter and Eldon Larabee Notes for Eldon William Larabee: General Notes: Eldon latterly live at the farm, near Merlin Ontario, where he had been raised. Great nephew Brian Mayne met him there in 1978. Eldon did not have telephone or electricity, and used a wood-burning and gas stove, and a kerosene lamp for light. The gas came from his own property. Eldon seemed to pretty much live in his good-sized kitchen, sleeping on a sofa, or settee, there. He showed Brian the living and dining room, which had not been dusted or cleaned for a long time, but which were full of Eldon's collections of bottles and things from the past, including butter churns and butter pat stamps, the workings of which he explained. Eldon seemed a genuine, but quite uncomplicated, person, quite happy to see a visitor and share his interests. He said he had planned to be rich when he was young and dreamed of seeing the world, but that had never come to pass. His sister Cecil had worried about him being able to look after himself. However, he seemed to have lots of relatives living nearby, especially Leon, who kept a friendly cousinly eye on him.
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Eldon had always said he wanted to write a book, and his determination was such that he actually hand wrote (in painstaking printing) a marvellous anecdotal book on the Larabee family and their times, tracing them back to Seth Larabee, who he reported to have been born in 1816, and who immigrated to Canada. One anecdote he tells about himself in his book (pp 120-12) speaks of what a kind and gentle character he was: "I am going to tell you a strange story of a meadowlark ... which built its nest on farming ground. I moved the nest onto fresh ground. The eggs hatched out and I forgot about the nest and birds for a number of days. When walking over the ground a little later, a meadowlark flew in front of me and made me understand that was to follow her. She led me to a baby bird which had two balls of mud on its feet, which had dried hard and the bird could not move. It was fastened to the ground. I removed the earth from its feet. I am sure the mother meadowlark thought I would save its baby."

Cecil (Larabee) Bruner, Eldon Larabee and Ina (Larabee) Dawson, Spring 1982 Eldon did marry once, rather late in life, but it turned out his bride had married him for his property. When he subsequently suffered frequent illness, it was discovered that his wife had been slowly trying to poison him. She hightailed out of the picture, and he was advised not to divorce her, so that she would be unable to marry someone else legally and try the same again. A local newspaper reported the wedding: "LARABEE - SWIFT The marriage was solemnized in the Cavalry United Church, Windsor, by the Rev. Hazelwood at two o'clock on Monday, April 15th, 1957, of Laura
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Evelyn Swift to Eldon William Larabee of Merlin. The attendants were Eileen Budding and Leon Larabee. The reception was held at Killarney Club, Windsor."

Eldons gravestone
(Source: Drouillard-Smalley tree on ancestry.com)

8.

ii. Lila May Larabee was born on 19 Dec 1898 in Kent County, Ontario, Canada. She died on 27 Mar 1982 in Essex, Ontario, Canada. iii. Cecil Larabee was born on 25 Nov 1900 in Nr. Merlin, Ontario, Canada. She married Carl Albert Bruner on 01 Jun 1922 in Central United Church, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. She died on 11 Dec 1993 in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.

9.

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Cecil (Larabee) Bruner, childhood Christmas memories iv. Hazel Christina Larabee was born on 26 Nov 1902 in Kent County, Ontario, Canada. She married Ernest Edgar Shaw on 17 Oct 1925 in Essex, Ontario, Canada. She died on 12 Sep 1975 in Leamington, 1654297, Ontario, Canada. Notes for Hazel Christina Larabee: General Notes: Hazel and Ernest had 7 children and at least 20 grandchildren. v. Ina Louisa Larabee was born on 22 Nov 1904 in Kent County, Ontario, Canada. She died in 1991. Notes for Ina Louisa Larabee: General Notes: Ina and her husband had 6 children, 4 girls and 2 boys. At least one son, Ronnie had at least 2 children. vi. John Walter Cameron Larabee was born on 29 Jun 1907 in Kent County, Ontario, Canada. He died on 29 Jun 1940 in Kent County, Ontario, Canada.
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Notes for John Walter Cameron Larabee: General Notes: Buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in London, Ontario (Shirley Dawson) vii. Ruby Verna Larabee was born on 01 Apr 1910 in Raleigh, Kent County, Ontario, Canada. She died on 28 Aug 1911 in Raleigh, Kent County, Ontario, Canada. Notes for Ruby Verna Larabee: General Notes: Buried in Merlin Cemetery (Shirley Dawson)

Ruby Verna Larabee Gravestone, Merlin Cemetery

(Source: trees.ancestry.com; Created by: Katherine V. Paterson Record added: Nov 30, 2007 Find A Grave Memorial# 23188551 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=23188551)

viii. Gertrude Angeline Larabee was born on 25 Aug 1912 in Kent County, Ontario, Canada. Gertrude married Henry Carlyle Jones. She died 6 Mar 2007. Notes for Gertrude Angeline Larabee: General Notes: Gertrude and 'Lyle' lived in Blenheim/Merlin area, Ontario, and had a son and daughter and four grandchildren.

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Sisters Gertie, Hazel and Cecil

7. Agnes Virginia Ruttle-4 (George-3, Mary-2, Rosel (Royal or Roswell Larby)1) was born on 08 Nov 1882. She died on 29 Dec 1949 in Lot 53, 54 Lake Range, Huron Twp., Bruce County, Ontario. Fred Wardell. Fred Wardell and Agnes Virginia Ruttle were married on 14 Mar 1916. They had the following children: i. Wanita Wardell.

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Generation 5 Beginning with Lila May Larabee born 1898

8. Lila May Larabee-5 (William Silas-4, James Henry-3, Seth-2, Rosel (Royal or Roswell Larby)-1) was born on 19 Dec 1898 in Kent County, Ontario, Canada. She died on 27 Mar 1982 in Essex, Ontario, Canada.

Gertie, Lila, Mother (Mary Ann) and Ina Larabee Amedee Drouillard. Amedee Drouillard and Lila May Larabee married. They had the following children: i. ii. Valda Rida Alice Drouillard. Marlene Ledna Drouillard.

iii. William Wayne Drouillard.

Lila May (Larabee) Drouillard Obituary and gravestone

(source: Drouillard-Smalley records on Ancestry.com) 36

9.

Cecil Larabee-5 (William Silas-4, James Henry-3, Seth-2, Rosel (Royal or Roswell Larby)-1) was born on 25 Nov 1900 in Nr. Merlin, Ontario, Canada. She died on 11 Dec 1993 in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.

Cecil Larabee and Carl Bruner wedding day 1922 Carl Albert Bruner son of Lewis Wilson Bruner and Violet Winifred MacIndoo was born on 03 May 1900 in Leamington, Ontario, Canada. He died on 07 Nov 1987 in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.
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Notes for Carl Albert Bruner: General Notes: Violet Goold wrote : Before he married, "Carl worked in Detroit and lived with Aunt Ella and Aunt Ida who kept a rooming/boarding house ...and Frank also lived with them. Frank Bruner was over 80 and such a kind little man, the only little Bruner." Carl was a locomotive engineer with the Canadian National Railway, whose long career with them took him from driving the earlier coal-fired steam engines to the newer diesel versions. He was laid off during the Great Depression of the 30s and hired back by the CNR near the end of it. Both he and his wife Cecil had a struggle during that time with a family of five young children. His daughter Verlin remembers a week during which the family had nothing but turnips to eat (and she has not liked them ever since). Carl moved around with the railway, including a stint in Belleville, Ontario, before returning to Sarnia, where he designed and built a house on Indian Road. After his retirement they sold this house and moved to a nearby apartment (915 Colborne Road, Sarnia N7V 3K4). Carl and Cecil's four daughters all married during the space of the same year within 9 months from September 1946 to May 1947; and, on the tenth month, Carl and Cecil celebrated their silver wedding anniversary. Three of the four daughters married men named (or nicknamed) Jack. When Carl retired, he had two pensions, one from the CNR for his Canadian service, and a much smaller one to compensate for one of his frequent runs which took him to the USA - hence qualifying him for a small US pension for that part of his work. His Social Insurance Number was 413544735. After his retirement, Carl and Cecil were snowbirds, and would winter in Brownsville, Texas, for many years. During that time Carl became a rockhound as a hobby, and made lovely jewellery from the stones he found. Carl died at St. Joseph's Hospital, Sarnia, after a lengthy stay in a nursing home, where Cecil would visit him regularly. He and Cecil had both just lived beyond their 65th wedding anniversary, and they received a congratulatory telegram from Queen Elizabeth II (as they had also done for their 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries). Six of his grandsons were pallbearers at Carl's funeral.

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Carl (1987) and Cecils (1993) funeral notices

Carl Albert Bruner and Cecil Larabee were married on 01 Jun 1922 in Central United Church, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. They had the following children: 10. i. Norma Madeline Bruner was born in 1923. She married John 'Jack' Sharpe in 1947. She died in Oct 2006 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

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Jack Sharpe and Norma Bruner 11. ii. Verlin Evelyn Bruner was born in 1924 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. She married Jack Everett Mayne in 1947 in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.

Jack Mayne and Verlin Bruner, May 1947

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12. iii.

Doris Violet Bruner was born in 1926.

Phil Pratt and Doris Bruner 13. iv. Patricia Helen Bruner was born in 1927.

Patricia Bruner (1947) and Jack Scarrow 14. v. William Lewis Bruner was born in 1930.

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Bill Bruner and Freda Sharpe

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Appendix A - Mary (Larabee) Ruttle 1903 Letter and Midwives Book Entries

Mary (Larabee) Ruttle 1903 Letter and Midwives Book Entries p. 1

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Mary (Larabee) Ruttle 1903 Letter and Midwives Book Entries p. 2

44

Mary (Larabee) Ruttle 1903 Letter and Midwives Book Entries p. 3

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Mary (Larabee) Ruttle 1903 Letter and Midwives Book Entries p. 4

46

Mary (Larabee) Ruttle 1903 Letter and Midwives Book Entries p. 5

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Appendix B - Mary Ann (MacIntyre) Larabees Parents Duncan and Christina (McLaughlin) MacIntyre
Duncan MacIntyre-1 was born on 15 Nov 1819 in Lismore Parish, Argyle, Scotland. He died on 18 Jan 1904 in Blenheim, 1654291, Ontario, Canada. Notes for Duncan MacIntyre: General Notes: Eldon Larabee wrote (pp 112-114): When Duncan "immigrated to Canada, he took a homestead in the township of Harwich in Kent County, Ontario, between the 7th and 8th Concessions. On 1/2 of the lot next to the 8th Concession Duncan cleared some land. He built a log house and cleared some more land and produced livestock, grain and hay. He thrashed grain and had a grain separator which was fed by hand. The straw came out behind the separator on something called 'rakers'. It took 7 to 8 men to keep the straw away from the raker. The grain separator was driven by horsepower. Horses were hitched to a pole which extended out past the rim. The horses went around and around on the outside of the machines which turned a shaft which drove the grain separator." "Duncan built rail fences. The rails were split out of trees. As they heated their home with wood, they split their own firewood. Bushwork was done mostly in the winter. Duncan also built a cistern, a receptacle for storing clean, fresh water, which was a large hole in the ground lined with stone, with a cover over it. The water was brought up with a pail on a rope [and later with a pump]." "Duncan also saw the Huron Erie Railway built from Blenheim to Sarnia and the Permarguite Railway built from Windsor to Blenheim to Buffalo, which did a great deal to open markets at Blenheim ...Duncan spent his retiring years at Blenheim and died in 1904." The 1891 census says Duncan was 72 years old and a Baptist. Shirley Dawson's notes suggest Mary Ann was the only daughter of Duncan. Christina McLaughlin was born in 1829 in Isle of Bute, Scotland. She died on 30 Jan 1911 in Kent County, Ontario, Canada. (Note: An initial check of Scottish census records finds in the 1851 one the closest birth of someone of this name is in Ayr, Ayrshire, in 1839.) Notes for Christina McLaughlin: General Notes: Christina was born on the Isle of Bute (Bute was held by the Stewart Clan - as was much of the area west of Glasgow), off the west coast of Scotland's southernmost Highlands. She sailed from Scotland to New York when it was a six-week journey. She married in Alvington County in N. Y. on Nov. 20, 1864, but lived there only a few years before going to Harwich Twp., Kent Cty., Ont., Canada. (Note: The marriage year may be suspect due to children born as
48

early as 1860, unless these might have been from a first marriage of her husband.) She would later tell her grandchildren stories about Bute. Eldon Larabee wrote (p. 115-118): "Christina lived on the island of Bute off the coast of Scotland, the smallest island of Bute [?] ...as I heard it they grazed or pastured sheep ... Christina lived near a stream. The tide came up this stream. When the tide was in Christina had to walk 7 miles over a bridge to a small town. When the tide went out, it left fish behind which they could pick up and eat. The bottom of the stream being dry, they could cross over dry ground to this small town, which made the town nearer..." "There were caves on the shore. Christina often told this story: There was a boy and a girl and a small dog herding sheep. The boy and girl got careless and the sheep were lost and dusk was coming and they could not see very far. They thought they saw the sheep at the mouth of the cave. They entered it and got lost, as it was made of many 'departments'. They wandered in one department and then in another. Sometimes they [rescuers who went after them] could hear the children crying, and sometimes they would sing. They never got the children out. The children died in the caves, but the dog found his way out." "Christina decided to come to America. She took a sailboat by the Atlantic Ocean which took six weeks from Scotland to New York, a long time to listen to the waves playing on the side of the boat... When you got something to eat, you did the best you could to hang on to it, or someone would take your eats away from you. Christina came alone. She could not have been very old at the time, just a grown up young lady. She [never] said anything about the ocean being rough, or complained of being seasick, but she got landsick when she got off the boat. Steamboats were something new. They passed a steamboat called the Glasgow. Christina arrived in the United States and stayed there for some time..." [Note: Eldon refers to the smallest island of Bute. There are a couple of smaller islands near Bute - Inchmarnock, Great Cumbrae and Little Cumbrae - but none which seems to fit the description of having a tidal stream. On Bute itself, 3 and 5 miles to the inch maps seem to show some potential streams, as well as a few lochs - one of which, Loch Ascog, has a stream feeding it, another of which seems to come from the Rothesay Bay, past the capital Rothesay, and be dammed at Kirk Dam, before becoming Loch Fad, and a third tiny one at the northern tip, Bull Loch, which seems to be stream fed (but to have no towns near it). A visit to Bute, for Hogmanay (New Year's Eve) 1985-6, included enquiries about the local parish records, to be told they had all been centralised at Edinburgh - then the mecca for Scottish genealogists.] 1901 Census for Harwich, Kent, Ontario says Christina's immigration year was 1856 and her religion Baptist. Duncan MacIntyre and Christina McLaughlin were married on 20 Nov 1864 in New York, USA (Avington Cty. NH?). They had the following children:
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i. ii.

Jamie MacIntyre was born in 1860. Maggie MacIntyre was born in 1861.

iii. Mary Bella MacIntyre was born in 1864. iv. Dougald MacIntyre was born in 1865. v. Lottie MacIntyre was born in 1865.

vi. Duncan MacIntyre was born in 1868. vii. Mary Ann MacIntyre was born on 14 Apr 1868 in Harwich Township, Kent County, Ontario, Canada. She married William Silas Larabee on 25 Nov 1896 in Blenheim, Harwich Twp. Kent County, Ontario, Canada. She died on 11 Oct 1954 in Nr. Merlin, Ontario, Canada. viii. Margaret MacIntyre was born in 1870. ix. John MacIntyre was born in 1871. x. Donald MacIntyre was born in 1872.

xi. Archibald MacIntyre was born in 1874.

Mystery Family Photo Apparently Larabee and/or McIntyre/Lazzert family(?)

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Conjecture that lady seated in bottom row 2nd from left may be Mary Ann (McIntyre) Larabee (or Angeline Lazzert?) and that her mother Christina (McLaughlin) McIntyre may also be in the photo (next to her?). (Victorian dress and size of family may fit Ja mes Henry Larabees family if daughters-inlaw are included.)

51