Philip Berry educated in Hamilton, Ont, Philip and his wife Kate carved out a homestead for themselves in in Flint in 1899. Sadly a fire in 1932 destroyed the farm. Kate died in 1943 and Philip died in 1950. Both are buried in St. Patricks's Cemetery, Fort William.
Peter Laird was born Nov.10, 1857, the third of the five children of John Laird and Isabella Kerr, in Harwich Twp., Kent County, near Blenheim, Ontario. He grew up on their pioneer farm on the Harwich Ridge. He went to Huron County, Michigan for a period of time as his sister Margaret had moved there with her husband in 1882.
There he met Lodema E. Hare, born to John H. Hare and Nancy J. Hayes on Dec.15, 1865, St. Clair County, Riley Twp., Michigan. They married in Bad Axe, Michigan on May 22, 1889. Their daughter Isabella (named after his mother and another sister) was born in Michigan Feb.23, 1890. The three moved to N. Ontario in January 1900 to pioneer again in O'Connor Twp. His sister Isabella and her husband William Henry Jordan came from Michigan to the Hymers area at the same time.
Lodema died in March 1928 and Peter on Dec.28,1932. Both were buried in the O'Connor Cemetery,
O’Connor Twp., Thunder Bay District as were their daughter Isabella and her husband Paris Winslow
at later dates.
Courtesy of LDL
Andrew Murray Bell - Born in Tamworth, L&A Co., Ont 28 August 1853, Mr. Bell came to this area in 1901 with his wife and family. He farmed in O'Connor and Conmee townships and was elected the first reeve of O'Connor township and also served on the schoolboard for many years. Mr. & Mrs. Bell celebrated there 60th Wedding anniversary in 1937. Andrew Murray Bell died 18 January 1946.
Fred Sharp
Charles Garbutt - born in Cleveland, Ohio. He joined the Royal Canadian Northwest Mounted Police and did service on the Prairies near Lethbridge, Alberta. He took up a homestead in O'Connor township in 1901. He served as councillor and school trustee of the community as well.
Thomas Earl
Ernest Sitch
Dave Irwin
Charlie Hill
Steven Cooper
James Fairburn - & his family came to O'Connor township from Madison Wisconsin abt 1899. One of their daughters, Margaret married Henry George Winslow in 1912. James died July 22, 1920 at the age of 80 years and his wife Mary died July 9, 1927 & they are buried in the Conmee Cemetery. Their son James carried on the farm and died Dec 29, 1958 at the age of 76 and is buried in the O'Connor Cemetery.
Paris Anderson Winslow was born in London, Ont, he came to this district in 1899. One of the first settlers in O'Connor, he was on the township council for 14 years, 10 of which he served as reeve. He lived the rest of his life in the township, active in community affairs & died in 1952 at the age of 72.
James Francis Winslow Born in London, Ontario, he was the third son of the late Mr. and Mrs. R.H. Winslow. When a young man he learned telegraphy and was employed in this capacity for many years working for the Great Northwestern Company in London and then with the C.P.R. at Fort William around 1900. He was a commercial telegrapher. In the spring of 1904 he moved to O'Connor township following his marriage to Effie Ann Sutton, of Schell City., Mo. They took up homesteading and had farmed there until his illness. Mr. Winslow was one of the original homesteaders of that district. He was school trustee for 16 years. James Winslow died April 25, 1944 aged 65 years.
Daniel Rutledge White-married in 1906 in Buffalo, NY & then settled in the township about 1907. Moved to Kakabeka Falls 1929. Celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary 27 February 1956.
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