Excerpts from the Canadian Freeman 1899

The Canadian Freeman was a newspaper published in Kingston, Ontario.
I believe it was first published in 1885.

The Canadian Freeman
Volume XIV
$51.00 per year

Transcribed by ???

January 4, 1899
Several prominent young ladies of Howe Island have organized a very unique club. The members pledge themselves to have nothing but pumpkin pie for dessert, and to buy the same from a young gardiner, who has promised he will reserve half the funds in placing an organ in our concert hall. The teachers will also hold a concert in January to add to the fund.

January 18 1899
Howe Island- The ice between the main land is good. Quite a few intend taking in the ball at Joyceville. – Visitors take the island by storm now, as they have not the trouble of using the ferry boat. A number of residents are on the sick list. Much credit is due one of our ex-teachers in the progress of our club. The sum now in hand is $15.00. Miss Kane, Kingston has again taken up her work in School Section No. 2.

February 1 1899
Miss Lillian Cox, daughter of Mr. John Cox, Howe Island, has secured a more lucrative position with Lake Bros., Montreal. Miss Cox has returned home after a week’s visit to her sister.

February 8 1899
Mr. Angus Macdonald lost a valuable team of horses at Gillespie’s wharf Howe Island on Saturday.

February 22 1899
A house warming was held at the residence of Mrs. Norris, Howe Island, mother of Mr. James Norris of the Ottawa Hotel, on Sunday last. Friends and relatives gathered there in large numbers and greeted the hostess of the day.

March 1, 1899
Mrs. Norris, who was taken suddenly ill on Sunday at her home on Howe Island, was a great deal better yesterday.

Horseless carriages are to be tried in Kingston this summer. It’s a good place as no one is likely to be run over in the experiment.

March 8 1899
Howe Island News- Spring seems to be near at hand; quite a few people putting up new homes; the ice has almost gone from around the Island; Mr. Welsh nearly lost a valuable team of horses today by breaking through the ice; T. Driscoll is building a new barn; Miss Colter, Gananoque, spent a few days the guest of Mrs. J. Lachance; Mr. J. Cadue is slowly recovering from the fever; E. Bulch, Pittsburt, paid F. Walker a visit; Miss M. Foley entertained a number of her friends on Sunday evening and all returned home well pleased with the pleasant time spent; ice boating is the order of the day; Mr. Henderson is having the cheese factory repaired and intents to have all the modern improvements in it next season; H. Garrah, Gananoque spent Sunday on the Island; the Howe Island cheese factory is under going some repairs; Mr. Fred Welsh ill with la grippe is around again; Mr. Richard Thompson has been elected a member of our council.—H.J.

Mr. Patrick Welsh, Howe island, who spent several weeks in Louisville, Ky., ill with fever, his home and fully recovering from the attack. Mr. Welsh was attached to Company “A” second artillery, Kansas, as Sergeant during the Hispano-American war, and contracted the fever while at service before Santiago.

The length of the bridge required between Howe Island and the mainland is 1,300 feet. The Government should commence work at once.

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Mr. James Norris, of the Ottawa Hotel, has received some elegant blackthorn walking canes from a friend in Ireland.

The Ontario Government has appointed the following fishery Overseers: Wolfe Island, Donald Catanach; Howe Island, John Driscoll

April 12 1899
Mr. John Cox, ex-Reeve of Howe Island, is remodeling his residence, “Orchard House”.

May 17 1899
Mr. James Norris has sold his celebrated breading horse “Mark Twain” to Phil Haffner for a handsome sum.

May 24 1899
Mr. Richard O’Brien, brother in law of Mr. James Norris of the Ottawa Hotel is at present close to Dawson City and will reach the gold fields in a few days.

Gilman Davis, of Wolfe Island, has been committed to jail as a lunatic.

Wm. Phillips, who attempted suicide in the police cells a week ago, will rusticate at the Penitentiary for two years for his rash act.

…Owing to the war in the Philippines farmers will have to pay dearly for their binder twine this season. It is now 14 c per pound.

June 7 1899
Mr. James Norris, of the Ottawa Hotel, has mastered the bicycle and is now open for a challenge.

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Capt Kane and Mr. G. Ledford of Howe Island have purchased from Capt. Jas. Oliver the schooner Pilot, which has left for bay ports.

Mr. Joseph Cadieux of Howe Island, on Monday took home the remains of his father, who died recently in this city. The funeral took place on the island.

A party of Kingston young ladies, the Misses O’Brien, Norris, Redmond and Millan, are camping at O’Brien’s grove, Howe Island. They are thoroughly enjoying themselves and expect to be away from the city for at least two weeks.

July 26 1899
Next winter two new residences will be built on the land adjoining the summer home of Mr. Nichols, Howe Island. One of these new houses will be occupied by a son of Mr. Nichols and the other by a friend of the family.

A Double Affliction—On the night of Sunday, the 16th, Mr. James Clark, a retired farmer , of Howe Island, died at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. James Mahoney, Orchard St., aged 87 years. A solemn requiem mass was sung at St. Mary’s Cathedral on Wednesday morning, after which the remains were taken to Howe Island for burial. On Friday Miss Mary Mahoney, aged 14 died from Bright’s disease, which resulted from an attack of scarlet fever. The child had only been ill a very short time. She was among the number who were recently confirmed at the Cathedral. The remains were also taken to Howe Island for internment.

Mr. James Norris, of the Ottawa Hotel, has been ‘haying it’ at Howe Island for the past week. He has beaten all Island records as a ‘stacker’. An excursion and picnic in aid of Howe Island Catholic Church, was held on Monday evening, and a pleasant outing it was. The attendance was very large and during the day a picnic was held in O’Brien’s grove, which was also a large gathering. The arrangements were under the supervision of Rev. Father O’Gorman, the pastor.

Aug 2 1899
Howe Island Picnic—The people of Howe Island are making improvements to their church by the addition of new pews, and are talking of erecting a vault on the grounds. All told, the cost will be over $1,000.00. In response to tan invitation from Rev. Father O’Gorman, his Gananoque parishioners, together with many others, about 400 in all, joined him on Monday evening last week, and headed by the Citizens’ Band, boarded the steamer Pierrepont at 7:30. All enjoyed the delightful sail of nine miles to O’Brien’s wharf. A short walk brought the party to the grove, where a dancing platform was erected and the young folks tripped the light fantastic until midnight. After refreshments were served the party returned home much pleased with the outing. It is said that $200 was realized. When the Howe Island committee and Rev. Father O’Gorman were counting up the receipts of the picnic, Mr. Nichols, the New York millionaire who owns a handsome summer cottage on the island, appeared on the scene and presented them with a signed cheque for $50 and told them to let him known when the repairs to their church were done if they required more money than they had to pay off the debt. Mr. Nichol was voted a “Thank you.”

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Miss Minnie Foley (Helin), Howe Island left on Monday morning on the steamer James Swift for Ottawa, where she will continue her studies at the Normal School.

Mr. Jams Norris, of the Ottawa Hotel, who was seriously ill with an attack of cholera on Monday and Tuesday is able to be out again.

Aug 23 1899
Howe Island Evening Picnic—There was a large attendance at Howe Island evening picnic held on the premises of Mr. James Welsh on Wednesday. The music was supplied by the Keyes brothers and a happy time was spent. The proceeds are to be devoted to the Howe Island Catholic Church Improvement fund. The committee are grateful to Mrs. Nicol for a handsome present, being a second gift from Mr. Nicol’s family in a few weeks. Several young people from Kingston attended last Wednesday evening’s event.

Mr. John Cox, jr. of Howe Island who spent some time in Chicago has returned home to live, preferring this region to the great western metropolis.

Mr. Lawrence Cox, son of ex-Reeve Cox, of Howe Island and wife are on a honeymoon trip and spent last Sunday with relatives on the Island. Mr. Cox is now Deputy Sheriff of Hammond County, Indiana. The happy couple left for home yesterday.

Aug 30 1899
Miss Marion Cox, of Howe Island, returned to the city on the steamer Toronto on Thursday from Montreal. She was on a visit to her sister.

The third of the series of evening picnics for the benefit of the Howe Island Catholic Church, was held last Wednesday evening. As on the other two occasions it was a grand success. Mrs. Nichol again showed her generosity to the Island Catholics by contributing to the fund. Mr. and Mrs. Nichol and family, who have a palatial residence on Howe Island, have endeared themselves to the residents of their Canadian summer home.

Sept 13 1899
Don’t miss seeing the fine view of the exterior and interior of “Nikomis Lodge” of Howe Island, the beautiful residence of Mr. Nicoll, New York, now on exhibition in Powell’s window.

Mrs. Charles Lavis, of Howe Island, arrived home on Sunday from Rochester. She had been visiting her brother Robert in the above city, who is suffering from an attack of meningitis.

Sept. 20 1899
Mr. John Foley, Howe Island, who has been seriously ill during the past week is gradually getting better under the care of Dr. Ryan and two sisters of the House of Providence, who went down on Sunday to attend on Mr. Foley.

Oct 4 1899
Mr. John Foley, Howe Island, has nearly recovered from a serious attack of typhoid fever. His daughter, Miss Alice, returned to Watertown on Monday after visiting her father.

Mr. James Lavis, of Chicago, arrived in the city on Monday. He was formerly of Howe Island, but has been in Chicago for the past twelve years. On account of ill health he has had to return home. His family are already there.

Oct 11 1899
At Howe Island last week Wm Murray sold at auction the farm effects of Robert Beaubien and realized splendid prices. Yearling heifers brought $17, two year olds $24, milk cows $28 to $30, and everything else in proportion. The Beaubien brothers will either enter the employ of Mr. W.H. Nicholls, New York whose beautiful and costly summer home is situated on Howe Island.

Last Wednesday evening Miss Welsh, Howe Island, entertained her many friends at a party in honor of her brother, Patrick Welsh, who left for Syracuse on Thursday. A most enjoyable time was spent until an early hour in the morning.

Ex-Reeve John Foley of Howe Island, has almost recovered from his recent illness under the careful treatment of Dr. Ryan.

Mr. James Lavis, of Chicago arrived in the city on Tuesday and proceeded to his father’s, Mr. Simon Lavis, of Howe Island. He will reside at the Island for the present.

Oct. 18 1899
Looking After Howe Island—Mr. Ellsworth, the Ontario Government road engineer, in company with County Commissioner R.J.Spoor, visiting Howe Island on Thursday and promised to recommend a grant for a road between the north and south range. This is the outcome of the County Council deputation’s visit to Toronto last month. Howe Island can stand all the improvement the Government can give it. Mr. Ellsworth is a person friend of Mr. James Norris, of the Ottawa Hotel.

Nov 1 1899
Miss Driscoll and Miss Prior of Howe Island, are visiting Mrs. Allison, Division Street.

Mr. P. Driscoll of Howe Island removed to the city last week and has taken up his residence on Colborne Street.

Dec 6 1899
It is said that in no place in the Province are more enjoyable dances held than on Howe Island, those recently held at J. Welsh’s and Mrs. Beaubien’s being up to the usual standard.

Dec 27 1899
A Happy Reunion—Mrs. J. Foley, Mrs. J. Prior, and Mr. Robert Simpson, of Howe Island and Mrs. Kane and Mr. Archie Simpson, of this city, went to Watertown on Monday morning to spend Christmas with the remainder of the family viz., Mrs. Robert Simpson (mother), Mrs. T. Dillon, Mrs. F. Brown and Miss Siddie Simpson, and Messrs. John and William Simpson. Though the various members of the family (ten in number) have not been far apart, it was the first time in eighteen years that they had been together. The family reunion was a most enjoyable event.

Patrick Ledford, a young man of 16 years, died at Howe Island last week.

The Islands: Island Stories: Excerpts from Canadian Freeman 1899