Recollections

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Kate Fraser's Journal

Frasers gathered in Ontario in 1939 to celebrate Kate Fraser's 90th birthday.

Kate's son Pete married Annie Reid in 1915:
"Peter went to Hannah Dec. 8, brought home Annie, hens, also coal, oil."

Jessie Isobel Fraser was born May 10, 1917 (Dad's highlighting)

Dad was born May 31, 1919.

☞ See also:

  PART 1
  PART 2
  PART 3
  PART 4
  PART 6

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Kate Fraser's Journal

Kate Fraser and her son-in-law, Joe Lovell (Jessie's husband)

Kate's daughter Jessie married Joe Lovell in 1920.

Last entry, 1929: "Well this is my birthday and I am 80 and it is a beautiful day and Jessie made me a cake."

Thus ends Kate's journal. Dad's history book notes that "Grandma had been hit on the head with a poker by a deranged intruder in the 1930s, and was only able to do plain knitting on socks after the blow. Her daughter Jessie would finish the heels and toes." We know nothing more of this story, but a Christmas note from Kate (below) reveals that it was more than her knitting skills that were affected:

Side 2 explains the note:

Kate Fraser's obituary, 1940

☞ See also:
  PART 1
  PART 2
  PART 3
  PART 4
  PART 5

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Monday, June 10, 2019

By hook or by crook

Annie Reid's Autograph Book

Born on January 5, 1881, Annie Reid was the youngest of nine children born to 42-year-old Christena and 52-year-old Peter Reid. Annie lived in Elderslie Township, Bruce County, Ontario until the age of 27, when she headed west to join several siblings who settled near Hannah, North Dakota.

A keepsake she brought west was her small autograph album from the 1890s. The tiny book is worn and many messages are faded, but the collection is evidence of the large family and many friends she had back in Ontario. The album's pages are reproduced here.

The first entry, dated December 21, 1892, was from Annie's mother, Christena (Taylor) Reid.
Perhaps the autograph album was a gift from Christena to 11-year-old Annie.