Notes:

Early Members of the Methodist Church: FELKER, Ivan , 1919 Norfolk St. member.

. Ontario Marriage Registration, Wellington Co., #021677-25
Ivan Oswald Felker, 20, salesman, Guelph, 76 St. Amand St. Guelph,
s/o Freeman Washington Felker (b. Fergus Ontario) & Elizabeth Mooney,
married Louisa Harriet Britton, 24, bookkeeper, Nichol Twp., 76 St. Amand St. Guelph,
d/o James Ellis Britton (b. Nichol Twp.) & Mary Goodwin,
Witn: Mrs. Adam Taylor of 64 Glasgow St. & M.E.H. MacKenzie of 48 Glasgow St., 10 March 1925 at Guelph.

Orton, Mr Mrs Ivan Felker & son of Guelph, visited with friends here on Sunday.
. 1990 - The Wellington County Museum has an audio cassette recording of the Merv Woods Orchestra, including the music of Ivan Felker. Old-Time Fiddling in Wellington County: A Historical Perspective, by D. Wayne Bridge, 12 pages, 1990[?]. Includes audiocassette with 17 selections.
. 1937, Orton, Mr Mrs Ivan, of Guelph called on friends in town on Sunday. - - -

Birth:
76 St. Amand St., Guelph

Died:
Guelph Gen Hosp.

Buried:
Monument W27, 2

Ivan married Harriet LOUISE BRITTON on 10 Mar 1925 in Guelph, Wellington Co., Ontario. Harriet was born on 25 Aug 1904 in Nichol Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario; died on 2 Aug 1977 in Guelph, Wellington Co., Ontario; was buried in Woodlawn Memorial Park. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Kenneth Britton FELKER was born on 20 Nov 1925 in Guelph, Wellington Co., Ontario; died on 2 Sep 1967 in Guelph, Wellington Co., Ontario; was buried in Woodlawn Memorial Park.
2. Joseph C FELKER, .2 was born est 1927 in Guelph, Wellington Co., Ontario; died in 1982 in London, Middlesex Co., Ontario; was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Notes:

> Ontario Birth Registration 032693 33
Freeman Felker, born 22 Aug., 1877
Son of Frederick Felker, carpenter, &
Lavina Derkie,
Informant: F Felker, Lot 16, Con 6,
Registered 2nd October, 1877.
Note: Laura & Freeman Felker were registered on the same date.

. Early Members of the Methodist Church:
Felker Freeman,1901 Norfolk St. member.
(c. 1911-1917) Freeman Felker made a presentation from the Guelph Trades & Labour Council concerning the recent death when a scaffold broke in Guelph. Freeman Felker himself belong to the Moulders Union.

. 1913 Guelph Trades & Labour Council:
F W Felker, 114 Northumberland St., Guelph.

. 1924 Oct 23, Fergus. Arnold Black & family, of Guelph, spent the weekend with friends in the village. Mr Freeman Felker, also of Guelph, visited friends in the village on Sunday.

. Ontario Death Reg.
Freeman Washington Felker, B. 22 Aug 1877,
died Oct 31, 1932, of myocardial failure.
Res. 118 Norwich St. Apt 9?, Guelph,
Mother: Jane Monkman, Father Frederick Felker,
Informant: Ivan Felker, Guelph, son. - - -

Birth:


Died:
Aged 88y. ' who entered into rest'. COD:Instantaneous myocardial degeneration. 118 Norwich St.

Buried:
Monument U Block, 26-11

Freeman married Mary Elizabeth LIZZIE MOONEY on 24 May 1899 in Orton, Garafraxa W. Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario. Mary was born on 20 Nov 1877 in Orton, Garafraxa W. Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario; died on 27 Jul 1933 in Guelph, Wellington Co., Ontario; was buried on 29 Jul 1933 in Woodlawn Memorial Park. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Lizzie is the daughter of Mary Elizabeth Roszell & William Mooney, post master of Orton, Ontario.

. . 1909 Dec 29, Orton Mr Mrs F Felker, Guelph, spent Xmas at Mr Mooneys.
. 1924 Jan 10, The many fiends of Mrs Freeman Felker of Guelph, will be sorry to learn that she underwent a very serious operation last Friday night at the Guelph General Hospital. All will hope for an early recovery.
. 1926 Jan 20, Orton, Mr MrsFreeman Felker, of Guelph, spent the week-end with friends here.
. 1927 Mar 3, Orton, Miss Felker of Guelph, is visiting friends here this week.
. 1927 Jun 2, Orton, Orton, Mr Mrs Freeman Felker & Mr Mrs Arnold Black spent Sunday with friends in the Village.
. 1931 Jul 2, Orton, Mrs Jones, of Toronto, Mrs Hodgen & Mrs Felker of Toronto, have been holidaying with Mr Mrs Mooney. - - -

Died:
Aged 55 years. 118 Norwich St. Died cancer of uterus and spine & hip, 3 months.

Buried:
Guelph, Monument U26-11 Black square stone, at side fence line.

Notes:

. Early Members of Mount Carmel Methodist Church, Lot 15, Con 7, Garafraxa Twp.:
Frederick Felker was born in 1844 in Ontario, 1871 member, Carmel Methodist Church, West Garafraxa, married Jane.

. 1870 Mar 18, Tax Refunded. Frederick Fulker, $1.20.
. Building & Repairing Bridges on Irvine River, Building Abutment, Fred Fulker $8.00
Ref: Auditor's Report for West Garafraxa.

. 1871 Gazetteer County Wellington, West Garafraxa Township
Fred Felker, Con. 6, Lot 16, freeholder
Post Office Douglas.

. 1883 Wellington County Directory: Fred Felker, Con 6, Lot 16 Garafraxa, Carpenter & farmer, 50 Acres.

. 1903 Toronto Directory, Felker, Frederick, driver, h 23 Carlton Street.

Decline of the Farm:
. About 1872 agricultural prices began to decline, & that trend continued until the late 1890s. For farmers with mortgages the situation was an impossible one, as they tried to service their debts with declining incomes. Even those who were debt free had a tough time. Their only course to stay afloat was to become more & more efficient & productive. Many could not find ways to cope. During the 1880s some farmers simply gave up, & walked away from their farms. At one point in the 1880s, one farm in 3 in Erin & West Garafraxa was abandoned.

Ref: Wellington Advertise newspaper, pub. 2011.3.4 / Wellington Museum & Archives.

Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - - -

Died:
Aged 4d 3m 59y. Stomach cancer. Res: W Corner St. David & Hill St.

Buried:
Monument B3A-3-2.

Frederick married Lavina DURKEE. Lavina was born in in Garafraxa West Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Not married to Frederick Felker).

Birth:
Lot 16, Con 6. Alt Name: Lavina Derkie.

Notes:

John Felker.4 is the son of Henrietta Couse & Lewis Felker.2nd.

. Early Members of Mount Carmel Methodist Church, Lot 15, Con 7, Garafraxa Twp.:
FELKER, John was born in 1821 in Ontario, 1871 member, Carmel Methodist Church, West Garafraxa, married Henrietta.

. Garafraxa Wild Lands Assessment
Mary Felker, Lot 16 SW 100 6th Con. Settled 1833, Assessed 1 Jul 1849
Mary Felker, Lot 17 SW 163, 6th Con. Settled 1833, Assessed 1 Jul 1849.

. 1851 Census, Garafraxa West, Wellington, Ontario
John Felker age 32, b. Ontario, farmer, Methodist
Henrietta 26; Frederick 9; John 7; Ann 5 & twin Mary 5; Elizabeth Felker.

. 1851 Apr 17 Census, Garafraxa West Twp.
John Felker, Age 50, b 1821, Ontario, German Origin, Methodist Epis., Farmer
Henrietta, Age 46, b 1825, Ontario
Mary Ann, Age 24, b 1847, Ontario
Elisabeth, Age 19, b 1852, Ontario
Francis, Age 14, b 1857, Ontario, &
Phebe Jane Felker, Age 6, b 1865, Ontario.
Note1: Resided with his brother Abraham Felker at his father-in-law's Monkman farm at W Lot 15, Con 7.
Note2: 1860, John Felker farmed his father's 50 acres.

. 1858 Mar 1- April Letters remaining in the Garafraxa Post Office: John Fokes, Elias Fulker, Geo. Skine Post Master.
. 1858 June 1 for 3 weeks, Letters Remaining, Faulks, John (2 letters).
. 1858 Sep 2 - Dec 1st. John Folks. Alex Ferrier, Wm. Felker.
Ref: British Constitution Newspaper.

History of Belwood. In 1854 Mr Skeen built a mill, which was a great advantage as before this the pioneers were obliged to put 50 lbs. of wheat another backs & walk to Fergus or even sometimes to Guelph. When they goat oxen they felt they could with for nothing better. Mr. Dixon was the miller & all the farmers brought their wheat & oats to be ground into flour & oaten by water power.
Mr. Cyrus Sargent drove the mail & stage to Fergus for a time & used to blow a horn all the way down the street so everyone know when he arrived with parcels & mail.
There was a woolen mill where the wall as taken to the mill in fleeces. It was made in a roll about an inch across. You had to be very careful of these rolls. They were so soft & could easily be broken. The farmer took them home to his wife who spent many weary hours spinning them into yard. They made their dyes from different kings of baRk of trees in the bush.
Ref: 1949, Wellington Co. Museum & Archives.

. 1861 AGRICULTURAL CENSUS, Belwood, Wellington Co.
JOHN FELKER, Con 7, Lot 16, Under cultivation 40 Acres, Crops 1860 30A., Pasture 1860 10A, Wild woods 10A, Farm Value $2,000, implements $100, Spring Wheat 14A yields 300 bu., Peas 5A yields 120 bu., Oats 10A yields 300 bu., Potatoes 1A yields 50 bu., Turnip nilA yields 600 bu., Hay Bundles of 10,000 lbs. 2, Maple sugar 100 lbs, Wool 30 lbs., Full cloth 13 yards, Flannel 20 yards, Cider nil, Bulls/Oxen over 3 years nil, Steers/Heifers 3, Milled Corn 3, Horses over 3 years old 4, Value of same $300, Colts/Filles 3 years, 9, Sheep 9, Pigs 11 Value of a ll Livestock $700. Butter 200 lbs., Beef barrels 300 lbs., Pork barrels 120 lbs.
Census taker rears: In a good many places I find that the Farmers Complain hat the Spring Frost has injured the Peas & Spring Wheat. The Potatoes has also been injured by the Frost. Agr. census for Lewis, Abraham, William & John Felker.

. 1867 Wellington County Directory: Folkes, John [Felker], Con 5, Lot 16, freeholder.

. 1871 Gazetteer County Wellington, West Garafraxa Township
John Felker, Con. 7, Lot 15. Freeholder.

. 1871 - 1877 John Felker Jr. had E half Lot 27, Con 7, Garafraxa, along with South quarter Lot 27. The Irvine River runs along the location for the 7th line, so it was not open, very low land there. A trail was opened on higher land to the east.

. 1871 John Felker Jr. W half Lot 27, Con & continues S. half Lot 27 in 1877.
Garafraxa Circuit: Morris Cook. W Neal, Jas Loree, Wm. Woods., Wm Cotton, Jno. own, H Scarrow, Jno. Mitchel, Rev R L Tindall, Mrs D Kyle, Mrs. Burns, W. FELKER, J. FELKER, A. FELKER. A. & D. Feirrier, Jas. Kennedy & R. Everligh.
Circuits in Orangeville, Horninge Mills, Creemore, Collinwood, Meaford, Mount Forest, Listowel, Teeswater, Invermay, Kincardine, Hanover - All Circuit missions served by Rev. J. H. Hilts!
Ref: Experiences of a backwoods preacher, by Rev. Joseph H Hilts, 1887.
XRef: Abe. Monkman for a more lengthy version. - PJA.

. 1871 Mar 10 - School Sec Now 11 on 10th Con. Still closed, no opening prospect. James Brown lost his 4 children to scarlet fever in one week [ no children left.]
. 1871 Jun 2 - Scarlet Feever Panic, sons of Ed. McConnel, Lot 24, Con 6, Garafraxa, Swallowed creek water, fever 3 days, attendance at school decreased [boy is OK.].
. 1871 June 30 - Pig Bylaw probing pigs running lose in Fergus, amuse country folk, A social was held Friday ending at the M.E. church 6th Line Sara. Music played, 2 speeches, $11.50 collect for school Sabbath library.
Note3: This the the school house, adjacent the log church to the Felker property on 6th Con. Gara.
Ref: Fergus Freeholder Newspaper.

. 1883 Wellington County Directory: John Felker, Con 6, Lot 16 Garafraxa, farmer, 50 Acres.

. 1875 Wellington Co. Directory & Gazetteer, Douglas, Garafraxa P.O.
A Post Village situated on Lot 12, Con 7 & 8, Twp. West Grafraxa. It contains 5 stores, 3 blacksmiths shops, planing mill, saw mill, & flower & grist mil, iron foundry, 3 hotels & 3 churches, Presbyterian, Methodist & congregationalist. The Credit Valley railway will have a station here. The Gravel Road between Hereford & Fergus which passes through this Village, is considered one of the best in the County. Parties writing to this office should be careful & address Garafraxa, the name of the P.O. is not Douglas, as a great many suppose. Numerous mistakes are made in this way, as there is a Post office of that name in the Co. Renfrew. A carding mill will be opened in the Village this season. Distant from Fergus 8 miles, & 21 from Guelph, the County Town. Stage to Fergus daily, fare 30 cents.

. 1875 Mar 1 - Mr. John Felker, Garafraxa, has encaged a beautiful bald-head eagle. His majesty was out in search of fresh lamb, & finding no rest for the sole of his foot but the pan of a steel strap, has now retired from active business.
Ref: The Globe Newspaper, Toronto.

. 1876 Wellington Co., Directory, Douglas, Garafraxa PO
A Post Village situated Lot 12, Con 7 & *, West Garafraxa Twp., It contains 5 stores, 3 blacksmiths shops, planing, saw, flour 7 grit mills, iron foundry, 3 hotels, 3 church.Parties writing to this office should be careful & address Garafraxa, the name of the P.O. is not Douglas, as a great many suppose. Numerous mistakes are made in this way, as there is a Post office of that name in Renfrew Co. A carding mill will be opened in the Village this season. State to Fergus daily fare 30 cents.

. 1878 Feb 21 - Scarlet fever is prevalent in some sections of West Garafraxa.Ref: Acton Free Press.
. 1879 - Douglas, Garafraxa P.O. Pop about 300. several churches, grist seam, Plaining, woolen mills. Montreal telegraph office, Mails daily.
. 1877 - John Felker, Con 7, Lots 27, 50 A. & 60 A., Lot 16 50 A

. 1881 Census, John & Henrietta are in Garafraxa West, Wellington Centre, Ontario
John age 61, Dutch, Farmer, E. Methodist
Henrietta age 54; Ann 34; Francis 25; Jane 16.

. 1883 Wellington Co. Directory, West Garafraxa Twp.
Felker John, Freeholder, Con 7, Lot 16.
Douglas, West Gararafraxa twp. has a rolling surface with principally clay loam, with heavy clay subsoil, about 1/5 seconds & 1/5 third class. The soil products are spring wheat, barley, oats, peas, turnips, hay, pasture, Cattle raising being largely engaged in.
Ontario Death Registration # 8- 019582, West Garafraxa Twp., Wellington Co., Cdn.Methodist church, stone bldg., seating 200, services 10:30. Pray meeting on Thursday.

. Name: John Felker, Senior,
Died 13 Sep 1884 at West Garafraxa, Wellington Gender: born 1820,
Aged 64 years, 5 months, born Grimsby, Ontario
d. of rheumatism*, 20 years.
Informant: Rev M Smith, Garafraxa, Methodist.

Note4*: Rheumatism - like any respectable farmer, early to bed & early to rise, makes one's bones to ache:
Chop wood to keep the cold & damp off the log cabin, out in the rain & wet snow to look after the crops & tend to the animals at least a couple of times a day. - PJA.

Transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - - -

Birth:
Alt Loc: Grimsby. Ref: Death Cert.

Died:
Aged 64y 4m. COD: Rheumatism, 20 years.

Buried:
Grey pillar monument S18-8, has deep cleft across his DOD.

John married Henrietta COUSE on 22 Feb 1843 in Garafraxa West Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario. Henrietta (daughter of Henry COUSE and Mrs. Anna (Henry) COUSE) was born on 21 Jan 1826 in Beamsville, Clinton Twp., Lincoln Co., Ontario; died on 31 Mar 1911 in Belwood, Garafraxa West Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario; was buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Henrietta is the daughter of Mrs Anne Couse, 1799-12 Nov 1847, aged 48 years
& Henry Couse, b. 22 Sep 1796-13 May, 1865, aged 68 years, 7 months & 21 days,
Buried McKeen Cemetery, Plot E10, & Henry Couse.

. 1869 Dec 17 - Douglas Correspondence: Tea Meetings. Methodist Episcopal church 10th Line, Garafraxa on Thurs 2rd & 6th Line Grafraxa Christmas Day, Tea served at 3 o'clock, at both places. Tickets 25¢ ea., speeches, singing, etc.
Ref: Fergus Freeholder Newspaper.

. 1870 Jul 1 - In West Garafraxa Township the storm hit with much more force than in the Fergus &Guelph areas. Damage was most severe in the vicinity of the 6th Line, suggesting another tornado touched down there. About a dozen barns lost all or a portion f their roofs. Peter McDougall discovered his small barn relocated to a nearby bush.In the Belwood area, then known as Douglas, the storm was the worst that anyone could remember. Residents there watched the black cloud advance from the northwest. A cloudburst began about 8pm. Some residents reported hearing a load roar, suggestive of full-fledged tornadoes. Rail fences were demolished, with the rails scattered like toothpicks. Wind & rain trashed grain crops. A strip of uprooted trees.
Damage was most intense along the 5th & 6th Lines.There were many casualties to cattle in West Garafraxa, most killed by falling trees & branches. One tree killed 3 yearling cattle, which had sought refuge under its branches. As the storm reached its peak, Dick & Bill East arrived at the farm of Sam Allen for a visit. As they tied their horses, the wind lifted the roof from the barn & dropped it on Dick East. Unconscious from a blow to the head, he survived 15 minutes. Brother Bill survived without a scratch.
As an encore, nature provided another storm 2 nights later, on July 22, 1870. That one was less destructive than the earlier storm, & struck shortly before midnight. Few people got much sleep that night due to a continuous display of lightning & ground-shaking thunder that kept up until about 4am. A few barns & trees were hit with lighting for the second time in 2 days. There was one major fire chalked up to lightning during that second storm. John Taylor lost his barn, with a large quantity of grain & all his implements. The fire flared up again about noon the following day, but was extinguished with the help of neighbours.
Ref: Wellington Advertise newspaper, pub. 20.02.6 / Wellington Museum & Archives.
- - -

Birth:
Older German spelling: Kause.

Died:
Aged 85y, 2m. Died chronic myocarditis after several years. Res. L16 C7 West.

Buried:
Monument S13-8. His wife, Aged 85y.