Notes:

Phoebe MacDonald was raised by Great-Aunt Jane Felker Robinson. In 1832 she married Bob (Robert) Clyde & the farm on Lot 16S quarter, Con 7, W. Garafraxa, until 1947.

. Mrs. Jas. a few weeks after Pheobe married Bob Clyde Aunt Jane Robison died.

Record for further research:
'Mrs Thos. Connolly was a MacDonald girl, & her son Mac received the whole surname, MacDonald Connolly. He said originally their name was pronounced, "Conolly', with the stress on the 'awl" sound.
In a conversation with Pheobe Clyde, she said Mac was not a close cousin. Different generation.'
by Mrs. T J Hutchinson, Mar 23, 1981. - - -

Died:
Shands area on the Orangeville Road, RR. 4, Fergus N1M 2W5

Family/Spouse: Robert George CLYDE. Robert was born on 16 Aug 1910 in Toronto, York Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

James & wife Married died in the fall of 1918 of influenza.

James MacDonald Jr. delivered groceries in a horse cart for F Haight store in Guelph Ontario. Photos pg. 47. - - -

Birth:
Name was legally changed to MacDonald.

Died:
Husband & wife died of influenza.

Buried:
Bellwood. Red granite monument, buried with parents & sister Mabel McDonald.

James married Margaret MAGGIE Wood RAE on 9 Dec 1903 in Eramosa Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario. Margaret was born on 17 Nov 1880 in Ennotville, Lower Nichol Twp, Wellington Co., Ontario; died on 20 Nov 1918 in Belwood, Garafraxa West Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario; was buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Maggie is the daughter of Louisa Sinclair & William Rae.

Maggie is the daughter of Louisa Sinclair & Wm. Rae. James died in the Fall of 1918 of influenza. Maggie died 3 weeks after husband Jim.

Maggie Rae of Ennotville area, was a sister of the father of Loren, Bruce & Rawley Rae, Lower Nichol. - - -

Died:
Influzia epidemic

Notes:

James is the son of John & Margaret McDonald (or Gibson) both sailed from Glasgow, Scotland, 1 Apr 1820, with 7 children. Other Clan McDonald brothers & sisters also came to Canada on this voyage. MacDonald white house on the brow of a hill at Lot 1, Con 6, W Caledon.

James MacDonald first married Lizzie McEnery of Ballinafad, Wellington Co., No children.

His second wife was Elizabeth Felker of Carmel area. 12 children.

. 1871 Wellington County Directory, West Garafraxa
McDonald, Jas., Con 8, 13 & 14 Freeholder
McDonald, John Con 7, Lot 2, Freeholder.

1875 Wellington Co. Directory & Gazetteer
McDonald, James, cooper & pump-maker. - - -

Died:
Aged 71, Lot 18, Con 5. Died of Paresia. (Paralysis.)

Buried:
Red granite monument.

James married Elizabeth LIZZIE FELKER, .3 on 11 Dec 1879 in Fergus, Nichol Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario. Elizabeth (daughter of John FELKER, .16 and Henrietta COUSE) was born on 3 Sep 1851 in Garafraxa West Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario; died on 20 Feb 1930 in Fergus, Nichol Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario; was buried on 23 Feb 1930 in Mount Carmel Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ontario Marriage Registration #011566-79 James McDonald, 44, farmer, widower, Caledon, West Garafraxa,
s/o John & Margaret,
married Elizabeth Felker, 29, Garafraxa, W. Garafraxa, d/o John & Henrietta,
Witn: Lucinda R. & Viola Wilkinson both of Fergus on Dec. 11, 1879 at Fergus.

. Lizzie Felker was the second wife of James McDonald. She was apparently a very strong woman. I am told that, when the old, original house burnt, she carried on end of the piano & 2 men carried the other end to take it outside.

Verify the number of children, or name duplication.

. Mrs. MacDonald mother of James, Fred, George, all of Garafraxa;
John of Port Arthur,
Laura, Mrs. John ellis of W. Luther;
Elizabeth James mother was a Felker girl, Liesie.
James was the father of Phoebe & Herbie Macdonald. There parents died in the bad Influenza Epidemic in 1918. John & James Robison took these children & raised them.
Pheobe married Bob Clyde in 1932 & they stayed on the Felker homestead until they retired to the Shands area on Orangeville Road, RR4, Fergus, N1M 2W5. Phoebe's mother was Maggie Rae of the Ennotville area, a sister of the father of Lorne, Bruce & Rawley Rae, Lower Nichol.

Herbie married Ruby Ham & lived on Lot 20, Con 2, W. Gara. Herbie has not retired to Fergus. Herb. died. Jan 6, 1984 at age 76.

. Ontario Death Registration, Mrs. Elizabeth MacDonald (McDonald) died 20 Feb 1930, Fergus,
Aged 78 y 6 months. b 3 Sep 1851 West Garafraxa Twp., Wellington Co.,
Informant: Fred McDonald, son. - - -

Died:
Aged 78y 6m, 0d. of broncho pneumonia.

Buried:
Belwood, Red granite McDonald Monument 12-2.

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.