Notes:

. 1911 Census, West Waterloo, Berlin (Kitchener) Orphanage
Alice Lowes May 1897, Read & Write
Burton Lowes, Aug 1901, Read & Write - - -

Died:
d. of measles.

Buried:
Section E, Thorold, Welland Co. - Verify this Alice Lowes.

Family/Spouse: Hezekiah HILLS. Hezekiah was born est 1897 in Thorold, Welland Co., Ontario; was buried in Woodlawn Memorial Park. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

William Edward Lowes is the son of Margaret Wret & Henry Lowes.
Ontario Death Registration # 28482 7 Jul 1905.

(ON. Death Reg. #263, Margaret Lowes, b 1828, -25 May 1904, Galt, Ont. - Wm.'s mother?) - - -

Died:
d. Paralysis, 3 months.

William married Henrietta Elizabeth HETTY NEAR on 15 Aug 1896 in Waterloo, Waterloo Co., Ontario. Henrietta (daughter of William NEAR, .1 and Mary Ann FELKER, .5) was born on 25 Jun 1871 in Ancaster, Wentworth Co., Ontario; died on 25 Sep 1918 in Ancaster, Wentworth Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

. Ontario Marriage Registration # 012689-96 -
William Edward LOWES, 40, laborer, England, Galt,
s/o Henry & Margaret
married Hetty NEAR, 25, Ancaster, Galt,
d/o William & Mary,
Witnesses: Mrs James SMITH & Edith RIDLEY both of Galt, 15 August 1896 in Galt.

. 1911 Census, West Waterloo, Berlin (Kitchener) Orphanage
Alice Lowes May 1897
Burton Lowes, Aug 1900

. 1911 Census Wentworth Co.,
Henrietta Near-Lowes is now in the Hamilton Asylum. - - -

Died:
Hamilton Asylum for Insane, d. of dysentery after 2 weeks.

Notes:

William is the son of Christina Taylor & Nicholas Near.

1871 Early Members of Methodist Church: NEAR, Henry was born in 1839 in Ontario living West Garafraxa.

. 1871 Wellington County Directory, West Garafraxa: Near, Henry, Sr., Con 4 Lot 21, householder & Near, Henry, Jr. Con 4, Lot 19.

Jane's sister, Mary Felker married William Near but he was in the insane asylum at this time. (1911?)
. 1781 & 1901 Census Barton, Institution Asylum patient, married.

. 1881 Ancaster, Wentworth: Wm Near, Sr., 43, May 33, Henerietta, 9, Rachel E 6, Nancy E 2, Wm. Near, Jr. b Dec 1881.
1891 Cambridge (Galt) Hamilton Asylum by mid 1880's
1901 Cambridge (Galt)
1908 Barton, Wentworth, dies of infection at Hamilton Asylum at age 69.
Children John & Etta Near were also patients at the Hamilton Asylum. - - -

Birth:
Alt DOB 15 Jun 1838

Died:
Peritonitis; TB & pneumonia.

William married Mary Ann FELKER, .5 on 16 Sep 1870 in Garafraxa West Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario. Mary (daughter of John FELKER, .16 and Henrietta COUSE) was born on 13 Mar 1847 in Belwood, Garafraxa West Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario; died on 15 Oct 1907 in Cambridge (Galt), Waterloo Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The life of Mary Felker Near & her family, is about the saddest of any.
Little happiness in this life. - P J Ahlberg 2010.

. 1870 Sep 16 Wellington Co. Marriage Registration:
Mary Felker, 23, / b, 1846 in W. Garafraxa. Born Canada, Episcopal Methodist,
d/o John & Henrietta Felker.
16 Sept 1870 married. William Near, age 32/ b. Ancaster, ON.,
son of Christina & Nicholas Near.
Wit. Mariette Archer, & Mary Russel, Garafraxa.; M. D. Archer, license.

. 1870 Sep 23, Friday, Married, on the 16th inst. at the M.E. Parsonage, Garafraxa by the Rev. D M Archer,
Mr. Wm. Near, of the Twp. of Ancaster to
Miss Mary Felker, of Garafraxa.
Ref: Fergus News Recorder.

. 1871 Apr 13 Census Ancaster, Wentworth co.
William Near, Age 21, b. 1850, Ontario, Married, German origin, works on railway. (last entry on page 43, next page is:)
Mary year, age 23, b 1848, Ontario, Married, German origin., W. Methodist.
William Near, age 2, born 1869, born Ontario.

. 1901 Apr 17 Census Waterloo S, Town of Galt,
Mary Near, Head, Married, b 13 May 1847/53 y, (nil occupation).
John W Near, Son, single, b 15 Dec 1880/ 20y, shoemaker
Albert E Near, son, single b 6 Jun 1882/ 18y, apprentice moulder. - - -

Birth:
Twin to Annie Felker.

Died:
- Aged 62y. Beverly St., Died of valvular heart lesion.

Notes:

Married:
Methodist Episcopal Parsonage, Douglas, ON (Belwood).

Notes:

Nicholas is the son of Elizabeth Huffman, b 12 Jan 1787-23 Dec 1839 &
Henry Near, Sr., b 27 Jun 1778, Claverack. Columbia, NY d. 15 Aug 1839. Original spelling of their surname is Neher.
Both parents were buried at Vansickle Cemetery, Ancaster Twp., near Jerseyville Baptist Church. (Hamilton.)

. The Neher, Near family settled in Pennsylvania & the Mohawk Valley of NY, later fanning out in all directions.
Following the war of Independence 1776, many members of the family came to Canada as United Empire Loyalist. They travelled over land in covered wagons, bring cattle, horses, farm implements, & household furniture. Entrance to Canada was made from Black Rock by ferry to Ontario before 1832, when Catherine was born at Ancaster.

. Monument Bethel Church Cemetery
The pains of death are past
Labor & sorrow eased
And lifes long limits closed at last
His soul is found in peace. - - -

Birth:
Alt German Spelling: Neher

Died:
Aged 71y 3m 8d.

Buried:
Ancaster, Wentworth Co.

Nicholas married Christina Ann TAYLOR on 11 Jul 1837 in Dunfries, Wentworth County, Ontario. Christina was born on 1 Jun 1819 in Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Co., Ontario; died on 25 May 1893 in Brantford, Brant Co., Ontario; was buried in Bethel Methodist Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Christina is the daughter of Elizabeth Michael & Benjamin Taylor, born Feb 3, 1780.

. Nicholas Near, 1811-1882, married in 1834 to Christina Taylor, 1819-93. She was a capable midwife. There were 13 children.

. 1861 Census Garafraxa, William 23, b. 1838, Lucina, 20, Jacob, 16, Mary 13, Martha 10, Rachel 7, Edward 5, Susan 3, Nicholas 1, & Christina, born later.
Henry Near, Jr., (Brother) b 1808, wife Ellen, b 1812, Lived on W Lot 20? Con 4, 3rd Line, Garafrax in 1853 when they paid taxes toward the first school at Livingsprings.

. Children of Christina Taylor & Nicholas Near are:

William Near, b: 12 JUN 1838 in Brantford, Brant Co., Ontario;
Lucinda Near, b: 18 FEB 1841 in Brantford;
Elizabeth Near, b: 30 JUN 1843 in Brantford;
Jacob Near, b: 14 DEC 1845 in West Garafraxa Twp., Wellington Co., ON;
Mary Near, b: 06 MAY 1848 in Garafraxa Twp. - 24 Dec 1922 Chronic Bright's disease & Pneumonia;
Rachel Near, b: 12 MAR 1853, Garafraxa Twp;
Edward Near, b: AUG 1856 in Garafraxa Twp;
Susan Sophia Near, b: 18 JUN 1858;
Nicholas John Near, b: 14 OCT 1860- 14 Oct 1922 Brantford. of La griape.; &
Christina Annie Near, b: 21 MAR 1863 in Ancaster, Ontario,

. Christina Taylor Near had unusual knowledge of roots & herbs & was called Doctor Near & traveled miles on foot in all weather to deliver babies & give medicine. They resided near Governor's road near Brantford.

. Bethel church Cemetery monument:
Christina Near
May 25, 1893
aged 74 years.
A faithful friend & mother dear
A tendor parent lieth here
Great is the lose we now sustain
But hope in heaven to meet again. - - -

Birth:
Alt Loc: Harrisburg, Penn.

Died:
Aged 74.

Buried:
Ancaster

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.