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Monday 17 August 2015

Ernest Cassel - Part Two




In my search for a photo of Ernest Leroy Cassel - a brother to Randy's maternal grandfather- I paid a visit to the Provincial Archives in Winnipeg to look at microfilm copies of the newspapers of that era.  I first tried the "Virden Empire Advance" with no luck but then heard that there was an "Elkhorn Mercury" that published a paper there from 1908 to 1965. Success! 

The clipping on the left above was printed on November 8, 1917 and the second was in the next week's edition.  No photo but a glimpse at the heartbreaking time this must have been for the family and the whole community.

Thursday 6 August 2015

Edith Beatrice Boulton Morris (1905-1995)

Thomas and Margaret Boulton's youngest daughter of 12 children was Edith Beatrice, born on February 11 in 1905.  Her father left for the west shortly after her birth and she was raised by her mother with the help of the older siblings at Graham Lake, Ontario.  

On the first of June in 1926, Edith married John Moulton Morris at Lyn, Ontario.   He was a 22 year old Anglican farmer and she was 21.  Moulton, as he was known, was a hard worker throughout his life.  Moulton and Edith were initially farmers in their married life and then went on to road construction.  He was the foreman who built many roads on Canada's East Coast and Edith cooked for the crew.  He later owned a Shell Service Station in Athens, Ontario until he passed away in 1966.

Edith was a working Mom in the 30's, 40's and 50's at the Post Office in Athens.  After Moulton died, she moved to Winnipeg in 1967 where she bought a rooming house on Chestnut Street and later a duplex on Lenore Street. Her granddaughters recall that she spelled her given name "Edythe" as well as "Edith" over her lifetime. She had a first cousin, Edythe Boulton (daughter of Ben and Peggy) who lived to be 102 and is buried in Elmwood cemetery in Winnipeg where she lived unmarried most if her life.

Edith and Moulton had three children - Ray, Vernon and Audrey. In the above photo left to right is Edith, Audrey, Moulton and Vernon .  Their daughter Audrey Yvonne (pictured below with "Georgia") was author of a book in 1968 called Gentle Pioneers about Canadian pioneers - The Moody family.  Audrey led a very interesting life in Ottawa and Winnipeg and her lovely home in the Wolseley area of Winnipeg is now the home of the next generations of the family.  














Ray was an excellent mechanic.  His daughters told me that someone could call him up and hold the phone near the running car and he could diagnose the problem over the line! Ray lived with his aunt and uncle on their farm (Lenna Boulton King and her husband Elton) when Moulton and Edith were out east and after they returned.  
"Vernie" as Vernon was known, worked in the mines for INCO in Sudbury, Ontario for 44 years.

Edith Beatrice Boulton Morris was involved in the Rebekah Lodge and was a member of the Anglican Church. Her obituary says that her many interests included travel, gardening, theatre and animals. After living in Winnipeg for 28 years, she passed away in July of 1995, the last surviving Boulton sibling.  She is buried in Oak Leaf Holy Trinity Cemetery with her husband Moulton, near Athens.  
Vernon, Audrey, Moulton, Ray and Edith Morris - 1960's