James Forsyth KEARNS [Parents] was born 1, 2 on 09 Sep 1875 in Wroxeter, Huron, Ontario, Canada. He died on 26 Feb 1968 in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada. He was buried in Kinistino, Saskatchewan. He married Jessie MITCHELL on 20 Dec 1904 in Kinistino, Saskatchewan, Canada.
1911 Canadian Census:
Census Place: Twp 43-45, Rng 20-22 W2, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Source: NAC T-20455 Dist 212 SubDist 6 Page 15 Family 169 Line 17
Place of Habitation: T44 R21 W2
Enumerator R. Y. MinakuKEARNS James, head, M, age 34, b. Eng.[ON] 1876 Sep, Im. n/a, Eng., Angl., Farmer
KEARNS Jessie, wife, M, age 33, b. ON 1877 Sep, Sco., Pres., none
KEARNS Thelma, daughter, S, age 5, b. SK 1905 Nov, Sco., Pres., none
KEARNS Gordon, son, S, age 2, b. ON 1908 Nov, Sco., Pres., none----------------------------------------------------------
From:Jerrold Armstrong & Kinistino and District Historical Organization, 1980. Kinistino: the story of a parkland community in central Saskatchewan, in two parts, Kinistino and District Historical Organization, Kinistino, Saskatchewan, 480p.: ill.; 29cm. UBC Koerner Library FC3549.K55 K56 1980 c.1
p.111-113
James Kearns
by James Kearn [sic]I was 12 years old when my mother, Mrs. Jean Forsyth Kearns, married Thomas Sanderson, in Wroxeter, Ontario. That was in the year 1888. Mr. Sanderson brought my mother, my brother Billy and me out West, to his farm in the Carrot River Settlement, some fifty miles south-east of Prince Albert. Thomas Sanderson and James Robertson were the first of the Carrot River settlers; they started to farm in the area ten years before the first survey.
My stepfather was a remarkable man. As a young boy I resented him, but as I grew older I came to appreciate his good qualities. He was rather small in stature, very active, quick-tempered, and a wonderful man to swear. He was always on the go, dealing in this and that around the country and rarely at home for any length of time. He paid no attention to holidays, not even Christmas. He had little education but he was a great reader and he had a fine memory, carrying the details of his various transactions in his head. He was a rough man, but at heart generous and kindly. One time a young fellow named Norman Wild was in the bank in Kinistino trying to borrow fifteen dollars to tide him over until some money that he was expecting should arrive. The banker didn't know Wild and wouldn't lend him the fifteen dollars. Mr. Sanderson, who happened to be there, "dug down" for him. Another time a young lady who wanted to be a teacher went to Mr. Sanderson; he sent her off to Normal School. Generous actions like these were characteristic of him.
When I was twelve and Billy fourteen we resumed our schooling which had been broken off when we left Ontario. School was held in the Orange Hall, situated two miles west of the settlement, in the summer months. We walked to school, of course, and at lunch time, I remember, we drank water from a nearby slough. The following winter we went to school in Prince Albert, living with my uncle Jim. In the spring we were back at home - and that was the end of our schooling.
In the year 1900 my stepfather took my mother on a visit to Galashiels, in Scotland, where he had spent the first seven years of his life. Billy Goodfellow and I were left in charge of the stock on the farm. There were ninety head of cattle and about five hundred sheep. We herded the animals on horseback with our rifles ready, for the country was swarming with coyotes. I have seen packs of ten or twelve. If a sheep strayed into the bush the coyotes pulled it down. We used to chase the coyotes to get close enough for a shot. It's quite a feat to hit a coyote from horseback. When the snow had a crust on it the coyotes would run away from us, as they ran lightly on the surface and the horses broke through. We killed thirty-two coyotes and twelve foxes that winter but in spite of our efforts we lost quite a few sheep. There were many flocks of sheep in this country then. Prince Albert was the market for wool and mutton and lambs.
I worked for a couple of years for Reginald Beatty, afterwards on road gangs and on survey crews. Mr. Fawcett was the surveyor, a fine man as I remember him. Then one spring Bob Robertson and I got restless and decided to hit out west and get jobs as cowboys. We rode from Prince Albert to Calgary and down into Montana. We didn't get jobs there so we sold our horses and brought our saddles back on the train. For two years after that I delivered water in Prince Albert, with horse and cart.
In 1902 there was an election of members to the North West Territories Assembly. Capt. Meyers, the Liberal, ran against Dr. Shadd, the Conservative. Cumberland House was an important place then; there were several score votes in that settlement and both parties electioneered. At election time Tom Mc-Cloy, Billy Traill and I, with Alec Smith as our guide, went to Cumberland by canoe in the interest of Capt. Meyers. It was in the spring of the year. The Saskatchewan River was very high, and at night we couldn't make shore. The trees along the banks were standing
in the water and we had to tie up to one and spend the night in the canoe. After the election we had intended to return to Fort 'a la Corne on the Hudson's Bay Company steamer but the steamer was not able to operate. So I decided to walk back the one hundred and ten miles in the company of William Sieyese, Robert Umpherville and Norman McLeod. Sieyese and Umpherville were Metis; McLeod was an Indian. All three were runners, dog-drivers. They started off at such a hot pace that I found it hard to keep up with them. However, on the second day I had my second wind and then I took the lead, with them lagging behind. I came in first. The others were in bad shape, with their ankles swollen. Afterwards, when I met Norman McLeod in Kinistino, he would say that I was "the toughest white man".1904 was a memorable year in my life. A young woman named Jessie Mitchell came to the Carrot River Settlement to visit her sister, Mrs. John Robertson. She became my wife. I remember 1904 for another reason. In those days the country was full of sloughs, and the sloughs and the Waterhen, were full of muskrats. Everybody trapped rats, and that year the catch was a record one. My brother and I had started a store. We bought muskrat skins and took them in trade, at from four to twelve and a half cents a skin. We took in 6,400 muskrat skins. Mr. Hall, the Hudson's Bay Company man at Prince Albert came down. He ran his thumb down the bales of skins -1,000 in a bale - and offered sixteen and a half cents a skin for the lot. That was the best day's business I ever did! I had some other skins, too, foxes and coyotes and others, and I took them to Winnipeg, where I bought supplies for the store.
In 1905 the railroad came through. It was built two miles north of the Carrot River Settlement village, so the village moved to the railroad. I went into partnership with my stepfather in a general store - Sanderson and Keams - in the new village of Kinistino.
The Province of Saskatchewan was formed that same year and an election was held in December. Tom Sanderson, Liberal, ran against Dr. Shadd, Conservative. Once again I went to Cumberland House, this time with Jim Graham and Ed Fries. We travelled with horse and sleighs - it was December. The third night out we camped beside a big spruce that had fallen over. It was 30 degrees below zero and we built our fire against the tree. In the night, while we were sleeping the trunk burned along its length and we woke up to find our three provision bags, which we had propped against it, destroyed, all except a packet of tea that we fished out and a chunk of charred pork. I chopped pieces off the pork butt with a hatchet. I was hungry enough to eat the burnt meat but Graham and Fries wouldn't touch it. We debated what to do: we were three days' journey from Fort 'a la Corne and two days' journey from Cumberland. We decided to go on.
Fortunately we met two dog teams travelling together on the river. Two men from Regina, Perry and Lotter, were on their way to Cumberland for the same reason we were. They shared their grub with us and we had no further trouble. Lotter, I remember, was a stout man who was in a pleasant state of inebriation ail the time; Perry wouldn't touch a drop.
In 1907 Tom Sanderson and I dissolved our partnership and sold the Kinistino store. I took my family to Toronto, where my wife had relatives. They were insurance people and I got into the insurance business. In the spring of 1908 there was another election in Saskatchewan and, naturally, I came back for it. I was appointed deputy returning officer for the Kinistino constituency. This time it was Sanderson, Liberal, against Johnson, Conservative. Johnson was a Melfort man. He won. After the election I returned to Ontario. The next year I brought my wife and children -Thelma and Gordon, back to Kinistino.
I wasn't broke, but I was badly bent. I worked for Sanderson for a year, then, in 1910, went to work on my own homestead. I had a yoke of oxen and a mare. This mare produced two colts which eventually gave me a team that I could work along with the oxen to put the crops in and to harvest them.
Our neighbors were few and far between. It was a great event when, in 1918, a telephone line was run out from Kinistino. I became a director of the Ethelton Rural Telephone Company and I served as Chairman of the company for fifteen years.
In 1919 I bought my first car, a Saxon. It gave me and my family a lot of pleasure, allowing us to make longer trips.
I was elected to the Flett's Springs council in 1925. I served one term. During that term a group of us worked toward forming a new school district. There was considerable opposition from the four surrounding districts but our school was built and the doors opened for the fall term in 1927. The school was named the Kearns School. I served for a number of years on the board as trustee and as secretary.
During the drought years, the "dirty thirties", I hung on, as most of the farmers did, hoping that times would be better. And they were. The rains came in 1939, the crops flourished, and the farmers were able to enjoy security once more.
My children and I were saddened by the death of my wife, who passed away in October, 1940. I am fortunate in having been able to spend eighteen winters, since 1946, at the West coast, visiting with my two daughters who live there.
In 1959 a great honour came to me: I was chosen Pioneer of the year. The Ethelton Homemakers were my sponsors and I was chosen from fourteen nominees representing all parts of the province. As Pioneer of the Year I was guest-of-honour at the week-long Pionera celebration at Saskatoon. I was presented with a plaque, and I received $500. to spend on a trip of my own choosing. The event was certainly one of the highlights of rny life.
That honour given to me in the latter years of my long life was an honour given to all the pioneers, who laid a firm foundation for the present and the future of this land.
***
James Kearns died in June, 1972 [1968 Feb 26], at the age of 94.
p.347-348KEARNS, JAMES FORSYTH
(See Part 1 also)James F. Kearns was born in Wroxeter, Ontario on Sept. 9, 1875, to George and Jean Kearns (nee Forsyth). George Kearns went to the California gold rush in 1876 and was never heard from again. In 1887, Mrs. Kearns married Thomas Sanderson.
In 1904, James Kearns married Jessie Mitchell; Dr. Shadd was the best man. Of this union, four children were born: Thelma, Eugenia, Gordon, and Ann. Eugenia passed away on January 26, 1908.
During the early years, the Kearns shared the hardships with the neighbors and everyone was happy.
James Kearns started on the homestead with two oxen (Dan and Gerry) and one horse. When Gordon and Thelma were young, they had many trips to Kinistino with the oxen. James was an early breeder of registered Shorthorn cattle and Clydesdale horses.
There was no shortage of meat as rabbits, prairie chickens, and partridge were in abundance.
A few years later James had a horse and buggy; then the family would go to the Melfort Fair or picnics at St. Brieux.
James enjoyed baseball. Kinistino had an excellent team from late 90's to 1907. Later years, he was an ardent curler.
Over the years he served on the local School Board, Church Board, local Council and Telephone Co. In 1927, the Kearns school was built, named after the Kearns families.
Mrs. Kearns was an ardent worker for local ladies' organizations and church. In 1936, she received a life membership in U.C.W. In 1940 the Kearns family was saddened by the death of Mrs. Kearns.
In 1959, James was Pioneer of the Year for Saskatchewan, receiving a cash award and a trip. In later years, he enjoyed being on the farm and spent many winters in Victoria, B.C. He passed away February 26, 1968, being buried in Kinistino.
His favorite story was about a hunting trip with Mahoney and one of the Jackson boys. They were on the north side of Poplar Creek, apparently all the game was on the south side. The water being very cold they decided to jump across the creek. Jackson, being the youngest, made it across with ease. Mahoney landed on the other side with one foot in the water. James got back about 100 yards, came running full steam and took a flying leap. When half way across, he saw he wouldn't make it, so he turned around and jumped back!
Jessie MITCHELL [Parents] was born 1 on 01 Sep 1876 in St. Marys, Perth, Ontario, Canada. She died on 20 Oct 1940 in Kinistino, Saskatchewan, Canada. She married James Forsyth KEARNS on 20 Dec 1904 in Kinistino, Saskatchewan, Canada.
They had the following children:
F i Thelma KEARNS F ii Eugenia Elizabeth* KEARNS was born on 07 Aug 1907 in Kinistino, Saskatchewan, Canada. She died on 26 Jan 1908.
Died as infant - age: 5 months, 19 days.M iii Gordon James Forsyth KEARNS M iv * KEARNS was born in 1913. He died in 1913.
Died as infant - age: <1 year.F v Ann Angus KEARNS
William 'Claude' DENNISON [Parents] was born on 05 Jul 1908 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada. He died 1, 2 on 14 Oct 1977 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was buried on 19 Oct 1977 in (C) Vancouver Crematorium. He was employed as Apartment manager.
Other marriages:KEARNS, Ann Angus
He had the following children:
M i Living F ii Living
He had the following children:
M i William 'Claude' DENNISON M ii Living M iii Living F iv Living
Living [Parents]
He had the following children:
F i Living
Living [Parents]
Carlyle CHIRM [Parents] [scrapbook] was born 1, 2 on 21 Mar 1876 in Harborne, Stafford, England. He died 3, 4 on 05 Feb 1949 in Birmingham, Birmingham, England. The cause of death was Coronary thrombosis. He married 5, 6 Dora Marian GIBSON on 18 Jun 1902 in Church of the Redeemer, Kings Norton, Worcester, England. Carlyle was employed as Nail Manufacturer / Nail Manufacturer (Master) in 1902/1903. He was employed as Nail Manufacturer (retired) in 1946. He was employed as Company director (retired) in 1949.
Other marriages:LEVY, Laura Anne
Last Will and Testament of Carlyle CHIRM, dated Jan 24, 1947. Proved in Birmingham on May 23, 1949.
I, CARLYLE CHIRM of 27 Handsworth Wood Road in the City of Birmingham Retired Manufacturer hereby revoke all testamentary dispositions heretofore made by me and declare this to be my last Will which I make this twenty fourth day of January One thousand nine hundred and forty seven.
1. I APPOINT my Wife Laura Anne Chirm and my Nephew Denis Stanley Gibson of Fursdon Cottage Staverton Totnes in the County of Devon to be the Executors and Trustees of my Will
2. THE form contained in Part 1 of the Statutory Will Forms 1925 relating to the meaning of personal chattels is incorporated in my Will and shall have effect so far as applicable
3. I BEQUEATH to my Wife absolutely (whether or not she shall prove my Will and act in the trusteeship thereof) my leasehold house and property known as number 27 Handsworth Wood Road Birmingham aforesaid my personal chattels and the sum of One thousand pounds the said sum of One thousand pounds to be paid to her immediately after my death and in priority to all other legacies hereby or by any Codicil hereto bequeathed
4. I BEQUEATH the following pecuniary legacies free of duty namely
(1) To Rachel Marjory Tranter of Foredraught Lane Tibberton Droitwich in the County of Worcester the sum of One hundred and fifty pounds
(2) To Sarah Sheldon of Number 9 Fountain Road Edgbaston Birmingham aforesaid the sum of One hundred and fifty pounds
(3) To the said Denis Stanley Gibson (whether or not he shall prove my Will and act in the trusteeship thereof) the sum of One hundred pounds
(4) To John Arthur Gibson of 22 Hamstead Hall Avenue Handsworth Birmingham aforesaid the sum of One hundred pounds
5. SUBJECT to the payment of my funeral and testamentary expenses death duties debts and legacies I DEVISE AND BEQUEATH all the real and personal estate not hereby or by any Codicil hereto otherwise specifically disposed of and which I can dispose of by Will in any manner I think proper either as beneficially entitled thereto or under any general power unto my said Wife absolutely
IN WITNESS whereof I the said Carlyle Chirm have hereunto set my hand the day and year first before written
CARLYLE CHIRM
SIGNED by the above named Testator as his last Will in the presence of us both present at the same time who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
G. H. BUTLER Solicitor Birmingham
N. M. STOKES-ROBERTS Clerk with Ansell & Sherwin Solicitors BirminghamIn His Majesty's High Court of Justice.
The District Probate Registry at: Birmingham
BE IT KNOWN that: Carlyle Chirm of 2 Handsworth Wood Road in the City of Birmingham
died: - on the: 3rd day of: February 19:49
at 27 Handsworth Wood Road aforesaid
AND BE IT FURTHER KNOWN that at the date hereunder written the last Will and Testament (a copy whereof is hereunto annexed) of the said deceased was proved and registered in the District Probate Registry of His Majesty's High Court of Justice at: Birmingham and that Administration of all the Estate which by law devolves to and vests in the personal representative of the deceased was granted by the aforesaid Court to:
Laura Anne Chirm of 27 Handsworth Wood Road aforesaid Widow the Relict of deceased and Denis Stanley Gibson of Council Farm Stanton Burton on Trent Staffordshire Farmer nephew of the deceased the executors named in the said Will
And it is hereby certified that an Affidavit for Inland Revenue has been delivered wherein it is shown that the gross value of the said Estate in Great Britain (exclusive of what the said deceased may have been possessed of or entitled to as a Trustee and not beneficially) amounts to: £5088.0.1 and that the net value of the estate amounts to £4927.9.1 And it is further certified that it appears by a Receipt signed by an Inland Revenue Officer on the said Affidavit that: £76.18.2 on account of Estate Duty and interest on such duty has been paid.
Dated the: 23rd day of: May 19:49
D. I. Rees
District Registrar.Extracted by: Ansell & Sherwin
Solrs Birmingham
Dora Marian GIBSON [Parents] [scrapbook] was born 1, 2 on 26 Jun 1871 in Birmingham, Warwick, England. She died 3, 4, 5 on 20 Dec 1941 in Birmingham, Birmingham, England. The cause of death was Caecum (intestinal) cancer. She married 6, 7 Carlyle CHIRM on 18 Jun 1902 in Church of the Redeemer, Kings Norton, Worcester, England. Dora was employed as Music (Piano) Teacher in 1891.
They had the following children:
M i Geoffrey Carlyle* CHIRM was born 1, 2 on 26 Mar 1903 in Handsworth, Stafford, England. He died 3, 4 on 26 Jul 1903 in Offenham, Worcestershire, England. The cause of death was Intussusception (intestinal blockage).
Died as infant - age: 4 months , 0 days.
John Alton HARDY [Parents] [scrapbook] was born on 25 Oct 1867 in Ontario, Canada. He married 1, 2 Harriet Emma BASKERVILLE on 24 Oct 1895 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. John was employed as School Teacher in 1891. He was employed as Farmer in 1901.
Other marriages:CARPENTER, Mary Baker
1901 Canadian Census:
Census Place: Trafalgar, Halton, Ontario
Source: FHL Film 1843553 NAC T-6471 Dist 68 SubDist i Div 3 Page 9 Family 77 Line 39
B Con. 2 S.D.S. Lot 6 [1 fm. in 1 composite h. 6 rooms / rent 75 acres 1h/2b, 1 silo 2040 ft3]
Enumerator Charles E. Ryan - Apr 12, 1901HARDY John, head, W, age 33, b. Ont.(r) 1867 Oct 25, English, Presby., Farmer
HARDY Harriet, wife, W, age 29, b. Ont.(r) 1872 Apr 17, Irish, Presby.
HARDY Lily, daughter, S, age 3, b. Ont.(r) 1897 Apr 18, English, Presby.
HARDY Grace, daughter, S, age 2, b. Ont.(r) 1899 Feb 23, English, Presby.----------------------------------------------------------
1911 Canadian Census:
Census Place: Trafalgar, Halton, Ontario
Source: NAC T-20375 Dist 76 SubDist 18 Page 10 Family 93 Line 12
Place of Habitation: NP6 2 S.D.S.
Enumerator C.E. RyanHARDY John, head, M, age 43, b. O 1867 Oct, Eng., Meth., Farmer
HARDY Mary, wife, M, age 42, b. Eng. 1869 Mar, Im. 1895, Eng., Meth., None
HARDY Lillian, daughter, S, age 14, b. O 1897 Apr, Eng., Meth.
HARDY Grace, daughter, S, age 12, b. O 1899 Feb, Eng., Meth.
HARDY Ivan, son, S, age 4, b. O 1906 Jul, Eng., Meth.
HARDY Charles, father, M [W], age 73, b. O 1838 Feb, Eng., Meth., Income
CARPENTER John, brother-in-law, M[?], age 22, b. Eng. 1888 Sep, Im. 1905, Eng., Meth., None
STAINES James, cousin, M, age 37, b. Eng. 1873 Oct, Im. 1891, Eng., Meth., F. Labourer
STAINES May, wife, M, age 33, b. O 1878 Jul, Eng., Meth., None
Harriet Emma BASKERVILLE [Parents] was born 1 on 17 Apr 1871 in Chinquacousy, Peel, Ontario, Canada. She died 2, 3 on 27 Jan 1904 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. The cause of death was Peritonitis. She married 4, 5 John Alton HARDY on 24 Oct 1895 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.
They had the following children:
F i Lily HARDY was born 1, 2 on 18 Apr 1897 in Trafalgar, Halton, Ontario, Canada. F ii Grace Beatrice Ray HARDY was born 1, 2 on 24 Feb 1899 in Trafalgar, Halton, Ontario, Canada. F iii * HARDY was born 1 on 19 Jan 1904 in Halton, Ontario, Canada. She was stillborn.
Living [Parents]
They had the following children:
F i Living F ii Living
HIGGS died on 05 Oct 1995. He married Living on 30 May 1985.
Living [Parents]
They had the following children:
U i Living U ii Living
William BISHOP was born about 1816. He married 1 Sarah ORBELL in 1838 in Kings Norton, Worcester, England. William was employed as Boatman in 1843 in No. 12 Wharf Street, Birmingham. He was employed as Hay & Straw Dealer.
1841 British Census:
Dwelling: Wharf St
Census Place: St Thomas Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
FHL Film 464182 PRO Ref HO/107/1147/3 Folio 23 Page 4BISHOP William, age 25, b. not-Warwickshire, Occ. Boatman
BISHOP Sarah, age 25, b. Warwickshire
...
BISHOP William, age 2, b. Warwickshire
BISHOP Sarah, age 3w, b. Warwickshire
Sarah ORBELL [Parents] was christened 1 on 27 Dec 1816 in St Philips, Birmingham, Warwick, England. She died before 1851. She married 2 William BISHOP in 1838 in Kings Norton, Worcester, England.
They had the following children:
M i William BISHOP was born about 1839. He was christened 1 on 11 Apr 1841 in St Thomas, Birmingham, Warwick, England. F ii Sarah* BISHOP was born about 1841. She was christened 1 on 11 Apr 1841 in St Thomas, Birmingham, Warwick, England. F iii Mary BISHOP F iv Sarah BISHOP was christened 1 on 23 Mar 1845 in St Thomas, Birmingham, Warwick, England.