Farm Life In Lanark County Not So Bad Is Conclusion —By R. J Deachman--Almonte Gazette 1951
The Government has been doing things—finding out what’s going on down on the farm. One of the recent areas covered by a survey was the County of Lanark not far from the City of Ottawa. It is not one of the best counties from an agricultural standpoint, some of the land is sub-marginal. There are, however, certain areas of really good land in the county and the farmers are fairly prosperous.
Lanark has a special interest for me. My father was born there and the stories I heard in my early childhood were of high adventure in Lanark County. Father was a good story teller and the stories were of bear and deer and fish for he was born close to a river and I imagine that is one of the reasons why he chose the farm he purchased when he moved to Huron County in Western Ontario.
Once upon a time, oh many, many years ago, I spent two weeks in Lanark County. I was helping in a political campaign and spoke every nigh t with nothing to do through all those glorious autumn days but loaf. I crossed the fields, talked to the birds and squirrels and other farm animals along the way. Then in moments of sheer delight I lifted my hands up towards the sky and let the day run through my fingers.
In the evenings we held our meetings. There is only one type of a political meeting—one where the speakers take half the time and the audience the other half. The old time political meeting was often rough and tough, but in the new days they tend to a friendly – exchange of views in an effort to throw light on the question at issue.
Now let us go back to the farms of Lanark. Here is the standard of living of the average farmer of Lanark County. This sample tells the story. There would, of course, be variations. The average living expenses on the farm were $1,342. This is the amount paid out in cash. It consisted of the following items:
F o o d ……………………………………. $420
Clothing ………………………….. $225
Household operations ……. $105
Equipment and furnishings… $121
Education; recreation, gifts………. $124
Health …. ……………………… $99
Automobile operation ………. $103
Personal and miscellaneous expenditures………………….. $145
In addition to this there was a non-cash income and this is true of all farms. On the Lanark farms non-cash expenditures for food accounted for 49% of total consumption. This included meat, poultry, eggs, dairy products, fruit and vegetables produced on the farm and consumed during the year. They were given a total value of $403 per family. The use of the farm house was estimated as worth $142 per year. This is not a high level but farm houses, though they may be good, have not a high rental value. Then 95% of the families obtained at least part of their fuel from the farm. This was assigned an average value of $131.
The total value of non-cash products consumed on the farm amounted to $676, that is to say the expenditure of each farm would have been $676 more had it not been for the value of these items. What about the houses? They were of course, different from city homes. Farm homes can be convenient without being wholly modern.
Here is an extract from the report:
“The majority of the homes of the 115 families were large and well constructed; 33 per cent were built of stone or brick and 63 per cent were of frame construction. The homes had an average of 5.5 rooms and thereby provided one or more rooms per person at 87 per cent of the families”.
All but one home had a basement; 83 per cent of the basements had either concrete or stone walls and floors. Thirty-one per cent of the homes had a furnace or space heater in . the basement and 79 per cent had storm windows.
The death of Mr. Isaac Deachman occured in the Patterson Nursing Home, Perth, last Thursday
evening. In failing health for the past two and a half years, he had just been a patient in the nursing
home for a short time.
Mr. Deachman was born in 1876 in Lanark Township, the son of the late John Deachman and
his wife, Mary Barber. He had five brothers, Thomas, Robert, William, James and John and two
sisters, Lizzie (Mrs. John Kerr) of Crystal City, Man., and Jennie (Mrs Thomas James) of Almonte.
Of this family only Mrs. John Kerr remains living.
Mr. Deachman was married in 1897 to Maud Stevenson who predeceased him many years ago.
They were married in the Union Hall community and lived there for several years.
Mr. Deachman was a cheesemaker by trade and had made cheese for many years at Woodlawn
and Union Hall. During his years as a cheesemaker, he had invented a milk-can hoist which was
very popular throughout the district. Mr Deachman also farmed for many years in Sasatchewan and
returned east about fifteen years ago. For the past ten years he has made his home in Lanark with
his sister-in-law, Mrs. John Deachman.
The funeral service was conducted from the Young Funeral Home on Saturday with Rev. R. J.
McNaught officiating. Buriel was made beside his two brothers in the Lanark Village Cemrtery.
Pallbearers were Messrs. Cecil Harper, Charles Mac Woods, Robert Woods, Charles M. Woods,
James Turner and Morris Turner. The floral tributes, tokens of respect and esteem for the deceased,
were carried by several flower bearers.
Mrs.John Deachman
Mrs. John Deachman, oldest resident of Lanark Village and one of its best known citizens
passed away in the Great War Memorial Hospital, in Perth, on Sunday January 26th, following an
illness of about six weeks.
Mrs. Deachman, who was in her 93rd year was quite active until she became ill and was able to be
about attending to light household duties.
She was a devout member of the Lanark United Church and was a regular attenendant, when her
health permitted, and was deeply interested in its welfare.
Although this “Grand Old Lady” of Lanark had passed the allotted span of three score and ten by
23 years, she possessed a very vivid memory and could recall many interesting events pertaining to
the early life of Lanark village and surrounding area, where she spent her entire life.
Born in Lanark County, near Lanark village, she was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Woods, well known early settlers and was, prior to her marriage to Mr. John Deachman, on January 13th 1891 the former Miss Ellen (Nellie) Woods.
Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Deachman took up residence on their farm home, near
Lanark village where they farmed for several years. Selling their farm they moved with their family to
the village where they lived continously ever since.
Mr. Deachman predeceased her several years ago on July 7th 1942.
She is survived by two daughters (Florence) Mrs. John (Jack) Harper, of Moose Jaw Saskatchewan andMiss Annie May Deachman, a patient in the Wiseman Private Hospital, Perth; three grandchildren,
Cecil Harper, Toronto; Bert. Harper and Lillian, (Mrs. Herb. Park of Calgary. Also six great grandchildren—Greg and Catherine Park, Kevin and Paul Harper of Calgary; Julia and Paul Harper of
Toronto. Deceased was the last surviving member of a family of eight.
The funeral, which was largely attended took place from the George Young Funeral Home, in
Lanark, on Wednesday afternoon, January 29th to the United Church for service.
The late Mrs. Deachman was well known to many residents of Carleton Place, where she visited
frequently with friends and many relatives.
Numerous beautiful floral tributes were received and many friends from outside points attended the
funeral.
Mrs. Deachman’s husband was a brother of the late Mr. Robert Deachman and the late Mr Thomas
Deachman, who were well known residents of Carleton Place.
Pallbearers were Charles H. Woods, Edward Rodger, Stanley Rodger, L. C. Affleck, and Cliff
Ballantyne.
FATHER John Deachman #1
MOTHER Mary Deachman (Barber)
MARRIED Annie Maud Stevenson, (daughter of Andrew Stevenson & Sarah Taylor), on April 10th., 1900 in the Union Hall. Miss Annie Nolan, of Almonte was the bridesmaid (The Lanark Era Wed. April 18th., 1900). (see marriage below) & (see death below)
Isaac was born about 1876 in Lanark; died after 1942 in Perth. (see obituary below)
CHILDREN ?
Residing at Union Hall in 1900, Tisdale, Sask. in 1917, Saskatoon in 1919, Crystal City, Man. in
1932 & Almonte in 1935.
MARRIAGETHE LANARK ERA Wed. April 18th., 1900
At Union Hall, April 10th., 1900, Mr. Isaac Deachman, brother of Mr. James Deachman, to
Miss Annie M. Stevenson, daughter of Mr. Andrew Stevenson. Miss Annie Nolan, of
Almonte was the bridesmaid.
DEATH THE LANARK ERA Wed. April 8th. 1925
Almonte, Fri. Mar. 28th., 1925, Maud Stevenson, wife of Isaac Deachman. She was the
daughter of the late Andrew Stevenson and Mrs. Stevenson of Almonte and was married
25 years ago. Her brothers and sisters are; Jennie (Mrs. John Sutherland) of Almonte;
Effie (Mrs. J. D. Thompson) of Walnachin, B.C.; Nellie (Mrs. Cliff James) of Almonte;
Sadie (Mrs. T. Kedey) of Fitzroy; Dan Stevenson of Tisdale, Sask. and William N. Stevenson
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