There are about 6 huge pages about Innisville written by Thomas Alfred Code so I will do this in parts. This is 4a— the beginning.
As to the early history of Innisville, little is on record. The place was known as Freer Falls at the outset. Later the water power property was deeded to James Ennis Senior, and rather pretentious mills for that time were erected, which later on included a flour or grist mill as they were called in those days. An Oatmeal mill was added later. The oats were kiln dried, and the sole method used in the next process, was stone grinding. The product was the Scotch Oatmeal; there is none better made today.
A sawmill was amongst the first necessities: and up and down single saw was operated– a slow process compared with the circular saw which was added later. A shingle mill made up the list. About 12,000 feet of lumber, and 20,000 shingles were turned out daily and hauled to the Perth Railway Station.
In the early 1850s James Ennis Junior had taken charge of the business. He died early in life and his son John became heir to the business. The boy being underage the grandfather Jackson took charge and conducted business successfully and economically for years. I remember a penny a slab was charged for the slabs from the sawmill. A story is told of a customer wanting a better rate going to the miller and advising him to reduce the toll from one twelfth to one tenth if he wished to get more business.
Grandfather Jackson passed away in the late 1860s. The business then came into the hands of John Ennis, then of age, and conducted with enterprise, but with indifferent success until 1882 when the whole premise burned down. At that time there was an evident dry rot creeping in that finally settled the fate of all the small mills throughout the country. The wants of the people were gradually being supplied from without.
There was another son of James Innis by first marriage– David Innis. Being dissatisfied with home treatment he left– as stated at the time–for Australia. David married Elizabeth Churchill shortly before leaving. In due time after his departure a son was born. David returned twenty years after to find his son a young man. Both died shortly after meeting for the first time. Author’s Note–Read Kerr or Ennis? More about the Innisville Scoundrel
John Innis left for Sarnia and started a grocery business there and passed away a few years ago. (this was written in 1929) Thus ended the name and personnel in the village that took their name.
With the burning of the mills little was left to mark the existence of this once thrifty community. Let me add that it was not uncommon to see twenty teams load up with supplies for Sand Point and the north country. Many of the teamsters remained for the balance of the winter at a wage of about one dollar a day, and finding. In those days the railway had not extended beyond Arnprior or Sand Point. In fact I am told that when the old B&O came to Perth the wise men did not approve of extending the road beyond Perth, hoping to make Perth the forwarding point for all time.
In the settlement days the villages built up where water power was to be obtained in order to provide lumber and grind the grain. Today (1929) conditions have changed. The disappearance of adjacent lumbering had much to do with leaving these small places high and dry. Transportation was another factor in the evolution.
Tomorrow– the peak years of the village.. Part 4 b
Photo Nancy Hudson
History
The first industrial process on the site was operated by the Kilpatrick family beginning in 1842 and established as a tannery shortly thereafter. In 1882 a new owner, Thomas Alfred Code, established Codes Custom Wool Mill with a range of processes, including: carding, spinning, fulling, shearing, pressing, and coloring of yarns. In 1896, its name was changed to the Tay Knitting Mill, and it produced yarn, hosiery, socks, gloves, sporting-goods, sweaters, and mitts. Another change came in 1899, when a felt-making process was introduced and the mill was renamed Code Felt. The company continued to operate until the closing of the factory in 1998.
51 Herriott – The Code Mill is actually a collage of five different buildings dating from 1842. T.A. Code moved to Perth in 1876, and bought this property by 1883. Code spent 60 years in business in Perth. The business started with a contract to supply the North West Mounted Police with socks, and continued for many years manufacturing felt for both industrial and commercial uses.
Code Felt Co today– Click here..
In the 1883, Mr. T. A. Code established Codes Custom Wool Mill with a range of processes, including: carding, spinning, fulling, shearing, pressing, and coloring of yarns. In 1896, its name was changed to the Tay Knitting Mill, and it produced yarn, hosiery, socks, gloves, sporting-goods, sweaters, and mitts. Another change came in 1899, when a felt-making process was introduced and the mill was renamed Code Felt. The company continued to operate until the closing of the factory in 1998. The following year, John Stewart began a major restoration and introduced new uses for this landmark. This impressive limestone complex with its central atrium now has an interesting mix of commercial tenants.-Perth Remembered
How did I get this?
I purchased this journal online from a dealer in California. I made every attempt to make sure the journal came back to its rightful location. Every day I will be putting up a new page so its contents are available to anyone. It is a well worn journal full of glued letters and newspaper clippings which I think belonged to Code’s son Allan at one point. Yes there is lots of genealogy in this journal. I am going to document it page by page. This journal was all handwritten and hand typed.
How did it get into the United States? The book definitely belonged to Allan Code and he died in Ohio in 1969.
Allan Leslie Code
1896–1969 — BIRTH 27 MAR 1896 • Ontario—DEATH JUN 1969 • Mentor, Lake, Ohio, USA
Andrew Haydon- see bio below–He was the author of Pioneer Sketches of The District of Bathurst (Lanark and Renfrew Counties, Ontario) (The Ryerson Press, 1925) and Mackenzie King and the Liberal Party (Allen, 1930).
Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read. Also check out The Tales of Carleton Place.
Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun andScreamin’ Mamas (USA)
lindaseccaspina 