Photo Clarendon Miller Archives- Plevna
There are about 6 huge pages about Innisville written by Thomas Alfred Code so I will do this in parts. This is 4c—
Innisville also had their village doctor- his name was York. His principal remedies were: bleeding and pills– or “pulls” as he called them. This together with pulling teeth was his chief practice. The forceps used were more like blacksmith’s tongs than the instrument used today, and the victim was lucky if more than one tooth did not come at a time. John Code claims he went through the ordeal and lived to tell. He was laid on the broad of his back on the floor with a third party to hold him down. This procedure could only apply to the male sex.
In North Sherbrooke Eby(?) Wilson was the dentist for the neighborhood, at least for all emergencies requiring extraction, having acquired the art in uprooting boulders, not molars, by means of the plough. His instruments consisted of a peculiar shaped lance for tearing the gums and what was known as a key for the extraction operation. When his knee was planted firmly on your chest it was considered an anesthetic for agony when it is at its height, is mute. But why linger on this painful scene?
By the way, I may mention his wayward son–Henry–who was attending the village school in my time. He was not a bad character, but somewhat eccentric, and a rolling stone in his early years. He drifted away to the Great Lakes and was employed on the boats in some capacity, finally going to Detroit where he joined up– for a time– with the theatricals, which could not of been of a high order. He returned some years later with less gear than when he left, and tided over part of the winter with friends.
Having a dancing partner with him, his visit was entertaining to the people of the village. He then got a place as a school-teacher on the shores of Buckshot Lake near *Plevna in the county of Frontenac. As lumbering disappeared his pupils gradually decreased in numbers, until finally he was left high and dry in a small cabin on a rough piece of ground. He had a cow and some poultry and the snatches of work which he obtained in the district he eked out an existence.
Forty years after he was last seen at Innisville John Code happened to be hunting in the district and heard the name of old Henry York mentioned in camp. This excited John’s curiosity and he resolved to investigate, which he did the following year when he made a visit to York’s humble ranch and discovered the missing Henry. Representing himself as a drover he inquired if Mr. York had any cattle to sell, but was received somewhat coldly.
The conversation turned into another channel– the flourishing condition of that district along the banks of the Mississippi and the village of Innisville in bygone years when the lumbering industry with all its attendant activity was at the zenith in its own production. Familiar references made by the visitor to the old timer of Innisville excited York’s curiosity.
Evidently the question in his mind was: “Who may you be? You seem to be familiar with Innisville.” John replied. “If from Innisville, who do you think I am, an Ennis, a Hughes, or a Code?” The reply came after a moment’s hesitation,“If one of those named you must be Johnny Code!” — the appellation by which he was known in the schoolboy days. This was followed by an exchange of mutual reminiscences and a pleasant meeting.
Later York was induced to visit Perth, and I (T.A. Code) engaged him as a night watchman for two periods, but he always wanted to go home for Christmas–he and his dog– but there was no one to greet him in his lonely cabin. When leaving the last time he had enough to pay off a mortgage of some one hundred and fifty dollars, and as he said, enough, together with what he could earn in the district– to keep him for the balance of his days. He obtained his supplies in Plevna from a Mr. Osler with whom his credit was good.
York was an artist in handwriting; a reader, a man of strong individuality; fearless and honest in his dealings, but a recluse. When leaving at Christmas the last time, he threw back his arms and exclaimed:
“I long for the bracing air of Buckshot Lake, and the charms of solitude.”
This time he went without his dog. In 1927 he was found dead in his cabin, apparently he had dropped dead while engaged in daily chores.
Thomas Alfred Code 1929
Tomorrow– The Innisville School and Social Amusement.
*
Plevna Section School #4
– About/History
This, a log school, (located in the area of the current junction of Mountain and Grindstone Rds) was opened in 1863, possibly the first in the area, and originally numbered as No.2. Children from Buckshot/Plevna, in Clarendon, attended here with students from Miller Township. When it closed all students went to SS No.2 in Buckshot/Plevna.
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 