Of the four brothers who came to this country it is only necessary in conclusion to allude to John, he being the grandfather of the generation in which the writer is included. When the brothers reached Canada Grandfather Codd secured work at his trade in Montreal, and continued to work there until after John and William were born. He then with his family left Montreal and sojourned in Kitley for a time, where George was born. About this time Grandfather Codd and three or four others formed a party and determined to seek land for themselves. At that early day in the history of this Canada of ours, this was not an easy matter.
Very fair progress was made until Perth was reached, only a few unpretentious houses representing the County Town of today. Three miles north of Perth, about where the John Doyle home is situated, all further progress by oxen and wagon had to be abandoned. This was the first wagon that had been brought through the country and it was naturally quite the curiosity.
The land first taken by Grandfather Codd did not prove satisfactory, it have been drawn in the district now called Scotch Corners. The next lot drawn was the farm owned by the Willows family, and here the rest of the family was born. (The writer is not altogether sure of the foregoing paragraph as he was told that the farm taken by grandfather was known as the Thomas Jackson lot which he had given up.)
The farm afterwards settled upon by Grandfather Codd at Innisville was purchased from a retired British soldier who obtained it from his government in recognition of services rendered late in the war.
It was told to the writer that when Grandfather Codd with his family reached the banks of the Mississippi after their laborious journey from Perth they were confronted with the problem of just how to ford the river. The woods on both sides were dense and trees grew close to the water’s edge. They appear to have made the crossing where the old woollen mill stood, for there was a small island in the centre of the river just below where the slide used to be. (at the dam) This island was swept away by the rush of water at this point some years ago, which accounts for the hole or basin that be found there today. Black Bass and other small fish used to be caught in this hole in the good old days, and may possibly still be caught there.
Uncle George told the writer that as they forded the stream, the water being somewhat swift and reaching a little over their knees, they found it most difficult to make headway owing to the fish that filled the river from bank to bank. The fish would shoot back and forth and at time hit their legs causing them to fall. With Aunt Ann, who was a little girl, on his shoulders, Uncle George had a most anxious time getting across the Mississippi River, and when they reached the Island he was greatly relieved. After a brief rest they reached the other shore in safety.
There were three daughters and six sons in Grandfather’s family: the daughters being Ellen, Ann, and Bessie. The sons were: John, Richard, George, Abram Thomas and William. Abram and Bessie were twins. The writer may not have the names just given in the order of their birth, but that will not matter of the purpose of this short family history.
Tomorrow: Aunt Ann
It went as far as incorporation by the Legislature of the Mississippi Navigation Company in 1809, with the authorized capital of $100,000, to build locks at Innisville and Ferguson’s Falls and carry on a shipping business. The chief freight was expected to be sawn lumber and iron ore, which was to be towed by barge to Carleton Place, and to go from here by rail to American markets. The steamer, the Enterprise, was built for this purpose, and then the lock-building scheme was abandoned.
Note—When the post office opened in 1851 a clerical error resulted in the community being called Innisville. The error was never corrected.
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. Read-More Local Treasure Than Pirate’s Booty on Treasure Island
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–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)
The Original Thomas Alfred Code and Andrew Haydon Letters – —Part 1
The Thomas Alfred Code Journal – Letters-Part 2– Perth Mill
The Thomas Alfred Code Journal – Letters-Part 3– Genealogy Ennis
The Thomas Alfred Code Journal – Letters-Part 4a – Innisville the Beginning
The Thomas Alfred Code Journal – Letters-Part 4b – Innisville — Coopers and “Whipping the Cat” 1860-1870
The Thomas Alfred Code Journal – Letters-Part 4c – Innisville — Henry York and Johnny Code
The Thomas Alfred Code Journal – Letters-Part 4d – Innisville — “How We did Hoe it Down”!
The Thomas Alfred Code Journal – Letters-Part 4e – Innisville — ‘Neighbours Furnished one Another with Fire’
The Thomas Alfred Code Journal – Letters-Part 5- Code Family– “Hawthorn Mill was a Failure, and the Same Bad Luck has Followed for at Least 50 Years”
The Thomas Alfred Code Journal – Letters-Part 6- Code Family– “Almost everything of an industry trial character had vanished in Innisville in 1882”
The Thomas Alfred Code Journal – Letters-Part 7- Code Family–“Thank God, no member of my family has disgraced me or the name!
The Thomas Alfred Code Journal – Letters-Part 8- Code Family– “We got a wool sack and put him inside and took him to the bridge”
The Thomas Alfred Code Journal – Letters-Part 9- Code Family –“I had much trouble in saving myself from becoming a first class liar”
The Thomas Alfred Code Journal – Letters-Part 10- Code Family – I conjured to myself: “You will know me later!” And Peter McLaren did.
The Thomas Alfred Code Journal – Letters-Part 11- Code Family –“I continued with bull dog tenacity for 12 years without salary”
The Thomas Alfred Code Journal – Letters-Part 12- Code Family–“Had I the course to go over again I would evade outside responsibilities beyond my share, even if it cost more”
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