CLIPPED FROMThe Lanark EraLanark, Ontario, Canada06 May 1908, Wed • Page 1
I saw this clipping above last week and I clipped it thinking there might be a story. There sure was and it took me all of Sunday afternoon to dig it out. It’s not a happy story, but it was a story of what happened in the past and I wanted to document it. The beginning of the story was that William John White married Euphemia Pretty. She died at the age of 28 in childbirth along with their child William Delbert in 1903.
William having two small children like other widows in those days needed to find a wife and he married Nellie Harper whose father was Samuel Harper in 1904. They had a child Doris Irene White in 1905 and then tragedy struck. William John White drowned tragically in Drummond’s Rapids in June of 1905. So Nellie legally had to take guardianship of her children as it looks like family of the first wofe was fighting for them. At that time I had no idea that her daughter Doris Irene was their legal child. I thought it was one of the former wife’s Euphemia’s children. When the guardianship came to court Mary Cora and Ethel Jane had to go live with their uncle, Thomas Pretty, near Hopetown, Ontario. In those days, women had little rights and I assume family wanted them, but pretty strange for an uncle to have custody.
Nellie and Doris kind of disappeared under the radar until I found out they moved out to Saskatchewan and Nellie had married Alexander John Kirkwood in Frontenac County and they all moved out west. She had posession of Doris Irene and I figured out they had let her keep one. I was wrong, it was her child with William James, so it was her legal child. Still with me?
Nellie had three other children with John Kirkwood and Doris Irene was still listed–until she disappeared. She wasn’t even showing up on the geneaology charts of her half sisters Mary Cora and Ethel Jane White. I thought maybe she ran away. What happened to her? Well after a few hours I finally found her. By the age of 12, she had lost an eye and other maladies and fell off a wagon and perished. See all about her at the end.
This is what happens when you dig too hard. Sometimes you find unhappy endings, but people still need to be remembered. Now we know the rest of the story about Doris Irene White Kirkwood.
Linda
CLIPPED FROMThe Lanark EraLanark, Ontario, Canada02 Aug 1905, Wed • Page 1
Nellie Harper White– second wife
Second Husband
| Name: | Mrs Nellie White |
|---|---|
| Age: | 29 |
| Birth Year: | abt 1881 |
| Marriage Date: | 27 Aug 1910 |
| Marriage Place: | Frontenac, Ontario, Canada |
| Father: | Samuel Harper |
| Mother: | Lillian Easton |
| Spouse: | John Graham Kirkwood |
Spouses and children
- Married 4 May 1904, Lanark , Lanark County, Ontario, to John White with
Doris Irene White 1905-1917
- Married to LIVING ? with
Alexander John Kirkwood 1911-1911
| Name: | Nellie Harper |
|---|---|
| Gender: | F (Female) |
| Father: | Samuel K Harper |
| Mother: | Lillian Easton |
| Spouse: | John White |
| Child: | Alexander John KirkwoodDoris Irene White |
Nellie Harper White– second wife
Second Husband
| Name: | Alexander John Kirkwood |
|---|---|
| Gender: | M (Male) |
| Birth Date: | 11 avr. 1911 (11 Apr 1911) |
| Birth Place: | Lang, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Death Date: | 28 juin 1911 (28 Jun 1911) |
| Death Place: | Lang, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Mother: | Nellie Harper |
| Name: | Nellie Kirkwood |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Female |
| Racial or Tribal Origin: | Irish |
| Nationality: | Canadian |
| Age: | 35 |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Birth Year: | 1881 |
| Birth Place: | Lanork County Ontario |
| Home in 1916: | Kindersley, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Address: | 33, 20, W3, 2nd Avenue |
| Relation to Head of Household: | Wife |
| Spouse: | John G Kirkwood |
| Sub-District: | 28 |
| Sub District Description: | Townships 32, 33 and 34, ranges 20, 21 and 22, W. 3. M., including the Villages of Dodsland and Druid |
| Enumeration District: | Low 33 Ran 20 M W 3 |
| Enumerator’s Name: | G T Kidd |
| Dwelling House: | 273 |
| Religion: | Presbyterian |
| Can Speak English: | Yes |
| Can Speak French: | No |
| Can Read: | Yes |
| Can Write: | Yes |
| Occupation: | None |
| Household Members (Name)AgeRelationshipJohn G Kirkwood45HeadNellie Kirkwood35WifeDoris I White11DaughterJames A Kirkwood5SonMary N Kirkwood3DaughterFlorence J Kirkwood0Daughte | |
DetailSource
| Name: | John G Kirkwood |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Male |
| Racial or Tribal Origin: | Scotch (Scotish) |
| Nationality: | Canada |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Age: | 50 |
| Birth Year: | abt 1871 |
| Birth Place: | Ontario |
| Residence Date: | 1 Jun 1921 |
| House Number: | 49 |
| Residence City, Town or Village: | 33 20 W of 3rd Village of Dodsland |
| Residence District: | Kindersley |
| Residence Province or Territory: | Saskatchewan |
| Residence Country: | Canada |
| Relation to Head of House: | Head |
| Spouse’s Name: | Nellie Kirkwood |
| Father Birth Place: | Scotland |
| Mother Birth Place: | Ontario |
| Can Speak English?: | Yes |
| Can Speak French?: | No |
| Religion: | Presbyterian |
| Can Read?: | Yes |
| Can Write?: | Yes |
| Months at School: | 94.10 |
| Occupation: | Grain Buyer |
| Section: | Lot 73 Blk 7 |
| Municipality: | Village Of Dodsland |
| Enumeration District: | 217 |
| Sub-District Number: | 57 |
| Enumerator: | Vivian T. N. Pellett |
| District Description: | Township 33 in ranges 20 and 21, township 34 in ranges 21 and 22 and the west half of township 34 in range 20, west of the third Meridian |
| Neighbours: | View others on page |
| Line Number: | 40 |
| Family Number: | 49 |
| Household Members (Name)AgeRelationshipJohn G Kirkwood50HeadNellie Kirkwood39WifeJ Andrew Kirkwood10SonM Lillian Kirkwood7DaughterFlorence Alen Kirkwood5DaughterErick Arline Kirkwood2Daughter | |
DEATH of William John White ( husband of Nellie Parker and Euphemia Pretty)
CLIPPED FROMThe Lanark EraLanark, Ontario, Canada28 Jun 1905, Wed • Page 1
CLIPPED FROMThe Ottawa CitizenOttawa, Ontario, Canada27 Jun 1905, Tue • Page 5
William’s second wife Nellie Harper
| Name: | William J White |
|---|---|
| Age: | 28 |
| Birth Year: | abt 1876 |
| Birth Place: | Darling |
| Marriage Date: | 4 May 1904 |
| Marriage Place: | Lanark, Ontario, Canada |
| Father: | Robert White |
| Mother: | Jane Menarie |
| Spouse: | Nellie Harper |
| Name: | Nellie Harper |
|---|---|
| Age: | 23 |
| Birth Year: | abt 1881 |
| Birth Place: | Dalhousie |
| Marriage Date: | 4 May 1904 |
| Marriage Place: | Lanark, Ontario, Canada |
| Father: | Samuel Harper |
| Mother: | Lillie Easton |
| Spouse: | William J White |
William’s first wife Euphemia Pretty
Euphemia Pretty ( died in childbirth along with child William
BIRTH unknown DEATH 25 Jan 1903 BURIAL
Clayton United Church CemeteryClayton, Lanark County, Ontario, CanadaMEMORIAL ID185528907 ·
Inscription
Wife of John White
Died aged 28 years
Name: William John White Age: 22 Birth Year: abt 1876 Birth Place: Darling Marriage Date: 28 Sep 1898 Marriage Place: Lanark, Ontario, Canada Father: Robert White Mother: Jane Manarey Spouse: Euphemia Pretty
Mary Cora White–Ontario, Canada
| Name | [Mary Cora Whyte ][Mary Cora White ] |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 |
| Birth Year | 1899 |
| Marriage Date | 21 Nov 1917 |
| Marriage Place | Lanark, Ontario, Canada |
| Father | William John Whyte |
| Mother | Eugahemia Pretty |
| Spouse | Charles Lawrence Virginia |
When Mary Cora Whyte was born on 13 August 1899, in Lanark, Ontario, Canada, her father, William John White, was 23 and her mother, Euphemia Pretty, was 25. She married Charles Lawrence Virgin on 13 November 1917, in Calabogie, Greater Madawaska, Renfrew, Ontario, Canada. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 2 daughters. She lived in Muskoka, Ontario, Canada in 1901 and Parry Sound, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada in 1901. She died on 7 July 1974, in Perth, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 74, and was buried in Lanark, Ontario, Canada.
Ethel Jane White
| Name: | Ethel Jane White |
|---|---|
| Age: | 21 |
| Birth Year: | abt 1901 |
| Birth Place: | Darling |
| Marriage Date: | 5 Apr 1922 |
| Marriage Place: | Lanark, Ontario, Canada |
| Father: | John White |
| Mother: | Euphemia Pretty |
| Spouse: | James Machan |
By 1911, she and her sister Cora were living with their uncle, Thomas Pretty, near Hopetown, Ontario. She passed away about 1947 and is buried at Hopetown United Church Cemetery, Lanark Township, Ontario.
Children
- Five still living
- Charles Stuart Machan, died about 2010
- Willard Machan, died about 2010
- Marion Machan, died about 2008
Brief Life History of Ethel Jane
When Ethel Jane White was born on 21 August 1900, in Parry Sound, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada, her father, William John White, was 24 and her mother, Euphemia Pretty, was 26. She married James Machan on 22 March 1922, in Lanark, Lanark, Ontario, Canada. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 4 daughters. She lived in Ontario, Canada in 1900 and Muskoka, Ontario, Canada in 1901. She died in 1947, in Dalhousie, Lanark, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 47, and was buried in Hopetown, Lanark Highlands, Lanark, Ontario, Canada.
Spouse and Children
Marriage
22 March 1922Lanark, Lanark, Ontario, Canada
| Name | Mrs. Ethel Jane Machan |
|---|---|
| Gender | Female |
| Race | Irish |
| Age | 47 |
| Birth Date | 21 Aug 1900 |
| Birth Place | Ontario |
| Death Date | 21 Nov 1947 |
| Death Place | Lanark, Lanark, Ontario, Canada |
| Father | John White |
| Mother | Famie White |
| Spouse | James Machan |
| Certificate Number | 036735 |
DORIS IRENE WHITE
| Name: | Doris I White |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Female |
| Racial or Tribal Origin: | Scotch (Scotish) |
| Nationality: | Canadian |
| Age: | 11 |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Birth Year: | 1905 |
| Birth Place: | Lanark County Ontario |
| Home in 1916: | Kindersley, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Address: | 33, 20, W3, 2nd Avenue |
| Relation to Head of Household: | Daughter |
| Father: | John G Kirkwood |
| Mother: | Nellie Kirkwood |
| Sub-District: | 28 |
| Sub District Description: | Townships 32, 33 and 34, ranges 20, 21 and 22, W. 3. M., including the Villages of Dodsland and Druid |
| Enumeration District: | Low 33 Ran 20 M W 3 |
| Enumerator’s Name: | G T Kidd |
| Dwelling House: | 273 |
| Religion: | Presbyterian |
| Can Speak English: | Yes |
| Can Speak French: | No |
| Can Read: | Yes |
| Can Write: | Yes |
| Occupation: | None |
| Household Members (Name)AgeRelationshipJohn G Kirkwood45HeadNellie Kirkwood35WifeDoris I White11DaughterJames A Kirkwood5SonMary N Kirkwood3DaughterFlorence J Kirkwood0Daughter | |
Death of Doris Irene White
CLIPPED FROMThe Lanark EraLanark, Ontario, Canada13 Jun 1917, Wed • Page 1
CLIPPED FROMThe Lanark EraLanark, Ontario, Canada20 Jun 1917, Wed • Page 8
Friday, March 13, 1908. On a slow news day in Troy a divorce case involving a custody battle for a small child can command considerable space in The Record’s pages, especially when cases like this are still more rare and scandalous than they will be a century later.
Judge Wesley O. Howard presides over a habeus corpus hearing in which Nellie Gorman is obliged to show cause why she shouldn’t be compelled to give up custody of her 22-month old son to her husband, “local sporting man” James Gorman. The Gormans have sued each other for divorce, with the husband demanding custody of the child because the wife is “not a proper person to have charge of it.”
This description alone would raise the eyebrows of many Record readers. A “sporting man” is almost by definition a disreputable character, presumably involved in gambling and related activities. Our readers are likely to agree with Nellie Gorman’s contention that James “cannot have the child [because] he has no place to take it and cannot give it proper care.”
Nellie Gorman denies her husband’s charge that she’s endangering the boy’s morals. “Its morals endangered. That’s good,” she scoffs, “I won’t give the child up. I have not refused him the right to see the child, but he has not called to see it since January 1. He came spooking about the hall of the house I live in, but he did not come in to see the child.”
James Gorman interrupts to deny “spooking” his wife, while his attorney Thomas F. Powers explains that James has avoided contact with his son on advice of counsel pending the outcome of the divorce proceedings.
Nellie Gorman is represented by John P. Kelly, who requests a delay in the hearing. He complains to Howard that his client was only served with the writ at 10:30 last night.
“Mrs. Gorman has not refused to let her husband see the child, but she does refuse to surrender the baby entirely,” Kelly notes, “It would not be right to take so young a child from its mothers care. This will appeal to your honor as the father of children.”
Kelly quickly learns that he’s made a mistake.
“It does not appeal to me as the father of children,” Howard replies sharply, “My being the father of children has nothing to do with it. You are addressing the court and not the father.”
Despite rebuking Kelly, the judge approves a compromise on the custody issue. He allows James Gorman to have his son on Sundays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., pending the outcome of the divorce proceedings. Since relations between the Gormans remain strained, James’s sister will pick up the boy and bring him back to Nellie’s house.
Ivan and Elizabeth Pretty Anniversary and Poem — Audrey Armstrong 1966
George Goodson Pretty Genealogy Part 2
Annie and Ethel Pretty Bridge Accident 1927
Clippings of George Goodson Pretty
lindaseccaspina 
Hi Linda,
This is a story very close to our family. Ethel Jane White was my grandmother and we didn’t know a lot about why she was sent to live with the Pretty family.
Your work is exceptional.
Karen Graham
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Love you so much — thank you —this means a lot.
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Thank you for all your hard work. I am a descend of Ethel Jane White and did not know this history. My father was Charles Stuart Machan. Thank you again.
Susan Machan Lucas
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I love doing things like this.. everyone needs to be remembered..:)
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