What Happened to Lottie Blair of Clayton and Grace Cram of Glen Isle?

Miss Lottie Blair of Clayton, who has been staying- with her aunt, Miss Fleming, and attending’ the high school, had to go to Ottawa and undergo an operation for an affection of the ear following an attack of la grippe. She is now at her home in Clayton and w ill soon he able to resume her studies at the school here –April 24 1907– Almonte Gazette

Rose Mary’s book -Whispers from the Past**

Thanks to Rose Mary’s book -Whispers from the Past**– I found out that Lottie Blair was the daughter of Wesley Levi Blair and was a teacher from 1913-1914 at the Clayton School. Her father Wesley Levi Blair was a a successful contractor building many a fine house in the Ottawa Valley and the son of Edward Blair. Edward was born in Shelburne Vermont, and arrived on a stolen family horse making a special entrance in the town of Clayton. He then went back to Vermont and married Emma Connor and returned to Clayton.

Of course no family story is complete without some sort of scandal. One of Edward’s daughter’s who would be Lottie’s aunt had the nerve to fall in love with a Catholic, Alexander McDonald. Knowing that her father Edward, who was a pillar of the local Methodist church would never allow a catholic to darken his door, the two eloped. Needless to say his daughter’s name was stricken from the family bible, never to be spoken about again, and they lived in Wisconsin and later in British Columbia. If you would like to read more of this story you will have to buy Rose Mary Sarsfield’s book.

****Whispers from the Past, History and Tales of Clayton” If you want to purchase a book please email Rose Mary Sarsfield at rose@sarsfield.ca or call me at 613-621-9300, or go to the Clayton Store, or Mill Street Books in Almonte.

^{1911 Census} Lottie Blair

Name:	Lottie Blair
Gender:	Female
Marital status:	Single
Race or Tribe:	English
Nationality:	Canadian
Age:	19
Birth Date:	Dec 1891
Birth Place:	Ontario
Census Year:	1911
Relation to Head of House:	Daughter
Province:	Ontario
District:	Lanark North
District Number:	89
Sub-District:	10
Sub-District Number:	10
Religion:	Methodist
Occupation:	Teacher
Works at:	Public School
Weeks Employed:	40
Hours/Week:	35
Earnings:	350
Can Read:	yes
Can Write:	yes
Language:	E.
Family Number:	125
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	NameAgeLevi Wesley Blair45Jennie Blair49Lottie Blair19Jean F Blair15Alfred E Blair13Levi L Blair7Annie Fleming54Stanley Woodman20

Daniel Cram Homestead on Glen Isle (provided by Daniel W Cram b 1963)

Grace Cram

Whilst playing in the woods Saturday with some other children,- Gracie the daughter of Mr. Daniel Cram, Glen Isle, fell from a tree in which she was swinging, the branch breaking, and sustained such a shock that she was unconscious for an hour or so. No serious results are expected–April 24 1907– Almonte Gazette

1901 Census

Name:	Grace Cram
Gender:	Female
Racial or Tribal Origin:	Scotch
Nationality:	Canada
Marital status:	Single
Age:	6
Birth Date:	18 Jun 1894
Birth Place:	Ontario
Relation to Head of House:	Daughter
Religion:	Baptist
Can Speak English:	Yes
Province:	Ontario
District:	Lanark (South/Sud)
District Number:	81
Sub-District:	Beckwith
Sub-District Number:	2
Family Number:	122
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	NameAgeDaniel Cram48Euphemia Cram35Laura E. Cram15Jessie M Cram13George M Cram11Robert G Cram8Grace Cram6John W Cram5William H Cram1Florence I Cram1

Grace H Guhl

BIRTH	unknown
DEATH	4 Sep 1976
BURIAL	Lake View CemeteryCleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA
PLOT

Name:	Grace H Cram
Marriage Date:	4 Sep 1927
Form Type:	Marriage
Age:	31
Gender:	Female
Birth Year:	abt 1896
Birth Place:	Canada
Father:	Daniel
Mother:	Euphemia Houston
Spouse:	Benjamin Guhl
Spouse Age:	29
Spouse Birth Year:	abt 1898
Spouse Father:	Mathew
Spouse Mother:	Catherine Haller

Grace’s husband Benjamin Guhl was a World War 1 veteran and also worked for the railroad all his life. He died in 1970, 6 years before Grace and they are buried in the same cemetery.

Benjamin Guhl

BIRTH	unknown
DEATH	12 Sep 1970
BURIAL	Lake View CemeteryCleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA
PLOT	Section 46 Lot 185-0
MEMORIAL ID	78121766

The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
22 Jul 1968, Mon  •  Page 24

Perth Courier, October 1, 1869

Allan-Cram—Married, at Brockville on the 14^th (?) Sept. by Rev. Mr. Mulhern, Mr. Thomas Allan, Jr., of Perth to Miss Maggie Cram, 2^nd daughter of Daniel Cram, Esq., of Glen Isle.

Daniel Cram (provided by Daniel W Cram b 1983)

July 21, 1968     Dan B. Cram Dies – 65th Year

The funeral of Daniel Boyd Cram took place July 23, from the Alan R. Barker Funeral Home, McArthur Avenue to the Baptist Church where Rev. John MacPhail assisted by Rev. Ron Crawford of Ottawa conducted the service. Interment was made in the United Cemeteries. Mr. Cram died in an Ottawa hospital, July 21 after an illness of many years. He was in his 65th year and had resided at Glen Isle. He was born October 22, 1903, a son of the late Daniel Cram and his wife, Euphemia Houston of Glen Isle. He attended the Carleton Place Baptist Church. He was predeceased by his four brothers. Murray, Glen, Jack, and William; also by two sisters, Miss Laura Cram and Jessie, Mrs. M. Wilkinson. Survivors include two sisters, Grace, Mrs. Ben Guhl of Cleveland and Florence,  Mrs. Harwood McCreary of Glen Isle. The pallbearers were Robert Anderson, Robert Hawkins, Bert Lowry, Dr. E. G. Cameron, Dan McCreary and Glen Robertso

Daniel Cram

beckwith township
Daniel Cram and his second wife Elizabeth Harness and don George Dunnett

CRAMS

Dr.Cram and Dr. Scott Drowning 1907 –Cram Genealogy

They Once Lived in My Home– The Cram Children — Margaret — Angeline “Babe” and Arthur

They Once Lived in My Home– Arthur Cram

The Morphy Cram House — Springside Hall

More “Clippings” on the Local Crams

The Rosamond Christmas Party 1863-or- When Billie Brown and I Slid Down Old Cram’s Cellar Door

After I Read an Obit About Mrs. William Cram I also Found Out

So What Really Happened to Samuel Cram?

Donald Cram — Nobel Prize for Chemistry

Searching for Elizabeth Cram–Updates on Andrew Waugh

Searching for Joey Cram of Carleton Place

I Now have Part of Joey Cram

Peter Cram of Beckwith Perth and High Street in Carleton Place

Genealogy Chatter- Willard and Margaret E Simpson Cram

Norman Cram and Ed Sibbitt –The Rest of the Story — Lots of Genealogy

Remembering Robert George Wilson Glen Isle 1942

On the 13 Jul 1942, Robert G. Wilson, 14-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Scott Wilson of the eighth line of Ramsay, was accidentally drowned today while wading in the Mississippi river at Glen Isle. With another teen-age companion, Robert Rivington, young Wilson, a poor swimmer, was wading in the river when he fell into an eight-foot hole in the river bottom.

Rivington, who (managed to reach shore, sounded the alarm and John Cram of Glen Isle and Elmer Reid went out in a boat. After a search Cram managed to recover the body, but by then it had been in the water about two hours. Dr. A. Downing, coroner of Carleton Place, ordered the removal of the body to the Combs funeral home, Almonte. His parents moved to the district 18 months ago from the West, where they had farmed.

Name:	Robert George Wilson
Gender:	Male
Age:	14
Birth Date:	1928
Birth Place:	Watson Sask
Death Date:	12 Jul 1942
Death Place:	Ramsey, Lanark, Ontario, Canada
Father:	William Scott Wilson
Mother:	Thelma Caroline Wilson
Certificate Number:	023360

1942, Thursday July 16, The Almonte Gazette, front page

Glen Isle Scene Of Sad Fatality Ramsay Boy Drowned While Swimming In Mississippi River

Robert G. Wilson, 14, son of Mr and Mrs W. Scott Wilson of the 8th line of Ramsay, was drowned Sunday afternoon while swimming in the bay at Glen Isle, about two miles from Carleton Place. The youth, accompanied by a neighbour, Robert Rivington, of approximately the same age, was wading into the river when he stepped into a hole and sank out of sight. The Wilson boy was a fair swimmer and it is thought he got excited when he suddenly found himself in deep water. He is said to have gone down three times.

The Rivington lad held his footing and got safely ashore. He immediately went for aid but it was some time before he found anyone. John Cram and Elmer Reid, both of Glen Isle, guided by Rivington, rowed to the spot where the Wilson boy went down but it was almost two hours before the body was recovered. Artificial respiration was applied but when Corner Albert Downing, Carleton Place, arrived he pronounced life extinct.

Robert Wilson was born in Watson, Sask., and moved here with the family some years ago. He was popular at the High School in Almonte where he was in attendance. He is survived by his parents and a brother and sister, Lennox and Kathleen. The funeral, which was largely attended took place Tuesday afternoon from the family home to the Auld Kirk Cemetery, with Rev W.J. Scott of Bethany United Church, Almonte conducting the service. Six young friends of deceased acted at pallbearers, namely, Billy Pierce, Jack Gilmour, Jerry Guthrie, Jimmy Metcalfe, Billy Naismith and Bobby Rivington. Among the floral offerings were pieces from the Almonte High School pupils and pupils of S.S. 6 & 7, Ramsay, and the U.F.W.O. The sympathy of the whole community goes out to the bereaved parents and the brother and sister.

The Glen Isle Bridge Case–Beckwith or Ramsay?

Bridge across the Mississippi River to Glen Isle- Public Archives- Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

 

The Glen Isle Bridge Case–June 23, 1899-Almonte Gazette

This case, which has been of considerable public interest, came up for hearing before Justice R. M. 1 Meredith at Ottawa on Monday last. The facts are briefly as follows: Glen Isle bridge crosses the north branch of the Mississippi river on the 9th concession line of Ramsay near the dividing line between Ramsay and Beckwith.

For many years the question as to which municipality ought to bear the expense of maintaining the bridge has been in dispute. The township of Ramsay claimed that the road on which the bridge is situated is used mainly by residents of Beckwith, along with the forced road across the 8th concession.

 

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  20 Jun 1899, Tue,  Page 4

 

The unopened part of the town line between Glen Isle and Carleton Place and the whole cost of keeping it up ought not to be borne by Ramsay ratepayers. Beckwith in the past has been assisted by grants for repairs, but of late years has refused to do it.

In June, 1898. the county council, on petition from the Beckwith council, ordered the original town line opposite the 8th concession of Ramsay to be opened up for public travel by the townships, and appointed commissioners to do the work at the cost of the townships. This would have involved a very heavy expenditure by Ramsay, as their engineer’s estimate of the cost of the work was about $10,000. Besides, under the Municipal Act it is the duty of the county councils to maintain bridges over rivers which form or cross boundary roads between municipalities, even though such roads deviate so as to be wholly within one of the townships, and under this provision Ramsay claimed that it was the duty of the county council to maintain the Glen Isle bridge.

This suit was accordingly instituted both to set aside the order of the county council for opening the original allowance and also to settle the question as to who was liable for keeping up the Glen Isle bridge. All the facts above mentioned were proved or admitted at the trial. Mr. Justice Mere­dith decided that the county council acted illegally in their attempt to open up the original town line but on the main point in the case he held that although the part of the ninth line in question and the forced road across the eighth concession are and have always been used by residents of Glen Isle and others in lieu of the original town line allowance. They do not form a “deviation” from such town line.

Within the meaning of the Municipal Act and the liability for maintaining these roads including the Glen Isle bridge rests on Ramsay. The township of Ramsay was ordered to pay the county’s costs of resisting this part of the claim. M r. G . H . Watson, Q C ., of Toronto, said M r. J. A. Allan, of Perth, acted for the county of Lan­ark: and Mr. J.T. Kirkland and Hr. M. J. McFarlane for the township of Ramsay.

2017-Glen Isle, on the Mississippi near Carleton Place and about a square mile in area, is named for Captain Thomas Glendenning who in 1821 located on a grant of land including most of the part of the island lying now in Beckwith Township.

 

 

The Glen Isle Bridge single lane steel truss structure was built in the 50s and is the only access to Glen Isle outside Carleton Place.

Lavallee’s Creek, now smaller than in the past, and extending from Highway 15 near Carleton Place to the Mississippi at Glen Isle, was named for Napoleon Lavellee, hotel keeper and colourful local figure from 1830 to 1890 at Carleton Place.

“The Laird of Glen Isle, Mr. McDougall, and seven of his children were frequently seen at the rink on Mr. Doherty’s place in Ramsay.”–1895-Daniel McDougall and later his son Norman were farmers on Glen Isle.

Archived – Glen Isle Bridge over Mississippi River, Township of Ramsay, County of Lanark

Glendinning Burial Plot–Lot 20, Con 12, Beckwith Twp—Burials – Unknown

Glendinning Burial Plot Lot 20, Con 12, Beckwith Twp. Burials – Unknown

Thomas Glendinning lived on Glen Isle near Carleton Place and it is believed that his wife Jane and his daughter are buried here.  They died of Cholera.  There was an iron fence around the site, but it apparently has been ploughed over.  Thomas moved shortly afterwards to Western Ontario.

Keith Thompson, 30 October, 2001.

Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read.

Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in Hometown News and now in The Townships Sun

 

Related reading

How to Really Catch Fish With Dynamite at the Glen Isle Bridge

Glen Isle and Appleton by Air-The Sky Pilots of Carleton Place

One Day a Long Time Ago on the Glen Isle Bridge

The Hidden Hideaway On Glen Isle

One Day a Long Time Ago on the Glen Isle Bridge

 

This is how the bridge at Glen Isle once looked– Photo from Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum —The reeds and the marsh hold the secrets of years gone by.

Photo by Linda Seccaspina

Photo of Glen Isle by–Will Richardson–Mississippi Mills, Canada

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal, 25 Jun 1945, Mon, Page 20

 

This island at a bend in the Mississippi River, only 3 km northwest of Carleton Place, was once the site of a few farms. Now it is being slowly given over to privacy-loving riverfront home owners. The island about a square mile in area, is named for Captain Thomas Glendenning who in 1821 located on a grant of land including most of the part of the island lying in Beckwith Township.

King’s Creek, in the south-east side of the township near Prospect, was named for the family of John King who came there from Blair Atholl with the 1818 Perthshire emigrants. Lavallee’s Creek, now smaller than in the past, and extending from Highway 15 near Carleton Place to the Mississippi at Glen Isle, was named for Napoleon Lavellee, hotel keeper and colourful local figure from 1830 to 1890 at Carleton Place.-Howard Morton Brown

February 4, 1967   —John W. Cram Paid Final Tribute–This community was saddened last week by the passing of a beloved and respected citizen, John Wallace Cram.  He died in  Hospital, Carleton Place, Saturday morning, February 4th.  John Cram was born on Glen Isle November 1896, the  third son of Daniel Cram and his wife Euphemia Houston. He went to school in Ramsay and the Carleton Place High School. He farmed till uncertain health induced  him to retire and later moved to 27 Albert St., Carleton Place. He is survived by his widow, the former Eva F. Stevenson, a daughter Barbara, (Mrs. E. G. Cameron) of Ottawa and a son William with Ontario Dept. of Lands and Forests, (Air Service) at Sault Ste. Marie and nine grandchildren. Two brothers survive, Glen in Three Hills, Alta., and Boyd in Ottawa; and two sisters, Grace (Mrs. Benjamin Guhl) of Cleveland, Ohio, and Florence (Mrs. Harwood McCreary) of Glen Isle. Two brothers predeceased him, Murray and William and two sisters, Laura and Jessie (Mrs. Morley Wilkinson). He was a life-long Baptist and active in that Church’s affairs, serving at one time as Clerk and on the Board of Managers for many years. At one time he was on the Beckwith Council and also a Trustee at Ramsay S. S. No. 8. He took an active interest in agricultural matters, His sound judgment and keen, kindly sense of humour will be missed by a host of friends. Pallbearers were: Elmer Reid, Bill Anderson, Hollie Lowry, Robt. Hawkins, Bert Lowry and Arnold Jackson.

 

RELATED READING

The Hidden Hideaway On Glen Isle

The Hidden Hideaway On Glen Isle

 

It all began with a toast to the King that day in 1824 when the Irish decided they too would like to drink to the King inside Morris’s Tavern which was situated right next to the Carleton Place Town Hall where the fountain now sits.

Of course, the English were having none of that, and Captain Glendinning incited his now drunk militia to attack the Irish. The pub keeper, Alex Morris, knew something awful was going to concur, so he fled for his life to Perth. First the clubs and shillelaghs came out, and then muskets were added to the battle.

A war correspondent from Perth who witnessed the battle May 5 1824, said the walls and floors of the grogerry were literally awash with blood. Miraculously, there were many wounded but no fatalities. The battle raged down Mill Street, and in confusion Hugh Boulton the miller was taken as a hostage.

Eventually the Irish recrossed the Mississippi River in boats at the foot of Mill Street where the old stone mills of Bates and Innes sat. Glendinning as a war “super-hero” was given 400 acres of land on a mile long island near Carleton Place called Glen Isle. Glendinning built the three foot wall home in 1823 of river limestone and field stone. It contained two huge fireplaces and is one of the few houses of Upper Canada that still has a bunk bed built into the wall. The original hand hewn door is still in use being closed and locked with a great key.

The Irish searched high and low for Glendinning that day but each time they entered the house,  there sat just his wife who was apparently alone with her daughter. Each and every time Glendinning saw the Irish coming towards his home he hightailed it into a fireplace recess he had built into one of his fireplaces. One would think that the Captain knew he was going to get into trouble one day.

Glendinning’s wife was an English woman of upper crust status who ended up dying broken hearted in that lonely stone home in the middle of nowhere. Both she and her daughter Amelia are buried somewhere in the field beyond the barn. Their graves were once marked, but the iron railings have long disappeared. After they died, Glendinning left for parts unknown but his presence was still felt in the area as he was blamed for most of the shenanigans that caused the Ballygiblins riots.

Glendinning’s home still sits hidden down a small private road hidden among the trees on Glen Isle near Carleton Place. Years ago I was fortunate to see the outside–maybe one day I might see the interior. This house is on PRIVATE PROPERTY so please respect the owners wishes.

The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
24 Aug 1973, Fri  •  Page 40

Related reading

When the Fenians Came to Visit

The Rare Fenian Medal of Private W. Rorison– Carleton Place Rifle Company
Fenians OR Ballygiblins? Fighting Irish 101

Fenian Raid Sale– Get Yer Boots Before You Have to go Fight Again

Debunking the Stories My Family Told Me

The Rare Fenian Medal of Private W. Rorison– Carleton Place Rifle Company

A Carleton Place Fenian Soldier’s Photo

Ballygiblin Riots in Carleton Place — Were We Bad to the Bone?

The Hidden Hideaway On Glen Isle

Samuel Hawkshaw- Carleton Place–Carleton Blazers of Bells Corners

So About that Ballygiblin Sign…. Fourteen Years Later!