Tag Archives: mount blow farm

Sarah Duff McPherson and John Paul — Mount Blow Farm

Standard

Name:Sarah McPherson
Age:22
Gender:Female
Birth Place:Canada
Residence:Carleton Place
Spouse Name:John Paul
Spouse Age:24
Spouse Gender:Male
Spouse Birth Place:Canada
Spouse Residence:Ramsay Township
Marriage Date:4 Jan 1860
Father Name:George McPherson
Mother Name:Jane Marr
Spouse Father Name:Andrew Paul
Spouse Mother Name:Euphemia Yule
County:Lanark
Name:Sarah Duff McPherson
Gender:Female
Age:40
Birth Date:abt 1838
Birth Place:Canada
Death Date:26 Jun 1878
Death Place:Lanark, Ontario, Canada
Religion:Presbyterian
Cause of Death:Puerpairal Convulsions
Name:John Paul
Gender:Male
Marital Status:Married
Age:69
Birth Year:abt 1822
Birth Place:Ireland
Residence Date:1891
Residence Place:Dalhousie and Sherbrooke North, Lanark North, Ontario, Canada
Relation to Head:Head
Religion:Free Church
Occupation:Farmer
Can Read:Yes
Can Write:Yes
French Canadian:No
Spouse’s Name:Sarah Paul
Father’s Birth Place:Ireland
Mother’s Birth Place:Ireland
Division Number:2
Neighbours:View others on page
Household MembersAgeRelationshipJohn Paul69HeadSarah Paul70WifeMartha Paul45DaughterArchable Paul32Son

As in the fall, when the frosts of winter creep o’er the land, Nature one by one calls away the flowers she cherishes, so the Lord, as the snows- of age begin to fall, calls home ones he loves. The last to receive what was to him a welcome. summons was Mr. John Paul, of “Mount Blow Farm,” Ramsay.

Mr. Paul had been ill only about a month from progressive paralysis,and the news came as a painful shock to his friends, who were hoping to soon see him around again not realizing the seriousness of his malady. He was a man universally admired and respected for his sterling character and upright life. Always ready to befriend the unfortunate or to lend a cheering hand where the shadows of sickness or death had fallen.

Bom in a house which stood on the site of the dwelling in which he died, he lived continuously for sixty-eight years on “Mount Blow Farm-” He was bom June 14th, 1835, his father being. the late Andrew Paul, who was one of the pioneer Scotch settlers of this section, as was also his mother, who before her marriage was Miss Effie Yuill. His father died in I800, and the responsibility’ of a family, of’ two brothers and six sisters fell on his shoulders. 

On 4th of January, 1860, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Duff McPherson. Their union was blessed with nine children—eight boys and one girl, of whom six survive—John L., Innisville ; George MoP., Sarnia ; William J.., on the homestead ; David M., Advocate, Thiessaton ; Jas. M., Oak Lake, Man., and the only daughter, Miss Effie B., Brockville. The dead are Andrew, Frank and Robert. Mrs. Paul died in 1871, and for eight years he lived alone, but in 1882 he married the widow of Mr. H. A. Robertson of Perth, who survives him. Deceased was a Presbyterian in religion, and all his life was closely connected with church work, more particularly with the Sunday school department.

For over forty years, first at the old eighth line church and later, at the eighth line (Greig’s) school, he taught Sunday school, instilling it to the irinds of the children the first principles of a true Christian life, and at the same time setting them a shining example in his own life. Hewas an elder in St. Andrew’s church, Almonte, which church he appealed to.

In politics he was a Liberal, but always supported that which he thought was for the best interests of the country. He was often urged to enter public life, but could never be prevailed upon to do so, preferring to distribute his efforts in doing good to the greatest number rather than contain his attention to any  line of work. He was a man without a known enemy, and his advice was eagerly sought after and readily given to all classes. 

His death has caused a vacancy in the countryside which will be felt for years, and which w ill not be easily filled. About 45 years ago he commenced the lime burning business, which he carried on successfully on his farm. A few years ago his son William was admitted to the business, which from that time was carried on under the firm name of J . Paul & Son. The funeral on Monday was a worthy tribute to a worthy man. The attendance was very large, and was representative of the whole district. The cortege was over a mile long, and as it wound its way to the eighth line cemetery gave indisputable evidence of the popularity of the deceased, and of the esteem and respect in which he was held. May 2, 1903 of an Apopletic Stroke.

Photo and text- North Lanark Regional Museum
James P. Paul -Interviewed November 4, 2013 by Sarah Chisholm
Catalogue No.: 2013.43.1
Duration: 42 minutes
Photo: L-R: Sarah, Jim
James P. Paul (Jim Paul) comes from a long line of farmers. He grew up on Mount Blow Farm in Ramsay which was started by the Paul family in 1821.
Mount Blow Farm operated as a mixed farm until the early 1900s and was well known for its lime kiln business which ran from the 1860s to 1908. In 1925 the farm began the transition from mixed farming to dairy farming, building a purebred Holstein herd. In 1951 Jim Paul officially joined his father and his brother on the farm. Mount Blow Farm continued to expand and evolve. The farm improved with the addition of milking machines, a bulk tank and a pipeline all added by 1970.
Jim speaks about the history of the farm, the equipment changes and also speaks about his father, Norman Paul. Norman Paul is well known in Lanark County for his whittlings and dioramas.
This is a great interview for anyone interested in the history of Ramsay, agriculture, in particular the dairy industry.
 

Related reading

Ken Manson– 1986 Interview with Helen & Jimmie Dodds –Side 1B — Bill Croft and Farm Machinery

The Wondrous Life of Norman Paul

The Amazing Mr. Paul

The Mysterious 5th Line ?????

Recollections of Bert Hazelwood 1973

The Amazing Mr. Paul

Standard

 

norma.jpg

Photo from the Carleton Place Canadian files from the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

When I first moved to Carleton Place in 1981 I joined the Carleton Place Historical Society. Each month when I attended their meetings at the Carleton Place Library Mr. Paul would tell me stories that kept me coming back each month just to see him. There is no doubt that Mr. Paul became an inspiration years later to tell stories about Lanark County. He once told me that if I heard a story about the local area to keep passing it on so no one will ever forget.

 

ACJB00010001.jpg

Mount Blow Farm- donated by Norman Paul to the North Lanark Regional Museum

 

Norman,  was a fixture of Lanark County more than anyone I had ever met at the time. His father came from Scotland in 1821 and settled in what was called  the Mount Blow farm on the Rae side just a bit south-west of Almonte. Norman was born January 1, 1900 on the farm that is said to be situated on a *narrow round strip of white limestone.

Norman Paul’s great grandfather was the first Assessor in Ramsay in 1836 and when I knew him Norman still had the Census Sheet for the southwest half of Ramsay Township for the Census taken in 1837.

What people remember most about Norman besides his stories was that he was a whittler. His wooden creations are still in the North Lanark Museum in Appleton today and these dioramas were made in the 1980s depicting local pioneer life.

Norman used to travel to schools, fairs and other events to display his dioramas and give presentations on pioneer life. When the North Lanark Regional Museum opened in Appleton in 1970, Norman donated the majority of his pieces to the museum where they continued to be on display for the public. Unfortunately the museum burned down in 1979 and the collection was destroyed. Fortunately Norman Paul decided to remake the dioramas and again donated them to the rebuilt museum in the 80s.

I consider myself blessed to have known Norman Paul, and it isn’t often I don’t remember the smile of the 1987 “Maple Man of the Year”. In fact I never want too– he was that important to me and the rest of Lanark County.

 

historicalnotes

Perth Courier, March 27, 1868

Leckie-Paul—Married, at Mount Blow Ramsay, by the Rev. Wm. McKenzie, on the 20th inst., Mr. John Leckie to Miss Marion Paul, both of Ramsay.

14045943_866225960176311_6608319395586847468_n.jpg

June of 1905. This school photo features teachers, Miss Ida Paul and Miss Lizzie Spears, who are located second and seventh from the left in the back row–North Lanark Regional Museum

 

*Many of the stone structures built in Almonte depended upon the Paul kiln for limestone. Lime was shipped as far as Merrickville from the “Mount Blow” kiln, as it was called, and old account books list buyers from Innisville, North Gower, Franktown, Smiths Falls, Prospect, Ashton, Huntley, Richmond, and other outlying points. The kiln was built of black iron stone on the site of a steep hill. It was barrel-shaped with an arched entrance, lined with fire brick and the front covered with dressed stone. Gum woods such as hemlock, tamarack, pine, spruce and cedar were used for firing. The manufacturing season began generally in mid February and ran to mid December. There were 12 or 14 such kilns in operation on the Paul farm by 1866 and the greatest production year was 1885 when they sold 9000 bushels. John Paul & Sons were awarded a bronze medal at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition in London in 1886 for their sample of lime.- Jean S. McGill book ‘A Pioneer History of Lanark County’ on the settlement of Ramsay Township

PAUL, FRANK YUILL – In hospital, Ottawa, Ontario on Tuesday, March 7th, 1989. Frank Yuill Paul – beloved husband of Eleanor Jean Clapp. Loving father of Geoffrey at home; Nancy, Sudbury; Allen, Whitehorse, Yukon and David of Toronto. Dear son of Norman Paul, RR 2, Almonte and the late Caroline Bowland. Dear brother of Ruth (Mrs. Arthur Armstrong), Burks Falls, Ontario: Jim, RR 2, Almonte and Norma Paul of Akron, Ohio. In his 49th year. Friends called at the Kerry Funeral Home, 154 Elgin Street, Almonte on Wednesday and Thursday. Funeral service was held at Almonte United Church on Friday, March l0th. Rev. Clifford Evans and Jack Lougheed officiated. Cremation, Ottawa.
James P. Paul

Photo and text- North Lanark Regional Museum

James P. Paul -Interviewed November 4, 2013 by Sarah Chisholm
Catalogue No.: 2013.43.1
Duration: 42 minutes
Photo: L-R: Sarah, Jim

James P. Paul (Jim Paul) comes from a long line of farmers. He grew up on Mount Blow Farm in Ramsay which was started by the Paul family in 1821.

Mount Blow Farm operated as a mixed farm until the early 1900s and was well known for its lime kiln business which ran from the 1860s to 1908. In 1925 the farm began the transition from mixed farming to dairy farming, building a purebred Holstein herd. In 1951 Jim Paul officially joined his father and his brother on the farm. Mount Blow Farm continued to expand and evolve. The farm improved with the addition of milking machines, a bulk tank and a pipeline all added by 1970.

Jim speaks about the history of the farm, the equipment changes and also speaks about his father, Norman Paul. Norman Paul is well known in Lanark County for his whittlings and dioramas.

This is a great interview for anyone interested in the history of Ramsay, agriculture, in particular the dairy industry.

 

The Paul Family–Learn more about the Paul family at the North Lanark Regional Museum-The Story of the Paul Family at Mount Blow Farm (Yellow Duotang) — — Four Page typed information on the Paul Family at Mount Blow Farm #73

 

 

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