Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd. fonds 1955-1990, n.d. (non-inclusive)

In March 1931, Captain Bruce Angus was sent to Sarnia by Gordon C. Leitch, general manager of Toronto Elevators. He was sent to inspect the Sarnian to ensure it was still seaworthy. Leitch was a savvy business man, who had been active in the business community for a number of years. Leitch began his career with a partner in the lumber business. When that went under he moved into graineries and worked for the Winnipeg Wheat Pool for 12 years. After Winnipeg he moved to Toronto, which was closer to his home town of Ridgetown, Ontario. In Toronto Leitch became manager of the Toronto branch of the Canadian Wheat Pool. While managing the wheat pools in Toronto Leitch became aware of huge costs associated with shipping the grains from the praries into the Toronto area. He felt that there was no need for such costs and decided to do something to make them better and cheaper for the business. Originally the grain was loaded onto Lakers that would bring the grain from the praries to Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. It was stored there until needed by the Toronto graineries and then hauled across land by either truck or train. The land journey was the most expensive and the one which Leitch wanted to eliminate. This was a fine plan except for 2 obstacles that were quickly overcome. First of all the Welland canals were not large enough to accommodate the large carriers that were bringing in the grain. This was changing as the expansion and widening of the canals was already underway. The second issue was the lack of storage in Toronto for the grain. The grain elevators had been destroyed by fire in the late 1880s and never replaced. Leitch propsed his company built its own storage elevators along the water front to allow not only for easier access to the grain, and more timely production of products. The elevators would aslo create a reduction in shipping costs and an overall more competitoive price for the customers of the grainery. The company refused, so Leitch went elsewhere to friends and contacts within the grain industry. The elevators were built and Leitch quit his job with the Canadian Wheat Pool and became the general manager of the elevators. Although the elevators were built and ready for storage the next issue was filling them. None of the carriers wanted to do business with Leitch because the competition in Georgian Bay threatened to cancel their contracts if they did. Leitch saw no way around this, but to provide his own transportation. This is when he sent Captain Bruce Angus to scout out potential ships. The ship was purchased for $37,000 and after another $30,000 was spent to fix it up, it was ready for business. The need for transportation and the finding of a seaworthy ship, lead to the beginnings of the Northland Steamship Company. The Sarnian proved to not be enough for the business underway. Leitch decided another ship was necessary. He joined forces with James Norris the owner of the Norris Grain Company. He proposed they join forces to create a more economical means of transportating their products.

Lt. Col. John Clark Papers, 1838-1851 [photocopy]

Lt. Col. John Clark (1787-1862) was born in Kingston, Upper Canada. In 1801 Clark became a private in the 1st regiment of the Lincoln Militia, serving under Ralfe Clench. By June 1812 he was promoted to lieutenant by Maj. Gen. Sir Isaac Brock. During the War of 1812 he served as lieutenant and adjutant for the Lincoln Militia flank company on the Niagara frontier under Col. William Claus, and was present at the surrender of the enemy at the battle of Queenston Heights. By 1838 the Lincoln Militia was being re-organized and Lt. Col John Clark was requested to lead the 5th Regiment, made up of men from both Grantham and Louth townships in Lincoln County. He served in this capacity until his retirement in 1851?. Around this same time Clark bought from William May Jr. a house in Grantham Township. He was to call his home Walnut Dale Farm. John Clark also served as the customs collector for Port Dalhousie, and as a secretary in the Welland Canal Company. One hundred years later efforts by a local heritage group to save John Clark’s home failed, when the house was hit by arsonists. By this time the house had become known as the May-Clark-Seiler House. See RG 195 Anne Taylor Fonds for more information regarding the efforts of the heritage group to save this home. Clark died in 1862 at the age of 79 years and is buried in Victoria Lawn Cemetery. John Clark’s daughter Catherine (mentioned in the diary portion of the papers) was married to William Morgan Eccles.

Michael Hogue fonds

Michael H. [Henry] Hogue (1878-1963) was the son of Lemuel and Frances Hogue of Wainfleet Township, Welland County. In 1901 Michael Hogue was married to Margaret Case and they had five sons, William, Lemuel, Harry, Ross and Frank. In the 1911 Census of Canada he is residing in Welland and working as a blacksmith for Howard H. Lymburner. At Lymburner’s retirement, Hogue purchased the business and moved it from 15 Niagara Street, Welland to 12 Frazer Street, Welland. Mr. Hogue’s blacksmith activities included work with various industries in Welland including the expansion of blacksmithing work into the automobile industry. Mr. Hogue also worked for subcontractors Canadian Dredge & Dock and G.L. Campbell. These jobs included work related to the Welland Ship Canal in 1923. The business ceased operation in 1956.

Bradley Institute of Music fonds

1.23 m. textual records, 1 col. post card, 1 b&w post card, 116 col. photographs, 59 b&w photographs, 6 negatives, 1 metal logo, 2 photo cuts, 7 woodcuts, 1 VHS tape, 1 stamp/press, 1 guest book, 5 account books

Irish John Willson United Empire Loyalist Family Fonds

John Willson first came to Upper Canada along with his friend Nathaniel Pettit in the late 1700s. They both moved with their families from New Jersey where they had both been imprisioned for not siding with the rebels and maintaining Loyalist allegiences. Pettit arrived with his four daughters, leaving his son behind. Willson came with his wife and nine children. Willson received 1200 acres of land as well as 200 per child. He settled at the corner of Dorchester road and Thorold Stone Road, where he and his family did very well for themselves. Willson as well as his son Thomas ran ox-teams on the portage. His son John became the proprietor of the Exchange hotel at Niagara, and Charles operated at the Pavilion hotel at Falls View. Shortly after his arrival in Upper Canada John Willson changed his name to “Irish” John Willson, as there were 5 other “John Willsons” which appeared on the Loyalists lists. Irish John drowned in the Niagara River in 1798, and his family continued to thrive in Niagara after his death. His second son Thomas Willson, married Abigail Pettit, daughter of his Father’s friend Nathaniel. Thomas was awarded 250 acres of land as a Loyalist and 200 for Abigail, as she was the daughter of a loyalist. He became a blacksmith and also operated ox-teams along the portage. He was Assessor for Stamford Township for 1800, 1807, 1820 and 1829. During the years 1808, 1822, 1825, 1826 and 1831 he was a tax collector and overseer of Statute of Labour. Thomas and Abigail Willson had nine children together. Francis Bond Head Willson of Beaverdams (mentioned throughout the collection) was a great grandson of Thomas and Abigail. Thomas and his wife are both buried beside the Lundy’s Lane United Church. *for more information on the remaining Willson family please refer to box #1, folders 1-3. * Genealogical information from a paper prepared by Pearl Wilson and given before the Lundy’s Lane Historical Society, May 1945, by Hazel Culp Ferris. Box 1 Folder 1.

Photograph of Josephine Sloman [n.d.]

Josephine Sloman pictured in this undated photograph taken in Niagara Falls. Josephine (Ellen Butler) Sloman was born in 1891 in London, Ontario. This small photo was among the family memorabilia in the possession of Rick Bell, of St. Catharines, whose ancestors include former Black slaves from the United States.

Lizzie Sloman with Ab and son in London, Ontario [n.d.]

A black and white photograph of Lizzie Sloman, with two men identified on the reverse as Ab (left) and son (right). The photograph is not dated but is recorded as being taken in London, Ontario. It appears the photo marks some occasion, as one gentleman is in full uniform, while the other is wearing a corsage. This photograph was in the possession of Rick Bell, of St. Catharines, whose mother was born a Sloman.

Lizzie and Sid Sloman, London, Ontario [n.d.]

An undated black and white photograph of Lizzie and Sid Sloman, taken outside a home in London, Ontario. This photo was in the possession of Rick Bell, of St. Catharines, whose mother was Iris Sloman Bell. The Sloman - Bell family ancestry includes escaped slaves from the United States who settled in southern Ontario.

Mary Bell with Rick Bell, early 1950s

A black and white photograph of a very young Rick Bell with his grandmother, Mary Bell. The location is not recorded on the photo, however, it is likely to be Niagara Falls or St. Catharines, Ontario. This photograph was in the possession of Rick Bell, who retrieved family memorabilia from the attic of his mother, Iris, in the 1980s. The Bell family ancestry includes former African American slaves who settled in Canada.

Josephine Sloman at Cottage in Parry Sound, Ontario

Josephine Sloman is pictured holding a wooden oar at a holiday cabin in Parry Sound, Ontario in this undated black and white photograph. Her husband, Albert, is likely the person standing to her left, visible through the trees. This photograph was in the possession of the Rick Bell family, of St. Catharines, Ontario. The Sloman - Bell families are descended from former Black slaves from the United States who settled in Ontario.

Small Cabinet Card of African American Man by John S. Thom, of Lucan, Ontario [n.d.]

A very small cabinet card type photograph of an unidentified man, possibly a relative of the Bell - Sloman family. A handwritten entry on the reverse of the photograph indicates it was taken by John S. Thom, of Lucan. No date is provided, however, John S. Thom is known to have been a photographer in Lucan from 1877-1882. This cabinet card was in the possession of Iris Sloman Bell, of St. Catharines. Relatives of the Sloman - Bell family include former African American slaves who settled in Canada.John S. Thom is listed as a photographer in Lucan, Ontario from 1877-1882. Aside from photography, he also operated a general store and sold notions. It appears he then moved to Sarnia, Ont. and is listed as a photographer there from 1882-1900. He is also recorded as being a Sarnia bicycle dealer. Source: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list (1851-1900). Sarnia: Iron Gate Publishing Co., 1990.

The Gleaner and Niagara Newspaper, December 18th, 1817

The Gleaner and Niagara Newspaper was a weekly paper in the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake that began publication December 4, 1817 and ceased in 1830. This bound volume has been divided by publication dates. Other dates included in the volume are: 25 December 1817 1818 January 1 1818 January 8 1818 January 15 1818 January 22 There is also a letter that was found inside the bound volume written by Andrew Heron on October 1 1817.

The Gleaner and Niagara Newspaper, December 25th, 1817

The Gleaner and Niagara Newspaper was a weekly paper in the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake that began publication December 4, 1817 and ceased in 1830. This bound volume has been divided by publication dates. Other dates included in the volume are: 1817 December 18 1818 January 1 1818 January 8 1818 January 15 1818 January 22 There is also a letter that was found inside the bound volume written by Andrew Heron on October 1 1817.

The Gleaner and Niagara Newspaper, January 1st, 1818

The Gleaner and Niagara Newspaper was a weekly paper in the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake that began publication December 4, 1817 and ceased in 1830. This bound volume has been divided by publication dates. Other dates included in the volume are: 1817 December 18 1817 December 25 1818 January 8 1818 January 15 1818 January 22 There is also a letter that was found inside the bound volume written by Andrew Heron on October 1 1817.

The Gleaner and Niagara Newspaper, January 8, 1818

The Gleaner and Niagara Newspaper was a weekly paper in the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake that began publication December 4, 1817 and ceased in 1830. This bound volume has been divided by publication dates. Other dates included in the volume are: 1817 December 18 1817 December 25 1818 January 1 1818 January 15 1818 January 22 There is also a letter that was found inside the bound volume written by Andrew Heron on October 1 1817.