MARY & Ed's Family

Monday, June 12, 2023

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Ad & Bill, alexander, Allison, April & Larry, Bill & Jeanne,

Monday, May 15, 2017

Ed's Family

Some Amos History

Puslinch Historical Society Spirit Walk June 11, 2013

Alexander Amos
Birth 1819 Roxburghshire, Scotland
Death July 18, 1891 Puslinch, Ontario, Canada

Mrs. J. Amos (Jane Tedman)
Birth 1820 Eskdalemoor, Dumfries
Death 1894 Aberfoyle, Ontario, Canada

Marriage July 17, 1838 Crosslee, Parish of Ettrick, Selkirk, Scotland

Amos is not a typical Scottish name, but the Amos family of Wellington County did actually come from Scotland. According to the internet, the Amos name had Jewish origins in the distant past and is synonymous with the Biblical name Moses. In Wales, the surname Amos is associated with the Gwenedd tribe and in the far north of Scotland Amos is connected to clan Gunn which has a Norse patrilineage. These bits of information do give an exotic flavour to the Amos story.

Alexander Amos was born in 1808 in Roxboroughshire, Scotland which lies on the boundary with England, and is known as "The Borders". In the past the clans went in for sheep stealing and cattle rustling back and forth across the border here.

Alexander married Jane Tidman, and they had four children, Elizabeth, Isabella, Jessie, and Thomas before they left Scotland. Unemployment was high in Scotland around 1850. Scottish records indicate that Alexander was a labourer and no doubt lack of work was a contributing factor in the decision to

emigrate. He may have been one of the crofters who had earlier been forced off his bit of land during the Clearances, but we have no records to show this. .When emigrating, the usual practice was for a few families to travel together for mutual assistance in the new land.

Amoses came with Fergusons and Reddicks their destination wasNorth Dumfries. North Dumfries. was then being settled almost exclusively by Scots from their home parish, Roxboroughshire and the adjoining parish Selkirkshire. It seems Alexander Amos had an uncle who had already settled in North Dumfries.

About 1855 Alexander Amos and his wife arrived in Canada with three of their four children, Isabella, Jessie, and Thomas. The oldest, 12 year old Elizabeth, got sick just as they were about to sail. Their belongings had been sold, passage booked and luggage already on board ship. There was no turning back, so she had to stay behind. However, she followed them a few months later travelling alone with her destination pinned to the lapel of her coat.

They stayed at Roseville in North Dumfries for a short while before buying a two acre plot in Puslinch on Concession 7, Lot 16, five miles south of Guelph. Alexander worked as a hired hand for neighbouring farmers and did road work on Brock Road. Three more children were born after Alexander and Jane arrived in Puslinch William, Robert and Mary seven altogether.

In 1861, Alexander, was 53. He had worked for others all his life but did not yet have a farm of his own. He had three young sons whom he no doubt hoped to get established on their own land someday. He was the sole earner in the household, so probably felt he could never save enough to get land in Puslinch which was nearly all taken up by then, and increasing in price.

Keppel township in Grey County had opened up for settlement in 1856. Alexander was able to buy land there and his 100 acre purchase was registered in 1861. The terms were one third down in cash, the balance in six equal payments annually. Much of this land was being bought sight unseen, and many a settler, on seeing his land , found it quite unfit for farming. This may well have been the case with Alexander, as it appears that he never lived there. In fact, the 1861 census has him and his whole family still in Puslinch. However, Alexander kept the land for twenty years.

In 1869, Alexander sold his two acres in Puslinch. From the sale of this lot, he was finally able to buy a 99 acre farm with a frame house on Concession 8 Rear, Lot 14. He was 61 years old by then. Here they lived, raised their family, and celebrated their 50th anniversary.

In 1884, Alexander sold his Keppel land for $600. He made out his will in 1889, and died two years later in 1891 at the age of 88. Scottish tradition held that the eldest son would inherit the land, so Alexander left his farm to his eldest son Thomas, subject to a $100 a year legacy for his wife. His daughters each received $20 and his second son William received $200, to be paid two years after his death. Alexander also left $20 each to his widowed daughter Isabella's two children, but it looks like his grandson John McCready Black may never have received his share, because his name was scratched off the quit claim document when the will was processed. John McCready Black was a trapper living in Great Falls Montana, and there are newspaper accounts of him being murdered there about 1905. William Scott Amos, his uncle, travelled to Montana to bring his body back to Puslinch.

Alexander's third son Robert, who never married, was not mentioned in the will. The family history says that he was a natural born farmer, and that he would have been the best suited to inherit the homestead. But he was said to be fond of drink, which his father frowned on. His fiancé broke off their engagement and little is known of his life thereafter. He left Puslinch, but returned, extremely ill, several years later. He died in 1915 and it is said that he is buried in Crown beside his parents. There is no stone for him. He never married.

Thomas, who had inherited the land, was not really cut out for farming. He lost the farm in 1915, and moved in to Aberfoyle, and later to Guelph.

Elizabeth, the oldest daughter, married William Cockburn. William's health was never good. He had lost an arm in a circular saw accident and his father gave him 50 acres where he built a home for his family. He worked as an assessor,tax collector and constable. His health began to fail and he took a trip to the old country in hopes of improvement, but to no avail. He died in 1869 leaving Elizabeth with a five year old son and an unborn daughter. In her old age Elizabeth was a bedridden invalid for many years, but noted for her beautiful prize winning needlework.

When she was fifteen years old, Isabella , the second daughter, went skating on Aberfoyle pond and fell. She never walked again. She died at the age of 29. It was her two children who inherited $20 each from their grandfather Alexander.

Although our records indicate that Alexander, his wife, and five of his seven children are buried in Crown cemetery, not all of them have headstones. There is no headstone for Alexander, but records show that his grave is located in Section B., Row 6, Lot 1 in the north corner at the rear.

Alexander Amos and his family had their share of hardship, sadness and adversity. It is fitting that we acknowledge the qualities that brought them through it all, qualities that their descendants can be proud of and cherish.

Grandma Nancy Amos, Ed's Mother

Monday, March 16, 2015

Mary's Family

Killian and Catherine (Grube) Schmidt

Mary's Mother and Father

Mary, William, Margaret, Lavigna, Lizzie, John & Annie

Lavigna, Annie, Margaret, William, Mary, & Henry

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Mary & Ed

Killian & Catherine (Grube) Schmidt

Mary's Mother & Father

Alexander Amos 1819-1891

Ed's Grandfather

Mary (Schmidt) Amos

Mary & Ed's Wedding

Amos---Schmidt

A very pretty wedding took place at high noon on Tuesday, June 18, 1918, at the home of Mrs. Killian Schmidt, Elmira, when her daughter Mary Edna, was married to Mr. Edward A. Amos.

The ceremony was performed by Rev. G. F. Brown, in the presence of only the immediate relatives and friends of the contracting parties.

Mr. and Mrs. Amos were the recipients of many beautiful and valuable gifts.

The bride was attended by Miss Ella Amos, sister of the groom, and the groom by Mr. Archie Morris. After a honeymoon trip to Guelph and the Niagara Penninsula, the young couple will take up their residence in Elmira.

The Govenor's House for the Waterloo County Jail, Queen St. N.
My Brother, Harry told me, the Amos Family once lived in the House seen Behind

The Amos, Kids Pre 1933

Marjory, Harry, Bill, Carl & Donny

The Family Home 1933 to 1952

Mary & Ed

Edward Amos (1888-1962) and Mary Edna Schmidt (1893-1970) were the last Keeper and Matron of the House of Industry and Refuge from 1933-1954.Edward was born in Puslinch, Ontario to William Scott Amos (1855-1935) and Nancy Robinson (1859-1939). He grew up alongside his five siblings: Isabella Beth (1879-), William Alexander (1881-1923), Ernest (1885-), Jessie Martha (1891-), and Ella Nancy (1897-). During Edward’s childhood, his father, William Scott, was working as a stone mason in Wellington County. By his late teenage years, Edward was working in a factory earning $150.00 annually. William continued working as a stone mason until his 60s when he became a labourer and did odd jobs for money.Mary Edna was born in Floradale, Ontario to Killean Schmidt (1846-1906), Catherine Grube (1852-1933). When Mary was young, the family moved to Waterloo where she grew up with her siblings: Lizzie (1875-1962), Henry (1877-1920), Levina (1879-1961), Marjorie (1881-1962), William (1883-1970), and Emil (1885-1886).Edward and Mary Edna Schmidt married in 1918 and moved to Elmira together to start a family. They had a number of children together. At the time of their marriage, Edward was working as an appraiser and Mary was working as a shoe fitter.

Grandma (Nancy Robinson) and Marjory Amos

Donny & Rgver

Mom & Donald

Ed Amos, top right,at Waterloo Counttry Council Meeting
1937

Edward A. Amos Edward A. Amos, 73, of RR 3, Waterloo, died Tuesday of a heart attack while vacationing at his summer home on Chemong Lake, near Peterborough. Born June 7, 1889, at Aberfoyle, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Amos, he lived in the Twin Cities for many years. He was manager of the Waterloo County House of Refuge for 21 years, until his retirement in 1954 and was a life member of Waterloo Masonic Lodge. He is survived by his wife, the former Mary Schmidt, whom he married June 18, 1918, In Elmira; four sons, Harry and William, both of RR 3, Waterloo, and Carl and Donald, both of Kitchener; one. daughter, Mrs. Alfred (Marjorie) Kavelman of Bridgeport, and 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was predeceased by two brothers and three sisters. The body rests at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home, where the funeral will be conducted Friday at. 2 p.m. by Rev. G. F. Barthel of Zion Evangelical United Brethern Church, Burial will be in Union Cemetery, Elmira.^1a http://generations.regionofwaterloo.ca/getperson.php?personID=I73942&tree=generations

Mary E. Amos (Schmidt)

Mrs. Edward A. Amos of 47 Hickson Drive, died Friday at K-W Hospital after a lengthy illness. She was 77. Mrs. Amos was the former Mary Edna. Schmidt, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Killian Schmidt. She was born in Floradale and lived in the Twin City area all her life. She was a member of Zion United Church and Brillian Rebekah Lodge. She was predeceased by her husband July 3, 1962, and by three brothers and four sisters. Surviving are four sons, Harry, Carl and Donald, all of Kitchener and William of Waterloo; one daughter, Mrs. Alfred (Marjorie) Kavelman of Kitchener; 14 grandchildren and 10 great- grandchildren. The body is at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home where a Rebekah Lodge service will be held Sunday at 8 p.m. Rev. G. F. Barthel will conduct the funeral service Monday at 3 p.m. Burial will be

in Union Cemetery, Elmira. http://generations.regionofwaterloo.ca/getperson.php?personID=I56036&tree=generations

Don, Carl, Bill, Harry

Carl, Marjory, Harry, Bill, Don

Mary and Edward

Amos Family Before Harry Went Overseas 1944

Mary & Ed

Harry, Bill, Marge, Carl, Don

Carl, Edith, Ada, Harry

Don, Alf, Marge

Marge, Harry, Carl & Don

June, 1988

Amos' Kids Spouses

Ada, Greta, Edith and Alf

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Marge & Alf

November 8, 1991

November 8, 1941

Marjorie Kavelman, passed away in her home at Lanark Place in Kitchener,

surrounded by the love of family, on March 12 at the age of 85 years.

Marjorie was born in Elmira, Ontario. Predeceased by Alfred, her beloved husband of 60 years, dear mother of Bill of Ayr and friend Lorna Wittman of Elmira, Mary Lou Gutscher and Peter Maurice of London, Barb & Rodger Carey of Moorefield, Larry & April Kavelman of Bolton, Bob & Sue Kavelman of Amherstburg and Nancy Laycock of Kitchener; loving grandmother to Jason (Amy), Denise (Jeff Schmidt), Ryan, Chris (Darlene), Tami, and Meghan Kavelman, Brenda Cline and Terry Stratton, Dave (Karin) Gutscher, Darryl (Marie) Gutscher, Rob (Verioska) Berg, Ron (Rhonda) Carey, Rhonda (Bill) DeVries, Jodi (Larry) Marchuk, Marci (Rodney) Anderson, Phillip and Michelle Laycock; great-grandmother of Vincent and Christine Kavelman, Jamie and Stevie McKeeman, Larissa, Shannon, and Matthias Gutscher, Rachel Rivers, Tristynn and Toni Marchuk, Dylan and Brooke Anderson, and Jessica Kavelman. She will be sadly missed by her brothers, Harry and Don Amos, her sisters-in-law Greta and Edith Amos, her brother-in-law Eldon Kavelman, her many nieces and nephews, and her close friends and relatives.
Predeceased by her parents, Edward and Mary Amos, her grandson Adam Kavelman, her brothers Bill and Carl Amos, and her sister-in-law, Ada Amos.
Marjorie was an excellent bookkeeper and was active as a volunteer and leader in her community for many years, as well as always finding time to chauffeur her children to sports, music lessons, and social activities. She was the first librarian in Bridgeport, Ontario, and a partner in her husband Alf (Red) Kavelman's businesses, Kitchener Brake and Steering and Bridgeport Sunoco. A member of Bridgeport United Church and the Women's Institute (United Church Women), she was an inspiration and a role model for her family, friends, co-workers and acquaintances because of her kindness and sense of life. She lit up a room and made people smile wherever she went.
The family is grateful for the care and love provided by the nurses and staff at Lanark Place, especially during her recent illness.
The Kavelman family will receive friends at the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick St. Kitchener (519-749-8467)from 7-9 PM Monday, and from 9:30-11AM Tuesday, March 15, 2005 until the Funeral Service at 11 AM,
Rev. Brenda Woodall officiating. Interment Elmira Union Cemetery.