James Haggert Parks

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-119314

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/217747945
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-224450
• Occupation: 1891, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Wagon Maker
• Residence: 1891, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Occupation: 1911, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Carriage Maker, Shop
• Residence: 1911, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Notes:

ONE OF OLDEST NATIVES IS DEAD

IN DEATH OF W. PARKS DISTRICT LOSES ONE OF OLDEST NATIVE SONS.

In the death of William Parks, who passed away shortly before noon yesterday at his home on Queen street east, Hespeler loses one of its oldest and most respected citizens and this district loses one of its oldest native-born sons. The deceased was in his 78th year and passed away peacefully yesterday morning. after a prolonged illness.

The late Mr. Parks was born at Puslinch Lake in 1849 and has been lifelong resident of the adjacent a life district. At the age of about 16 years he came to Hespeler, where he learned the the carriage-making trade at the establishment James Anderson operated In later by opened a carriage and wagon works later years he on Queen street, which he operated until recent years. This was his chosen vocation and he had been employed at it for practically all his life, excepting for a time when he held a position with the Goldie- McCulloch company in Galt.

In 1869 he married Miss Elizabeth Lochead of Hespeler, who survives him.

The late Mr. Parks was the oldest living member of the United church, having been on that congregation for over sixty years. He was also a charter member of the Royal Templars When the forerunner of the present Highland Light Infantry was formed, the deceased was among the first to volunteer to enter the ranks and he was also a devotee of hunting and fishing and all similar out-of-door sports.

He is survived by his wife, two sons, Ralph C. Parks of Preston and Alex. Parks of this town, one sister, Mrs. William Hortop, Queen street, and one brother, J. Wesley Parks, Queen street.

The funeral will be held on Tuesday afternoon at 2.30 o'clock from his late residence to the Hespeler cemetery.

Galt Evening Reporter 4 Jul 1927

______________


PARKS, WILLIAM

Another Old Resident Passes

Shortly before noon on Sunday, July 3, 1927, at his home on Queen St. East in Hespeler. He was born in Puslinch Township over 77 years ago and has resided all his life in this district. He spent the early years of his life at Puslinch Lake, where his father kept a hotel. As a young man of 16 years, he came to Hespeler and was apprenticed to the late James Anderson, with whom he learned the wagon making and which he plied most of his lifetime, opening an establishment of his own, except several years he spent working for Goldie-McCullough at Galt. In 1879, he married Elizabeth Lochead of Hespeler. Surviving are his wife; two sons, Alex of Hespeler; Ralph C. of Preston; one brother, J. Wesley; and one sister, Mrs. William Hortop, both of Hespeler. Having spent his lifetime in the district, many were the reminiscences he had of the early days and being of a genial disposition, he remembered the humourous side of them. He enlisted with the militia the year of the Fenian Raids. He was a lifelong member of the United Church, having been one of that congregation for over sixty years. He was also a charter member of the Royal Templars. When the forerunner of the present Highland Light Infantry was formed, he was among the first to volunteer to enter the ranks. He was a devotee of hunting and fishing and all manner of outdoor sports. Though ill for years with asthma and heart trouble, he always looked on the bright side of things and was well liked by his wide circle of friends. The funeral was held T uesday afternoon at 2: 30 from his residence to Hespeler Cemetery. Rev. H. L. Merner of the United Church officiated. Pallbearers: John S. Baker, John Jardine, William Hortop, A. J. Beattie, Alex Parks, all of Hespeler and Ralph Parks of Preston.

A Celebration of Lives Obituaries of Puslinch Township, Wellington Co., Ontario Vol 2 Anna Jackson & Marjorie Clark
Used with kind permission of Marjorie Clark

William married Elizabeth Lockhead 21 Dec 1871. Elizabeth (daughter of James Lochhead and Alzina Walker) was born 16 Mar 1852, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 4 Jan 1944, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , New Hope Cemetery, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/217747971
• Name: Elizabeth Parks
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-119317P
• Residence: 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; United Presbyterian
• Residence: 1891, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1911, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/208342286
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-81983

Notes:

PARKS, ALEXANDER

It is our painful duty to record the death of another old Puslinch settler, Mr. Parks of Puslinch Lake, at his residence, on Thursday morning, February 5, 1880, quietly, after a short illness, being at the time nearly 62 years old. He was buried in Hespeler Cemetery on Friday afternoon. About 400 people followed the body to the grave, and after the committal, they went to the Methodist Church in Hespeler, where Rev. E. Holmes preached a funeral discourse. He was born in Preston in 1819. His father, a native of Ireland, emigrated at an early period and died a few years ago, aged 99 years, after falling in a creek. When quite a young man, he removed to Beverly where he resided for several years. He came to Puslinch Lake in 1843 from Beverly and lived here thirty-seven years. He was a carpenter, a keen and successful hunter. Speaking of Mr. Parks early life, a Guelph Mercury correspondent says: Puslinch Lake was then surrounded by an almost unbroken forest, with here and there a settler struggling against great difficulties and endeavouring with uplifted axe and hard continuous toil to obtain the necessaries of life and carve out a home in the wilderness. In those days, the woods were full of game, the lake with fish. Bear and deer were numerous. At this period, packs of wolves were often heard in the stillness of the night, howling in dismal chorus on the banks of Puslinch Lake. The successful hunter was then an important member of society. All these things, then so common, are now unknown and nearly forgotten. In a few short years, all the old settlers will be gone, all the living actors in the early history of Canada will have disappeared from the scene and we shall be left with only a traditional knowledge of backwood life and pioneer's difficulties and hardships, which our fathers passed through in the early settlement of our country. He is survived by his widow and six children, four of whom are married and two remaining at home. Mr. Parks was justly respected by his friends and neighbours for his great kindness of heart and for his obliging disposition. He was generous almost to a fault and no one ever applied to him for assistance or help in any shape in vain.

A Celebration of Lives Obituaries of Puslinch Township, Wellington Co., Ontario Vol 2 Anna Jackson & Marjorie Clark
Used with kind permission of Marjorie Clark

Alexander married Mary Ann Eagle 8 Dec 1842. Mary (daughter of Samuel Eagle and Anne Cook) was born 24 Sep 1827, , Norfolk, England; died 4 Feb 1908, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , New Hope Cemetery, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/208342338
• Name: Mary Ann Parks
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-81981
• Immigration: 1835

Notes:

PARKS, MARY ANN (Nee Eagle)

Another of our oldest and most respected residents, relict of the late Alexander Parks, in her 81^st year. On Tuesday morning, February 4, 1908, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. William Hortop. She had been quite infirm for a few years but was always able to be more or less about, until some few weeks ago, when she was taken seriously ill at the home of her daughter. Born in Norfolk County in England, she came to Beverly with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Eagle, when she was 11 years of age. After a time, they removed to the head of Puslinch Lake, to the farm now occupied by Marvin Eagle. Mrs. Park's mother was one of the earliest schoolteachers in these parts. She taught school in her own home. Archie McAllister was one of her pupils. Mrs. Parks remembered when Galt was so small that it could boast of nothing but a blacksmith shop, hotel and one store. After the grist mill was built at Galt, her husband would take the flour home on his back. Her nearest relatives lived in Blenheim Township and there, she would sometimes visit, taking her children on horseback, following the blazed trail through the woods. Great excitement prevailed when the macadamized road was being built to from Hamilton to Guelph. The next epoch of the kind was when the railroad was being built through Hespeler. The late A. J. Brewster, while filling a contract for railway ties, lived at her home. Her father, on one occasion, was extra late getting home, as a consequence of having to await moonlight to get home safely, for a pack of wolves were in the neighbourhood. Mother and daughter went in search of the father and the wolves passed them by, on the side that the wind protected them from detection. A panther was in the vicinity on one occasion. These are some of the thrilling stories that she was able to tell to her grandchildren. She was married to Alexander Parks on December 8, 1842 by Rev. William Meldrum. Mr. J. W. Parks is the proud possessor of their marriage license, which is properly considered an heirloom of the family. Printing was out of the question; it was neatly written with pen and ink. They settled at Puslinch Lake (at Barber's Beach), on property now owned by Mr. J. Wayper, having paid for the property with a goose and a gander. For many years, they conducted the Park's Hotel, now the property of Josh Wayper. Mrs. Parks was a member of the Methodist Church for upwards of sixty years. That she always inculcated righteous living in her family may be known by the godly walk of those, who are following in her footsteps. Since the death of her husband twenty-six years ago, Mrs. Parks made her home with her children. She was blessed with no less than forty grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren. Her daughter, Mrs. Alfred Howitt predeceased her sixteen years ago. Survived by Mrs. John Blatchford, Mrs. Hannah Brown, William Parks, J. Wesley Parks and Mrs. William Hortop. The funeral took place on Wed. , Feb. 6 at 2 from the residence of her son- in-law, William Hortop and was largely attended. Interment Hespeler Cemetery.

- Information from marriage certificates: Elizabeth Ann Parks married Alfred Howitt. Mary Ann Parks married John Blatchford.

A Celebration of Lives Obituaries of Puslinch Township, Wellington Co., Ontario Vol 2 Anna Jackson & Marjorie Clark
Used with kind permission of Majorie Clark

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-55538
• Occupation: 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Finisher
• Residence: 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; United Presbyterian

Notes:

James Lochhead was employed at the Galt Edged Tool Works, then known as Date and Distin, since H. H. Date and W. L. Distin were the proprietors. Grandma recalls taking messages to him at his work, being carefully handed from one worker to another past the burning forge till she safely reached her destination. She remembers proudly that tools which he made in Galt were shown in a red-lined box and won first prize at the Exposition in Paris, France.


Mrs. Ophelia Rife A Warm And Tender Tribute By Carol Dunnett, Forty-Fourth [1956] Annual Report Of The Waterloo Historical Society

James — Alzina Walker. Alzina (daughter of John Walker and Hannah Hungerford) was born Oct 1830, , Ontario, Canada; died 1915; was buried , New Hope Cemetery, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Alzina Lochhead
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-70018P
• Residence: 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; United Presbyterian
• Residence: 1891, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1911, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-82470

Notes:

PARKS, ALEXANDER

It is our painful duty to record the death of another old Puslinch settler, Mr. Parks of Puslinch Lake, at his residence, on Thursday morning, February 5, 1880, quietly, after a short illness, being at the time nearly 62 years old. He was buried in Hespeler Cemetery on Friday afternoon. About 400 people followed the body to the grave, and after the committal, they went to the Methodist Church in Hespeler, where Rev. E. Holmes preached a funeral discourse. He was born in Preston in 1819. His father, a native of Ireland, emigrated at an early period and died a few years ago, aged 99 years, after falling in a creek. When quite a young man, he removed to Beverly where he resided for several years. He came to Puslinch Lake in 1843 from Beverly and lived here thirty-seven years. He was a carpenter, a keen and successful hunter. Speaking of Mr. Parks early life, a Guelph Mercury correspondent says: Puslinch Lake was then surrounded by an almost unbroken forest, with here and there a settler struggling against great difficulties and endeavouring with uplifted axe and hard continuous toil to obtain the necessaries of life and carve out a home in the wilderness. In those days, the woods were full of game, the lake with fish. Bear and deer were numerous. At this period, packs of wolves were often heard in the stillness of the night, howling in dismal chorus on the banks of Puslinch Lake. The successful hunter was then an important member of society. All these things, then so common, are now unknown and nearly forgotten. In a few short years, all the old settlers will be gone, all the living actors in the early history of Canada will have disappeared from the scene and we shall be left with only a traditional knowledge of backwood life and pioneer's difficulties and hardships, which our fathers passed through in the early settlement of our country. He is survived by his widow and six children, four of whom are married and two remaining at home. Mr. Parks was justly respected by his friends and neighbours for his great kindness of heart and for his obliging disposition. He was generous almost to a fault and no one ever applied to him for assistance or help in any shape in vain.

A Celebration of Lives Obituaries of Puslinch Township, Wellington Co., Ontario Vol 2 Anna Jackson & Marjorie Clark
Used with kind permission of Marjorie Clark

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-168318

Samuel married Anne Cook 12 Oct 1820, Sporle, , Norfolk, England. Anne was born 28 Oct 1790; died 1856, , Ontario, Canada; was buried , New Hope Cemetery, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/260734658
• Name: Anne Eagle
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-168322

Notes:

EAGLE, ANN (Nee ?)

Wife of Samuel Eagle, died in 1856. During improvements in the Hespeler Cemetery, her grave stone was discovered. For some years before a school was organized, she taught the children in the Puslinch Lake district in her home.

A Celebration of Lives Obituaries of Puslinch Township, Wellington Co., Ontario Vol 1, Anna Jackson & Marjorie Clark
Used with kind permission of Marjorie Clark

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-253478

Notes:

Her grandparents settled in Hamilton when it was just a mudhole. The courthouse there was built with bricks her grandfather made. He also had a grist mill at Dundas and operated three routes by team to Goderich with supplies. One team came through the Beverly swamp on the corduroy road. She recalls that the people in the Puslinch area were very poor, often having to plant potato peelings for potato seed. The story is told of a Puslinch woman who walked to her Grandfather Walker's mill for 25c worth of flour. The mill had closed on Saturday night when she arrived. Regulations were very strict at that time and a serious fine was imposed on anyone who sold anything between closing hours Saturday and Sunday midnight. The woman pleaded to be served so that she could start the long walk back to her starving family. However, Grandfather Walker promised that he would load his wagon at midnight Sunday so that she could ride to Preston on it and be home just as quickly. When she got off the wagon at Preston she was given as much as she could carry in her arms as she walked the remainder of the way home to Puslinch.

Mrs. Ophelia Rife A Warm And Tender Tribute By Carol Dunnett, Forty-Fourth [1956] Annual Report Of The Waterloo Historical Society

John — Hannah Hungerford. Hannah was born 1808, , USA; died 20 Mar 1882; was buried , New Hope Cemetery, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/216032978
• Name: Hannah Walker
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-253477P
• Residence: 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Wesley Methodist