Mary Halfpenny

Other Events:

• Name: Mary MacKie
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-170941
• Residence: 1851, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; RC
• Residence: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Catholic

Mary — John MacKie. John (son of George Mackie and Margaret Fordice) was born 26 Feb 1829, Auchterless, , Aberdeen, Scotland; was christened 11 Mar 1829, Auchterless, , Aberdeen, Scotland; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

1. Alice Jane Mackie was born 24 Apr 1860, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 8 Oct 1921, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA.
2. Anna B. MacKie was born 12 Jan 1863, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 20 Oct 1947, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States.

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-171804
• Occupation: 1851, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1851, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; RC
• Residence: 1861, McKillop Twp., Huron Co., Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1871, McKillop Twp., Huron Co., Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Occupation: 1879, Pontiac, Oakland, Michigan, United States; farmer

Notes:

The present thriving village of Elmira, situated about in the centre of the township, had a late and small beginning. In 1844 it had only a log school and a few houses of the same construction.

The first Catholic settlers appear to have come in about 1840 and located about two miles north of the village. Among them were John 'Brian, Martin Halfpenny, Joseph Ruth, Allan Butler, Mr. Compass, Joseph Schill, Ignatius Martin and some others, mostly Germans.

It is likely that Father Wiriath officiated here. Joseph Ruth was married by Father Sanderl in Preston in 1814. Ignatius Martin drove with his oxen team to New Germany over very bad roads to get married by Father Baumgaertner on May 28, 1846. Before the erection of the church Mass was celebrated at Halfpenny's, Schill's and Ruth's once or twice a year.

The Catholic Church in Waterloo County, Book I, by Rev. Theobald Spetz, C. R., D. D., 1916

_____________

An amusing incident is also related regarding one Martin Halfpenny. It was the custom in those days for the old settlers when they butchered to pay those who helped them in scraps of meat and other parts of the porker that were unsuitable for the pork barrel. It was on one of these occasions that Mr. Halfpenny started home with a load of pork fragments. He was just crossing Canagagigue Creek, the vicinity of which was then a dense cedar swamp. He suddenly experienced a chilly sensation creeping up his spinal column as the horrible fact was thrust upon him that he was in the midst of a pack of hungry wolves, that made the night hideous with their fierce howls. Halfpenny would drop a few pieces of meat and then hasten his steps, and the wolves stopping to devour it would give their intended victim a few yards the start. But it was only sufficient to whet their appetites for more meat, and they were soon again on the trail of the thoroughly frightened and rapidly retreating woodsman. He continued throwing out meat until his entire supply was exhausted and he was only fortunate to reach his home just in time to save his own carcase.

Waterloo County Chronicle 27 Jan 1898, p. 1, 2, 3

Martin — Alice Ward. Alice was born 1810, , Ireland; died Bef 1879. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Alice Halfpenny
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-170938
• Residence: 1851, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; RC