John Eggert Liesemer

1868 - 1947  (79 years)

• Name	John Eggert Liesemer
  Born	3 Aug 1868	Mildmay, Carrick Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario, Canada   [1, 2]
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	1891	Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Telegraph Operator
  Residence	1891	Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Evangelical
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-310712
  Died	5 Aug 1947	Calgary, Alberta, Canada   [2]
  Buried	Didsbury Cemetery, Didsbury, Alberta, Canada   [2]
  Person ID	I310712	Generations
  Last Modified	6 Apr 2024

  
  

  Family	Malinda Hallman,   b. 28 Jan 1871, Wallace Twp., Perth Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 7 Oct 1952, Calgary, Alberta, Canada  (Age 81 years)
  Last Modified	7 Apr 2024
  Family ID	F60782	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  "John Eggert Liesemer was born to Peter Liesemer and Wilhemina Eggert on Aug.3, 1869 on a farm near Mildmay, Bruce County, Ontario, one of a family of seven boys and three girls. Until 18 years of age he worked on the family farm. He received a minimum of formal education as the labor of even aboy was necessary in this pioneer bushland. At 18 he apprenticed himself as a railroad telegrapher, attended night school, and read widely in many fields in order to educate himself. These habits of study continued throughout his entire life; his interest inmany area of human learning was profound and his knowledge considerable. In 1893 he was a telegrapher in Listowel and it was here that he met Melinda Hallman who was singing in the choir of the Evangelical Church which they both attended. One year later they were married. Melinda Hallman was born to Isaac Hallman and Nancy Biehn on Jan. 28,1871, also on a farm near Listowel, Perth County, Ontario; there were three boys and four girls. Melinda attended the local school and also received the training in the home in household tasks which was usual for girls in that period. After finishing school, she became apprentice to the tailor in Listowel and became a qualified tailoress, a training that was useful in her own household later. She was interested in music and the artistic skills; her own main art achievement was in needlework, in all the various techniques that were popular during her lifetime. In 1902 John and Melinda Liesemer and their two children, Beatrice and Goldwin, moved to Didsbury. John had decided to leave the railroad, and Mr. Alfred G. Studer and he undertook a three year partnership as general merchants at a time when Didsbury was a bustling and growing community at the end of the rail. His parents, as well as four brothers and two sisters came to Didsbury or surrounding areas - Henry, Peter, Edward, Conrad, Martha (Mrs. Harry Reiber) and Mary (Mrs. Fred Diebel). Melinda's maternal aunt, and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Hunsperger also settled in thearea. At the conclusion of the partnership with Mr. Studer, John Liesemer forthe next five years was Homestead Inspector with the Federal Government. His district extended from Olds to Crossfield and from the mountains to the Saskatchewan border. He had many tales for his children of the hardships and courage of the homesteaders in the region he travelled, and of arduous and sometimes adventuresome journeys of his own with horses and buggy over the trailless prairies. From 1910 to 1930 John Liesemer engaged in various business activities.During the years of World War I, he farmed east of Didsbury on the Northroad, raising Aberdeen Angus cattle, experimenting with early ripening wheats, and in the summer season stacking prairie wool hay from rented land. During this period he was an agent for farm machinery, imported carload lots of horses, and traded in cattle and in farm lands. In 1931 he founded the Didsbury Dairy in which activity he continued until his retirement when Tom Morris took over the dairy. However, for some years he continued to breed Holstein cattle. From 1931 on, through conversation and example, he encouraged his fellow farmers in the community to undertake the improvement of dairy breeds, and he himself produced some prize animals. Through their entire adult lives John and Melinda Liesemer were members of the Evangelical Church. In addition, Mrs. Liesemer was a member of the Ladies Aid of that church, a member of the Women's Institute of the community and a member of the local WCTU. John Liesemer was an active member of the Liberal party from the founding of the Province in 1905 until 1921. After 1921 John and Melinda Liesemer became members of the U.F.A. and were supporters of the political movement of the UFA and later of the C.C.F. In Jan. 1946 they sold their home in Didsbury and moved to Calgary where their sons were working. There John Liesemer died on Aug. 8, 1947 and Melinda on Oct. 7, 1962. Both are buried in Didsbury." Echoes of an Era: History of Didsbury and District

  
  

• Sources

  [S2208] Census - ON, Waterloo, Hespeler - 1891, Section 1 Page 5. [S3231] Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/117849523/john-eggert-liesemer.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 3 Aug 1868 - Mildmay, Carrick Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario, Canada Occupation - Telegraph Operator - 1891 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Evangelical - 1891 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 5 Aug 1947 - Calgary, Alberta, Canada  = Link to Google Earth