Richard Gemmel

1872 - 1958  (86 years)

• Name	Richard Gemmel
  Born	5 May 1872	Woodstock, Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	1911	Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Barber - Shop
  Residence	1911	Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Presbyterian
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-340697
  Died	6 Dec 1958	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2, 3]
  Buried	9 Dec 1958	Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2, 3]
  Person ID	I340697	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Family 1	Sarah Jane "Jean" Russell,   b. 26 Sep 1878, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 30 Oct 1967, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 89 years)
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F248315	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Margaret Davidson "Maggie" Wilson,   b. 9 Apr 1871, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 29 Sep 1909, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 38 years)
  Married	27 Jan 1897	, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  Children	1. Marion Gemmel,   b. 28 Mar 1898, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   2. Dr. James Gifford Gemmell,   b. 8 Sep 1899, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1874   3. Bessie Davidson Gemmel,   b. 12 Dec 1901, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1994  (Age 92 years)   4. Margaret Somerville "Marlie" Gemmel,   b. 19 Jul 1904, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 4 Nov 2001, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 97 years)
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F248561	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Richard Gemmell Passes One of Ayr's oldest residents, Richard Gemmell, passed away at the Kitchener-Waterloo Hospital on Saturday, December 6th, in his 87th year from the effects of a fall sustained the previous week. Born in Woodstock, son of the late James Gemmell and Mary Flynn, he came to Ayr in 1889. For over 50 years he carried on a barber business here with the exception of a few years when he lived in Toronto and Nassau, Bahama. In 1897 he married Margaret Wilson, daughter of the late Adam and Betty Wilson, who predeceased him in 1909. Later he married Jean Russell, daughter of the late Harry and Fanny Russell, who survives him. Also surviving are a son, Dr. James G. Gemmell, Pinoche, Nevada, and two daughters Bessie, Toronto, and Margaret, Milton. He was a member of Knox United Church and a member of Dolman Lodge, Independent Order of Oddfellows for the past 63 years. He received the Lodge's 50-year membership jewel in 1943. Funeral service was held at his late residence, McDonald Street on Tuesday, December 9th, conducted by Rev. W. J. V. Buchanan. Committal service was held at the chapel in Ayr Cemetery. Pallbearers were: George Stockton, Henry Wolfe, Jack Swan, Norman Perriman, Robert Schmidt, and George Pitcher, Kitchener. Ayr News 11 Dec 1958 _________________________ Richard Gemmel, a business man in Ayr for nearly fifty years, saw many changes in the village and community. Born on May 5, 1872 in Woodstock, of Scottish - Irish parents, son of the James Gemmel and Mary Flynn, he came to Ayr in 1889, at the age of sixteen as a barber in the Oscar Johnson shop. A year later he left Ayr and during the next four years, he worked at his trade in Toronto, New York City and Nassau, Bahama Islands. Returning to Ayr in 1894, he set up his barbershop, having purchased it from his former employer and continued in business for the next forty-four years - first in the shop on the present site of W.O.Ball Funeral Home, and from 1914 in the shop now operated by Henry Bechtel. He retired in 1938, due to failing eyesight. During the next twenty years, he was a familiar figure on the streets of Ayr, was well known to young and old in the village and surrounding municipality, and continued to take a keen interest In every day happenings, both local and International. He had a remarkable memory for recalling people, and events of early days in this district. Mr, Gemmel was a valued member of Stanley Street Presbyterian Church , later of Knox United Church. He was a member of Ayr Dolman Lodge, Independent Order of Oddfellows for over sixty-five years, receiving the fifty year membership jewel in 1943. Mr. Gemmel was always interested in the game of checkers, and his shop was the scene of many checker tournaments among young and old. A keen follower of politics, Mr.Gemmel was proud of being the thirteenth Conservative in the village of Ayr, at the turn of the century. He was married twice. In 1897, he married Margaret Wilson, whose parents Adam and Betsy Wilson had come from Edinburgh, Scotland, and settled In Ayr in 1868, who died in 1909. Later, he married Jean Russell, whose parents Harry and Fanny Russell had come from King Sorabourne, Hampshire, England, and settled in Ayr in 1874. Mrs.Gemmel survives her husband, who passed away on December 6, 1958. Mr.Gemmel had a family of three: a son, Dr.James, a physician and surgeon in North Las Vegas, Nevada; two daughters, Bessie, a social worker in Toronto, and Margaret, a teacher in Milton. Written by his daughter - Margaret Gemmel Ayr Women's Intitute Book, Ayr Public Library

  
  

• Sources

  [S1282] Census - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - 1911, p 10. [S367] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - Ayr Public CC#4489 Internet Link . Richard Gemmel/ May 5, 1872 - Dec. 6, 1958/ Margaret D. Wilson/ wife of/ Richard Gemmel/ died Sept. 29, 1909/ In Her 39th year/ Marion, 1898/ Jean Russell/ wife of/ Richard Gemmel/ Sept. 26, 1878 - Oct. 30, 1967/ Gemmel. [S367] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - Ayr Public CC#4489 Internet Link . [Left/South] Adam Wilson/ April 1838/ June 1908/ a Native of/ Alva Scotland/ James G. Gemmell M. D./ 1899 - 1974/ Bessie D. Gemmell/ 1901 - 1994/ Margaret S. Gemmel/ 1904 - 2001/ Wilson. [Right/North] Richard Gemmel/ May 5, 1872 - Dec. 6, 1958/ Margaret D. Wilson/ wife of/ Richard Gemmel/ died Sept. 29, 1909/ In Her 39th year/ Marion, 1898/ Jean Russell/ wife of/ Richard Gemmel/ Sept. 26, 1878 - Oct. 30, 1967/ Gemmel. [A] Mother [B] James [C] Bessie [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration. Name: Maggie D Wilson Age: 25 Birth Date: abt 1872 Birth Place: Ayr, Ontario Marriage Date: 27 Jan 1897 Marriage County or District: Waterloo Father: Adam Wilson Mother: Bessie Davidson Spouse: Richard Gemmel Spouse's Age: 24 Spouse Birth Date: abt 1873 Spouse Birth Place: Woodstock, Ontario Spouse Father: James Gemmel Spouse Mother: Mary Ann Flyer Gemmel

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 5 May 1872 - Woodstock, Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Married - 27 Jan 1897 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Barber - Shop - 1911 - AYR, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Presbyterian - 1911 - AYR, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 6 Dec 1958 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - 9 Dec 1958 - Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth