Letter by John Archibald Ord, 8 Dec 1940

The following letter was provided by fellow researcher, Andrea Norton, a descendant of John Archibald Ord (1870-1948). John lived in Puslinch, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada. In 1940, he took a trip to the nearby big city of Hamilton, Wentworth County, Ontario, Canada to visit relatives.

The following families are referenced in this post:

Note: the Stewart and Ord families are currently located on my OLD website and have not yet been migrated here.

Andrea says the following about the letter:

Here is a letter written by John Archibald Ord on December 8, 1840. At the time of this writing, he was seventy years old. He had just returned from a visit to his eldest granddaughter, Kathleen (Gilmour) Mooney and her family in Hamilton. What I love about this letter is how gregarious and thoughtful John Ord seems to be. It seems this man embraced the adventure of taking the bus from his home in Aberfoyle to explore the city of Hamilton. He visited many people and he shared his delight with Kathleen.

Andrea Norton

Andrea has transcribed the letter as follows:

RR #3, Guelph, Ontario
December 8, 1940
Mrs. John Mooney
27 Francis St
Hamilton

Dear Kathleen,

Home again safe and sound. Altogether, I had a grand time [on] my sojourn in your wonderful city. After I left you, I journeyed towards the Mountain on Wentworth St. Quite a distance down, I came to the garage I looked for, went in and found out where the party I was looking for, (DeComo) and found him to be back the other way on Wellington St. a short distance on one called (Callum 77684). If Jack had time to take a look around the corner sometime, he might see what he has. I didn’t turn back, but kept right ahead and down Wentworth and King.

I came to Murrel’s, I again went in to see how they looked and then across to Lillie’s. Time to eat again, had a talk and she phoned Browns. They told her it would be fine to call before three o’clock. He had to go on duty at that time. So I went and spent a very enjoyable time with them. 

Jean and I recalled old times of over 46 years ago, when we met last when she was up with Granny. Our talks brought pictures of so long ago. Her and her husband seem in the best of spirits and in good health. He is a big fat, apparently good natured, chief of police.

When I was ready to go, his car was at the door and he drove me to the Stewarts. I was well received there as well. They said they were so glad to see me. I was certainly glad to see them, although I am sorry to relate that Mrs. Stewart is failing and says she is “going home” before long, and indeed, she looks it, but quite cheerful and sensible. She is 84 and he is 88 years young. He is going strong for his years, but she doesn’t leave her room very much but she was sitting on a chair. We talked for a while, but I didn’t stay long. It is easy to tire anyone who is not feeling too well, you know.

After a time downstairs, their son was there from Toronto and he took his car and drove me to the bus. I expected to see Helen but didn’t see her either there or on the bus, so I came through.

Perhaps, you may have a chance, if anywhere there is a phone, to call Murrell and Letty and tell them of the time I had and got on so well everywhere and, if talking to Lilly, tell her that Mrs. Stewart was asking about her and would like to see her and I believe they would like to see you as well.

Old Grandpa,
John A. Ord

P.S.I had the card you were so good to write with the family names on. I showed it to Mrs. Brown. She wanted to keep one, so I let her have the old one and at Stewarts, Mrs. Stewart read the one you made and was holding it tight in her hand when I left her.

The relatives that John Ord visited, and who are mentioned in the letter, have been identified by Andrea Norton as follows:

• Jane Ord Stewart Brown (1875-1957) was the daughter of Mary Tait (1842-1927) and Hugh Stewart (1840-1885). Mary was the daughter of Jane Ord (1815-1872) and Leonard Tait (1821-1871). Mary was John’s first cousin, so Jane Ord Stewart was his first-cousin-once-removed.
• Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were Robert Stewart (1851-1943) and Margaret Ann Tait (1857-1944). Margaret Ann was the youngest daughter of Jane Ord and Leonard Tait, so, although much older than John Ord, she was his first cousin. Interestingly, although Margaret was ill and “going home” she lived another four years. I hope she was more comfortable than she was during John Ord’s visit in 1940.
• Murrell may be Mearl Brooks Mooney, daughter of Jane Gilmour and Arthur Brooks. Mearl had lived with the Gilmour family following the death of her parents and she and Kathleen were good friends and cousins.
• Helen (who was not on the bus) was Kathleen’s sister, Helen Gilmour (later Martinson).
• Lillie and Lettie are still a mystery, as is the reason he was looking for someone who worked at a nearby garage.

Notes:

• The Gilmour family has not yet been added to the database here. They will be added and linked at a future date.
• Jane (jean) Ord Stewart Brown was related to “Mr. and Mrs. Stewart” on both sides of her own family. Robert Stewart was her father, Hugh Stewart’s first cousin, both of them descending from the Donkey Sanctuary Stewarts in Puslinch. Mrs. Margaret Ann Tait Stewart was Jean’s aunt (her mother, Mary Tait’s sister).
• Jane (Jean) Ord Stewart Brown was married to Tom Brown, MBE, Chief of the Hamilton Police.