Etta Catherine Shaver ^{1 2}

  Research Notes:

From a clipping transcribed by Bev Cook Byers at http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/ONT-STORMONT-DUNDAS-GLENGARRY/2004-02/1076776417 :

from Cornwall Newspaper, Friday December 22, 1933:

OSNABRUCK PIONEERS DESCRIBE THE DAYS OF TALLOW CANDLES
By Down the Lane

Going back into the family history about 127 years, when his granfather
came as a United Empire Loyalist from New York State and settled on 200
acres of land in the 4th concession of Osnabruck, near Lunenburg, Alonzo
Wereley, now in his 81st year, related some interesting incidents of the past in
that section to Down The Lane a few nights ago. And, not to be outdone, his genial wife, Mrs. Wereley, had her say also, and, as only a period of four months separate the couple in age, and they were born but a few miles apart, one could verify in large measure what the other related, and in this way the visit was not only interesting, but
enjoyable.

Mr. and Mrs. Wereley were seen at the home of their daughter, Mrs. Geo.
Fyke, 29 Fourth St. east. They have spent the last six years in Cornwall
with their daughters, Mrs. Fyke and Mrs. Thos. A Sanderson, 39 First St. east.

... Mr. and Mrs Wereley were married Nov. 29, 1881, at Wales by W.A.Lang , of
the Pres. Church, Lunenburg. Mrs Wereley's maiden name was Etta Catherine
Shaver, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Shaver, of Osnabruck Centre,
where she was born Oct. 12, 1853. Mrs. Wereley's mother died when she was
but six months old, and she was raised by her granparents, Mr. and Mrs.
Gilbert Morgan, and her aunt, Miss Diana Morgan, near Wales. Mrs.
Wereley's father was born Sept. 12, 1814 and her mother Oct 15, 1822 both
in the township of Osnabruck. "I remember," said Mrs. Wereley, "that my
grandfather, Gilbert Morgan, made the first horse-drawn hay rake used in
the township, and what a curiosity it was. Wheels were provided for it by
taking them off the buggy when it was not in use, and when the buggy was
wanted the wheels were remove from the rake and put back." She related
that hay was mowed by hand with scythes and farmers frequently had bees
among themselves to help one another cut. "and beleive me farming was real
laborous in those days" she said with a twinkle in her sharp eyes.


Made What He Needed

"Grandfather also made chairs, churns and other household needs; was a
cobbler and carpenter when occasion demanded such service and was, in fact,
a Jack of all trades. I still have a chair made by him and so has my
daughter, Mrs. Fyke. The chairs were all hand-made, the seat being made
from the bark of trees and fastened crossways and sideways to the
frame. This gave them a springy repose to one's weight and they were quite
substantial and comfortable." Members of the families of both Mr. and Mrs.
Wereley did their own spinning, grew their own flax and made their own
clothes. Spinning wheels and all appurtenances connected with the trade
were all handmade.

Tallow Lights

"How did you light your homes in your girlhood days?" we asked Mrs. Wereley
"This was done," she replied "by placing a quantity of tallow in a dish or
plate. A rag was twisted and place in the tallow and when it became
saturated it was lighted and threw a glow through the room."In reply to a
question as to whether matches were is use, Mrs. Wereley replied that
flints were used for lighting purposes. That was before the tallow candel
and its holder and snuffer came into use, and no doubt the twisted tallow
saturated rag gave the idea to some inventive mind and the upright candle
was the outcome, with the wick running through the centre. When the candle
was introduced people marvelled, of course, and as with many improvements
since, the wonder was that someone did not think of the idea long before
they did.

"Rodney Morgan, of the 2nd concession of Osnabruck was the first farmer to
own a coal oil lamp so far as I can recall," said Mrs. Wereley. "That was
about 65 years ago and you may be sure it brought added comfort to the
Morgan home. Soon others discarded the tallow candle for the oil lamp, and
both these were eventually succeeded by electricity to a large extent in
city and town as well as in many homes in the country." But the lowly
tallow candle and coal oil lamp are not to be despised even in this
advanced age, for when the electrics fail, which is not frequently,
fortunately, these ancient modes of lighting are gladly resorted to for
illumination.

Osnabruck in Early Days

Both Mr. and Mrs. Wereley remembered when work on a farm was harder than at
present and when modes of travel were vastly different and not so rapid and
convenient as they are today. In saying so Mrs. Wereley was no doubt
reminded of her courting days, for she stated that "boys and girls had to
do their courting on horse back or else be forced to walk long
distances. Buggies and other conveyances were not so plentiful as they
later

( The copy of the clipping ends abruptly and I suspect the end is missing).

Etta married Alonzo Benjamin Wereley, son of James Wereley and Sarah Ann Dixon, on 29 Nov 1881 in Wales (South Stormont), Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario, Canada. (Alonzo Benjamin Wereley was born on 8 Jun 1853 in Lunenburg, Osnabruck Twp (South Stormont), Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Canada West (Ontario), Canada and died on 1 Feb 1938 in Lunenburg, Osnabruck Twp (South Stormont), Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario, Canada.)

  Marriage Notes:

May have been married in Osnabruck Twp, Stormont, Ontario.