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- Below is the beginning of the first half of the book, 'Ennis History',privately published in 1979 by Jean Agnes (Ferguson) Smith, 10215 150stApt. 226, Surrey, B.C. V3R 4A8. Standard BOOK no. 0-88925-054-5. Printedand bound by Friesen Printers, 5720 Macleod Trail South, Calgary, AlbertaT2H 0J6, Head Office: Altona, Manitoba, Canada. Acknowledgements (listed on page 2) from Jean Smith: We wish to thank everyone who has helped make this book a possibility,and a treasure to many who will enjoy reading it. We wish to thank our artist, Sandra Dawn (Ennis) Nunn for the pictureon the front cover. Considering that Sandra has never lived on a farm,she has done a super job. And last but not least, the Ennis descendants wish to thank Jean(Ferguson) Smith for the countless hours spent in gathering all thisinformation and pictures, and putting it all together in this book for usall to cherish fondly. .................................................................................................................................................... ..................... Preface of the book, 'Ennis History' 'I believe that as the years roll by, family genealogies and historieswill become more and more valuable. With the passing of the years andthe death of our ancestors, much of our history has been lost toposterity forever, so in the onward flow of years, all that is notrecorded is lost. 'In September of 1974, my mother, Frances 'Fanny Elizabeth (Ennis)Ferguson (listed on page 65 and 67 in the book), mentioned that shealways wanted to make her family tree but didn't know how to go aboutit. It was then that the search began for family statistics. 'The information of recent generations was obtained throughcorrespondence and many personal contacts with living members of thefamily. Earlier family history was pieced together after checkingvarious church and county records, vital statistics, old census reports,library and archives records, county directories, local histories,obituaries, old newspapers, museums, old and new telephone directories,cemetery records, city directories, and etc. 'The pictures in this book have been kindly loaned to us by variousmembers of the family. We hope that they will be of interest and give abetter understanding of our heritage. 'Our book is in two parts. The first part consists of the RobertStrain Ennis genealogy, while part two contains the Tom Ennis genealogy.Although we have not yet been able to prove that Robert Strain and Tomwere brothers, we feel that there is little doubt about it. The storythat has been handed down through the Robert Strain Ennis generations isthat upon arriving in America from Ireland in 1846, one of the four Ennisboys was lost from the rest of his family, never to be heard of afterthat. Tom has also left his descendants with the same story, only in hisversion of it, he was the lost boy. While visiting in Victoria, B.C., Ilooked for Ennis' in the phone book and called the Hal Ennis residence.After explaining the purpose of my call and hearing the story as they hadheard it, there seemed little doubt that the missing link had beenfound. Ennis is not a common name and how could the same story repeatitself in two directions without having started from the same source? 'Our aim has been to trace all known descendants of Robert Strain andTom Ennis. We had also hoped to find the names of Robert Strain'sparents and other brothers or sisters which means that the search for therest of their family has begun. 'Any errors or omissions in the family genealogy are unintentional onthe part of the writer.' The statement above is on page 3 in the book listed above. The writer is Jean Agnes (Ferguson) Smith, whose name and address arelisted above. .................................................................................................................................................... ..................... PART I ENNIS HISTORY Robert Strain and Frances Elizabeth (Wark) Ennis. The story that had been handed down through the years regarding ourforefathers is an interesting but incomplete one. In 1846, our Ennisancestors who left Ireland because of a Potato Famine, crossed theAtlantic in a sailing vessel - a voyage that took six weeks. The parentsand four boys came from the town of Armagh, County Armagh, NorthernIreland. When the boat docked in America, the youngest boy strayed awayand never heard of again (until 1975 a grandchild of that fellow waslocated in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada). At this time, nothing is known about the family from that date until 1854when Robert married Frances in County Grey, Ontario, Canada. Their ninechildren were born between the years 1855 and 1870. In the 1861 Census ofNormandy Township of County Grey, Robert Strain Ennis farmed 100 acreswith 20 of those acres under cultivation and the remainder still inwoodland or wild. The cash value of the farm was $900.00; while the cashvalue of the farm machinery was $ 25.00. He had one heifer, one milchcow, one horse and two pigs making a total cash value of $60.00. It wasinteresting to note that his wheat yielded 13 bushels per acre, his oats20 bushels per acre, and a half acre of potatoes yielded 30 bushels. Hehad made 60 pounds of maple sugar, and 85 pounds of butter in 1860 andhad 300 pounds of pork in a barrel. County Muskoka, Ontario was open for settlement in 1868. By 1871 theywere living on lot 8, concession 11, near Bracebridge, Ontario. They hadbought and sold land in that area in the years 1872, 1875, 1876 and 1878.It is believed that they made their living from the sale of pine lumberwhich was plentiful on their lot. While living at Bracebridge theireldest daughter, Annie, was married to John Lamb and Frances the seconddaughter at the tender age of 18 years, was married to Leverett David Coy. In 1778 they moved westward to Manitoba. Fort Garry, Gladstone, HighBluff and Portage la Prairie are areas where some of the family hadlived. John and Joe took work building the Canadian Pacific Railroad linein Manitoba aiming to reach the homestead lands in the west. By the timethey reached Brandon, excitement was high as settlers were outfittingthemselves for the westward trek. They were afraid to wait any longer forfear that the free land would all be taken, so they quit their jobs withthe CPR and hastened back for their parents and the remainder of thefamily. They then outfitted themselves and headed west. Equipmentrequired by the pioneer homesteader was a yoke of oxen, wagon, walkingplow, axe, shovel, bucksaw and a small stove. Food supplies bought atBrandon were tea, sugar, salt, flour, dried beans, syrup, oatmeal, andsow belly which was very salty dried pork. They then joined the caravan going West. There were scores of ox teamsand wagons on the trail, their rate of progress being influenced to alarge degree, by the number of home steading effects being taken. Sinceall the wagons’ contents had to be unloaded and carried across theswollen streams, a family could spend hours crossing each waterway. Inthis particular group, the women of the party were also carried across.There was one man of about fifty, small of stature though quiteable-bodied, who shrank from getting his feet wet. (He also shank fromall situations where work or discomfort were involved). When everythingelse had been safely transported across the stream, he stood on the bankand asked that they also carry him across the stream. John (Jack) Enniswillingly complied. He picked up his burden and waded bravely out intothe water. About mid-stream he accidentally (?) stumbled, and hispassenger was pitched headlong into the river. It is not clear whether ornot this cured him of his aversion to water, but it isn't’ likely that heasked for any more free transportation. Robert Strain and his wife, Frances Elizabeth (Wark) Ennis homesteaded onthe farm later owned by E. J. Armstrong and now (1970) the home of AlfredWhiteley. The requirements to get a quarter section of land were: $10.00 and tobreak five acres the first year, ten acres each year for three years, tobuild a shanty on it and live there for six months of each year. RobertStrain Ennis, with help of his four sons, Bob, Jack, Dave and Joe, builthis house of logs from the Pipestone hills on N.E. 2-16-8 and named thefarm 'Fair View.' The structure was 12’ x 16’ with one common roomdownstairs and two bedrooms in the attic. That may seem small by to-daysstandards but the pioneer family found room for their oldest daughterAnnie, her husband and four children who came to Grenfell fromBracebridge in February, 1883 to live with the Ennis’ until their homewas built. They also found ample room to hold church services in theirhome whenever there was a student minister in Grenfell. This log housewas used for thirty years so must have been a fine building of its day.In 1888 this piece of land was in Robert Strain Ennis’ son Joe’s name. It is felt that Mrs. Robert Strain Ennis was somewhat disabled in lateryears as an heirloom that is still in the family and is an ordinary chairwith a castor on each leg. The Ennis boys had fashioned it for theirmother - a wheelchair of the 1890 style. For the next several years the Ennis family were busy. A calendar ofevents will make it easier to follow: 1882 - Gilman died. Gilman, a lad of 13 years, had been sickly but diedalong the trail after they left Brandon and was buried along thebanks of some river - presumably the Assiniboine River. - The Robert Strain Ennis family came west to Grenfell,Assiniboia, North West Territory. - They filed their claims for land - John, Dave, Joe andLeverett David Coy. 1883 - Annie (Ennis) Lamb, her husband and four children came toGrenfell. - Grenfell Coy was born - the first white baby born inGrenfell. 1885 - Riel Rebellion. Bob and Dave took part as scouts and on thetransport. The Indians threatened Frances (Ennis) Coy and her infantson Grenfell. 1886 - John (Jack) was married to Phoebe Axford. 1888 - Bob and Dave left for the west coast. 1892 - Frances and Leverett David Coy had moved to Bellingham,Washington, U.S.A. sometime previous to this date. 1894 - August 20. Mr, Lev Coy and family returned from Miniskan,Washington. 1896 - Mrs. R. S. Ennis died. From the files of the Grenfell Sun,August 27, 1896: The funeral of the late Mrs. Ennis lastFriday was largely attended, about sixty-five vehicles being in theprocession. Rev. Mr. J. Hoskins officiated at theGrenfell First Methodist Church and at the grave site. The church, builtof cream-colored local brick and located on Desmond Street North, justeast of the present (1980) United Church. 1897 - Joe was married to Margaret Esther McDonnell and farmed atWolseley, Saskatchewan. Bob and Dave went to the Yukon toprospect for gold. 1899 - Frances Jane (Frank) and Leverett David Coy were back inGrenfell by this time because she was mid-wife forMrs. Joe Ennis (Margaret) when their 2nd born, Etta Lydia Kathleen wasborn. Later that year, Joe, his wife and two smallchildren and his father, Robert Strain Ennis, went West to Alix, N.W.T.to homestead. Esther 'Ettie' was married to Tom Phillips previous to this because the Joe Ennis’ live with her and her husband fortheir first winter at Alix. 1901 - Leverett Coy’s were in Seattle, Washington by this time.Margaret (Madge) spent time with them. 1902 - This was possibly the year that Bob married Harriet. 1905 - Dave came back to Grenfell for his bride-to-be, Barbara PamelaMcDonnell. Madge went back to Dawson with them. RobertStrain Ennis returned from Alix, Alberta to spend his last years betweenthe Annie Lamb and John Ennis homes. He took a stroke while at John’s anddied at the Lambs but the funeral was from John’s house. 1908 - Robert Strain Ennis died. Before his death, he receivednotification that he had inherited an estate inArmagh County, Ireland. It was necessary that he return to Ireland toclaim it but he refused to do that. He said that thetrip over had been so bad that he wouldn't’ chance it again. RobertStrain Ennis was a member of the Orange Lodge and was a director of theGrenfell Agriculture Society in 1888. This account is stated on pages 6 through 9 in the book, - 'EnnisHistory' ,privately published by Jean Agnes (Ferguson) Smith, 1979,Printed and Bound by Frieson Printers, 5720 MacLeod Trail South, T2H 0J6,Head Office: Alton, Manitoba, Canada. Standard Book No. 0-88925-054-5 THE FOLLOWING IS FROM PAGES 11 AND 12 IN THE BOOK, 'GRITAND GROWTH, THE STORY OFGRENFELL' At the time when the failure of the potato crop reduced the Irish peopleto near starvation (1846), the Ennis family had emigrated to Canada, andsettled in Ontario. The early 1880's found them in Gladstone, Manitoba.The boys, Jack and Joe, went to work on the Canadian Pacific Railroadwhich was being built through Manitoba, their ultimate objective being toreach the homestead lands of the West. By the time they reached Brandon,there was a great bustle of excitement, as eager settlers outfittedthemselves for the westward trail, and they were afraid that if theywaited until the railroad reached the territory, all the free land wouldbe taken. So they severed their connections with the construction crewand went back for their parents Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Ennis, and the restof the family. They bought oxen and wagons and joined the caravan goingWest. There were scores of ox teams and wagons on the trail, their rate ofprogress being influenced to a large degree, by the number of homesteading effects being taken. Since all the wagons' contents had to beunloaded and carried across the swollen streams, a family could spendhours crossing each waterway. In this particular group, the women of theparty were also carried across. There was one man of about fifty, smallof stature though quite able-bodied, who shrank from getting his feetwet. (He also shrank from all situations where work or discomfort wereinvolved). When everything else had been safely transported across thestream. he stood on the bank and asked that they also carry him across.Jack Ennis willingly complied. He pick up his burden and waded bravelyout into the water. About mid-stream he accidentally (?) stumbled, andhis passenger was pitched headlong into the river. We aren't toldwhether or not this cured him of his aversion to water, but it isn'tlikely that he asked for any more free transportation. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Strain and his wife, Frances (Wauk) Ennis homesteadedon the farm later owned by E. B. Armstrong and now the home of AlfredWhitely (1980). Church services were held at Mr. Ennis' home in theearly days. Jack Ennis settled on N.W. 10-16-8. His marriage to Miss P. Axford wasone of the early ones of the district, and was performed by Rev. JohnFotheringham. The oldest son, Frank, was a blacksmith in Grenfell for awhile, and later took up land near Peeples. The homestead and adjoiningland was farmed for some years after Mr. Ennis retirement, by his sonNelson, who became well known as a breeder of Herford cattle. It waslater farmed by his grandson, Donald. The Ennis' two daughters, Frances'Fanny' (Mrs. W. J. Ferguson), and Olive (Mrs. John Warwick) have maderecords that are worthy of note. Mrs. Ferguson began exhibiting at the Grenfell Agricultural Fair in 1910,when she entered a print dress and baking powder biscuits. She has beenwinning prizes in Grenfell ever since, and in looking for new fields toconquer, has exhibited work at Broadview, Regina, Prince Albert,Saskatoon, Abernethy, and the C. N. E. Toronto, where she had outstandingsuccess. Her work includes baking, canning, embroidering, needle point,and all types of fine needle work, knitting, making quilts, mats,painting on fabric, and on canvas. Her hobbies, which she shares with her husband, includes making lamps,bowls and other novelties from local diamond willow and oddities gatheredfrom root piles and lake shores; pictures made from birch bark and moss;and lapidary work, making use of prairie Pebbles (polished) forornamental lamp bases, door stops and table tops Mrs. Ferguson's latest triumph has been in Drawn Thread work, a form ofembroidery dating back to the 16th century. A competition was sponsoredby the F. W. I. of Canada in the Tweedsmuir Handicraft section. FannyFerguson has has won first prize in the district and provincial exhibits,and her work is now entered in the National exhibit at Guelph. In the range and excellence of her work she reflects the spirit of herpioneer parents, John 'Jack' And Phoebe (Axford) Ferguson, who foundnothing too difficult to tackle and who always said, 'if a thing is worthdoing, it is worth doing well.' The same spirit has contributed to the success of her sister, MargaretOlivia 'Ollie' (Ennis) Warwick, who has been a consistent winner in localfairs over the years. In 1965 she sent four of her oil paintings to theToronto Exhibition for appraisal. She was very gratified to learn thatshe had won three prizes, two firsts and a third. One of these was inthe sixty-five years and over class, and the other two were in opencompletion. Ollie started painting in 1962 as a hobby, and has showndecided talent. The following was written by C. J. L. Bushe, B.A., M.B. the lateSurgeon-Major Army Medical Staff, Canada, in 1980 and is stated on pages118 and 119 in the book, 'Grit and Growth, the story of Grenfell', byAnnie I. Yule and privately published by the Grenfell HistoricalCommittee, printed by Brigdens, covers by Universal Bindery, Saskatoon,Saskatchewan, Canada. 'GRENFELL, ASSINIBOIA, AS A FIELD FOR IMMIGRATION Canada has suffered much of late years in public estimation, and thereason is not far to seek. When the Canadian Pacific Railway firstopened up the vast interior to the settlers there followed a blowing oftrumpets and an amount of tall talk that we should have smiled at ifheard among our cousins south of the boundary. This was accomplished bya cloud of immigration pamphlets and 'dodgers' describing such a futureas no country on earth can, or will offer. The estimation returns on agricultural enterprise were absurd, and thetheoretical prices for farm produce was calculated on a similar basis.The farmer had only to sow, reap and grow rich. Then followed a rushfrom the older part of the Dominion and the United Kingdom, a largeproportion consisting of 'dead beats' of every class of society. Many ofthem had just enough money to demoralize them. These latter, on thestrength of possessing a couple of thousand pounds, attempted the life ofan English gentleman farmer on a capital with which they never have madesuch a venture elsewhere or the habits to fit them for such a life. As anatural result there is not a district along the railway line in whichwell-built houses and farm buildings may not be seen, the former ownersof which are scattered to all four points of the compass, and there ishardly a middle-class family in England to whose minds the name Canadadoes not recall failure of some relative. This state of things reachedan acute stage in the yeas 1894-1895, when not only were the crops muchbelow the average in equality, but also in the latter year, frozen aswell; added to which, wheat fell to the lowest price on record, and stockand horses depreciated in value to a corresponding degree. The people inthe Northwest then found themselves in the position that they had todepend on a price of wheat as regulated between Liverpool and WallStreet, selling in the open markets of the world, and obliged totransport their produce, for that purpose across half a continent as wellas the Atlantic Ocean, and at the same time they were bringing theirnecessities from outside under highest tariffs that exist. It speaks volumes for the country that in spite of these drawbacks it hasbeen steadily advancing as a whole in spite of individual failures. Thecountry has now survived the periods of inflated expectation andspeculation, and the natural reaction of disappointment and depression,and has practically settled down on a solid business foundation. In addition our market is coming to us, not slowly but by leaps andbounds: the country surrounding us, east, west and north abounds withcoal and minerals; the rush now is after gold, which may be a source ofimmediate gain, but the real future of the country lies in the iron,lead, and coal, and the populations who will have to work these mineswill have to be fed from our fields and herds. Times have been hard on the pioneers, but the blame cannot fairy be laidon the country, it is sound to the core, the methods were wrong and toomuch was expected at first. It is with some hope of rectifying thisprevailing public opinion that I now write. There is one class inparticular to whom I would address myself and point out the advantages ofthe Northwest, and that is the class of retired officers who are nowscraping along on small means and spending sleepless nights in thinkinghow to provide for their sons. The expenses of a preparation forSandhurst or Woolwich and the necessary disappointment of the majority inthe overcrowding of the profession is an old and bitter cry among theseancient warriors. I would therefore, show one opening for those who donot fear to avail themselves of it. Those who have spent their mostactive years on foreign service feel 'cramped, cabined and confined' whensettled down on a small income 'en retraite' in the United Kingdom, andit seems hard that the boys have to get out and away just at the timewhen their parents feel the want of their company. To these I would say:'Why not come out here?' Land can still be bought for a song, theexpenses or living are low, there are plenty of people of your own class,and there might be more. I purpose to give a plain, unvarnishedstatement herein of the life and prospects, and if the reader isdisappointed at the lack of exciting detail I would forewarn him thatnothing is set down which has not come within the scope of my ownpersonal observation. The first objection that will probably be raised is the climate: that thecold is very severe at times cannot be denied, but after the experiencederived from eight winters' residence I can truly state that I do notconsider the winters by any means unpleasant on the whole; the air is sodry that the Chilly dampness of the English is quite missing, and thehouses being warmed on a different plan, are incomparably morecomfortable in temperature than English homes in winter, no matter whatthe wether may be outside. The winter days are usually bright andsunshiny, with a blue sky overhead and an ordinary tweed suit is quitewarm enough for walking about in. When driving, particularly at night,furs are, of course, absolutely necessary, but in other respects ordinarywinter clothes are ample. The snow thaws about the beginning of April, and the interval betweenwinter and summer is briefest. The weather rapidly gets warmer, July andAugust being the hottest months, during which the thermometer may run upto 86 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade, but nights are cool andrefreshing. September and October are the best months in the year, thedays being bright and clear, with a crispness in the air, and the leaveson the trees every shade of yellow and scarlet. The snow begins again inNovember, as a rule, although some winters the ground is bare untilChristmas. For healthfulness the climate is unsurpassed. Bronchitis and pneumoniaare practically unknown and former residence in hot climates, such asIndia, etc. does not appear to have any unfavorable influence; indeed thecontrary. Any family in possession of a certain income of £ 250 and £400 a year would be looked on as rich, and could, by taking up landeither by purchase or homestead (the regulations regarding which can beobtained from the office of the High Commissioner, Victoria Street,Westminster) with two or three sons, make a home which would be yearlyrising in value as the price of land and property appreciates. Alreadythe tide has turned and the last two years have seen a steady rise in thevalue of real estate, which is certain to continue as the country fillsup. For those who are fond of sport, there is an unlimited field amongducks, prairie chickens, geese, etc. and a healthy outdoor life, withabundance of plain wholesome fare.' As stated above, this statement was written by C. J. L. Bushe, B.A.,M.B. late Surgeon-Major Army Medical Staff and is found on pages 118 and119 in the book, 'Grit and Growth, the story of Grenfell', by Annie I.Yule and privately published by the Grenfell Historical Committee, 1980and printed by Brigdens and the covers by Universal Bindery, Saskatoon,Saskatchewan, Canada.
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1833 - 1908 (75 years)
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