
A Northern Hope
One Family's Life in Cobalt and Haileybury 1904-1928
by Debra B. North
Beginning with the birth of her maternal grandparents William Ferris and Rachel Johnston, in Scotland, in the 1870s, it follows them through their early years and my grandfather's experiences in the Boer War (1899-1902), their immigration to Canada beginning in 1903 and their settling in Cobalt in 1904.
It recounts the family's life during Cobalt's Silver Rush which occurred, from 1904 to the early 1920s. Their family history is followed through World War II. Documented with 430 pictures, many of which have never been published before, this book makes fascinating insights into life in northeastern Ontario in the early twentieth century.
Go Here for Table of Contents
ISBN: 978-1-927541-91-3 | WMPub#1164 | 8½" x 11"
252 pages; 430 pictures; silk acid-free paper; trade paperback | $37.95
Table of Contents
252 pages; 430 pictures; silk acid-free paper; trade paperback | $37.95
3 Dedication
6 Preface
8 Acknowledgements
10 Family Tree (diagram)
11 The Family - as identified in this history
12 Chapter 1: In the Beginning
12 William Ferris - My Grandfather
15 Rachel Johnston - My Grandmother
18 Rachel's sister Margaret - The Introduction and Engagement 1899
22 Chapter 2: The Boer War, South Africa; Oct. 1899 to May 1902
30 William Immigrates 1903
30 Chapter 3: Immigration to Canada 1903
36 Chapter 4: New Ontario and the Rise of Cobalt
44 Chapter 5: Cobalt circa 1905
50 Chapter 6: Cobalt's Silver Rush
56 Chapter 7: The Family Comes to Canada
56 Rachel's Brother Thomas
57 William's Brother Jack and Their Mother Elizabeth
60 Rachel Comes to Canada 1906
63 The Wedding 1906
65 Chapter 8: Cobalt 1906 to 1907
65 Early Cobalt 1906-1907
80 Chapter 9: The Ferry Boat Company and Cobalt Recreation
84 William's Boer War Pension
85 Recreation and Sports
94 Chapter 10: Cobalt Fire and the Cobalt Typhoid Outbreak 1909
100 Birth of Frank Ferris 1910
104 First Years 1911 to 1915
104 Chapter 11: Haileybury 1911 to 1915
115 Chapter 12: World War I, July 1914 to November 1918
138 Chapter 13: Back to Cobalt 1919 to 1928
138 Moving Back to Cobalt 1919
139 William's Employment 1919 to 1928
142 Chapter 14: Growing up in Cobalt in the 1920s
142 First House in Cobalt, a block from Silver Street
142 Second House in Cobalt, 24 Commission Street
145 Third House in Cobalt, 48 Nickel Street
151 Description of Cobalt
159 Schools
163 Church
166 Clothes
168 Food and Holidays
169 Recreation
172 Girl Guides and The YMCA
178 Music and Dancing
182 Great Fire of 1922
184 Bill
185 Tom
187 The Algonquin Rifles and the Decision to Move to Toronto
192 Chapter 15: Toronto 1928 to 1939
192 The Great Depression
208 The Relatives
211 Chapter 16: World War II: Sept 1939 to Sept 1945 and Afterwards
211 Tom
216 Ab
220 Bea
225 Bill
232 Doug
237 William and Rachel
244 Chapter 17: In Conclusion
248 Selected References