Author: Melanie Shana Greatrix, in collaboration with Keith Millard
I started to research further into the Greatrix family in the 1990’s and thought I would take down notes from the aunts and uncles left at that point to be able to put the family tree together and pass on to others in the family. It became an interesting journey for me as I had no children of my own, not even any nieces or nephews although I have a sister and a brother. Nevertheless, I found some wonderful stories in the family who have lived and left legacies for the rest of us with the family values they imparted, the laughter of gatherings for picnic reunions at the Sandbanks Park in Prince Edward County or at the Picton Legion later, as well as the special events such as anniversaries and celebrations of life.
My experience was a positive one for the time I had with all of the extended family until my father, Victor G. died when I was 12. Our family had also moved away from the benefits of an extended family when I was 5 to the Haldimand-Norfolk area, 225 miles away, because Dad had received a promotion in the army as firefighter-lieutenant. However, I took the effort to visit almost every summer in the County and meet up with the family still remaining because it gave me back something that I had lost, the connection to my father. As you can imagine, it was a scanty beginning with just some stories here and there as no one had written it all down before this.
The oldest picture I had is one we called the 4 generations. This spanned the life of the earliest known Greatrix who had come to Canada as a young man, John G. with his son Aaron G., with his son Herbert G. with his son Oran G. (brother of my Dad). I shall try to refer to the elder Oran as Aaron which became shortened to Oran. (The unusual marking on the nose of John is because his nose was cut off from a skin cancer that developed from many years in the fields farming during the hot summers.)
Click on photo(s) to enlarge or cursor over for caption:
I started to research further into the Greatrix family in the 1990’s and thought I would take down notes from the aunts and uncles left at that point to be able to put the family tree together and pass on to others in the family. It became an interesting journey for me as I had no children of my own, not even any nieces or nephews although I have a sister and a brother. Nevertheless, I found some wonderful stories in the family who have lived and left legacies for the rest of us with the family values they imparted, the laughter of gatherings for picnic reunions at the Sandbanks Park in Prince Edward County or at the Picton Legion later, as well as the special events such as anniversaries and celebrations of life.
My experience was a positive one for the time I had with all of the extended family until my father, Victor G. died when I was 12. Our family had also moved away from the benefits of an extended family when I was 5 to the Haldimand-Norfolk area, 225 miles away, because Dad had received a promotion in the army as firefighter-lieutenant. However, I took the effort to visit almost every summer in the County and meet up with the family still remaining because it gave me back something that I had lost, the connection to my father. As you can imagine, it was a scanty beginning with just some stories here and there as no one had written it all down before this.
The oldest picture I had is one we called the 4 generations. This spanned the life of the earliest known Greatrix who had come to Canada as a young man, John G. with his son Aaron G., with his son Herbert G. with his son Oran G. (brother of my Dad). I shall try to refer to the elder Oran as Aaron which became shortened to Oran. (The unusual marking on the nose of John is because his nose was cut off from a skin cancer that developed from many years in the fields farming during the hot summers.)
Click on photo(s) to enlarge or cursor over for caption:
James Greatrix
So just who was John Greatrix who came as a young man to Canada in 1846 with his parents James and Mary Goodacre from England? (And later as we found out he actually came with his older brother Samuel as the parents got situated in Hastings County of Upper Canada earlier.)
Descendants of James Greatrix from Buckminster, Leicestershire
James Gratrix was born 1791 in England, and died May 14, 1869 in Ontario, Canada. He married (1) Mary Goodacre. They immigrated to Canada in 1843 leaving some of their children behind most followed later. In the next year August 27, 1844 Mary died and he married (2) Margaret. She was born between 1809 - 1810 in Ontario. In the 1851 Hasting County Census we find Charlotte and Elizabeth in other homes. And unable to find James listed but he did have land at Concession V and Lot 3 in Elzevir Township. He remarried Margaret shortly after his wife’s death. James died May 14, 1869 in Ontario, Canada.
Children of James Gratrix and Mary Goodacre are:
- William Gratrix, born 1823 in England; died 1894 in Vassey, Ontario. He married Lady Agnes Nevell Harris, Oct 2, 1847 in England.
- Thomas Gratrix, born between October 7 - 24, 1824 in England, died August 6, 1889 in Actinolite, Ontario, Canada. Married Elizabeth Palmer.
- Samuel Gratrix, born December 27, 1825 in England, died Aug 31, 1826 in England.
- James Alexander Gratrix, born December 25, 1826 in England, died June 25, 1878 Ontario, Canada. Married Sarah.
- Rueben Gratrix, born January 9, 1828 in England.
- Lena Gratrix, born April 17, 1829 in England.
- Samuel Gratrix born 1829 in England, died January 16, 1911 in Elgin, Ontario, Canada. Married Laura Davis in Canada.
- Elizabeth Gratrix, born March 24, 1830 in England.
- Susanah Mary Gratrix, born November 25, 1831 in Buckminster, Leicestershire, England. She married John Robert Harris 1850 in Buckminster, Leicestershire, England.
- Jane Ann Gratrix, born January 18, 1833 in England.
- John Gratrix, born October 29, 1834 in England; died December 6, 1919 in Tweed, Ontario, Canada. He married Mary Jane Potter July 18, 1859, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada.
- Robert Gratrix, born June 21, 1836 in England; died September 13, 1874. He married Harriet A. Potter August 4, 1867 in Hastings County, Ontario, Canada.
- Charlot Gratrix, born February 21, 1838 in England.
- Elizabeth Gratrix, born December 10, 1839 in England. She married Alexander Young August 7, 1865 in Hastings County, Ontario, Canada.
- Joseph Gratrix, born November 6, 1840 in England. He married Sarah J. Campbell December 25, 1867 in Hastings County, Ontario, Canada.
- Catherine Gratrix, born about 1842 in England. She married Samuel C. Hoover December 12, 1863 in Hastings County, Ontario, Canada.
Children of James Gratrix and Margaret are:
- Agnes Greatrix, born between. 1843 - 1844 in Belleville TWP, Hasting County, Ontario. She married Alexander Laundry September 23, 1865 in Hastings County, Ontario, Canada.
- Fanny Greatrix, born between 1846 - 1847.
- Elijah Greatrix, born June 14, 1849 in Elzevir TWP, Hastings County, Ontario; died 1929 in Hastings county, Ontario. He married Mary E. Maines November 17, 1874 in Bridgewater, Ontario, Canada.
- Jeany Greatrix, born unknown.
John Greatrix
From a huge family with lots of extended family connections John Greatrix came to Canada in 1846 and in 1859 married a young woman who was a daughter of United Empire Loyalists from the area, Mary Jane Potter. John now started a family of his own to seed more generations of the Greatrix family in this new world.
Children of JOHN GREATRIX and MARY POTTER are:
Aaron (also known as Oran Greatrix)
John and Mary enjoyed their many grandchildren also and were very happy to receive the birth of the first of the grandchildren after the marriage of their son Aaron G. in 1882 to Amanda Kleinsteuber (born Aug. 23rd, 1864), daughter of John Henry Lorenz Kleinsteuber and Annie Youmans who lived nearby. This made a new alliance with their new neighbours coming from Germany.
Aaron became a merchant with a shop in Actinolite where he provided General Store goods and probably many canned goods from the local produce that people had grown. Canning was something still common in the family for many years later, even canning cooked venison from the hunts which was sent over to the families in Great Britain of the new wives who had married Greatrix sons, Oran and Victor, during the Second World War. There were many children for the couple also and there had to be much discipline for the kids with the store right in the town attached to the house and business going on.
Children of Aaron Greatrix and Amanda Kleinsteuber are:
1. MARY ELIZABETH GREATRIX, b. Bet. 1883 - 1884, Actinolite, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada; d. Bet. 1937 - 1965; m. WILLIAM EMBELTON, Unknown; b. Unknown.
2. HENRY ALBERT GREATRIX, b. Bet. 1885 - 1886, Actinolite, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada; d. Bet. 1937
3. HERBERT JAMES GREATRIX, b. 1887, Actinolite, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada; d. 1960, Cherry Valley, Ontario, Canada.
4. FRED GREATRIX, b. Bet. 1889 - 1890, Actinolite, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada; d. Bet. 1937 - 1965
5. NETTIE M. GREATRIX, b. Actinolite, Hastings County, July 13, 1892.
At some point after Nettie was born Amanda suffered from an illness we believe was German measles. She never fully recovered and a domestic helper, Martha Minnie, was brought into the house to care for the children, the home and Amanda while Aaron managed the store. It must have been difficult for everyone in the house during this time. Amanda had suffered memory loss and was in a constant depression, unable to perform her duties as a mother and caretaker of the home. A love bond developed between Aaron and Martha and it appeared the marriage could not go on any longer. An arrangement was made for Amanda to return to her brother Julius’ home with the daughters to help Julius Kleinsteuber and Amanda was also pregnant. Joseph, the new baby, was raised by Julius Kleinsteuber’s family and Joe’s sisters, Mary and Nettie Greatrix. Aaron gave Joe his family name. The boys of Aaron and Amanda remained with the father and the new family born to Aaron and Martha.
6. JOSEPH GREATRIX, b. January 2, 1898, Elzevir Twp. Hastings County, Ontario; Baptism: April 23, 1901, Elzevir Twp. Hastings County, Ontario
Children of Aaron Greatrix and Martha Minnie are:
7. LILLIE MAY GREATRIX, b. 1900, Actinolite, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada; d. December 9, 1984, Belleville, Ontario, Canada.
8. CHARLES GREATRIX, b. 1898, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada; d. May 1, 1976, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada.
Click on photo(s) to enlarge or cursor over for caption:
So just who was John Greatrix who came as a young man to Canada in 1846 with his parents James and Mary Goodacre from England? (And later as we found out he actually came with his older brother Samuel as the parents got situated in Hastings County of Upper Canada earlier.)
Descendants of James Greatrix from Buckminster, Leicestershire
James Gratrix was born 1791 in England, and died May 14, 1869 in Ontario, Canada. He married (1) Mary Goodacre. They immigrated to Canada in 1843 leaving some of their children behind most followed later. In the next year August 27, 1844 Mary died and he married (2) Margaret. She was born between 1809 - 1810 in Ontario. In the 1851 Hasting County Census we find Charlotte and Elizabeth in other homes. And unable to find James listed but he did have land at Concession V and Lot 3 in Elzevir Township. He remarried Margaret shortly after his wife’s death. James died May 14, 1869 in Ontario, Canada.
Children of James Gratrix and Mary Goodacre are:
- William Gratrix, born 1823 in England; died 1894 in Vassey, Ontario. He married Lady Agnes Nevell Harris, Oct 2, 1847 in England.
- Thomas Gratrix, born between October 7 - 24, 1824 in England, died August 6, 1889 in Actinolite, Ontario, Canada. Married Elizabeth Palmer.
- Samuel Gratrix, born December 27, 1825 in England, died Aug 31, 1826 in England.
- James Alexander Gratrix, born December 25, 1826 in England, died June 25, 1878 Ontario, Canada. Married Sarah.
- Rueben Gratrix, born January 9, 1828 in England.
- Lena Gratrix, born April 17, 1829 in England.
- Samuel Gratrix born 1829 in England, died January 16, 1911 in Elgin, Ontario, Canada. Married Laura Davis in Canada.
- Elizabeth Gratrix, born March 24, 1830 in England.
- Susanah Mary Gratrix, born November 25, 1831 in Buckminster, Leicestershire, England. She married John Robert Harris 1850 in Buckminster, Leicestershire, England.
- Jane Ann Gratrix, born January 18, 1833 in England.
- John Gratrix, born October 29, 1834 in England; died December 6, 1919 in Tweed, Ontario, Canada. He married Mary Jane Potter July 18, 1859, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada.
- Robert Gratrix, born June 21, 1836 in England; died September 13, 1874. He married Harriet A. Potter August 4, 1867 in Hastings County, Ontario, Canada.
- Charlot Gratrix, born February 21, 1838 in England.
- Elizabeth Gratrix, born December 10, 1839 in England. She married Alexander Young August 7, 1865 in Hastings County, Ontario, Canada.
- Joseph Gratrix, born November 6, 1840 in England. He married Sarah J. Campbell December 25, 1867 in Hastings County, Ontario, Canada.
- Catherine Gratrix, born about 1842 in England. She married Samuel C. Hoover December 12, 1863 in Hastings County, Ontario, Canada.
Children of James Gratrix and Margaret are:
- Agnes Greatrix, born between. 1843 - 1844 in Belleville TWP, Hasting County, Ontario. She married Alexander Laundry September 23, 1865 in Hastings County, Ontario, Canada.
- Fanny Greatrix, born between 1846 - 1847.
- Elijah Greatrix, born June 14, 1849 in Elzevir TWP, Hastings County, Ontario; died 1929 in Hastings county, Ontario. He married Mary E. Maines November 17, 1874 in Bridgewater, Ontario, Canada.
- Jeany Greatrix, born unknown.
John Greatrix
From a huge family with lots of extended family connections John Greatrix came to Canada in 1846 and in 1859 married a young woman who was a daughter of United Empire Loyalists from the area, Mary Jane Potter. John now started a family of his own to seed more generations of the Greatrix family in this new world.
Children of JOHN GREATRIX and MARY POTTER are:
- ELIZABETH GREATRIX, b. 1862; m. BENSON D. MOLYNEUX39, January 24, 1882, Elzevir TWP, Hastings County, Ontario; b. 1860. More About BENSON D. MOLYNEAUX-Occupation: Farmer
- ORAN GREATRIX, b. 1864, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada; d. 1937, Actinolite, Hastings County, Ontario.
- MARY SUSAN GREATRIX, b. 1866, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada; d.1950
- SARAH GREATRIX. B. 1867, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada
- JEMIMA GREATRIX, b. 1871, Hastings County, Ontario
- LAURA GREATRIX , b. 1874, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada; d. 1935
- SAMUEL GREATRIX, b. January 20, 1876; d. April 7, 1913, Hastings County, Ontario More About SAMUEL GREATRIX-Occupation: Farmer. Married Mathilda (Tilley) Way in 1910. Burial: April 10, 1913, Victoria & St James Cemeteries, Tweed, Hastings County, Ontario Religion: Methodist
- THOMAS GREATRIX, b. April 30, 1878, Elzevir Twp. Hastings County, Ontario, Canada; d. 1953, Prince Edward County, Hallowell Twp, Ontario, Canada.
Aaron (also known as Oran Greatrix)
John and Mary enjoyed their many grandchildren also and were very happy to receive the birth of the first of the grandchildren after the marriage of their son Aaron G. in 1882 to Amanda Kleinsteuber (born Aug. 23rd, 1864), daughter of John Henry Lorenz Kleinsteuber and Annie Youmans who lived nearby. This made a new alliance with their new neighbours coming from Germany.
Aaron became a merchant with a shop in Actinolite where he provided General Store goods and probably many canned goods from the local produce that people had grown. Canning was something still common in the family for many years later, even canning cooked venison from the hunts which was sent over to the families in Great Britain of the new wives who had married Greatrix sons, Oran and Victor, during the Second World War. There were many children for the couple also and there had to be much discipline for the kids with the store right in the town attached to the house and business going on.
Children of Aaron Greatrix and Amanda Kleinsteuber are:
1. MARY ELIZABETH GREATRIX, b. Bet. 1883 - 1884, Actinolite, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada; d. Bet. 1937 - 1965; m. WILLIAM EMBELTON, Unknown; b. Unknown.
2. HENRY ALBERT GREATRIX, b. Bet. 1885 - 1886, Actinolite, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada; d. Bet. 1937
3. HERBERT JAMES GREATRIX, b. 1887, Actinolite, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada; d. 1960, Cherry Valley, Ontario, Canada.
4. FRED GREATRIX, b. Bet. 1889 - 1890, Actinolite, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada; d. Bet. 1937 - 1965
5. NETTIE M. GREATRIX, b. Actinolite, Hastings County, July 13, 1892.
At some point after Nettie was born Amanda suffered from an illness we believe was German measles. She never fully recovered and a domestic helper, Martha Minnie, was brought into the house to care for the children, the home and Amanda while Aaron managed the store. It must have been difficult for everyone in the house during this time. Amanda had suffered memory loss and was in a constant depression, unable to perform her duties as a mother and caretaker of the home. A love bond developed between Aaron and Martha and it appeared the marriage could not go on any longer. An arrangement was made for Amanda to return to her brother Julius’ home with the daughters to help Julius Kleinsteuber and Amanda was also pregnant. Joseph, the new baby, was raised by Julius Kleinsteuber’s family and Joe’s sisters, Mary and Nettie Greatrix. Aaron gave Joe his family name. The boys of Aaron and Amanda remained with the father and the new family born to Aaron and Martha.
6. JOSEPH GREATRIX, b. January 2, 1898, Elzevir Twp. Hastings County, Ontario; Baptism: April 23, 1901, Elzevir Twp. Hastings County, Ontario
Children of Aaron Greatrix and Martha Minnie are:
7. LILLIE MAY GREATRIX, b. 1900, Actinolite, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada; d. December 9, 1984, Belleville, Ontario, Canada.
8. CHARLES GREATRIX, b. 1898, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada; d. May 1, 1976, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada.
Click on photo(s) to enlarge or cursor over for caption:
Other Notes for AARON (Oran) GREATRIX from his Obituary:
Oran Greatrix, a life-long resident of Actinolite, passed away in that community on Thursday last following an illness of two months. The late Mr. Greatrix who was seventy-three years of age, was born in Hastings county, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Greatrix. The deceased was a member of the Pentecostal Church and a staunch Conseravtive. Surviving are his wife who was formerly Amanda Kleinsteuber and the following children: Fred and Herbert Greatrix, Picton; Henry, Niagara Falls; Charles Greatrix, Belleville; Mrs. W. H. Credicott, Niagara Falls, N.Y.; Mrs. Nettie Jackson, Picton and Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Embelton, Hamilton.
The funeral was held from his late home at Actinolite on Saturday afternoon with interment in the cemetery at that place. Pastors W. Tindell and Kleinsteuber, Belleville, had charge of the services. The bearers were: Henry, Herbert, Fred, Thomas and Arthur Greatrix, David Jackson and James Molyneux.
Notes for AMANDA KLEINSTEUBER from her obituary:
Rev. J. Payton conducted the service. The bearers were Arthur Robinson, Russell James, Harry Wright, Oran Greatrix and Foster Jackson, the last three being grandsons of the deceased. The body was placed in St. James Vault until spring, when interment will take place in Actinolite Cemetery. Mrs Greatrix was a member of the United Church. She was the last surviving member of her family.
Inscription on tomb: Amanda Kleinsteuber, Beloved Wife of Oran Greatrix 1864-1965
Tweed News Obit. Wed 10 Mar 1965:
In her 101st year Mrs. Oran Greatrix died in the BGH Feb 24, 1965. The former Amanda Kleinsteuber, she was born at Bridgewater, ON. in 1864 the daughter of John E. Kleinsteuber Annie Youmans. Husband died 28 yrs ago.
The former Amanda Kleinsteuber, Mrs. Greatrix was born at Bridgewater, Ontario, now Actinolite, in 1864. She was the daughter of John Kleinsteuber and his wife, Annie Youmans, and was the last surviving member of her family. She was predeceased by three brothers, Charles, Julius and John Kleinsteuber, and one sister, (Mary) Mrs. Henry Rutter. Her husband died 28 years ago.
Tweed Historical Society Obituary Book:
In her 101st year, Mrs. Oran Greatrix of Belleville passed away in the Belleville General Hospital on February 24th, 1965, following an illness of four weeks.
Mr. and Mrs. Greatrix had six children. (Nettie) Mrs. David Jackson, R.R. No. 1, Picton, and Joseph Greatrix, Toronto. Three sons, Henry, Herbert and Fred Greatrix and one daughter, (Mary E.), Mrs. Wm. Embelton, predeceased their mother.
The funeral was held at 2 pm on February 16th, from the W. M. Bush Funeral Home, Tweed, with the Rev. J. Payton conducting the service. The bearers were Arthur Tobinson, Russell James, Harry Wright, Oran Greatrix and Foster Jackson, the last three being grandsons of the deceased. The body was placed in St. James vault until spring, when internment will take place in Actinolite Cemetery.
Mrs. Greatrix was a member of the United Church.
Click on photo(s) to enlarge or cursor over for caption:
Oran Greatrix, a life-long resident of Actinolite, passed away in that community on Thursday last following an illness of two months. The late Mr. Greatrix who was seventy-three years of age, was born in Hastings county, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Greatrix. The deceased was a member of the Pentecostal Church and a staunch Conseravtive. Surviving are his wife who was formerly Amanda Kleinsteuber and the following children: Fred and Herbert Greatrix, Picton; Henry, Niagara Falls; Charles Greatrix, Belleville; Mrs. W. H. Credicott, Niagara Falls, N.Y.; Mrs. Nettie Jackson, Picton and Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Embelton, Hamilton.
The funeral was held from his late home at Actinolite on Saturday afternoon with interment in the cemetery at that place. Pastors W. Tindell and Kleinsteuber, Belleville, had charge of the services. The bearers were: Henry, Herbert, Fred, Thomas and Arthur Greatrix, David Jackson and James Molyneux.
Notes for AMANDA KLEINSTEUBER from her obituary:
Rev. J. Payton conducted the service. The bearers were Arthur Robinson, Russell James, Harry Wright, Oran Greatrix and Foster Jackson, the last three being grandsons of the deceased. The body was placed in St. James Vault until spring, when interment will take place in Actinolite Cemetery. Mrs Greatrix was a member of the United Church. She was the last surviving member of her family.
Inscription on tomb: Amanda Kleinsteuber, Beloved Wife of Oran Greatrix 1864-1965
Tweed News Obit. Wed 10 Mar 1965:
In her 101st year Mrs. Oran Greatrix died in the BGH Feb 24, 1965. The former Amanda Kleinsteuber, she was born at Bridgewater, ON. in 1864 the daughter of John E. Kleinsteuber Annie Youmans. Husband died 28 yrs ago.
The former Amanda Kleinsteuber, Mrs. Greatrix was born at Bridgewater, Ontario, now Actinolite, in 1864. She was the daughter of John Kleinsteuber and his wife, Annie Youmans, and was the last surviving member of her family. She was predeceased by three brothers, Charles, Julius and John Kleinsteuber, and one sister, (Mary) Mrs. Henry Rutter. Her husband died 28 years ago.
Tweed Historical Society Obituary Book:
In her 101st year, Mrs. Oran Greatrix of Belleville passed away in the Belleville General Hospital on February 24th, 1965, following an illness of four weeks.
Mr. and Mrs. Greatrix had six children. (Nettie) Mrs. David Jackson, R.R. No. 1, Picton, and Joseph Greatrix, Toronto. Three sons, Henry, Herbert and Fred Greatrix and one daughter, (Mary E.), Mrs. Wm. Embelton, predeceased their mother.
The funeral was held at 2 pm on February 16th, from the W. M. Bush Funeral Home, Tweed, with the Rev. J. Payton conducting the service. The bearers were Arthur Tobinson, Russell James, Harry Wright, Oran Greatrix and Foster Jackson, the last three being grandsons of the deceased. The body was placed in St. James vault until spring, when internment will take place in Actinolite Cemetery.
Mrs. Greatrix was a member of the United Church.
Click on photo(s) to enlarge or cursor over for caption:
Herbert Greatrix
My grandfather Herbert continued the Greatrix family tradition with his Scottish wife, Jessie Ness, whom he had met in Niagara Falls while working as a milkman delivering to a family estate where a lovely lass from Edinburgh, Scotland was working as a governess. There are some wonderful pictures of the wedding in the romance capital of Niagara Falls in 1914 shown attached. Soon after the marriage Jessie and Herb moved to Prince Edward County to start a farm and have a family of 9 children, two of whom died very young and are buried on West Lake behind his brother Fred’s home. Herbert had the resourcefulness of that pioneer period to farm in Prince Edward County with a large family and he attended the many celebrations of picnics with both the Greatrix and Kleinsteuber families. I loved staying with my grandfather as a child as he was so interesting and inventive. I learned how to keep life simple and always remember family no matter what happens.
Click on photo(s) to enlarge or cursor over for caption:
My grandfather Herbert continued the Greatrix family tradition with his Scottish wife, Jessie Ness, whom he had met in Niagara Falls while working as a milkman delivering to a family estate where a lovely lass from Edinburgh, Scotland was working as a governess. There are some wonderful pictures of the wedding in the romance capital of Niagara Falls in 1914 shown attached. Soon after the marriage Jessie and Herb moved to Prince Edward County to start a farm and have a family of 9 children, two of whom died very young and are buried on West Lake behind his brother Fred’s home. Herbert had the resourcefulness of that pioneer period to farm in Prince Edward County with a large family and he attended the many celebrations of picnics with both the Greatrix and Kleinsteuber families. I loved staying with my grandfather as a child as he was so interesting and inventive. I learned how to keep life simple and always remember family no matter what happens.
Click on photo(s) to enlarge or cursor over for caption:
Fred Greatrix: 1890 - 1960
Fred served in World War I and his war record is preserved online. Click on War Record
Fred served in World War I and his war record is preserved online. Click on War Record
Life in Prince Edward County
Many others in the family had moved from Hastings County to Prince Edward County including Herb’s sister Nettie Greatrix who married Dave Jackson and his brother Fred Greatrix who married Cora Rodgers along with many cousins from the Kleinsteuber family tree. Great uncle Fred was a wonderful family man and a good farmer. Unfortunately, he never had any children. His brother Herb had many and Herb gave him one of his sons, Freddie his namesake, to work the farm all week but he had to return on Sundays to the family at Salmon Point. It made life difficult for young Freddie also as he felt apart from his siblings. Young Freddie never had children but became a hunting and fishing tour guide for many years in Prince Edward County. He was also the maintenance man at the post office in Picton, where he also lived on the top floor with his wife Marion Gow from Burlington whom he had met when he had signed up with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders out of Hamilton during World War II. However, he contracted tuberculosis and was placed in the Hamilton sanatorium through that time. His sister Noreen also contracted the disease and was placed there. Meanwhile the other brothers went to war.
At this same time Herb and Jessie were starting to be grandparents. Helen, was the eldest and the first to marry Frank Pearsall and had a son Doug. They were still living in Picton helping out on the farm at Warings Corners initially and then went to Brighton where Frank started a gas station which became the business of Pearsall Motors, a Ford dealership. Kathleen married Clarence Brummell and together they started a dairy farm outside of Cherry Valley. Marguerite married a returned veteran, Ralph Learmonth and they moved to Colborne also going into the car business which became another Ford dealership. Noreen married a returned veteran, Gerry Miles, who had been one of the youngest soldiers to go to war.
In the picures below Victor Greatrix is seen with his uncle Fred and Cora leaving to join the Ordinance Corps as a mechanic. Oran Greatrix lost an eye in an attack at Assoro, Italy fighting for the Hastings Prince Edward County unit. Oran is mentioned in Farley Mowat’s book, The Regiment. The Hasty Ps were surrounded by Germans and cut off from rations. Oran did not like canned kippers or sardines and had kept a stack of cans in his pack to trade for other things no doubt. He saved the day and produced a fish for each soldier.
Click on photo(s) to enlarge or cursor over for caption:
Many others in the family had moved from Hastings County to Prince Edward County including Herb’s sister Nettie Greatrix who married Dave Jackson and his brother Fred Greatrix who married Cora Rodgers along with many cousins from the Kleinsteuber family tree. Great uncle Fred was a wonderful family man and a good farmer. Unfortunately, he never had any children. His brother Herb had many and Herb gave him one of his sons, Freddie his namesake, to work the farm all week but he had to return on Sundays to the family at Salmon Point. It made life difficult for young Freddie also as he felt apart from his siblings. Young Freddie never had children but became a hunting and fishing tour guide for many years in Prince Edward County. He was also the maintenance man at the post office in Picton, where he also lived on the top floor with his wife Marion Gow from Burlington whom he had met when he had signed up with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders out of Hamilton during World War II. However, he contracted tuberculosis and was placed in the Hamilton sanatorium through that time. His sister Noreen also contracted the disease and was placed there. Meanwhile the other brothers went to war.
At this same time Herb and Jessie were starting to be grandparents. Helen, was the eldest and the first to marry Frank Pearsall and had a son Doug. They were still living in Picton helping out on the farm at Warings Corners initially and then went to Brighton where Frank started a gas station which became the business of Pearsall Motors, a Ford dealership. Kathleen married Clarence Brummell and together they started a dairy farm outside of Cherry Valley. Marguerite married a returned veteran, Ralph Learmonth and they moved to Colborne also going into the car business which became another Ford dealership. Noreen married a returned veteran, Gerry Miles, who had been one of the youngest soldiers to go to war.
In the picures below Victor Greatrix is seen with his uncle Fred and Cora leaving to join the Ordinance Corps as a mechanic. Oran Greatrix lost an eye in an attack at Assoro, Italy fighting for the Hastings Prince Edward County unit. Oran is mentioned in Farley Mowat’s book, The Regiment. The Hasty Ps were surrounded by Germans and cut off from rations. Oran did not like canned kippers or sardines and had kept a stack of cans in his pack to trade for other things no doubt. He saved the day and produced a fish for each soldier.
Click on photo(s) to enlarge or cursor over for caption:
Life After World War II
When the boys came home there were a number of celebrations of weddings and new families. Herb and Jessie had retired to a small cottage on the edge of Picton where they had many visits and the aid of their children to assist them in retirement. The baby boom started and many siblings and cousins were added to the family tree for Herb and Jessie.
Great uncle Fred Greatrix had purchased a hunting lodge around Bancroft in Hastings County where he took his brothers and nephews to bring back game venison to feed the family. He also had bought them each an 1894 Winchester Rifle.
Click on photo(s) to enlarge or cursor over for caption:
When the boys came home there were a number of celebrations of weddings and new families. Herb and Jessie had retired to a small cottage on the edge of Picton where they had many visits and the aid of their children to assist them in retirement. The baby boom started and many siblings and cousins were added to the family tree for Herb and Jessie.
Great uncle Fred Greatrix had purchased a hunting lodge around Bancroft in Hastings County where he took his brothers and nephews to bring back game venison to feed the family. He also had bought them each an 1894 Winchester Rifle.
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The 1950’s
The good times returned for all in the 1950’s with all our memories of picnics and fun at the Sandbanks Provincial Park for a new generation. There were many grandchildren for Herb and Jessie as well as great-grandchildren for Aaron Greatrix who had passed on prior to the war in 1937 and Amanda Kleinsteuber Greatrix who lived in a seniors home until 1965 when she died. My fondest memories of my childhood were staying with Herb and Jessie in the little cottage on the edge of Picton. I would pick raspberries so that Grandma Greatrix would make a pie. She had to pump her own water in the little kitchen sink and she cooked on a wood-burning stove. They also heated their water for my bath in an aluminum tub in front of a wood stove heater. Grandad made little puzzles out of coat hangers for me to break apart or he would get me to make his cigarettes with my tiny fingers working on a machine he had. Sometimes he sat and played the Jew’s harp. There was a tiny bedroom and they pulled a curtain to separate me on a cot from their bed, but I was amused watching them take out their false teeth and I could hear them giggling. I remember thinking to myself that getting old isn’t so bad if you have someone to giggle with.
Click on photo(s) to enlarge or cursor over for caption:
The good times returned for all in the 1950’s with all our memories of picnics and fun at the Sandbanks Provincial Park for a new generation. There were many grandchildren for Herb and Jessie as well as great-grandchildren for Aaron Greatrix who had passed on prior to the war in 1937 and Amanda Kleinsteuber Greatrix who lived in a seniors home until 1965 when she died. My fondest memories of my childhood were staying with Herb and Jessie in the little cottage on the edge of Picton. I would pick raspberries so that Grandma Greatrix would make a pie. She had to pump her own water in the little kitchen sink and she cooked on a wood-burning stove. They also heated their water for my bath in an aluminum tub in front of a wood stove heater. Grandad made little puzzles out of coat hangers for me to break apart or he would get me to make his cigarettes with my tiny fingers working on a machine he had. Sometimes he sat and played the Jew’s harp. There was a tiny bedroom and they pulled a curtain to separate me on a cot from their bed, but I was amused watching them take out their false teeth and I could hear them giggling. I remember thinking to myself that getting old isn’t so bad if you have someone to giggle with.
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The Greatrix Family, 1846-2015 in Canada
The legacy of the Canadian Greatrix family, started in Hastings County through James Greatrix, has now spread throughout Canada to the west and far from the first Canadian home. The stories of John and Aaron Greatrix are part of my history and many others with the large families they had. Aaron never divorced Amanda and he is buried next to her in the Actinolite Cemetery.
Of Aaron’s and Amanda’s children carrying on the family name through male heirs perhaps the only son is Joseph through his children in the near future. Joseph was raised by the daughters of Aaron, Mary Elizabeth and Nettie, in the home of Julius Kleinsteuber because of the tragedy that befell upon Amanda. She did live over 100 years and my father, Victor and grandfather, Herb Greatrix always visited her till they passed away.
Herb died in 1960 and my father in 1963. Amanda passed away February 24th, 1965 in the Belleville Nursing Home. Her husband, Aaron Greatrix had died in 1937, but still rests by her side. Through the challenges and tragedies of the family’s journey we can be proud of the heritage passed on to us from the strong characters they had and the love of family.
-Shana Greatrix, born in Picton in 1951
The legacy of the Canadian Greatrix family, started in Hastings County through James Greatrix, has now spread throughout Canada to the west and far from the first Canadian home. The stories of John and Aaron Greatrix are part of my history and many others with the large families they had. Aaron never divorced Amanda and he is buried next to her in the Actinolite Cemetery.
Of Aaron’s and Amanda’s children carrying on the family name through male heirs perhaps the only son is Joseph through his children in the near future. Joseph was raised by the daughters of Aaron, Mary Elizabeth and Nettie, in the home of Julius Kleinsteuber because of the tragedy that befell upon Amanda. She did live over 100 years and my father, Victor and grandfather, Herb Greatrix always visited her till they passed away.
Herb died in 1960 and my father in 1963. Amanda passed away February 24th, 1965 in the Belleville Nursing Home. Her husband, Aaron Greatrix had died in 1937, but still rests by her side. Through the challenges and tragedies of the family’s journey we can be proud of the heritage passed on to us from the strong characters they had and the love of family.
-Shana Greatrix, born in Picton in 1951