| Notes |
- Letter written by John's son Edward states: John Jardine was born at Dumfries Scotland and as a boy was apprnticed to learn the blacksmith trade. 'I' do not know what progress he made or how long he worked at his trade, but he finally landed at Cannington, Canada, where he set up shop and went to work. He met Elizabeth Edwards and after a courtship, which was strenuously objected to by her prents, an elopement was planned and executed. They left there, took up a homestead. This was at the time the Civil War (1861-1865) was on and in order to avoid the draft law, he relinquished his homestead. From that time on [John] was engaged as engineer on lake vessels. The last few years before the death of mother (Elizabeth Edwards Jardine) he was running a tug boat towing vessels in and out of the harbor at Milwaukee, WI.
Letter from John Jardine to his daughters:
Feb 17, 1878
West Albany
Dear Daughters,
I received your letter last night and was glad to hear from you it had laid in the post office four days before I got it as I live seven miles from the post office. I am very sorry I cannot come to Milwaukee at present if I had received your letter two days sooner I would have come right down.
James Whelan, that is the man I work for, started for the western part of Minn. to visit a sister of his, he then intends to go to Dakota to see his brother and I don't expect him back for a month or six weeks and the place is left in my charge till he comes back so it is impossible for me to come now.
The information you want about your mother, I will tell you all I know about her and her friends.
Her maiden name was Elizabeth Edwards she had a brother named Henry the one you speak of in your letter. She had another brother who was killed by the kick of a mule when he was a boy about 15 years of age your mother had one sister named Sarah Anne she was married to Geo. Horne about four years before I married your mother. Your mother was born Aug 10, 1832 in the township of Brock, Canada. Your grandmother's maiden name was Munn and was from the County Sligo, Ireland. She was first married to a Mr. Masterson he left her in Ireland and came out to Canada and bought a farm in Brock township. He then sent for his family who arrived there to find him dead. Some years after she married your Grandfather Henry Edwards by him she had four children Sarah Ann, Henry, Elizabeth, and Edward.
When I first got acquainted with your mother I was hired by the year to Geo. Horne, they lived on the farm where your mother was born. The East half belonged to your mother and the west to Sarah Ann. They owned one hundred acres each.
Your Grandmother had one son named John Masterson by her first husband, he had just come home from the southern states the fall your mother and I were married. A man in the township of Maraposea (?) had forged a deed on John's farm. For further information I would have to go to Canada. I have a brother in or near Beverton township 15 miles North of your mother's birthplace. I can't think of anything else worthy of mention.
This leaves me in good health and spirits and hoping it will find you enjoying the same. Your Grandmother had three or four daughters by her first husband as well as a son. Please write soon and let me know how you are getting along no more at present from your father
John Jardine
Lake City Minn. [3]
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Ernest Benjamin Gillis Family History
Abt 1831 - 1907 (76 years)
[3, 4, 6, 7, 8]