History of John and Emelda Chisholm

Description
Creator
Hazel Chisholm
Media Type
Image
Description
History of John and Emelda Chisholm, Hazel's parents
Notes
John Alexander Chisholm junior was born at Oakville Dec. 28, 1859, the youngerst son of John Alexander senior (1816-74) and his wife Sarah Pettit Bigger. They lived on the farm at the north end of Oakville (see Oakville and the Sixteen). His father running a basket factory which the oldest son William B. took over, John and his brother Charlie were early associated with machinery and both had a flair for invention. How they invented and manufactured the first pea-hulling machinery used in the canning industry in teh U.S.A and Canada has been fully told in the Oakville history, and it was while attending a canning convention at Topeka, Kanasas that he met Emelda Beeler. Emelda's father and mother had migrated from Virginia to Kentucky where she was born, and being left an orphan at an early age she was reared in the family of her guadians, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert of Topeka.
After their marriage John and Emelda came to live at Oakville where Hazel was born, but Emelda was unhappy there because of the coolness shown towards Americans, particularly by John's mother, Sarah. THis is understandable when one considers that both Sarah's parents were Loyalists whose families had lost everything in the Revolution, but Emelda knew nothing of this and after a year John took her to live in Rochester, New York. Planning to live in Oakville in summer and Washington in winter he built a house there which was handly completed when he died in 1903 of typhoid fever. The Washington house was occupied for years by the Chinese Legation and thereafter by many people famous in teh government of the United States. Emelda remained for a time in Washington then moved to New York City, living at 336 West 77th St. until Erchless became her permanent home.
Collection
Oakville Museum at Erchless
Geographic Coverage
  • Ontario, Canada
    Latitude: 43.4473682625124 Longitude: -79.6665048808289
Copyright Statement
Copyright status unknown. Responsibility for determining the copyright status and any use rests exclusively with the user.
Reproduction Notes
Photocopy available at Oakville Museum
Contact
Oakville Museum
Email:oakvillemuseum@oakville.ca
Website:
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Oakville Museum, 8 Navy Street, Oakville, ON L6J 2Y5
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