Sarah Schermerhorn

Forest Mills Lady Reaches Fine Old Age

Mrs. Sarah Schermerhorn Marks 91^st Birthday -

Has Been Active All Her life -- Keen Memory

FOREST MILLS - Mrs. Sarah Schermerhorn of Forest Mills on July 5, celebrated her 91^st birthday and received the hearty congratulations of a host of relatives and friends throughout the entire district on having accomplished that venerable age.

Mrs. Schermerhorn was Sarah Gordon Metcalf and was born on July 5, 1874, the daughter of Mary Gordon Metcalf and William Metcalf shortly after they came from Belfast, Ireland, to Canada and settled in North Fredericksburgh. They moved from there to Clarks Mills which is now Camden East and from there to Forest Mills where on Christmas Day in 1864 she was married to Leonard Schermerhorn of the same place. Her husband, who was of Dutch descent, always impressed it on his children that their long, difficult name, was “spelled with three R’s”.

Many Descendants

They spent all their married life in the Forest Mills and Roblin districts. Fifteen children were born to them, of whom seven girls and five boys are living. She has sixty grandchildren and ninety-five great grandchildren. She was baptized in the Anglican church at Clarks Mills, and was married by a Methodist minister, Rev. M. Thompson. All her married life she was a staunch Methodist but after the union joined the United Church.

Her living children are as follows: Mrs. Mary Tyrrell, Watertown, N.Y.; Joel Schermerhorn, Nokomis, Sask.; James Schermerhorn, Notikewan, Alberta; Mrs. James Dudgeon, Selby; Mrs. Marcus Welsh, Picton; William Schermerhorn, Notikewan, Alberta; Mrs. William Waddell, Napanee; Mrs. Theodore Waddell, Marlbank; Mrs. John guest, Picton; John Schermerhorn, Roblin; Mrs. Ada Kimmett, Marlbank; Gordon Schermerhorn, Forest Mills. A daughter, Jane, and a son Leonard, died in California and Pearl died at home. In October, 1921, her husband passed away at Forest Mills.

Her sons, James and William were the first white pioneers of that part of Peace River district where the village of Notikewan is. Her children and grandchildren are scattered all over North America from California to Peace River. She has two living sisters, Mrs. Eliza Carscallen, Deseronto, and Mrs. Jane Sexsmith, Portage La Prairie, Man.

A Keen Memory

Mrs. Schermerhorn’s mind is very active and she can recall many incidents of pioneer days, she recalls the days when the settlers made a little extra money by the sale of potash which was made on the well wooded farms. An old lime kiln can still be seen on the farm of Mr. J. Sweet and nearby across the road from it is a field on the farm of Mrs. Charles Walroth that is still called the “Potash Field”. Mrs. Schermerhorn remembers when these places of industry were active, where huge ash logs were burned and the resulting potash bagged and sold in Napanee.

An Active Woman

Maple sugar was used almost entirely for sweetening. She tells of the big “drives” of beautiful oak logs which came down the Salmon river each spring. Cheese factories were often “manned” by young women in those early days and a young woman would hire out for domestic service for three or four dollars per month. This venerable old lady was a great help to her husband in raising their large family. She used a hand loom and wove beautiful rugs and carpets, which sold readily. She also wove flannel and fullcloth. More than 53 years ago she wove 40 yards of carpet for the first Methodist parsonage in Roblin district for many miles around.

With the exception of last Christmas she has knitted beautiful woollen socks for her boys in Peace River and at home. Mrs. Schermerhorn till within the last year, was never idle. Candlewick bedspreads, quilts and hand-woven floor coverings were made by her in great numbers. Mrs. Ada Kimmett is with her mother, who is now confined to her room, and gives her every loving care. A birthday celebration was held for her on July 5 when all who were able to be present gathered at her home and spent the day. She is decidedly Conservative in politics and is also an ardent Protestant.

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