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John Harrower Drysdale

John [Jack] Harrower Drysdale, the first child of John Drysdale and Christina (McDougal), was born on April 9, 1858 in Aylmer, Ontario, Canada. Jack lived in Glasgow, Scotland for the first few years after he was born, before returning to Ontario, Canada. He later moved to the area of Melita, Manitoba, at some point before 1893, with his sister Jane and brother-in-law Frederick Kontzie. Jack lived as a bachelor for many years before he married Lilie (???) in 1906. They did not have children. Jack died sometime after 1928.

Lillie was born at Sparta, Ontario. She had two sisters, one them married ??? Balderston. Lillie moved to Manitoba in 1905, she and Jack were married about a year later. They were married for 12 years before she died on December 13, 1918. Her mother had died a year earlier. Lillie was buried at her family cemetery plot in Ontario.

Jane Anderson Drysdale, the first daughter of John Drysdale and Christina (McDougal) was born on February 12, 1860, at 5 Large Place, in the District of Blythswood in the Burgh of Glasgow, Scotland. She was born after her parents had briefly returned to Scotland, before returning to Canada for good. She was living on her parents farm near Dunboyne, Ontario, Canada, when she married Christian Frederick Kontzie, from the nearby village of Copenhagen, Ontario, on February 15, 1882 in the Township of Malahide, County of Elgin, Province of Ontario. Both Copenhagen and Dunboyne are in the Township of Malahide.

Frederick and Jane created a homestead in the Chesterfield district of the Rural Municipality of Arthur in southwestern Manitoba ( map, southeast of Melita and north of Dalny) in 1884 and began farming. They had three sons; Charles William, in 1885; Edwin John, in 1887; and Theodore, in 1891. Jane and Fred retired to a house on Souris Street in Melita, Manitoba.

Following an illness lasting eight years, Jane died on the evening of October 19, 1928, at the age of 68. She had undergone a serious operation at the Estevan Hospital, in Estevan, Saskatchewan, three years earlier, and more operations since that time. Jane had been confined to bed for some time previous to that October evening. She was buried at the Melita cemetery on Sunday, October 21.

Lizzie Drysdale, daughter of John Drysdale and Christina (McDougal), was born on June 11, 1862. She married Arthur James Brown, they continued to live in Malahide, Ontario for the rest of their lives. Lizzie and John had two children; Pearl on March 31, 1892; and Arthur Hugh, on April 28, 1898.

Mary Bell Drysdale, daughter of John Drysdale and Christina (McDougal), was born on November 8, 1864. She married John Henry Welter (also spelt "Walter"), born March 16, 1862, who was also from the Township of Malahide, Ontario. Their wedding took place at the home of Mary's parents. They continued to live in the Malahide Township for the rest of their lives. Mary and John had four children. Their names are not certain at this point, but they were born on the following dates: daughter born December 1, 1887; son born April 6, 1890; son born October 31, 1891; daughter born March 23, 1897.

Their first daughter married Owen Percy and moved to Commander, in Northern Ontario. They had two daughters; Mary Edith Percy, in 1908; and Helen Percy, in 1911. Mary Edith died on March 11, 1914, while visiting her grandparents John and Mary in Malahide. She had become stricken with membraneous coup, and died two days later. Mary Edith was buried at the cemetery in Aylmer, Ontario on Saturday, March 14. She was only 6 years old.

Maggie Drysdale, daughter of John Drysdale and Christina (McDougal), was born in the 1860's. She married John [Jack] D. O'Brien (also spelt "O'Bryan" or "O'Brian") sometime after 1893. They moved to Balcarres, Saskatchewan before 1907, and then moved to the area of Melita, Manitoba sometime before Maggie's sister Jane died in 1928.

Edwin L. Drysdale, the second son of John Drysdale and Christina (McDougal), was born on April 26, 1874. He married Ella M. (???), and since Edwin was still living on his father's farm when John died, they probably took over the farm, near Dunboyne, Ontario. Ella was born on January 28, 1873.

Ada Jesse Drysdale, daughter of John Drysdale and Christina (McDougal), was born in the 1870's(?). She died at the young age of just 4 years, 5 months, and 7 days, in the Township of Malahide, Ontario.