James Yeo (1837 - 1911)

Biography

James Yeo was born in Miltontown in the parish of Milton Damerell Devonshire, England (near Plymouth) August 24, 1837. Hearing of the bright prospects for young men in Canada, he decided to try and make a home for himself in the new country. He left Plymouth in April 1857 and it took him seven weeks in a sailboat to reach Quebec.After landing at Quebec he took the train to Woodstock.^[1]

As farming was his solo ambition, he strove by hard work and honesty to save enough to buy a farm of his own.He lived for sometime in Dumfries Township near St. George and also in Yarmouth Township near Sparta Ontario. In 1867 he returned to England and spent the winter visiting his parents and friends, returning to Canada in the spring, this time in a steamboat.His accounts of life in Canada must have been satisfactory as his four brothers; John, Francis, George and Thomas also decided to try their fortunes here.^[1]

In 1870 James Yeo purchased the Vincent farm, lot 10, concession 17 in the township of East Zorra, and resided here until his death on March 26th, 1911.In 1873 he was united in marriage with Susan Glover (1846-1897) of Port Stanley, whose family had also come from the Plymouth district. ^[1]

In 1888 Mr. Yeo had a substantial stone house built by James Isbister and this fine looking home on the edge of the village of Innerkip is a memorial to the industry and thrift of the owner.Mr. And Mrs. Yeo were regular church attendants, attending the Methodist Church after its erection. ^[1]

Their children were: William (1874-1953) who married Mrs. Elizabeth Hurley. They had one daughter Mary (Holtby). John (1876-1938) unmarried. Mary (1881-1959) who married Adam Ross and had four children-Glover, MacDonald, Andrew and Elizabeth (Redman). James (1883-1954) whose first wife was Pearl Rogers, their children being Olive (Hilderley) Patricia (Wilson), and twin infants who died.His second wife is Grace Holtby, their children being James, Ruth (Shields) and Elizabeth. Francis who married Elsie Rowell, their children being Doris, Stella (Piggott), Jean and Gordon. George (1884-1939) who married Ida Mann (1886-1948) and had no children. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Hotson, Zella M. The Early Days of Innerkip District (Updated). Dec 1984

• "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N54Z-4V8 : 21 March 2020), James Yeo, 1837.
• "Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FMF1-P68 : 11 March 2018), James Yeo and Susan Glover, 28 Jan 1873; citing registration , Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada, Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,862,700.
• "Ontario Deaths, 1869-1937 and Overseas Deaths, 1939-1947," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JFSB-18D : 26 March 2020), James Yes, 26 Mar 1911; citing East Zorra, Ontario, yr 1911 cn 24373, Registrar General. Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,854,736.