Share via Share via... Twitter Facebook Pinterest × Post Office History, Fenelon Falls ON Fenelon Falls, Ontario, Canada Post Office History Office Name: Fenelon Falls Electoral District: Victoria (Ontario) Post Office Established Aug 6, 1838 Name of Postmaster Military Status Date of Birth Date of Appointment Date of Vacancy Cause of Vacancy (Capt.) James Wallis 1838-08-06 William H. Powles PM in 1844 Rev. John Hickie PM in 1853 1855-04-16 Resignation Thomas S. Stayner 1855-06-01 1856-12-03 Resignation James Fitzgerald 1857-02-01 1868-08-08 Resignation Robert B. Jameson 1868-11-01 1878-09-25 Death George Cunningham 1879-01-01 1887 Francis Johnston Kerr 1887-12-01 1914-02-16 Death Martin William Brandon 1914-03-06 1941-05-28 Death Miss Emma Eveline Purdy 1941-06-03 Acting Charles Routley McInnes OAS 1894-11-02 1942-02-12 1964-11-02 Retirement Gordon Arnold Southorn 1964-11-02 Promoted Mrs. Elizabeth Lightfoot 1965-01-11 Acting Albert Thomas Sinclair 1965-02-11 1978-10-16 Resignation Keith J. Sassien 1978-10-16 1978-11-10 Transferred Allen Driscoll 1978-11-10 1979-07-18 Transferred Stephen Tighe 1979-07-18 Post Office Information Disclaimer: This reproduction is NOT represented as an official version of the materials reproduced, nor as having been made in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the National Archives of Canada. The source of this material is the National Archives of Canada Postmasters Bio First Postmaster- Lt Col “Captain” James Wallis (Sr) b- Jan 18, 1806 Glasgow, Scotland per headstone d- May 23, 1893 at his farm home “Merino”, Peterborough, ON, per headstone buried in Little Lake Cemetery, Peterborough, Peterborough Co., Ontario, Canada James Wallis came from a very wealthy and influentual family in Cork Ireland. Came from Maryborough, Glanmire, Cork, Ireland, where his father owned a 14,000 acre estate, called Drishane Castle Immigrated to Montreal in 1832 1891 lived in Monaghan North, Peterborough West, Ontario, Canada shown as a widow, age 83 1881 same place, shown as a farmer, age 73 1861 same place, age 53, Farmer, born in Scotland 1851 same place, shown age 43 in Ireland? Credited as the founder of Fenelon Falls. With Robert Jameson, he built a sawmill, a Flour mill, laid out the townsite and began bringing in settlers to the new village. Wallis purchased up to ten thousand acres of land in Fenelon Township Credited with being the first to import purebred Horses, Cattle and Hogs. He named his estate after his purebred Merino sheep. 1859 ad Oct 20, 1859 he was having an auction sale, he had 100 town lots for sale, a working Stone Grist mill with 2 Burr Stones, and 6,000 acres of farm land Son of Henry Wallis (see below) and Helen McCall Helen's father- James McCall, of Braehead, Lanark She died at Braehead, Aug 30, 1814? Helen married Henry Aug 11, 1796 James married twice- Apr 22, 1840 married (1) Janet Elizabeth Wallis nee Fisher b- 1815 Hay Bay, Lennox and Addington Co., On d- May 16, 1849 Peterborough Co., ON daughter of Judge Fisher, of Adolphustown, Lennox Co, Canada West Dec 30, 1851- James married (2) Louisa Wallis nee Forbes b- France, age 50? in 1881 census, age 44 in France in 1861 census, age 32 in England in 1851 d- Jan 28, 1887, Merino, Peterborough, ON, age 69 buried in Little Lake Cemetery, Peterborough, Peterborough Co., Ontario, Canada daughter of Cmdr Robert Millar Forbes, RN, of Peterborough Children: 1st wife: Daughter- Helen Sarah Wallis- b- Apr 10, 1843 age 18 in 1861 in Scotland d- ? ,married Rev Walter Roger, of Peterborough Son- Henry Alexander Wallis b- Nov 23, 1844, age 17 in 1861 in Upper Canada d- 1913 unmarried Son- James Wallis Jr. b- Apr 23, 1849 Peterborough Co. ON, (age 13 in 1851 in Upper Canada) d- Nov 1, 1862 at sea, age 13 yrs 6 mo daughter- Margaret Isabella Wallis b- Aug 25, 1847 d- died as an infant 2nd wife: Son Charles Stayner Wallis b- Oct 10, 1854 in Peterborough, age 26 in 1881 in ON shown as a Lawyer, age 7 in 1861 in Upper Canada d- Aug 29, 1938 in Vancouver Son- John McCall Wallis b- Aug 20, 1856, age 22 in 1881 in ON, shown as a Bank Clerk, age 5 in 1861 in Upper Canada d- June 23, 1895 Daughter- Louisa Margaret Wallis b- Nov 15, 1852 d- Apr 18, 1854 Daughter- Mary Henrietta Wallis b- May 8, 1858, age 24 in 1881 in ON, age 3 in 1861 in Upper Canada d- Sept 28, 1882 Daughter Katharine Elizabeth Wallis b- July 18, 1861, age 20 in 1881 in ON, age 29 in 1891 d- Dec 1957, International known sculptor Daughter- Ada Wallis b- age 16 in 1881 in ON, age 27, in 1891, living with him, she lived in Burrington England in 1938 siblings of James Wallis Sr: Harry (Henry) Wallis, d- July 28, 1827, drowned on his father's estate (one record said this was John?), unmarried. Robert Wallis, d- Oct 4,1814 age 14 mo. John Wallis, b- ca 1811, d- Jan 24, 1830, age 19, of malignant typhus fever, Henry's youngest son, unmarried Sarah Wallis- married William Smith, she died June 22, 1877 at Hillhouse, Kiranewton, N.B. and 7 daughters: Margaret Helen Wallis- married George Dennistoun Esq Dec 14, 1837 in Scotland, d- Dec 14, 1839 at Newton Place, in Glasgow, Scotland (note there was an Alex Dennistoun in Fenelon falls in 1858, so family ties were close here) The Dennistoun family owned the Glasgow Bank so were very wealthy There is a District in Glasgow Scotland named after this family. They were tied into Scottish Royalty, Robert II and III, so very high up in Society. Ellen Wallis, married a Charles Bolton, d- Feb 1842 in Waterford co., Ireland Elizabeth Wallis- married Sir Joshua Christmas Paul, 2nd Baronet Ballyglan Waterford, Elizabeth d- apr 16, 1836 missing 4 more see link below for whole family tree Henry Wallis family of Drishane Castle, Co. Cork, Ireland, Drishane castle, one of the strongholds of the MacCarthys Henry Wallis bought the castle in 1709 In 1703, Thomas Wallis of Curryglass bought part of the estate of the Earl of Clancarty, attainted, in the Barony of Muskerry, County Cork. In 1721 George Wallis of Curraglass married his cousin, Elizabeth Wallis of Drishane, county Cork and their eldest son, Henry, eventually inherited the Drishane estate. Apr 1838- Henry Wallis, of Drishane Castle, is appointed Deputy Lieutenant of the county Cork 1845- Henry Wallis, Esq., D.L., Drishane Castle July 1849 appointed to County of Cork Grand Jury Jan 1862- at Drishane Castle, Henry Wallis, Esq, Lieut. Col, of the South Cork Militia I think Henry Wallis Sr. died Jan 6, 1862 at his Drishane Castle In 1906, the last Wallis of Drishane Castle, Henry Aubery Beaumont Wallis was divorced from his estranged wife Elizabeth Bingham Lots of Info on the Wallis family online so will not add more than this, see link below Note- I did find a reference to a Twomey family renting a house on the Drishane Castle Estate, So this might be my brick wall tie to Ireland, and the County Cork for Jeremiah Twomey above The Estate is near the Blackwater River which is the area of the Twomey clan, on some old maps. 1852 James Wallis had the Ogemah built and we know Jeremiah Twomey was a Blacksmith that worked on building the boat. We know from history he brought in tradesman to work on his various projects. Did he bring Jeremiah from his old home to work on it? or did Jeremiah find him looking for a job after he came to Canada? 2nd Postmaster William H. Powles b- June 1813 Hereford Co, England d- Jan 30, 1907 at Fenelon falls, ON, age 93 Buried: Fenelon Falls Cemetery Township Clerk He shows up on map of Fenelon Township in Fenelon Falls History link below Located at what is known as Powles Corners, named after this man's family Highway 121 and Highway 35 intersection and Powles Rd just south of that. 1850 shown as postmaster with a boot and shoe store wife- Sarah Bentley b- Oct 1822, Dublin Co., Ireland d- Dec 15, 1903 Fenelon Falls ON, age 81 Buried- Fenelon Falls Cemetery 6 children in 1871 daughter- Sarah Powles b- ca 1851, age 20 in 1871 in ON son- James Wallis- b- ca 1853, age 18 in 1871 in ON son- Henry Powles- b- ca 1855, age 16 in 1871 in ON son- George Powles- b-ca 1856, age 15 in 1871 in ON daughter- Rebecca M Powles b- 1860 d- Jan. 21, 1898 in Fenelon Falls ON, age 38 married Simeon Cooper children- Arthur Carlos Cooper and Daisy Sarah Cooper son- John Powles- b- ca 1863, age 8 in ON 3rd Postmaster Rev. John Hickie b- abt 1820 in Ireland d- Rev John Hickie was in the village of Omemee in 1857-1859 Residence: 1880 Verplanck Westchester New York USA, shown as a wheelwright here married Jane Burns b- abt 1830 in NS children daughter Amelia Hickie son James Bruce Hickie b- Feb 1, 1844 in ON d- 1925 married Emma Common in Michigan USA Jane Adortha Wilson, nee Hickie 1848–1920 Owen Hickey 1859– James Hickey 1861– Jane Hickey 1863– Maggie Hickey 1865– Annie Hickey 1869– 4th Postmaster Thomas S. Stayner b- d- Thomas bought the Fenelon site from James Wallis in 1862 He was affiliated with a few Banks He was a Captain in the 2nd Batt, Victoria Co Militia at one point, from Montreal Artillary in the article Can't find anything concrete on him, too many to choose from 5th Postmaster James Fitzgerald b- ca 1809 in Ireland, age 52 in 1861 d- Dec 17, 1869 in Fenelon Falls, age 61, if I have the right guy? shown as a Merchant in 1861 in Fenelon Falls married Elizabeth Fitzgerald b- ca 1817 in Ireland, age 44 in 1861 d- children: Charlotte Fitzgerald- b- in Upper Canada, age 22 in 1861 John Fitzgerald - Upper Canada, age 21 in 1861 Joseph Fitzgerald - Upper Canada, age 15 in 1861 Elizabeth Fitzgerald - Upper Canada, age 13 in 1861 Harriet Fitzgerald - Upper Canada, age 10 in 1861 Mary Fitzgerald - Upper Canada, age 8 in 1861 Edward Fitzgerald- Upper Canada, age 5 in 1861 6th Postmaster Robert B. Jameson b- ca 1826, in Scotland, age 45 in 1871 d- Sept 25, 1878 in Fenelon Falls ON shown as a Merchant in Fenelon Falls in 1871 wife- ? died before 1871 Living with him- Mary Cunningham b- age 40 in 1871 in Scotland She had 3 children- George Cunningham- age 21 in 1871 in ON (I believe he became the 7th Postmaster below on this mans recommendation) Clerk in 1871 in Fenelon Falls Mary Cunningham- age 18 in 1871 in ON Hynan? Cunningham- age 14 in 1871 in ON 7th Postmaster George Cunningham b- age 43 in 1891 in ON d- 1871 census- his mother Mary Cunningham, age 40, born in Scotland, George Cunningham, age 21, sister Mary Cunningham, age 18, sister Hynan? age 14, all born in ON, all living with Robert Jameson above George shown as a Clerk 1881 census, shown as as a widower, living with Jamima Cunningham, age 55, Helen Cunningham, age 30, Hyndmore Cunningham, age 27, and George Dalton Cunningham, age 9. He married Minnie Maud Ullyott Feb 13, 1872, Victoria, ON, age 19, born abt 1853, died Dec 3, 1873 George Dalton Cunningham born July 28, 1872 in Fenelon Falls, ON, died Jan 28, 1937 in Vancouver BC, age 64 1891 census- he was shown a widower, and as a labourer Living with his mother- Mrs J. H. Cunningham age 66, born in Scotland sister- Lynda B. Cunningham, b- abt 1855 in ON Private School Teacher 8th Postmaster Francis Johnston Kerr b- Sept 14, 1848, Clark, Durham Co, ON d- Feb 16, 1914 1888- Telegraph and Insurance Agent in Fenelon Falls married Evelyn Amelia Craig Jan 7, 1885 in Fenelon Falls, ON b- Sept 21, 1858 in ON d- Nov 5, 1901 in Victoria, ON children Grover Johnston Kerr- 1887–1943 Served in WWI Anndan Kerr- 1891– Garnet Vivian Kerr- 1896– Served in WWI 9th Postmaster Martin William Brandon b- 1863 in Fenelon Falls, ON d- May 28, 1941 fenelon Falls ON son of Andrew Brandon and Martha Johnston married Sarah Jane Goulais b- Dec 30, 1895 in Bobcaygeon, Victoria, ON d- 1932 in Fenelon Falls, ON they had a son Rest enter Privacy Issues and will not be researched Continue on to more history pages My Main Fenelon Falls Page Fenelon Falls War Memorial © Last modified: 2021/05/26 16:17by dlgent Log In