My Great Grandfather Edmund (Ed) McPherson was born February 18, 1846 in Guysborough, Nova Scotia. He was born out of wedlock and the precise details of Edmund's parents are reserved for his direct descendants.

To the family's credit, Edmund was not "farmed out" to be raised as an orphan farmhand, which was a common fate in those days.  When the McPherson clan headed west, Edmund was brought along as a fully recognized member of the McPherson family.  Christie ANN McPherson Hutchinson assumed the care of Edmund after her marriage to Will Hutchinson. Edmund also had a full brother named David but no record remains of his childhood

After David (at Right) was grown, he accompanied Bill McPherson  to Michigan. Bill settled near Akron and it is known that David moved on to live in Bay City, Michigan and that he did marry. His wife's name was Agnes Edmund's's daughter Adah visited her Uncle David while on her honeymoon, but after that the trail runs into a brick wall. This photo of David  is the only photo to go by.  If they had children, I would really like to hear from this branch! If he didn't, I would hope at least to know his burial site.

Edmund lived with Christi Ann (McPherson)and William Hutchinson until he married.  He earned the money to buy his homestead and marry by means of a government logging contract. He received a grant of 75 acres and a team of oxen for the logging.  He lived 61 years on the homestead one mile west of Greenway  (old schoolhouse on the corner)  and died there on October 10, 1936 at 91 years of age.

He was a beekeeper and had a dog named "Sandy". When he had a home and a working farm he married the "Girl Next Door". Well, Kerenhappuch was just around the corner on the Mollard line. Ed was 30 and Kerenhappuch was 20 when they married February 22, 1876. They shared 60 years together, raising a family and carving a fine farm out of the wilderness.

The photo at left was taken on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A happy event of much interest to the community takes place on Saturday  February 22nd when Mr and Mrs Edmund McPherson celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of their wedding.  They are the eldest pioneers living in this district having lived their entire married life on the farm where they now reside. Thus, they have seen this community grow from a forest into  fine farming country and have seen many neighbours come and then pass on into the Beyond while they have been spared so many years together.  Mr. McPherson celebrated his 90th birthday on Tuesday February 18th and Mrs. McPherson is now in her 80th year.

Many interesting stories they can tell of those early days when their only mode of travelling was with oxen or a foot path through the forest. Many changes have come with the years and we, the younger generation, with all our modern conveniences and fast modes of travelling can hardly realize how they managed in those early days. But when we see them smile in happy remembrances we know that life then wasn't all hardship either -- they had as many true joys and pleasures as the young do today.

Mr. and Mrs. McPherson raised a family of nine children of whom 6 are living: Nellie (Mrs. Shettler) of Buffalo; Emma (Mrs. Grieve of Australia); Belle (Mrs. Saunders) of Saskatoon; Esther (Mrs. Pollock) of Kerwood; Robert of Buffalo; and Adah (Mrs. Webb) of Grand Bend. Arthur died in Buffalo 16 years ago;Bertha (Mrs. Gillespie) of Detroit seven years ago and Wiliiam gave his life in the Great War. There are 22 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Mr. McPherson was born in Nova Scotia and came here when a boy.  Mrs. McPherson was a daughter of James Mollard of the Mollard line and they were married in Parkhill.

They will be at home on Saturday to all their friends and relatives who can plan to call on them.

Greenway mourns the passing of its last beloved pioneer in the person of Mr. Edmund McPherson. Born in Nova Scotia 90 years ago last February.  He came here when he was a lad of 7 years, joining the McPherson Settlement that had just been opened up.

 In 1876 he married Miss Kerenhappuch Mollard, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Mollard of the Mollard Line and they have resided on the farm 1 1/4 miles west of Greenway ever since. They celebrated their golden and diamond wedding anniversaries in due time.

There they raised a fine family of six daughters and three sons (the youngest, Will, gave his life in the Great War) Surviving are his widow and Mrs. Fred Shetler (Nellie) of Buffalo; Mrs. Grieve (Emma) of Australia, Mrs. Geo. Saunders (Isabelle) Saskatoon, Mrs. Raymond Pollock (Esther) of Kerwood; Mrs. Elgin Webb (Adah) of Grand Bend and Robert of Buffalo. 22 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.  Arthur, Will and Bertha predeceased him.

Parkhill Gazette September 1940:  Mrs. Edmund McPherson died on September 6, 1940 at her home at Grand Bend. Sarah Kerenhappuch, daughter of the late Mr.a nd Mrs. James Mollard, she was born near Toronto and came with her parents to the Mollard Line. In 1876, she married Edmund McPherson and lived for over sixty years with her husband on their farm near Greenway.  After Mr. McPherson's death in 1936 she moved to her father's old home at Grand Bend.

Surviving are 4 daughters: Mrs. F. Shetler, Mrs. Charles Grieve, Mrs. James Wilson and Mrs. Elgin Webb a son Robert, a brother John Mollard of Ontario, California and a sister, Mrs. A. Edwards Watrous, Sasketchwan.  A life member of Grace Church Greenway, she was loved and respected by all. She leaves as a lasting tribute to a truly Christian life, a beautiful memory in the hearts of all who knew her.