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View Tree for George Alfred SargeantGeorge Alfred Sargeant (b. 1866, d. 23 Jan 1945)

George Alfred Sargeant (son of Jesse Sargeant and Elizabeth Barnes)228 was born 1866 in Near Inglis Falls, Owen Sound On228, and died 23 Jan 1945228. He married Frances Maud Alice Mayhew on 31 Mar 1894 in Owen Sound , On228.

 Includes NotesNotes for George Alfred Sargeant:
[SargeantFamilyTree.FTW]

George Alfred (Telford?) Sargeant



The following is a biography of George Sargeant, was written by a Mrs Clark on information from Mrs Retta Sargeant Henderson (George's daughter).

"George A *(1) Sargeant was born near Inglis Falls in 1867. He settled on the
100 acre farm lot concession 3 Derby Twp in the early 1890. On this farm was a
log house and a frame barn on a stone foundation. Inside the barn and extending
from the roof was a huge windmill. A drilled well also had a windmill. This
supplied water to the house and barn. The windmill in the barn was used in
cutting up corn for the silo which was inside the barn.

In 1894 Mr Sargeant married Frances Mayhew. There were married at Park Head by
Mr Peter Cober who was the minister of the Mennonite church at Squire at that
time.

As a child of four years old, Mr Sargeant contracted polio and walked on
crutches the rest of his life. Both legs were paralyzed. He died in 1945 at the
age of 75. *(2)

On his farm he started a milk business. After milking the cows which were of no
particular breed, he drove to Owen Sound to sell the milk which he put in eight
gallon cans. These cans were put in a one horse rig. Going along the street he
ran a bell and anyone wanting milk brought out their jug to be filled. A quart
and pint measure, each with a long handle, were used. Milk in those days was 5
cents a quart and 3 cents a pint. This was the start of the dairy business in
Owen Sound.

In 1901 Mr Sargeant and family moved to Owen Sound where he purchased a house
on 2nd Avenue E. near the curling rink. He fixed this house over, using the
basement as a dairy. A steam boiler was installed so the milk bottles could be
sterilized and for needed hot water. There was also an elevator to take the
cans of milk to the basement. As his business increased, milk had to be secured
from farmers living close to town. For several years James Beckett, Alex
McMillan, Hugh Lynn, Squires, Barbers, Sam Brown, Ed Porteous and others in an
emergency, supplied milk from their herds. The milk was collected in eight
gallon cans by Mr Sargeant going out into the country for it with his horse and
cart. A supply of ice was cut in the winter, blocks being stored in an ice
house packed with saw-dust and used to keep the milk cold. There was no such
thing as refrigeration in those days.

A few years later Mr Sargeant and family moved to a farm near the foot of the
creamery hill. Two years later, 1908, he sold this place to James Cochrane and
bought the farm of Samuel Connell 10-11-12 Conc 2 Derby Twp. There was a cement
house and a frame barn on this place. The south part of this farm was covered
with tree stumps at the time of purchase. Mrs Retta Sargeant Henderson, a
daughter, remembers seeing this south part of the farm before her father
bought it. It was all covered with brush and trees and camp meetings were held
there in a tent amongst the trees. She also related about driving a horse and
rig along the gravel roads, both winter and summer to collect the milk for her
father. As soon as she returned with her load of cans of milk, they were placed
in ice cold water, using ice which had been stored in the ice house.

The C.P.R. boats, Keewatin, Assiniboine, Manitoba and Athabaska were supplied
with milk from the Sargeant Dairy. The one horse wagon loaded with one hundred
gallons of milk and ten gallons of cream packed in ice was taken to the boats
which were waiting to be on their way out of Owen Sound.

Mrs Retta Henderson tells of the one time when her father was loading the milk
onto the boat. There was a ramp to take it on board. As this was very steep the
horse had to be unhitched and the load pushed on by hand. One time the wheels
were turned the wrong way with both the rig and milk going in the harbour. As
the boat must have milk, my father had to hurry back to the country to get milk
where ever he could and in a short time returned with enough to keep the boat
supplied until they reached the Soo.

He had a white horse called Dolly. One time Dolly fell in the river and her
rump had a big scar on it. It had to be stitched by the vet.

Another time after loading the milk onto the boat and while still packing the
cans in ice, someone pulled the rope and the boat started out with him aboard.
He was transferred to a tug coming back into the harbour. He hitched up his
horse and was on his way home.

When shingling the barn roof one summer he managed somehow to get up on the
roof. Here he stayed all day, laying the shingles and hammering in the nails.
Someone carried his dinner up to him and he didn't even come down till the sun
was going down.

George and Frances Sargeant had eight children. Mary A (Mrs Harvey Henderson),
E Ruth(Mrs Ralph Henderson), George V. , Marjorie(Mrs Kurt Wall), Vera(Mrs John
Jones), Helen(Mrs Sam Kirk), Dorothy(Mrs Harry Robertson), Jean(Mrs Gordon
Danard).

George V Sargeant took over his farm on concession 2 and carried on the dairy
business having Holstein cattle and selling milk to a dairy in Owen Sound.

Mr and Mrs George T Sargeant moved to Owen Sound in 1933 and lived in an
apartment on 2nd Ave


Nov 15 1918
Editor Sun Times
We all thank God the war is over, but though the war is over there
are many obligations devolving upon us as loyal citizens and not the least of
these is to do our utmost to show our appreciation of the brave men who have
represented us with such honor to Canada and themselves on the field of battle
in the greatest and last war of the world. There are, most happily those who
will return to us strong and well and with a larger view of life, ready to take
their places in the country and in its success and prosperity. There are those
who will live only in our hearts and memories as heroes who have laid down
their lives in far countries to gain for the world a lasting liberty and peace.
Saddest of all perhaps are the men who will return to us broken and crippled by
the hardships and the dangers through which they have come, that life will
always be for them a difficult and painful thing for these I wish to do
something, and for this purpose I have given the Red Cross Society three
hundred bushels of oats, which will be sold by auction on the Market on
Saturday next, the 16th inst at 1:20 o'clock. There is no doubt that many more
of our patriotic farmers will avail themselves of this opportunity to
contribute in this way to this great cause.

My interest in disabled soldiers is perhaps more keen because since
the age of five years I have myself been disabled and it may be that some
discouraged crippled soldier will receive encouragement from the the fact that
while so handicapped I have been able to succeed as a farmer and to make the
donation referred to, and it is solely that such encouragement may be given
that I ask you to give a space to this letter.

Before taking definite steps in this matter I consulted Mayor Webster
who received my proposition with such kindly consideration and enthusiasm that
I was encouraged to go on with it. Yours in a desire to help the men who have
sacrificed so much.

Geo A Sargeant.
Nov 19, 1918


PATRIOTIC SALE , GREAT SUCCESS
Mentions that George bought the first five pounds of butter.
"Speaking to the crowd on the Market Square before the sale began,Dr Thrulow Fraser said that Mr Sargeant had proven, that although physically incapacitated, he was not prevented from earning an honorable living . This lesson would be a valuable one to many men returning from the battlefields today and Dr Fraser felt that the thanks of the community are due to Mr Sargeant for his generous gift. "


Dow Sargeant(nephew)--George was the best farmer of the lot and well to
do. Operated a large dairy farm. He had a mental breakdown when he moved to the
new farm, but later recovered and continued to farm.
He was the oldest charter member of the Buelah Mission. It was located on 10th
Street of Owen Sound. It was sold to a Jewish group who turned it into a
synagogue. The mission itself moved to the top of 10th Street and is now the
Calvary Missionary Church.

Had a lot of children. Dad remembers a child called Albert who died at birth.

Always remembered him as using crutches and having the ability to move very
fast with them. Had tremendous strength in his arms. He once bet a man at the
Owen Sound Fair that he could go around the race track faster than the man
could walk. George won.

Marjorie Wall----(George's daughter)Our house had really steep stairs to the
second story and I recall Poppa going up and down them quite well with his
crutches. He also used to swing from the porch of the house to the seat of the
buggy or cutter in one swoop with his crutches.

One thing Poppa used to say was "Consarn it Fanny, why can't those children get
up in the morning!"

We had a hired man called Old Gerry. His real name was Theodore Emerson. One
day at dinner, he got mad at Poppa and told him he was going to burn the barn
down. Poppa sprang from his chair and tackled him and threw him to the floor,
forcing him to take it back. We also had long rubber boots hanging on pegs in
the hall to the milk house. One day mother happened to brush against one of the
boots and found it jangled. She opened up the top and found things from the
dining room etc as if someone was stealing it. Turned out it was Old Gerry.
Poppa had to have him go back to the asylum. He also used to hide a bottle of
whiskey in the ice house. We would empty it out on him.

Roseline - He came to our place to get milk on a democrat. He would call out "Peep Peep" each time as a signal to us. "Here's your milk man".

Uncle George and Aunt Fanny had a large family of girls and one son called Geordy by name. We attended school with some of this family at No2 Derby . Uncle George and Aunt Fanny were likable folks and we made the occassional visit at their home a mile away. We never heard any complaint from him about his crippled leg condition nor do I know the cause of the disability. May have been polio.

We used to dance in the kitchen. Poppa could pump and play the organ.

Momma was born the 31 March 1874 at Park Head and died 25th Oct 1943.

Did well selling cucumbers to a pickle factory. Dad, his brothers and sisters
used to pick them for him.

Story that when once Aunt Frances had to sign a legal document,and that George
had the lawyer show her name as Fanny Sargeant (her pet name). George was told
to go back to town and get it changed to Frances. So we don't, officially, have
an Aunt Fanny in the family.

Marjorie Wall--I remember when he opened the dairy business. He had the first
bottled milk in Owen Sound. One year they dressed up as milk maids and entered
in a parade in Owen Sound. We have a picture of him dressed up. That's Poppa,
he had a big mustache.(See photo section)

I'll never forget when Uncle Dan used to come to our place. Poppa would ask him
for dinner and then ask him to say grace. Us kids was bad little scamps and
he'd get his head way over the table and snap his eyes and us kids used to
think that was something. Oh I can see him saying grace now"--Our dear heavenly
father we thank thee---" and us kids would kick under the table. First thing
you know it would be "Marjorie, you go in the parlour and Geordie you go up the
stairs"
I remember the grace he said:

" Our dear heavenly Father, we thank thee for this food you have
provided for us. Sanctify a portion to our use and sanctify our
souls for Jesus sake, Amen"

I often think if Dad and Mother could just come to and see how our family has
done in life. We had a wonderful life at home. I can recall singing around the
piano.

Dad helped so many people out. You take Poppa helped Aunt Hannah with May going
through college. He helped out your Grandfather Will, buying the farm. Poppa
charged him interest on the mortgage and he was so mad to think that he would
do that. I mind at Poppas's death that the minister said that instead of people
helping him, he helped them. Many a quart of milk that people got for nothing
in Owen Sound.

Dow--Uncle George was a great business man. He was involved in dealing in
property, they had an excellent Holstein herd, and they were in the dairy
business.

Marjorie--George raised a boy called Fred Piper. His mother died. He was on the
railroad. (See photo)

Dow--As far as I know he never ran for government office, nor was he a
particularly religious man. He was so busy running his farms and other
businesses. He had a dairy business that really kept him tied.

How did he get his work done on crutches?

He hired quite a few people because he had 200 acres. I only remember him well
after his son George grew old enough to take hold of the farm. The daughters
helped too on the farm. I can't recall any hobbies. I can't recall any sayings
except if it was " By George".

Beth Murtagh--I have details about his(George's), birth date and have pictures
of the tomb stones. If you can believe it, he and William were shown as both
being born in 1864. It's not right unless they were twins and no one ever told
us. William always said that George was his younger brother.

There is a photo of Uncle George's daughter Dorothy on page 75 of The History
of Derby Twp. as a part of the Entrance Class of 1926 SS No. 2 Derby Twp
school.




Melba Morris Croft, Growth of a County Town,(Owen Sound Ontario 1900c1920) ,
Millman's Print, Owen Sound Ontario

pp. 220 re 1915 The first bottle return for money began early in Sept.
The Owen Sound Dairy, Bothwell's Purity Dairy, WC Catto and CC Sargent all
requested either a 5 cent deposit, or an extra bottle of any size . Used
Bottles had been thrown out before this time .

pp. 33 re 1903, A bit of humour creeps into history with the real estate
move of Wm Legate. Having sold his barn at 4th Ave and 7th Street to George A
Sargeant of Main St , he proceeded to move the structure. When the barn arrived
at the corner of Main St and 7th, someone remembered that such a move was
illegal, as a move from one fire area to another. Council was approached. While
they deliberated, Mr Legate rushed the barn onto it's destination (about 721
2nd Ave E). Making sure the building was covered with sheet iron for safety, he
and council returned to other matters...now Mr Sargeant adopted the bottle
system of milk delivery. Plain gem jars were used with disposable pulp caps.
Daily delivery was assured before breakfast.

pp. 5 Local contracts were gained early in the year: the milk supply for
all CPR vessels was won by George A Sargeant. GC Brignall was the supply the
meats.

pp. 105 During August the following people were mentioned in the papers,
...'George Sargeant

pp. 108 George Sargeant has sold the retail part of his dairy business to
Mr Christopher Bleich: but would continue the wholesale end of the work.

......................................................................


*1--I have two names for George as a second name :
George Telford Sargeant and George A or Alfred Sargeant. The Telford
name appears in official documents and so I believe it is his given second
name. No idea where it came from. Alfred and Telford are sort of euphonious,
and Telford is a bit unusual, so people might hear it as Alfred. Some of the
legal documents do show it as Alfred.

*2-- George's disability(?)
As will be noted above, Mrs Harvey Henderson attributes George's disability to
polio.

My father, Dow Sargeant, attributes his crippling to dysentery.

George's daughter, Marjorie Wall says that one day he and Uncle Henry Sargeant
were playing in the hay stack "when he came down with the disease that crippled
him. They were sliding down this hay stack and Uncle Henry took Poppa by the
legs and let him down the hay stack and let him go and he broke his leg. At
that time there was something like polio set in and Grandma Sargeant used to
carry him to town. There wouldn't be hospitals or doctors like there are now. I
can remember of them talking and I think he went about on a cane at first, but
then he went on crutches. He could take his leg and put it up around back of
his neck. He had no muscles or anything in it. There was one leg that was worse
than the other. The other one, he could stand on. I could remember mother
always held his coat and I can see him taking his one crutch and putting it
underneath the other. He always gave her a little kiss afterward."

On discussing his condition with some family members in medicine, it would seem
that he had polio.

12 Oct 2003


More About George Alfred Sargeant:
Date born 2: 1867228
Died 2: 1945, Owen Sound General Hospital, Owen Sound Ontario.228
Occupation: Dairy farmer.
Religion: Methodist a/c 1901 census.

More About George Alfred Sargeant and Frances Maud Alice Mayhew:
Single: 31 Mar 1894, Owen Sound , On.228

Children of George Alfred Sargeant and Frances Maud Alice Mayhew are:
  1. Albert Sargeant, b. 06 Jul 1909229, 230, d. Oct 1909231, 232.
  2. +Dorothy Sargeant, b. 1910, Derby Township, Ontario233, 234, d. 20 Dec 1975, Owen Sound General Hospital, Owen Sound Ontario235, 236.
  3. +Mary A Retta Sargeant, b. 02 Dec 1895, d. 28 Oct 1983, Owen Sound General Hospital, Owen Sound Ontario236.
  4. +Edna Ruth Sargeant, b. 24 Sep 1897236, d. date unknown.
  5. Vera Isabel Sargeant, b. 10 Jan 1904, Owen Sound, On236, d. 02 Nov 1972, Owen Sound General Hospital, Owen Sound Ontario236.
  6. George Victor Sargeant, b. 20 Feb 1900, d. date unknown.
  7. Marjorie Sargeant, d. date unknown.
  8. +Jean Sargeant.
  9. Fred Piper, d. date unknown.
  10. +Helen Sargeant, d. date unknown.
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