INGERSOLL, Ontario 1873 John Adams Farmer and Cheese Maker

[SueChris]

I have two letters in my possession one written in Sep 1873 and one in Jan 1874. He was English and employed working on a farm milking 140 cows and the owner used the milk to make cheese in his own factory and he also purchased milk from farms in the surrounding district. His address on one of the letters is c/o John Adams, Ingersoll, Ontario. The writer of the letter also says that he has purchased a farm of 50 acres with good buildings and a splendid orchard which he had rented out for 3 years at 40 pounds a year and was continuing to work for the farmer. He had left his wife in England as she was mentally unwell. Possible name W Fletcher? Any info would be great. Thanks

[mckha489]

In 1871 there is a John Adams, born 1832, a farmer, at Nissouri East. (Looks very near Ingersoll on the map)
With a large family
Wife is Sarah same age.

Wesleyan Methodist

Link if you have ancestry
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1578/records/219637?tid=&pid=&queryId=794963e4-0b99-4c3a-bae7-9398c47988ee&_phsrc=akn11&_phstart=successSource

[mckha489]

It might be worth taking out a free trial of Newspapers.com

[dbree]

Hi

Oxford County Library has archives of newspapers and directories etc. for Ingersoll for you to
browse through.
See here, Ingersoll is listed on the right side of the page.
https://history.ocl.net/

On the Library's home page there is a web address if you need their assistance in researching.

Just as an FYI....Oxford County is also known as the "Dairy Capital of Canada". Ingersoll has a cheese museum.
https://www.ingersoll.ca/visit/ingersoll-cheese-agricultural-museum/

DB

[SueChris]

Thank you all for the information.

[dbree]

Hi,

Welcome, let us know how you make out.

DB

[RunKitty]

Hi,

You can see the location of John Adams's property here - County Atlas from 1876

https://digital.library.mcgill.ca/countyatlas/searchmapframes.php

If you select East Nisouri, you will see a map of that township, and you can get a large version of the map.   John Adams has 2 properties, each 200 acres.   They are at XIII 6 and XIII 7.

https://digital.library.mcgill.ca/countyatlas/searchmapframes.php

https://digital.library.mcgill.ca/countyatlas/showrecord.php?PersonID=116729

I don't see a W Fletcher in the name index (property owners)

RK

[J.J.]

To round out the info, a mini-bio...Sr. or son moved in 1883? Don't see a W. Fletcher in 1881 as yet...
   In 1832 (not likely as that was his birth yr. see next paragraph)) John Adams Sr. purchased 400 acres, being on lots 6 and 7, concession 13, East Nissouri Township. His son John Adams Jr. later inherited the property, where he operated his own meat processing plant and cheese factory, known as the Adams Cheese Factory. He built a large house, locally known as the “Castle” which consisted of 16 rooms and 14 fireplaces. The grounds were landscaped with trees imported from Britain. In 1883, he moved to Toronto where he operated a Dairy. According to local history sources, he is credited with being one of the first milk producers to sell their product in glass bottles.
   Born in 1832 in Troy, New York, United States, John Adams Jr. married Sarah Walker in 1853. He passed away on September 6, 1900, and is buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto.

(also, he meant the number of cows perhaps- there were other milkers on that farm, as one man couldn't do that before machines...and sometimes 2 or 3 times a day)

adding: 1871 /1881 census image - no farmhands listed onsite - no likely Fletcher nearby (perhaps moved when his lease was up? Followed Sr. to Toronto business?) Just looked at request again & see you're not sure of the name Fletcher.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-69CS-TZZ
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-D143-1V1
1851 says b. 1830
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWTX-Q17