Fraser Relations

Fraser Relations
Harkness Family
Christena Moyse Harkness


Welcome, family and friends.


Christena Moyse Harkness (daughter of Richard Harkness and Janet McIntosh) was born March 17, 1878, in Norway Bay, Quebec, Canada; and died 1976 Arnprior, Ontario, Canada.
She married Henry (Harry) Edmund Bartell (born February, 1881, in Shamrock, Ontario, Canada; died February 26, 1948 in Arnprior, Ontario, Canada) son of Charles Bartell and Mary Ellen Edmunds, September 14, 1910 in Arnprior, Ontario, Canada.



The Bartells


Children of Christena Moyse Harkness and Henry (Harry) Edmund Bartell are:
i. Harold Edmund Bartell ,born February 17, 1913 in Arnprior, Ontario, Canada; died September 19, 1959 in Arnprior, Ontario, Canada, married Hester Elizabeth Stavenow October 10, 1934, in Kinburn, Ontario, Canada.
ii. Esther Janet Bartell , born January 07, 1915, and died 1938.
iii. Edith Lillian Bartell ,born July 21, 1917, and died 1996, married Garnet William Lyon April 24, 1946, in Arnprior, Ontario, Canada.
iv. Joseph Charles Bartell , born October 06, 1919, and died October 6, 2002, in Arnprior, Ontario, Canada, married Yvette Desjardins.
v. and vi. Twins ,born 19??, and died in infancy.


Bartell Family
Harry and Christena with Harry Edmund and Esther


Mrs. Harry Bartell


Harry Bartell


Mrs. Christina Bartell


...transcription of above article from the Arnprior Chronicle, Wednesday, August 20th, 1969
...photo caption - MRS. CHRISTINA BARTELL and GRANDAUGHTER ANN.
title - MRS. CHRISTINA BARTELL - Leads An Active Life At 91
By Vivian Williams
A tiny and petite lady with rosy pink cheeks, sparkling eyes and beautiful, snow-white hair wrapped up in a small bun, Mrs. Christina Moyes Bartell, 91, at once reminds you of little story book grannies of the past.
For her age, this long-time resident of Arnprior is as spry and active, even on a hot and muggy day, as any other member of the family. She is first up and races us all to the bathroom every morning".
Mrs. Bartell was born on a small farm in Norway Bay, Bristol Township away back in March 17, 1878.
After living on the little farm until the age of eight, she moved with her family of three younger sisters and one young brother, to Arnprior. They lived in a house on Edward Street, at first and she attended the Arnprior school. Later the family moved to a house on the corner of Craig and William Street, to live with a grand-uncle of Mrs. Bartell, David Moyes. She lived with her uncle and the rest of the family until she was finished with school and went to Ottawa, as a young lady, to get a job.
A few years later, apparently preferring her home town, she came back to Arnprior and married an Arnprior man. Harry Edmund Bartell in 1910. They moved into a house on 28 Craig Street right after their marriage.
Mr. Bartell began working with McLachlin Brothers and he stayed on with that company for as long as they were in business. When asked exactly what job he did, Mrs. Bartell said he ran the lorries that brought the lumber to the mill to the sorting table. "We used to tell him that he was working himself out of a job," she added, "because they were bringing in the electricity, but he learned to work the new equipment and so he stayed untill the place closed." Mr. Bartell then went to work for Craig's flour and feed mill, "untill", said his wife "his health gave out." He died in 1958 and his wife stayed on in their house.
During their life at 28 Craig Street, the Bartell's had four children, Harold and Esther, who are now deceased, and Joseph of Arnprior, and Edith Lillian Lyon, who Mrs. Bartell now lives with. She moved into her daughter's home just a few years ago and her son is now living in her former home. She has six grandchildren: Billy, Phyllis, Edmund, David, Ann and Brian.
When asked if she had a hobby, her eyes sparkled with pride and obvious...showed me some of her samples.
Ever since she was eight years old, she loved to crochet, and you just have to see what she's done, to know that she's an expert at her art. Said Mrs. Bartell, "Oh, my mother and my aunt taught me how to do it when I was a young girl, so I kept it up." Nowadays it's not often you see anyone take the time to do the delicate work this talented little lady has done.
A couple samples of her mastering of the art are three elegant white, diamond-patterned lace table cloths, one for each of her grandaughters and one extra-large one, she made especially for Centennial year that she has given to her daughter. You can see that much time and effort had gone into the construction of these delicate pieces. She has, of course, done many other, smaller pieces such as doilies, towels, lacing on pillow cases and sheets, and just about anything she can think of.
"When we were just young children", Mrs. Lyon said, "my mother used to make nearly all of our clothes, through crocheting". She also made large quilts and blankets. Even at her present age, and though her eyesight is not at it's best, Mrs. Bartell still does a lot of crocheting. "She has to use the coarser thread now," her daughter was saying.
Other things she does are to help her daughter around the house with smaller jobs, such as cooking. "She often gets the supper ready for the family while I'm at work," says Mrs. Lyon. It was just recently that Mrs. Bartell stopped attending Sunday services at the St. Andrew's Prebyterian Church, where for many years she has been a very active member.
A favourite event that comes to mind when asked about the past, is the day she was on her way to school and took time out along the way to watch the corner stone being layed at the Town Hall. "The teacher told us that we could come in late that day, if we wanted to go and watch" she added.
When asked what major changes she has seen since first coming to Arnprior, Mrs. Bartell was quick to answer.
"I think that it was getting rid of the mud when we got the streets and sidewalks built", she said. She has seen the new mills and industries growing up around her and thinks, "It's very interesting and good for the town". Another great event in her life was when she was at a picnic "down in the grove", and she saw her first car, as two from out of town came rolling into the grounds. "We all walked around them and had a good look", she laughs.
Asked what she thinks of the kids today, she states, "I think they have a much better chance to know what's going on than we did, and they seem to take advantage of it". "You see a few wasting their time, but they've always had that type, they just didn't get the chance to years ago."
About being lonesome without all her old friends around she says, "I find my old friends are getting very few and I get lonesome for a little while, sometimes, but the young people I get aquainted with are very considerate."
Young and new friends she must have many of too, if you can go by her 90th birthday celebration. She has a small silver-covered book with a page full of names of people from whom she received flowers; a page of names of people who sent gifts and 3 pages of names of the people from whom she received many lovely cards and good wishes.
Not only that, but she has displayed on the wall, two lovely wood-framed plaques. One, from the Federal government, was sent, along with a letter of congratulations from J.J. Greene. The other she received from the Provincial government, along with another letter from Paul J. Yakabuski. Visitors piled into her daughter's home, the day before her birthday, when she held an "At Home" tea for the general public. As they came they signed her little book and filled up her pages.
The next day, the actual date of her birth, Mrs. Bartell and her whole family celebrated with a quiet dinner for family members.
Mrs. Bartell has had a quiet but happy life in Arnprior, which this happy, chipper little lady will continue to enjoy at her daughter's home, where she plans on staying. "It's the place I know best", and well she might have lived in three different houses on the same street.
Asked about what is in store for the future, she just shrugs and says, "A day at a time is good enough for me", which just seems to sum up the happy, healthy disposition of a well-loved citizen of this town.



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