My Irish Lines from Scott & Ontario Counties, Ontario

I am Irish on my Mother's side - both her father and her mother - with a little bit of Scottish and English thrown in the mix. This generation is where my lines from Quebec and my lines from Ontario cross. This is also where the Irish and the Scottish are mixed together.

For more information on the ancestors of Verna please follow this link.

William Bertram, or Bert as he was called, was born in Ontario in 1904. His father was J.J. (John James) Sanders - the English gentleman with an Irish mother. His mother was Catherine Merrick, with Irish roots in County Mayo.

Choiceland today

Choiceland history book on-line

Bert and Verna were married in 1926 in Vanscoy, Saskatchewan with a honeymoon overnight in Saskatoon. Bert ran the general store in Vanscoy with his mother Catherine while his father ran the general store in White Fox. Prospects must have looked better in Choiceland as Bert and Verna moved there in 1946 and raised a family of six children.

Memorial for Bert Sanders

Obituary for Patricia May Sanders 1933 - 2014

and her husband Obituary for John Wall 1929 - 2011

International Harvestor store in Choiceland
Photo Source: Collection of W.B. Sanders

Main street Choiceland, showing the IH store
Photo Source: Collection of W.B. Sanders

J.J. Sanders
Dec 4, 1866 - Nov 29, 1939
Married September 3, 1903

J.J. was born in Brock Township, Ontario and married late in life. While still unmarried, he appears in the 1881 census at 14 years, the 1891 census as a School Teacher, 24 years old, and the 1901 census at 34 yrs as a General Merchant, living with his mother and sister.

J.J. parents were Joseph Sanders and Bridget Golden

J.J. in the 1901 census - scroll down to the highlighted line. To view the actual census image go to the top of the page and click split screen.

Obituary for J.J. Sanders

Catherine Ann Merrick
Oct 226 1871 - Aug 17, 1958

Catherine was born in Scott Township, Ontario and also married late. She appears with her family in the 1881 and 1901 census.

Line 41 JJ and Catherine in the 1911 census Ontario South, Reach Twp

Line 28 JJ and Catherine in the 1916 census Vanscoy Saskatchewan

Catherine's parents were William Merrick and Maria Golden

J.J. & Catherine's marriage certificate
Photo Source: Collection of W.B. Sanders

J.J. Sanders store in White Fox, Saskatchewan which burned
Photo Source: Collection of W.B. Sanders

J.J. Sanders store in Victoria Corners, Ontario
Photo Source: Collection of W.B. Sanders

Children of J.J. Sanders and Catherine Merrick

William Bertram "Bert" Sanders m. Verna May McDonald

- Obituary for Bert Sanders

Earle Goldwin Sanders b. about 1906, died May 21 1936 in White Fox, Saskatchewan

- Obituary for Earle Sanders

James "Harvey" Sanders b. 1907, died Mar 28, 1946 during a fire in the Sanders general store. He married Madelaine Oliver from Kansas. They had no children and were divorced about 1944

Two Obituaries for James Sanders

Bert, Earle and Harvey as young boys
Photo Source: Collection of W.B. Sanders

Bert, Earle and Harvey a little older
Photo Source: Collection of W.B. Sanders