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Tothill family

Tothill family

Posted: 9 Aug 2001 1:48PM GMT
Classification: Lookup
Edited: 26 Jan 2005 3:12PM GMT
Surnames: Tothill
Does any-one have any information on Alfred Tothill who was the first post-master of a post office in an area known as Tothill, near Medicine Hat who died in 1954? He was born in Devon and was my great-uncle.I would appreciate any help.

Re: Tothill family

Posted: 10 Aug 2001 2:29PM GMT
Edited: 4 Nov 2002 3:37PM GMT
The findind aids and indexes (not online) of the Alberta Genealogical Society only list these 2 Tothill names;

Alfred TOTHILL, died 9 Jul 1854 and
Kate Lucy TOTHILL, 1858 - 16 Sep 1944
both buried next to each other in plot 155E,7 of the Hillside Cemetery at Medicine Hat.

In a publication "Alberta Index to Birth, Marriage, & Death Registrations 1870 - 1905" Alfred TOTHILL & Kate LUCY were married in Medicine Hat on 5 Jan 1905. He was age 31 she was age 36.

Peter, goutbeck@compusmart.ab.ca
for the AGS Master Surname Index, http://www.compusmart.ab.ca/abgensoc
and visit all the links to the Branches.

Re: Tothill family

Posted: 8 Dec 2001 10:32PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 17 Mar 2002 12:14AM GMT
My mom grew up in the Tothill area. Originally, the area was known as Gros Ventre, but was re-named Tothill after Alfred took over the post office.

Mom says that Mrs. Tothill was a school teacher (who taught my grandmother BTW). Mom has a well-worn Blue Ribbon cookbook that Mrs. Tothill got for her.

Mr. Tothill was a thin man with a big moustache. Mom says that her family would buy rhubarb from the Tothills.

She doesn't think that they had any children.

Re: Tothill family

Posted: 11 Dec 2001 10:01AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 26 Jan 2005 3:12PM GMT
Surnames: Tothill
It was marvellous to hear from both you and Peter Goutbeck. My cousin and I have recently started researching our family tree and have no information on Alfred Tothill--------we wondered if we had any Canadian relatives! Could you explain what Mrs Tothill taught please? Any information is much appreciated. Thankyou.

Re: Tothill family

Posted: 11 Dec 2001 3:43PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 17 Mar 2002 12:14AM GMT
Surnames: Schwabe Lust Rath Flaig
Hi Carole,

Mrs. Tothill taught at the country school at Gros Ventre in the early 1900s. As I mentioned, she was a teacher when my grandma went to school. Grandma (born in 1898) arrived in Canada in 1903 and was married in 1915.

I also found a copy that I have of a plan of Original Homesteads in the Tothill District/Gros Ventre. Kate Tothill's name (1907) is on SE 27- Township 9, Range 4, West of the 4th. The other three quarters of the section were CPR land.

I don't know if Alfred and Kate had any relatives out there. Many of the families who homesteaded in that area (my ancestors included) were from Bessarabia (south Russia- near the Black Sea).

Re: Tothill family

Posted: 11 Dec 2001 3:44PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 17 Mar 2002 12:14AM GMT
I forgot to mention that Kate wasn't teaching any more by 1922 (when Mom started school).

Re: Tothill family

Posted: 12 Dec 2001 8:34AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 26 Jan 2005 3:12PM GMT
Hallo Marie
Can you explain what you mean by BTW which you said that Kate taught to your grandmother? I am really puzzled!!

Re: Tothill family

Posted: 12 Dec 2001 5:15PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 17 Mar 2002 12:14AM GMT
Surnames: Rath Flaig Schwabe Luse
Oops,
Sorry Carole, I should not have used an abbreviation. I did not communicate my meaning very well. *smile*

When I said that Kate "taught my grandmother BTW", I meant - taught my grandmother by the way.

Also, with regard to my previous post about Kate's name being on that land map of homesteaders, I was surprised to see that because she was a married woman. I thought that a married woman was not eligible to homestead, however, a single or widowed woman could take up a homestead.

Re: Tothill family

Posted: 13 Dec 2001 8:50AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 26 Jan 2005 3:12PM GMT
Surnames: Tothill
I laughed all evening, Marie-----you learn something new every day!! I know nothing about the homesteads--------could Kate perhaps have owned one before she married Alfred? Do you happen to know her nationality? I believe my father ( nephew to Alfred) once had a letter from Alfred but he is now 87 years old and not very interested in the subject whereas my mother remembered that Alfred was in the Medicine Hat area and is really curious!

Re: Tothill family

Posted: 14 Dec 2001 3:02AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 17 Mar 2002 12:14AM GMT
Surnames: Rath Flaig Lust Schwabe
Hi Carole,

The date on the map was 1907 (and these were supposed to be original homesteads) and Kate was married in 1905 if I remember correctly. If you're interested in homestead records, you could contact the Provincial Archives in Edmonton. I obtained copies of homestead files from their office a few years ago. The files state when they arrived, what they had for livestock and buildings. Sometimes they include reasons why the homestead wasn't proved up (i.e. the team of horses ran away etc.)

Mom isn't sure what nationality Kate was. Kate wasn't teaching anymore when Mom started school in 1922. The only other thing that Mom remembered is that Kate had really white hair.

Carole, do you live in Canada? or anywhere near Medicine Hat? If so, there is a local history book at the library that you could check. Let me know.
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