George Walter Struthers

George Walter Struthers, "The Preacher", was born August 16, 1846 in Ramsay Twp., Lanark, Ontario, which is near Ottawa. His parents were farmers, Robert Struthers (b. 1801 Scot. and his wife Mary Wilson Struthers (b. 1801 Canada). His family was in fellowship with the Church of Scotland, later the Presbyterian Church of Canada.

Robert Struthers

Robert emigrated to Ramsay Township from Scotland on the George Canning in June of 1821, receiving a land grant there on July 10, 1821.

Marriage

1st wife

George's first wife was Catherine Jane McLean (b. 1868 Colounge, QC - d. 1931 Shawville, QC), of which one child was born, John Nelson Struthers (1891-1959). Catherine was the daughter of Hamilton McLean (b. 1808 Scot. - d. 1882 Fort Colounge, Pontiac, QC) & Christy McPhail McLean (b. 1813 Isle of Mull, Scot. - d. 1886 Fort Colounge, Pontiac, QC). They were divorced prior to 1893, and Catherine remarried Samuel Fraser (b. 1860 QC - d. 1946) and they had six more children.

According to a great-granddaughter of Catherine (via Tanya Dunlop of Ancestry), Catherine was originally a Frost, and adopted by the McLean family. It is speculated that she may have been Metis or Aboriginal.

2nd wife

George remarried Elizabeth "Amelia" Letts on Mar. 24, 1893 in Forester Falls, Renfrew, Ontario by Rev. Malcolm David Martin Blakeley (b. 1850 Bristol Twp., Pontiac, QC - d. 1928 Pembroke, Renfrew, ON), a Presby. preacher. Amelia was born about 1866 on Calumet Island, Quebec to William Letts (b. 1837 Chatham, Argenteuil, QC) & Dorothy Theresa White Letts (b. 1842 West Hawkesbury, Prescott, ON - d. 1915).

William Letts was the son of Thomas White Letts (b. 1813 Northumberland, Eng. - d. 1901 Calumet Island, Pontiac, QC & Elizabeth Thompson Letts (b. 1819 QC - d. 1894 Calumet Island, Pontiac, QC).

Amelia had seven younger siblings:

• Martha Letts (b. 1868 QC)
• William Letts (b. 1872 QC - d. 1948 Westlock, AB)
• George Letts (b. 1874 Calumet Island, Pontiac, QC - d. 1957 Westlock, AB)
• Ernest Amos Edward Letts (b. 1877 Calumet Island, Pontiac, QC - d. 1962)
• Nelson Letts (b. 1880 Calumet Island, Pontiac, QC)
• Agnes Letts (b. 1886 Calumet Island, Pontiac, QC)
• Matthew Harold Letts (b. 1900 Calumet Island, Pontiac, QC)

Children

George & Kellie

• John Nelson Struthers (b. 1890 Fort Coulonge, QC - d. 1959 Shannonville, Hastings, ON); 1920 @ Carlton, ON m. Catherine L. "Katie" Holmes (b. 1896 Liverpool, Lancashire, Eng. - d. 1987 Shannonville, Hastings, ON), dau. of Frank Holmes & Catherine Kremling Holmes. John was Presby. by 1918, and living in Shawville, QC, employed as a bushman. John & Katie had several children.

George & Amelia

• Margaret Emeline "Emily" Struthers (b. 1903 Ottawa, ON - d. 1990 Westlock, AB)

Brethren Influence

Amelia's parents, William & Dorothy Letts, were in fellowship with the Brethren by 1879, if not before. However, Amelia and George were practicing Presbyterians at the time of their wedding, but identified as Brethren by the 1901 census.

George and Amelia moved to the area of Westlock, Alberta in 1909.

Death

George died on Dec. 18, 1912 and is buried at Westlock. Amelia died on Aug. 6, 1940, also in Westlock.

Extra Notes

George's gravestone says he was born Aug. 16, 1849. Misprint?

Sources

• Findagrave.com
  • George's gravestone reads that he was born Aug. 16, 1849 and died at 63, but several other sources report he was born in 1846. Misprint?
• Ancestry.com
  • special credit to Linda Maher