Yesterday, I introduced you to Wayne Alexander McLeod, the great-great-grandson of Richard Culbert & Ann Jane Harlton. Today, Wayne tells us the story of his grandparents, Harry Walton and Rose Zelpha Byrd Morden (Richard & Ann’s granddaughter.)
Take it away, Wayne!
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| ZELPHA & HARRY |
Harry Walton and Rose Zelpha Byrd Morden were married in St. John’s Church in Sarnia, Ontario on April 8, 1908. My grandparents.
Rose Zelpha’s parents were Alexander Morden and Catherine Culbert. My Great Grandparents.
Catherine’s parents were Richard Culbert and Ann Jane Harlton. My Great Great Grandparents.
As to when and where Harry and Zelpha met, I have no idea. I assume it may have been through a church function or his involvement with the Militia Regiment located in Sarnia. He was a member of the 27th Regiment St. Clair Borders; a Militia Regiment created after Confederation in 1867 due to the Fenian border raids of the previous century. It was a volunteer Regiment and it appears that he joined when he was 16, as records indicate in 1905. They were paid approximately $0.50 a day. To a young man his age this was good money. I believe he left the Regiment prior to his 19th birthday and his marriage to Rose Zelpha.
As to when and where Harry and Zelpha met, I have no idea. I assume it may have been through a church function or his involvement with the Militia Regiment located in Sarnia. He was a member of the 27th Regiment St. Clair Borders; a Militia Regiment created after Confederation in 1867 due to the Fenian border raids of the previous century. It was a volunteer Regiment and it appears that he joined when he was 16, as records indicate in 1905. They were paid approximately $0.50 a day. To a young man his age this was good money. I believe he left the Regiment prior to his 19th birthday and his marriage to Rose Zelpha.
“Pre-World War I” Canada protected its borders using these Militia Regiments.
Another explanation may be that Harry and his father were laborers, stonemasons and cement workers. They were much in demand building sidewalks, driveways, house foundations, etc. With the boom of the oil industry in Petrolia, Wyoming, Oil Springs, and surrounding areas, their skills were much in demand. Due to the 16- or 17-miles distance from Sarnia, it is logical that they room and boarded in those localities. It is very possible that he met Rose Zelpha during this period, as stated above, quite possibly through a church function or a local dance social.
In any case, Harry began to court Zelpha in earnest albeit in those days a long-distance relationship of 16 or 17 miles. Motorcars were scarce and country roads were dirt roads. Horse and buggy along with rail were the common modes of transportation. However, the invention of the bicycle added another convenient means of transportation that was cheaper, and a blessing to many.
In the summer of 1907, Harry would quite often ride his bicycle to Wyoming for the day to have the opportunity to court Rose Zelpha. He was 17 at the time and being young, was in excellent physical condition. Riding his bike the distance of 16 or 17 miles was not a hardship. Usually, it was a Sunday, which in those days was a day of rest. He would probably leave Sarnia very early in the morning in order to attend church with the Morden family. Needless to say, in order to get the most out of his long distance courtship with Rose Zelpha, he would leave Wyoming late in the evening and arrive back in Sarnia in the dark. All this in the name of love.
Flashlights were not a necessity back then as once you acquire your night vision, navigation was easy. The chances of accidentally running into someone was nonexistent. Harry more than likely would use Confederation Line from Sarnia that would take him directly in and out of Wyoming, Ontario.
At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, many superstitions from the old country still existed. We being Irish had many of these superstitions of our own as part of our everyday life. Leprechauns, Fairies, Banshees, Will of the Wisp, just to name a few.
At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, many superstitions from the old country still existed. We being Irish had many of these superstitions of our own as part of our everyday life. Leprechauns, Fairies, Banshees, Will of the Wisp, just to name a few.
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| Banshee |
The following was told to me by my aunt Maizie (Walton) Eady regarding one of her father Harry's Sunday night rides back to Sarnia from Wyoming. Harry became a believer!!!!!!!
He was quietly and steadily making his way back home; the thoughts of the day’s events fresh on his mind. It was a partially moonlit night, it was warm with a light breeze, the frogs were singing, etc. The crunch of his bicycle tires on the gravel gave him the sense of making progress.
As he was approaching the part of his route home that would take him past an old cemetery, he thought he could see a faint light in the distance. This place was Sacred & Holy ground surrounded by a wrought iron fence. The light became brighter as he got closer. He never gave it any mind as he clearly thought it was someone with a lantern.
A few yards from the fence he could see that it was a ball of light hoovering a few inches off of the corner post. His momentum carried him past the corner post and the light followed. By now he was beside himself and hit the brakes…..the light stopped as well……exactly parallel to him. In desperation he quickly turned and pedaled like the blazes back to Wyoming. The light followed and a quick glance back he realized the light had stopped at the corner post again. He regained some control and turned around once more and began contemplating his options of getting home. His decision was that “The Good Lord hates a Coward” and that…….. he was not.
The likes of his bike ride back to Sarnia were never again seen in the history of Lambton County. The Road Runner and Wiley Coyote would have been proud. Certain articles of clothing had to be changed when he got home.
The whole episode impressed him enough to get up the courage to ask for Rose Zelpha’s hand in marriage because he did not want to go through that ever again.
As he was approaching the part of his route home that would take him past an old cemetery, he thought he could see a faint light in the distance. This place was Sacred & Holy ground surrounded by a wrought iron fence. The light became brighter as he got closer. He never gave it any mind as he clearly thought it was someone with a lantern.
A few yards from the fence he could see that it was a ball of light hoovering a few inches off of the corner post. His momentum carried him past the corner post and the light followed. By now he was beside himself and hit the brakes…..the light stopped as well……exactly parallel to him. In desperation he quickly turned and pedaled like the blazes back to Wyoming. The light followed and a quick glance back he realized the light had stopped at the corner post again. He regained some control and turned around once more and began contemplating his options of getting home. His decision was that “The Good Lord hates a Coward” and that…….. he was not.
The likes of his bike ride back to Sarnia were never again seen in the history of Lambton County. The Road Runner and Wiley Coyote would have been proud. Certain articles of clothing had to be changed when he got home.
The whole episode impressed him enough to get up the courage to ask for Rose Zelpha’s hand in marriage because he did not want to go through that ever again.
St. Elmo’s Fire he had never seen or experienced before.
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| St. Elmo's Fire |
Just goes to show you how much simple superstitions can change or affect your life’s decisions. In his mind he thought it was a banshee out to get him. He wanted to live his life with the woman he loved, and the banshees could wait.
Ancestors:
As yet unidentified Culbert Irish great-grandparents
Richard Culbert & Ann Jane Harlton (grandparents)
Catherine Culbert & Alexander Morden (parents)
Descendants (Children):
Alfred Ardell Walton
Glayda Lucille Margaret (Walton) Sherick
Roselle Alexandria (Walton) McLeod
Maizie Christine (Walton) Eady
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