James Newbury Edy (1843 - 1890)

Born 18 Aug 1843 in Brant County, Ontario

Ancestors

Husband of Ellen (Perry) Edy — married 28 Oct 1868 (to 17 Mar 1883) in Brantford, Ontario

Husband of Mary Bassett (Barker) Edy — married 19 Nov 1884 (to 31 Jan 1890) in Oxford County, Ontario

Descendants

Died 31 Jan 1890 at age 46 in Toronto, Ontario

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Megan Raphael [send private message] and Patricia McKee [send private message]

Biography

Jas N. Edy, photographer, successor to F. G. Lewis, No. 22 Thames Street North, Ingersoll, Ontario^[1]

James Newbury was born in 1844, and died January 31, 1890 in Toronto. He is buried in Mt. Pleasant cemetery in London, Ontario. His first wife was Ellen Perry, and his second wife was Mary (May) B. Barker of Burford, Ontario. May was born in 1861 and died August 9, 1912. She is buried at Mt. Pleasant cemetery in London, Ontario. They had 5 daughters, Olive, Josephine, Florence, Blanche and one other. (Note: This may be the "Aunt May" that Cyrus refers to in his diaries.)

James Newbury and William Daniel founded Eddy (later Edy) Brothers Photography, in Brantford and later moved the business to London, Ontario. Perhaps James Harpin, Brantford photographer, was a business or social contact of theirs and that is how Eliza met James? James and William D. also founded Edys Mills, a village near Oil Springs, Ontario.

It is highly unlikely that either brother actually physically ran the mill they built, they no doubt hired a manager, but James certainly took an active part there and is listed on the Assessment Rolls for 1887, 1888 and 1889. Marjorie Edy also had notes from a Mrs. Kersey who kept the Tweedsmuir Village History: "Has a land transfer deed of the sale of the Edy farm, Concession 7, Lot 30 at the corners, to the school board for $20, dated 1888. It is signed by J.N. Edy and Herbert O. Edy and their wives, May B. Edy and Marion E. Edy." (This Herbert O. Edy has to be a Clarenceville cousin. And from "The History of Dawn Township and Its Origins", Marjorie has noted: "The railroad was a very short one which came from Petrolia to Edys Mills in the 1880's. Its chief concern was for the oil business as well as the timber from Edys Mills. The railway was disbanded in 1960." (Source: From the Jane (Edy) Hughes collection. Jane is a great-granddaughter of Lorenzo Edy.)

Marriages

Marriage between James N. Edy and Ellen Perry^[2][3]

Date: October 28, 1868

Place: Brantford, Ontario

Groom: James N. Edy

Age: 27 (1841)

Birthplace: Brantford, Ontario

Father: Daniel

Mother: Mary A. Matthews

Bride: Ellen Perry

Age: 20 (1858)

Birthplace: Brantford, Ontario

Father: William

Mother: Ann Mead

Witnesses: Neal Brown, Oakland; William Haviland, Townsend

Marriage between James N. Edy and Mary B. Barker^[4]

Date: November 19, 1884

Place: Dereham, Oxford County, Ontario

Groom: James N. Edy

Age: 42 (1842)

Birthplace: Brantford, Ontario

Father: Daniel

Mother: Mary Ann

Occupation: Photographer

Bride: Mary B. Barker

Age: 24 (1860)

Birthplace: Dereham, Oxford, Ontario

Father: Wright

Mother: Charlotte

Witnesses: Estella Barker, Dereham, ? Wilcox, Tilsonburg

Children

Children of James Edy and Ellen Perry^[5]

i. Emma Alberta, born 22 Nov 1869 in Brantford, eldest child. Alberta, or Bertie, died during an epileptic seizure in 1923, at City Hospital. Woodstock. She had lived in Woodstock for the last 16 years of her life. She was in hospital in the 1911 census.

ii. Lottie May Edy, born 2 Aug 1872 in Brantford (birth reg 1184-72), appears in the 1898 & 1901 Toronto Directories where her occupation is given as tel.opr.

iii. Eveline A Edy, born 22 Nov 1877, appears in the 1898 & 1901 Toronto Directories as a stenographer, living at 86 Galley Ave. In the 1911 census, Eveline is in Calgary with her mother (1016 15th?) and she was a stenographer. Eveline's husband's surname was PORTER and they settled in Biggar, Saskatchewan. They had 4 children: Ellen, Jack, Lois, and another.

iv. Olive Edna Edy, born 9 Sept 1881 in Ontario; married James Brownlee McCRACKEN October 17, 1906 in Toronto. At the time of the marriage, both James & Olive were residents of Winnipeg, Manitoba (where James was a printer). Witnesses at this marriage were Eveline EDY and Harrison DRISCOLL. In 1901 Olive worked for Eatons, and was living at 86 Galley Ave with Mary B Edy

Children of James Edy and Mary Barker^[6]

i. Mildred Blanche Edy, born January 31, 1886; died March 12, 1960 in Toronto, Ontario, & buried at Prospect cemetery with her husband; married Robert John MARSHALL about 1910 in Alberta. In 1910, before her marriage, Blanche was a teacher at Moulton College, residing there - 34 Bloor St. W., Toronto. In 1911, Robert & Blanche lived at 119 Balmoral Ave (same address as her mother). In the 1942 Toronto Directory, they are living at 11 Glenholme, ph # LL4866, and Robt J is listed as the president of Standard Motor Replacements as well as the president & manager of Gas Accumulator of Canada

ii. Florence Agnes Edy, born July 15, 1887; married John Edward BROWNLEE on December 23, 1912 in Toronto. John Edward Brownlee was the premier of Alberta in the early 1930's, he was also senior partner in law firm Brownlee & Brownlee, Edmonton. In the 1911 census, Florence was with her mother in Calgary; she was a teacher.

iii. Josephine Bryant Edy, born 7 March 1889; died 1964; married (1) Thomas R.C. FLINT; married (2) Silas LAMB 1959, as his second wife. Josephine and Thomas had 3 children: Elizabeth (May 1917 to Aug 1921), T. Bryant (b. Nov 1922, married Lill JOHNSON), and Olive (b. Aug 1918). Olive married William P. JACKSON and they had 4 children: Frances, Kathleen, Mary & Craig. In the 1911 census, Josephine was with her mother in Calgary; she was stenographer.

Photography Career and Highlights

More information may be obtained at the Edy Bros. Studio Page

James N. Edy was an accomplished photographer. Some Internet searches reveal that he and his brother William D. shot portrait photos of the American poet and essayist Walt Whitman while he was passing through London, Ontario. Facing page 48 in the 1884 edition of a book by Richard Maurice Bucke called, is a photograph attributed on page 6 to "The Edy Bro's., London Canada. Source.

J.N. Edy attended the inaugural meeting of the Photographers' Association of Canada", at Temperance Hall, Toronto on Thursday, January 24, 1884. An association was deemed necessary at the the time "owing to the injury which has been done to the profession in the past by the cutting of prices and the consequent bickering and ill-feeling among the members... for the purpose of fixing a uniform rate of prices", stated an article in the Globe.^[7] The article goes on to report J.N. Edy was appointed to a committee to draft the association's constitution and by-laws. J.N. was also appointed as the new Association's Vice-President.

Business Profile from the 1890 edition of Industries of Canada:

Edy Brothers, Photographer, 214 Dundas St. -- The photographic art in an invention of the present century, and within the last twenty years improvements have been constantly made, so that photography now might be said to have reached its culminating point. A firm of Canadian photographic artists, who have approached nearest to the ideal in this country, is that of the Edy Brothers, 214 Dundas Street. At a late convention in Buffalo the New York Times said, in reviewing the exhibits of different photographers, that the work of Edy Brothers was very fine and of high artistic merit, and the Chicago Eye on the same occasion pronounced the specimens of this firm the finest ever seen from Canada. These gentlemen have received all the prizes at the London and Provincial Exhibitions during the last nine years, being the period they have been in business in London. At the Toronto Photos' Convention in 1884, the judges pronounced their work the finest in Canada. Messrs. Edy Brothers make a specialty of plain and direct photography in half life and life size, watercolor portraits and crayons. The studio and operating room is excellently equipped with all accessories. They have a very large and varied assortment of backgrounds by L.W. Scavey, of New York, who is claimed to be the most eminent painter in the world of backgrounds; and it may be mentioned that these gentlemen are constantly adding new backgrounds to their stock. The reception room of Messrs. Edy Brothers is a model of its kind, to which the term of "luxurious" might, with some aptness, be applied. To those wishing a truthful portrait, executed in first-class style, we would say "go to Edy Brothers".^[8]

Census Data

1851 Census^[9] - Log home - 2nd and 3rd Concessions - Townsend, Norfolk County.

Daniel Edy - 44 (1807) B. Canada, Labourer, Methodist

Mary A. Edy - 42 (1809) B. Canada

Maria J. Edy - 14 (1837) B. Canada

James Edy - 11 (1839) B. Canada

Sylvina Edy - 8 (1843) B. Canada

Paulina Edy - 6 (1845) B. Canada

1861 Canada West Census - Townsend Twp., Norfolk County, Ontario^[10]

Note: 1 story frame house built 1852. - A big assortment of relatives lived among each other

William Edy - Farmer - UC - Baptist - 29 (1833)

Malinda Edy - Housekeeper - UC - Baptist - 29 (1833)

Lorenzo Edy - UC - Baptist - 6 (1856)

Esther Edy - UC - Baptist - 4 (1858)

Willis Edy - UC - Baptist - 2 (1860)

James Edy - Labouer - UC - Baptist - 19 (1843)

Esther Haviland - Spinster - U.S. - Baptist - 74 (1788) Widow

Calvin Flanders - Labourer - UC - from Brantford - 17 (1846)

• Frame House built 1840.

Polly Miller - Farmer - U.S. - Methodist - 46 (1816) Widow

William Miller - Labourer - UC - Methodist - 22 (1840)

Thomas Miller - Labouer - UC - Methodist - 20 (1842)

Ann Miller - Labouer - UC - Methodist - 15 (1846)

John Miller - Labouer - UC - Methodist - 14 (1847)

Grace Miller - Labouer - UC - Methodist - 8 (1854)

Elizabeth Miller - Labouer - UC - Methodist - 6 (1856)

• 1 and 1/2 story brick house built in 1850.

Alfred Eddy - Farmer - UC - Methodist - 22 (1841)

Clarissa Eddy -Housekeeper - UC - Methodist - 22 (1841)

1871 Census^[11] - Town of Brantford, Brant South, District #15, Division #2

James Edy -- 29 - 1842 - Photographer, Second Adventist

Nannie Edy -- 22 - 1849

Bertie Edy (Female) -- 1- 1870

Mary Edy -- 60 - 1811 Widow, Second Adventist

Silvinia Haight -- 26 - 1845, married

Eliza Edy -- 19 - 1852

1881 Census^[12] - London City,

James N Edy - 39 (1842) B. Ontario; R. Baptist; O. Photographer

Ellen Edy - 32 (1849) B. Ontario

Emma A Edy - 11 (1870) B. Ontario

Lottie M Edy - 8 (1873) B. Ontario

Emeline A Edy - 3 (1878) B. Ontario

Ontario Tax Assessment Rolls

Name of Occupant or other taxable party: Jas N. Edy^[13]

Place: Brantford

Occupation: Artist

Freeholder, Householder or tenant: T

Age of Occupant: 32

Owners and address: H B B

Non-Resident: N

No. Concession/Street & No. of Lot/House: North Colborne, Apt 16

No. of Acres/Other measurement: Gallery

No. of acres cleared: -

Value of each parcel of real property: $700

Total value of real property: $1400

Value of personal property other than income: $3000

Amount of Taxable Income: $800

Total value of personal property and taxable income: $3000

Total value of real and personal property and taxable income: $4400

No. of persons in the family: -

Religion: Presbyterian

Date of delivery of notice: March 2, 1874

• Shares space with brother-in-law James B. Harpin

Edys Mills and other notes

W.D. and J.N. Edy invested in a mill that quickly lead to the establishment of a small town which became better known as Edy's Mills, Lambton County, Ontario.

Attended First Baptist Church in Brantford

Marriage Witnesses: James N. Edy and Mary Edy of Brantford

James B. Harpin, 41, widower, b.England Occupation: Music teacher Parents: John Harpin, Minerva [Buckley] Religion: Methodist

Eliza O. Edy, 23, spinster b. Canada Parents: Daniel Edy, Mary Ann [Matthews] Religion: Baptist

Death

Death of James Newbury Edy^[14]

Date: January 31 1890

Place: Toronto, York County, Ontario

Age: 46y 5m 13d

Birthplace: Brantford

Occupation: Photographer

Cause: Typhoid Pneumonia lating 2 weeks

Obituary

The death occurred at Toronto yesterday morning of Mr. J.N. Edy, late partner in the firm of Edy Brothers, photographers, here. He had been ill from la grippe for two weeks and the ailment developed into congestion of the lungs, which terminated his existence. He had only been in business in Toronto for two months and the prospects for an excellent trade were of the brightest. Mr. Edy was well known to Londoners, having been here for over fourteen years. Many of our readers will hear of his death with feelings of sincere regret. Source: The Daily Free Press, Saturday, February 1, 1890, London, Ontario, page 3.

The remains of the late Mr. J.N. Edy, who died suddenly in Toronto, were interred on Saturday from his brother's residence, Cartwright St., the funeral being largely attended by friends and acquaintances. The funeral services were conducted by Re. W. H. Porter. The pallbearers were Messrs. Oswald Baynes. John Welstead. Henry Blair, Phillip Matthews, G.L. Eddleston and Andrew Dale. Source: The Daily Free Press, Monday, February 3, 1890, page 5.

Sources

• Graeme MacKay, firsthand knowledge. Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by Graeme and others.

1. ↑ http://www.flickr.com/photos/east-nissouri-history-book/4994452134
2. ↑ Ontario, Canada. County Marriage Registers, 1858-June 1869. FHL microfilm 1030055-1030068. Family History Library. Salt Lake City, Utah (Archives of Ontario, MS 248, reel 5. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XLPV-J2C : accessed 24 April 2012), Ellen Perry (1868).
3. ↑ "Ontario, County Marriage Registers, 1858-1869," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-909-58885-5057-7?cc=2568642 : accessed 2 May 2016), Brant > 1858-1868, vol 1 > image 255 of 257; citing The Archives of Ontario, Toronto.
4. ↑ Ontario, Canada. Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1928. MS932, Reel 47, 850-880. Archives of Ontario, Toronto. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FMJ6-SJJ : accessed 24 April 2012), James N Edy (1884) Reg# 008821
5. ↑ http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~maryc/edy.htm
6. ↑ http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~maryc/edy.htm
7. ↑ The Globe, Toronto, January 25, 1884, Page 6, Column 6
8. ↑ Industries of Canada, Historical and Commercial Sketches - London, Owen Sound, Collingwood, Barrie, Goderich, Clinton, Seaforth, Stratford, Wiarton, Port Elgin, Kincardine, Wingham, Teeswater, Tara, Walkerton, etc., etc.; Its Prominent Places and People; The Railway and Steamship, Publishing Company of Toronto (limited) Publishers, 1890.
9. ↑ 1851; Census Place: Townsend, Norfolk County, Canada West (Ontario); Schedule: A; Roll: C_11741; Page: 143; Line: 34. (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MWT8-5T9 : accessed 22 April 2012), Daniel Edy (Townsend, Norfolk County, Canada West (Ontario), Canada).
10. ↑ 1861; Census Place: Townsend, Norfolk, Canada West; Roll: C-1053; Page: 19.
11. ↑ 1871; Census Place: Brantford, Brant South, Ontario; Roll: C-9915; Page: 85; Family No: 300.
12. ↑ 1881; Census Place: Ward 5, London City, Ontario; Roll: C_13270; Page: 1; Family No: 2.
13. ↑ "Canada, Ontario Tax Assessment Rolls, 1834-1899", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZST-HN3M : 23 March 2021), Jas B Harpen, 1874. Image 245 of 677
14. ↑ Archives of Ontario. Registrations of Deaths, 1869-1938. MS 935, reels 1-615. Archives of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Reg#20417