References
Most of the information for this biography was taken from Commerative Biographical Record of Kent County Ontario, published in 1904, based on the infromation given by his daughter Margaret. It is known to contain at least one typogrphical error. William Stinson was born in Enniskillen, Ireland to William Stinson and Jane Higgins. William, senior, was born in Scotland and died at age 75 in 1841. (calculated date of birth 1766) Jane was born in Ireland and died 1825 at the age of 30. (calculated date of birth 1795). The couple were memebers of the Presbyterian Church. The couple had 5 children. The other children are Charles, who died in Chicago, Illinois; James, deceased; Margaret, who married a Mf. Knight, and live in Ireland, and Sally, who died in Ireland, the wife of Mr. McManus. William (the son) came to Canada when he was 20 years old. (Since his year of birth varies from 1816 to 1820, this could be 1836-1840.) He was first employed in Gananoque, Ontario for six months by the Hon. Sir John Alexander MacDonald. The next 3 years he worked on farms in Howard township, Kent County. He then went to Fingal, Ontario and began a career as a traveling salesman for an implement and engine concern, which covered a period of fifteen years. He purchased a 200 acre farm in Howard township, Kent County. He married 30 Jan 1857 Helen Stewart (some times shown as Ellen due to accent which uses a silent 'H'). It is assumed this was about the time he purchased the farm. They had following children: Charles who died in infancy; Archie, a farmer of Howard township; Jae, wife of Caldwell Wilson (this is one of the error, it should be Collins Willson), Margaret, wife of William T. Street, and James, a farmer in Howard township. He retired from farming in 1899 and moved to a home in Palmyra near the home of his daugher Margaret Stinson Street. Mr. and Mrs. Stinson are members of the Methodist Church. He laid the corner stone for the brick Methodist church in Morpeth, Kent County, Ontario.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 12th Oct 1819 | |
| Date of Death | 12th Feb 1909 | |
