Photo by V.E.H.Died Nov. 11, 1935 at 77; Buried in Falkenburg Union Cemetery,Muskoka, Ontario
(Copied from newspaper clipping saved by Jessie Peacock (Mrs. George) and in the possession of Gertie (Peacock) Kennedy at her Hiram Street home, Bracebridge – 16 August 1980)
Within fifty feet of the sight of the old church where she first said
her religious rites in Muskoka, Mary Ellen Oliver, widow of the
late John Peacock, was laid to rest last Wednesday afternoon in
Falkenburg Cemetery beside the remains of her husband who
predeceased her twenty-one years ago (1914).This worthy
pioneer came to Muskoka when the early settlers were almost
exiled and lived in deep solitude.
When Mrs.Peacock was a girl of twelve years, her parents,
Joseph and Ellen Oliver, chose the north concession of Macaulay
Township to make their home. It was in Markham Township she
was born seventy-eight years ago, but before coming to
Muskoka, the Oliver family returned to their English home and
remained there nine years when they again ventured over the
sea and this time directed their path to the much advertised
Muskoka Free Grant land.
Mary Ellen married in early life. She was scarcely eighteen
when she and John Peacock pledged their troth. Among those
present at the happy event at Falkenburg sixty years ago were
Fanny Moore, James Jones, Hannah Kirby, **Kitty Peacock,
Susan and Mary Moffet, and Frank Moore. Miss Kirby was
the bridesmaid and Frank Moore was best man. Reverend
Rae was the officiating clergyman.
The young couple set up housekeeping down towards the
river on the sideroad south of Falkenburg past the Naismith,
Pollard, Dever, Goggin, Brown, Hay and Taylor homesteads.
It was here their children were born and this was the scene
of many a worthy and self-sacrificing act by Mrs. Peacock.
She was a neighbour in the truest sense of neighbourliness
to many an early family in need.
John Peacock farmed and lumbered. Their home was the
gathering point for many a happy party when their children
were young and to it a hearty welcome was extended to any
in need, as many a lumberjack experienced. While those
days were days of isolation, they were also days of happiness.
The way to Bracebridge or Hunstville was over roads that
today would be called trails and by foot. When the writer
enjoyed the winter warmth of the Peacock home fifty years
ago, the walk to Bracebridge was not considered anything
out of the ordinary.
At the church service at Falkenburg, Reverend L. A. Dixon,
Rector of St. James, Orillia where Mrs. Peacock of late years
made her church home, reminded the congregation that,
“We gather to honour the memory of one widely known and
deeply loved, to sympathize with those who are left and also
we are here to show our belief in the Christian faith.”
The service was attended by relatives and friends from far and
near. Among these were George Oliver, Beamsville; Thomas
Oliver, Niagara Falls - two brothers who left Muskoka over
forty years ago; and Mrs. Ray Oliver of Hamilton, a niece, and
her son Cecil.
Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Peacock, six sons
and five daughters. Ten are living. These are:
John (Jack)Peacock, Vineland who married Mary Mann
Sarah Peacock, Kapuskasing who married Joseph Faulkener
William Peacock, Falkenburg who married Mary Campbell
Thomas Peacock, Bracebridge who married Emma Forsyth
Mary Peacock, St. Catharines, who married Henry Byford
George Peacock, Bracebridge, married to Jessie Forsyth
Violet Peacock, Orilla, married to Sax Moore, Jr.
Joseph Peacock, Orillia, married to Audrey Brown
Grace Peacock, Orillia, married to Daniel McIntyre
Catherine Peacock, St. Catharines, married to John (Jack)
Whitmore
The first and only break in the children of the family was the
taking by influenza in 1918 of Frederick (eldest son). His wife
was Vietta Burke of Novar. (The obituary goes on to name all
the grandchildren.) To these fifty-seven grandchildren have
been born thirty-nine sons and daughters all living and thus
the deceased lady could boast of children and grandchildren
to the number of ninety-six.
Pallbearers were six grandsons; Audrey Byford, St. Catharines;
Stanley Peacock, Vineland; Elwood Moore, Orillia; Alvin
Peacock, Bracebridge; Harold Peacock, Huntsville; and Murray
Peacock, Bracebridge. The flower bearers were four younger
grandsons: Howard Byford, St. Catharines; and Bruce McIntyre,
Ralph Moore, and Stuart Peacock of Orillia.
Muskoka’s oldtime settlers are rapidly passing on to their
great reward. Mrs. Peacock was one of the best citizens. Of
late, she had made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Daniel
McIntyre of Orillia, and was always happy and rejoiced in the
progress of children and their families. Three old timers –
William Hillman, William Inch and William Naismith of the
immediate neighbourhood of Falkenburg are all that are left
of the original settlers, who were there when the Peacock and
Oliver families established their homes in that part of Macaulay.
Written by Harry Linney
**could this be Catherine Peacock Brown
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