Jen's Genealogy Pages

Amy Johnson Crow, on her blog No Story Too Small, has challenged her fellow bloggers to post 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. While I expect I’ll have trouble actually completing the challenge, I am too intrigued not to try!

The first ancestor I am going to profile is my great-grandfather, Arthur Newton St. John.

Newton was born on August 27, 1870 in Brock, Ontario. His parents were James and Mary Elizabeth (Barker) St. John. James was a farmer. Newton chose not to follow in his father’s footsteps, choosing instead to become a Methodist minister.

Torontonensis, a University of Toronto publication, profiled Newton in its 1900 edition at the time of his graduation from Victoria College.

Arthur Newton St. John

“A nation’s care is on my brow.”

IN the year 1890 A. N. St. John, a Sunderland boy, began his Collegiate career in Uxbridge. After obtaining his third class certificate he taught for three years, when he entered Victoria. He has been among the leaders of his class in Philosophy from Vic., and but for the fact that he has been spending three evenings a week teaching night school, there is no telling what he might have done. Some people think he is indifferent to the fair, but those who know him and have travelled with him know better. His greatest “failing” has been his faithfulness to the Literary Society, and that he has political blood in his veins, is shown by his success there. He has been treasurer, First-Vice and President. The itinerancy will claim him.”

On June 18, 1905, Newton married Gertrude Ethel Thomas. In September of the following year, my grandfather was born in Thessalon, ON.
Two daughters followed in 1909 and 1914, when Newton and Gertrude were living in Cookstown, ON, and Bolton, ON, respectively. By the 1921 census, they were living in York Township.

Newton died on June 18, 1945.