Neil MacDonald and his family around 1917
Photograph of Neil MacDonald from Caoles with his family on their farm in Moore Township, Ontario around 1917.
Courtesy of Mrs Ann Hentschel
Neil MacDonald from Caoles was photographed around 1917 with his son Donald (known as Dan) and his grandchildren Mabel, Charlie and Alvin on their farm on the 6th Line of Moore Township, Ontario. The identity of the woman holding the child is unknown.
Dan married a local girl, Laura Richardson, in 1904 and the couple lived happily on the family farm. Neil continued to stay there until his death in 1918. As the children grew up they were expected to help on the farm. All three attended the same one-room school on Kimball Sideroad that Dan had attended earlier. Mabel would later teach there.
In 1923 Dan took out a mortgage to purchase an additional one hundred acres. By the end of 1932 they had lost everything. During the Great Depression crop prices fell to around half their former value and Dan was unable to make the mortgage repayments.
Black and white photograph of Neil MacDonald and his family in Moore Township around 1917.
Neil MacDonald of Caolis and his family on the farm on the 6th Line of Moore Township, Ontario. Neil is standing. His son Donald (Dan) and his children Mabel, Charlie, and Alvin (Mac) are on the wagon. The lady holding the child is unknown. This photo was taken circa 1917.