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Ontario History
Mary Williams Trout: Diaries of a Small Town Lady Trevor Parsons
Volume 102, Number 1, Spring 2010
URI: https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/1065601ar DOI: https://doi.org/10.7202/1065601ar
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Publisher(s) The Ontario Historical Society
ISSN 0030-2953 (print) 2371-4654 (digital)
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Cite this article Parsons, T. (2010). Mary Williams Trout: Diaries of a Small Town Lady. Ontario History, 102(1), 147–149. https://doi.org/10.7202/1065601ar
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rchival Sources Treasures from Ontario’s Archives
A Mary Williams Trout: Diaries of a Small Town Lady by Trevor Parsons, Archives Digital Project Assistant
he compelling story of a small town lady, Mary Williams Trout (1847-1922) from the Town of TMeaford, on the shore of Georgian Bay, is told in twenty-six of her personal diaries, housed at the Grey County Archives. The diaries have also been scanned, transcribed, and posted online at the Grey Roots website (www.greyroots.com/troutdiaries). The earliest journal dates from the year of Confederation, 1867, and following journals document Mary’s life through her marriage, the birth of her children, through the First World Mary (Williams) Trout—her diaries War and up to two Grey County Archives chronicle small town life and develop- years before her death Grey Roots Museum & Archives ment in Meaford, Ontario. Photo cour- in 1922. 102599 Grey Road 18, tesy the Meaford Museum. M a r y A m a n d a R.R. 4, Owen Sound, ON Williams was born 18 N4K 5N6 October 1847 on a farm in St. Vincent Township, the eastern part (519) 376-3690 ext. 111 or Toll Free (866) 473-9766 of the present-day Municipality of Meaford. Her parents, John Williams and Selina Williams (nee Brewster), were amongst the
involvement in community and Right: James Trout—a religious affairs. moneylender whose loans On 18 October 1869, her contributed to the growth 22nd birthday, Mary was mar- and development of Meaford, ried to James Trout (1839 Ontario. Photo courtesy the - 1906). James was the son Meaford Museum. of William Trout, millwright and one of St. Vincent’s first elected entered into business with councillors, and Catherine Trout his brother-in-law, Charles (nee MacKinnon). William Jay. Until 1893, James Trout operated a sawmill on and Charles were in the the Bighead River, southwest business of money lending, of Meaford, which employed insurance, and real estate. the famous environmentalist As moneylenders they of- John Muir from 1864 - 1866.1 fered financial assistance The remains of this mill, which to many citizens of Mea- was destroyed by fire in 1867, ford and surrounding area, can still be seen while hiking contributing to the further longstanding, as she noted the the Trout Hollow Trail that development of farms, busi- anniversary every year. On runs from Meaford, along the nesses, and factories. 7 February 1920, she writes Bighead River to the Riverside Mary was very active in her “Kathleen gone 41 years to- Community Centre. At this community, regularly attend- day.” This would certainly not time, James helped out on the ing prayer meetings, business be the last time Mary dealt with family farm during the summer meetings, picnics and “socials.” death and loss. months and worked as a sales- It was common for her to be J a m e s h a d e n d u r e d man during the winter. out in the community visiting, many serious health problems Mary was a schoolteacher shopping, or helping James throughout his life, sometimes at the time of her marriage, but with business. Most days she needing to travel long distances had to relinquish her position, would eat at least one meal at a to find doctors and treatments as she was to focus her atten- neighbour’s house or serve an to help. Though the circum- tion on housekeeping and farm extra plate for a visitor. Often stances were unfortunate, work. James had purchased the people with whom she so- these trips allowed the Trouts to the back half of his family’s cialized were prominent politi- travel more than most people. farm with money he made as a cians and businessmen. She Through these trips they spent salesman, and the home was also taught music lessons and time in Nebraska, Arkansas, well established when Mary Sunday school classes. James and Florida. Although their moved in. In 1870, Mary gave and their son, Will, spoke often time together was rich, James birth to her first child, William at prayer meetings, sometimes developed arteriosclerosis, Ernest, adding childcare to taking a leading role. causing hemorrhaging in his her list of duties around the On 7 February 1879, legs, eventually leading to his farm. In 1875, with the arrival disaster struck when Kath- passing on 16 February 1906. of their second child, Kathleen, leen, James’s and Mary’s only Mary remained as active the couple moved to a larger daughter, died of diphtheria in the community after James’s house in the newly designated at the age of four. Mary’s death, and even took over Town of Meaford, where James devastation at this event was some of her late husband’s
1 < http://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/trails-a-z/trout-hollow-trail/ > (accessed on 19 May 2009) archival sources 149 business dealings, collecting rent from tenants and overseeing the construction and maintenance of some new buildings. Her retirement years were spent much the same, with more time spent gardening, quilting, and helping friends, neighbours, and family. Mrs. Trout was well liked in her community and she had a positive effect on the lives of all she encountered. Sadly, on 28 December 1922, at 75 years of age, Mary passed away due to complications with her heart and kidneys. There is no doubt A sample of the diaries of Mary (Williams) Trout, housed at the all who knew her dearly missed Grey County Archives. her. The story of Mary Trout has commonalities to be shared with Canadian women of her time from coast to coast. The fact that she documented so many themes of life makes her diaries significant and appealing. Romantic and thought-provoking, the diaries are truly a wonderful account of small-town life at the beginning.