Gideon "Turner" Ostrom was the third son in the family of ten, of Simeon Wellington Ostrom and Lucinda Frederick. According to my records Gideon (often referred to a Turner), was born January 7th, 1831 in Sydney Township, Hastings, Ontario. Gideon appears in the 1851 census as "Turner Oston" with his father Simeon, brothers Henry 24, J.M. 14, George 9, and sister Elura 7. The two elder boys are listed like their father as farmers, while J.M. is a farm labourer. Gideon married Emma Turner, October 14th, 1858 in Whitby, Ontario. His name for this record was Gideon Onstrom. Try as I might I have had much difficulty with my line of the Ostroms. The name has been misspelled so many times and in so many ways. I am unable to locate Gideon Turner until 1871 where he turns up in the census as T. Gedion Ostrom, living in Peterboro County, Otonabee Township with his wife Emma and eight children. At this point he is listed as a labourer and his faith is Wesleyan Methodist. The 1881 census has him living in Alnwick, Northumberland West, Ontario with Emma and eleven children. His eldest children Margaret Ellen and Simeon have left home and married by this time. It is interesting to see that he lists himself and the children as of German descent, while in fact the Ostroms were Dutch. The 1891 census pg 6., Gideon is documented as (Gidson Ostrom), a widower at 60 remaining in Alnwick with seven children still living at home, the youngest who was just six years old. In this census he identifies himself as born in Ontario as are the remaining children. His religion is Calvinist Presbyterian, while the children identify themselves as Methodist. Their farm would have been situated in Alnwick Township not far from the village of Roseneath. No matter how hard I try I am unable to locate the farmstead. Possibly Gideon never owned land of his own but was rather a tennant farmer for one of the owners in Alnwick.
Document cover from the Canadian Government
Land Branon From the department of Indian Affairs
I was fortunate to come across the 1893 correspondence regarding the proposed leasing of land nearby. The land itself was on the Indian reserve so he never would have owned it, and having lived there for many years he would have already had a residence in the vicinity. One wonders why at age 62 he would want to clear more land and build a house. These documents were dated in the spring of 1893 and signed by John Thackeray, who at the time was the Indian agent and Justice for the area. Gideon would lease 16 acres of land belonging to George Crowe for a period of five year This particular plot of land had stipulations for the lessee as follows:
He would be obliged to build a 2 story house on the land 18’ x 24’, with a separate one story kitchen attached to the main building. The specifications are all laid out in the document, which would indicate that Gideon was an able contractor to oversee the project.
The amount for the lease would be $25 per annum.
The kitchen, to be added to the main house would measusre 18’ x 13’ with a separate chimney and consist of the same building materials as the two story house. It was to join the house on the east side.
George Crowe (the lessor), would supply the lumber and brick, Gideon Ostrom (the lessee), was to supply all other material and oversee the project.
Alderville Chief & Council, 1888
In back from left to right, Tom Marsden, Councillor, born circa 1817, died 1916 in Alderville. Peter Crowe, Councillor, in the centre back, born 1835 Grape Island, died in Alderville 1920. Back right, Francis Beaver, Councillor. Front left George Blaker (the first, the Reverend), Councillor. Next to him John Thackery, Indian Agent, next to him Chief Mitchell Chubb, right front William Loukes, Secretary
Unfortunately the government took too long to decide on the agreement and in the end wanted Gideon Ostrom to pay the entire lease up front, which caused the said agreement to be annulled. This document would however indicate approximately where Gideon and his family lived. He would not have wanted to lease land far from his own farm. The 1901 census has Gideon Ostrom, (Gid Ostrem), now 70 years of age listed as a domestic, widower, living with his son, William aged 20 also working as a domestic for the Wilfred Valleau family in Northumberland County, Township of Percy. There were several Valleau families living in Percy and also Brighton, which leads me to believe he was living not far from the village of Codrington. Gideon Turner Ostrom died on December 5th 1902 just short of his seventy first birthday. He died in Brighton, Ontario and was buried in the Centennary graveyard alongside his wife Emma.
This was posted January 10, 2016 accompanying a blog on the Alderville Indian Reserve published the same day.
Citations
(1) B.1831 C.1851 Census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia Turner Oston (2) M.1858 Ostrom Gideon/Turner Emma Ontario, Canada, County Marriage Registers, 1858-1869 Microfilm Roll 1030061 (3) C.1871 Census of Canada T Gedion Ostrom (4) C.1881 Census of Canada Gideon Ostrom (5) C.1891 Census of Canada Gidson Ostrom (6) C.1901 Census of Canada Gid Ostrem (7) D.1902 Ontario, Canada, Deaths and Deaths Overseas, 1869-1946 Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Collection: MS935; Reel: 107 (8) D.1902 Find a Grave Gideon Turner Ostrom Centenary Cemetery Burial or Cremation Place:Roseneath, Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada