James Huestis [H13]
1789 - 1879

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James Huestis [H13] (1789-1879) m. Melinda Bigney

James Huestis was a farmer at Wallace all of his life. Of course, just about everyone in Wallace was a farmer in the 1800's because that was how you ate, unless you happened to be a tradesman working in the shipyards, or a merchant or capitalist in the community. I cannot seem to find where his farm was. His son James Hennigar Huestis farmed in Wentworth for a time, and it is possible that he moved back to Wallace as his father aged. (I bet that his middle name is for the Rev. Hennigar mentioned in the obituary below.) By the generation after that the family was well established as farmers at Wallace Station, where they remained until the death of Leslie Huestis on the family farm in 1963.

This obituary was written by James Huestis' son, Rev. George Oxley Huestis. It was printed in The Wesleyan, a church newspaper, on 12 April, 1879.

HUESTIS, JAMES H. (died March 23, 1879 in Wallace, NS)

Again death has summoned away another of the aged ones of Wallace, NS. Mr James H. Huestis, father of the writer, departed from earth. He was born Sept. 1, 1879, consequently was nearly ninety years of age. His father, Thomas Huestis, mentioned in Smith's History of Methodism, emigrated from the United States shortly after the Revolutionary War, and settled in Wallace, where he died about 25 years ago, at the advanced age of 93. Of his four sons, two have passed away, the remaining two Peter and Nathaniel reside in P.E. Island. My father was closely associated with Methodism, from an early period of its history in Wallace. He was only two years old when the first Methodist preacher (Mr Grandine) visited the place. In my grandfather's house the first sermon was preached, and shortly after a glorious revival of religion took place. Methodism never takes hold of any place without a revival of true religion.

I am not aware of the exact time when he became a church member, but it was when he was quite a young man. He must therefore have been connected with the church nearly 70 years. The writer remembers distinctly the morning on which he erected a family altar. That was about 47 years ago. He had been living for some time in a lukewarm state, but being revived under the ministry of the Rev. James G. Hennigar, he realised courage to pray in his family. As long as he was able to attend to the duty, it was not often neglected. For more than forty years he led the singing in all places of worship where he was present. For fifty years there was no other place of worship in Wallace, but the Methodist church at the Harbour. For many years the Presbyterians occupied it regularly once a month. Episcopal ministers occasionally preached there. Methodism has never been sectarian.

My father left ten children on the shores of time, three preceded him to the spirit world. His rugged constitution knew very little about affliction. But the weary wheels of life at last stood still, after a brief illness. His widow survives him, bending under the weight of of four-score years. The marriage union continued sixty-five years.

The writer has often heard his father speak with emotion and evident gratitude of the ministry of such men as Payne Bennett, Miller, Richey, Bamford, Snowball, Davies and others, who watched over the interests of Methodism in that region of the country, when the sapling which God planted there was tender and required special attention. In connection with their faithful efforts it grew into a stately tree, some of the branches extending to the regions beyond.

The toils and the prayers of the pioneer band
Have to us a rich legacy given;
We shall talk it all o'er when with them we shall stand
'Midst the glorified millions of Heaven.

His love of singing continued to the last. A near relative was singing the evening before he died when he aroused from seeming unconsciousness and seemed greatly delighted. When asked if he desired to get better and live longer he replied,"O, no, no, my peace is made with God - I am waiting."

I am not sure where James Huestis farmed, although it may have been the Huestis homestead on Six Mile Road, now called Wallace Station. Son James H. Huestis Jr. farmed there, and the line continued at that farm until 1963 when Leslie Huestis passed away. The daughters of James and Melinda Huestis married locally and tended to stay in the area, while most of the boys moved away.

James Hennigar Huestis married Lavinia Teed and farmed for a while in Wentworth, and then moved to Six Mile Road to take over from his father (I presume). He has his own page. Son George Oxley Huestis became a Methodist minister, and he also has his own page. Sons William and Nathaniel died of consumption, which I have always known as tuberculosis. Both were young adults but neither had married.

Almira (Althea Myra) Huestis [H131] (1815 - 1868) m. Daniel Colter (1815 - 1895)

Almira Huestis married Daniel Colter and had a number of children, including Eliza Colter (1839 - ) m. George Scott; Mary Ann Colter (1840 - ) m. Richard Woodland; Margaret Colter (1849 - ); Charles Colter (died young); Melinda Colter (1852 - ) m. Murdock Nicholson; William Colter (1853 - ) m. Anna F. [surname unknown]; George Huestis Colter (1854 - 1934) m. Jane Ada Grant; Richard Colter (1854 - 1862); Henry Colter (1856 - ) m. Libby Bell Colter; Charles Colter (1858 - ); Rebecca Colter (1860 - ) m. Mr Woodson.

Descendant Sharon Yost of California writes:

Daniel Colter, the son of Patrick & Mary, was born 12 May 1815 in Skreen, County Sligo, Ireland. He died 6 Jul 1895 in Hartford, Nova Scotia, Canada, his residence at the time of his death, at age 88 years. Prior to that he was a resident of Six Mile Road, now called Wallace Station. He was a farmer all of his life, and a Baptist. On 4 Nov 1835 he married Almira Huestis aka Althea Myra in Nova Scotia, Canada. After Almira died he married Charlotte Porters nee Leggitt on 20 Jan 1870 in Wallace, Cumberland Co., Nova Scotia with no issue from that marriage.

As for Almira Huestis, I know very little as is the case of many of the women of her era. They didn't leave many footprints that were recorded. She was the daughter of James Hennigar Huestis and Melinda Bigney of Wallace born on 15 Oct 1815 in Wallace, Cumberland Co., and at the age of 52, she died 7 May 1868 in Wallace. She was buried in the Old Methodist Cemetery in Wallace.

Daniel & Almira had eleven children with George Huestis Colter, being the seventh child in the birth order. He was born 12 Jun 1854 in Wallace Station, Cumberland Co., Nova Scotia, and died 8 May 1934 in Glenada, Lane Co., Oregon at the age of 87. He is buried in the Oddfellows Cemetery, now called the Pioneers Cemetery. He married Jane Ada Grant on 14 Dec 1881 in Delnorte, Rio Grande Co., Colorado, daughter of James Grant and Christina McLane. She was born 25 Jan 1859 in Truro, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia and died 16 Feb 1946 in Eureka, Humboldt Co., California. George & Jane Ada were the parents of 4 daughters and 3 sons.

George had a very exciting, colorful and long life. He was educated in the Public schools at least until 16, when he left home to emigrate and work in various places in the United States to make his fortune. I believe he may have known Jane and her family before he left Nova Scotia because in the 1871 census the Grant family were listed as living in River Philip. Both George and the Grant family were in Delnorte, Colorado where two of the Grant girls married and they all moved on to Montana.

George lived many places in his life. Between 1869 - 1870 he was a carpenter and millwright in San Francisco, California. From there he moved to Portland, Oregon in 1870 - 1875, building Howe Truss Bridges. His employer was Benjamin Holliday & I.V. Keepers of Chicago, Illinois and their business was that of railroad promotion and construction work. From 1875 to 1878 he took charge of Mahogany and Ida Elimore Gold/Silver mines in Silver City, Idaho. By 1878, he had moved on to Leadville, Colorado to work building the America Smelter for Wicks-Otis Company of Missouri. Between 1879 - 1881 he built the Grant smelter in Denver, Colorado. About 1880 he was involved in the construction of the electric light plant, changing from steam to water power, for Walker Bros. in Ogden City, Utah. Also in that year he took a job of bartending in South Pueblo, Colorado near where the Grant's lived at the time. He always seemed to find work. At the end of this year, he was married but it didn't seem to clip his wings any for between 1882 - 1883 he was sent by Walker Bros to install machinery for the Ellis Mines in Butte, Montana for Murray & Clarke and A.J. Davis. He also built the Opera house there. In this same time frame, he and Jane had a son, William Colter, born in February 1883, who died of cholera.

About 1884, he changed his occupation to include building a hotel on Pritchard Ave. in Butte, operated it and later sold it at a handsome profit. By 1885, he amassed a profit of $20,000 in the real estate market including San Diego prime land. He had another son, Earl, born in Oct 1884, who also died of cholera.

From Montana, he went to Seattle, Washington to buy more property between 1885 - 1887. In 1886, he became a father again, this time a girl, Viola Christina. She lived to be 93 and was married to William Albert Yost of Florence, Oregon. His family grew eventually to include 3 girls and 6 sons.

Between 1889 - 1934 he became quite the entrepreneur in land investments and founded the little town of Glenada, Oregon. He named it after his wife Jane Ada noting it was a Glen of Ada. He was then working as a carpenter building houses in his dream town.

At some point in his life in Glenada he even became a Deputy Sheriff of Lane Co., Oregon to add to the ever growing list of occupations.

Besides all the above places, George worked or acquired property, he also lived in Walla Walla, Washington around 1885. Certainly, no moss grew under this man's feet. His abounding energy must have been impressive to encounter.

While in Glenada, which was located on the Siuslaw River across from Florence, he was a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) and a member of the Democratic Party. On 17 May 1895, he was elected to the office of Mayor of Glenada and held that position until 31 Aug 1912.

In an Oct 9 1891 advertisement from the West Pioneer Weekly: Store, post office, saw mill, houses, wharves, hotel and church commenced and other buildings contemplated. Glenada was growing at this point but when the anticipated railroad didn't go through Glenada after all, it began to dry up and today the little town is virtually gone.

Thanks to Sharon Yost for the above essay and notes on Almira's children.

Phoebe Catherine Huestis [H132] (1818 - 1905) m. Alexander Fleming also spelled Flemming

The 1881 Census shows this family living in Wentworth, with Alexander, age 65; Phebe, age 63; and Mary, age 20.

The 1991 Census shows Alex and Phebe Fleming, ages 75 and 73, living in Wallace. No other family members in the household.

The 1901 Census shows Phebe Flemming, age 83, born 6 May 1817, living in the home of her daughter, Martha Robertson, age 58; and her husband James Robertson (age 65) and sons Alexander Robertson (21) and John W. Robertson (18).

I have a clipping of her obituary; from the tone it would appear to be from the Wesleyan, a Methodist newspaper, in 1905.

PHOEBE CATHERINE HUESTIS, one of the oldest members on the Oxford Circuit, died on April 7th last, at the home of her daughter. Mrs Richard Reid, of Little River. She was born May 6th, 1818 at Wallace Station, and was thus in her 88th year, being four years younger than her esteemed brother, Rev. G.O. Huestis. At an early age she went to live at Wentworth with her grandfather, James Bigney. While there she was married by Rev. Jas. Buckley, then of Pointe De Bute, to Alexander Flemming, whom she outlived by about twelve years. Sister Flemming was converted at the first camp meeting held in Nova Scotia, at the Head of Wallace River, when Rev. R. Temple was in charge of the Wallace circuit in 1856. From the time of her conversion she lived an earnest, faithful Christian life, and when, after a short illness, the summons came, she passed away in full assurance of faith, going home to be with God. Of several sisters only three survive. Their names are Mrs Hannah Filmore, River Philip, Mrs Ann Fulton, Truro, and Mrs Sarah Roberston, Wallace Station. Two of her daughters, Mrs Cotter and Mrs Reid, are members of the Methodist Church at Oxford, and the remaining two are Mrs Robertson of Wallace Station and Mrs Bottomly, of Chantley, Mass.

Mary Ann Huestis [H135] (1819-1896) m. William Harrison

All I know of this lady comes from traces in the official records. Her marriage to William Harrison is recorded in newspaper vital stats as occurring in Wallace on 22 January 1839. She next appears in the 1871 census, as: William Harrison, age 58 and Mary Harrison, age 52; living in Wallace; no children listed. In 1881 they appear again, but this time with a daughter, Effie Harrison, age 11. In 1991 Mary Harrison is shown as living alone, in the Wallace area.

Both William and Mary are buried in the Wallace Bay cemetery. William died in 1882 at age 69, while Mary Ann passed away in 1896 at the age of 77. Their daughter Effie married William Wood of Port Hood, NS in 1887. Curiously, she was married by Rev George Johnson, a Methodist minister in the Guysborough circuit, who was the father of Mrs Victoria Huestis, wife of Martin B. Huestis.

Margaret Melinda Huestis [H135] (1823-1903) m. George Annis (1821 - 1911)

Obituary for George Annis from the Oxford Journal, 1911
Another of our old inhabitants passed away on March 16th at Wallace Station in the person of George Annis, aged 90 years. He was born in England April 4th, 1821 and came to Canada at the age of 9 years. He was married to Margaret Huestis, sister of the late Rev. G.O. Huestis. He was a member of the Methodist church and a constant attender, until old age deprived him of going. He has left to mourn their loss two sons and two daughters and a number of grandchildren, also one sister Isabella, wife of T.F. MacLellan, Wallace Station. His son James lives at Wallace Bridge and Jacob in California. His daughters are Mrs W.B. Hurd and Mrs Gray at home.

Margaret and George Annis were farmers at Wallace Station all of their lives. Their family included:

  • daughter Phoebe Ann Annis (1848 - 1932) who married Wesley B. Hurd. They farmed in the area and had a family.
  • son Jacob Annis (1855 - 1933), who was said to be living in California (above) but was living in Wallace Station and farming for the decade before his death. I don't think he married.
  • son James Annis (1857 - 1940), who was married to Jennie Langille (1867 - 1937). I do not have any record of a family.
  • daughter Lucy Jane Annis (1863 - 1937) also called Jennie L. Annis who married George W. Gray (1861 - 1891). She was widowed after only 7 years of marriage, and it appears that she returned home to look after her parents, and possibly also her un-married brother Jacob when he returned from California. There is also an Alice Ellen Gray listed on their tombstone; she died in 1912 aged 26 years, and she may very well have been a daughter.

Anna Stephens Huestis [H136] (1826 - 1907) m. William Fulton (1826 - 1871)

Anna Huestis married William Fulton, a merchant in Wallace. William died in 1871, age 44, and is buried in the old Methodist cemetery beside St. John's United Church. In that year Annie was 44 years old, and her older children (Theresa, 22 and George, 19) probably helped her to continue to run the family store. It would have been hard times though, as the economy of Wallace was in a serious downswing after the decline of the wooden shipbuilding industry in the 1860's. The quarries were just starting up and the railway had not yet come to Wallace, so economic activity would have consisted mostly of "taking in each other's laundry".

By the time of the next census in 1881 we find the whole family in Truro, the shire town of the next county. At some point George Oxley Fulton (undoubtedly named for his mother's brother) became a stationer in Truro, and perhaps that was the family business that supported the family. The Fulton family then consisted of Annie, age 54, daughter Theresa (32), son George (29) and the youngest, Lila (14). Addie (22) is not listed as living at home.

In 1881 son George married Nina Fellowes and settled in to raise a family.

In 1882 daughter Addie H. Fulton married James DeForest, a station agent from Bloomfield, New Brunswick. They had three children in New Brunswick: LaMert Grosvenor DeForest in 1883, Lila Irene DeForest in 1885 and James Harold DeForest in 1890. They moved to Truro and had another child, Anah Marion DeForest in 1897. The whole family moved to Claresholm, Alberta in 1906. Adeline and James DeForest lived the rest of their lives there, and died in 1923 and 1934. Thanks to Susan Derkoch (married to Adeline's great-grandson LaMert Donald DeForest) for this information.

Adeline Huestis DeForest and Family abt. 1900

Theresa Fulton married John Wade in 1883, and in 1902 Lila Fulton, the youngest, married Hugh Yuill.

Annie Huestis Fulton did not remarry. She died in 1907, age 81, and is buried in Truro. Her son George died in 1936, age 84.

Hannah Highbigh Huestis [H137] (1828-1911) m. John Cook (1828 - 1897)

John Cook appears to have been a farmer at Six Mile Road, which is now commonly called Wallace Station. John and Hannah are buried in the Angevine Cemetery in Middleboro (nearby) and their stone provides the dates above. The 1881 Census for Cumberland County provides the following family members. Dates marked abt are calculated from census information. Complete birthdates are from the NS VSO database. Entries marked no source were in Harvey Gullon's records but I have not yet found sources for these people.

  • Lisetta Jane Cook [H1371] (1852 - ) no sources for this entry
  • James Cook [H1372], age 27 (abt 1854 - )
  • Christyann (Christana) Cook [H1373], age 24 (abt 1857 - )
  • George Cook [H1374], age 20 (abt 1861 - )
  • John Cook [H1374], age 17 (abt 1864 - )
  • Thompson (Thomas) Cook [H1376], age 15 (2 March 1866 - )
  • Nathaniel Cook [H1377] (1870- ) no sources for this entry
  • Cassie Cook [H1378], age 7 (18 Feb 1874 - )

Sarah Jane Huestis [H13-12] (1840 - 1909) married John Robertson, bachelor, farmer, age 43, living in Wallace. John died in 1880, leaving his widow to raise four very young children on their farm in Six Mile Road, soon to be re-named Wallace Station. The children were Ethel (1874), Anna (1876 - 1906), Waldo (1878) and John (1879). Sarah appears to have kept the family together on the farm, and she does not appear to have re-married. By the time of the 1901 census life may have been easier for her as her two boys were in their early 20's then and would have been doing most of the farm work for ten years or more. Daughter Ethel Robertson married Arthur Fillmore in 1898 and she and her husband and family appear in the 1901 and 1911 censuses.

MRS. S.J. ROBERTSON DIES AT WALLACE STATION

The sudden death occurred at Wallace Station of Mrs Sarah J. Robertson, widow of the late John Robertson. On the morning of Dec. 27, while performing her household duties, she was suddenly seized with paralysis. A doctor was immediately summoned, but nothing could be done to aid her, and with unexpected suddenness she passed away. She was nearly 70 years of age, and was a woman of unusual vigour, until recently, she had experienced a slight attack of paralysis, which left her in a weakened condition.

Early in life she identified herself with the Methodist Church, and was a devoted and faithful member of the same; she very often gave expression of her faith and trust in Christ, the Saviour. One of her greatest comforts was in the reading and studying of the Bible. Deceased was also a member of the choir of the church she attended.

The deceased lady was the youngest daughter of the late James Huestis, and a sister of the late Rev. G.O. Huestis, and one a family of seven daughters and six sons, all of whom have passed away except two, J.B. Huestis of Leomister, Mass., and Mrs John Cook, of Cambridge, Mass.

In 1871 she was married to Mr John Robertson, of her native place, by the Rev. James Anderson; her married life lasting only for the short period of nine years, her husband dying, leaving her to care for a family of four small children. The youngest daughter, Anna, died three years ago. Three children survive, who deeply mourn a mother they have learned to love from infancy: Mrs A.H. Fillmore, of Conn's Mills; Waldo R., at home; and John B., lately residing in West Medford, Mass.

The funeral service was held on New Year's Day, conducted by the Rev. Mr. Pentelow, pastor of the church, assisted by the Rev. Mr Harris. Her remains were interred beside her daughter, in the new cemetery at Wallace. The hallowed influences of her life will be long felt and remembered by those who knew her.

This obituary likely came from the Wesleyan, a newspaper of the Methodist Church, published in Halifax.

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