Version 6.01

11 February 2025

David March © 2014

VIRTUE FAMILY

Ruth Amelia Wright (Virtue) was born on 8 March 1854 in Westmeath, Ontario to John Wright and, according to her marriage record, Mary Louisa Sinclair. However, there appeared to be only one family that had a Ruth A in Westmeath and children born in years before and after her gave their mother's name as Mary Elizabeth (Eliza) Tucker. It seems that her mother was very likely Mary Tucker. Census records for Ruth indicated that her father was born in Quebec, Ellen Wright (very likely her sister Helen) was a witness at her wedding and her birth place was given as Westmeath on her marriage registration. Other children born to John Wright and Mary Tucker were: Benjamin (b 1848), Silas (b 1850), Mary (b 1851), Lucy Ann (1852-1914), John (1856-1942), Mary Helen (1859-1924), Charles (1860-1864), Ida Jane (b 1863), Maria Sabrina (1866-1948), Joseph Alfred (1868), Eva Lousia (1874-1963) and, adopted child, Susan (Susie) McLean (b 1873).

Ruth lived in Westmeath until her marriage to John Oliver Virtue on 16 March 1880 in Westmeath. John was born on 10 April 1844 in Smiths Falls, Ontario to James Virtue and Sarah Jane Crawford. He was a widower who had previously been married to Mary Ann Grace (b 1852). John and Mary Ann had three children: Isabella Florence (b 1873), Edith Jane (1874-1970) and James Andrew (1875-1933).

The 1881 census found John, Ruth and the three children from his previous marriage living in Westmeath. Their first daughter, Muriel Ida was born there on 7 October 1882. She was enumerated in Carleton Place with her parents in 1901, but had moved to 428 5th Ave in Saskatoon by 1911. Other Saskatoon residences were: 682 University Dr (1916) and 704 University Dr (1921). In 1916, she and her sister Phyllis were boarding with a Methodist family headed by Ellen Wilson. Agnes and Mary Craig were also boarding with the Wilsons. It was interesting to note that the Craig women who were Presbyterians (as were the Virtue women) signed the quilt, but none of the Wilson household did.

Muriel worked as a stenographer (1911), book keeper (1921) and possibly dress maker in 1916, but that occupation was very difficult to read. She died, single, in Vancouver, British Columbia, on 9 April 1954. Her brother, Ellard William was born on 14 July 1887 in Carlton Place, Ontario. He resided there with his parents and siblings until at least 1901. The next record that could be found for him was the 1916 census of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. By this time he was a locomotive engineer for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and was married to Catherine Isobel McEachern. They were living on Evans St, Sutherland, Saskatchewan. Sutherland is now a subdivision of Saskatoon. Catherine was born on 24 May 1890 in Haliburton, Ontario to John Hugh McEachern (b 1843) and Catherine Longworth (b 1849). Her siblings were: Sarah Ann (b 1871), Henrietta (b 1875), Neil (b 1877), John (b 1879), William (b 1881), Mary (b 1883), Alexandrina W (b 1885) and Margaret (b 1887).

The McEachern family lived in Cardiff, Peterborough, Ontario in 1891 and 1901. Ellard and Catherine had a daughter in about 1918. The family of three was living on 9th St in Sutherland in 1921. Ellard and Catherine both died in Vancouver, British Columbia, Ellard on 7 July 1960 and Catherine on 19 September 1964. The signatures, E W Virtue and Kate F Virtue were signed directly under each other on the quilt which strongly suggested that the people were related. Muriel Virtue signed in the same area of the quilt. The F initial cannot be explained, unless an I was misinterpreted as an F by the embroiderer. No other candidate for the Kate F Virtue signature could be found. The younger children of Ruth and John Virtue, all born in Carleton Place, were William E (b 1888), Abner Crawford (1890-1974), Allan "Charles" (b 1891), Mary "Phylis" (b 1893) and Helen Winifred (b 1897).

Ruth and John lived at Carleton Place until John's death there on 22 February 1914. Ruth first appeared in the Saskatoon Henderson City Directory in 1918 where she was listed as Ruth A Virtue, widow of John, #4 Arrand Block, 522 11th St, the same address where her daughters M Phyllis and Muriel were living. Ruth A Virtue was found on the Roll for 3rd Ave Methodist church from 1917-1920, which suggested that she died in Saskatoon. She died on 20 May 1920 and was buried with her husband, John, in St James Anglican Church and Carleton Place Cemetery, Lanark, Ontario.

This family tree can be found on Ancestry under the title 3rd Ave Virtue Tree.