Version 6.01

11 February 2025

David March © 2014

GEO SMALL and E SMALL

George Lawrence Small was born on 30 November 1864 in Arthur, Wellington, Ontario to Joseph Bath Small (1830-1868) and Janet Morice (1832-1886). His siblings were: Janet Scott (1853-1921), Samuel (1854-1854), Maria (1856-1871), David Theodore (1859-1934), Joseph Mellor (1860-1941), William James (1866-1949) and John Lincoln (1868-1945). George was raised in Arthur and married Barbara Elizabeth Mitchell there on 24 December 1884. Barbara was born on 21 February 1863 in Arthur to Francis (Frank) Mitchell (1836-1907) and Margaret Fraser (1841-1885). Her siblings were: Margaret Jane (Maggie) (1861-1944), Robert James (b 1868), Francis Anderson (1872-1878), Mary "Agnes" (1875-1891) and Sarah "Janet" (b 1877). She also had a half sister, Elizabeth Ann (Lizzie) (1887-1964) from her father's second marriage to Jeannett Haldane (b 1851).

Like George, Barbara was raised in Arthur. George and Barbara had the following children: George Francis (1885-1923), Joseph "Elmer" (1889-1980), Bertha Fraser (1892-1962), William Wallace (1894-1916), Robert Harvey (1896-1917), Margaret Helen (1900-1901) and John Morice (b 1904). After their marriage, George and Barbara lived in Arthur until at least 1901. The 1911 & 1916 censuses found them in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It was likely that the George Small found living at 324 28th St W in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and working as a salesman for Eatons Dept Store in 1916 was George Sr. He had likely come ahead of the rest of the family to get established before moving the rest of the family. In that same year, George L Small was listed in the Saskatoon Henderson Directory at 204 28th St W.

1917 found both George L and George F listed at 318 28th St W and both were working for Eatons. From 1918 to 1920, George L was listed at 418 27th St W and in 1918, Bertha F was listed at the same address. By the time of the 1921 census, George and Barbara had returned to Winnipeg. George Jr was born on 5 November 1885 in Arthur. He married Jean Harvey (Jennie) McCullough (b1890) on 21 August 1912 in Bruce, Ontario. Jennie was born on 21 February 1890 in Kincardine, Bruce, Ontario to William J McCullough and Margaret Harvey. George and Jennie moved to Saskatoon in about 1917 and were living at 305 29th St W by 1918. In 1919 they were living at 1115 Ave B North and George was working for Campbell, Wilson and Millar. 1920 found them at 208 26th St W and 1921 found them in the house that George's parents had vacated when they moved back to Winnipeg. George continued to work at the same company.

From 1922 to 1923 they lived at 208 115 3rd Ave South and George worked for Saskatoon Cartage and Warehousing Co. George died on 20 August 1923 and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Saskatoon. Joseph "Elmer" was born on 27 August 1889 in Arthur. He married Mary Florence Edkins on 4 June 1912 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Mary was born on 5 June 1892 in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba and died on 8 May 1922 in Winnipeg. They were listed in both the 1916 and 1921 census records for Winnipeg and there is no evidence that they ever moved to Saskatoon. Their children were: Roy Lawrence (b 1913), Elmer Joseph (b 1915), William Wallace (1917-1987) and Barbara Helen (1920-1955). Joseph Elmer married Nellie Adeline Timms on 13 July 1923 in Winnipeg. She was born on 8 September 1897 in Nottingham, England and died on 31 May 1983 in Richmond, British Columbia. Joseph died on 18 December 1980 in Richmond, British Columbia.

As there were two Georges in this family, it is unknown which one of them signed the quilt. E Small signed immediately under Geo Small on the quilt, strongly suggesting that they were related. The only person in this family that appeared to use the letter E for a first name was Joseph Elmer. His name was recorded as Elmer in one of the census records. Although it appeared that he never lived in Saskatoon, he may have been here on a visit when the quilt was being made. Another less likely candidate for the E signature was Barbara Elizabeth. However, there was not one instance when the name Elizabeth alone was ever used in the census records that included her and so it seems unlikely that she was a signer.

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

George Lawrence Small
1864-1945

Barbara Elizabeth Small née Mitchell
1863-1946

George Francis Small
1885-1923

Joseph Elmer Small
1889-1980

There is one other candidate for the Geo Small signature who could not be traced due to lack of identifying information. The 1918 Saskatoon Henderson Directory had a listing for another George L Small who lived at 1010 14th St at and worked for Alford's Planing Mill. He never appeared in another directory and could not be located in census records. It is impossible to know if there was an E Small living in his household.

If anyone has knowledge of this George Small, we would like to hear from you so that we can determine if he was a more viable candidate.