Version 6.00

15 February 2025

David March © 2019

ARMSTRONG/McKAGUE

James Goodfellow Armstrong and Mary Bell Armstrong were born Culross, Bruce County, to John Smith Armstrong (1868-1942) and Euphemia (Effia) Goodfellow (1870-1923).

James was born on 23 October 1895 and Mary on 16 January 1897; they had one brother, George Kerr (1901-1965). James married Mary Thompson on 4 June 1919 in Culross. James and Mary had two children, Currie Orlando (1920-1991) and John Stewart (1921-1931).  At the time the quilt was made, James had enlisted in the 3rd Depot Battalion, Western Ontario Regiment. James subsequently farmed in Culross township until his death on 17 September 1947.

Mary Thompson was born on 15 October 1900 to James Thompson (1863-1948) and Esther Stewart (1862-1934). All these people also appear in the quilt and their story is told on the Becking/McPherson/Thompson page.

Mary Bell Armstrong took up nursing, went to the United States in 1930 and subsequently married Herbert Bruce Mckague (1899-1978). Mary died in 1985 and is buried in Culross-Teeswater Cemetery.

Herbert Bruce McKague was born on 17 May 1899 in Culross to Joseph McKague (b 1865) and Elizabeth Jane (Jennie) Sillick (1867-1955). Herbert had one sister, Nellie Maud (b 1897) and one brother, Andrew Edward (b 1901).

Nellie was born on 25 January 1897 in Culross. In 1935, Nellie was teaching in Allenford, Bruce County and possibly lodging with Isaac McCullough (1883-1969) whom she subsequently married in 1939.

Nellie’s father, Joseph McKague was the son of Andrew McKague (1829-1896) and Mary McLean (b 1834). Joseph had five siblings, Andrew (1859-1863), Alexander (1864-1946), Andrew H (1867-1936), Kate (b 1871) and Margaret Elizabeth (1877-1949). Andrew was born on 30 November 1867 in Teeswater and married Jennie G A (Jeanie) Hill on 11 February 1908 in Culross. It is possible that they took a trip to Scotland for their honeymoon as they arrived back in Canada aboard SS ‘Grampian’ on 11 June 1908.

Jeanie Hill was born on 5 November 1883 to John Hill (b 1846) and Margaret Armstrong (b 1848). Jeanie had two brothers, George A (b 1882) and James A (b 1888).

Andrew McKague (1829-1896) had five brothers, one of who was Hugh (1831-1911). Hugh married Elizabeth Parr (1836-1904). From this union another Andrew (1862-1900) was born. Andrew married Maria E Marchant (1865-1939) on 10 November 1885 in Culross. Andrew and Maria had four children, Hugh Henry (Harry), Lula/Leila M (b 1891), George Percy (1897-1963) and Wilfred (1902-1976).

Harry was born on 18 June 1899 in Culross. He married Abbie Georgina Rowe (1898-1987) on 29 December 1920 in Teeswater. Harry and Abbie had two sons, Harold Percy (1922-1940) and Hugh L (1924-1979). Harry worked as a farm labourer in Teeswater and died there on 11 February 1956.

The family tree can be found on Ancestry under the title Culross Armstrong/McKague Tree.

John Smith Armstrong’s sister, Charlotte Armstrong, was also named on the quilt. Her story is told here.