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| John Shea Late In His Life |
A SHORT STORY FROM A PIONEER TIME IN MUSKOKA
THE HAMLET OF UFFORD, THREE MILE LAKE, MUSKOKA LAKES
MY WIFE SUZANNE, DIDN'T KNOW HER GRANDFATHER VERY WELL. SHE WAS QUITE YOUNG WHEN HE DIED, BUT SHE REMEMBERED ONE STORY ABOUT HIM THAT I'VE WRITTEN-UP IN BLOGS, ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IT WAS JOHN SHEA, FEELING A SENSE OF DUTY TO A LONG AGO FAMILY, WHO ERECTED AND MAINTAINED A FENCE AROUND A SMALL FAMILY BURIAL SITE, LOCATED A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE PRESENT UFFORD CEMETERY, ON THE DOUGHERTY ROAD, BETWEEN THE COMMUNITIES OF UFFORD AND WINDERMERE. THE DOUGHERTY FAMILY, MANY YEARS PREVIOUS, HAD SUFFERED MULTIPLE DEATHS THE RESULT OF A RAGING ILLNESS, MOST LIKELY INFLUENZA. IT IS BELIEVED FOUR FAMILIES MEMBERS PASSED AWAY IN ONE NIGHT, AND THE DECEASED WERE BURIED IN THIS SMALL ROADSIDE CEMETERY, MARKED TODAY MY A CLUSTER OF LILACS. JOHN SHEA, FEELING THE SITE WAS SHAMEFULLY NEGLECTED, FELT IT NEEDED TO BE IDENTIFIED AND MEMORIALIZED FOR THE FUTURE, BUILT AND MAINTAINED A SMALL PICKET FENCE AROUND THE PLOT, AND ERECTED A SMALL SIGN TO INDICATE THE FAMILY BURIED WITHIN. OF COURSE, AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, THE ROAD WAS NAMED AFTER THE FAMILY. TODAY IT IS DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY THE EXACT SPOT, AS THE FENCE HAS LONG SINCE COLLAPSED, AND THE LILACS HAVE BEEN STARVED OF LIGHT BY THE MUCH LARGER TREES SURROUNDING THE GRAVES. I'M SURE THIS LACK OF RESPECT TODAY, ESPECIALLY ON THE PART OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MUSKOKA LAKES, TO PROPERLY ENCLOSE WHAT IS MOST LIKELY ON THEIR ROAD ALLOWANCE, WOULD DISTURB THE KIND, OBLIGING CHAP, WHO USED TO BE A TOWNSHIP CLERK……WHEN HE WASN'T EKEING OUT AN EXISTENCE ON HIS UFFORD FARMSTEAD. MR. AND MRS. JOHN SHEA HAD ONE SON, BERT (AUTHOR OF TWO IMPORTANT FAMILY HISTORIES), ADA, HARRIET (SUZANNE'S MOTHER), LEAH, AND MARY.
THE SHEAS WERE SOME OF THE EARLIEST PIONEERS IN MUSKOKA, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF LAND GRANT ALLOCATIONS, PROMOTED INTERNATIONALLY BY CANADA, TO ENCOURAGE SETTLERS FROM ENGLAND, IRELAND, SCOTLAND, ICELAND, NORWAY, DENMARK AND SWEDEN, TO NAME A FEW, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE LAND GRANTS IN THE EARLY 1870'S. THE TITLE OF "UFFORD" WAS TAKEN FROM THE NAME OF A VILLAGE IN ENGLAND, AS WERE MANY HAMLET NAMES, SETTLERS IMPOSED OUT OF SENTIMENTALITY FOR THE REGIONS THEY HAD LEFT BEHIND.
THIS IS A MULTI-PART SHORT STORY, THAT IS PRETTY REMINISCENT OF THE LAKELAND VISTA, AT AROUND THE TIME OF JOHN SHEA'S YOUTH…..SO IT DOES MIX FACT WITH A YOUNG WRITER'S PASSION FOR ADVENTURE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, AND WE ASSUME IT IS, FOR THE MOST PART, ORIGINAL COPY FROM HIS HAND. HERE NOW, IN THE WORDS OF THE YOUNG JOHN SHEA….."THE HORSE WITH HORNS."
The Horse With Horns by John Shea 1892
The summer was fading away, and autumn was approaching. The leaves had already a golden tinge, and were beginning to fall. Everything looked dreary, and forsaken. To add to this the crows began to gather in large flocks, and utter loud caws. This was a sure sign that the warm days of summer had passed, and that winter was drawing near. Such was the scene, some few years ago, in a little Canadian hamlet in Northern Muskoka. Muskoka at this time was covered with dense forests. These few settlers had emigrated from the more settled parts of Ontario for to make homes for themselves in the Muskoka wilderness.
In these dense forests were found many wild animals, such as bear, wolves, deer, and wild-cats. There were also many other small forbearing animals found along the lakes, and streams. Had it not been for the great number of deer that were in the country the poor settler would many a time have had to starve or leave.
As it was beginning to get late in the season, the settlers began to think that it was time for to get their supply of meat in for winter use.
Peter Onven, and his two sons who were skillful hunters, had supplied the settlers with meat, during the preceeding winter, and consequently they were looked to for the coming winters supply.
Pete had hunted all his life. His unerring arm had brought down many a nimble deer, and prowling wolf. His two sons Jim and Ned were fine strapping fellows. Having been brought up in the woods, the senses of hearing, and seeing, were as acutely trained in them as in the Indian. Jim was the more powerful of the two, but what Ned lacked in strength he made up for in wit.
"Hello boys" said Pete one evening, as he came into the shanty, "get your guns cleaned and your luggage packed, for we are going to try and down some of those wild sheep tomorrow."
"Tie up Gin and Bowser so that they will be here when we want them for we are going to start tomorrow morning before the sun wakes up from his nap." Everything was astir in the little shanty, as may be imagined. There were blankets and provisions to pack, bullets to mould and Ned had to clean his gun. It was a single barreled muzzle loader but it processed great shooting qualities. the most striking gesture about it was its great length for the barrel was at least four feet long.
Many a time the hot-headed Ned had threatened to smash it; for on several occasions when running rapidly through the bush the gun would catch among the bushes and bring the runner to a stop. The string of words that would then follow would convince the listener that Ned's early training had been sadly neglected. On account of guns being scarce however Ned had spared his as yet.
Jim owned a double barreled rifle and was an excellent shot. He could take the head off a duck at a hundred yards almost every time. At last everything was in readiness, and the three hunters rolled up in their heavy blankets and were soon under the influence of morpheus. They were up very early the next morning and had their provisions and blankets packed in the light bark canoe just as the first streaks of grey dawn appeared.
"Now boys," said their father, as they paddled away, "you put the tent and provisions on Round Island." (This was a small island about a mile away which on account of its circular appearance it was given the name mentioned). "After that, go down to Baker's point, and watch there. I will go throughout the woods, and put out the dogs." As he said this, Bowser gave vent to a joyous yelp, and jumped up to lick his masters face; as though he really understood what was being said.
Jim and Ned paddled slowly away, for they knew that they had plenty of time. There was a light mist on the lake, but they were accustomed to the route and so did not mind this.
All was quiet, save for the faint plop, plop, of the leaves, falling in the water, beside them or the occasional shrill call of the blue-jays in the woods close by.
At last they came to the island. Ned selected a suitable spot and set up the tent. When all was got in order they embarked for Baker's point which was about a mile farther up the lake. This as a long point and a place where the deer were always sure to take water.
The two brothers paddled to the end of the point and waited patiently. By keeping at the end of the point they could watch the bay on either side, which was quite an advantage to them. "What is your gun loaded with?" asked Jim after he had examined his own and got it in readiness. "Ball". answered Ned. "Well" concluded Jim, "I think that you had better load it with buckshot, and then you will not be so likely to miss your game". Ned took his brother's advice and quickly but quietly he rammed down a load of buckshot on top of the ball, and the two brothers waited patiently.
When Pete left the boys, he started throughout the forest with the dogs. Both Gin and Bowser were in good humor and yelped and bounded for to free themselves; for their master was leading them. After a while they were set free. It was not long before Bowser got scent and was off giving good tongue as he went.
A little later the hunters at the lake heard a dog coming. "Its Bowser" whispered Ned "I know bye the steady tongue his is giving."
They kept very quiet and ti was not long before two deer bounded into the water. The hunters let them get out, some distance in the water, and then the two brothers paddled vigorously toward them They soon overtook the animals, and after a few will directed shots the boys could claim at least two deer for the winter supply. These two deer were taken to the shore, and the hunters waited attentively for the other dog.
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