Ellerker

(from files of Shirley Albinson, Alma Hart, Doris Leland and Florence Maine; also interviews with Ron Ellerker and Thelma Wilson)

Ellerker is an old English surname meaning "alder marsh." It is most commonly found in East Yorkshire. 

Michael Ellerker (1825 - 1915) was born in Yorkshire and received his early education at Bishop Burton. He then took up shoemaking as a trade. In 1852 he immigrated to Canada. In 1852 he travelled on the first passenger train in Ontario and settled on Lot 9, Con. 4 NER, Warwick Twp. 

Michael Ellerker married Rachel Mathews (1839 - 1899), who came from the English Settlement of Warwick Twp. (The English Settlement was located northwest of Warwick Village, in Concession 3, 4 and 5. It was made up of several families who has been brought to Canada in 1833 by the Petworth Emigration Committee, under the patronage of Lord Egremont.) Then Michael and Rachel moved to Lot 8, Con. 5 NER. Their eleven children were: George (1861 - 1929), William, Michael, Richard, Robert, Arthur, Harriet, Jennie (1880 -), Elizabeth, Parmenas and Rebecca. 

Michael and Rachel's son George Ellerker married Emma Byrns (1866 - 1945) of Forest. They farmed for 13 years on the home farm, then moved to Plympton Twp., and later to Forest. Emma Ellerker was noted for her knitting. A Forest newspaper clipping from 1944 reported that 

Since 1941 Mrs. Ellerker has knitted 164 pairs of socks and 80 pairs of mitts. This work has been done through the Red Cross Branch of the Forest Eastern Star Chapter 116. Besides her knitting she has completed a quilt...and among her most cherished work was an afghan which she made in varied colours. This was two yards by two and a half yards and contained 54 blocks...forwarded to a soldier's hospital in England. 

George and Emma Ellerker had seven children: George Stanley (1892 - 1979), Lauson (1894 - 1898), Gordon (1896 - 1917), Eva (1897 - 1986), Harvey (1900 - 1956), Garfield (1902 - 1959) and Lloyd (1906 - 1906). George Stanley Ellerker completed 50 years of service with the Forest Public Utilities Commission in 1968. He was active in a variety of community affairs. 

Michael Ellerker. Courtesy L McGregor.

Michael and Rachel's son Richard married Martha Cates. They had seven children: Annie (m. Joe Goodhill, then m. Joe Stewart), Herbert, Otto, Fred (1898 - 1978), Luella (m. John Harper), Mary Lilian (m. Wilfred Smith), and Charles. 

Fred Ellerker, son of Richard and Martha, married Verna Annetta Wilkinson (1897 - 1986) in 1917. After their marriage they took up mixed farming on Lot 6, Con. 4 NER. Fred owned one of the first runner tired wagons in Warwick Twp. Verna was known for her great baking skills at threshing time. Fred enthusiastically coached midget and juvenile hardball teams when he was not looking after his beloved garden. If his nieces went to a game with him, they had to wear dresses! In the winter Fred and Verna enjoyed playing crokinole and carrom. 

Fred and Verna had three children: Ivan Laverna (1920 - 1992), Carmen Richard (1921 -) and Anna Leone (1931 -). Ivan graduated from Ebenezer School on Birnam Line; his wife Winnifred Sitlington graduated from SS#11. Winnifred was well known for her artistic talents and her crafts. Ivan and his brother Carmen farmed on Con. 4 NER. Ivan and Winnifred have one daughter Marilyn Dianne (1949 -) who married Royce James Minielly (1946 -), and four grandchildren: Stephen Royce, Ian Matthew, Stacey Heather and Eric Ryan. 

Fred and Verna Ellerker's son Carmen married Frances Marie Sitlington (1924 - 1984) in 1945. They farmed on the original Ellerker farm on Lot 8, Con. 5 NER. Carmen and his wife went north to Restoule regularly - to fish in the summer and hunt deer in the winter. They eventually built a cottage there. Their children are: Larry John (1947 -), who married Linda Ward, and Gerry Wayne (1951 -), who married Ruth Smith. 

Fred and Verna Ellerker's daughter Anna married Frank Alpaugh and moved to British Columbia. 

Ron Ellerker (1927 -) is the son of Herbert and Eunice (Mason) Ellerker. Ron attended SS#1 Warwick. He took over the farm at Lot 4, Con. 3 NER from his father in 1948 or 1949. Ron's hobby is racing horses. His best horse was Derby Dan. Ron and his wife have two daughters. 

Ron's sister Thelma (1925 -), who also attended SS#1, married Lawny Wilson. They live in Forest where they operated a service station at one time. 

Chapter 24 of 25 - Ellerker Family

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