(submitted by Doris Tanton, Janet Firman and Jean Janes)
The Tanton family came to Canada from England. The large family settled near Hungry Hollow at the “Broken Fronts” in Bosanquet Twp.
Bill and Addie (Kenzie) Tanton settled on the north side of Townsend Line, west of Arkona. They had five children, two boys and three girls. Both sons, Jack and Fred, settled in Warwick Twp.
Jack married Mary Zimmerman from Bosanquet Twp. They first settled on the east side of 18 Sideroad (Nauvoo Road) between the 2nd Line NER and the 4th Line (Brickyard Line and Birnam Line). Jack and Mary moved several times before settling on Con. 2 NER (Brickyard Line) between 12 and 15 Sideroads (First School and Bethel Rd.).
Jack and his father did custom work in the community, going from farm to farm with a steel wheeled steam engine, threshing machine and water tank. In 1947 Jack’s son Mac purchased his first tractor, a W9 International with rubber tires, to help with the custom work.
Jack Tanton’s wife Mary was very active in the community and in fall fairs in Forest, Wyoming and Petrolia. She was noted for her exhibits of baked goods, canning, quilting, sewing, knitting and embroidery work. Mary Tanton joined the Warwick Women’s Institute (WI) in 1937 when there were 93 members. She held several Branch offices. She was also President of Lambton North District WI for three years, and a provincial Board Director from 1958 to 1961.
Jack and Mary had three children: Jean (m. James Hall) of Birnam, Eileen (m. McKinley) of Sarnia, and Mac of Warwick.
Mac Tanton (–2006) married Doris Ilene Vanderburgh (1925–) from Plympton Twp., in 1941. Mac and Doris lived their entire lives together in Warwick Twp. on Lot 16, Con. 3 NER. They bought a small parcel of land from Cameron McKenzie and built a small house. They also moved a large shed onto the property for a work shop for Mac. At this time Mac worked as a foreman at Muellers in Sarnia, a factory where ammunition was made during the war. He earned 65 cents an hour. After work Mac did custom work and repaired machinery for farmers. He later worked with the Warwick Twp. road crew for over forty years.
Mac and Doris had a daughter Joan (m. Ron Edwards) and adopted a son, Dale. Joan attended Kelvin Grove School, then Watford High School. She is retired after 25 years working at the Ilderton Post Office. Dale attended Warwick Central School, then worked at Canadian Tire in Strathroy and Central Chevrolet in London before his death, at the age of 23 years, in 1975. Mac and Doris were also foster parents to many children over the years.
Doris joined the Warwick Women’s Institute in 1943. She was very active, especially catering to various functions. She is a life member. For many years Doris worked with the Fall Supper Committee at Warwick United Church. She was especially noted for her butterscotch pies.
In 2004, Doris was honoured as Warwick Twp.’s Senior of the Year. In her submission for this award, her neighbour Rena Dirven stated:
Doris and her husband Mac cared for many foster children. Two stayed at the Tanton home after their parents left. She gave a lot of troubled teenagers a home away from home…. She visits the sick and shut-ins, and there is always a glint in everyone’s eye when Doris arrives to bring them a treat. Her daughter would say her mother cares for people and feeds the whole world.
Fred Tanton, the son of Bill and Addie and the uncle of Mac, lived on the 4th Line (Birnam Line) west of Arkona Road. Fred and his wife Ethel had two children, Everet and Fern. Fred was a farmer, trapper and hunter. After Ethel died, Fred married Jenny Nielsen from Brickyard Line. They had a son, Donald Tanton, who now resides in Forest with his mother.
Doris and Mac Tanton, 1997. Courtesy D Tanton.
Chapter 24 of 25 - Tanton Family
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