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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-07-10, Page 96da hi A Il, j�. .77 settled� b rich T " 1t 8 soy Me, CQtul�t O'farmed, Ont the aericattb., ckoned e aria infant r C. +§g,,tlie��Atlantic'. .�.M x 7 ork andetnaVed' to. Canadd where ey ae led an CMT ,39 hind,n 1 son' Kell Thi ai, ri 4m Goderieh tinsliip llli a f Elias UwIt a saw and grist Tiuil along tba tract of land, on, the arks of the .Maitland River .This limit AaCthe,only ianill'ii d In the township in tbe1842 assessment rous0 A history of the Disney family, reported in a Clinton News -Record article, written by Walt's father noted, '`He ,(Elias Disney) ' bought a tract *fiend elose:to and along the banks of the Maitland River and built a saw mill and grist mill Which, was patronized by the community for a number of years.: This country was heavily timbered andtherewas plenty of wild Bruit, grapes,.plumsetc. along the banks of the river and good fishing and wild game of differentikinds. "Wolves were numerous . and a source of much annoyance to the settlers and their young stock and many a time I have sat and listened in amazement to the storieg of my father and the others who would tell of per- ' sonar encounters." grew upin Goderich Townshi and her d Records at the D.$: Weldon Library in gr P Pe i,,gndon note, that Elias Disney +owned.149 ; runh1.1-f, berih �_;ipq .,., may.•.' acres and had eight cultivated. He had a He marrie` 'Mary`Rief ardson ofdoderten " horse, two oxen, two "milch cows" and two Township in 1858 and they moved to "horned cattle". The value of his property Bluevale where Kepple bought 100 acres of was assessed at 160 L, 4 shillings and his land where nine of their 11 children were house was not listed as being of assessed born. The eldest was Walt's father, Elias value. This, of course, was not unusual for a Disney, born February 6, 1859. He was born house, even ' a log home, had to be in Bluevale and baptized on ,July 27 at St. constructed of timbers, squared on all four Paul's Anglican Church in Clinton. sides to be assessed for tax purposes. In the family history, Walt's father wrote, By 1845, Elias had 15 of his 149 acres "I am the eldest of 11 children. We received cleared with his real property assessed at our education in the public school of 14L, 16 shillings. No livestock holdings were After the war, he worked as an recorded. By 1848, he had 20 acres cleared, advertising cartoonist in Kansas City. Here. with two oxen and two milch cows. The he created and marketed his first original value of his holdings were listed as 159L, 16 animated cartoons. shillings. In 1923 he headed for Hollywood, with $40 A story on the Disney family, in the in his pocket, drawing materials and an Goderich Township History Book Volume II ' animated fairy tale subject. Walt's brother reports that Elias and Maria had 16 Roy lived td inir resources and together set n e shop children. Records from the Walt Disney pooled Archives' note that one child was buried at Business boomed and by 1928 Mickey Mouse sea on the way from Ireland. The others was born. , were:' Kepple (1832); Edward (1835); The rest of the story is popularhistory. Robert (1837) ; Mary (1839) ; Elizabeth pioneer Disney's and career innovator, roeand ted 43-ypossears.ssor A (1841); John (1843); Elias (1845-1913); • of Sarah (1847) ; George (1849) ; Charlotte one of the most fertile imaginations the (1851) ; Thomas (1852-1909) ; James (1854) ; world has ever known, Walt Disney and his Harriet (1856-1881) ; Arundell Robert (1858) staff received more than 950 honors and and Anna (1861). citations from every nation in the world, A Robert Disney is also identified in the including 48 Academy awards and seven 1848 assessment as owning 93 acres in Emmys. Goderich Township on CHRL 1.36,37. He Bluevale and attended the Wesleyan may have been one of Elias' brothers. The Methodist Church and Sunday School. Our family history notes, "Three of his brothers life and work were such as comes to boys sold their property in Ireland and came to and girls brought up on the farm - a pure and America (New York City). The three whole3ome atmosphere - both physically brothers went into business and Elias and morally." Disney moved to Upper Canada - Ontario, Elias received his secondary education at Goderich Township." Central Public School in Goderich, now the The Disneys were associated with the Huron County Pioneer Museum. Anglican Church on the hill in Hohnesville. Kepple Disney and his family left Canada At least one Disney burial took place at the in 1877. The farm was sold to Andrew small cemetery beside the church. Records Jackson and the family moved to Ellis, show that in September, 1863, Charlotte, Kansas where Kepple purchased 320 acres daughter of Elias and Maria Disney was of railroad land. buried, aged 12 years. The Disney Archivist Elias married Flora Call and they had five noted that it is considered possible that children, Raymond (1890); Roy (1893-1971); Elias is also buried there. Walter Elias (1901-1966) and Ruth Flora ,1 Elias' eldest son, Kepple Disney (Walt's (1903); and Herbert. grandfather) was born in 1832 in Ireland. He Waltep-Elias Disney was born in Chicago an get de' ll' ' i e ;oW% dei of t?( ii hei'n Cross, ler of tike teg. agle did"fie as of the World Award mal this ' 'Winona "A sooitioa of Theatre 0 e . Bpt, alt piing : is rememberedfor..amiue- h more.. I<'iltns.Ilitelt=affY and -the Tramp, Slow White and the el 'CJI Netts, Cinderella, Pinocchio, Fantasia; wDiiirnbo,, fary Pop aids and "Bainbi still play in theatres around the world. ivlis. ,cartoon characters Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, Bakal are immortal. Disneyland in California and Disney.. World in Florida are, two of the greatest fantasy amusement parks in the world. ,, Walt Disney died on December 15,1966, :but* has not been forgotten. • Walter Elias Disney remains a legend,ua` folk hero of the .20th century.s worldwide popularity was based upon the ideals which hisname represents: imagination, optimism and self-made success. Walt Disney did more to touchithe hearts, minds and emuwnns of millions of people than any other m- ' in tbepastcenturya Our congratulations to the citizens of the Township of Goderich SNELL ENTERPRISES SINCE 1843 THE OLD MILL FACTORY OUTLET SINCE 1960 Not only a factory outlet but a showcase of fashion LEATHER, SHEEPSKIN, WOOL & FUR OPEN ALL YEAR INCLUDING SUNDAYS VISIT US SOON... WE'D LIKE TO MEET YOU. --I ft— / MT The 1d 'Hlill IN THE COUNTRY SOUTH OF BLYTH ON HWY 4 THE ONE AND ONLY... (519) 523-4595 t.