The Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-07-10, Page 96da
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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
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INCLUDING SUNDAYS
VISIT US SOON...
WE'D LIKE TO MEET YOU.
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