Page 10 - July 2024 News On 7
P. 10

HAZZARD HISTORY NOTES


                      by Grant Ketcheson
                                  JACK AND MILLIE GUNN..... LIFE OF THE PARTY



       Clan Gunn, one of the oldest Scottish clans, claimed an area in the far north of Scotland as its homeland. However, the
       Gunn family that settled in Madoc Township came from Lanarkshire in a more southern region of Scotland.

       While we have no record of the travels of William and Mary Walker Gunn, we know from the 1851 census that, by that
       year, they had settled on a 50-acre farm in the seventh concession of Madoc Township, south of the present Madoc
       Township School. William Gunn was listed in that census as a carpenter. William and Mary went on to have a family of
       nine children, with their youngest, John, born in 1868. William died in 1871. As there is no record of his burial, we believe
       that he was likely buried on the farm.

       John Gunn and Amelia Embury (his future wife) attended S.S.#9, Burris School not far from home. John “Jack” married
       Millie, whose family lived a mile up the road, on a farm now known as 139 Public School Road. On this farm were born
       their four sons: Roy, Fred, Clifford and Percy.


       In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, few travelled far from home. In winter, when farm work was at a
       minimum, house parties were popular forms of entertainment. Even without the modern convenience of telephone,
       word passed through the community as to the location of the next house dance and folks just showed up for an evening
       of  socializing  and  dancing.  These  parties  sometimes  went  on  into  the  early  morning  hours.  Music  was  supplied  by
       someone  from  the  area  who  had  musical  ability.  This  need  for  entertainment  made  Jack  and  Millie  Gunn  a  popular
       couple. With Jack on his fiddle and Millie at the piano or organ, the evening was sure to be a success!



       Bob McCoy, then a Madoc Township resident
       and later a shop keeper in the village, recalled
       those times, “Jack and Amelia Gunn provided
       the entertainment. Dances occurred every 2-3
       weeks  and  ended  in  spring  when  good
       weather took people outside. The gang would
       pass a hat for the Gunns and they might walk
       away with three dollars for the night!” Another
       old-timer claimed, “They would dance to the
       fiddling  and  calling  of  Jack  Gunn.  He  could
       carry on for hours, well into the morning.”

       Jack  and  Amelia  remained  in  the  rambling,
       unpainted  farmhouse  in  which  Millie  was
       born, until 1953, when they both passed away.
       Along  with  their  son,  Percy,  the  Gunns  are
       buried in Hazzard's Cemetery. It is interesting
       to  note  that,  while  the  Gunn  family  is  long-
       gone  from  the  community,  a  great-grandson
       cherishes his roots and, along with his family,
       regularly  attends  Hazzard's  Corners  Church
       summer and Christmas services.
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