Chapter 13: Henry Shannon and Rachel Blenkin
Henry Shannon and Rachel Blenkin were married on September 20, 1878 in Owen Sound, Ontario. Henry was almost age 30, and he had
lived on the Shannon farm at French Bay for 16 years. Rachel was age 18, and she had lived on the nearby Blenkin farm for about 10
years.
At the time of the wedding Rachel had 8 younger brothers and sisters, 7 of whom were still living at home. Her sister Nan had married in 1876, two months before her 15th birthday. It is fair to assume that Rachel was ready to leave home.
Henry, on the other hand, did not have to leave home. He was the oldest son, and GMGS tells us that he ‘inherited’ the family farm. He built a new house for himself and Rachel, and his parents stayed in the original log house. Within 2 years his siblings Louisa and Frederick Jr. had both married, and Edward had died. At about the same time John moved to Southampton to become a carriage maker. It did not take long for the original Shannon family to disperse, and for the family farm to become the Henry Shannon farm.
Henry and Rachel had a daughter named Mary Shannon, who was born on July 12, 1879. Sadly, Mary died of inflammatory croup when she was 2 years old. She is buried in a tiny cemetery on the next farm, with 7 other young children who also died of childhood diseases at between 1864 and 1882. All of the children had different surnames. It must have been a pioneer children’s cemetery.
During the next 12 years, Henry and Rachel had 5 more children, all born at home. William John was born in 1881, Annie Amelia in 1883, Thomas Henry in 1885, and Ida in 1888. They had a family photo taken in about 1891. Their last child Clara was born in 1893, so she is missing from the photo.
At the time of the wedding Rachel had 8 younger brothers and sisters, 7 of whom were still living at home. Her sister Nan had married in 1876, two months before her 15th birthday. It is fair to assume that Rachel was ready to leave home.
Henry, on the other hand, did not have to leave home. He was the oldest son, and GMGS tells us that he ‘inherited’ the family farm. He built a new house for himself and Rachel, and his parents stayed in the original log house. Within 2 years his siblings Louisa and Frederick Jr. had both married, and Edward had died. At about the same time John moved to Southampton to become a carriage maker. It did not take long for the original Shannon family to disperse, and for the family farm to become the Henry Shannon farm.
Henry and Rachel had a daughter named Mary Shannon, who was born on July 12, 1879. Sadly, Mary died of inflammatory croup when she was 2 years old. She is buried in a tiny cemetery on the next farm, with 7 other young children who also died of childhood diseases at between 1864 and 1882. All of the children had different surnames. It must have been a pioneer children’s cemetery.
During the next 12 years, Henry and Rachel had 5 more children, all born at home. William John was born in 1881, Annie Amelia in 1883, Thomas Henry in 1885, and Ida in 1888. They had a family photo taken in about 1891. Their last child Clara was born in 1893, so she is missing from the photo.
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The Henry Shannon Family in 1891
This photo was taken shortly after Rachel’s parents, Thomas and Hannah Ruth Blenkin, had moved to Saskatchewan with several of Rachel’s
brothers and sisters. Rachel’s sister Nan had gone on ahead, and others moved a little later, but within 10 years all of the
Blenkins except Rachel had moved to the Sintaluta area. There must have been some sad farewells, and probably a few suggestions
that Henry and Rachel move west as well.
The photo below, taken in about 1900, shows all of the Shannon family members, and two neighbours, in the lane to the Shannon farm. Annie Shannon was 17 in 1900. Four years later she was to be unexpectedly reunited with her grandparents and her aunts in Saskatchewan.
The photo below, taken in about 1900, shows all of the Shannon family members, and two neighbours, in the lane to the Shannon farm. Annie Shannon was 17 in 1900. Four years later she was to be unexpectedly reunited with her grandparents and her aunts in Saskatchewan.
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The Henry Shannon Farm in 1900
In addition to running the family farm, Henry Shannon served as the Postmaster at French Bay for 36 years, from November 1, 1881
until rural mail delivery began on March 31, 1918. The Eila Ross notes tell us ‘He went to Allenford once a week by horse and
buggy, or sleigh in the winter, and collected the mail. He sorted it at his big wooden desk with cubbyholes for various papers and
that night there was an open house when all the people dropped in to check for mail. The musical ones would bring their
instruments and along with Ida on the fiddle and Annie on the piano, they would spend the evening singing and playing.’
Music was always very important to the Shannon family. As noted above, Annie played the piano and Ida played the fiddle. The Shannons had the first gramophone (cylindrical) in the community, and the first hand organ. The hand organ had been brought from Germany by the family. It came with paper rolls of music, which were fed through the machine. Henry replaced all the original rolls, which had worn out, with rolls he made by gluing German newspapers together and re-punching all the holes by hand.
In later years, Annie became the organist and the choir director at the Park Head church, and Ida played the violin with the symphony orchestra in Regina.
There has always been some confusion about whether the Shannon farm was in French Bay or Skipness. We have chosen to use French Bay in this book even though there never was a village called French Bay. French bay was a Post Office, located in a small room beside the kitchen in Henry Shannon’s house. The nearest village was Skipness, which was where the Shannon family went to school and church. The Shannon farm was in the French Bay postal area and in the Skipness school section. In GMGS, the story of the Shannon family is in the Skipness chapter.
From all we know, these 20 years were good years for the Shannon family. Henry Shannon was a successful farmer, in spite of working on stony land. The youngest child Clara was mentally handicapped as a result of problems that occurred during birth, but she was well cared for and very much part of the family. However, there was never much money. Henry had deposited all of his money in a ‘Farmer’s Bank’. At some point the Bank went under and he lost everything he had saved. This resulted in money being very scarce, but the farm provided most necessities.
When the 1901 Census was taken Annie was age 17 and was corresponding regularly with Harry Ross, who had been a neighbour and was now living in South Africa. Rachel had been in poor health for some time, but dark clouds were not yet visible on the horizon.
1901 Census of Canada – Enumerated 31 Mar 1901
One month after the 1901 Census, Rachel took a sudden turn for the worse. She died of tuberculosis on April 30, 1901, at the age of 41. Henry was 52 at the time. They had been married for 22 years.
Rachel Shannon is buried in Zion Cemetery. The inscription on her gravestone reads:
A faithful friend & mother dear
A tender parent lieth here
Great is the loss we here sustain
But hope in heaven to meet again
When Rachel died, Annie Shannon was 17. Annie took over her mother’s responsibilities running the farm and taking care of the
younger children. Tom was 15, Ida was 13, and Clara was 8.
William John Shannon was always called John by his sister Annie, so we will use the name John in this book. When his mother died, John Shannon was age 20. At about this time he went to work for the Canadian Pacific Railway. We don’t know exactly when he left home, or exactly what he did at CPR. We know he was a member of a railway crew of some kind, and that his work took him at least as far west as Saskatchewan.
Music was always very important to the Shannon family. As noted above, Annie played the piano and Ida played the fiddle. The Shannons had the first gramophone (cylindrical) in the community, and the first hand organ. The hand organ had been brought from Germany by the family. It came with paper rolls of music, which were fed through the machine. Henry replaced all the original rolls, which had worn out, with rolls he made by gluing German newspapers together and re-punching all the holes by hand.
In later years, Annie became the organist and the choir director at the Park Head church, and Ida played the violin with the symphony orchestra in Regina.
There has always been some confusion about whether the Shannon farm was in French Bay or Skipness. We have chosen to use French Bay in this book even though there never was a village called French Bay. French bay was a Post Office, located in a small room beside the kitchen in Henry Shannon’s house. The nearest village was Skipness, which was where the Shannon family went to school and church. The Shannon farm was in the French Bay postal area and in the Skipness school section. In GMGS, the story of the Shannon family is in the Skipness chapter.
From all we know, these 20 years were good years for the Shannon family. Henry Shannon was a successful farmer, in spite of working on stony land. The youngest child Clara was mentally handicapped as a result of problems that occurred during birth, but she was well cared for and very much part of the family. However, there was never much money. Henry had deposited all of his money in a ‘Farmer’s Bank’. At some point the Bank went under and he lost everything he had saved. This resulted in money being very scarce, but the farm provided most necessities.
When the 1901 Census was taken Annie was age 17 and was corresponding regularly with Harry Ross, who had been a neighbour and was now living in South Africa. Rachel had been in poor health for some time, but dark clouds were not yet visible on the horizon.
1901 Census of Canada – Enumerated 31 Mar 1901
| Name | Sex | Date of Birth | Where Born |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Shannon | M | Oct 22, 1848 | Germany |
| Rachel Shannon | F | Feb 21, 1860 | Ontario |
| William J. Shannon | M | Mar 17, 1881 | Ontario |
| Annie A. Shannon | F | Aug 25, 1883 | Ontario |
| Thomas H. Shannon | M | Oct 7, 1885 | Ontario |
| Ida Shannon | F | Jan 8, 1888 | Ontario |
| Clara Shannon | F | July 18, 1893 | Ontario |
One month after the 1901 Census, Rachel took a sudden turn for the worse. She died of tuberculosis on April 30, 1901, at the age of 41. Henry was 52 at the time. They had been married for 22 years.
Rachel Shannon is buried in Zion Cemetery. The inscription on her gravestone reads:
A faithful friend & mother dear
A tender parent lieth here
Great is the loss we here sustain
But hope in heaven to meet again
William John Shannon was always called John by his sister Annie, so we will use the name John in this book. When his mother died, John Shannon was age 20. At about this time he went to work for the Canadian Pacific Railway. We don’t know exactly when he left home, or exactly what he did at CPR. We know he was a member of a railway crew of some kind, and that his work took him at least as far west as Saskatchewan.
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John Shannon and Annie Shannon
Three years after the death of Rachel, the Shannon family suffered another tragedy. Sometime in 1904 John Shannon was knocked off
the top of a train while he was working for CPR, and broke his back. The train had just filled with water and someone had failed
to swing the waterspout back away from the train. It caught John as he was walking along the top of the train.
We believe John was part of a work crew in Saskatchewan and was living at a work camp somewhere near Sintaluta. After the accident he was moved to his Aunt Hannah’s house in Sintaluta where he stayed for three years. Hannah Ruth Blenkin had married Peter Cockriell and moved to Sintaluta in 1890. Her husband had died in 1900, and Hannah had been left to bring up their 3 children. By 1904 they were ages 13, 10, and 8.
After the accident Annie Shannon left right away for the west. She also moved into her Aunt Hannah’s house and nursed her brother John for the next three years. During this interval, Annie joined in with community activities in Sintaluta to the extent of becoming a member of the Sintaluta Ladies Basketball team.
We believe John was part of a work crew in Saskatchewan and was living at a work camp somewhere near Sintaluta. After the accident he was moved to his Aunt Hannah’s house in Sintaluta where he stayed for three years. Hannah Ruth Blenkin had married Peter Cockriell and moved to Sintaluta in 1890. Her husband had died in 1900, and Hannah had been left to bring up their 3 children. By 1904 they were ages 13, 10, and 8.
After the accident Annie Shannon left right away for the west. She also moved into her Aunt Hannah’s house and nursed her brother John for the next three years. During this interval, Annie joined in with community activities in Sintaluta to the extent of becoming a member of the Sintaluta Ladies Basketball team.
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Sintaluta Ladies Basketball Team
As a result of the accident John Shannon was paralysed from the waist down. He sat in a wheel chair with a caned back and seat,
and did wood carvings to help pass the time. He was particularly adept at making wooden chains, which he carved from single long
pieces of wood. For the rest of her life Annie Shannon kept several of these chains on display in her living room at Park Head.
Sadly, they were lost when the house burned down in 1955 (Chapter 14). One of John’s carved chains survives to this day, on
display in the home of Annie’s daughter Eila, who is age 95 as this is being written.
Also about 3 years after the death of Rachel Shannon, Henry Shannon married for a second time. His new wife was Louisa Otterbein. They were married in Mount Forest, Ontario, in 1904. In later years ‘Grandma Lou’ would be much loved by her favorite granddaughter Eila.
‘I believe it was a more or less an arranged marriage. Louisa was from Port Huron, Michigan and was the cousin of a neighbour. We called her Grandma Lou and she was the most caring wife to Grandpa, mother to Clara, and grandmother to us. When I spent several weeks each summer at the farm, I knew I was going to have all my favourite foods.’
Also about 3 years after the death of Rachel Shannon, Henry Shannon married for a second time. His new wife was Louisa Otterbein. They were married in Mount Forest, Ontario, in 1904. In later years ‘Grandma Lou’ would be much loved by her favorite granddaughter Eila.
‘I believe it was a more or less an arranged marriage. Louisa was from Port Huron, Michigan and was the cousin of a neighbour. We called her Grandma Lou and she was the most caring wife to Grandpa, mother to Clara, and grandmother to us. When I spent several weeks each summer at the farm, I knew I was going to have all my favourite foods.’
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Henry Shannon and Louisa Otterbein
After 3 years in Sintaluta the CPR arranged for John Shannon to be transported back east, and he came back to French Bay to the Shannon farm, where Annie continued to nurse him until he died a year or so later. John Shannon died on September 25, 1908 at the age of 27. He was buried in Zion Cemetery with his mother Rachel.
After the death of her brother John, Annie Shannon moved back to Sintaluta to live with her aunts and her Blenkin grandparents. She supported herself by opening a dressmaking shop. We don’t know if Annie intended this to be a permanent move or if she just needed a change after the last 7 difficult years. As things turned out, she stayed for less than a year.
Harry Ross had lived on a nearby farm until he moved to South Africa at the end of 1899, when he was age 20 and Annie Shannon was
16. For the past 9 years Harry and Annie had been corresponding regularly. Harry sent Annie small gifts, and Johannesburg
newspapers, as well as letters. Harry had asked Annie to join him in Johannesburg, but Annie had refused to go, perhaps because
she had so many responsibilities in Canada.
Harry Ross returned to Canada in 1909, to marry Annie Shannon. Their story will be told in Chapter 14. For the sake of completeness, brief accounts of the lives of the other members of the Shannon family are included here.
Henry Shannon:
Henry Shannon was almost 61 years old when Annie’s wedding photos were taken in 1909 (Chapter 14). He would live for another 31 years. From what we know, these were good years for Henry and his family.
Henry was a successful farmer, and he gradually eased into retirement on the farm. His grandchildren remember long visits to the farm, at a time when Henry would work a little in the mornings and then take long naps in the afternoons, in the small room beside the kitchen that used to be the French Bay Post Office.
Eila Ross recalls that Henry liked everything to be neat. ‘Grampa kept all his tools in a precise, straight way on or above the bench, and all his implements in the implement shed were parallel to the sides of the shed. When he wasn’t using his Model T Ford with the brass-shelled radiator, it would be put up on blocks in the shed to save the tires. Anything left out in the yard or field had to be straight to the property line, so the farm always looked tidy no matter what was going on.’
(These qualities are exhibited by some of Henry’s descendants even today. They are very useful for aspiring authors attempting to organize large quantities of family history material into neat chapters.)
Harry Ross returned to Canada in 1909, to marry Annie Shannon. Their story will be told in Chapter 14. For the sake of completeness, brief accounts of the lives of the other members of the Shannon family are included here.
Henry Shannon:
Henry Shannon was almost 61 years old when Annie’s wedding photos were taken in 1909 (Chapter 14). He would live for another 31 years. From what we know, these were good years for Henry and his family.
Henry was a successful farmer, and he gradually eased into retirement on the farm. His grandchildren remember long visits to the farm, at a time when Henry would work a little in the mornings and then take long naps in the afternoons, in the small room beside the kitchen that used to be the French Bay Post Office.
Eila Ross recalls that Henry liked everything to be neat. ‘Grampa kept all his tools in a precise, straight way on or above the bench, and all his implements in the implement shed were parallel to the sides of the shed. When he wasn’t using his Model T Ford with the brass-shelled radiator, it would be put up on blocks in the shed to save the tires. Anything left out in the yard or field had to be straight to the property line, so the farm always looked tidy no matter what was going on.’
(These qualities are exhibited by some of Henry’s descendants even today. They are very useful for aspiring authors attempting to organize large quantities of family history material into neat chapters.)
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Four Generations in 1938
Henry Shannon died on July 19, 1941 at the age of almost 93. He is buried in the family grave in Zion Cemetery.
Louisa Otterbein:
Louisa Otterbein and Henry Shannon were married in 1904, when Louisa was age 36 and Henry was 56. Louisa was of Pennsylvania Dutch (German) origin, and by all reports she was an ideal second wife for Henry. In addition to caring for the family, she helped in every phase of farming; in the fields, in the sugar bush, in the barn, and in the garden.
One of Louisa’s many domestic skills was making soap. The Eila Ross notes contain a wonderful description of the process.
‘All the soap used in the Shannon household was home made from materials at hand, fat and potash. The fat came from pork, which was a staple meat. The potash came from wood ashes from the kitchen stove. Near the back door was a round tank about 4 or 5 feet high and whenever the ashes were taken out of the stove they were put in this tank along with some water.
When it was time to make the soap, the liquid, now lye or potash, was drained off through a tap at the bottom of the tank. Then the big iron kettle on the tripod came into service. Measured amounts of fat and potash were put into the pot and a fire was started under the kettle.
After several hours of boiling and stirring the soap was finished. The fire was allowed to go out and the soap to set. On top would be about 4” of lovely white soap, which would be cut into bars and used for hands and baths. Below was about 2” of light brown liquid soap called soft soap. This was put in a bowl beside the wash basin in the woodshed for the workmen to get the real grime off. Below the soft soap was about 1/2” of glycerin. This was mixed with rosewater (the only purchased item) to use as a hand lotion to repair the damage done by the soap.’
In spite of all her domestic duties, Louisa found time to go for rides in the Model T Ford with her stepdaughter Ida.
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Ida and Louisa Shannon in the Model T Ford
Louisa and Henry were married for 37 years, until Henry died in 1941. Henry’s daughters quickly accepted Louisa, and she became a
mother to Clara, who was slightly retarded. Louisa cared for Clara for 43 years, until Louisa died in 1947. Louisa is buried in
the family grave in Zion Cemetery.
Thomas Shannon:
After the death of his brother John, Tom Shannon became the eldest son of Henry Shannon, and presumably would have inherited the farm some day. Instead, Tom heeded the call of the west and moved to Saskatchewan in 1909. He was age 23, and unmarried. The Eila Ross notes suggest that Tom had difficulty accepting Henry’s second marriage to Louisa. It was time to leave home.
On April 9, 1912 Tom Shannon married Jennie May Coleman in Morse, Saskatchewan. Tom and May settled in the area of Saskatchewan near Hazenmore, which is about 240 miles west of Sintaluta. Since Tom had arrived in Saskatchewan 20 years after the Blenkins, the new land was probably only available further west.
Thomas Shannon:
After the death of his brother John, Tom Shannon became the eldest son of Henry Shannon, and presumably would have inherited the farm some day. Instead, Tom heeded the call of the west and moved to Saskatchewan in 1909. He was age 23, and unmarried. The Eila Ross notes suggest that Tom had difficulty accepting Henry’s second marriage to Louisa. It was time to leave home.
On April 9, 1912 Tom Shannon married Jennie May Coleman in Morse, Saskatchewan. Tom and May settled in the area of Saskatchewan near Hazenmore, which is about 240 miles west of Sintaluta. Since Tom had arrived in Saskatchewan 20 years after the Blenkins, the new land was probably only available further west.
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Tom and May Shannon in 1912
Tom and May Shannon had a family of 4 children, Mildred, Elden, Maureen, and Lois. Elden’s son Brad married Arlene Le Helloco, who
is very interested in family history. We are very grateful to Arlene for providing many of the photographs used in this chapter,
and also the mysterious photograph of William2 Ross (Chapter 7).
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Tom Shannon Harvesting Scene
Tom Shannon died in Assiniboia, Saskatchewan on January 4, 1963, at the age of 77. May Shannon had died 2 years earlier, in 1961.
It would have been one of their children who wrote the words ‘Will Ross – Aunt Annie’s father-in-law’ on the back of the
mysterious photograph.
Ida Shannon:
Ida Shannon did not get married until 1935, when she was age 47. During the years before she married, Ida led an active and ‘modern’ life. The term ‘women’s liberation’ had not been coined yet, but it would have applied.
When Ida first left home she lived in Southampton, where she worked as a typesetter for the local paper. She was living in Southampton at the time of the 1911 Census.
Subsequently, she lived back on the farm at French Bay, moved west to Sintaluta and stayed with relatives, and then moved to Regina where she worked for the Regina newspaper, again as a typesetter. She was very active during these years and played violin with the Regina symphony.
Ida then decided to move back to Ontario and settled in Owen Sound where she worked for the Sun Times. While there, the newspaper bought a new ‘Linotype’ machine. It was one of the only Linotype machines outside of the major cities, and Ida was trained to operate it. Ida became one of the first Linotype operators in Canada and perhaps the first woman operator. She was also a proofreader with the Sun Times.
Ida Shannon:
Ida Shannon did not get married until 1935, when she was age 47. During the years before she married, Ida led an active and ‘modern’ life. The term ‘women’s liberation’ had not been coined yet, but it would have applied.
When Ida first left home she lived in Southampton, where she worked as a typesetter for the local paper. She was living in Southampton at the time of the 1911 Census.
Subsequently, she lived back on the farm at French Bay, moved west to Sintaluta and stayed with relatives, and then moved to Regina where she worked for the Regina newspaper, again as a typesetter. She was very active during these years and played violin with the Regina symphony.
Ida then decided to move back to Ontario and settled in Owen Sound where she worked for the Sun Times. While there, the newspaper bought a new ‘Linotype’ machine. It was one of the only Linotype machines outside of the major cities, and Ida was trained to operate it. Ida became one of the first Linotype operators in Canada and perhaps the first woman operator. She was also a proofreader with the Sun Times.
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Ida Shannon at the Owen Sound Sun Times
Ida was still living in Owen Sound when her niece Eila Ross attended High School in Owen Sound in 1930. At some point she decided
to move back to Regina, where she again worked as a typesetter. In 1935 she married her cousin Arthur Hannah, in Sintaluta. There
had been talk of marriage much earlier, but the close family relationship had prevented it.
Eila Ross remembers that Ida always came back to visit Park Head and French Bay with suitcases full of all the modern fashions. Her dresses, hats and shoes were right ‘up to date’, and she was also always up to date on the latest hair fashions. She looked elegant. In later years the movie ‘Auntie Mame’ brought back memories of Ida’s visits with the overflowing suitcases.
Ida was also an accomplished photographer and finished all her own prints in her darkroom. There is a large collection of Shannon family photographs, and we believe many of them are Ida’s work.
After their marriage, Ida and Art Hannah lived in Sintaluta, Saskatchewan. Art Hannah died in 1960, and Ida in 1964.
Clara Shannon:
Clara Shannon had been born prematurely and was laid aside for dead. A neighbour noticed a sign of life and revived her, but she had suffered oxygen deprivation and was mentally handicapped as a result.
This handicap was sufficient that Clara required care throughout her life, but it was not severe. I remember playing very competitive games of checkers with Clara at Park Head when I was young. She was not quite as good at checkers as Harry Ross, or Bruce Ross, or I was, but could beat any of us if we were not careful. As a result we were usually pretty careful, because games of checkers were played on the kitchen table in front of an audience of other family members.
Clara lived at home on the farm until Henry Shannon died in 1941, and then with Louisa Shannon in Hepworth until 1947. After Louisa died, Clara lived alternately with her sister Annie in Park Head and with her sister Ida in Sintaluta.
After Annie died Clara moved to the Bruce County Retirement Home in Walkerton, Ontario, where she died in 1965 at the age of 72. She is buried in the Shannon family grave in Zion Cemetery.
Eila Ross remembers that Ida always came back to visit Park Head and French Bay with suitcases full of all the modern fashions. Her dresses, hats and shoes were right ‘up to date’, and she was also always up to date on the latest hair fashions. She looked elegant. In later years the movie ‘Auntie Mame’ brought back memories of Ida’s visits with the overflowing suitcases.
Ida was also an accomplished photographer and finished all her own prints in her darkroom. There is a large collection of Shannon family photographs, and we believe many of them are Ida’s work.
After their marriage, Ida and Art Hannah lived in Sintaluta, Saskatchewan. Art Hannah died in 1960, and Ida in 1964.
Clara Shannon:
Clara Shannon had been born prematurely and was laid aside for dead. A neighbour noticed a sign of life and revived her, but she had suffered oxygen deprivation and was mentally handicapped as a result.
This handicap was sufficient that Clara required care throughout her life, but it was not severe. I remember playing very competitive games of checkers with Clara at Park Head when I was young. She was not quite as good at checkers as Harry Ross, or Bruce Ross, or I was, but could beat any of us if we were not careful. As a result we were usually pretty careful, because games of checkers were played on the kitchen table in front of an audience of other family members.
Clara lived at home on the farm until Henry Shannon died in 1941, and then with Louisa Shannon in Hepworth until 1947. After Louisa died, Clara lived alternately with her sister Annie in Park Head and with her sister Ida in Sintaluta.
After Annie died Clara moved to the Bruce County Retirement Home in Walkerton, Ontario, where she died in 1965 at the age of 72. She is buried in the Shannon family grave in Zion Cemetery.
Descendants of Henry Shannon and Rachel Blenkin