Jenny (MacFadden) Jeffrey was born on August 25, 1861 in St. Mary’s, in what is now called Ontario, Canada. St. Mary’s is situated on the Thames River, which, in Jenny’s childhood, cascaded over a series of limestone ledges, providing the power to run the first pioneer mills and giving the community an early nickname: Little Falls. Jenny’s parents were James MacFadden and Catherine McLean. Jenny had 3 sisters and 3 brothers.
When Jenny was 5 years old her family moved to Stratford, Ontario, Canada, which remained her home until she was married in 1887. Little is known about her childhood and young years in Stratford. She met Henry Jeffrey and was married on Wednesday, October 26, 1887, at the age of 26. Henry was 27 on their wedding date. A newspaper announcement (“The Daily Enquirer”) of their wedding reads: “A select party of invited guests assembled at the residence of Mr. James MacFadden, local registrar of the High Court of Justice, Huron Street, this afternoon to witness the marriage of his daughter, Jennie, to Mr. Harry Jeffrey, hardware merchant, St. Catherines, son of the late Hon. Andrew Jeffrey. The wedding took place at 3 o’clock. Rev Thomas McPherson was the officiating clergyman. Miss G. Mothersil was bridesmaid, and Mr. James A. MacFadden, brother of the bride, supported the groom. The bride was attired in seal brown silk. The bride was presented with numerous valuable and useful presents, showing the high esteem in which she was held in this city. The bridal pair left on the 4:10 train for their home in St. Catherines, amid the blessings and good wishes of a host of friends who accompanied them to the station to bid them adieu.” St. Catherines is located very close to the U.S. border with Canada, near Niagara Falls.
Jenny and Henry immigrated to the United States in 1890, and settled in Tonawanda, New York, 20 miles from St. Catherines. Tonawanda is situated on the Niagara River, 6 miles above Niagara Falls. Jenny had her first child, Keith McLean, on September 8, 1890, and her second son, James Leonard, was born August 8, 1895.
They moved to Detroit, Michigan, in 1909 or 1910, where Henry continued working in the hardware business, and his son, Keith, worked alongside him. Keith was to have taken charge of the Pratt & Cady Hardware business in Cleveland, when he had a severe attack of appendicitis, and died shortly thereafter at the age of 21. So Jenny was left with one son, 16 year old James. Five years later, after the outbreak of World War I, James enlisted in the army, and left for France, where he served 2 years in the medical detachment. Jenny volunteered to help in the war effort, and received a commendation from the Detroit chapter of the American Red Cross after the war for “recognition of service faithfully performed in behalf of the nation and her men at arms.”
Jenny and Henry were very active in the Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church in Detroit. It was a church located in a very wealthy neighborhood, built by the Dodge family, of automobile renown. Jenny participated in many of the social functions associated with the church, and was remembered as being a very outgoing and friendly woman. She and Henry eventually left Detroit, primarily to be closer to their only son, and his growing family. They finally settled in Santa Monica, CA, arriving in 1934, and living for years at 943 Ocean Avenue. She died of a very severe intestinal cancer on June 25, 1944.
Jenny’s name at birth was Jane. Her name throughout life was Jenny, and was spelled both “Jenny” and “Jennie”, and she seems to have used both spellings interchangeably. Her death certificate is in the name Jennie Jeffrey, but the last letter she wrote to her husband, Henry, is signed “Lovingly, Jenny”.
Jenny was barely 5 ft. tall, but was remembered by many as being very energetic and full of life.
When Jenny was 5 years old her family moved to Stratford, Ontario, Canada, which remained her home until she was married in 1887. Little is known about her childhood and young years in Stratford. She met Henry Jeffrey and was married on Wednesday, October 26, 1887, at the age of 26. Henry was 27 on their wedding date. A newspaper announcement (“The Daily Enquirer”) of their wedding reads: “A select party of invited guests assembled at the residence of Mr. James MacFadden, local registrar of the High Court of Justice, Huron Street, this afternoon to witness the marriage of his daughter, Jennie, to Mr. Harry Jeffrey, hardware merchant, St. Catherines, son of the late Hon. Andrew Jeffrey. The wedding took place at 3 o’clock. Rev Thomas McPherson was the officiating clergyman. Miss G. Mothersil was bridesmaid, and Mr. James A. MacFadden, brother of the bride, supported the groom. The bride was attired in seal brown silk. The bride was presented with numerous valuable and useful presents, showing the high esteem in which she was held in this city. The bridal pair left on the 4:10 train for their home in St. Catherines, amid the blessings and good wishes of a host of friends who accompanied them to the station to bid them adieu.” St. Catherines is located very close to the U.S. border with Canada, near Niagara Falls.
Jenny and Henry immigrated to the United States in 1890, and settled in Tonawanda, New York, 20 miles from St. Catherines. Tonawanda is situated on the Niagara River, 6 miles above Niagara Falls. Jenny had her first child, Keith McLean, on September 8, 1890, and her second son, James Leonard, was born August 8, 1895.
They moved to Detroit, Michigan, in 1909 or 1910, where Henry continued working in the hardware business, and his son, Keith, worked alongside him. Keith was to have taken charge of the Pratt & Cady Hardware business in Cleveland, when he had a severe attack of appendicitis, and died shortly thereafter at the age of 21. So Jenny was left with one son, 16 year old James. Five years later, after the outbreak of World War I, James enlisted in the army, and left for France, where he served 2 years in the medical detachment. Jenny volunteered to help in the war effort, and received a commendation from the Detroit chapter of the American Red Cross after the war for “recognition of service faithfully performed in behalf of the nation and her men at arms.”
Jenny and Henry were very active in the Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church in Detroit. It was a church located in a very wealthy neighborhood, built by the Dodge family, of automobile renown. Jenny participated in many of the social functions associated with the church, and was remembered as being a very outgoing and friendly woman. She and Henry eventually left Detroit, primarily to be closer to their only son, and his growing family. They finally settled in Santa Monica, CA, arriving in 1934, and living for years at 943 Ocean Avenue. She died of a very severe intestinal cancer on June 25, 1944.
Jenny’s name at birth was Jane. Her name throughout life was Jenny, and was spelled both “Jenny” and “Jennie”, and she seems to have used both spellings interchangeably. Her death certificate is in the name Jennie Jeffrey, but the last letter she wrote to her husband, Henry, is signed “Lovingly, Jenny”.
Jenny was barely 5 ft. tall, but was remembered by many as being very energetic and full of life.
2 comments:
Wonderful dad! I was going to ask about the spelling of her name, so it seems interesting that she changed the spelling of her name quite frequently. Seems like such a fascinating and amusing person. I would have loved to know the woman with whom I shared a name.
thanks dad. you got some good info. how sad that her first son died! and then her next went to the war. that must have been tough for her. wish i could have met her, she looks and sounds like a fun lady!
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