| 1. | John Laskey Aunger (son of Richard Aunger and Jael Jane Bastard). Other Events and Attributes:
- _UID: 6ACF21A37A7F42EEA890CEF0E2070B6070BC
Notes:
(Research):?i?John Laskey Aunger ?/i?
John Laskey Aunger worked in the tin mines at Land's End, Cornwall, England, from the age of 12 years for 12 pence per day. He became skilled with hammer and drill, and by the time he was 16 years of age, many old miners were seeking to employ him for full miner's pay. He worked in the Cornwall mines, St. Ives area, until he was 20.
In 1852, he emigrated to Canada. He sought out his aunt and uncle, Edward and Mary Jane Stanbury in Northumberland County, Ontario, and then married their daughter, Catherine, his first cousin in 1855.
He went to work in the Lake Superior Copper Mines, Minnesota Mines, Ontonagan County, Michigan after Edwin was born in Seymour Township. The second child, Edward, was born in Michigan, as were the third and fourth children, Mary Jane and John Albert. His next three children , Emeline, Victoria and Bethelda, were born back in Ontario, after which his wife died on June 27, 1870. However, by the first of November of that year, he had married his niece, Mary Jane Merriam, who had promised her aunt she would take care of her children. Together, John and Mary Jane went on to have five more children.
Ruth Tierney writes:
In 1865 the Marmora Foundry Company re-acquired the mine but permitted operations to remain idle for a further two years. The whole structure of the iron business in Canada and in particular Hastings County, began to crumble. Presumably financing was still the number one difficulty, for it was once again virtually impossible to find reliable investors who were willing to take the tremendous gamble. However, in the autumn of 1866, the importance of the iron deposit at Blairton was brought to the attention of some wealthy American businessmen interested in the iron trade. After testing the area, they offered to take part in a purchase of the lands resulting in the formation of the Cobourg, Peterborough, Marmora Railroad and Mining Company. This joint venture became effective the following year. The total capital raised amounted to better than half a million dollars. Americans from Pittsburg invested four hundred and thirty thousand, and Edward Burstall of Quebec offered to raise about seventy thousand. The new company began operating in the Spring of 1867.
John Laskey Aunger of Marmora was hired to fill the important position of overseer and bookkeeper at the mine in its first year of operation under the name of the C.P.M. Railroad and Mining Company. His job entailed finding a sufficient number of men to provide two regular shifts and remain on call when not on duty. John's grandson Robert resided until recentlyon the family farm located between Blairton and Marmora.
Back in 1867, the year of the mine re-opening, an unidentified news reporter wrote, "Some idea of the amount of work being done at the Marmora iron mine may be formed from the fact that the sound of blasting can be heard at both Eldorado and Madoc, a distance of about twenty five miles or so. Two kegs of powder are used each day and four forges are kept busy just sharpening drill bits. "
The article went on, "Each drill penetrates a foot before it becomes dull enough to require honing, while in the contrast of mining gold, the bit can drill only two or three inches before returning to the forge. Development has been rapid and Marmora, the village whose destiny is inextricably forged with iron, may yet attain to some importance".
John married Catherine Stanbury about 1855. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Children:
- Edwin Aunger was born in Seymour Twp, Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada.
- Edward Aunger was born in Ontonagon County, Michigan, United States.
- John Albert Aunger was born in Ontonagon County, Michigan, United States.
- Emeline Aunger
- Victoria Aunger
- Bethelda Aunger
- Mary Jane Aunger was born on 18 Apr 1860 in Ontonagon County, Michigan, United States; died on 24 Apr 1921 in Kirksville, Adair County, Missouri, United States; was buried in Moose Jaw City Cemetery, Moose Jaw Census Division, Saskatchewan, Canada.
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