Annie Matilda Uttley was the fourth and last child of Jonathan Uttley and Matilda Linder. Named after her mother, Annie's middle name is mentioned in the Last Will of her father when he died in 1895 and she included her middle initial of "M." in a newspaper notice after her mother died in 1918.

She was born on 28 February 1869, according to the 1901 Census, in Elmira. She is included in the census of 1871 (Anna, age 2), 1881 (Anny, age 12), 1891 (Annie, age 21) and 1901 (Annie, age 32).

Marriage

From the Ontario Marriage Archive of 1889, reference #012-177, Annie is married to Menno Wilfong:

     Groom:     Menno Wilfong
     Age:       25
     Residence: Doon, Ont
     Born:      Doon, Ont
                bachelor
     Occ:       Laborer
     Parents:   Michael & Mary Wilfong
     Religion:  Lutheran

     Bride:     Annie Uttley
     Age:       20
     Residence: Elmira, Ont
     Born:      Elmira, Ont
                spinster
     Parents:   Jonathan & Matilda Uttley
     Religion:  Methodist

     Witnesses: Dilman Wilfong, Doon, Ont,
                Ellen Uttley, Elmira, Ont
     When:      October 16, 1889, Elmira

Family of Menno Wilfong and Annie Uttley

This family group was taken from a larger picture as the casket of Mrs. Jarvis was lowered into the ground at Union cemetery in Elmira on Friday July 15, 1910. Scribbled on the back of the picture are the words: "Rev Scanlon / L Lecher / Gibb / Levi Stein / Menno Wilfong". The woman and man would be Annie and Menno Wilfong and the girl would be their daughter Myrtle Annette. The identity of the boy holding hands with Menno and the people behind are uncertain.

Family at funeral in Elmira

Death

In the DEATHS column of the K-W Daily Record of Wednesday January 30, 1935, page 17:

WILFONG, Mrs. Menno, Elmira,     Jan. 30, 67 years.

Her obituary is written in the Elmira Signet of January 31, 1935. In the microfilm copy, a corner of the newspaper is folded over part of the headings and first paragraph. It would have read:

OBITUARY ----- Mrs. Menno Wilfong     The death [took place in Elmira at] eight o'clock [Wednesday morning of] Mrs. Menno [Wilfong who had been] in failing health [for __________. Mrs.] Wilfong was a daughter [of the late] Mrs. and Mrs. Jonathan Uttley. She was 67 years of age. Mrs. Wilfong was a member of Wesley United church.     Surviving besides her husband are two sons, Frank of West Toronto and Charles of Long Branch, and two daughters, Mrs. E. Watson of Elmira and Myrtle, on the teaching staff of the Elmira Public School. Two sons and one sister predeceased her.     The funeral will take place from her late home on Church Street, Elmira, tomorrow (Friday) afternoon, with service at the house at two o'clock and interment in the Elmira cemetery. Rev. J. Ure Stewart will have charge of the services.

One week later in the Elmira Signet of February 7, 1935

FUNERAL OF MRS. MENNO WILFONG -----     The funeral of the late Mrs. Menno Wilfong, held last Friday afternoon, was largely attended, many relatives and friends from town and distant points being present to pay their last respects. The services were in charge of the Rev. J. Ure Stewart of Wesley United Church, of which the deceased was a life-long member. He was assisted by the Rev. G. Little of Gale Presbyterian Church. The pall bearers were Bert Stickney, Wm. Honsinger, Samuel Switzer, Edwin Tyack, David Fear and Lemuel Powell, all old friends of the family.     Among those present from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. Archie Wilfong and Mr. and Mrs. Fred. Wilfong of Flint, Mich., Mrs. Mary Parr, Detroit, Mich., Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Wilfong and Miss Doris Wilfong, Doon, Mrs. Otto Schedler, Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Spaetzel, Kitchener, Dillman Wilfong, Waterloo, Mrs. and Mrs. Frank Wilfong, West Toronto and Charles Wilfong, of Long Branch.

Birth

From his obituary, Menno Wilfong was born in Doon, Ontario on October 13, 1862.

Death

In the DEATHS column of the Elmira Signet of February 9, 1950, page 5:

WILFONG, Menno, 42 Church St.,     Elmira, Feb. 6, 87 years.

On page 10 of the same paper is found:

OBITUARY ----- MENNO WILFONG     Menno Wilfong, 87, of 42 Church St., Elmira, died Monday night at K-W Hospital.     Born Oct. 13, 1862 at Doon, he was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Michael Wilfong. He came to Elmira at the age of 21 and worked for Jonathan Uttley, general merchant, until Mr. Uttley died. Mr. Wilfong retired 27 years ago. He was a member of Wesley United Church.     Surviving are two sons, Frank of Toronto, Charles of Long Branch; two daughters, Mrs. Ernest (Tillie) Watson and Myrtle, both of Elmira.     Also surviving are two brothers, Dilmos of Waterloo, Archie of Flint, Mich., a sister, Mrs. Otto Schedler of Kitchener, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.     Two sons predeceased him. His wife, the former Annie Uttley, died in February, 1935.     The funeral service will be held at the Driesinger Funeral Parlor Thursday (today) at 2 p.m. with burial in Elmira Cemetery.     Rev. W. M. B. Metcalfe of Wesley United Church will officiate.

42 Church St West in Elmira

Birth

Myrtle Annette Wilfong, the youngest child of Annie and Menno Wilfong, was born January 25, 1904 in Elmira. The birth was recorded in the Ontario Birth Indexes for 1904, reference #045-413.

Death

The death of Myrtle Annette was reported in the Elmira Signet on April 13, 1966 on page 4:

Obituaries MYRTLE A. WILFONG     Myrtle Annette Wilfong, 62, of 42 Church St, W., died at K-W Hospital Tuesday following a brief illness.     Miss Wilfong was born at Elmira Jan. 25, 1904, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Menno Wilfong.     She was a former public school teacher, retiring in 1964. She was graduated from Hamilton Normal school and was a member of Wesley United Church.     Surviving are one brother, Frank G. Wilfong. Toronto; one sister, Mrs. E.B. (Tillie) Watson, Elmira, and several nieces and nephews.     Three brothers predeceased her.     The body is at the Dreisinger Funeral Parlor where the funeral service will be conducted in the chapel at 2 p.m. Thursday by Rev. A.L. Evans. Burial will take place in Elmira cemetery.

• This reference locates the Wilfong family house precisely to be at 42 Church St West. The house is still there (see above).
• The 1901 census tells us that Annie and Menno lived beside her widowed mother, Matilda. Their two houses were on a property consisting of four lots, so the house of Jonathan and Matilda was next door.

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Most recent revision August 2011