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FROM THE SCRAPBOOK

The Glendinning Family of Harvey, 1862

by Rev. Dr. William Randall

Reprinted from The Harvey Lionews January, 1999

 

        The snowy days of early January are great times to read old Scrapbooks. Alberta Murphy (Mrs. Art Murphy) recently loaned me another Scrapbook. There are many families names which no longer exist in the Harvey telephone directory, yet their family stories still evoke memories. This time it's the family name Glendenning.

 

In 1868 David Glendenning was appointed postmaster in Harvey. He had come to Harvey as its first licensed school teacher in 1862. He came from Galloway, Kent County. In May of 1898 David retired as postmaster and his daughter Mina M. Glendenning became the post mistress, a position she held for 40 years. That post office was located in the building owned by Floyd Thompson and is probably a part of Benny King's apartment.

 

The Glendennings built that building and named it The Lakeview Hotel. It catered to overnight travelers or summer vacationists. In the obituary of John Andrew Glendenning a reference is made to "the summer cottage at Harvey Lake". This was a cottage, or camp, which was situated just west of Ernest and Muriel Swan's. It was torn down and a new house was built by Phillip Roberts of Fort Fairfield, Maine who is a descendant of the Atchesons.

 

Mina Glendenning died at home alone in the building, which she owned, now owned by Dora and Hugh Boudreau. Neighbors had noticed that she had not been about and they needed a ladder to get into the house. Mina was buried in the Harvey Community Cemetery and a Memorial window is in the Knox Presbyterian Church just above the door that leads from the Sanctuary out to the Sunday School classrooms. Mina was a strong personality and is remembered for the firmness of her discipline with children. Her mother was Jane Robison Atcheson, sister to the earliest Robison settlers. The name Atcheson is no longer here. Mina Glendenning had one brother, John Andrew, and I will include here a bit of his biography essentially because the death and funeral articles appearing in the newspaper of that time mention many fondly remembered family names.

 

Harvey Station, N.B. March 7 - a period of seventy years of continuous service by two members of the Glendenning family was ended this month when Miss Mina M. Glendenning relinquished the position of Post-mistress here. In 1868 David Glendenning was appointed Postmaster, a position which he held until he resigned in 1898. Mr. Glendenning, who was a graduate of the Provincial Normal School, Saint John, class of 1862, came direct from Galloway, Kent County, by stage and was the first licensed schoolteacher at Harvey. He represented this parish in the Municipal Council for a number of years and was the Warden of the County on different occasions. He was in the official delegation to meet the Marquis of Lorne, Governor-General, on arrival in Fredericton. He was succeeded by his daughter, Miss Mina M. Glendenning, a graduate of Provincial Normal School, class 1892, who has carried on efficiently and has been a faithful official of the postal service until her resignation. Miss Glendenning is widely known as a faithful official of this service and for forty years has carried on this important work. As proof of her close application to her official duties it can be stated that during her entire incumbency Miss Glendenning had but five weeks' vacation.

 

In recognition of her services as a public official Miss Glendenning in May, 1935, was presented with His Majesty's Silver Jubilee Medal in recognition of long and faithful service. Due to ill health, in October last Miss Glendenning tendered her resignation to the Department of the Postmaster General, but with some assistance carried on to March 1st, when her successor Coun. Frank Coburn took over the duties as Postmaster. Miss Glendenning, the retired Postmistress plans to take a well earned rest and vacation and will visit friends and relatives in Maine, Massachusetts and California. Good wishes of the people of this community will follow her.

 

Railroad Official Retires: May 1938

J.A. Glendenning, who started his railroad career with the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1891 and who since that time saw service with the Bangor and Aroostook and the Boston and Maine Central, was in Fredericton today with David Taylor, of San Antonio, Texas, who is at his summer home at Harvey. Mr. Glendenning was for 37 years with the Boston and Maine Central, the last 17 years being officer in charge of freight traffic at the South Station in Boston. On May 1st he retired and with Mrs. Glendenning will spend   the summer at his old home in Harvey, where he built a summer cottage eight years ago. Old friends at Harvey, and in Fredericton, too, are welcoming Mr. and Mrs. Glendenning back for the summer. In the autumn they will return to West Medford, Mass., where they have made their home for agreat many years.

 

Harvey, N.B., Oct. 5 - John Andrew Glendenning, only son of the late David and Jane (Atcheson) Glendenning of this place, passed away at his summer home at Harvey Lake, yesterday afternoon following a severe heart attack. The previous evening he and Mrs. Glendenning attended an entertainment held in Taylor Memorial Hall. On their return home he complained of dizziness. Dr. Travis Dougan was hastily summoned but medical aid proved unavailing, and he gradually grew worse, the end coming about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. His sudden passing has caused deep sorrow throughout the community, where he was well known and very highly regarded.

 

Mr. Glendenning, who was 66 years of age, started his railroad career with the C.P.R. in 1891, as a telegraph operator, following which he saw service with the Bangor and Aroostook, and the Boston and Maine central, being with the latter railroad company for 37 years. For the past 17 years he was officer in charge of freight traffic at the South Station, Boston, Mass. On May 1st of this year he retired, and with Mrs. Glendenning came to spend the summer at their cottage at Harvey Lake, planning to return to West Medford, Mass. to spend the winter. In July of this year they observed their 40th wedding anniversary. Mr. Glendenning is survived by his wife, formerly Miss Nell McMurray of Lake George, N.B.; one daughter, Mrs. J.R. Dixon Cottingham, of Regina, Saskatchewan; one son, Donald F., of Boston; two sisters, Mrs. Guy Meldrim, of Los Angeles, California, and Miss Mina M. Glendenning at present a patient in Victoria Hospital, Fredericton; two granddaughters and three grandsons. Another sister, Mrs. W.G. Chamberlain, of Fort Fairfield, Me., passed away a few years ago.

 

LATE J.A. GLENDENNING

Harvey Station, Oct. 7 - The funeral of the late John. A. Glendenning, who passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 4th, following a brief illness, was held yesterday afternoon with prayers at the home followed by an impressive service in St. James' United Church conducted by the pastor, Rev. Alex. MacKay, assisted by Rev. J.F. MacKay of St. Paul's United Church, McAdam. A mixed quartette, Miss Elda Robison, Miss Gladys Cleghorn, Gilbert G. Robison and G. Wesley Coburn, rendered Lead, Kindly Light, and Abide With Me, while Purdy Cougle sang as a solo Beyond the Dawn. Mrs. Roy Coburn was organist. Mr. MacKay spoke from the verse "boast not thyself of to-morrow." Both clergymen referred to the fine Christian character of the deceased, his cheerful, friendly ways which not only made him many friends but also kept them.

 

Ashlar Lodge No. 36 F. & A. M., was represented by sixteen members who marched in a body from the house to the church and formed a guard of honor through which the casket was borne to the grave by six of their number. Dr. B.H. Dougan, James A. Murray, U.V. Caulfield, Leonard J. Gay, Oswald J. Coburn and Purdy M. Cougle, Mr. Glendenning having been a member of Sagamore Lodge, West Medford, Mass. The impressive Masonic ritual was carried out at the grave with Past Master W.J. Gaynor, McAdam, acting as Worshipful Master, and Rev, J.F. MacKay, McAdam, as chaplain. The benediction was pronounced by Rev. Alex. MacKay. Burial was made in the family lot at Manners Sutton where a profusion of beautiful floral tributes covered the grave.

 

   Those attending from outside points were Donald F. Glendenning, West Medford, Mass., Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Roberts, Dr. W.G. Chamberlain and Miss Dolly Chamberlain, of Fort Fairfield, Me., Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Atcheson, Houlton, Me., J. Harold McMurray, Fredericton, Miss Jessie McMurray, McAdam, Mrs. George Upham Woodstock N.B., Miss Emily McMurray and Mr. and Mrs. Guy McMurray of...      (words lost)

 

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