Another Weatherald Connection: Yours Truly, J. C. West, 1910s

While there isn't a photographer's imprint or place name provided on this photograph, we do have the subject's signature on the front, which reads, "Yours truly, J. C. West."  Normally, I wouldn't hold out much hope of figuring out who this individual was because of the fairly common surname, and the lack of a given name.  But provenance is everything with a photo like this.

I found Mr. West (and several other pictures of him) with a grouping of photographs that I've already blogged about:  Miss Maud Weatherald, and the Marwoods.  On a hunch I searched for a link between the Weatherald family and the West family and found one.  Maud Weatherald's sister, Edith Marion Weatherald (b. abt. 1868) married a man named John Charles West on the 19th of June 1918 in Hamilton Co, Wentworth, Ontario.  The marriage record tells us that John West was a widower, and 47 years old at the time of the marriage.  Edith was 50.  John's parents are listed as John West and Jeannette Anderson and he is said to have been born at "St. George."  His occupation is "traveler."

I located John's first marriage in the Ontario Marriages database on Ancestry.  His first wife's name was Ella Christie, born in Smithville, Ontario in 1873, daughter of Robert and Caroline Christie.  John West's occupation at that time is listed as photographer.  He was living in Buffalo, NY at the time, but the marriage took place in St. Catharines, Ontario, Christmas Day, 1895.

Ella and John lived in Buffalo, at least at the time of the 1910 US Federal Census.  John's occupation is listed as "Commercial Traveller, Kodak Co."

At some point between 1911 and 1916 the Wests moved back to Canada.  Ella passed away from heart failure in 1916 in Essex, Ontario.  Her parents are listed as Robt. Christie and Caroline Turney.  J.C. West is the informant.

According to the entry I found in the Ontario Deaths, 1869-1938 database, John Charles West died on 14 July 1936 in Toronto, Ontario, at the age of 65 years.  His birth date is provided:  June 9, 1871 as well as his occupation ,"Demonstrator, Canadian Kodak Co."  These details were provided by his second wife, Mrs. Edith West.  J.C. West was buried in Park Lawn Cemetery, July 16, 1936.

Update (from Facebook) January 4, 2011:   Ontario Genealogy Society, Toronto Branch member Jane MacNamara has tracked down a death notice in the Toronto Daily Star (16 July 1936) that confirms the WEATHERALD connection and tells us a bit more about the WEST family. The notice reads:

WEST - Suddenly, at his residence, 10 Alhambra Ave., Toronto, John C. West, beloved husband of Edith M. Weatherald and brother of Christina, Agnes and Robert West of Paris, Ontario, aged 65 years.
Remains resting in Wm. Speers chapel, 2926 Dundas street (near Keele). Service in the chapel, Thursday, 3 p.m. Interment Park Lawn Cemetery.

Thanks so much, OGS Toronto & Jane MacNamara for tracking down the obituary for us!

2nd UPDATE September 17, 2014:  All of the Weatherald/West/Marwood family photos have been reunited with a direct descendant in Saskatchewan.