Maurice was born in Fayette County, Kentucky, U.S. At 14 years old (1859), the family moved to their existing farm in St. Mary's, Ontario, Canada.
The family started a vegetable farming business which in 1862 became "John F. OTWELL & Son" Cannery located on the family farm. The business boomed over the next 20 years and it maintained a great reputation for quality.
Maurice married Jane ASH (b. 14 Nov 1847 in West Nissouri to William ASH and Anna Maria MARKS) in Perth County 13 Jul 1865. They remained in John F.'s household. Maurice became a travelling salesman for the company.
They had 7 children: William Charles (1868-1906), Edwin James (1871-1920), Mary Ellen HALEY (1873-1939), Edith PAGE (1875-), Ila May MCLEOD-YONNIE (1877-) and Victoria Jane FREISHBEN (1886-1951). Records and family history indicate that John Franklin (b. 1866) was also their child.
In 1871, Maurice was an auctioneer while working in the family business. In 1884, he patented a match-safe; a device to keep matches dry.
Maurice began having epileptic seizures in the 1870s. Since this didn't develop until he was well into his 30s, it was likely a result of a blow to the head or slow growing brain tumor. Epileptic seizures may damage the brain and cause schizophrenia. Research to control seizures was in its infancy. 44 year old Maurice was committed to St. Mary's Lunatic Asylum in April 1889 after attacking his father and setting the house on fire. Medical notes can be obtained from the Canadian Archives.
In the medical records, Maurice was described by Jane as "excentric" and as having been "insane for years". In 1885, he was making speeches in the public square on temperance. He placed a complaint box at the local post office "for the good of the people". He began a letter writing campaign to various newspapers to have his speeches published (these can also be found at the Canadian Archives website). He proposed the "Maurice Act" which opposed the popular temperance act (the "Scott Act"). These activities continued into 1889. Copies of these letters from 1885 and 1889 demonstrate the rapid and tragic downslide in his mental abilities during these few years.
Maurice remained in St. Mary's Asylum until his death in 1915 during a seizure.
The family started a vegetable farming business which in 1862 became "John F. OTWELL & Son" Cannery located on the family farm. The business boomed over the next 20 years and it maintained a great reputation for quality.
Maurice married Jane ASH (b. 14 Nov 1847 in West Nissouri to William ASH and Anna Maria MARKS) in Perth County 13 Jul 1865. They remained in John F.'s household. Maurice became a travelling salesman for the company.
They had 7 children: William Charles (1868-1906), Edwin James (1871-1920), Mary Ellen HALEY (1873-1939), Edith PAGE (1875-), Ila May MCLEOD-YONNIE (1877-) and Victoria Jane FREISHBEN (1886-1951). Records and family history indicate that John Franklin (b. 1866) was also their child.
In 1871, Maurice was an auctioneer while working in the family business. In 1884, he patented a match-safe; a device to keep matches dry.
Maurice began having epileptic seizures in the 1870s. Since this didn't develop until he was well into his 30s, it was likely a result of a blow to the head or slow growing brain tumor. Epileptic seizures may damage the brain and cause schizophrenia. Research to control seizures was in its infancy. 44 year old Maurice was committed to St. Mary's Lunatic Asylum in April 1889 after attacking his father and setting the house on fire. Medical notes can be obtained from the Canadian Archives.
In the medical records, Maurice was described by Jane as "excentric" and as having been "insane for years". In 1885, he was making speeches in the public square on temperance. He placed a complaint box at the local post office "for the good of the people". He began a letter writing campaign to various newspapers to have his speeches published (these can also be found at the Canadian Archives website). He proposed the "Maurice Act" which opposed the popular temperance act (the "Scott Act"). These activities continued into 1889. Copies of these letters from 1885 and 1889 demonstrate the rapid and tragic downslide in his mental abilities during these few years.
Maurice remained in St. Mary's Asylum until his death in 1915 during a seizure.
Maurice was born in Fayette County, Kentucky, U.S. At 14 years old (1859), the family moved to their existing farm in St. Mary's, Ontario, Canada.
The family started a vegetable farming business which in 1862 became "John F. OTWELL & Son" Cannery located on the family farm. The business boomed over the next 20 years and it maintained a great reputation for quality.
Maurice married Jane ASH (b. 14 Nov 1847 in West Nissouri to William ASH and Anna Maria MARKS) in Perth County 13 Jul 1865. They remained in John F.'s household. Maurice became a travelling salesman for the company.
They had 7 children: William Charles (1868-1906), Edwin James (1871-1920), Mary Ellen HALEY (1873-1939), Edith PAGE (1875-), Ila May MCLEOD-YONNIE (1877-) and Victoria Jane FREISHBEN (1886-1951). Records and family history indicate that John Franklin (b. 1866) was also their child.
In 1871, Maurice was an auctioneer while working in the family business. In 1884, he patented a match-safe; a device to keep matches dry.
Maurice began having epileptic seizures in the 1870s. Since this didn't develop until he was well into his 30s, it was likely a result of a blow to the head or slow growing brain tumor. Epileptic seizures may damage the brain and cause schizophrenia. Research to control seizures was in its infancy. 44 year old Maurice was committed to St. Mary's Lunatic Asylum in April 1889 after attacking his father and setting the house on fire. Medical notes can be obtained from the Canadian Archives.
In the medical records, Maurice was described by Jane as "excentric" and as having been "insane for years". In 1885, he was making speeches in the public square on temperance. He placed a complaint box at the local post office "for the good of the people". He began a letter writing campaign to various newspapers to have his speeches published (these can also be found at the Canadian Archives website). He proposed the "Maurice Act" which opposed the popular temperance act (the "Scott Act"). These activities continued into 1889. Copies of these letters from 1885 and 1889 demonstrate the rapid and tragic downslide in his mental abilities during these few years.
Maurice remained in St. Mary's Asylum until his death in 1915 during a seizure.
The family started a vegetable farming business which in 1862 became "John F. OTWELL & Son" Cannery located on the family farm. The business boomed over the next 20 years and it maintained a great reputation for quality.
Maurice married Jane ASH (b. 14 Nov 1847 in West Nissouri to William ASH and Anna Maria MARKS) in Perth County 13 Jul 1865. They remained in John F.'s household. Maurice became a travelling salesman for the company.
They had 7 children: William Charles (1868-1906), Edwin James (1871-1920), Mary Ellen HALEY (1873-1939), Edith PAGE (1875-), Ila May MCLEOD-YONNIE (1877-) and Victoria Jane FREISHBEN (1886-1951). Records and family history indicate that John Franklin (b. 1866) was also their child.
In 1871, Maurice was an auctioneer while working in the family business. In 1884, he patented a match-safe; a device to keep matches dry.
Maurice began having epileptic seizures in the 1870s. Since this didn't develop until he was well into his 30s, it was likely a result of a blow to the head or slow growing brain tumor. Epileptic seizures may damage the brain and cause schizophrenia. Research to control seizures was in its infancy. 44 year old Maurice was committed to St. Mary's Lunatic Asylum in April 1889 after attacking his father and setting the house on fire. Medical notes can be obtained from the Canadian Archives.
In the medical records, Maurice was described by Jane as "excentric" and as having been "insane for years". In 1885, he was making speeches in the public square on temperance. He placed a complaint box at the local post office "for the good of the people". He began a letter writing campaign to various newspapers to have his speeches published (these can also be found at the Canadian Archives website). He proposed the "Maurice Act" which opposed the popular temperance act (the "Scott Act"). These activities continued into 1889. Copies of these letters from 1885 and 1889 demonstrate the rapid and tragic downslide in his mental abilities during these few years.
Maurice remained in St. Mary's Asylum until his death in 1915 during a seizure.
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