Melville Spratt Fletcher (eighth generation), son of Abisha Benson Fletcher and Mariam Clark Spratt was born on October 27, 1854 in Palermo, Waldo, Maine where his family lived for awhile before they returned to China, ME. He along with his brother Fred attended China Academy and were in the class of 1873. His brother Fred graduated from Colby College in the class of 1882. Both he and his brother eventually followed the footsteps of the five Spratt brothers, William Cowper; Thomas Greenwood; Francis David; Melville Bartlett; and Augustus Nathaniel., all born in China, ME. Their mother, Mariam, was their sister. The Spratt brothers left Maine for Alpena, Michigan in 1866. Melville lived in Alpena several years where he was a lumber scaler-knew all the old lumbermen there. It is not exactly known when but sometime before 1885 he left China, Maine for Alpena. Perhaps he went there in 1883 with his brother Fred. He was previously married to Maria Francis Pollard on 18 April 1885 in Alpena, Alpena, Michigan and they had a daughter Mabel. His brother Fred Nathaniel Fletcher along with their Uncle Augustus Spratt went west to Montana about 1889. Augustus Spratt had invested heavily in placer mining claims from 1890 - 1892 in Lewis County Montana. For a while Melville lived in Ashland, Wisconsin as a lumberman, where he met Lois Cornelia Rhodes, his wife to be. Melville Spratt Fletcher married Lois Cornelia Rhodes on 5 Aug 1903 at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Wausau, Marathon County, Wisconsin., witnessed by his wife's two sisters Elizabeth Kathleen Rhodes, and Mrs. Ella Bessey Cain. In 1903, he was in Comaplix, B.C., a couple of miles down the Upper Arrow Lake from Lardeau City. In 1905, his wife became pregnant and it is said she was in a coma for 6 weeks. His father died 26 Jun 1906 at China, Kennebec, Maine. It is not known when but sometime after the birth of their first child Ralph Rhodes, born October 24, 1904, his wife went home to Wausau, Wisconsin, due to the doctor telling her she should not have any more children. She eventually came back to Comaplix and gave birth to their second child Harold Melville, born on September 23, 1909. Sometime in 1911 there was a fire at the mill so they moved southwest to the northern part of California. It is suspected that during this time he had some contact with his brother Fred who devoted himself to various mining interests in Montana, California and Nevada. On 9 Oct 1911 their first daughter, Helen Elizabeth was born at Mt. Hebron, Siskiyou, California. Then on 23 Jan 1913 their 2nd. daughter, Miriam Emeline was born at McDowell, Siskiyou, California. Sometime in July 1913 they moved back to Canada in the vicinity of Merritt B.C. passing through Huntington, BC. The following year on 5 Apr 1915 their son George Frederick was born at Heffley Creek, B.C. And on 10 Jan 1917 their last child Howard Augustus was born at Kamloops, B.C. When his wife's mother died on 15 Jun 1919, his last known resident was Canford Mills [near Merritt, B.C. It is suspected he was living and working there when the Nicola Pine Mills plant and yard at Canford Mills was completely destroyed by fire on 27 May 1919. Defects in electric wiring deemed responsible for the fire. During the depression of the 1920s, his brother Fred used to send clothing to Melville Spratt Fletcher's family. The depression, lack of money, Indian Reservation, and the awful town of Merritt was detrimental to the upbringing of their 6 children. Lois Cornelia was saddened of the conditions. Sometime in late 20's or the early 30's his wife's sister Martha Binns Rhodes came to live with them and then a few years later her other sister Elizabeth Katherine Rhodes came. In the summer of 1938 he was still living in Merritt, B C at the age of 84. He was well and strong, and in charge of the drying kilns in a lumber mill. In the same year, on 20 Jul 1938 his wife's sister Elizabeth died at Merritt and was cremated in Vancouver, B.C. A headstone was erected for her in Pine Grove Cemetery in Wausau, Marathon,Wisconsin. Mother Fletcher was a very formal person while Dad Fletcher was very kind and jolly. Mother Fletcher never advanced with the times. They never entertained, of course they were old and they had Aunt Martha with them. Dad Fletcher used to go uptown to get Aunt Martha Rhodes her books at the library. Stricken with Parkinson disease she used a music stand to hold her books. They never had a washing machine or an indoor toilet. They had a "parlor" that in those days was for the preacher or formality when people died, they had a horsehair couch [never used] and a fireplace. They ate in the dining room everyday where there was a big heater. They played crib every afternoon and she baked biscuits every night. His wife brushed her teeth 5 times a day, morning, night and after every meal with salt & baking soda. Never had a filling or lost a tooth. Mother Fletcher idolized Dad Fletcher but played war with him for having a cigar and a drink with the manager of the liquor store after going to the library for Aunt Martha. They could not afford to look after themselves anymore and their daughter Miriam moved in to take care of them. Mother Fletcher died first January 20, 1948 and Dad Fletcher followed 2 months later on March 24, 1948. He did not want to live anymore. They are both buried in the Merritt Cemetery. Then 2 month later his wife's sister Martha Binns died 20 May 1948 at Merritt and was buried at Pineridge Cemetery (old section), Merritt, B.C., Canada.
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Masonic Service for "Dad" Fletcher
Wednesday of last week sounded a note of genuine sorrow for many old timers throughout the province in the passing of Melville Spratt Fletcher, affectionately known as "Dad", at his home in Merritt. His death, at the age of 93, follows closely that of his wife, Lois Cornelia, who died last January.
Born in Palermo, Maine, October 27, 1854, he entered the lumber business at an early age and was active in the industry until his retirement ten years ago. He came to B.C. in 1902 as a superintendent and part owner of the Comoplex Sawmill on the Arrow Lakes. When this was wiped out by fire in 1910 he became interested in logging and milling and during the last twenty years of active work operated dry kilns for the Nicola Pine Mills in Merritt.
He was well known for his humor and wit and his genuine humanitarian outlook and was always ready to laugh in the face of adversity. For many years he was a correspondent of Andy Lytle, Sports editor of the Vancouver Sun.
He leaves four sons, Ralph, Castlegar; Harold, Victoria; George, Merritt; Howard, Vancouver; two daughters, Mrs. J. Thorlakson, Vernon; and Mrs. A. Rowbottom, Merritt; also his brother F.N. Fletcher, Berkeley, California. He also leaves 18 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Saturday, March 27; under the auspices of Nicola Lodge 53 AF&AM. R.W. Bro. Carrington acted in the capacity of W.M. and Chaplain and delivered the committal service.
Pallbearers were: W. McCreight, M. Josephson, R.H. Turner, K. Gardner, Art Leese and T. Bevin.
*****************
Masonic Service for "Dad" Fletcher
Wednesday of last week sounded a note of genuine sorrow for many old timers throughout the province in the passing of Melville Spratt Fletcher, affectionately known as "Dad", at his home in Merritt. His death, at the age of 93, follows closely that of his wife, Lois Cornelia, who died last January.
Born in Palermo, Maine, October 27, 1854, he entered the lumber business at an early age and was active in the industry until his retirement ten years ago. He came to B.C. in 1902 as a superintendent and part owner of the Comoplex Sawmill on the Arrow Lakes. When this was wiped out by fire in 1910 he became interested in logging and milling and during the last twenty years of active work operated dry kilns for the Nicola Pine Mills in Merritt.
He was well known for his humor and wit and his genuine humanitarian outlook and was always ready to laugh in the face of adversity. For many years he was a correspondent of Andy Lytle, Sports editor of the Vancouver Sun.
He leaves four sons, Ralph, Castlegar; Harold, Victoria; George, Merritt; Howard, Vancouver; two daughters, Mrs. J. Thorlakson, Vernon; and Mrs. A. Rowbottom, Merritt; also his brother F.N. Fletcher, Berkeley, California. He also leaves 18 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Saturday, March 27; under the auspices of Nicola Lodge 53 AF&AM. R.W. Bro. Carrington acted in the capacity of W.M. and Chaplain and delivered the committal service.
Pallbearers were: W. McCreight, M. Josephson, R.H. Turner, K. Gardner, Art Leese and T. Bevin.
Melville Spratt Fletcher (eighth generation), son of Abisha Benson Fletcher and Mariam Clark Spratt was born on October 27, 1854 in Palermo, Waldo, Maine where his family lived for awhile before they returned to China, ME. He along with his brother Fred attended China Academy and were in the class of 1873. His brother Fred graduated from Colby College in the class of 1882. Both he and his brother eventually followed the footsteps of the five Spratt brothers, William Cowper; Thomas Greenwood; Francis David; Melville Bartlett; and Augustus Nathaniel., all born in China, ME. Their mother, Mariam, was their sister. The Spratt brothers left Maine for Alpena, Michigan in 1866. Melville lived in Alpena several years where he was a lumber scaler-knew all the old lumbermen there. It is not exactly known when but sometime before 1885 he left China, Maine for Alpena. Perhaps he went there in 1883 with his brother Fred. He was previously married to Maria Francis Pollard on 18 April 1885 in Alpena, Alpena, Michigan and they had a daughter Mabel. His brother Fred Nathaniel Fletcher along with their Uncle Augustus Spratt went west to Montana about 1889. Augustus Spratt had invested heavily in placer mining claims from 1890 - 1892 in Lewis County Montana. For a while Melville lived in Ashland, Wisconsin as a lumberman, where he met Lois Cornelia Rhodes, his wife to be. Melville Spratt Fletcher married Lois Cornelia Rhodes on 5 Aug 1903 at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Wausau, Marathon County, Wisconsin., witnessed by his wife's two sisters Elizabeth Kathleen Rhodes, and Mrs. Ella Bessey Cain. In 1903, he was in Comaplix, B.C., a couple of miles down the Upper Arrow Lake from Lardeau City. In 1905, his wife became pregnant and it is said she was in a coma for 6 weeks. His father died 26 Jun 1906 at China, Kennebec, Maine. It is not known when but sometime after the birth of their first child Ralph Rhodes, born October 24, 1904, his wife went home to Wausau, Wisconsin, due to the doctor telling her she should not have any more children. She eventually came back to Comaplix and gave birth to their second child Harold Melville, born on September 23, 1909. Sometime in 1911 there was a fire at the mill so they moved southwest to the northern part of California. It is suspected that during this time he had some contact with his brother Fred who devoted himself to various mining interests in Montana, California and Nevada. On 9 Oct 1911 their first daughter, Helen Elizabeth was born at Mt. Hebron, Siskiyou, California. Then on 23 Jan 1913 their 2nd. daughter, Miriam Emeline was born at McDowell, Siskiyou, California. Sometime in July 1913 they moved back to Canada in the vicinity of Merritt B.C. passing through Huntington, BC. The following year on 5 Apr 1915 their son George Frederick was born at Heffley Creek, B.C. And on 10 Jan 1917 their last child Howard Augustus was born at Kamloops, B.C. When his wife's mother died on 15 Jun 1919, his last known resident was Canford Mills [near Merritt, B.C. It is suspected he was living and working there when the Nicola Pine Mills plant and yard at Canford Mills was completely destroyed by fire on 27 May 1919. Defects in electric wiring deemed responsible for the fire. During the depression of the 1920s, his brother Fred used to send clothing to Melville Spratt Fletcher's family. The depression, lack of money, Indian Reservation, and the awful town of Merritt was detrimental to the upbringing of their 6 children. Lois Cornelia was saddened of the conditions. Sometime in late 20's or the early 30's his wife's sister Martha Binns Rhodes came to live with them and then a few years later her other sister Elizabeth Katherine Rhodes came. In the summer of 1938 he was still living in Merritt, B C at the age of 84. He was well and strong, and in charge of the drying kilns in a lumber mill. In the same year, on 20 Jul 1938 his wife's sister Elizabeth died at Merritt and was cremated in Vancouver, B.C. A headstone was erected for her in Pine Grove Cemetery in Wausau, Marathon,Wisconsin. Mother Fletcher was a very formal person while Dad Fletcher was very kind and jolly. Mother Fletcher never advanced with the times. They never entertained, of course they were old and they had Aunt Martha with them. Dad Fletcher used to go uptown to get Aunt Martha Rhodes her books at the library. Stricken with Parkinson disease she used a music stand to hold her books. They never had a washing machine or an indoor toilet. They had a "parlor" that in those days was for the preacher or formality when people died, they had a horsehair couch [never used] and a fireplace. They ate in the dining room everyday where there was a big heater. They played crib every afternoon and she baked biscuits every night. His wife brushed her teeth 5 times a day, morning, night and after every meal with salt & baking soda. Never had a filling or lost a tooth. Mother Fletcher idolized Dad Fletcher but played war with him for having a cigar and a drink with the manager of the liquor store after going to the library for Aunt Martha. They could not afford to look after themselves anymore and their daughter Miriam moved in to take care of them. Mother Fletcher died first January 20, 1948 and Dad Fletcher followed 2 months later on March 24, 1948. He did not want to live anymore. They are both buried in the Merritt Cemetery. Then 2 month later his wife's sister Martha Binns died 20 May 1948 at Merritt and was buried at Pineridge Cemetery (old section), Merritt, B.C., Canada.
*****************
Masonic Service for "Dad" Fletcher
Wednesday of last week sounded a note of genuine sorrow for many old timers throughout the province in the passing of Melville Spratt Fletcher, affectionately known as "Dad", at his home in Merritt. His death, at the age of 93, follows closely that of his wife, Lois Cornelia, who died last January.
Born in Palermo, Maine, October 27, 1854, he entered the lumber business at an early age and was active in the industry until his retirement ten years ago. He came to B.C. in 1902 as a superintendent and part owner of the Comoplex Sawmill on the Arrow Lakes. When this was wiped out by fire in 1910 he became interested in logging and milling and during the last twenty years of active work operated dry kilns for the Nicola Pine Mills in Merritt.
He was well known for his humor and wit and his genuine humanitarian outlook and was always ready to laugh in the face of adversity. For many years he was a correspondent of Andy Lytle, Sports editor of the Vancouver Sun.
He leaves four sons, Ralph, Castlegar; Harold, Victoria; George, Merritt; Howard, Vancouver; two daughters, Mrs. J. Thorlakson, Vernon; and Mrs. A. Rowbottom, Merritt; also his brother F.N. Fletcher, Berkeley, California. He also leaves 18 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Saturday, March 27; under the auspices of Nicola Lodge 53 AF&AM. R.W. Bro. Carrington acted in the capacity of W.M. and Chaplain and delivered the committal service.
Pallbearers were: W. McCreight, M. Josephson, R.H. Turner, K. Gardner, Art Leese and T. Bevin.
*****************
Masonic Service for "Dad" Fletcher
Wednesday of last week sounded a note of genuine sorrow for many old timers throughout the province in the passing of Melville Spratt Fletcher, affectionately known as "Dad", at his home in Merritt. His death, at the age of 93, follows closely that of his wife, Lois Cornelia, who died last January.
Born in Palermo, Maine, October 27, 1854, he entered the lumber business at an early age and was active in the industry until his retirement ten years ago. He came to B.C. in 1902 as a superintendent and part owner of the Comoplex Sawmill on the Arrow Lakes. When this was wiped out by fire in 1910 he became interested in logging and milling and during the last twenty years of active work operated dry kilns for the Nicola Pine Mills in Merritt.
He was well known for his humor and wit and his genuine humanitarian outlook and was always ready to laugh in the face of adversity. For many years he was a correspondent of Andy Lytle, Sports editor of the Vancouver Sun.
He leaves four sons, Ralph, Castlegar; Harold, Victoria; George, Merritt; Howard, Vancouver; two daughters, Mrs. J. Thorlakson, Vernon; and Mrs. A. Rowbottom, Merritt; also his brother F.N. Fletcher, Berkeley, California. He also leaves 18 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Saturday, March 27; under the auspices of Nicola Lodge 53 AF&AM. R.W. Bro. Carrington acted in the capacity of W.M. and Chaplain and delivered the committal service.
Pallbearers were: W. McCreight, M. Josephson, R.H. Turner, K. Gardner, Art Leese and T. Bevin.
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