| Notes |
Marriage Certificate: Huron 1924 #11681-24 William C. MILLER, 27, farmer, Zurich, same, s/o William MILLER & Anna HELD, married Gertrude B. YOUNG, 27, Goderich twp., same, d/o Henry YOUNG & Frances WILD, witnesses: Daniel MILLER of Zurich & Mary WILD of Bayfield, 20 Aug 1924 at Goderich, Huron County, Ontario, Canada.
Clarence Miller and Gertie (Young) Miller adopted and raised Peter Etue from Apr 1942- Dec 1950 as Peter's mother Mary Lillian Wild died 28 Oct 1941 and Peter spent Nov 41 to Apr 42 in St. Joseph's Hospital in London.
Peter was always told that Clarence & Gertie wanted to adopt but Anthony Etue would not agree. What is the real truth.
Peter recalls attending Gertie's funeral at St James RC Church, Seaforth; a huge church with no heat on and the weather was cold Fall day. Interment was in St James Cemetery, Seaforth.
Unfortunately Peter Etue could not attend Clarence's funeral as he had just commenced his Basic Recruit training for the Royal Canadian Navy in HMCS Cornwallis, near Digby, Nova Scotia. Clarence was also interned in St James Cemetery, Seaforth.
Clarence was born in 1896 and Gertrude was born in 1897
Clarence & Gertrude married in 1924...he was 28 and she was 27. They did not have any children of their own.
However Peter came to Clarence & Gertrude farm as their adopted son in April 1942 when Clarence was age 46 and age Gertrude 45. There was a close relationship (friends) between Mary Lillian Wild, Gertrude Young and her mother Frances (Wild) Young.
Gertude died in 13 Oct 1950 at age 53 in the Seaforth Hospital. At that time children 12 and under were not allowed to come into the hospital to visit anyone! The last time Peter saw Gertrude was from outside her second story window at the the Seaforth Hospital.
Anthony Etue & Dorothy were married in 6 Oct 1950. In Dec 1950 Peter age 9 was taken back to his father's house in Goderich. Two stories were told first that Clarence was invited to come to Goderich and pick up Peter in Jan 1951 which he never did. (probably Clarence was told NOT to come to Goderich and pick up Peter). Anthony & Dorothy never took Peter back to Clarence either!
Over the years Peter spent at the Seminary in Delaware Sept 1955 to Jun 1960 he was never able to go back and visit Clarence which is very regrettable for Peter in later life.
It was very cruel way to treat Clarence after losing his wife in 13 Oct 1950 and his adopted son in mid Dec 1950. The "adopted" part was probably not legal... it was a verbal agreement between Anthony and Clarence & Gertrude in 1942 to raise Peter in their home.
The other story circulated was that Children's Aid would have removed Peter from Clarence's care as there had to be a woman in the home with a child.
Clarence died in 02 Nov 1961 at age 65 after Peter had joined the Royal Canadian Navy 19 Oct 1961. Peter could not attend Clarence's funeral. My sister Betty Etue attended his funeral in Seaforth on Peter's behalf. She had a good visit with Clarence's brother Daniel Miller from London.
Clarence Miller & Gertie Young lived at 42364 Front Road nearest cross road Hannah Line. Dwight Adams, Retired OPP, lives at #42364 Front Road, Seaforth, Ontario in 2015.
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Mother | Female
Child 1 | Male