Minnie Electra Augustine, daughter of George and Barbara Augustine, was born Oct. 28, 1874 in the home on Mitchell St., Port Colborne, Ontario. She attended Central School. She was working for some people in the United States of America. She went with them to England. While there she bought gifts for her nephews and nieces. She got me a book which had  pictures of Westminster Abbey.

On June 4, 1904, she married Frank Henry Shisler (b. Nov. 19. 1875, d. Aug. 27, 1947), in the Mennonite Church, Port Colborne. He had lived in Iowa before their marriage.

Frank bought the farm across from the Roman Catholic Cemetery. It was on the lake front, just west of Second Point. His mother lived with them. They had a good garden and sold produce in Port Colborne. She used to drive a horse called Maudy. She really loved that horse. In 1918 or 1919, Frank bought the lot across the street from the planing mill from Alonzo Eugene Augustine. On this he built a fine concrete block home and a concrete block building where he made concrete blocks. After he moved in his new place, he did concrete work such as foundations and basements for houses. He had a good set up. He could get the gravel and sand required from the beach on his farm. He did well until the Depression. He had small mortgages on his farm and house. He could not pay the interest and the  mortgagors foreclosed and seized all this property. They had three daughters, Myrtle Louise, Brenda Alberta and Charlotte Catherine. In July of 1923, Minnie had gall bladder trouble. She was operated on in Wellandra Hospital, St. Catherines. A stone larger than a walnut was removed. Her condition worsened and she died on July 22, 1927 and was buried in Overholt Cemetery.

On May 1, 1927, Frank married Emma A. Dennis (d. Nov. 7, 1952). They lived in Port Colborne until he lost his property. Emma had a small far near Gasline. They moved to this farm and were there until they died. It was on the Buffalo Road. He built a stand on the road. He had a fine raspberry and strawberry patch and a very good garden. He sold his produce in his stand.

In my boyhood days, nothing I liked better than to go to Uncle Frank's for a visit, and run up and down the sand hills. One time he said he had worked with some movers. During the war, Uncle Rash [Horatio Augustine] and Walter Caughell had potato patches on his farm. On his place, potatoes really grew large. His mother had appendicitis, was operated on, but died soon after. Before her death, Lonz [Alonzo] Augustine had purchased Maudy. She used to come over, talk to Maudy and pet her. They really liked each other. When at the farm, Frank purchased a farm wagon with solid wide wheels and tires. This worked well on his sandy roads. He used to put wood shavings on the roads. It pulled easier. They were devoted Mennonites.

© 1970, by William P. Augustine