Charlie Ballantyne's new Chevrolet Touring car

In the previous blog I posted a photograph taken in 1918 of Charlie and Allie Ballantyne standing proudly in front of their new Dodge Chevrolet Touring car. While I use both names in reference to the car I am sure that the reality was that the car "belonged" to Charlie. Alice never learned to drive and Charlie took complete responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of the vehicle.   Here is a story as told by Gordon McEwan, that speaks to Charlie's relationship with his car.  When the story begins Charlie and Alice had a hired man named Eddie Dietrich who lived in the community. " One day Charlie and Eddie were washing the family car, a very early Dodge.  Cars were objects that were few and far between and therefore, objects of great pride.  Just when they were finished, the car began to back down the grade that led to the garage.  Shouting for Eddie to help, Charlie threw himself behind the car and held while red
spots danced before his eyes.  Before Alice could get out to put on the emergency brake, the car's speed backwards began to increase and the wary Eddie leaped for safety, leaving Charlie the car to himself. Now the car got out of control, Charlie barely got out of its road and he saw the fender of his new purchase buckle against a post. Eddie who had been watching the proceedings at a safe distance now poked his head around the car to ascertain Charlies's position.  Seeing the face of the object whom he considered to be the cause of the happening, Charlie rid himself of some frustration by landing a round house right which sent poor Eddie head over heels down the slope.  "No sooner had I done it," Charlie admitted later, "but I was sorry that I had taken it out on poor Eddie!"
Attached is a copy of Charlie's 1920 motor vehicle permit for the Dodge Chevrolet. In the second photo a group of relatives is standing in front of another car in about the year 1912 (Tom the boy standing in front of his mother was born in 1901). The owner of the car shown in the photograph is uncertain but my guess is that it may have belonged to Charlie's nephew Frank Ballantyne (the fellow on the left holding the camera).

Charlie Ballantyne's 1918 Chevrolet Touring Car

Charlie Ballantyne was married to Gordon's Aunt Alice.  Charlie and Alice who farmed on Lot 21 Concession 3 in Downie Township close to the McEwan farm had no children and they were reputed to be wealthy.  In April 1918 Charlie purchased his first motor vehicle, a Dodge Chevrolet Touring car which he ordered through Kalfleisch Brothers dealership in Stratford.   Built at the Dodge Brothers factory in Detroit, Charlie's new car was to be delivered a month after being ordered. The company offered a 90 day warranty on defective parts.  However, the warranty would only be honoured if the owner prepaid the transportation charges and if the vehicle had not be driven at a "speed exceeding the factory rated speed, or loaded beyond the factory rated load capacity." Furthermore the company offered "no warranty whatever in respect to tires, rims, ignition apparatus, horns or other signaling devices, starting devices, generators, batteries, speedometers, or other trade accessories".  It is not clear how much Charlie paid for his new Chevrolet.  There are two order forms: on the first form the price is listed as $1290.00 plus $20.00 freight charges, whereas on the second order form  (which I have attached) the price appears to be $840.00. There is also a receipt dated May 21, 1918 for the amount of $1267.28 which may have been the final negotiated price. Regardless, I am sure that Charlie was proud of his new purchase and, equally important, the Ballantyne car was much admired in the community. Here is a photograph taken at the Peter Smith farm of Alice and Charlie with their new car.  Underneath the photo Alice has written "Alice and Charlie Ballantyne. Our first car."

David McLean the final letter home

I have discovered that David's family letters are available through the Letters & Images Project located at Vancouver Island University's history department (www.canadianletters.ca). Because we know what is coming there is an increased poignancy to Dave's last letter to Lettie:
 France

April 5th

Dear Lettie

I received your letter dated March 10th tonight. Glad to hear that you were well. I wrote you a few days ago saying I had received the box which you sent away March 8th but I have not received the one you sent March 1st yet. Alex said he was sending a box so I will have it some of these days. I had a letter from Alf Gillam to night so must answer it to night. I was glad to hear that you have every(thing) paid up so you can put what you have over in the bank to see when I came back. We have been having some cold wet and snowy weather but today has been fine and sunny so it looks as if the weather has turned fine. We are out of the trenches at present so thought I would write you a few line before going back again. I did not know until today when Easter Sunday was for I did not think it was so near and this is Good Friday but I don't think I will have any eggs this Easter but hope to make up for it next one. I bought a quart of milk the other night. I drank half of it and I boiled the other half and bought three eggs which I paid six cents each for and boiled them in the milk so made a fine custard but it was rather dear for all the wealth I have but it was the second time I have tasted milk since coming to France. There is very seldom we are where we can buy milk. About the only things we can buy at times is biscuits and chocolate. I may not write a letter to you for some time but will try and send you a field card when I can. Hope you and George are always keeping well. You were asking me what to send in your boxes, well don't go to any expense getting boxes for me but don't send anything that isn't for eating. But I am getting along all right so don't worry about me. I have a few boils in the back of my neck just now to amuse me. I suppose I need some spring medicine. Well I will close this time. Hoping you are well. With lots of love from

Dave

Here is the final letter in the series:

July 6, 1917

Personal

Dear Mrs. McLean,

I desire to express to you my sincere sympathy in the recent decease of your husband, No. 799658 Pte. David McLean.

Who in sacrificing his life at the front in action with the enemy, has rendered the highest services of a worthy citizen.

The heavy loss which you and the Nation have sustained would indeed be dressing were it not redeemed by the knowledge that the brave comrade for whom we mourn performed his duties fearlessly and well as become a good soldier, and gave his life for the great cause of Human Liberty and the defense of the Empire.

Again extending to you in your bereavement my condolence and heartfelt sympathy.

I am

Yours faithfully,

E.A. Kemp

Minister of Militia and Defence for Canada

I have attached two photos of David, his friend Thomas Grant,  and some of their mates taken in France shortly before their deaths.  In the top photo David is sitting in the front row left, his friend Tom is standing immediately behind.  In the second photo Dave is sitting far right. Tom Grant is in the row behind immediately to Dave's right. 

Vimy Ridge - Thomas Grant (friend of David McLean)

In a recent blog I told the story of David McLean who was married to Bob Hearn's cousin Lettie Vanstone. David was killed at Vimy Ridge as he sheltered in a dugout with his friend Tom Grant. The two men, both native born Scots, lived on the same street in Toronto. They had enlisted together, trained together and remained in the same regiment in Europe. They had made a pact that if one was to die the other would write home breaking the news to the widow. In the shell attack that killed David McLean his friend Tom was not seriously injured.  True to his word Tom wrote home to Lettie Mclean telling her of David’s death.   I wondered in the blog how Tom carried on after the death of his friend and whether he survived the war.  I now have discovered that Tom Grant was killed on 15 August 2012 during an attack on Hill 70. I

have attached a newspaper notice of his death and the reverse side of his Record of Service card. Of course there was no one to write home to his widow.  Thomas Pringle Grant's name is inscribed on the Vimy Memorial.

Vimy Ridge Dave McLean Christmas letter 1916

Charlie Ballantyne was married to Gordon's Aunt Alice.  Charlie and Alice who farmed on land close to the McEwan farm had no children and were reputed to be wealthy.  In April 1918 Charlie purchased his first motor vehicle,  a Dodge Chevrolet Touring car which he ordered through Kalfleisch Brothers dealership in Stratford.   Built at the Dodge Brothers factory in Detroit, Charlie's new car was to be delivered a month after being ordered. The company offered a 90 day warranty on defective parts.  However, the warranty would only be honoured if the owner prepaid the transportation charges and if the vehicle had not be driven at a "speed exceeding the factory rated speed, or loaded beyond the factory rated load capacity." Furthermore the company offered "no warranty whatever in respect to tires, rims, ignition apparatus, horns or other signaling devices, starting devices, generators, batteries, speedometers, or other trade accessories".  It is not clear how much Charlie paid for his new Chevrolet.  There are two order forms: on the first form the price is listed as $1290.00 plus $20.00 freight charges, on the second order form, which I have attached, the price appears to be $840.00. Regardless of the final price I am sure that Charlie was proud of his new purchase and, just as importantly, the Ballantyne car was much admired in the community. Here is a picture taken at the Peter Smith farm of Alice and Charlie with their new car.  Underneath the photo Alice has written "Alice and Charlie Ballantyne. Our first car."

Battle of Vimy Ridge - David McLean

Lettie Vanstone was Bob Hearn's first cousin.  Their mothers were sisters, the daughters of Joseph and Sarah Fulcher.  Letta lived on Queen Street in St. Marys across from the present-day hospital. I have no pictures of Lettie but there are a few reports in the local newspaper of her attending a wedding in Forest or communicating with relatives in the United States.  At some point she met and married David McLean who had emigrated, along with his parents and brother, from Scotland.  Lettie and David lived in Toronto where David was a foreman at Dooderham and Worts distillery.  They had one son George. In January 1916, when the first war was well into the heavy slogging phase, David and a friend, who lived on the same street, reported to the Toronto Recruiting Depot and joined the 48^th Highlanders.  In August 1916 “after a period of hard training at Camp Borden, …. [they] completed their final leave and strode down the street together en route for overseas. Each had agreed that should some mishap overtake one of them the other was to advise the family folk with all due speed. …. During Easter week, which will always be remembered in Canadian history because of the gallantry of the Dominion’s representatives at Vimy Ridge, the two comrades, shoulder to shoulder, charged over the parapet and helped to capture the enemy’s trenches. ….. on April 20^th when enjoying a rest in a dug-out a …. shrapnel shell burst near them.  A fragment hit Pte. McLean on the temple and knocked him unconscious.  Other pieces of shrapnel badly wounded him about the legs. …. Fifteen minutes later Pte. McLean passed on, and his friend, true to the promise made, wrote the sad news home.”  (The quotes above have been pieced together from articles in the Evening Telegram 18 May 1917, p. 21 and the St. Marys Journal 24 May 1917, p. 5).

David McLean died almost exactly 100 years ago today on 20 April 2017.  His name appears on the Vimy Memorial. I have no record of how David's wife Lettie or their 10 year-old son George spent the remainder of their lives. Nor do I have any record of whether David’s comrade T. P. Grant from down the street on Eastmount Avenue survived the war.  Attached is a photo of David taken very likely in his back garden on Eastmount Avenue. I have also attached the official Record of Service card recording the death of David McLean.

James Ballantyne MacEwan - prominent business- & sportman

Even a cursory review of references to the name MacEwan in the newspapers of New Zealand spanning the period from the 1890's through to the 1940's will attest to the fact that James Ballantyne MacEwan was a well-know, highly-respected and prosperous businessman and society figure in New Zealand.  In the National Library of New Zealand collection of newspapers there are a total of 16,693 references to the name of MacEwan. While some of those references are for non-family MacEwans and many are advertisements for the MacEwan businesses, there still remain numerous reports of trips, golfing exploits, social activities, business meetings and board memberships.  Several articles involve court disputes over copyright infringements and contract conditions. Obviously, the MacEwan brothers did not shy away from confrontation when they felt it was necessary.
During those years James made several return trips to Canada and to the farm on Black Creek.  We know that he included Canada in his 1890's trip in which he planned to inspect dairy practices in both North America and Europe.  In addition, his son Ian tells that "I was taken to Canada in 1914 when 11 years old to be shown to the family and we went to the old home. I was a year a Upper Canada College, Toronto when the 1914 War started and Father came home at once to see how things developed."  There must have been at least one more trip.  Gordon McEwan who was born in 1914 remembered James this way: "I can recall him sitting on our front porch complete in Homburg hat, pear-grey suit and black, shiny shoes on one of his periodic visits."
One final story by way of  James' son Ian and as recorded by Gordon McEwan:  "On one occasion Jim was called upon to act as a judge at the exhibition for New Zealand-made cheese. After carefully considering the products, Uncle Jim gave two exhibits a tie for first place and then a second and third.  Because of this, the organizers of the exhibit were upset as only three prizes had been provided and they urged Uncle Jim to re-assess his judging and award only a first, second and third prize. Again testing the products, James turned to the committee and stated that they would have to have another judge as he could not find any difference between the two samples he had listed in first position.  Reluctantly they agreed to award four prizes and then, to their amazement they discovered when they opened the exhibition tags that the two first prize samples had been cut from the same cheese. Jim McEwan's reputation as a master judge had been established."
I have attached a newspaper photograph of James in his plus-fours on the first tee at a golf tournament in 1919.

Discipline in Pioneer Schools in Perth County

In a previous blog I proposed that the standard of the teaching in the rural schools of late 19th century Perth County may have been of high quality. As support for my position, I pointed to the written reports submitted to the federal government by James B. MacEwan when he worked for the Dairy Commissioner's Office in Ottawa during the early 1890's. I speculated that it would be unlikely that James would have had any formal education beyond that provided by the teachers in SS # 3 Downie. (To be sure, he likely attended a dairy school but I suspect that those sessions were of very short duration and focussing on the practical aspects of cheese making.)  However, other stories about the quality of the education offered in rural schools are much less positive. Here is a story related to Gordon McEwan by his father Jack who attended the Black Creek school a few  years after his Uncle Jim.  "The children [i.e., Jack and his two older sisters Harriotte and Agnes] went to S. S. No. 3, Downie Township where the mysteries of learning were unfolded to them by varied types of teachers.  One of these was a unique individual by the name of David McNeil who boarded at Goettlers and every morning went to the straw stack to fortify himself with a drink before meeting his scholars.  Another stop at a towering willow shading Black Creek permitted him to enter the portals of learning with a visible incentive.
When McNeil entered the school room and called the class to attention, he staged quite a show in depositing the willow gad in a prominent position.
"That won't last long," John whispered slyly to his friend and cousin, Peter Smith, who acknowledged the remark with a nod and a smile.
"What are you smiling about, Peter!" thundered McNeil happy to have an opportunity to put the class in place.
Afraid of the dictatorial pedagogue, Peter replied, "John said that it wouldn't last too long, sir."
McNeil bared his teeth slightly. "You don't think so, John! come up here!"
Whereupon, the schoolmaster proceeded to smash the willow branch over the back of the suffering John.
Next morning, as John was readying himself for school, his mother Harriotte seeing him toying with the edge of the wash cloth in a manner common to growing boys, questioned:
"Have you cleaned your ears thoroughly, John?"
"Yes, mother," was the rejoiner.
As a mother beset by the principle of cleanliness, Harriotte stepped up to her son, put her hand on his shoulder and attempted to peer into the suspected auditory appendage.  However, she did not get the opportunity. As soon as her hand touched her son's shirt, he moved as though he had been jolted by an electric battery.
"What's wrong, John?" questioned the startled mother.
"Nothing, mother," returned John who knew the rules of the pioneer day -- rules which stated that if you were beaten at school, you were punished at home, too.
Harriotte again resumed her examination of the suspected ear but when she laid her hand on the bank of her offspring, he responded with a violent jerk.
"Take off your shirt!" she ordered and when she saw the angry criss-cross welts forming an ugly pattern across the back of her son, she went to the door and called for her husband.  Robert looked carefully at John's back and made a remark that he probably deserved what he got but when John took off for school that morning, he carried a note written by his father asking Mr. McNeil to come to the McEwan farm after school.
That afternoon, John's back was again bared -- this time by his father for the purpose of showing the visiting school master his handiwork.  McNeil was profuse in his apologies but when he left that afternoon, he, too, had a lesson in mind.
"Mr. McNeil," Robert stated, "I expect you to keep order in our school but if you ever beat my boy like you did yesterday, I'll break your neck."
John continued school -- at the end in the winters only, until at last he said "Farewell," to formal learning. "
I have attached a picture of John in the era after the McNeil incident and likely taken during the period in which he attended only in the winter.

James Ballantyne MacEwan and the move to New Zealand

In 1911, J. A. Ruddick published an article entitled An Historical and Descriptive Account of the Dairying Industry in Canada. Here is a quote from that article:  "In 1894, Mr. J. B. MacEwan, who was then a member of the Dairy Commissioner's staff, received and accepted an offer to go to New Zealand, as Chief Dairy Expert. Mr. MacEwan was only two years in the dairying service of New Zealand, but to the writer's personal knowledge, he left a most excellent record behind him." (p. 56). Attached is the farewell testimonial dated October 1894 from James' colleagues in the Office of the Dairy Commissioner in Ottawa which was presented to James as he prepared to travel to New Zealand.   A small sidelight: I notice that he is addressed as "Mac" a nickname that many other McEwans have carried over the years.  The next piece of evidence related to James' career development is an article from the Otago Witness in New Zealand dated 8th October 1896.  The article  notes that James had passed through Auckland on his way to America.  The writer then goes on to explain: "The desirability of one of our experts visiting Europe about this time was mooted at the Dairy Conference held in Dunedin in June last, and Mr MacEwan made his plans for the trip under the impression that the Government would offer no objection to the tour of inspection, which he considered necessary in the interests of the colony.  But the Cabinet, after discussing his application decided that the department could not easily dispense with his services at this moment. Mr MacEwan accordingly resigned."

James Ballantyne MacEwan and the Cheese Industry (2)

APPENDIX TO THE REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE BEING REPORT OF THE DAIRY COMMISSIONER

 Ottawa 30th January 1891

 To the Honourable The Minister or Agriculture 

From the report of the Dairy Commissioner here is a sample of the report writing of James MacEwan:

" REPORT OF J B MacEWAN

 Ottawa April 29th 1893

 Prof Jas. W. Robertson Dominion Dairy Commissioner Ottawa

 Sir

 I have the honour to submit my second annual report of work carried on under your supervision during the year 1892 and up to the present time of 1893. During the early months of 1892 the series of milk tests were continued the object being to show if it were possible to increase the percentage of fat or total solids in milk from a number of cows by increasing the amount of meal fed daily. A full report of the work was delivered to you and the conclusions went to indicate ....  These tests together with office work occupied my time up to the 9th of May at which time an application having been made to you by Mr D Derbyshire President of the Creameries Association of Ontario and Mr Wm Eager President of the Dairymen's Association of Eastern Ontario for a person to take up the Dairy School work for Eastern Ontario I at your request and in accordance with arrangements made by you with Messrs. Derbyshire and Eager reported at Brockville on the 9th of May and for the next five months my time was occupied in carrying out the work as mapped and supervised by the executive of the Dairymen's Association of Eastern Ontario. The object of the work for which a grant had been made by the Ontario Government was the establishment of a Dairy School at a central point in Eastern Ontario where all cheese makers dairymen and all persons interested could attend and receive instructions in the most approved methods of making cheese in the different months of the season, the testing of milk with the Babcock and lactometer, and any other desired information. Owing to the large area to be covered extending from Lancaster on the east to Port Hope, Lindsay and Peterborough on the west it was not deemed advisable to establish this school at any one point but to have the school go from one centre to another and thus bring it within reach of every one. It was also arranged to hold meetings of dairymen wherever desired and we were thus enabled to give some practical talks on this most important home end of the industry along the lines of lessening the cost of production by a better system of feeding and breeding the care of milk by thorough aeration and the absolute necessity for cleanliness in all matters pertaining to the dairy. ..... I covered the ground twice visiting Brockville, Morrisburg, Gananoque, Kingston, Napanee. Belleville, Campbellford, Peterborough, Lindsay, and Port Hope districts visiting in all 184 factories met with 244 cheese makers and held 20 meetings at which nearly 1,500 dairymen attended. I am hopeful that the money and time spent were and will be productive of good results. ....."
Attached is a picture of J B Ballantyne taken about the time of this report. 

James Ballantyne MacEwan and the cheese industry

James Ballantyne MacEwan the seventh child of John and Agnes McEwan was 15 at the time of the 1881 census. He was living in the fieldstone house overlooking Black Creek along with his parents and six other siblings including his married 28 year old brother Alexander whose wife Mary was expecting their first child in the Fall.  John McEwan the originator of the clan was now 60 and his wife Agnes was 55. The census listed James and his younger brother Arthur as attending school.  I suspect that meant the local elementary school.  (The closest secondary school would have been in Stratford, and given the distance and the expense of boarding in town, I imagine that secondary school was not possible.)  There is evidence that the McEwan boys spent much time at the Black Creek cheese factory which was built on the corner of their property.  Some years later  James reminisced: "I started to learn the business of cheese making when a mere boy. I was in the Ingersoll district and was taught to cool the milk.  I remember that one season our maker never put water to the milk or cooled it in any way and the cheese had that beautiful nutty flavor so much desired and so seldom realized." (Attached is a picture of the cheese factory where James learned his skills.)

 By the spring of 1991 James was living in Stratford in a Hotel where he was one of close to 20 lodgers. The census lists his occupation as a Cheese B__ er.  ( I cannot decipher the word. See picture. Any ideas?)  By this time James' uncle Thomas Ballantyne was a member of the Ontario Legislature and a leader in the Dairymen's Association where he continued his strong advocacy for an apprenticeship system for cheese makers, the creation of dairy schools for training and an inspection and supervision system for cheese factories.  As part of his continued involvement in cheese making Thomas Ballantyne was the first to introduce the Babcock system for testing the butterfat content of milk. It may be that Thomas Ballantyne had a part to play in the job in Ottawa for which James (Mac) MacEwan was hired in 1891.  In a report to the federal Minister of Agriculture prepared by the Dairy Commissioner for the Dominion of Canada dated Ottawa, 30th January 1891. The Commissioner notes that the paper would also contain an report from J B MacEwan in which:

 "1. Mr MacEwan reports on the work of testing milk by the Babcock tester at the dairy on the Central Experimental Farm

2. He was released from his engagement as one of my assistants for five months of the summer in order to act as dairy instructor for the Dairymen's Association of Eastern Ontario, He visited 184 cheese factories met 244 cheese makers and held 20 meetings

 3. He reports on certain faults which he found prevalent in connection with cheese factories and cheese making, He states that he observed the effects of very much carelessness as to condition and appearance of the buildings and that he found a tendency on the part of cheese makers to over ripen the milk before adding the rennet

 4. He reports on the work at the butter making station at Wellman's Corners Ont of which he was put in charge after he returned from his leave of absence. The Dairy Station was used in some measure as a school of instruction during the winter. Twenty three cheese makers visited it during the winter to learn something of the art of making butter He attended 12 meetings. Reference to the work which they severally did in Ontario during part of the season will be found also in the reports of Messrs T J Dillon PEI C C Macdonald Quebec and E Cornett Manitoba".

 In the next blog I will include portions of James' report:  A report demonstrating his ability to write in a style reflective of his intelligence and the quality of his education. 

M(a)cEwans and cheese (pt. 4)

The Black Creek cheese factory was originally a cooperative with the local farmers providing the capital.  “in 1868 the price of cheese dropped suddenly and the industry briefly contracted.  As the number of Black Creek’s patrons tumbled from 120 to 30, Ballantyne sold his farm and with the help of a provincial grant, bought the factory outright” (Dictionary of Canadian Biography).  Of course, it would be interesting to know whether John McEwan and all the Ballantyne connections were patrons of the factory and whether they lost money in the contraction of 1868 but I have never heard any stories of disagreements over the factory.  During this period there was potential for a large export market to Britain but only if cheese of consistent quality and volume could be produced. The factory system was central to this vision and Ballantyne became a strong advocate for training skilled cheesemakers and demanding the highest standard of cleanliness and sanitation. Gordon’s father John drew milk from neighbouring farmers to the Black Creek Factory. Here is a story told by Gordon many years later.  It illustrates the challenges that Thomas Ballantyne faced in insuring the highest quality of professionalism in his factory.  “On John’s (i.e. John McEwan the grandson of the original John) route was a half-mad woman, who had won for herself acclaim by chasing the tax collector to the road at the end of a pitch-fork.  My fearful recollection of her was a slim, supple-looking woman with gray hair piled in a myriad of wisps about her face and tied in a knot at the back of her head.  Wild eyes indicated the dangers to be discovered in this strange and dangerous woman who appeared to wear the same apparel at all times – a woollen upper-garment, a pair of rubber boots and a piece of filthy sacking strapped to her waist by binder-twine. One morning, John picked up her milk as usual but when the cheesemaker was examining the first can, he discovered an errant cat had tumbled in to meet a milky death.  The cheesemaker holding the milk-drenched feline gingerly turned to John and said. “Well, Jack, you have the welcome job of taking her milk back to her.  We’ll bury the cat.” You can imagine that John quickly deposited the cans on her milk-stand that day and sped the horses on their way. However, the story is not done because the next morning as his team trotted westward, he noted her cans plus the mistress of the estate gathered by her milk-stand.  As the team was pulled to a halt, she went straight to the point: “McEwan, why did you bring my milk home yesterday?” John told the story attempting, if possible, to mollify her and let her see the reason of the happening.  When he had finished, she summarized her position clearly and finally: “McEwan, if you ever bring my milk home again, I’ll put the dung fork through you.” Then, having stated her case, she strode into the house.  John, however, found a way of placating her.  When her milk was considered unfit by the factory, John dumped it into the ditch and filled the cans with whey and because she could  neither read nor do mathematics she simply cashed her cheque"and life carried on.  The attached internet picture from an unknown factory is what it may have looked like as the driver's pulled up to unload their milk at the cheese factory.
Addendum: I now realize that Gordon's cat story above is from a later period when the factory had been transferred in ownership to Thomas' son William Wallace Ballantyne.