| Notes |
On the 1852 Census of Rainham, Haldimand, Ontario are:
Solomon Fess, Farmer, Born Germany, Menonist, Married, Aged 37, Male
Margaret Fess, Farmer, Born Germany, Menonist, Married, Aged 32, Female
Adam Fess, Born Rainham, None, Single, Aged 11, Male
Samuel Fess, Born Rainham, None, Single, Aged 10, Male
Henry Fess, Born Rainham, None, Single, Aged 8, Male
John Fess, Born Rainham, None, Single, Aged 6, Male
Fred Fess, Born Rainham, None, Single, Aged 5, Male
Susan Fess, Born Rainham, None, Single, Aged 4, Female
Catharine Fess, Born Rainham, None, Single, Aged 2, Female
Extra on the 1861 Census
Solomon Fess aged 9
Extra on the 1871 Census
Eliza Fess aged 9
Haldimand Deaths, Rainham -Solomon Fess, 27th January 1889, Male, Aged 76 Years 6 Months 15 Days, Farmer, Born Germany, Cause of Death Old Age, 4 Months Ill, Physician Dr. John Fry, Informant Wilson Near, Minister, Humberstone, Registered 7th February 1889, Menonite, R. A. Havill Division Registrar of Rainham
From Rainham Mennonite Farm Logs - Researched by David McClung
Lot 4, Concession 2, Rainham - June 14, 1844 - Henry Miller of Rainham, yeoman, sold 100 acres of the east half to Solomon Fess of Rainham, farmer, for 150 pounds. The property measured 27 chains and40 links in length and 14 chains and 90 links in width. The transaction was witnessed by Christian Sherk of Rainham, yeoman, Menonist, and James M. Perkins. Henry Miller, James M. Perkins and Christian Sherk all signed the indenture. Christian Sherk's signature appeared in German gothic script.
September 17, 1881(sic Solomon Fess died on January 27, 1889) - Solomon Fess Sr. of Rainham, yeoman, died. His will appointed his "trusty friend" Joseph Sherk and son, Samuel Fess as executors. His will left all his real estate, houses and tenements, including 100 acres of the south east part of the lot, to his wife while she remained his widow. His sons Adam, Samuel and Solomon Fess, were to receive $1.00 each, having already received their proportion. His sons, Henry and John Fess were each to receive $500.00. His daughters Susan, Catharine and Louisa Fess were each to receive $300. After the death or remarriage of his wife, all the real estate and property were left to Frederick Fess, subject to the payment of the above legacies. Payment of the legacies was to be made within 2 years after his death. If the legacies were not paid, the executors were to sell the land. All of the remaining money, goods and chattels were left to his wife. Any debts that remained after his death were to be paid by his wife from the profits of the farm. If she refused to pay them, all the children were to be taxed by the executors. The will was signed by J. W. Holmes of Selkirk, yeoman, and Hezekiah Sherk. An "x" was identified as the mark of Solomon Fess Sen.
Haldimand Registry RH 3548
From - Plain Folk Houses of Rainham and South Cayuga - by David McClung and Timothy Silk
#21 The Fess House
Solomon Fess was born in Germany about 1814 and his wife Margaret was born there five years later. Both were Mennonites. They were in Canada by 1840 and bought the east half of Lot 4 in the second concession of Rainham in 1844, They first lived in a log house, but by 1861 had a two-storey brick house.
This house still stands, but is covered with aluminum siding (LIX). Along with # 14, which is almost a full two storeys high, it is the only four-bay, two-door house in which the doors are the two outside bays. It is probably also the oldest surviving example of the tall, square, hip-roofed, Italianate or bracketed-inspired four-bay, two-door house which became very popular throughout the two townships under study.
The main floor plan features two front rooms with a row of smaller rooms and a stair behind. The stair, on the west side of the house, is unusual in that it begins parallel with and adjacent to the back wall of the house, then turns 90° toward the centre of the house about halfway up. It rises into a small square hall with a short corridor, off the two of which open a total of five bedrooms. There is a diagonal wall similar to that of #22. Finally, there is a large attic reached by a secong set of stairs.
The house and farm stayed in the Fess family until 1945, when it was sold to Hoovers.
From - Reformed Mennonite Cemetery - Lot 5, Concession 2, Rainham
Catalogued by North Erie Shore Historical Society
#34
Solomon Fess
Died
Jan 27, 1889
Aged 76 Years
6 Months & 15 Days
A faithful friend and husband dear
A tender parent lieth here
Great is the loss we sustain
But hope in heaven to meet again
#35
Margaret
Wife of
Solomon Fess
Died
Oct 8, 1900
Aged 81 Years
6 Months & 19 Days
Verse illegible
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Rainham Builders
1812 - 1889 (76 years)