John Thomas Bramhill was the fourteenth child born to George and Ann Bramhill. He was born on August 9, 1863 in Minto Township near Palmerston, Ontario, Canada. John Thomas and his wife, Sarah Ann Cooper, took over the homestead farm in the 1890's.
 
 
 
 
 
 

John Thomas Bramhill
 

They had four children:
                Lloyd,
                Gertrude,
                Annie
                Garland.
 
 

Lloyd Bramhill
Their son Lloyd enlisted and went overseas during World War One. On September 30, 1918 he paid the supreme sacrifice.
 
 
 
 

Gertrude married John P. Patterson and they had a family of two: Tom and Marian. Garland married Laura Nelson and their children are John Robert and Kathryn May (Mrs. John Bulpit of Oshawa).

Annie graduated from Stratford Normal School in 1918. Her teaching years took her to Wallace Township, Kent County, Maryborough and for 23 years at S.S. No.2, Minto.

J.T. Bramhill made many improvements to the house and the barn. Following his death in 1942, Garland became the owner and continued making improvements such as clearing fencerows and tiling the land. He acquired Lot 17, Concession 3 and modernized the barn for cattle. Garland later became a cattle drover.

Their children:
                Lloyd (d. Sep. 30, 1918)
                Gertrude
                Annie
                Garland
 

Maitland Mission Methodist Church
By Annie Bramhill

The first log church in this community was built on N.W. Lot 20, Concession 3. It was across the road from the log school on the William Bent farm, N.E. Lot 21, Concession 3.

In 1884 the new brick Hope church was built on the Murray farm, S.E. Lot 21, Concession 5. Member families were Goodwin, Rayson, Cooper, Bramhill, Cross, Broughton and some of the Wilkin families. Service was conducted on Sunday afternoon. Although this was a Methodist church, several families, who were not Methodists, attended. Almost every child in the community attended Hope Sunday School.

Prayer meetings, Epworth League, Young Peoples and anniversaries were held regularly. At that time Sunday School had Lesson leaflets, take home papers and book awards. These books and papers were treasured.

Hope Church 1884 - 1917

Until there was an organ, singing was led by a precentor with a tuning fork. After the organ was installed, Mrs. Albert Wilkin was one of the faithful organists. John Thomas Bramhill was choir director.

Some of the ministers were: Reverends Buck, Sabine, Hazard, Gilpin, Walker, Grandy, Couch and Tyler. In 1917, Hope Church closed its ministry after serving as a religious centre for over 50 years. A number of the member families transferred to Palmerston Methodist Church and donated $701.83 from the property sale towards the $1,055 parsonage mortgage.

Until recently, the metal Maple Leaves on the church fence identified the corner where Hope Church once stood.

Annie Bramhill

Annie Bramhill’s Teaching Career
By Lauretta Shewan

Annie Bramhill is the daughter of John Thomas and Sarah Ann (Cooper) Bramhill. Annie was born Sept. 2, 1899 and died Jan. 23, 1992. Annie took her normal schooling at Stratford, Ontario 1917-1918 and started her teaching career in Sept. 1918, accepting a position at S.S. No. 8 Wallace 1918-1919. Then to S.S. No. 6 Howick for 1920-1921 followed by S.S. No. 3 Wallace where she taught from 1921 to 1931. Annie took a 6-year leave of absence from June 1931 to Sept. 1937. From 1937 to June 1940 she taught at S.S. No. 7 Maryborough. Sept. 1940 to June 1963 she took over the teaching duties at S.S. No. 2 Minto.

S.S. No. 2 Minto became known as Annie Bramhill’s school. She taught here for 23 years. In total Annie taught school for 39 years, retiring at the end of June 1963. The school closed June 29, 1965 and was sold. The new owner turned it into a house.

Annie seen here at her apartment on August 14, 1990 with Marjorie Hansen (on the left) and Mary Hansen (on the right), was a source of inspiration to all that knew her.

Annie Bramhill had literally thousands of children pass through her hands and when she retired in 1963 she was presented with a Centennial Medal. It was gratifying indeed that the Government of Canada has seen fit to add her name to its impressive list of those who have made an outstanding contribution to Canada in the past century. "It is with pride we present this Centennial award to you on behalf of the government of Canada." This medal was present to Annie Mar. 13, 1968 and when she passed away Jan 23, 1992 this medal was buried with her because it was one of her prized possessions.

The 2^nd of Minto School History
By Lauretta Shewan

In 1870 the 2^nd of Minto school was built on the corner of the William Bent farm at Lot 21 Concession 3, Minto Township and what is known today as Whites Road. The school was a simple structure with rough walls, benches for seats and only four windows.

In 1871 it was decided to rearrange all the "School Sections" in Minto Township and the 2^nd of Minto school site was moved 1¼ miles south to Lot #20 and #21 which was purchased from Mr. Yeats. The farm was later owned by Walter and Hilda Bridge.

A new frame building was erected and school opened in 1873. In 1893 the outside of the school was bricked and was farther improved in 1900 when a coat of plaster was put on the inside walls.

The 2^nd of Minto School closed in June 29, 1965. Many of Lauretta and Leslie’s aunts, uncles, cousins, as well as Lauretta’s mother and father, Sarah and Alfred Munford, and Leslie’s mother and father, John and Sarah (Goodwin) Shewan attended this school. Lauretta’s mother Sarah Bramhill’s teacher in 1980 to 1910 was Cyrus Scott. Leslie Shewan’s teacher 1927-1933 was Miss Ella Leslie.

The following picture is one of Miss Annie Bramhills School picture of 1956.

Garland Bramhill

Garland and Laura (Nelson) Bramhill took over the farm at Lot 21, Concession 3 of Minto Township. They eventually passed it on to their son Robert and Lynda (Weber) Bramhill. As of 1998 Robert and Lynda still lived in the brick house that was built in 1877.

Their children:
                Robert
                Katherine

 
 

John Robert Bramhill
By Robert & Lynda Bramhill

John Robert Bramhill was born on February 23, 1943, son of Garland and Laura. He married Lynda Weber on September 17, 1966. John Robert became owner of his father's farm (Lot 18, Concession 4), he also acquired 85 acres at Lot 21, Concession 4, and 80 acres at Lot 20, Concession 4 in 1975. In 1977, he became owner of Lot 17, Concession 3, all in Minto Township. John Robert was a dairy farmer, built a turnip business and later produced cash crops.
In 1983, John Robert retired from farming and sold all farms except Lot 18, Concession 4 (the home farm) which is a century farm. John Robert worked for the Wellington Board of Education, Cyanamid of Canada, Jim Harkness Equipment and is now employed with the Wellington Country Roads Department in Harriston.
 

Robert and Lynda have three children:
                Lisa Lyn, born July 31, 1967
                Lorie Isabel, born July 26, 1968
                Larry Robert, born October 31, 1971

Lisa Lyn (Bramhill) Veld

Lisa Lyn was born July 31, 1967 at Palmerston District Hospital. She works for Biltmore Hats in Guelph. She married Benny Veld on June 17, 1989 in the Palmerston Christian Reformed Church. They have three boys. Brandon John, born September 13, 1991 in the Palmerston District Hospital. Tyler Benson born May 26, 1994 in the Palmerston District Hospital and Sheldon Ryan born August 16, 1995 in the Palmerston District Hospital. They are currently residing in Palmerston in the house that Garland and Laura bought after leaving the farm.

Lisa and Benny Veld and Family
L to R: Sheldon, Benny, Brandon, Lisa, Tyler
 
 

Lorie Isabel (Bramhill) Allan

Lorie Isabel was born July 26, 1968 in the Palmerston District Hospital. She works at the Co-operators General Insurance Company in Guelph. She married Kyle Allan on October 18, 1997 in the Palmerston United Church. They have one daughter, Riley Donna Lyn born April 26, 2000 in the Guelph General Hospital. They are currently residing in Harriston.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Lorie and Kyle Allan and Baby Riley
 
 
 
 
 
 

Larry Robert Bramhill

Larry Robert was born October 31, 1971 in the Palmerston District Hospital. He works for C&M Seeds, Palmerston Elevators and McLaughlin Farms as an equipment operator.

Today, John Robert, Lynda and Larry reside on Robert’s Grandfather’s (George Bramhill) homestead farm at Lot 18, Concession 4, in what is now known as the Town of Minto.