William Shiels (7th Gen) 1875-1946 & Mary Elizabeth McKenzie

William Shiels was born Jul 15, 1875 at Cranbrook, Ontario. He was the youngest of nine children of John Shiels and Janet McNair. William grew up on his father’s farm, Lot 19 Concession 14 in Grey County.

William married Mary Elizabeth McKenzie on Jun 25, 1901 in Brussels, Ontario. They subsequently moved to Keppel, Ontario where William became the town blacksmith. They had one son, James Charles, born Feb 13, 1903 in Keppel, Ontario.

Several years later, William and Mary, with son James, boarded the trans-continental train westward in search of new adventures in the fast-growing western logging industry. They settled in Burnaby, British Columbia where William practiced his blacksmith trade in the sawmills. He also did much needed shoe repairs for the loggers and appeared to prosper very well in the family’s new location.

It is interesting that William was involved in the Shoe business. Descendants of his uncle, William James Shiels, in Biggar Scotland ran a business there called “Shiels the Bootmaker” 

In later years, William retired from the logging industry and became well known in the southern parts of the province for his favourite hobby – weaving many items of furniture from split willow strips. His porch and lawn chairs with tables were much in demand.

Mary died Aug 24, 1938 and William died Oct 16, 1948. Both are buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Burnaby, B. C.