Sarah Jane Penfold

Sarah Jane Penfold Huntley first worked for Banker Ladd. She then worked for Tommy Tolson (3 years). Her third place of work was for Miss Wiles (3 Years). She came to Canada at age 26, on August 8, 1880, then came to Michigan on May 14, 1891. She lived in Rudyard, Michigan until her husband, George died in 1923. She then lived in the Soo until she died.

Sarah was the daughter of a well-to-do businessman. Her mother died when she was young. Her father remarried a woman with two daughters. It was a Cinderella story in real life. This step-,mohter was very cruel to grandma, dressing her girls elegantly while Grandma had cast offs and had to work really hard. She finally went to live with her grandparents, who were really upset when she eventually married a poor man and went off to America.

There were four girls born to them in Canada, one died as a young cild. They had to load all of their possessions on a ferry at either Meford of Owen Sound, Ontario and as far as I know disembarked at Sault Ste. Marie. I have no way of knowing just how they came to settle at Rudyard, but I know they were among the very first settlers there. It was a hard life, putting up buildings and clearing the land. Mother (Mary) was just seven years old when they got to Rudyard.

Memories from Marjorie Ruth Stephenson Milligan