1
Roxa Bechtel Watson, Homer's wife, photographed by Mr. Esson, Preston.1900
Doon, Ontario
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William Wadley is the great nephew of Homer Watson's wife Roxa Bechtel. He is the grandson of Roxa's sister Emily Bechtel.3
Emily and Roxa Bechtel (second row, behind driver).1916
British Columbia
4
Emily Bechtel is seen seated on the far left, behind the coach driver, with her sister Roxa (right).5
Wadley Family Photograph, in order William, Edgar, Emily and Ida Jane Bechtel Wadley, Roxa's niece.1932
Doon, Ontario
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Ida Jane Bechtel (far right) is Emily Bechtel's daughter and the mother of William Wadley (far left).7
William Wadley recalls his personal memories of Homer and Roxa.8
William Wadley remembers his great uncle Homer Watson.2004
Doon, Ontario
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"Hi, I'm Bill Wadley, I'm now 78 years old. Did I know Homer Watson? Yes, he was my grand uncle. I must have been about eight years old when I met him. And the year was likely 1934. My sister Emily and I can recall talking to him in the gallery. A very large room, with very large paintings, of very large mountains, all along the walls around him. By then, I guess about two years before his death, he was an old man, bewhiskered and deaf. Very deaf! To hear us speak, he put a long vacuum cleaner hose to his ear, and motioned to us to talk into the other end. We did so, but with what success we don't recall. I think his sister Phoeb prepared some refreshments for us, though the kitchen was in the basement of the house proper, under the present small galleries."10
William Wadley on his family connection to Homer Watson.2004
Doon, Ontario
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"Our family connection however, is not through the Watson's, but through the Bechtel's. Uncle Homer's wife, Aunt Roxy, was an older sister of my maternal grandmother, Emily Meserve Bechtel. Emily married a teacher, Samuel Martin, and lived in nearby Speedsville, where two daughters were born, Hazel and my mother Ida Jane. As a wedding present, Emily and Sam were given a print of "The Pioneer Mill", lovingly inscribed, "To Ma & Pa"."12
William Wadley reads from the memoir "My Childhood and Cats", by Betty Ratz Hearn.13
The cover of Betty Ratz Hearn's memoir 'My Childhood and Cats'1960
Doon, Ontario
14
William Wadley reads from Betty Hearn's memoir 'My Childhood and Cats'2004
Doon, Ontario
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