Children of Matthew and Ellen Todd

We have a record of five children for Matthew and Ellen Todd. There is a fairly large gap between a birth of about 1823 and the next for about 1831 or1832. It would seem possible other children could have been born between these years, but we have no information regarding that.

Janet Todd

The first child was Janet Todd. On the 1851 Scotland census and on her death record Janet shows as born about 1823 at Glencairn, Dumfrieshire, Scotland. We have no actual birth record for her.

A Scotland marriage record shows Janet married William Murray November 8, 1845 at Glencairn, Dumfrieshire, Scotland. William was a shoemaker.

I show that William and Janet had 3 children in Scotland and 4 children in Ontario. It seems they arrived in Ontario about 1855.

Janet died January 20, 1889 in Fergus, Ontario and is buried at the Belsyde Cemetery in Fergus. Below is a photo of Janet (Todd) Murray:

Ellen Todd

The family of Ellen Todd feel she was born July 18, 1831 at Edinburgh, Scotland. We have no actual birth record for her.

Ellen married James Snaden about 1851 in Scotland.

I show Ellen and James had 3 children in Scotland and 9 children in Ontario.

On the 1861 Canada census James shows as a Tavern Keeper, and on the 1871 Canada census he shows as a grain dealer. James died in Wellington County, Ontario December 30, 1880.

Ellen had lived with family for a time in Winnipeg, Canada and later migrated to St Paul, Minnesota. Ellen died in St Paul, MN February 1, 1905.

I've seen the name spelled in various ways: Snaden; Snadden; Snedden; and others. Some from this family are in Minnesota, and I believe some are in Ohio today.

Ellen is said to be buried at the German Lutheran Cemetery in St Paul, MN.

Robert MacGregor Todd

Robert’s middle name has shown as McGregor and MacGregor. For many online sources and newspaper articles Robert shows as “R M Todd“.

The actual birth record for Robert is for Melrose Roxburghshire, Scotland which was a county of Scotland right on the England border. The birth record mentions Darlingshaugh, which is apparently an area within Melrose.

Information from the History of Rock Falls, Iowa was as follows: “Robert was sent to the school in his parish until he had acquired a good degree of education, and in 1852 came to America. Two years later he went to California, where he engaged in mining. In 1858, in company with several others, he made the first exploration up the Frazer River in the Golden State (note, I think this was actually in British Columbia). In 1863 he left California, returned East and settled at Milwaukee, interesting himself in commission business. He was married in 1865 (Note: he actually married September 6, 1866 in Milwaukee) to Selene Elmore, and three years later went to Minnesota, where he bought a farm in Freeborn County, near Glenville. In 1871 he came to Rock Falls, Iowa and purchased an interest in the flouring mill, of which he is now sole owner. His fine residence is situated on the South bank of Shell Rock River. Mr Todd has a family of three children - - Charlotte, Helen, and Blanche.”

Other accounts indicate Robert did accumulate some wealth during his mining ventures in California and likely British Columbia.

I did find a passenger list for the ship Janet, which arrived at Boston, Massachusetts from Glasgow, Scotland April 19, 1852. This list showed a Robert Todd who was 18 years old upon arrival, which would be close for our Robert.

Another person shared from a book about Fergus, Ontario, which was “Fergusson-Webster Settlement” by Alpheus Edward Byerly. This read: “Robert Todd - - This early resident of Fergus was a grain buyer, but left the village many years ago and went to the United States”. Right after that account in the book, was additional information about Robert’s Father, Matthew Todd and Brother John Todd.

Robert was in Fergus, Ontario between 1852 and 1854, before he went to California. By the time of the 1861 Ontario Canada census, Robert’s parents and siblings were living in Fergus, Ontario. They apparently settled there about 1855. Robert may have preceded his family’s emigration to Canada.

Robert and Selene had their first child in Milwaukee who was Charlotte MacGregor Todd in 1867. It’s possible they had a second child named Anna about 1870 in Minnesota. Anna may have died before the next census, as I didn’t see that name again. Helen MacGregor Todd was born about 1870 in Minneosta or Iowa. Blanche L Todd was born about 1875 in Iowa. Ethel Eleanor MacGregor Todd was born about 1883 in Iowa.

I'll give more information about Robert and Salene's Daughter's on a separate page.

Other information from the Iowa account indicated Shell Rock Falls, Iowa incorporated August, 1882. Robert M Todd was elected Mayor of the town in 1882 and 1883.

An Advertising Card for Robert's Flour Mill at Rock Falls, Iowa

Robert Todd was associated with a business owned by his father in law, Samuel Lyman Elmore, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the 1860’s. Samuel Elmore was born in Connecticut, and his family descended in the United States from Edward Elmore who arrived in the United States from England in 1632. The name may have originally been Elmer. One account says the name was changed by an ancestor during the Revolutionary War.

Later in the 1880’s Robert purchased a flour mill at Albert Lea, Freeborn County, Minnesota which he operated for a number of years. I’ve read articles about social gatherings in Albert Lea where Robert and his wife entertained many. Robert was very generous and well liked in the community. At one point he built a beautiful new home in Albert Lea. He later had homes in Minneapolis and Duluth, Minnesota. From my readings, he made sure his Daughters received a good education. In fact, some likely spent time in Europe for education, and in good colleges in the United States.

An Advertising Card for Robert's Albert Lea, Minnesota Flour Mill

Just before 1893, Robert owned the Anchor Flour Mill in Superior, Wisconsin which is near Duluth, Minnesota. Unfortunately, there was an economic depression in 1893, which caused large losses for Robert during that time.

Also, between the 1880’s and early 1890’s, Robert sold part of his interests in gold and silver mining operations. One was in Colorado that he was partners with one of his Elmore brother in laws. The other was in Arizona. Recently, I’ve found information that some of the Elmore brother in laws were involved with Arizona gold and silver mining operations and possibly even a railroad there.

By 1895 Robert was in Los Angeles, California. On the 1896 Los Angeles directory he shows as Robert M Todd, Manager, California Exchange Bureau, Real Estate, business 334 S Broadway, residence 1315 Figueros. He may have had mining operations and perhaps a flour mill out of Los Angeles, but hard to be sure what business interests he had at this time. It seems he was on his way to making a comeback from losses experienced in 1893.

(As a sidelight, there was also a Ulysses S G Todd in the 1895 Los Angeles directory who operated a business similar to Robert’s. I continue to be curious if this person may have been related in some way to our Todd line? Ulysses came from Missouri and his Father was born in Indiana, but is said to have descended from a Kentucky line. Mary Todd was born in Kentucky. I communicated with an ancestor of Ulysses who said their family feels they are connected in some way to Mary Todd Lincoln. My research shows Mary Todd had visited relatives who were Judges in Missouri and Indiana. I haven’t yet found a positive connection, but Ulysses Father was a Judge for a time in Missouri. All speculative at this point.)

In a family book including information about McMillan’s and Baker’s, Annie Laurie Baker wrote that Annie Todd McMillan had received $40 monthly from her Brother for many years. This apparently came from Robert’s business interests, and it seems he was indeed, very generous.

From short obituary accounts in a Los Angeles, California newspaper I found R M Todd died July 8, 1896. Then in an Albert Lea, Minnesota newspaper an account of his death, indicated Robert had been accidentally shot and killed in Los Angeles.

I found several other accounts of Robert Todd’s death in Duluth, Minnesota newspapers. His body was sent by train from Los Angeles to Duluth, Minnesota for burial at the Forest Hill Cemetery. Robert’s Daughter Blanche and wife Selene are also buried at this cemetery. Blanche died about 1892 in Minneapolis, and Selene died in 1901 at Albert Lea, but both were buried at Duluth.

Other newspaper articles give conflicting accounts about Robert’s tragic death. There seemed to be some confusion as to whether this might have been a suicide, accidental, or a murder. The last report I found, indicated the coroner was going to research it more. He didn’t think it was suicide. The coroner was looking more into the possibility of murder by a person who accompanied Robert, in what was called a squirrel hunt on property Robert owned. The person who was with Robert would have benefited as a partial heir to some of Robert’s holdings.

Below is a transcribed record for one of Robert's obituaries:

Transcribed from Duluth News Tribune July 18, 1896

R M Todd's Remains

They were interred yesterday at Forest Hill Cemetery.

The remains of Hon Robert M Todd, accompanied by his daughter, Helen M Todd, formerly of this city, reached here on the 1 o'clock St Paul and Duluth train yesterday where they were met by former friends and acquaintances, and the body was conveyed to it's final resting place in Forest Hill cemetery, by the side of one of his daughters, in the family lot.

The News Tribune gladly gives space to the following tribute written by one who knew him well:

Editor of the News Tribune:

The hand that holds the pen of eulogy should write the page with truth. Over the departed, human affections are apt to make havoc of the judgment. Memory running backward to days that were golden, which effacing time affects, but may not utterly destroy, retains ever "the vanished form" and seems to hear always "the voice that is still". The man of the future, keeping to the top of his condition, should live a hundred years. The divine law, mixed with the human so wills it. Surely those who ever saw Robert MacGregor Todd would easily incline in the belief, nature intended him as an example of this possibility. She works in so many realms, her capriciousness is past finding out. With this man she dealt in prodigality. No one could deny that he was the form and picture of manly strength and beauty. Standing six feet three, with weight in just proportion, with limbs of iron and arms of steel, yet was he graceful and agile in movement, the actual manifestation of the helenic saying, "a sound mind, in a sound body". He reminded one, as nothing less than a race of men cast in the antique mold.

Old Scotia, dear land of the thistle and heather, was his nourishing mother. Amid scenes of her rich history and traditions, he grew to man's estate. He always loved and remembered her with strong affection. Her heroes and heroines of history, romance and border warfare, he could eloquently recall, mixed with just enough of native accent to give the recital a deliciousness, which lingers in the memory still. Before he was 21 he came to America, went to California and in the mines accumulated a fortune and returned to Milwaukee where he married his wife, who survives him. He loved rural life and soon removed to Freeborn county, near Albert Lea, in this state, where he bought a farm. Thence he went to Rock Falls, IA, where he built a large flouring mill and lived some years and there became mayor of that city. Afterwards he went to Albert Lea, where he erected another large flouring mill and built him a fine home. Possibly it may be said he spent the happiest years of his life there. His naturally social nature, coupled with that of his estimable wife, gathered many friends and acquaintances around them there who have been deeply touched over the sad and tragical manner of his demise. His love for sports of the field amounted to a passion. This was only surpassed by his love for his friends. His experiences in life have been so many and so varied and life has had for him so much of romance, he held himself equally at ease in the drawing rooms of the rich, witty and cultured, as well as in the lowly cabins of the poor, with the memory of Scottish simplicity and thrift, ever in his mind and heart. He was the life of every throng, the merriest guest of all. His hand was open to the poor and unfortunate. His heart was sunny and genial as a summer day. His life in business at the head of the lakes at both Superior and Duluth was but a brief one, owing to business reverses, which he could not control and last year he moved to Los Angeles, where occurred the sad accident which terminated his life, as heretofore given in the columns of the News Tribune. His circle of acquaintances was large, however limited in Duluth, and the memory of his gentility will linger long in the hearts of all. To his sorrowing wife and children a wide and sincere sympathy will go out from many homes and places, which have known their hospitality and companionship.

Were the many friends who loved him as a man and brother asked the reason of it, what better answer could any one make than that of Montaigne, "Because it was he, because it was I".

John Drummond Todd

John Todd was born November 4, 1836 at Crawford, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

This was from the book FERGUSSON-WEBSTER SETTLEMENT by A E Byerly, D O, 1934 page 344:

"Robert Todd - This early resident of Fergus was a grain buyer, but left the village many years ago and went to the United States.

John Todd - One of the old characters of Fergus. John Todd had a store on St David Street, where the residence of Mrs A S D Hill now resides. He dealt in stoves, tinware, wool and hides. His Father Matthew Todd, was a native of Scotland, and lived on Tower Street in Fergus. The wife of Matthew Todd died November 30, 1863, and is buried in the Belsyde Cemetery."

An interesting fact for our McMillan family, is the comment about "Mrs A S D Hill". This was James J Hill's Brother's widow. James J Hill was known as "The Empire Builder" for having built the railroad from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Northwest, and my Great Grandfather William John McMillan was his personal conductor. James J Hill was born in Eramosa, Ontario which is also in Wellington County, not far from Fergus, Ontario

John Todd married Margret Watson August 30, 1862. They had the following children in Ontario: Elizabeth Todd (married Richard Wansbrough); Robert Melville Todd (married Maggie Bennett); Percy Edward Todd (married Alice ?); Matthew Todd (married Ida Dennis); Herbert Lorne Todd (married Martha Easter); Norman Watson Todd (married Helen Brown and second married Marie Grass); and Alvetta Todd (married John Thompson).

Photo of John Drummond Todd and grown family

(Photo Courtesy of David Todd)

By 1893 John and his family had moved to Detroit, Michigan. John worked as a street missionary in Detroit. Here's a transcribed copy of his obituary for 1905:

On different records it seems I've seen John Todd to have been a teamster, a plasterer, and a store owner in Ontario. He may have served as a Minister there also, but I haven't found that connection.

Transcribed from the Detroit Free Press, June 5, 1905.

OLD MINISTER IS DEAD

REV JOHN DRUMMOND TODD HAD BEEN ILL FOR MONTHS

Used to Devote His Time to Evangelistic Work Among the Poor

After an illness of three months, Rev John Drummond Todd, aged 68 years, of 1292 Twenty-third street, died yesterday afternoon shortly after 1 o’clock.

Though Mr Todd had been superannuated for some time, he still took an active interest in religious matters, especially among the poor of the city. The McGregor and the Will Allen Missions found in him a good friend. He was an old fashioned Methodist, living up to the letter of his beliefs and very strict. Mr Todd would neither buy milk nor ride in the street cars on Sunday. These two acts were to the mind, serious desecrations of that day.

He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, but had lived on this continent over forty years, the greater part of his time in Canada. He devoted his entire time to evangelistic work among the poor. During the past twelve years, Mr Todd had lived in Detroit.

He is survived by the widow and seven children. The latter consist of the following, all residents of this city. Herbert L Todd, Norman W Todd, Robert M Todd, Percy E Todd, M A Todd, Mrs R M Wansbrough and Miss Allie Todd.

The funeral will take place at the Hudson Avenue M E Church, tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. Services will be conducted by Rev W G Nixon, pastor of the Church, assisted by Rev John M Gordon and Rev J D Jeffries, pastor of the Scovel Memorial Presbyterian Church.

Anderson Todd

There is a lot of conflicting information about Anderson's birth year. However, she was on the 1841 Scotland census as 1 year old, so I believe she was born about 1841. Her grave indicates she was born in Edinburgh, but the 1851 Scotland census shows a birthplace of Daun, Perthshire, Scotland. With a travelling family like the Todd's, it's possible she was born in one place and baptized in another. We have no actual birth record.

Anderson's Grandmother was maiden name of Isabella Anderson, which is likely where she got her first name.

The family history book indicates she may have attended a boarding school in Toronto, where she received a good education. We have no idea what school it may have been. It could have been in Toronto, or perhaps another town closer to Fergus, Ontario.

Census records indicate Anderson had birthed 14 children, but in 1900 just 9 had survived. The family book indicates Anderson was just 4' 5" tall, but I wonder if 5' 4" was intended?

A Portrait of Anderson (Todd) McMillan from about 1900

(Portrait Courtesy of Bob Baker

& enhanced courtesy Paul Tidemann)

Anderson, her parent's, her Brother John, and her sister's and families, likely arrived in Fergus,Ontario about 1855 from Scotland.

Anderson married William John McMillan in Fergus, Ontario March 23, 1867. You can read more about William John and Anderson's children in the section I have for them.

William John was traveling with James J Hill's train when Anderson passed away in St Paul November 5, 1913. He was notified in Spokane about her death by telegram. Below is the transcribed obituary for Anderson:

From the St Paul, Pioneer Press, November 6, 1913:

DEATH INTERRUPTS TRIP

Mrs W J McMillan, Wife of Conductor

of J J Hill's Train Expires

at Family Home

As W J McMillan, conductor on James J Hill's special train, stepped from his car at Walla Walla, Wash., yesterday a telegram was handed him telling him of the death of his wife.

Mrs McMillan, who was 67 years old, died at the family home, 340 North Dale street, yesterday.

Mrs McMillan, a native of Scotland, came to St Paul twenty-seven years ago. She was then Anna Todd, and Mr McMillan was one of the younger conductors in the Great Northern service. He is now president of the Association of Veteran Employes of the road. Mrs McMillan was a member of the ladies' auxiliary of that organization and of the Eastern Star.

Six sons and three daughters also survive. The sons are M T McMillan, 903 Watson street; William J, Jr of Milwaukee, Ore; R O McMillan of Bainville, Mont; D B McMillan of Spokane, Wash; Stuart of Fargo, N D; and Arthur McMillan of Mound, Minn. The daughters are Mrs Anna Baker, Ambrose, N D, and Ellen and Margaret, who live at the family home.

Note: Anderson would have been about 72 years of age. Also, the obituary implies she was single when she came to St Paul, but she and William John married in 1867 in Ontario.