Born ‎26 Feb 1910 Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States, baptised ‎27 Nov 1912 Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, Bad Axe, Huron, Michigan, died ‎26 Oct 1979 Orangeville, Ontario, Canada‎, 69 years, buried ‎29 Oct 1979 Forest Lawn Cem. Orangeville, Orangeville, Ontario, Canada
THE JESTER

Frank Albert Wootten Dermott was a very well-liked man. He was born in 1910, in the United States of America. Frank married Ruth Alice Hogdson in 1943. He had four sons and lived most of his life just north of Orangeville. Frank worked at home and away from home. He was always known to be a joker. For example, he enjoyed putting hot peppers in other people's food.

Frank was born in 1910 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. His parents died when he was only three years old. Frank had a twin brother named James Alfred and a half sister named Undine. He grew up having five different caregivers. In under five years Frank was sent from one caregiver to another, until one of his aunts sent him to her sister in Canada, during World War 1.

Frank came to Canada at the age of seven. He lived with his aunt's sister, Ethel and her husband Sam Dermott until he married and moved into his new home with Ruth. Frank grew up with dogs and cats and his two cousins, Alvin and Harry were his closest friends. As a child, Frank enjoyed playing jokes on people, like locking them in the outhouse. He enjoyed playing hockey and baseball and he also liked making wood creations. Frank liked school a lot. His favorite subject was math. Frank's favorite teacher was in grade seven. Her name was Mrs. Porter. The teachers were very strict back then. Frank had to drop out to pick potatoes in high school. When he returned, the teachers wouldn't help him so he quit. If Frank could relive a day he would not drop out of school to pick potatoes.

Frank met Ruth Alice Hogdson at a dance and they got married in 1943. On their honeymoon they traveled to Toronto and Guelph. The honeymoon took about three days! Shortly after they had four sons.

Frank worked on the farm where he lived. It was a general farm where he grew crops. He also had sheep, chickens, cows, dogs and hens. Also two horses named Ginger and Sputnick. Frank also bred German Shepherds. Frank worked at Arenda [sic, Orenda] Engines including working on the Avro Arrow Airplane. While Frank was working at Arenda [sic, Orenda] Engines there were many responsibilities to follow. One was that you could not make any mistakes! He made many friends while working. Frank enjoyed working on the farm and at Arenda [sic, Orenda] Engines.

A meaningful time in Frank's life was spending time with his four sons. Paul Albert Carlyle Dermott was born on March 02, 1945. Alan Thomas Dermott was born on August 09, 1946. Philip Stephen Dermott was born on February 08, 1953. Michael Edward Dermott was born on November 27, 1954. Frank taught the boys how to swim, water ski, play hockey, fish, ride horses and do farm work. Some memories of his children are: Michael riding Sputnick under his belly instead of on his back because the saddle had slipped out of place. Paul and Alan used to use a pail as a toilette in the winter time. Trying to get Philip and Michael down from the roof when it was supper time. And when Paul had fallen down in the well.

Frank belonged to the Odd Fellows Lodge which was a place where friendships were made. Frank's mother-in-law's name was Alice and when it was her birthday the family would go to her house for the celebration. Frank loved Thanksgiving because of the turkey dinner! Frank's favorite foods were ice cream, hamburgers, apple pie, bread and butter,and anything fried. His favorite book was Black Beauty. His favorite show to watch was I love Lucy. And his favorite musician was Don Messer, who plays the fiddle. Frank's favorite Christmas song was White Christmas. For Christmas the family would rent a hall for only eight dollars! The family rented the hall because of the number of people. Frank would get nuts, candy and an orange in his stocking. Frank's favorite Christmas gift was a sweater that had all his curling awards attached to it. He enjoyed curling very much.

Frank retired in 1975 at the age of 65. Ruth and Frank went on a cruise to Alaska for his retirement celebration. They sailed up the west coast of British Columbia to Alaska. Then shortly after his retirement, Frank passed away from a heart attack in 1979 at the age of 69.

Here are some memories of Frank Albert Wootten Dermott from family members, neighbours and friends: "He was a good dancer and we both loved going to dances and playing cards!", said Ruth. Paul said, "He was a hard worker!" Alan enjoyed "how we worked together." Philip likes "how much he enjoyed the farm." Michael remembers "how he liked to joke around a lot!" Tanya (Paul's daughter) says, "He was strict and stern!" Graham (Frank's neighbour) remembers his love for animals, "especially dogs and cats!" Dr.Moran (Frank's doctor) said "He liked to do things the hard way." If Frank were alive today I'm sure he would have many more stories to share!

I Caitlin Dermott would like to thank everyone who helped me write this biography on Frank Albert Wootten Dermott. Thank you for teaching me so much more about my grandfather. I want to give a special thanks to my grandmother Ruth for having so much patience, and time for me. I now feel closer to my grandfather knowing the history of his life.

THANKS
Written by Caitlin Dermott, grand-daughter, as a school assignment - December 2008

Newspaper clipping, November 7, 1979
FRANK A. DERMOTT
A widely known resident of Mono township, Frank Albert Dermott, of Camilla, (RR 4, Orangeville), died Oct. 26 in Dufferin Area Hospital, after an illness of three weeks. He was 69.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Dermott. He attended Orangeville and Gleno Public Schools, and Orangeville High School. He was active in Junior Farmers work and a well known baseball player in his younger years.

He married Ruth Alice Hodgson Nov. 16, 1943 at St. Mark's Rectory, Orangeville, and afterwards made their home on the farm at Camilla. In addition to his farming career, Mr. Dermott had worked as an assembler, and on repair and overhaul at Orenda Engines for 22 years, before retiring four and a half years ago.

He was a member of St. Andrew's United Church, Camilla, where he had recently completed a term as steward.

Mr. Dermott had been a member of the Maple Leaf Lodge, No. 57, I.O.O.F., Orangeville, and had also been a member of the Orangeville Curling Club for 25 years.

Mr. Dermott had served as secretary-treasurer of the Mono township school board for 12 years, and had also served as township assessor in 1944 and 1945.

Mr. Dermott is survived by his wife Ruth, and his four sons, Paul of Etobicoke; Alan of Brampton; Philip and Michael of Weston; and six grandchildren.

Funeral services, held Oct. 29, 1979, at the Baxter and Giles Funeral Home, were conducted by Rev. Cyril Dyke of Camilla. Interment was in Forest Lawn Mausoleum.

An Oddfellow's service was held on Sunday evening at 8 p.m. Mr. Dermott's pallbearers were neighbors Graham Clowes and Fred McKelvey, and fellow lodge members Merv Watson, Joe Mottart, Rolfe Barber and Ross Binnington.

Flowerbearers were four grandchildren, Vincent Dermott, Stephen Dermott, Lori-Ann Dermott, and Tanya Dermott.

Christening Record:
Name: Frank Albert Wootten
Gender: Male
Baptism/Christening Date: 27 Nov 1912
Baptism/Christening Place: SAINT PAULS EPISCOPAL CHURCH, BAD AXE, HURON, MICHIGAN
Birth Date: 26 Feb 1910
Birthplace:
Death Date:
Name Note:
Race:
Father's Name: Frank Alfred Wootten
Father's Birthplace:
Father's Age:
Mother's Name: Arminta Wootten
Mother's Birthplace:
Mother's Age:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C53273-1
System Origin: Michigan-VR
Source Film Number: 955796
Reference Number: 2:GR05T2

(Research):In response to a query from Bernadette Hardaker while doing research on Mom's story:
Bernadette - I'll try to answer your questions as best I can - in fact, your question has helped me fill a missing link that I just located on the Internet.

Amongst the list of brother's and sisters for Ethel Maharg (Dermott), Frank's adopted mother, I missed including a sister Mary Jane Maharg although I did have her listed in the family history. As you noted Mary Jane was married to Albert Wootten, Frank's uncle. Now my understanding is that Albert was a hotelier and operated a hotel in Detroit (I also discovered a couple of years ago that Albert was a member of the Elks). One of Albert's brothers, Edward A. listed bartender as his occupation on his marriage registration and mom (Ruth) indicated that the family (Wootten's) did work in hospitality when I told her about locating the marriage information for Edward A.

Sam and Ethel were married in 1910 but apparently Ethel was not able to have children and desired to have a child greatly.

As noted in the family history, Frank's parents died from TB in 1914. It is my understanding that at least Frank then stayed with Wootten relatives over the next several years. I recall a story about dad when his cousin Doris Hewitt (Pfeiffer) visited one summer in the 1970s. Frank liked to play practical jokes and apparently one of the factors that resulted in his end of staying with Doris and her parents was when he locked Doris in the outhouse!

I don't know if the other two children (Undine and James) were also supported by the relatives in those immediate years following the death of Frank Alfred and Arminta or not. From the story about Doris, I believe it was only Frank who stayed with her and her parents and not the other two. That may be because Frank was apparently the healthiest of the three children from what we were told by his cousin Nellie Johnston (Kydd). The Johnston's were able to keep track of Frank because he came up to Canada but contact with the other two children was lost. From what is known, it is believed that Undine ended up in the mid-west possibly the Chicago area where she apparently died while a teenager. Frank's brother James is suspected to have ended up in California. It was the Johnston's that contacted Frank after he married Ruth that we began to get information prior to Frank's coming to Canada.

The marriage registration for Frank and Arminta would indicate that the two were neighbours in Cleveland. I suspect when their health began to fail because of the TB, they relocated to the Detroit area to be closer to Frank's brothers and sisters, specifically Albert. I also suspect it may have been because of the failing health/death of Albert that was the final factor in Frank's coming to Canada. I guess that's the long way of saying that my mother's estimate of when Frank came to Canada is correct as his parents died in 1914 and the next several years was spent going from relative to relative until finally he was taken in by Sam and Ethel Dermott.

Now on coming to Canada, it was indeed an "aunt" that brought him over. I say "aunt" because it was a sister of Ethel's and Mary Jane that physically brought Frank north. That sister was Catherine (Cassie).

As noted earlier, Sam and Ethel wanted children. Ether's sister, Mary Jane (wife of Albert Wootten) knew of this and when it was determined that he wasn't going to be able to stay with Wootten relatives and I suspect because of Albert's involvement (possible executor) after the death of Frank's parents, Mary Jane, Ethel and Cassie arranged to have Frank brought over to be raised by Sam and Ethel. There was never any indication that the other two children were considered so I suspect that by this time they may have already been separated and the three children never had contact again.