THE LATE JAMES TRAN
Requiescat in pace

Mr. Tran was born at or near Hull, Yorkshire, England, in the year (August) 1814 and was married 24th of May 1836 to Mary Ann Gardham of Stone Ferry Hull, near Yorkshire. Four children were born to them in England, two of whom died; the couple emigrated to this country in the year 1842, ten children were born to them in Canada so that Mr. and Mrs. Tran were the parents of fourteen children and grandparents of thirty-five grandchildren. The children still surviving are: C. Tran, Manitoba; George and William Tran, Markham; Mrs. B. Coakwell, Mrs. J. Waldrick (sic), Mrs. Amos Cole; Mrs. J. Ostertog, Mrs. George Bernie. In addition to his own family, Mr. Tran had the charge of five orphan children. Mr. Tran also left seven brothers, three in this country and four in the States and one sister Mrs. Campbell [Cameron] who lives near London. His wife, who was in every sense a helpmate, being a well educated and industrious woman who well understood and did her part as a farmer's wife, died in December 1886, at the age of seventy-one years and nine months. He survived her nearly 10 years, having died 24th June 1896, age 81 years and ten months. Mr. Tran, like most of the settlers of this township, landed with very little money in his pocket. He first hired with a Mr. Granton, of Hagerman, at $10 per month. He afterwards rented a farm on the 10th concession and stayed there a few years. His next move was in 1848 to the farm of the late Ira White, 10th concession, Markham, 400 acres, which he rented. The first year he made nothing, and could not pay the rent and offered to give up the place, but the landlord being good natured and having faith, told him to try again. The next year he made $1,000 and paid his rent and from that time forward he went on manfully until he bought 200 acres for some of which he paid as high as $90 per acre, the result of knowing how to farm and make it pay, for prices were not always high, he has often said that he remembered selling wheat for 50 cents and oats for a York-shilling a bushel, and other things in proportion, when farming was done by hand. Mr. Tran was a practical farmer and took a deep interest in farming in all its branches, he was a butter and churn maker, the churn was noted for its excellence, he also took an active part in establishing churn and butter factories in his neighbourhood. He also dealt extensively in stock and imported sheep and cattle.

He was an active member of the Markham and East York Agricultural Societies, generally a director and one of its founders and took part, both as a director and exhibitor in the Fairs in the county and adjoining counties as well as the great Provincial Fair where he took numerous prizes, often attended agricultural meetings for the promotion of the farming interest. He was always ready when called upon to express his views and the methods by which he had succeeded, if not in classical English, in such terms as farmers could understand and appreciate. Mr. Tran never aspired to military or municipal honours, he was never Reeve - Deputy or Captain, but he had in him the stuff of which real captains are made. He held, however, for years, the position of School Trustee and was executor and trustee for several large estates which he successfully managed. He did not heap up wealth, nor make it his chief object, although he left a goodly estate and raised a large family. He was hospitable, a kind neighbour, a warm friend, always ready and eager to lend a helping hand to anyone in trouble or difficulty, prompt to pay, honest and upright in all his transactions. He was in politics a Conservative, a member of the Church of England and generally held the position of Church Warden or lay delegate to the Synod, when his health permitted. On the first of August 1891, on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of his birthday, Mr. Tran gave a garden party at his home in the afternoon, the grounds were tastefully laid out and illuminated with torches in the evening. There was a large attendance between 600 or 700 not only of friends and neighbours but also of prominent and influential gentlemen, with their families, from all parts of the Riding, who partook of refreshments, the time being agreeably interspersed with songs and recitations. Mr. Tran, on behalf of his friends, was presented with a gold watch and a gold chain and on behalf of the lady friends with a gold beaded cane with an address to which he made an appropriate reply. To some, this article may seem long, but the incidents in the life of a citizen of worth who has spent more than half a century in our midst must have interest beyond the family circle.