1842
Unfortunately one has to guess at some of the columns as the documents are not always in tact. However from what I was able to discern Gilbert Ketcheson seems to have been living on the farm at that time. The census was started in September of 1841 and was to be completed by February of 1842. He had married Sarah in June of 1841, but unless Martha was an early arrival she would not yet have been born.
Most of the columns are blank even when it comes to asking how many in the family etc., but I was able to uncover that he was of Scottish origin, a Presbyterian and with regard to the farm, that he had 170 acres of wheat, possibly some in barley and rye, and that he had cattle and hogs.
1852
1861
By 1861 the family had grown by the addition of three children. Gilbert was 44 years of age, his second wife Martha 37, His children ranged in age from 15 to 2. Their religion is listed as Church of Scotland (Presbyterian).
We can find out things such as whether someone was married during that year, members of the family who were absent, those who were attending school, those illiterate, blind, deaf or lunatics and births or deaths within the year as well as cause of death. There is also a section about houses.
This census indicates that Gilbert and family were living in a 1-½ story frame house, and that no other house was under construction at the time. All the children were attending school, there were no afflictions in the family and no one had been born or died during the year.
1871
It would appear that both Herbert and Gilbert jr. were being groomed to take over the farm.
The other notable entry is that they cite a house under construction. This would be the stone house that is present today. Construction began in 1870 as per the stone placed in the wall at the front of the house.
1881
Here again we see some changes. It appears that there are two families living on the property. Gilbert and Martha, along with Gilbert jr. William B, Mary E, Susan G, Thomas and Robert are living in one dwelling while Herbert D, his wife Issabella, along with two farm servants are living in the other. Gilbert sr. and Herbert are listed as farmers, whereas Gilbert jr. is not. The original frame house was moved from its foundations when the stone building was erected and at one point moved across the road where it still stands. However the summer kitchen that was attached to the stone house appeared to be the oldest of the buildings and is thought to be the original shanty built when Gilbert first arrived on the land. I would surmise that either the second family lived in the summer kitchen area which had a second staircase to the upstairs floor, or they lived in the frame house that had been moved from its original foundations.
1891
There are two families living on the property as was in 1881. Here however the first column clarifies that Martha, now a widow, along with three sons, two daughters, Margaret Coleman (school teacher) and her grand-daughter are living in the stone house. Herbert, his wife Isabella, Elizabeth Miller (general servant) and Oddie Thomas (farm labourer) are in a wood frame house.
1901
Isabella and (Herbert) Daniel remain in a separate building, childless and with no other occupants living with them. Interestingly Isabella lists herself as head of the family.
In this census there are columns for the principle wage earner, how many months they were employed during the year and earnings. However for the Ketcheson's these columns remain empty, not indicating how well they managed with the farm.
1911
Martha had passed and at this time only Robert, now 44, Mary, 50, and Edith, 23, lived on the farm. There was also a young farm hand Harry Bishop who helped Robert with the running of daily business.
1921
Robert, 56, is living as head of the family with his sister Mary, 64 and Ediith, 35, (adopted sister) and another child by the name of Frances Collingwood, 11, (listed as adopted sister). Frances would most likely have been a homechild they took in. Frances immigrated to Canada the previous year.
This census specifies that the house had 11 occupied rooms. While Robert is still listed as a farmer, this is the first time we see an occupation for Edith who is listed as a hat maker. She apparently made $320 that year in her trade.