John Herbert Inkster1

#290, (1898 - 1970)
FatherJames Harvey Inkster1 (1873 - 1954)
MotherIsabella McLean1 (1879 - c 1920)
RelationshipGreat-grandson of William Inkster
Extended Family
ChartsDescendants of John Inkster & Abigail Marion
Descendants of Magnus Fidlar & Janet Irvine
William Inkster & Janet Irvine Fidlar descendants

Children of John Herbert Inkster and Mabel Nell Smart
  • Joan Ellen Inkster17
  • William Gordon Inkster11

Life Events

MigrationFrom Underwood, Bruce Township, Ontario, then overseas during WW1, then Watson, Saskatchewan, then Vancouver, BC.
 
(Subject) Photograph As a small child, John Herbert lived with his family in the Inkster house at Lot 1 Concession 6 Bruce Township.2,3
Inkster house at Lot 1 Concession 6 Bruce Township
Mabel Beatrice, mother Janet (Fidlar), Albert Wallace, father William Inkster
BirthJohn Herbert Inkster was born on 16 Jun 1898 in Underwood, Ontario.
Information from the register: James Harvey Inkster, farmer, of Lot 1 Concession 6 & Isabella Mclean, registered 15 July 1898 by Dr. D. Hilker.1,4 
(with Parents) 1901 CensusJohn Inkster appeared on the 1901 Census of Bruce Township, Bruce County, Ontario with his parents. He was 2 years old and born 16 June 1898 in rural Ontario. He had a younger brother, William, and they lived in a ten room cement house on 200 acres with his Inkster grandparents.5 
(Subject) Photograph Appeared in a family group photo taken about 1910.3
Children of James Harvey Inkster & Isabella McLean, 1910
Back row: William Wallace, John Herbert sitting holding baby Gordon, Robert James Harold, Florence Jean
Front row: Harvey Alexander, Gordon, Beatrice Muriel
(with Parents) 1911 CensusJohn Herbert Inkster appeared on the 1911 Census of Bruce Township, Bruce County, Ontario with his parents. He was 12 years old, born in June 1898 in Ontario, and attended school ten months that year. He had six younger siblings and their maternal grandmother also lived with them.6 
CEFHe volunteered for the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 16 Feb 1916 at Tiverton, Ontario. The attestation papers included the following information: present address Underwood, Bruce Co, Ontario, born 16 June 1898 in Bruce Tp, Clerk, next-of-kin father James Harvey Inkster of Underwood
Description on enlistment: age 18, 5' 6 3/4", expanded chest 36", dark complexion, blue eyes, black hair, Presbyterian.7 
.17 Feb 19167
John Herbert Inkster
CEF attestation papers
(front of form)
John Herbert Inkster
CEF attestation papers
(back of form)
Photograph Here is a photograph taken just before going overseas.3
The inscription on the back of this 2 1/2 by 2 1/2 inch photo reads:
"John Herbert Inkster - last dip in Lake Huron before going over-seas.
You can trace this Inkster smile through the generations."
Photograph19208
Three Inkster brothers on the 1920 ball team
Newspaper Published 13 Apr 1921 in the Red Deer News.9
Sendoff to Herb Inkster
Red Deer [Alberta] News
13 April 1921
(with Father) 1921 CensusHerbert appeared on the 1921 Census of Mount Hope Municipality, Saskatchewan with his widowed father and 7 younger siblings. He was 22, single, born in Ontario, Presbyterian, and worked on his father's farm.10 
MarriageHe married Mabel Nell Smart, daughter of William Thomas Smart and Ellen Wright, on 1 Oct 1929 in Watson, Saskatchewan.11,4
 
OccupationHe ran a Red & White grocery store called M&I (for McCalmon and Inkster) circa 1930 in Watson.11 
Newspaper Published 16 Aug 1934 in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix.12
Watson Baseball Team
Saskatoon Star Phoenix 16 Aug 1934
Voters' ListJ H and Mrs J H Inkster appeared on the electoral roll in 1935 in Watson. J H was a storekeeper and his wife's occupation was 'married woman.13' 
Residence-Moved Circa 1938, John Herbert Inkster moved with his wife and children to Vancouver, British Columbia.4 
DirectoryJ Herbt and Mabel Inkster were listed in the 1939 and 1940 directories. He was a grocer at 2749 Oak and they lived at 1126 West 11th. In the 1941 directory, J Herbt, a grocer, and wife Mabel lived at 2890 West 7th.14 
OccupationHe bought and ran a Red & White store in 1939 in Vancouver, British Columbia.11 
Voters' ListJohn H, storekeeper, and Mrs John H Inkster appeared on the electoral roll in 1940 in Vancouver. Their address was 1126 West 11th Avenue. Also at this address were James H Inkster, electrician, John H Inkster, farmer, Mrs Sam Rennie, housewife, and Thomas O Germiun, clerk [James and Mrs Rennie were Herb's siblings - not sure which one John H is, perhaps Harvey?].13 
DirectoryIn 1942, John H and Mabel were listed in the 1942 directory; John H was a salesman for J Malcolm & Son. That business according to the directory specialized in Hotels and Rooming Houses, Real Estate, Insurance, address 326 Rogers Building, phone MA 3935. [Howard J Malcolm was Herb's first cousin - their mothers were sisters]14 
DirectoryJohn H and Mabel were listed in the 1943, 44, and 45 directories. During those years Herb was a clerk at Safeway and they continued to live at 2890 West 7th.14 
OccupationHe was a real estate salesman between 1943 and 1958.4 
Voters' ListH Inkster, clerking, and Mrs H Inkster, office worker, appeared on the electoral roll in 1945 in Vancouver. Also with them at 2890 West 7th was Mrs R W Gellan. [Mrs Gellan was Mabel's aunt Winifred. She and her daughter Ann came from London to stay with them during the war]13 
DirectoryIn 1946, Herb was listed twice:
Herbt, salesman for Macdonald Realty
John H, employee of Safeway
He was still with Macdonald Realty in 1947 but no longer listed Safeway as an employer. I haven't looked at directories past 1947.14 
Voters' ListThe Inksters appeared on the electoral roll in 1949 in Vancouver. They were listed as John, salesman, and Mrs Mabel. With them was Edward Smart, storekeeper [Mabel's younger brother].13 
Voters' ListThe Inksters appeared on the electoral roll in 1953 in Vancouver, listed as John H, salesman, and Mabel at 2890 W 7th Avenue.13 
(Mentioned) ObituaryThey was mentioned in James Harvey Inkster's 1954 obituary as son Herbert of Vancouver.15 
Voters' ListJohn H, grocer, & Mable N Inkster appeared on the electoral roll in 1957 in Vancouver. Strangely, their address was recorded as Apt 1,2 & 3 2890 West 6th Avenue. Their son W Gordon, student, was also there.13 
(Mentioned) ObituaryThey was mentioned in Robert James Harold Inkster's 1958 obituary as brother Herbert of Vancouver.16 
Voters' ListThe Inksters appeared on the electoral roll in 1958 in Vancouver. Their address was 2890 West 7th Avenue. Those enumerated were John H, salesman, Mrs Mable N, and W Gordon, student.
In 1962, they were John H, salesman, Mrs Mabel N, store manager, and William G, student.
In 1963, John Herbert had no occupation and Mrs Mabel was a manager at Cunningham's.
In 1965, they were listed as John Herbert, retired, and Mrs John Herbert, no occupation noted.13 
DeathJohn Herbert Inkster died on 2 Nov 1970 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Information from death registration: lived in Vancouver and B.C. 32 years, usual address 2890 West 7th Avenue, born 16 June 1898 in Underwood Ontario, age 72, married to Mabel Nell Smart, last worked as a real estate salesman in 1958 after 15 years, father was James Harvey Inkster born Underwood Ontario, mother was Isabel MacLean born Underwood Ontario, cremation; informant was wife Mabel Inkster.4 
Last Edited6 Oct 2014

Citations

  1. Birth certificate of John Herbert Inkster, born 16 June 1898, registered 15 July 1898 in the Province of British Columbia, Certificate #006991-98, viewed on Family History Library film #1928123.
  2. The Bruce Township Historical Society, Bruce Township Tales and Trails from early days to 1983 (Ontario: The Bruce Township Historical Society, 1997), FHL fiche #6087691.
  3. Copies of photographs in Marie Inkster's collection.
  4. Death certificate registered in the Province of British Columbia. John Herbert Inkster, #70-09-017541.
  5. 1901 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Bruce W (50), Bruce (a-2), page 6, line 16.
  6. 1911 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. 59 Bruce North, sd 4, ed 2, page 8.
  7. Canadian Expeditionary Force Attestation Papers & Enlistment Forms. Library and Archives Canada, (http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/020110_e.html), online images, John Herbert Inkster, Regimental Number 651807.
  8. From prairie wool to golden grain: Raymore and district, 1904-1979 (Raymore, Saskatchewan: Raymore and Distict Historical Society, c1980). Digital copy viewed at ourroots.ca, page 131.
  9. Red Deer News, Send-Off to Herb Inkster, 13 April 1921. Digital copy online at Peel's Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
  10. 1921 Census for Canada. Image from Library and Archives Canada viewed at Ancestry.com. Saskatchewan, Last Mountain District, SD 46, Page 16.
  11. Interview with Mabel Inkster (Vancouver), August 1989.
  12. Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, "Honor Champions at Watson Feast", 16 Aug 1934. Image viewed at Google news archives.
  13. Voters Lists, Federal Elections, 1935–1980. R1003-6-3-E (RG113-B). Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Images viewed at Ancestry.com.
  14. British Columbia directories on the Vancouver Public Library website.
  15. Obituary of James Harvey Inkster in The Vancouver Sun, September 1954. transcribed by a volunteer.
  16. Obituary of James Harold Inkster in Vancouver Sun, Oct 20, 1958. transcribed by a volunteer.
  17. Personal knowledge.