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William Claus (1765-1826) was a son of Christian Daniel Claus and Ann (Nancy) Johnson. Ann Johnson was the daughter of Sir William Johnson. William Claus was deputy superintendent general for Upper Canada in the Indian Department. It was in this role that he created the ledger book extent detailing the transactions with the Haudenosaunee of the Six Nations of the Grand River, He and his wife Catherine Jordan resided in Niagara-on-the Lake at their home known as “The Wilderness”.

Warren Claus (1805-1880), a barrister was second son of William Claus and Catherine Jordan. He married Alice Jane Johnson and had daughters Catherine Anne Margaret and Ellen (aka Nellie / Eleanor).

Catherine Anne Margaret Claus (1856-1917) was the daughter of Warren Claus and Alice Jane Johnson, and granddaughter of William Claus and Catherine Jordan. She married William Henry Johnston Evans, a coal merchant, in 1906 and resided in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. until her death. W.H.J. Evans, a widower, had five children, Avarine Maude, Ethel C., Madge H., William Henry Johnston Jr., and Laura Beatrice. Catherine and W.H.J. Evans lived at the Claus home “The Wilderness” for a time until it was sold.

Edward (1860-1941) and Annie (Wilson) (1859-1931) Patterson were residents of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. Edward continued in the bakery business established by his father Edward (aka Ned), but later worked at various other occupations. It is understood that through Annie Wilson Patterson’s mother, Maria Wilson (maiden name unknown) that the family was connected to the Claus and Johnson families. A notation appears in The Book of Common Prayer,: Nellie & Kate Claus lived in Wilderness. Cousins of Ann (nee Wilson) Patterson, Grandma of Dorothy Fowler, Great Grandma of William Fowler.

Grace Patterson (1883-1961) and Maria Johnson Patterson (1895-1975) were daughters of Edward and Annie Patterson. Grace was married to William Riddell (1875-1936) and Maria (aka Myrtle, Aunt Mert) was married to Edmund Richardson (1897-1942).

Dorothy Grace Riddell (1906-1994) married Harold Fowler (1901-1976) of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. The Fowler family resided in a home on Prideaux Street. William Edgar Fowler was their only child.

William (Bill) Edgar Fowler (1931-2019) was a lifelong resident of Niagaraon-the-Lake, Ont. He volunteered as a firefighter and ambulance attendant for 35 years. He coached hockey and baseball, was an umpire and king scout, was an avid golfer and enjoyed fishing. William Fowler retired from NOTL Hydro in 1997 after 41 years of service.

Click here to view the William Fowler Fonds finding aid