Today the name of Charles Whetham is not heard very often, but around 1900 he was a justice of the peace and a respected figure in Whonnock and the community that, at his suggestion, was named Ruskin.
As Robert Manzer put it, he was the "counsellor and friend of all settlers wise enough to seek his advice."
We know that he called his home "Walden" after writer Henry David Thoreau's famous cabin in the woods of Massachusetts – perhaps in jest, because it was a mansion by local standards.
We also know that in 1899, the Whethams donated part of their land to build a school in Ruskin when the old one near the Stave River no longer could be used.
Charles Whetham was an invaluable member of the Ruskin school board during the construction and the first years of the new school bringing with him influence and experience in education and in serving as secretary of the Whonnock school board a few years.
What was not known before is that Charles Whetham ran for the position as MLA in the 1898 and 1900 provincial elections. He did not win, but the results, published in the newspapers of the day, show that an astonishing percentage of residents of the Whonnock area supported him: 92 per cent and 75 per cent respectively. (The drop in percentage between the two years may be attributed to the 1899 departure of the members of the commune in Ruskin, where he was also held in high esteem.)
How much the community respected Charles Whetham is also shown in a farewell letter to him written in February 1903 by the Rev. Alexander Dunn.
The news of Whetham's departure from Ruskin, writes Dunn, pervaded the community with "a feeling of deep disappointment and genuine regret."
Over time, Whetham had grown in the esteem and confidence of the people and through his "uniform civility, evenness of temper, and unselfish and considerate deeds" had acquired a large circle of loyal friends.
Dunn continues to say that Whetham, enterprising and public-spirited, was always ready to give his support to and use his influence for any movement to advance the well-being of the community.
"Whatever work you put your hand to," says Dunn's letter, "whether planting an orchard, or writing out deeds and other documents, you have executed in a masterly way, leaving no room for corrections or amendments."
The letter goes on to tell that in reclaiming and improving his property Whetham "gave employment to, and circulated money among many struggling settlers."
The settlers found him "fair and reasonable" in his demands and "prompt and cheerful" in his payments.
Dunn writes that Whetham's "calm, kind, and soothing words" would be missed, and he assures him that should he ever return he would be given a "most cordial welcome" as a "tried and valued friend."
Rev. Dunn then turns to Mrs. Whetham who, he writes, always "nobly aided and encouraged" the good work of her husband. She would be missed as organist of the Sunday services and for her "genial presence and efficient services" at social gatherings. To that Dunn adds: "Wise and prudent, a lover of peace and hater of discord, you ever did what you could to allay bitterness, to discourage backbiting and slander, and to promote unity and goodwill."
Few of our residents will ever have received the praises Charles and Fannie Whetham received from the people of Whonnock and Ruskin.
The original letter, signed by Rev. Dunn and other settlers, remained in the family's possession until this summer, when it came back to Whonnock through the kindness of one of Charles and Fannie's great-granddaughters, who lives in Portland, MA.
Fred Braches is a local historian who lives in Whonnock.