An American Family History

Holland (Hollan) Orville Dwinnell was born on January 7, 1842 in Canada or the United States. His parents were Isaac Dwinnell and Rachel Lapoint. At the time of the 1861 census he was listed as Hollon C. age 20. He was a plumber.

He married Mary McCardle about 1865. She was born in Ontario in 1846. Her parents were Patrick McArdel and Catherine Burns.

In 1865 Hollan was on (bds) Ordnance Street in Kingston. In 1867 he was on N. McNeil (h) Barrie (nr) Princess.

Hollan and Mary's children were:
Henrietta Dwinnell (1866, married Benjamin Franklin Pratt),
Rachel Stella Dwinnell (December 27, 1873), and
Anne L. Dwinnell (May 25, 1875, married William McVeity).

Stella died as an infant.

In 1871 they were living in Kingston, Ontario. The household consisted of Hollan, Mary, Henrietta, Annie and Mary's mother, Catherine.

Hollan died on November 29, 1877 in Ottawa, Ontario of pulmonary consumpton. His name in the death register was Holland. He was buried at Notre Dame Cemetery in Ottawa with his daughter Stella.

His wife, Mary Dwinnell, was listed in the 1881 census in Ottawa, Carleton County, Ontario. She was Catholic. She was age 35 and had two daughters, Henrietta age 15 and Annie age 9. She was living with Catharine McCardle age 65. Mary died on July 21, 1883 and was buried with Hollan at Notre Dame.

At the time of the 1891 census, 22 year old Henrietta and 20 year old Anna were living together as boarders in Ottawa. They were both dressmakers.

Misses Dwinnell 1891 Ottawa Directory Listing

Annie married William McVeity. He was born in 1832 in Richmond, Ontario, Canada. His parents were James McVeity and Alice Graham. He had been married before to Margaret Minore and had 8 children. He was the chief of police in Ottawa. William died on February 20, 1905 in Mendon, Massachusetts of pneumonia. She died in July, 1910 when she was only 37 in Boston. She was also buried at Notre Dame.

Henrietta married Benjamin Franklin Pratt on July 29, 1915 in Winnipeg.

from The Canadian Album: Men of Canada by William Cochra

William McVeity, Chief of Police, Ottawa, was born January 19th, 1832, at Richmond, Ont. He is the son of James McVeity and Alice Graham. He was educated at the public and grammar schools of Richmond. When fifteen years of age he went into farming operations with his father, continuing about four years. He then went to the lumber camps, where he worked about twelve years. He entered the Ottawa police force in 1866, and has filled all positions in the same, including those of sergeant, health officer, license inspector, detective, and finally Chief of Police since 1885. He has been instrumental in bringing to justice some of the most important criminals of the Dominion, receiving in some cases as high as $5oo reward. Under his watchful care the city is found to be comparatively free from trouble in connection with the criminal classes. In religion he is a member of the Church of England; in politics rather favors the Reform platform. He is also a member of the Masonic order. Chief McVeity was married in the year 1858, and has a family of eight children.