Family Roots — Bernice Carnegie

Welcome to the Redmon family’s

historical information site

This site was created by family historian Bernice Carnegie — a Redmon descendant and daughter of Audrey Carnegie (nee Redmon).

This branch of our journey in Canada

started with Nathan and Goldie Redmon

who emigrated from Chicago U.S.A.

and

settled in Toronto Canada in 1913.

**Logo created by grandson Nathan Redmon for 100th Canadian/American reunion in 2013**

Please feel free to browse our family journal and learn more about our incredible immigrant story.

In 1913 Nathaniel Emmanuel Redmon and Goldie May Bishop set their sights on new horizons when they emigrated from Chicago, Illinois, United States of America to settle in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Most Black and biracial families throughout North America had challenges to overcome and Nathan and Goldie’s desire to break new ground and seek new opportunities led them north.

July 2013 the Redmon descendants celebrated their 100th year Canadian anniversary. This reunion, that spanned five decades of family members from the U.S.A. and Canada, reminisced and shared stories of the journey and challenges of Nathan, his wife Goldie, and their six children, (Helen, Adele, Nathan Jr., Audrey, John and Freemon), five of whom were born in Toronto.

Visit the Redmon Historical Journal

Redmon Haulage . . . is history

**First Black owned haulage business in Toronto**
**Upon his arrival to Canada in 1913, Nathan Redmon first worked as a railroad porter.**
A 1947 Globe and Mail Article reported he saved money for 5 years and bought his first truck to start the haulage business. He had a fleet of 9 trucks one of the biggest fleets in the Township of York that later grew to more than a dozen trucks. [Legacy note: Two of his trucks were burned.]
Redmon Haulage was in operation for 36 years from 1918 – 1954 when he sold the business to his son Freemon Redmon for $5,000. He was 72 years old. By then he had sold off most of his trucks. Freemon kept the business going under the same name for two more years.

Redmon Haulage

Freemon Redmon Circle

October 19, 2021 family and friends gathered at the CIRCLE.

The City of Toronto paid tribute to Freemon Redmon by naming a street in his honour for his many contributions to communities across the city.

Freemon Redmon

was a steadfast leader, coach, mentor, spokesman and volunteer known for his life-long commitment to advancing the well-being and prosperity of Toronto’s Black community. Freemon was a kind, soft spoken man who lived life with an attitude of gratitude and thankfulness. He met racism with reconciliation, choosing understanding over anger and quiet purpose over victimhood. He led a life of forgiveness, acceptance, love, close friendships and above all, family.

A humble yet influential man, he motivated generations of young people to be better and more informed people, and he always brought more to the table than he took away. A proud Canadian, he is most worthy of being honoured by a street bearing his name.

Eldest daughter, Brenda Ferguson, shared her heartfelt reflections of her father at the street naming ceremony.

A daughter's reflections

Photos below of excited family and friends who gathered for the celebration of “Freemon Redmon Circle”.