D.A. Quaife

D.A. married A.R. Layton [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. J.M. Layton
2. C.J. Layton

Notes:

Obituary
Stanley Cecil Quaife of Rimbey passed away suddenly in Red Deer Regional Hospital on March 21, 1990 at the age of 74.
He wa born in Castor, AB on May 16, 1915 and took his schooling at Taber AB.
Stan married Doreen Lord on October 1, 1939 in Taber. They moved to the Rimbey area in 1947. He farmed West of Rimbey for several years before moving to Nordegg, wehre he was employed as fire boss in the coalmines. They returned to the Rimbey area where he was employed by W.C. Mitchell Sales and Service as a mechanic. They moved to the Town of Rimbey where he worked as a caretaker in the Rimbey Schools until his retirement.
He was predeceased by his loving wife, Doreen on July 10, 1989, one son Terry on March 10, 1985, two sisters, Viola of Calgary and Pansy of Creston, B.C.
He is survived by 8 sons: Wayne and lee of Rocky Mountain House
Keith and Carol of Edmonton,
Leo and Joyce of Olds,
Brian and Darlene, Ken and Barb of Red Deer, AB
David of Delburne
Ralph and Brenda of Medicine Hat
Blair and Beverly of Whitecourt.
A daughter-in-law Melanie Quaife of Rimbery
Two daughters: Penny and Bert Rumsey of Red Deer
Dorothy and Wally Banovic of Wylvan Lake,27 grandchildren, five great grandchildren, one brother - Delbert of Estevan Sask, one sister Clourice of Stettler and numerous nieces and nephews. He will be sadly missed by his family and a host of friends.
Funeral Services were held at the Rimbey United Church on Monday March 25, at 2 pm with Canon J. R. Hearne officiating. Interment followed at the Rimbey Cemetery West.
If friends desire, donations may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association, 4615-48 Ave Red Deer t4 N 3S9. Wilson's Funeral Chapel of Lacombe and Rimbey were entrusted with the arrangements.

?? Wylvan to be a misprint by the newspaper, and should be 'Sylvan Lake'

Source: Rimbey Record March 1990

Stanley is buried in West Haven Cemetery ( 3 km West of town - Rimbey, AB)
Plot 6, Section 23, bloc B

Stanley married Doreen Esther Lord on 1 Oct 1939 in Taber, Alberta, Canada. Doreen (daughter of Robert Lord and Esther Ann Davis) was born on 30 Oct 1919 in Newcastle, England, United Kingdom; died on 11 Jul 1989 in Rimbey, Alberta, Canada; was buried on 14 Jul 1989 in West Haven Cemetery, Rimbey, Alberta, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obituary:
Doreen Esther Quaife of Rimbey, passed away suddenly on July 11, 1989 at the age of 69. Born in Newcastle, England, she came to Canada as a young girl to Taber where she was raised and received her schooling.
Doreen was united in marriage to Stanley Quaife in Taber on October 1, 1939. In 1947 they moved to a farm in the Rimbey district, later retiring to the town where she resided until her passing. Doreen was an active member of the Anglican Church in Rimbey and in the Rimbey Happy Gang Choir.
Predeceased by a son Terry, in 1985, she is survived by her loving husband Stanley of Rimbey, eight sons; Wayne and Lee of Rocky Mountain House, Keith and Carol of Edmonton, Leo and Joyce of Olds, Brian and Darlene, Kenneth and Barbara of Red Deer, David of Delburne, Ralph and Brenda of Medicine Hat,, Blair and Beverly of Whitecourt. Two daughters Penny and Bert Rumsey of Red Deer, Dorothy and Wally Banovic of Sylvan Lake and one daughter -in-law Melanie Quaife of Rimbey. 26 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. One brother, Bill Lord of Taber, three sisters, Essy Archer of Lethbridge,Jenny Dunn of Taber, Babs Treber of Lethbridge and numerous neices and nephews. She will be deeply missed by her family and a host of friends.
Funeral services were held from the Rimbey United Church, Rimbey on Friday, July 14, with Reverend Canon J. R. Hearne officiating. Interment followed in the Rimbey West Cemetery. If friends desire, donations may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association. Wilsons Funeral Chapel of Lacombe and Rimbey were entrusted with the arrangements.

Source; Newspaper Rimbey Record

Doreen is buried in West Haven Cemetery (3 km West of Rimbey town)
Plot 5, Section 23, Bloc B

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupations: Blacksmith and agent for Nurseries Taber
• 1891 Census: 1891, York District, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; 1891 Canada Census
• 1901 Census: 1901, West York, Ontario, Canada; 1901 Canada census
• 1911 Census: 1911, Slocan Riding, Slocan, Kootenay, British Columbia, Canada; 1911 Canadian Census
• Marriage: 26 Apr 1915, Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada; Alberta Vital Statistics - Marriages
• 1921 Census: 1921, Municipality Coronation, Red Deer District, Alberta, Canada; 1921 Canada Census
• Death: 29 Nov 1944, Taber, Alberta, Canada; Alberta Deaths

Notes:

Birth: abt 1881-1883 The 1891 Canadian Census has estimated the birth year as 1883,
the 1901 Census has his birth date as 24 Apr 1883 in Ontario
1911 Canadian Cenus has his birth date as Apr 1882, Ontario
1921 Canadian Census has his birth date as abt 1879, Ontario
His obituary states he was age 63, born in Huntsville, Ontario

1891 Canadian Census; T6381, York West, Ontario, Family #33
Thomas Quaif, Male, Age 30 yrs, Married, Birthplace Eng, Occupation Baker
Hellen Quaif, Female, Wife, Age 25 yrs, Married, Birthplace Ontario
Pelina Quaif, Female, Age 11
Thomas Quaif, Male, Age 10
Charles Quaif, Male, Age 8
John Quaif, Male, Age 4
Florence Quaif, Female, Age 3
Arthur Quaif, Male, Age 1

1901 Canadian Census: District York, Sub District York, # L-4
Thomas W. Quafe, Male, Head, Widower, Labourer
Phine Quafe, Female, Dtr, Age 22
Thomas Quafe, Male, Son, Age 20, Teamster
Charles Quafe, Male, Son, Age 18, Teamster
John Quafe, Male, Son, Age 16, Labourer
Florence Quafe, Female, Dtr, Age 14
Alfered Quafe, Male, Son, Age 12
Gracia Quafe, Female, Dtr, Age 9
Joseph Quafe, Male, Son, Age 7
David Quafe, Male, Son, Age 4
Samuel S Quafe, Male, Age 2
Jess Wilds, Male, Age 25 ** future son in law


1911 Canadian Census- Slocan Riding, Kootenay, British Columbia, Page 3, Fam # 41
Geo B Garrett, Age 44
Kate Garrett, Age 32
Edward Lucker, Age 41
Josephine Lucker, AGe 34
Charles A. Quaige - age 29, Male, Single

1915, Castor Alberta - Marriage - Alberta Vital Statistics; Reference # 87-385/351
Bridegroom: Charles Arthur Quaife
Bride: Clara Sophronia Weeks
Date of Marriage: 26 April 1915
Place of Marriage: Castor, Alberta
Officiating Clergyman: John S. Patterson
Remarks: 254

1916 Canadian Census, Twp 28, Range 12, Meridian 4, Family # 240, District 41, Red Deer
Lines 28-31
Quaife, Charles A. Head, Bulwark, Male, Married, Age 34, Birthplace Ontario, Occupation Blacksmith
Quaife, Clara, Female, Married, Wife, Age 17, Birthplace Ontario
Quaife, Stanley, Male, Son, Age 1, Birthplace Alberta
Weeks, Elsie, Female, Sister in law, Age 12, Birthplace Ontario

1921 Canadian Census, District Red Deer, Village - Municipality Coronation, Twp 38, Range 12, Meridian 4; RG 31; Pg 15
Charles Arthur Quaife, Age 42, Male, Married, Birthplace Ontario
Carl Quaife, Female, Wife, Married, Age 24 ** should be Clara
Stanley Creek Quaife, Male, Son, Single, Age 6 *** should be Stanley Cecil
Robert Clarence Quaife, Male, Son, Single, Age 3
Penny Quaife, Female, Dtr, Age 1

Funeral Service for Chas. Quaife well attended (Taber Times newspaper, Thursday Dec 7 1944
The funeral of the late Charles Arthur Quaife of Taber was hed in the Taber United Church at 2:30 on Tuesday Dec 5th. Mr W. S. Hall of the Assembly, officated at the church and Mr C Wilkinson at the Cemetery.
Mrs Okomoto rendered a solo "The Sands of Time are Sinking" at the opening of the service and "O Precious Wofds" at the close of the service. At the graveside all joined in singing one verse of "Over the River".
The Pallbearers were J. Godfrey, Casey Berlin, Joe Beauchamp, Art Oliver, Archie Briost all of Taber and Ben Baceda of Barnwell. Martin Bros. were in charge of arrangements. Internment was in the Taber Cemetery.
The floral tributes were many and beautiful, evidence of the esteem of his friends.
All of the family were able to be present at the service. Out of town relatives were a sister Mrs Sam Kellock of Winnipeg and a brother Alfred Quaife of Cranbrook, B.C.
The late Mr Quaife was secretary of the Sunday School of the assembly, where to took a very active part for the past few years.
He leaves a wife and three daughters: Clourece at home, Mrs F. Myers, Taber, Mrs Roberts at Rimbey and two sons, Pte Stanley who is in the army but at present at home on leave and LAC Delbert, who is in the Air Force, stationed at Charlottetown, PEI. Also leaves five brothers and two sisters. He was predeceased by a son Leo, who died on Oct 9th of wounds received in France, while on active service.

Charles Quaife Called to Rest, Wednesday - Taber Times Newspaper Nov 30 1944
Mr Charles Quaife died in Taber Hospital on Wednesday, at the age of 63 years. Born in Huntsville Ontario, he came to Alberta in 1912. Has been a resident of Taber for the past 21 years. Charles Quaife has been a blacksmith all this period, except for the last three years, when he was well known throughout Southern Alberta as the agent for Boughen Nurseries.
... - the remainder of the clipping is as above, mentioning his family by names.

1891 Census:
- age 8

1901 Census:
- age 18

1911 Census:
- Age 29

Marriage:
Groom: Charles Arthur Quaife
Bride: Clara Weeks

1921 Census:
Age 42

Charles married Clara Sophronia Weeks on 26 Apr 1915 in Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada. Clara (daughter of Ira Weeks and Roxy Alvina Andress) was born on 18 Jul 1898 in Tillsonburg, Dereham Twp, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada; died on 29 Mar 1957 in Rimbey, Alberta, Canada; was buried on 2 Apr 1957 in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Rimbey, Alberta, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: United Church
• 1901 Census: 1901, Middleton Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada; 1901 Canadian Census
• 1906 Census: 1906, Strathcona District, Alberta, Canada; 1906 Alberta Census
• 1911 Census: 1911, Red Deer District, Alberta, Canada; 1911 Canada Census
• 1916 Census: 1916, Bulwark village, District 41, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada; 1916 Canada Census

Notes:

*1901 Census 93 Norfolk c-2 Middleton, page 6, Line 9* (Ontario)
Weeks, Clara S., Female, White, Daughter, Single, Born July 18, 1898, Age 2, Birthplace rural Ontario, English, Baptist Religion

1906 Canadian Census; District 21, Strathcona, Sub District 8, Page 21 - Lines 7 - 13; T-18362
Weeks, I., Head, Male, Married, Age 36, Birthplace Ontario
Weeks, Roxy, Wife, Female, Married, Age 29, Birthplace Ontario
Weeks, Clara, Female, Single, Age 8, Birthplace Ontario
Weeks, Pearl, Female, Single, Age 7, Birthplace Ontario
Weeks, Ross, Male, Single, Age 5, Birthplace Ontario
Weeks, Elsie, Female, Single, Age 3, Birthplace Ontario
Weeks, Hazel, Female, Single, Age 1, Birthplace Ontario

1911 Canadian Census: Red Deer, Alberta, Twp 38, Range 12, West of 4th Meridian; District 5, SubDistrict 48, RG 31 Statistics Canada
Lines 41-50
Clara is reiding with her Parents Ira & Rox-Alzina Weeks and siblings, Pearl, Ross, Elsie, Hazel, George & Omar
Weeks, Clara ; Female, Daughter, Single, Age 12 yrs, Birthdate July 1898, Birthplace Ontario

Marriage:
Name of Bridegroom: Charles Arthur Quaife
Name of Bride: Clara Sophronia Weeks
Date of Marriage: 26 April 1915
Place of Marriage: Castor, Alberta
Name of Officiating Clergyman: John S. Patterson
Certificate # 254
Source: Vital Statistics of Alberta - Transcript of Marriage
Obtained: 15 Aug 2007 Ref # 3587-G1-8

1916 Canadian Census; District 41 Red Deer, Sub District 20, Pg 19, Family # 240
Lines 28 -31
Quaife, Charles A., 38-12-4, Bulwark, Head, Male, Age 34, Birthplace Ont, Blacksmith, Anglican
Quaife, Clara, Wife, Female, Age 17, Birthplace Ontario
Quaife, Stanley; Male, Son, Age 1, Birthplace Alberta
Weeks, Elsie, Female, Sister in law, Age 12, Birthplace Ontario



1921 Canadian Census - Province of Alberta, District Red Deer, District #1, Subdistrict 1
Village: Municipality of Coronation, Twp 38, Range 12, Meridian 4
Charles Arthur Quaife, Male, Head, Married, Age 42, Birth Yr abt 1879, Birthplace Ontario
Father's birthplace Eng, Mother's birthplace USA, Occupation Blacksmith
Carl Quaife, Female, Wife, Married, AGe 24 ** (Should be Clara)
Stanley Creek Quaife, Son, Male, Age 6 * (should be Stanley Cecil Quaife)
Delbert Clarence Quaife, Son, Male, Age 3
Penny Quaife, Female, Dtr, Age 1


Clara noted in her family records that she had lost 3 children as infants.
In checking with Taber Town Records, Cemetery Dept., it was noted that there are 4 infant burials
Block 12, Plot 4, Row D - Quaife, Delphine Lar (infant)- rec # 702, Aug. 31, 1929
Block 12, Plot 4, Row D - Quaife, Infant- rec # 722 May 4, 1930

Block 12, Plot 3, Row D - Quaife, Sophournia (Infant) - rec. # 935, Aug. 18, 1937
Block 12, Plot 3, Row D - Quaife, Veronica (Infant) - rec. # 959, Aug. 14, 1938 .
It is very probable that these 4 infants are Clara/Charles A. Quaifes.
There are no markers, but I have a map of this cemetery and took a photo of the blank space that is believed to be where the graves were. (2002 hw)



Funeral services were held on Tuesday, April 2, 1957 in the Rimbey United Church at 2:00 pm for the late Mrs. Clara Quaife. Rev. Julian officiated.
Mrs. Quiafe was born in Tillsonburg, Ontario and moved to the Castor district in 1906. On April 24, 1914, she was united in marriage with Mr. Charles Quaife. In 1922 they moved with their family to the Taber district, where they remained until 10 years ago, when Mrs. Quaife came to the Rimbey district to live with her own family. During the past 2 years, she has been a patient in the Three-way Hospital.
She was predeceased by a son,Leo,who died overseas October 9, 1944 and her husband, who passed away November 29, 1944.
She leaves to mourn her loss, two sons, Stanley and Delbert of Rimbey and Edmonton, respectively; 3 daughters: Mrs Pansy McLaren of Cranbrook, B.C., Mrs Viola Robert and Mrs. Clarence Hronek of Rimbey; two brothers: Ross Weeks of Castor and Omar Weeks of Vancouver B. C.; and two sisters - Mrs pearl Strome and Mrs Hazel Wilkie of Castor. There are twenty grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Mr. J Bennink, Mr L.V. Schrader, Mr Carl Brun, Mr. Sander Thompson, Mr. Godfrey Frank and Mr. Dave Duke.
Internment was in the Mount Auburn Cemetery at Rimbey.

Source: Rimbey Record Apr 1957

Clara is interned in Lot 217, Bloc 5 at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Rimbey, AB

Monument reads
Quaife
Clara S.
1898-1957
Ever Remembered, Ever Loved.

Shared with her daughter Viola (Quaife) Roberts.

1901 Census:
- Age 2

1906 Census:
- Age 8

1911 Census:
- Age 12

1916 Census:
Married, Age 17

Robert married Esther Ann Davis. Esther was born in 1892; died in 1969. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1881 Canadian Census: RG31, Film C-13243, Family 126, Line 24 & 25 on Page 27, Line 1 & 2 page 28 (Muskoka District #131)
Quaife, Thomas, Head, Male, Age 27, married,English, C. Methodist, Farmer,
Quaife, Mary Nancy, Female, Age 25,married, Dutch, C. Methodist,
Quaife, Pauline, Female, Daughter,Single, Age 2
Quaife, Thomas W., Male, Son, Single Age 1


1901 Canadian Census, District On, York, West, # 131, York, L-4, page 8, Lines 30 - 39
Quafe, Thomas W. Male, Head, Widow, Born Aug 6 1852, Age 49, Labourer
Quafe, Pliane* (Pauline), Female, Daughter, Single, Born Sept 7 1879, Age 22
Quafe, Thomas, Male, Son, Single, Born June 2 1881, Age 20, Teamster
Quafe, Charles, Male, Son, Single, Born Apr 24 1883, Age 18, Teamster
Quafe, John, Male, Son, Single, Born Oct 28 1885, Age 16
Quafe, Florance, Female, Daughter, Single, Born Feb 13 1887, Age 14
Quafe, Alfred, Male, Son, Single, Born Nov 9 1889, Age 12
Quafe, Gracie, Female, Daughter, Single, Born Sept 9 1892, Age 9
Quafe, Joseph, Male, Son, Single, Born Mar 28 1894, Age 7
Quafe, David, Male, Son, Single, Born SEp 18 1897, Age 5

Thomas married Nancy Ellen Fetterly. Nancy was born about 1854 in , , Ontario, Canada; died on 4 Mar 1901 in York Twp, York, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• 1901 Census: 1901, Tillsonburg, Dereham Twp, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada; 1901 Canada Census
• Religion: 1901; Presbyterian

Notes:

BIRTH:
March 21, 1870, Ira Weeks, Male, son of Isaac Weeks and Nancy Westbrook,
Occupation of Father - Farmer; Informant: Isaac Weeks at South Norwich,
Oxford Cty, March 28, 1870. Source: LDS Film # 1844884; # 4693 - 70.

1871 Census - listed with his parents, siblings
Weeks, Ira, male, age 1, birthplace Ontario, Origin German.

*1901 Census 93 Norfolk, c-2 Middleton, Page 6, Line 7-10*
Weeks, Ira, Male, White, Head, Married, Born Mar 21, 1870, Age 31, Birthplace rural Ontario, Origin English, Religion Presbyterian, Farmer
Weeks, Roxie A., Female, White, Wife, Married, Born Oct. 16, 1876, Origin German, Religion Baptist
Weeks, Clara S., Female, White, Daughter, Single, Born July 18, 1898, Age 2, Birthplace rural Ontario, English, Baptist Religion
Weeks, Pearl A., Female, White, Daughter, Single, Born Mar. 13, 1900, Age 1, English, Baptist

Schedule 2 1901 Census Info:
Middleton, Lot 6, Conc. 4 NTR, 1 wood house with 3 rooms, 40 acres, 1 barn.

Clipping of Obituary from Castor Advance weekly newspaper - Thursday May 31, 1951
Ira Weeks, 81, passes Tuesday
A pioneer of the Knob Hill district, Mr. Ira Weeks, passed away at the Castor Hospital on Tuesday, May 29th, at the age of 81. He had been in ill health for some time.
Born in Tillsonburg, Ontario in 1870, he came as far west as Lacombe in 1905 and the following year brought his family out and settled in Knob Hill area, 22 miles east of the present town of Castor. In later years he moved to Castor and six years ago went to live with his oldest son at Fleet. His wife predeceased him in 1911.
He leaves to mourn his loss, two sons. Homer* of Vancouver and Ross of Fleet; three daughters, Mrs. Clara Quaife of Rimbey, Mrs. Pearl Strome and Mrs. Hazel Wilkie, both of Castor; 24 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren; 3 brothers, two in Ontario and one in Chilliwack, B.C. and a sister in Ontario.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 01, at 2:30 p.m. at the Markham Chruch, with interment in the Markham cemetery.
Matthias Funeral Home, Castor in charge of arrangements.
* - error - should be Omar


Thursday, June 07, 1951
Funeral services for the late Mr. Ira Weeks, who passed away on May 29, were held on Friday, June 1st, from the Markham Church, with Rev. R. Shantz officiating.
Pallbearers were Messrs. Joseph Wideman, Wilmot Wideman, William Seth, Rav Davey, and A. Geiger.
Beautiful floral tributes were received from: The Family; Knox United Church W.A., Mr and Mrs. Ernest Wimmer, Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Holloway;, Mr. and Mrs C.S. Johnson; Mr. and Mrs. R. Holloway; Mr and Mrs. D. Holloway.
Mr. W. Wideman and girls; Mr. and Mrs. D.C. Quaife; Friends of Fleet community and Mr. and Mrs. D. Morasch.


Source of Death Certificate: Vital Stats of AB, Pre Reg. # 154977; Reg # 08-003883

Family Legend by Ross Weeks and Pearl (Weeks) Strome
In the spring of 1905, Ira Weeks came from Tillsonburg, Ontario to Lacombe AB. He found work there for the winter, lived in a tar paper shack, and filed on a homestead. The next spring, his wife Roxy( ANDRESS) and five children came by CPR to join him. They lived for a month in Lacombe then put their belongings onto a wagon, hitched up the cayuses, Polly and Gin, and headed for the homestead, a 101 miles to the East.
For two nights we slept on quilts out under the stars and got to the homestead on May 08, 1906. On the way Dad had to buy a loaf of bread, costing 35 cents, a very high price in those days.
Dad had only $35.00 in his picket, no house and no well. The first thing he did the next day, he took his spade and went to draw about a quarter of a mile away and dug a shallow pit that soon filled with water so we had a temporary well. We unloaded the packing boxes and the cupboard and then set up a sort of shelter. It was just four big quilts fastened to upright poles, with a canvas over top, and we called it the "Quilt House". It stood right out on the open plain, just a little shelter for all of us and we lived in it until early winter.
To start our house, Dad dug a trench one spade-width all around a rectangle 6'x24'. Then all summer long, Mother dug the dirt out to a depth of five feet. While she was doing this Dad was busy cutting logs and hauling them from Beaver Dam Creek - 3 1/2 miles North of the homestead which was on NW 1/2-22-38-12-W4, about 6 miles NW of Bulwark. The neighbours came and helped put the logs up and the roof on. Chinking had to be done with small pieces of wood nailed over the cracks and then smeared with mud. The dirt walls were covered with rough lumber to keep them from caving in. We had just a plain dirt floor that winter.
When it came to digging the well, Dad dug while Mother pulled the dirt and mud up out of the well in a heavy bucket attached by a rope to a big windlass. It was heavy work.
It was beautiful country and we enjoyed going barefoot all summer. We had a good garden because Dad ploughed up a garden patch and we planted potatoes right in the fresh sod.
The following year, Dad bought four oxen, for which he paid $35.00 each. He had earned money by hauling freight loads of lumber and supplies from Stettler. He still had the cayuses, which he kept for many years. The little blue roan, called Polly, lived a long life for a horse, 38 years and raised many fine colts. Dad finally gave her to a neigbhouring family, the Stoffers.
Father ploughed sod for a barn and built it. He bought a roan cow from Mrs. (Maxfield) Williams who had a grocery store at Brownfield. Ross never liked the milk because to him it had a peculiar flavour. Besides the cow, we had some chickens and 2 guinea fowl.
Ross remembers an old song on the gramophone that said "J stands for Jersey City where the mosquitoes weigh a pound" and that, he says, certainly applies to the ones on the homestead. He remembers going with his father on one trip when they had to camp out for the night and sleep under the wagon. The oxen were turned loose to take comfort in a slough. The mosquitoes were so bad, that you couldn't leave your head uncovered or they would grab you by the ear or throat, and you'd have quite a battle going.
In the fall, Mother was really sick. She had pneumonia, and we though that she wasn't going to pull through, but God spared her for us. One windy night Mom and Dad carried all of us to the dug out part of the new house as they thought the Quilt House would blow away. We didn't know anything about it until the next morning. Three-day rains were a problem too, in the Quilt House, and that summer we had three of them, everything getting soaked but one big bed. For firewood we had only small brush and green wood, so it had to be kept dry somehow.
Winter 1906-07 was sure a hard winter. Six feet of snow on the level. Bitter cold. Snow came October 16 and snow was still around the bush until June 12. Mr Kelly, a neighbour, had gone to get us a load of wood as we had no coal. By the time he had the wood loaded, twas dark, the snow was deep, his team tired, it was snowing and blowing, but he stayed all night in the bush. He cut branches to keep a little fire going to keep from freezing. Next morning, he came to our place nearly blinded with smoke. He wouldn't come in the evening as he knew Dad was away to Stettler for freight. Mother gave him a good breakfast.
Next spring when the French Creek was flooding, the oldest Doering girls had a horse and buggy and were on their way to see their sister Bertha, who was working for Mr. Gorrell. The current was so high and strong that the girls were thrown into the stream and drowned. The horse broke loose and was found grazing in the coulee. Mr. Chabrier lived in a little log house near the coulee, and he showed the folks where the girls were in the creek. They were buried on a high hill on the Doering homestead. Later on in the summer, the mailman called Shortie, lost his team and mail sacks in the same creek when the water was high. He managed to swim to safety.
For the first few years, we got our mail at O'Delville, 18 miles W of our place. There was a grocery store there, where we could get our supplies. In 1909, we got our mail at Lindsville, where there was also a small store and post office. There was, also later, a post office at Lorraine, on the old Seamans place, and we have several postcards with that address.
In the summer of 1908, Knob HIll school was built, just a mile west of our place. Miss Lord was the first teacher and she boarded with the Ellis Warrens. Other teachers were Miss Pearl Howe, Mr. Purdy, and Jack Haynes.
The families that started that year to attend Knob Hill wre those of:
T.C. Gorrell (farmer): Roy Lawsen, Charlie Grover, Laura Gladys, Bert and Alice. They lived 3 miles NW of the school.
Charlie Coyne (carpenter) Cyril, Ila, Lillian, Thecia, Bernice. They lived 2 miles W. of us.
White: Eldon, Thorton, Floyd. Lived 1/2 mile East of us.
Tom Gordon: Louis, Gregory, Fay. Lived 1 mile SE.
Chabrier: Emile, Edmond, Marcel. Lived 3/4 m SE
Martin Ice: Ruth, Amry, Marjorie. Lived 1/2 m West.
Mrs Hall, Albert and Hilda.
Mrs Fred Logan: Laura, Lucy Rosie, Mabel.
Ira Weeks: Clara, Pearl, Ross, Elsie, and Hazel.
We had a good time with the neighbours. In 1909, Ross, Clara and I became janitors at the school. Ross built the fires, Clara and I did the cleaning, and generally had to split wood besides. For pay we received 5 cents a day in the summer, and 10 cents a day in the winter. When we quit, the pay went up to 25 cents a day and has kept spiralling to what it is today. Quite a difference.
We walked to school summer and winter, and didn't have many warm clothes for the cold weather. We had to spread lard on our bread instead of butter, and the Chabrier kids and Ross used to go North of our place about 2 miles on Sunday and shoot bush rabbits for food.
For entertainment, we had Box socials once in a while, or square dances. Sometimes a group would get up a big debate and try to outdo each other with logic. There were not many sports days, but on July 1st, we were given about 15 cents to spend and we had a good time on that. Maybe an orange, an ice cream cone, and 5 cents worth of all-day suckers.
T.C. Gorrell and his three boys all had homesteads in the Knob Hill district. Tom had a saw-mill and sawed the lumber for T. J. Coppock's big house, where Doug now lives and for the houe that the Gorrells lived in, in which M. K. Christiansen lived in until spring 1973. I well remember when George Sullivan worked at the saw mill and had one arm cut off. They hitched the driving team to the buggy and took off for Stettler and the doctor.
In 1908, Mother took a milk pail, several small pails and five kids, and walked 3 1/2 miles to the beaver Dam Crek to pick Saskatoons. She made three such trips and canned 40 quarts. In the summer Dad had Mr. Gorrell break thirty acres of land with the big steam engine and 14-bottom plough. The crop in 1911 was good, but frost wiped out the hopes of nearly all the neighbours. Dad's crop was not frozen and he sold it next spring for seed wheat.
In 1911, Mom's mother (Charity Sophronia) took very ill, so Mom and the four smaller children went back East (Ontario) for a visit. On the trip home, Mom became ill, lived for a month, passed away, leaving Dad with seven children. Clara was 13, I was 11, and the youngest Omar was just two. But we baked bread, and scrubbed clothes on the washboard and helped to cook and look after the family. Dad bought a windmill and a grinder and we used to grind grain for the neighbourhood at 10 cents cwt. Many were the sacks we ground. Ross was especially good at the mill.
In the fall of 1911, Ross had an accident. He jumped off the slant-roof shed on the back of the school barn, caught his foot on the top wire of the fence, and broke his elbow. He had to be taken to Calgary to have it set and as Dad didn't have that much money on hand, Dr. JJ McPherson loaned him $50.00. Ross was away three weeks at the Holy Cross Hospital, Dr. McPherson wa a very kind man.
Somebody must have complained about us to the authorities, because that fall, the police and one man came to see us. Dad was away so they looked the house over. We had just baked 14 big loaves of bread, and had a quarter of beef on the table. Someone wanted to split the family up, but Dad wouldn't hear of it.
When Dad sold his frozen grain the next year, he got only 35 cents a bushel. but he repaid Dr. McPherson. However, Dad had a loan on his homestead and because he couldn't meet his payment in 1913, he lost it and we had to move into a tent for the summer. ( The loan was taken at the time Roxy went East to see her family, also to Gorrell to clear more of the homestead, as required by the Homestead Act, then later when Roxy died, more financial troubles, poor crop) A most difficult time.
That year the CPR and CNR were both putting railways into French Coulee. Grade was built and track was laid from Coronation to Bulwark, and this was used for some years. However the track from Bulwark to Lorraine Bridge was abandoned and the bridge was removed a few years later. Crews that were working on the projects were those of Sharkey and Homes, who were camped down in the valley; Foley and Coughlin, who were up on the level, and Sandeens, who had a big steam shovel working in French Coulee.
Ross adds the following information:
Clara, who married Charlie Quaife in 1915, lived in Bulwark for quite a few years, where Charlie did blacksmithing. They moved down to Taber.
Pearl maried Milton Strome in 1917, and moved to the Castor district.
Ross married Zillah Irene Troyer.
Elsie worked for the Kishes who lived up near the river. She took an attack of appendicitis and died when she was about 17.
Hazel married Andy Wilkie, and lives in Castor. She was Matron of the Paintearth Lodge from 1968-1973.
Two brothers were born in Alberta, George and Omar.
George died when he was about 12.
Omar lives in Vancouver. He married Dorothy Dettlaff, whose family lives South of Throne.


That was our start in Sunny Alberta.

PS: Many early settlers describe the mosquitoes as being so bad in the 'early days'. The mosquitoes could be so bad, that a team of oxen would not plough, but if a farmer tried, the oxen, plough and all would just head for the sloughs. Source: The Ice Family Story

Also the bad winter of 1906-07 was the worst ever. Snow was so deep that the buildings were all buried. One could walk right over the top of the house, barn and henhouse.

Farming schedules or routines; The day would start at 3 am, and lasted until 9 am when the oxen were rested for the next shift that started at 3 pm and lasted until 9 pm. Usually 20 half mile rounds were made each day.


Markham Cemetery is located approx. 8 miles NE of Castor, AB

Ira married Roxy Alvina Andress on 20 Apr 1898 in Aylmer, Elgin County, Ontario, Canada. Roxy (daughter of George Neale Andress and Charity Sophronia (Fray) Andress) was born on 16 Oct 1876 in Cultus, Houghton Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada; died on 10 Sep 1911 in Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada; was buried in Markham Cemetery, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: 1901; Baptist

Notes:

Birth Registration: Roxa Alvina Andrews
Date: October 16, 1876
Female
Father: George Neal Andrews
Mother: Charity Sophronia Fray
Occupation of Father: Farmer
Informant: Mrs. C.S. Andrews, Walsingham
Source: LDS Film # 1845212; 18469 -77


*1901 Census 93 Norfolk c-2 Middleton Page 6, Line 8*
Weeks, Roxie A., Female, White, Wife, Married, Born Oct. 16, 1876, Origin
German, Religion Baptist


Registration of Death:
Roxy Alzina Weeks
Date of Death: Sept. 10, 1911
Place of Death: Castor Hospital, AB
Female
Age: 35 years
Married
Birthplace; Cultus, Norfolk Cty Ontario
Cause of Death: Incomplete Abortion
Physician: JJ McPherson MD
Relgion: Baptist
Source: Vital Statistics Record Canada, Province of AB, No. 2593 -0 of 1911

Notes:

Married:
Marriage Rgistration:
Groom; Ira Weeks
Age: 28 years
Residence; Dereham, Ont.
Birthplace: Norwich, Ont.
Bachelor
Occupation: Farmer
Parents: Isaac Weeks, and Nancy Westbrook
Bride; Roxy A. Andress
Age: 21 years
Residence: Tillsonburg, Ont.
Birthplace: Walsingham,Ont.
Spinster
Parents: George Andrews and Charity Andress* Spellings of these
names kept changing from Andrews to Andress in same documents.
Witnesses: Edward J. Moore, Walsingham; Minnie Andress, Houghton
Date of Marriage; April 20, 1898, Aylmer, Ont.
Religion: Baptist
Minister: C. H. Kimball by licence
Source: LDS Film # 1870920; #4368-98