My Scottish "Wilkie" Family

J.E. Weeks



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Generation: 1

  1. 1.  J.E. Weeks

    J.E. married J.M. Olson [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

    Children:
    1. R.J. Weeks
    2. C.E. Weeks
    3. R.J.B. Weeks

Generation: 2

  1. 2.  Austin Raymond Weeks was born on 8 Oct 1923 in Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada (son of Ross Edward Weeks and Zillah Irene Troyer); died on 8 Aug 2002 in Red Deer Regional Hospital, Red Deer, Red Deer County, Alberta, Canada; was buried on 12 Aug 2002 in Markham Cemetery, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • Occupation: Farmer
    • Residence: 2001; Red Deer, AB

    Notes:

    Obituary Austin Raymond Weeks

    Austin was born on Oct. 8, 1923 at Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital in Castor, AB. Austin lived in the Fleet district until moving to Red Deer in October of 2001. He took his schooling at the Fleet School. After school he began his life long career of farming.
    On May 10, 1945 he was united in marriage to Alice Holloway and to this union were born 10 children, six boys and four girls whom he cherished and loved very much. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He loved family gatherings and visiting. Austin with his wife Alice and children attended the Markham Chruch in the country until it closed down and then they joined the Castor Missionary Church, where he was actively involved over the years as a board member, Sunday school teacher, Deacon and Treasurer. He also was an active member of the Gideons for many years. The only love that surpassed his love of his family was his love for the Lord.
    Austin and Alice lived at the family homestead for 48 years and then moved west one mile to a smaller home after all their family had left the nest and son Clifford bought the family farm. They spent another three years together before Alice passed away.
    In 1997 Austin met Helen Wiebe of Red Deer, AB and they were soon married. Helen came to join Austin at his home in Castor where they spent two years traveling and entertaining before Austin had a stroke.
    Austin's health began to fail and after several months in different hospitals, Austin and Helen moved into a senior's apartment in Red Deer where he lived till the time of his passing.
    Predeceased by his parents, Ross and Zillah; first wife Alice; son Richard and daughter Irene; He leaves to mourn his passing, his loving wife Helen; sons Gordon (Gloria), Jim (Joyce), Larry (Maryanne), Clifford (Debbie), Kevin (Marcy) all of Castor, AB; daughters Edith (Tom) McKinlay of Sylvan Lake, AB, Evelyn (Greg) Szoke of Brooks, AB;, Linda (Mark) Turner of Edmonton, AB; son in law Jim Bartlett of Coronation, AB; 24 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren; sisters Elva Wimmer of Calgary, AB; and Islay (Jim) McKay of Red Deer, AB, brother in law Lester Kelly and sister in law Nancy Holloway, Enid Holloway and Pat Holloway, as well as Austin's step family, many other relatives and a host of good friends.
    Mr. Austin Raymond Weeks, a resident of Red Deer, AB, passed away in the Red Deer Regional Hospital on Thursday, August 8, 2002 at the age of 78 years and 10 months.

    (Medical):Stroke in 1999; brain tumor/surgery 2000

    Austin married Alice Marion Holloway on 10 May 1945. Alice (daughter of J. Holloway and Jessie) was born on 15 Jan 1923 in Fleet, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada; died on 4 Nov 1996 in Red Deer Regional Hospital, Red Deer, Red Deer County, Alberta, Canada; was buried on 8 Nov 1996 in Markham Cemetery, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 3.  Alice Marion Holloway was born on 15 Jan 1923 in Fleet, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada (daughter of J. Holloway and Jessie); died on 4 Nov 1996 in Red Deer Regional Hospital, Red Deer, Red Deer County, Alberta, Canada; was buried on 8 Nov 1996 in Markham Cemetery, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada.

    Notes:

    Obiturary:
    Alice Marion Weeks of Castor passed away at the Red Deer Regional
    hospital on Monday, November 4, 1996. She was 73 years, 9 mos, 20 days.
    Alice Holloway was born Jan. 15, 1923 at the farm home of Wilmot and Sarah Wideman, two miles North of Fleet and lived all her life in the Fleet and Arthurdale districts. She took her schooling in the Arthurdale School.
    Alice's parents were John and Jessie Holloway. She had four brothers - Cliff, Jack, Bob and Dave and one sister Doris.
    On May 10, 1945 she was united in marriage to Austin Weeks and to this union were born 10 children; 6 boys and 4 girls whom she cherished and loved very much. Alice and Austin lived in the old farm home for 48 years and then moved West one mile to where Emil and Amelia Adolph used to live. They resided here until the time of her death.
    Alice was predeceased by her parents John and Jessie Holloway, infant brother Norman, infant sister Mary, brothers Clifford, Jack and Dave, sister Doris, son Richard in 1970 and daughter Irene Bartlett on Thanksgiving Day, October 14, 1996 at the age of 47 years.
    Funeral services were held at the Castor Community hall on Friday, November 8, 1996 at 2 pm with Rev. Kevin Van Koughnett officiating. The eulogy was given by Betty Stauffer and a tribute to Alice was given by Rev. Willie Annett.

    Interment was at Markham Cemetery

    Cause of death - CVA (stroke)

    Children:
    1. G.R. Weeks
    2. 1. J.E. Weeks
    3. Irene Alice Weeks was born on 11 Oct 1949 in Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada; died on 14 Oct 1996 in Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada.
    4. E.I. Weeks
    5. Richard Lee Weeks was born on 7 Apr 1955 in Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada; died on 30 Jul 1970 in Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada; was buried in Castor Cemetery, Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada.
    6. L.A. Weeks
    7. E.M. Weeks
    8. L.A. Weeks
    9. C.J. Weeks
    10. K.M. Weeks


Generation: 3

  1. 4.  Ross Edward Weeks was born on 8 May 1901 in Tillsonburg, Dereham Twp, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada (son of Ira Weeks and Roxy Alvina Andress); died on 26 Aug 1989 in Red Deer, Red Deer County, Alberta, Canada; was buried on 29 Aug 1989 in Castor Cemetery, Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • Occupation: Farmer
    • Religion: Castor Missionary Church

    Notes:

    Obituary:
    Ross was born May 08, 1901 in Tillsonburg, Ontario. Ross is
    predeceased by Richard Weeks in 1970, four sisters - Elsie, Clara, Pearl and Hazel and one brother George.
    Mr Weeks is survived by his wife Zillah Irene Weeks of Claresholm Care Center, one brother Omar (Dorothy) Weeks of Kelowna, B.C.; sone son Austin (Alice) Weeks of Castor; two daughers Elva Wimmer of Calgary and Islay (Jim) McKay of Red Deer; 16 grandchildren- Gordon (Gloria) Weeks, Jim (Joyce) Weeks, Irene(Jim) Bartlett, Edith (Tom) McKinley, larry (Mary Ann) Weeks, Evelyn (Greg) Szoke, Linda Weeks, Clifford (Debbie) Weeks, Kevin Weeks, Sandra Sturdy, Brian (Jean) Wimmer, Barry Wimmer, Tim (Theresa) McKay, Linda (Greg) White, Joan and Gaylene McKay, 27 great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren as well as many other relatives and friends.

    Ross died August 26, 1989 at Red Deer, AB - lived 88 years, 3 mos, 18 days.
    Interment at Castor Cemetery.

    Ross married Zillah Irene Troyer in 1921 in Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada. Zillah (daughter of Michael Troyer and Bertha "Matilda" Unknown) was born on 14 Jun 1899 in Stouffville, Ontario, Canada; died on 12 Jun 1992 in Coronation, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada; was buried on 16 Jun 1992 in Castor Cemetery, Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 5.  Zillah Irene Troyer was born on 14 Jun 1899 in Stouffville, Ontario, Canada (daughter of Michael Troyer and Bertha "Matilda" Unknown); died on 12 Jun 1992 in Coronation, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada; was buried on 16 Jun 1992 in Castor Cemetery, Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada.

    Notes:

    Elva told me (Heather), the following excerpts. Her mother, Zillah had been painting cupboards in their home, the children had all been ill with strep throat infectons, and finally, Zillah herself succumbed to a serious strep throat infection as well. She was rushed to the hospital, feverish, delirious, not responding to any treatment at that time by Dr. Cousineau. Family members - like Hazel Wilkie, stayed with Zillah during the nights, to assist in her care. Altho, Zillah did improve physically, she didn't improve mentally, and was transferred to the Mental Hospital in Ponoka, AB. This was most devestating to her family, husband, 3 young children at home now, without a Mother. Zillah remained for 16 years in Ponoka and her children feel Zillah was never given the right chances, medications, diagnoses to help her improve. Once she was transferred to Claresholm, she fared much better, but at this time, couldn't manage by herself independently. Elva, Islay and Austin are left with many unanswered questions to this day. (July 27, 2002. HW.)

    Obituary:
    Zillah Irene Troyer was born June 14, 1899 at Stouffville, Ontario. Zillah came to AB in 1906 with her parents where they homesteaded in the Markham district. She took her schooling in the Markham School and in 1921 was married to Ross Edward Weeks. To this union three children were born, Austin, Elva and Islay.
    Ross and Zillah only had 16 years together. In the spring of 1937, Zillah took sick with a strep infection, and was placed in the Ponoka Mental Institution until 1953 when she was transferred to a care home in Claresholm until July 1991 when she was transferred to the Coronation Nursing Home, where she has resided until the time of her death.
    Predeceased by her parents, her husband Ross and her brothers, Clarence, Artis, and Wilmot, Zillah is survived by one son Austin (Alice) Weeks of Cator, two daughters Elva Wimmer of Calgary, and Islay (Jim McKay) of Red Deer; 17 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren; 4 great, great grandchildren as well as numerous friends.

    Zillah Irene Weeks died June 12, 1992 at Coronation AB. She lived 92 years, 11 mos, 29 days.
    Interment at Castor Municipal Cemetery.

    Source: Obit from Parkview Funeral Chapel

    Children:
    1. 2. Austin Raymond Weeks was born on 8 Oct 1923 in Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada; died on 8 Aug 2002 in Red Deer Regional Hospital, Red Deer, Red Deer County, Alberta, Canada; was buried on 12 Aug 2002 in Markham Cemetery, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada.
    2. Elva Elnora Weeks was born on 1 Nov 1926 in Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada; died on 22 Sep 2016 in Red Deer Hospice, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.
    3. I.M. Weeks

  3. 6.  J. Holloway

    J. married Jessie. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  4. 7.  Jessie
    Children:
    1. 3. Alice Marion Holloway was born on 15 Jan 1923 in Fleet, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada; died on 4 Nov 1996 in Red Deer Regional Hospital, Red Deer, Red Deer County, Alberta, Canada; was buried on 8 Nov 1996 in Markham Cemetery, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada.


Generation: 4

  1. 8.  Ira Weeks was born on 21 Mar 1870 in Norwich Twp, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada (son of Isaac Weeks and Mary Nancy Westbrook); died on 29 May 1951 in Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada; was buried on 1 Jun 1951 in Markham Cemetery, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada.

    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]


  2. 9.  Roxy Alvina Andress was born on 16 Oct 1876 in Cultus, Houghton Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada (daughter of George Neale Andress and Charity Sophronia (Fray) Andress); died on 10 Sep 1911 in Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada; was buried in Markham Cemetery, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada.

    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

    Children:
    1. Clara Sophronia Weeks 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.
    2. Pearl Agness Weeks was born on 13 Mar 1900 in Tillsonburg, Dereham Twp, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada; died on 25 Jul 1987 in Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada; was buried on 28 Jul 1987 in Castor Cemetery, Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada.
    3. 4. Ross Edward Weeks was born on 8 May 1901 in Tillsonburg, Dereham Twp, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada; died on 26 Aug 1989 in Red Deer, Red Deer County, Alberta, Canada; was buried on 29 Aug 1989 in Castor Cemetery, Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada.
    4. Elsie Mabel Weeks was born on 3 Sep 1903 in Malahide Twp, Elgin County, Ontario, Canada; died on 23 Jul 1920 in Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada.
    5. Hazel Belle Weeks was born on 3 Mar 1905 in Tillsonburg, Dereham Twp, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada; died on 13 Dec 1987 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada; was buried on 17 Dec 1987 in Castor Cemetery, Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada.
    6. George Ira Weeks was born on 1 Apr 1908 in Linnsville, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada; died on 22 Jan 1920 in Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada; was buried in Markham Cemetery, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada.
    7. Omar Neal Weeks was born on 23 Jun 1909 in Linnsville, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada; died on 29 May 2005 in Windsor Care Manor 355 Terai Court, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada; was buried on 20 Aug 2005 in Markham Cemetery, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada.

  3. 10.  Michael Troyer was born about 1859; and died.

    Michael married Bertha "Matilda" Unknown. Bertha was born about 1866; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  4. 11.  Bertha "Matilda" Unknown was born about 1866; and died.

    Notes:

    1906 Census at Strathcona, AB, District 21, Subdistrict 8, Page 15, Line 21-26

    Troyer, M. Head, male, Married, Age 47, Birthplace Ontario, Land Location Section 22, Twp 37, Range 13, 1 horse
    Troyer, Minnie, Female, Wife, Age 40, Birthplace Ontario.
    Troyer, Clarence, Son, Male, Single, Age 10, birthplace Ontario
    Troyer, Wilmot, Son, Male, Single, Age 8, Birthplace Ontario
    Troyer, Zilla, Daughter, Female, Single, Age 6, Birthplace Ontario
    Troyer, Artie, Son, Male, Single, Age 4, Birthplace Ontario

    Children:
    1. Clarence Troyer was born in 1896.
    2. Wilmot Troyer was born in 1898.
    3. Artie Troyer was born in 1899.
    4. 5. Zillah Irene Troyer was born on 14 Jun 1899 in Stouffville, Ontario, Canada; died on 12 Jun 1992 in Coronation, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada; was buried on 16 Jun 1992 in Castor Cemetery, Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada.



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