Week 42 - Joanna Henry Braid

Joanna Henry Braid (1876 - 1970)

 Joanna was born January 21, 1876, the youngest of the family of William and Mary Henry.  Her father died in Perth, Ontario when she was just over 2 years old.   When Joanna was 5 years old the Henry family, Widow Mary and her 11 children,  left for the Manitoba where more land would be available for homesteading for her family.  My great grandmother Elizabeth was the eldest in this family.  They went to Brandon where the railway ended at that time and an ox cart would have been next, taking them to the home of her father's brother John and his wife Jennet who had "broken the trail" for them 3 years earlier, in the district northwest of Rivers, MB. The story goes that they lived together - 25 souls under one roof, until Mary and her family could construct their own shelter on nearby land claimed by them. The first house at SW 6-14-21 was built of logs brought from the Newdale-Sandy lake area- a distance of roughly 40 miles. A large stone house was built in 1888 which became a landmark and community meeting place for many years.  Stones from that house were later used in the building of a cairn to remember the Whitebank Lea School and Pioneers.

Joanna married William Braid on March 10, 1904.  It is said in the 1959 Blanshard history book that this event took place during one of the worst blizzards that was ever experienced in the area. 

Billy, as he was known, had arrived to Oak River from Scotland in 1891 at the age of 17.  He worked as a herd boy for the Miller and Short families.  In 1896, he took employment with Widow Mary Henry where he remained for the next 4 years.  In 1900, Billy had saved up enough money to buy his own farm, on SW 7-14-21 from the CPR.  Buying a farm was only part of what he needed as oxen and a plow were needed to break the soil to prepare for seeding a crop.  Four years later he was established enough to ask for the hand in marriage of his former employer Mary Henry's youngest daughter Joanna.

Billy was involved in his community with the Zion Church that was just east of his farm,Whitebank Lea school board, Oak River Agricultural Society and Brandon Summer Fair Board.   Aunt Dodie wrote beside his photo in one of her history books that he was one of her favorite uncles.

Billy served as Reeve of the RM of Blanshard from 1922 to 1931.  He succeeded his brother-in-law Ned Henry, Joanna's brother.  The Blanshard History books says that this period of time was when road and bridge building was at its peak in the municipality.  Poor economic conditions hit in 1930 but discussions were still held regarding supplying electricity to the villages of Oak River and Cardale.  

William Braid  passed away on February 27, 1937 at the age of 62.

The side of the gravestone for William and Joanna Braid is inscribed for an Ellen Spence.  On the 1916 and 1921 Manitoba Census, she can be found living with the Braid family and is noted as William's mother.  The census documents indicate that she arrived in Canada from Scotland in 1909.  The inscription on the stone says she was born May 12, 1850 and died October 29, 1926.  I have not found any further information about her or other Braid family.

Joanna and Billy had three children but only one daughter survived infant hood, Jessie Rowena, born May 18, 1911. Jessie attended Whitebank Lea School and although she had no siblings, no doubt she had plenty of playmates with so many Henry cousins living nearby and attending school with her. She married John Wesley "Wes"  Clubb of Lyleton, Manitoba in 1938 and the couple operated the Braid home farm together.  In 1914, William Braid had built a large dairy barn which stayed in continuous use until 1942 when it burned to the ground.  It was replaced with a more modern structure and the Clubbs moved from raising Ayrshire cattle to Herefords and then Charolais.  Joanna lived with her daughter and son in law on the home farm until she passed away in 1970 at the age of 94.
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With the three pictures I have of Joanna each including a cat, I can be fairly confident that she had an affinity for cats!  I remember her daughter Jessie in the 1970's visiting at Aunt Dodie and Uncle Sam's . She and Wes were staying in the yard with their camper and had two or maybe three cats tethered to leashes nearby.  Jessie and Wes didn't have children but always had special pets.

    

The Clubbs had some hard years to get through with challenging weather, poor commodity prices and changing farm practices.  They retired from active farming in the early 70's and lived for some years at Vernon, BC.  Jessie and Wes died in 1991 and 2006 respectively and are buried at Whitebank Lea Cemetery.  Jessie wrote much of the material used in this post in a Blanshard History Book and she ended with this quote:

The is a brief outline of the thirty years Wes and I have lived on the farm and trust that in generations to come they will read about and remember "The Clubbs".  

October 15, 1960

Happy 54th Anniversary Mom and Dad!

At Hargrave United Church Hargrave Manitoba

First down the aisle - Judy Kinnaird ( now Seafoot)
Then - Marilee Milliken (Smeltz)
Then - Lyn Simms (Bell)
Matron of Honor - Marjorie Tapp
Best Man - Bob Simms
Usher - Jim Milliken
Usher - Keith Kinnaird

Week 41 - William Duncan Milne

William Duncan Milne (1902 - 1960)

William Duncan Milne was born in Aberlour, Scotland on November 18 in 1902. This town is famous today for Walker's Shortbread and Aberlour Whisky! He was no doubt named after his mother's brother William Duncan Jamieson, who was featured in an earlier blog post. This William, called Bill, lived with his parents Alexander and Jeannie (Jane) near Keith in Banffshire until they decided to emigrate to Canada, his dad in 1904 and he with his brothers John and Alex and his mother in 1905. I can only imagine the courage that it took for young Jane Milne with all her most important possessions as well as three young boys ages 3, 5 and 7 to leave their home and family in Scotland to follow her husband to this new land of Canada. The Milnes lived in the Virden area, working for different farmers and this is where Bill's sister, my Grandmother Frances, was born in 1906. Bill would eventually have 7 siblings. In 1915 the Milnes sold out and went to Keremeos BC to pursue the life of ranching in the flats of the southern Okanagan Valley. Wikipedia says about the word "Keremeos":

The name originated from the Similkameen dialect of the Okanagan language word "Keremeyeus" meaning "creek which cuts its way through the flats" referring to Keremeos Creek which flows down from the Upper Benchlands to the Similkameen River that runs by the village. Local legend claims the name means "the meeting of the winds" and joke that the only time it's calm is when the wind blows equally from all four directions.

Milne Family in 1906 - Alex, Bill beside his dad, John, Jane holding Frances and Alex in front

Bill returned to Manitoba with his family and  began to work at the farm of Charles and Isabel Ivens in the Boss Hill area near Virden in the early 20's. Charles Ivens was from Berkshire, England and arrived in Virden in 1883 with a cousin with the same name.  This Charles was given the nickname "Colonel" and the other called "Infant" to keep them straight.  Binding Our Districts history books says Colonel Ivens became one of the most diversified and extensive farmers in the area with a large stone house, outbuildings and fruit trees and also maple and spruce. He was very involved in local politics and was Reeve from 1908 to 1940 with one year off when he went back to England.  He is credited with being the founder of Good Roads Manitoba.  Infant Ivens, his cousin, farmed for a while and later moved to Virden and later still to the West Coast.  He had a granddaughter who eventually became Mrs. Pierre Trudeau, Margaret!

In 1924, William Duncan Milne married the Colonel's daughter, Elizabeth "Mary". Both were 21 years old at that time.  They lived at NW 15-10-27 until 1946 when they moved to SW 16-10-27, the original homestead of C.E. Ivens. Bill and Mary moved to Virden in 1950.

Bill and. Mary had a daughter Jean Elizabeth and a son Charles Jeffrey.  They were a part of the Boss Hill community and their children went to the country school nearby.  Binding Our Districts history book says that "Boss Hill" was known as a landmark to the old-timers and was four and a half miles west of Virden.  In the early days it was the highest point of land in the area so it was given its name - Boss Hill.

My mom recalls Bill as her favorite uncle.  He was a farmer and a curler and Mary was a busy farm wife and community volunteer.

Bill died on August 4, 1960 and Mary on May 2, 1985 and they are buried in Rosewood Memorial Garden in Brandon, near my Grandma and Grandpa Kinnaird.

Week 40 - Frances Jeannie Milne Kinnaird

Frances Jeannie Milne Kinnaird (1906 - 1974)

My Grandma, Frances Jeannie was born to Alexander and Jeannie Milne on March 17, 1906 in the R.M. of Wallace in Manitoba.  She is the wee lass on her mum's knee in the photo above.  Alex and Jane were immigrants from the Banffshire area of Scotland.  Frances lived with her farming parents, 3 older brothers, 2 younger sisters and 2 younger brothers near Hargrave, Manitoba.  She lived her entire life there except for two years (1915 - 1917) with her family on a ranch at Keremeos, British Columbia.

Clipping of Frances and Frank's wedding 1927

When she was 21 years old, Frances married 33 year old farmer William Francis "Frank" Kinnaird on Thursday, March 31, 1927 at her parents' home with immediate relatives.  Attendants were her sister Margaret and Mr. Thomas A. Kerr.  The clipping says:

At five o'clock the bride entered the room on the arm of her father to the strains of  Lohengrin's Wedding March played by Mrs. Sparling.  The bride looked charming in a gown of soft white crepe and georgette with shoulder and girdle ornament of orange blossoms.  She carried pink and white flowers.  

Mr. and Mrs. Kinnaird left on the evening train for a short honeymoon in Brandon.  The bride travelled in a suit of navy blue gabardine trimmed with grey fur and a hat of navy taffeta with touches of red.  On their return, they will reside on the groom's farm near Hargrave.  

  I have never seen any photos from their wedding but can almost picture it from this vivid description!

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Milne sisters - Nan, Margaret and Frances 1955

 
The Kinnairds had 3 children: Keith, Marjorie and my mom, Margaret. Keith farmed the home farm and Marjorie and my mom both became teachers. Frances was a member of the Hargrave United Church, United Church Women, Lady Foresters, Hargrave Ladies Curling Club and Virden Health Auxilliary. Her obituary says that her main interests were her family, her friends and her farm work.  Frances Kinnaird sang in the church choir and my mom recalls her playing "by ear" on the piano, often it was the church hymns that she would play. Other things she remembers and shared with me include that her favourite outings were for playing cards, usually euchre and going to dances at the local schools and even the "Orange Hall" in Virden.

Grandma and Grandpa dressed up for the wedding of eldest daughter Marjorie to Thomas Tapp, July 12, 1952.

Grandma and Grandpa in 1961 with their house in the background.  

Through the thirties, forties and onward, Grandma would have been a busy farmer's wife with a big garden and many daily chores. Keeping food on the table without the benefit of freezers and fridges the way we have today must have been a job in itself.  Beef rings were a necessity where a group of neighbours would take turns butchering an animal and sharing the meat among them so it could be eaten before it spoiled.  She was known for her butter making skills Mom recalls that her mom would enter hers in the competition at the Virden Fair.  How would they ever keep it from melting into a puddle on a hot summer fair day?  She supported her community in many ways like writing the Hargrave News column for the Virden Empire Advance newspaper for many years.  

My cousin Judy remembers helping Grama deliver cream and eggs and how Frances could lift the full cream cans into the trunk of the car by herself.  She also recalls that Grama washed all the dishes, by hand, without running water after the Hargrave fall supper at the church and that she was very involved in cooking turkeys and making soup and pies for the Hargrave curling bonspiels every year.

Grandma and I - Christmas 1965

I have a few memories of spending time at my Grandma's house.  When it was time to milk cows, morning and night, she would go outside and yell "COW-BOSS" and all the cows would lift their heads, form into a line and walk from the pasture to the barn and go right to their own stall.  The lead cow was always the same (Bessie?  Bossie?) and this fascinated me! How could cows ever be that smart?
I also remember the heavy red velvet curtains that were tied back on the way upstairs at her house and sleeping in the bed with her with a reading lamp on the headboard turned on so I wouldn't be scared.

Grandma's birthday in 1971 - Sharon, Karen, Donna and Janice

Grandma watched All Star Wrestling, played TV Bingo and listened to bagpipe music and the Irish Rovers on her record player.  We had colouring books with markers at her house and chicken canned in sealers in some kind of clear jelly was a special treat.  I would just eat the jelly!

Grandma got sick with colon cancer in the early 70's and died on July 13, 1974.  Her mother died of the same disease and I am so grateful that this hereditary form of cancer is now caught early with scopes and screenings.

The video below is from home movies that my mom took of Grandma and visiting at her house.  You have to watch carefully to find Grandma, she seemed to avoid the camera!  That's me that won't go anywhere near the chicken.  It's probably the same way I would react today if someone tried to get me to hold one!

I hope the readers of this blog who knew my Grandma will share some of their memories in the comments below or email them to me and I'll add them to the post.  ssimms@escape.ca

 

Week 39 - Jessie Ann Henry Sinclair

Jessie Ann Henry Sinclair (1904 - 1987)

Jessie was the eldest child and only daughter of Samuel Henry Sr. and Amelia Ollett, born on January 19, 1904 on NW22-13-21. They lived and farmed there aside for a few years when they owned and ran a livery barn in the nearby town of Rivers. Her 3 brothers were Bill, Sam (from Week 33 of this blog) and Jim.  Jessie herself wrote this passage in the Medina School history book written in the 1980's.

My school days started in the spring of 1909 in Rivers Where I lived with my father, mother and two brothers, Bill and Sam.  I had gone to school in the morning so happy and came home proudly carrying a paper with all I had learned that morning.  I also carried a letter home to mother from the teacher informing her not to send me back in the afternoon as the classroom was overcrowded, so my school days were short-lived.

School was important to the Henry family so the move was made back to the farm at 22-13-21 where the family attended Medina School #402.

So the years went by, very rewarding years, as I always loved school work and enjoyed the evenings in the winter time, studying and working at grammar, spelling and arithmetic.

She wrote her entrance exams in Rapid City, after having taken Grade 6 and 7 in one year.  She likely could have continued her schooling in Rapid City but the decision was made that at 13 years old, she stay at home and help with the daily chores.  Her contribution to the little history book gives a remarkable glimpse of life in the teens in rural Manitoba.

Spring was an exciting time for school children. With the breakup and run-off, the ravine between our home and the school always flooded, going over the road and taking the culvert out. The men came to our rescue, wearing their hip waders and carried us across. When the water subsided and before the municipality got around to repairing the damage, we wore high rubber boots and crossed the ravine by holding onto the page wire fence and inching our way along, mesh by mesh. If it sounds easy, try it sometime.

Jessie and Bill Sinclair - 1940's.  My dad remembers that the car they are standing in front of was the Simms' Model A Ford, the one he drove to the Municipal Office to tell them he was now 16 so they could issue him his driver's license!  It was also the School Van for many years when at least 10 kids would pile into it for the trip into Oak River.  The car in the background to the right is the Sinclair's 1934 Chevy Coupe.  

  Jessie married my great uncle, Bill Sinclair in 1938 and lived the rest of her life on Bankburn Farm with her sister-in-law Nellie.  Bill and Jessie had one child, Mitchell in 1939 who only lived a short time and sadly, they had no more children.  She did love children however and we were always welcome and treated royally in her house. She and I seem to be kindred spirits as she had a keen interest in family history as well.  Accounts of the children, spouses and grandchildren of John and Jennet Henry complied by her were in the chest of papers I inherited from Aunt Dodie.  Henry connection Mary Bole told me about Jessie travelling to Lethbridge to visit her in 1978 with a suitcase of Henry photos and family trees.  Aunt Jessie is well remembered for her positive attitude and a cheery smile for everyone despite living with arthritis for many years.  She died at aged 83 in Hamiota Hospital in 1987. 

This photo is so typical of Jessie and Nellie,side by side.  This is taken in the kitchen with the wood stove and basement stairs door behind them.  By their attire, I wonder if it was 1967, for a centennial celebration.  Bill and Jessie made at least an annual trip to Minot where they became great friends with motel operators the Borgers. She was involved in volunteering in her community - the Agricultural Society, Busy Bees Red Cross, the Hot Dog stand at the fair. 

1930's ? - Jack Wareham (maybe), Lizzie Sinclair, Bill and Jessie Sinclair.

1930's ? - Jessie, Lizzie and Nellie Sinclair

Aunts in 1940 - back Olive Biccum Henry, Nellie Sinclair, Mary Simms
front - Lizzie Sinclair, Jean Fortune, Jessie Sinclair

Aunts in the 80's - Margaret Simms, Nellie Sinclair, Lizzie Morcom and Jessie Sinclair

Sinclair connections at the Century Farm Sign presentation in 1981.  Jessie in the front row in the blue dress