| Datum | 2003-12-18 |
| Kategori | Länkar |
| Släkten | Släktgrenar |
| Släkter | Berättelser |
| |
| Risede-Canada. Memoirs. |
| Irma, here are the memoirs of Lilly Anderson. She wrote this by hand about ten years ago and I have a copy. Lilly is the younger sister of Ina Oliva Anderson, both born in Alberta, Canada. It details some of her recollections which you may find of interest. It is of course transcribed exactly as she has written.
"My dad, Olof Anderson, was born in Jempland, Sweden on June 7, 1877. During his childhood, it was very difficult for the poorer class of people to make a living, and it was common practice for children between the age of 8 and 12 years to leave home and make their own living. Dad at the age of 8 years, had to herd cattle and goats during grazing season and in winter months help look after the cattle at the barn. As he grew older, he helped put up hay by hand with scythe and rake. While doing timber work he accidently cut his knee cap with an axe, and as a result he was left with a stiff leg. During his childhood he received six weeks of schooling where he learned to read and write and do some arithmetic as well as some Bible study. He continued to educate himself by reading and by learning the trade of shoe making. He became more interested in carpentry and furniture making and this became his trade.
My mother, Kristina Martinson was born at Stemsund, Sweden March 25, 1881. She at the age of 8 years acted as baby sitter for younger children at thye home where she stayed. She herded cattle in the summer and helped hay by hand with scythe and rake. A great deal of time was spent carding and spinning wool into yarn. All socks and mitts were knit from this yard and the very fine yarn was woven into material for wearing apparel and bedding. A large enough supply of bedding was kept on hand so that it was only necessary to wash this bedding twice a year. This was done by the lake side. Large quantities of bread was baked at one time in a large fire place type oven. Fish, salt pork and potatoes were staple foods. My mother had 6 weeks of schooling like my dad. On Nov 5, 1899 she and dad were married. My mother had spun the yarn and woven the material for Dad's suit that he wore when they were married. After she had woven the fine materials, it was taken to a taylor where it was dyed and made into the suit.
Their daughter, Christina was born in 1901. Victor was born in 1903 and Olof (Martin) in 1905. then the twins Jonas and Nils were born in 1908. At this time Dad's brother Nils Anderson who had come to New Hill, Alberta, Canada in 1907, wrote letters to dad telling him of the wonderful opportunity to get good land very cheap by coming here and getting a homestead. After receiving several letters suggesting he sell his business and tools, Dad did this and took his mother, his wife and family and sailed for Canada. The ship was small and over crowded with emigrant passengers. Dad was allotted one small room with one small bed for the entire family. Dad's mother who had been sickly for some time, had the bed, the rest of the family slept on the floor. They encountered rough seas from storms and nearly all passengers were sea sick.
Arriving in Canada, they travelled by train to Red Deer where Dad's borther, Nils, was supposed to meet them. It was early in April 1909. Nils who had gone to Red Deer had a runaway, with his team and wagon when he arrived in town and caused some other damage and had to sell one of his horses to pay for the damage done. He then had left town in an attempt to try to borrow or get another horse so he could bring Dad and family home to his place. As it was, Mother and Dad and family spent the night at the Arlington Hotel, which is still in use in Red Deer. The next day Dad met Mr Cronquist who took Dad and family to his large red brick house south of town by the old Calgary - Edmonton trail. Three days after their arrival at Red Deer, the twin son Nils died. The trip had been too much for the tiny baby.
They homesteaded N.E. 15-37-4-W5, in the New Hill district, built a house and later a hand hewn log barn. They must buy horses and get a start in cattle. To do this, they had to get work elsewhere to earn money to buy them. During the years that followed Dad worked at several jobs. He walked many times back and forth to Nordegg where he helped build houses. He walked across county as there were no roads. Often he had to walk through deep snow with his stiff leg and this was no easy task. On one occasion, after walking home from Nordegg, he found he had received a business letter which required him to then walk to Red Deer. He also worked on the building of the Alberta Central Railroad between Red Deer and Rocky Mountain House, as well as on the Grand Trunk Railway west from Edmonton. The photo I have of them shows how this was built by pick, shovel and wheelbarrows to move all dirt and rocks. He was also with those that worked on the Connaught Tunnel in B.C. He helped build some of the homes and barns in New Hill and surrounding districts as well as helped on the New Hill school. While living in New Hill, Hedwin was born, also Ina and Herman.
Cream was churned into butter at home, and using a butter mold this was shaped into one pound pieces, then wrapped in butter wrapping paper. This butter, as well as eggs, were taken to the Evarts store to be exchanged for groceries. Later Pitcox general store by Hespero was a place for shopping. During the first World War, buying groceries became a bit of a problem as the Government passed a regulation that if any one wanted to buy flour, he must buy a certain amount of other items as well, such as corn meal, rice, etc. The reason for this regulation was that the Government was trying to save wheat. Most people felt they couldn't afford to buy other than necessary staple foods. I think mother said flour was over $8.00 for a 98 pound bag.
Dad was the first man to buy a seed drill in New Hill. He was also the first man to have Bob Wilson come and thresh the grain off his small field. This threshing machine was not run by a belt loading to a tractor for power as later models were. This one was powered by 12 head of horses going around in a circle. It was a hand feeder type and straw was taken away by hand from the straw carrier. Many of the local neighbours came to Dad's home to watch this threshing done. Dad was filled with real happiness to have finally been able to get his start in grain farming. The fall of 1918, Dad bought 3 quarters of CPR (note: Canadian Pacific Railway) land located three miles south of Hespero Corner. In the spring of 1919 he moved his house and barn to this new land.
They had to be taken apart and moved in sections. Moving to the new place, Dad sold this land in New Hill to Charlie Lightfoot who in later years sold it to the present owner Wm. Shippett Jr.
In 1919 daughter Lilly was born.
A few years later illness struck the family. Ina had been taken to all the Drs. (note: doctors) in the vicinity but they were not able to diagnose the disease and she gradually grew worse. Mrs "Doc" Caton suggested Dad take the 7 year old girl to the Mayo Clinic at Rochester, Minnesota USA. His reply had been that he would take her that very day if only he were financially able to. Then the neighbours arranged a box social to help raise necessary money. All the neighbours in the area and New Hill came to help. Those who couldn't come, donated much needed cream cheques. At Rochester the disease was diagnosed as Epileptic disease caused by a blood clot at the brain. She was sent home and was treated by medicine which was to be changed as she progressed. Dad was not able to write English, so Mrs "Doc" Caton kindly did all the corresponding to the Mayo Clinic reporting Ina's symptoms and progress. Thanks to the help of neighbours and the Drs, Ina was completely cured.
At the age of 16 Ina became ill with Spinal Meningitis. At that time this was considered a very serious disease and we were quarantined for two weeks. In order to get groceries we had to telephone the store, give them a list of needed groceries and then when someone came who would be going past our place, the groceries would be sent with him. He had to leave the groceries at our gate. Then and only then, after they were gone, were we allowed to go and bring the groceries in. Ina suffered great pain as the disease caused her head to be drawn back between her shoulders and her legs drawn back to form her in an arc position. Every day the Dr arrived at 11am sharp to drain fluid from her spine. Then she would be fairly comfortable until more fluid formed. The poplar board floor had to be scrubbed thoroughly every day and disinfectants were a must. At the end of two weeks, when Ina was feeling better, we had to live in a granary for a day and night while the house was fumigated with formaldehyde. Then the quarantine was lifted. It was common practise to quarantine for all communicable diseases.
Funerals at this time were considerably less expensive than now, as most people did not have funeral homes handle them. It was done by family and neighbours. Dad made many caskets. They were shaped like the bought ones of to-day but were covered with black satin material and lined inside with white satin material. Black was the color most used at that time. In Aug 1928 son Victor died (note: he was shot accidently in a hunting accident, Lilly and Ina never talk about this).
I believe Dad and Mother's greatest pleasures were their family and having neighbours come and visit and perhaps a game of cards (whist). They, as well as everyone else, really enjoyed the school Christmas concerts. The children made their own sleds and other toys. The house was heated with a round air tight heater in which you burned large blocks of wood. The stove in the kitchen acted as a heating unit as well as for cooking and they used split wood in it. The children had to bring in large piles of split wood and blocks every day in the winter months. They used ordinary kerosene lamps and later used the Aladdin lamps which gave a brighter light.
All the children were born in their own home. A doctor was never called but sometimes Mother did have a mid-wife if one was available. Mother herself was often called to act as mid-wife in other homes. In fact one time when Dr Summerville called her to assist him at another home, mother was a bit reluctant to go as she felt she was needed at home. He informed her that since she had the knowledge by experience, she had no right to refuse. She was supposed to help at time of birth and then remain to care for baby and mother as long as needed. Mother did go again.
At 70 years of age, Dad built two new houses. Shortly after this he sold the farm to G Huss and he and Mother retired to Salmon Arm, B.C. They lived there about two years, then sold that home and returned to Sylvan Lake, Alberta where they lived until Dad passed away at his home on his 75th birthday, June 7, 1952. Mother sold their house at Sylvan Lake and she spent her remaining days with her children. She passed away June 21, 1964. Son Herman died May 27, 1967."
/Doug Downs/
|
|
