Dennis W. WOOLHEYZER (1914-1957)

Dennis W. Woolheyzer full grave site.¹

In Loving Memory
Dennis W. Woolhiser
1914 - 1957
Rest In Peace

Son

Dennis W. Woolheyzer was born to John Woolheyzer and Goldie (Miller) Woolheyzer Hyllestad, the first born of five children.²

Sources:
1. Wild Rose North Cemetery (Wild Rose, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in SW Section 14, Township 50, Range 2, West of the 3rd Meridian), Dennis W. Woolheyzer grave markers, photographed by Alanna Carswell, July 2011. ↩
2. Coles, Cathy, ed. "Woolheyzer - Hyllestad." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 680-681. Print. ↩

Ella MILLER (1869-1940)

Ella Miller full grave site.¹

In Loving Memory Of
Mother
Ella Miller
1869 - 1940
At Rest

Ella (Uglow) Miller² was born 1869 in Pennsylvania to Nicholas and Mary (Uglow) Miller.³

She married Henry H Miller in 1892 and together they had had a total of six children with four living⁴: Goldie P Miller (1895-????), Leslie Fay Miller (1896-1921), Wayne Miller (1898-????), and Alta O (Miller) Keebaugh (1901-1934).

Ella, along with her husband Henry, sons Fay and Wayne, and daughter Alta immigrated from Nebraska in 1914 and settled in the Sturgeon Valley district on NW 15-51-2-W3.⁵

Sources:
1. Wild Rose North Cemetery (Wild Rose, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in SW Section 14, Township 50, Range 2, West of the 3rd Meridian), Ella Miller grave markers, photographed by Alanna Carswell, July 2011. ↩
2. Coles, Cathy, ed. "Miller, Henry H., Wayne, and Kenneth." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 563-564. Print.↩
3. 1880 United States Federal Census, Lincoln, Ringgold, Iowa; Roll: 362; Family History Film: 1254362; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 195; Image: 0485. Digital image, online Ancestry.ca subscription database. (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 23 November 2012).↩
4. 1910 United States Federal Census, Mills, Keya Paha, Nebraska; Roll: T624_848; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0158; Image: ; FHL microfilm: 1374861. Digital image, online Ancestry.ca subscription database. (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 23 November 2012).↩
5. Coles, Cathy, ed. "Miller, Fay." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 662-663.Print.↩

Alta KEEBAUGH (1901-1934)

Alta Keebaugh full grave site.¹

Alta Keebaugh
A Beloved Wife
And Mother
1901 - 1934

Alta (Miller) Keebaugh² was born 1901 in Nebraska³ to Henry H Miller and Ella M (Uglow) Miller.

She immigrated along with her parents Henry and Ella and brothers Fay and Wayne from Nebraska in 1914 and settled in the Sturgeon Valley district on NW 15-51-2-W3.⁴

Alta married Warner Keebaugh in July 1919 with whom she had six children. She died in February 1934.

Sources:
1. Wild Rose North Cemetery (Wild Rose, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in SW Section 14, Township 50, Range 2, West of the 3rd Meridian), Alta Keebaugh grave markers, photographed by Alanna Carswell, July 2011. ↩
2. Footprints of Our Pioneers: Briarlea, Crutwell, Holbein, Nisbet, Rozilee, Wild Rose. Shellbrook: Wild Rose and Area History Book Committee, 1990. pp. 482-484. Print. ↩
3. 1910 United States Federal Census, Mills, Keya Paha, Nebraska; Roll: T624_848; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0158; Image: ; FHL microfilm: 1374861. Digital image, online Ancestry.ca subscription database.(http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 23 November 2012). ↩
4. Coles, Cathy, ed. "Miller, Henry H., Wayne, and Kenneth." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 563-564. Print. ↩

Tombstone Tuesday: COLES, Heather

Heather Coles' full grave site.

A Little Angel
Coles
1979   Heather   1980
Gone to Heaven

Daughter   Sister

Heather Coles was born on 26 December 1979 to Richard Donald Coles and Cathy (Simonar) Coles and died in a fatal accident on Good Friday, 4 April 1980 at age 6 months, 9 days.²

Source:
[1] Foxdale Cemetery (Foxdale, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in SW Section 26, Township 51, Range 3, West of the 3rd Meridian), Heather Coles grave markers, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2009.
[2] Coles, Cathy, ed. "Richard Coles." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 54-55. Print.

Lycan Family Graveyard Found!

I have been taking time here and there to research further into the most interesting burial ground that I am aware of in the region, the Lycan graves on their family homestead. I first became aware of these graves back in 2008 when I began my cemetery research and found them noted on the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society Cemetery Index. Further investigation in a community history book, Our History of Memories, revealed a short biography of the family¹ that offered up more tantalising clues.

• John filed on his homestead NE 32-50-2-W3 on 16 October 1906; on the farm for a short time before dying of cancer.
• John's son Winn, daughter-in-law Florence and baby granddaughter Gertrude all died of tuberculosis and are all buried on the homestead.

Later perusal of the history book's Sturgeon Valley's Pictures section really got me excited with the discovery of a photograph of the shared tombstone of Florence and Gertrude with the caption "One of the five Lycan graves located on their homestead (N.E. 32-50-2-W3)".² The photo was not clear enough to read the marker with great confidence but I could make guesses. Another scan through at another time of the pictorial section and I realized there was a copy of a court document regarding John's wife Flora taking control of John's estate and that it stated his death date.³ Each clue further contributed to the whole picture.

• John F. Lycan died of cancer, 25 June 1907
• Florence M. (--?--) Lycan died of tuberculosis, 19? May 1908
• Gertrude Lycan died of tuberculosis, 24? April 1910
• Winn Lycan died of tuberculosis

I also viewed and located some of the late John Lycan's family in the 1916 Census of the Prairie Provinces⁴, a special census for the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Widow Flora was living with her eldest son, Frank, Florance's widower, who had remarried. At the time of the 1916 census Frank and his new wife had one son and according to the history book, they would have three sons before separating.

I had starred the homestead location on the R.M. map in the beginning of my research but did not think much of it until this afternoon when I re-confirmed the location and viewed it via Google Maps satellite view. Locating the closest landmark I counted quarter sections until locating the presumable homestead quarter section.


Google Maps satellite view of the area in question, 9 December Dec 2011.⁵

The satellite view was not very promising, mostly cultivated field with a forested drainage gully and no evidence of old roads or homestead. I worried that if it was the correct location, the homestead had been in close proximity or within the now forested areas and it would take time to search a quarter section and I would be very fortunate to locate the graves considering I had no idea where exactly they were. But I was happy to solidify in my mind the area where I suspected the homestead to be.

But driving home this afternoon after work, due to a drizzle of rain in the town of Shellbrook over the snow we got in early November I elected to drive home via Foxdale route which has more gravel than the predominant pavement route of Holbein. On route home I came to an area where the road curved north and I figured, that as it is impossible to get lost on grid roads, I would take a road I never had and instead of curving north would continue straight east. Eventually I came to the area where I suspected the Lycan homestead to be and thought "Wait a minute, there is a very odd copse in that field."

Odd copse in NE 32-50-2-W3, 9 December 2011.⁶

Farmers do not leave wooded copse in their fields without really good reasons so I stopped the car, hopped out, and tromped across the snowy stubble to the bluff. The closer I got the more excited I became, hoping, hoping here were the Lycan's. As I got closer I even thought at one moment—ah! that might be one—took a few more steps and went—pah! discarded farm machinery—a few more steps and—eek! it is a tombstone!

Southeast view of Lycan graves, 9 December 2011.⁶

Northeast view of Lycan graves, 9 December 2011.⁶

Happy jiggle inside! I had found the Lycans! John, Winn, Florance, and Gertrude where all there with lovely, sturdy stones in the dying light of the afternoon sun. I half circled the buff, took pictures of the two similar tombstones, Florance with Gertrude and John with Winn and bounced back to the car with plans to return in the spring and summer for more pictures, look for carver mark, etc. and to do some tidying work.

Inscription detail of Florence and Gertrude tombstone, 9 December 2011.⁶

Inscription detail of John and Winn tombstone, 9 December 2011.⁶

I was so excited that when I got home I just had to share my discovery with someone and as no one of my family was home, I bounced over to the neighbours to share it with them! After a two hour visit I returned home and got to work on this post and as I worked on it realized that the history book caption says "five Lycan graves"! What, five Lycans? Who am I missing? Did I miss a tombstone in the grass and dead-fall during my visit?

I guess I shall have to go back very soon to find out!

Sources:
[1] Coles, Cathy, ed. "Lycan Family, John." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. p. 55. Print.
[2] Coles, Cathy, ed. "Sturgeon Valley: Pictures." [Lycan tombstone picture.] Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. p. 608. Print.
[3] Coles, Cathy, ed. "Sturgeon Valley: Pictures." [Lycan court document.] Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. p. 613. Print.
[4] Library and Archives Canada. Census of the Prairie Provinces, 1916. Digital image online.. (http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1916/index-e.html : accessed November 2011.)
[5]"Screen capture." Google Maps, Europs Technologies. (http://maps.google.com/ : 9 December 2011.)
[6] Lycan Family Graveyard (Lycan Family Graveyard, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in NE Section 32, Township 50, Range 3, West of the 3rd Meridian), Lycan family graveyard and grave markers, photographed by Alanna Carswell, December 2011.

Tombstone Tuesday: HENDERSON, William

William Henderson's full grave site.¹

In Loving Memory
William Henderson
1904 - 1969
At Rest

Brother

William "Bill" Henderson was born in 1904 to Ralph Henderson and Mary King (--?--) Henderson in Scotland and was one of twelve children. He immigrated at age nine with his family in June 1913 on the steamship Hesperian which took seven days between Glasgow, Scotland and Quebec, Canada. From Quebec they travelled via train to Winnipeg, Manitoba and from there to Saskatoon where the family resided.

In 1914 the Henderson family moved ten miles northwest of Shellbrook for the winter, to the Anton Simpson homestead in the Rich Valley district. After a year on there they moved to their own homestead in Foxdale, SW 13-51-3-W3.

William schooled in Scotland, Saskatoon, Rich Valley, and Foxdale until 1920 when he quit school to help his father on the family farm. In later years, William took over the family cattle herd and leased the school section for pasture.

"He took great interest gardening and many times won prizes for his well kept garden.

Bill also spent many hours decorating the hall each year for the school Christmas Concerts. He was also called upon to decorate the hall for all local weddings. He had the ability to turn the hall into a beautiful setting for any occasion.

A few years prior to his death, Bill developed a serious heart condition which eventually took his life. He passed on in 1969 at the age of 65 in the Shellbrook Hospital."²

Sources:
[1]Foxdale Cemetery (Foxdale, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in SW Section 26, Township 51, Range 3, West of the 3rd Meridian), William Henderson grave markers, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2009.
[2]Coles, Cathy, ed. "History of Bill Henderson." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. p.76. Print.

Tombstone Tuesday: MULLER, Kelly

Kelly Muller's full grave site.¹

In Loving Memory

Kelly D. Muller

1964 - 1982

Son & Brother

Kelly D. Muller born in 1964 was the second born son of Lloyd Muller and Doreen (Rask) Muller. He has one elder brother and sister and one younger sister and died at age 17-8.

"He attended Foxdale School and was in grade twelve in Shellbrook at the time of his death on 1 January 1982. [...] The children have taken a number of different projects: cooking, sewing, outdoorsman, beef, and woodwork. Kelly had made a miniature bat and ball on the lathe with woodburning imprints when he was ten--leader was Robert Henry. It was always a keepsake."²

Sources:
[1]Foxdale Cemetery (Foxdale, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in SW Section 26, Township 51, Range 3, West of the 3rd Meridian), Kelly Muller grave markers, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2009.
[2]Coles, Cathy, ed. "Lloyd Muller Story." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 117-118. Print.

Tombstone Tuesday: COLES, Francis

Francis Coles' full grave site.¹

In Loving
Memory
Francis Mary
Coles
1985 - 1978
Rest in Peace

Wife & Mother

Francis Mary "Fay" Harding was born 20 December 1896 to George Harding and Elizabeth (Brunt) Harding of Mells, Somerset, England. The Hardings were farmers and Francis trained as a nurse at Salisbury.

Franics wed Donald Lewis Coles on 2 July 1925 in England. Together they had three children, one son and two daughters.

Francis immigrated to Canada with her new husband in 1925 and in spring of 1928 the family of three, after the birth of their son, returned to England for Don to receive medical treatment for his WWI injury. She then travelled with her husband and son as Donald worked showing tractors across Europe, the Middle East, and Egypt.

Farming in Canada, Francis had adventures in growing Indian hemp for rope (which the Department of Agriculture took a dim view of), reversing up hills in Ford Model T's when the cars were unable to drive up said hills, sewing up neighbours when they lost battles with saws, axes, and other objects, collecting skates for the children in Depression of the the 1930s, handling the farm while her husband Donald fought in WWII, and other pioneer adventures.

Following her husband's death in 1965 Francis learning to drive a car herself and moved from the farm in 1967 to Shellbrook where she resided until her death on 8 March 1978 at age 81 years, 2 months, and 16 days.

Sources
[1]Foxdale Cemetery (Foxdale, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in SW Section 26, Township 51, Range 3, West of the 3rd Meridian), Francis Coles grave markers, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2009.
[2]Coles, Cathy, ed. "Don and Fay Coles." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 52-54. Print.

Tombstone Tuesday: COLES, Donald

Donald Coles' full grave site.¹

In Loving Memory Of
Donald Lewis Coles
Born Hamstead, England
Feb. 5, 1897
Came to Foxdale In 1920
Served His Country
In Two World Wars
1915-1978      1941-1946
Died July 14, 1964
Beloved Husband Of
Frances Mary

Rest In Peace

Like all pioneers, Donald lead an interesting life that involved a fair amount of travel abroad as learned from from Out Harvest of Memories (1983)².

Donald Lewis "Don" Coles was born 5 February 1897 to Alexander Coles and Annie (Lea) Coles of London, England. His service in WWI was with the British Army and WWII with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Donald immigrated to the Foxdale district in 1919-20 where he filed on homestead SE 6-52-2-3-W3 and purchased the quarter section, with house, of NW 19-51-2-3-W3.

Donald returned to England to wed Frances Mary "Fay" Harding on 2 July 1925. Together they had three children, one son and two daughters.

The newlyweds returned to Canada within the year and in spring 1928 the family of three returned to England for Don to receive medical treatment for his WWI injury. After that time, he joined an engineering firm and demonstrated tractors in exhibitions across Europe, the Middle East, and Egypt before returning to Foxdale in 1931.

In the community Don served for many years on the school board, was for a time a Justice of Peace in the area, was active in the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) political party. He had just retired from farming in the spring of 1965 when he died at age 68 years, 5 months, 2 days.

Sources:
[1]Foxdale Cemetery (Foxdale, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in SW Section 26, Township 51, Range 3, West of the 3rd Meridian), Donald Coles grave markers, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2009.
[2]Coles, Cathy, ed. "Don and Fay Coles." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 52-54. Print.

Tombstone Tuesday: EARBY, Clifford

Clifford Earby's full grave site.

In Loving Memory
Clifford Earby
1895 - 1983

Husband   Father
Grandfather

Too much interesting things in Our Harvest of Memories (1983) history book so here are some vital dates.²

Clifford Earby was born 27 April 1895 in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England to Edwin Earby and Martha (Johnson) Earby.

The Earby family immigrated to Canada in 1907 and arrived at Hartney, Manitoba on 27 April. In 1911 the family moved to Redvers, Saskatchewan and in 1917 they moved north and began homesteading in the Foxdale District.

Clifford wed Dorothy Elizabeth Strike of the Three Creeks District on 20 December 1932. Together they had a daughter and a son.

Source:
[1]Foxdale Cemetery (Foxdale, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in SW Section 26, Township 51, Range 3, West of the 3rd Meridian), Clifford Earby grave markers, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2009.
[2]Coles, Cathy, ed. "Clifford and Dorothy Earby." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 61-62. Print.

Tombstone Tuesday: KURZ, John & Anna

John and Anna Kurz's full grave site.¹

Mother    Kurz    Father
John Leonhart
31.12.1887 - 3.11.1938
Anna Maria
13.3.1892    At Rest    2.22.1981

This blogger only hopes, giving the convolutions of Anna Maria's vital data on the marker that the dates stated below are correct!

From Our Harvest of Memories (1983)² it is learned that John Leonhardta Kurz was born on 31 December 1887 in the farm village of Englhardtshausen, Germany. John was born to a family with five brothers and served in the German army before immigrating to Canada and arrived in Saskatchewan in May 1913. In April 1915 he "filed on homestead at Foxdale at SE 1/4 14-51-3-W3 for the sum of $10.00."²

Anna Maria Kohler was born on 13 March 1892 in the black forest town of Egenhausen, Germany. Anna was introduced to her future husband through one of John's brothers and correspondence.

John and Anna married in 1923 and in 1924 on a "twenty-five below zero December morning"² their son and only child was born on the farm. In addition to the traditional pioneer farm activities of land clearing, breaking, well digging, grain threshing, and wood sawing "the Kurz' were the first to raise bees for honey."²

John passed away on 3 November 1938 after a lengthy illness at age 50 years, 10 months, and 3 days.

Anna remained on the homestead farm for another fifty years before moving to Port Alberni, British Columbia where her son and his family resided. She suffered a stroke in 1979, passed away on 22 February 1981 at age 88 years, 11 months, and 9 days, and was interred in Foxdale with John.

Source:
[1]Foxdale Cemetery (Foxdale, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in SW Section 26, Township 51, Range 3, West of the 3rd Meridian), John & Anna Kurz grave markers, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2009.
[2]Coles, Cathy, ed. "The Kurz Family." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 104-105. Print.

Tombstone Tuesday: HENDERSON, Hugh

Hugh Henderson's full grave site.¹

In Loving Memory
Hugh K. Henderson
1888 - 1939
At Rest

Father

From Our Harvest of Memories (1983)² we learn that Hugh Henderson was an assistant gardener at Onedeen Castle,  Berwichshire, Scotland before he immigrated to Canada, arrived in Quebec on 10 June 1910. From Quebec he travelled to Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Bredenburg, Saskatchewan and eventually Foxdale district where he homesteaded NE 27-51-3-W3.

Following the death of his brother Ralph (who was homesteading in neighbouring Lone Spruce district) Hugh moved his family to the Lone Spruce district. Additional information will be added when this blogger get's their hands on that district history book.

It is known that Hugh "came to an untimely end, the result of a fire in his house"² which he perished from several months later.

Sources:
[1]Foxdale Cemetery (Foxdale, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in SW Section 26, Township 51, Range 3, West of the 3rd Meridian), Hugh Henderson markers, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2009.
[2]Coles, Cathy, ed. "History of Hugh Henderson by Brother Dave." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook.: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. p. 77. Print.

Tombstone Tuesday: SCHMIDT, Emil

In Memory Of
Emil
Schmidt
1899 - 1982¹

Emil Schmidt was born in Warnsdorf, Austria on 14 June 1899 and he died on 7 May 1982 at the age of 82 years, 10 months, 23 days.²

Sources:
[1] Foxdale Cemetery (Foxdale, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in SW Section 26, Township 51, Range 3, West of the 3rd Meridian), Emil Schmidt grave marker, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2009.
[2]Coles, Cathy, ed. "Emil Schmidt." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. p. 126. Print.

Tombstone Tuesday: GUNN, George

In Loving Memory
George D.          F. Patricia "Pat"
1923 - 1975            1930 -              
Gunn
Together Forever¹

In Our Harvest of Memories (1983)²:

George Donald Gunn was born on 22 October 1923 to George Gordon and Mabel (--?--) Gunn in Foxdale. He has two elder siblings and one younger sibling.

Gorge married Frances Patricia Coles on 5 November 1951 in the town of Shellbrook; together they had two sons and one daughter.

Sources:
[1]Foxdale Cemetery (Foxdale, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in SW Section 26, Township 51, Range 3, West of the 3rd Meridian), George Gunn marker, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2009.>
[2]Coles, Cathy, ed. "George and Patrica Gunn." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 70-71. Print.

Tombstone Tuesday: LOVGREN, Reinhart

Reinhart Lovgren's full grave site.¹

Lovgren
In Memory Of 
Reinhart            Martha 
1911 - 1978        1914 -         

From Our Harvest of Memories (1983)²:

Reinhart Lovgren was born on 17 September 1911 in Kongsberg, Norway. He came to the Foxdale district in 1930, was employed to clear land, and "having been raised in the city he had to learn everything the hard way."

Reinhart met Martha Anna (--?--) at the local dances and picnics and were married on 16 October 1937; together they had two daughters.

For the first four years Reinhart and Martha lived in Sturgeon Valley district before moving back to Foxdale district to take over Martha uncle Emil Schmidt's farm. In 1948 they took over "Dad's" farm as well. When Reinhart's health failed they sold out in 1974 and moved to the town of Shelbrook.

The entry has some other interesting life stuff, but as it is written by Martha and more about her life and the children and grandchildren I will leave the rest in the book.

Sources:
[1]Foxdale Cemetery (Foxdale, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in SW Section 26, Township 51, Range 3, West of the 3rd Meridian), Reinhart Lovgren markers, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2009.
[2]Coles, Cathy, ed. "Reinhart and Martha Lovgren." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 109-111. Print.

Tombstone Tuesday: SMART, William

William Smart
1919 - 2009¹

These are some facts gleaned from Our Harvest of Memories (1983)²:

William Smart was born in the Brightholm district to George Smart of Midlem, Roxburgshire, Scotland and widow Marjorie (--?--) Danger Smart of Iowa, United States. William had four elder half siblings from his mother's previous marriage and three younger full sibling.

William met Mary Wall at Hague, SK, and they were married at Parkside on 16 December 1941. While cattle and grain farming in the Foxdale district they had three sons and two daughters.

Sources:
[1]Foxdale Cemetery (Foxdale, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in SW Section 26, Township 51, Range 3, West of the 3rd Meridian), William Smart burial mound, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2009.
[2]Coles, Cathy, ed. "The Smart Family." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 130-131. Print.

Tombstone Tuesday: SMART, Mary

Mary Smart
1[???] - 2006

Two facts about Mary from Our Harvest of Memories (1983)²:

Mary Wall met William Smart at Hague, SK, and was married on 16 December 1941 at Parkside, SK. Together they had three sons and two daughters.

Sources:
[1]Foxdale Cemetery (Foxdale, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in SW Section 26, Township 51, Range 3, West of the 3rd Meridian), Mary Smart burial mound, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2009.
[2]Coles, Cathy, ed. "The Smart Family." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 130. Print.

Tombstones Tuesday: SMITH, Sidney

Sidney Smith
1918 - 2010
Beau "Lac" Funeral Home¹

The following information comes from Our Harvest of Memories (1983).²

Hubert Sidney Smith was born in England in 1918 to Hubert Sidney and Ethel Mary (Hedges) Smith.

His paternal grandparents were John and Esther (--?--) Smith who immigrated from England to Canada in 1913 with their children Sidney Sr., Nellie, and Elizabeth (with husband Albert Brundson and sons Cyril and Sidney). Esther and John had been proceeded to Canada in 1904 by their children Fred, William, and Louise (Fred Wernham).

Sidney Sr. enlisted in 1914 with the 53rd Battalion of the Canadian Army and was sent overseas in 1915, and meet and married Ethel Hedges in 1916. In 1919 Sidney Sr. returned to Canada with his wife Ethel and son Sidney Jr.  All this moving between England and Canada resulted in a development that Sidney Jr. recounts as thus:

"My biggest disappointment came about 1970, when some of those bureaucrats and politicians in Ottawa decided that because we were not born in Canada we were not Canadians. They disregarded the fact that my father had served four years in the Canadian Army and was therefore a Canadian. It seemed ironic to me that I should be awarded the [Canadian] Centennial Medal in 1967 in recognition of valuable service to the nation, then a short time later be informed that I was not a citizen. Needless to say, I received my citizenship papers immediately and now have a certificate to prove it."

Sidney Jr. began attending school in1924 at age six and concluded his high school schooling in 1937. On 3 November 1941 Sidney Jr. married Amelia "Millie" Stene with whom he had a son and a daughter.

Sidney Jr. was an active member of the community, serving as the director of the Stugreon Valley Co-op Hall for a number of years, helped form the early snowplow club, served on the R.M. of Shellbrook council for fifteen years, and as of 1983 served thirty-three years on the district and Divisions School Boards.

One thing of note, Sidney himself alternates between writing "Sidney" and "Sydney" and the short nickname "Sid" and "Syd" so it will be interesting to see what version of his name will be written upon his tombstone if one is erected.

Sources:
[1]Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery (Sturgeon Valley, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in NE Section 16, Township 51, Range 2, West of the 3rd Meridian), Sidney Smith marker, photographed by Alanna Carswell, May 2011.
[2]Coles, Cathy, ed. Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 586-589. Print.

Tombstone Tuesday: Bruce, George & Freida

Remembered With Love
George A.
1916 - 2007
Freida J.
1925 - 2000
Bruce

Detail of moose head on George's side.

Detail of hummingbird on Freida's side.

While George Bruce's initial funeral marker was covered on 14 December 2010 Tombstone Tuesday.  Since then a headstone for himself, and his previously unmarked wife Frieda, has been erected. There is a very nice entry in the community history book Out Harvest of Memories (1983) written by Frieda but here are some basic facts:

George Bruce is the son of Charles Bruce and Christina (LaPlante) Bruce and was born and raised in Sturgeon Valley, Saskatchewan. He attended Brant School but left at a young age to assist on the farm. George joined the army and served in England in World War II but was transferred back to Canada for medical reasons and discharged.

Freida McWhirter is the daughter of Bob McWhirter and Olive (--?--) McWhirter and was born in Redvers, Saskatchewan. Freida's father Bob passed away when she was two weeks old and mother Olive moved to the Foxdale district to be with her parents. She attended Foxdale School, for high school studied via correspondence, and concluded her education by attending Normal School.

George Bruce and Freida McWhirter met when Freida came to teach at Brant School and they were married in Holy Trinity Church on 22 April 22 1946. They had one son.²

Sources:
[1]Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery (Sturgeon Valley, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in NE Section 16, Township 51, Range 2, West of the 3rd Meridian), George & Freida Bruce marker, photographed by Alanna Carswell, April 2011.
[2]Coles, Cathy, ed. "Bruce, George and Freida." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. p. 515. Print.

Tombstone Tuesday: PRUDEN, William

In Loving Memory
William Pruden
Born April 16, 1875
Died March 24, 1940
He Is Gone
But Not Forgotten

From the community history book, Our Harvest of Memories (1983):²

The Pruden families originally came from United States, first to Winnipeg and later to Prince Albert. In 1910, both families settled on farms in the Sturgeon Valley district.

Bill, (William) was a married man [Betsy]. They raised two adopted children [Alfred, ?]. He was one of the original lumberjacks. He kept a number of cattle, as grass was plentiful. He was a lover of horses and took much pride in those he owned. Some years later they moved closer to Prince Albert, where he later passed away.

William Pruden died at age 64 years, 11 months, 8 days.

Sources:
[1]Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery (Sturgeon Valley, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in NE Section 16, Township 51, Range 2, West of the 3rd Meridian), John Hannibul[Annable] marker, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2009.
[2]Coles, Cathy, ed. "Pruden, Willian and John." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 575. Print.