1881 Marked the
Arrival of
First
Pioneers to Neelin
Neelin History shows the Hardships of the Early Settlers
In 1881 there travelled by ox-car from Emerson the pioneers of this
district — namely Wm. Stark from Scotland, H. N. Cooper, wife and
family from Carman. John Sexsmith, wife and family from Carman, John
and Joseph Neelin, with their wives and families from Winnipeg and Alex
Kelso from the East.
They squatted on the land they occupied and when it became necessary to
lay claim they were obliged to file at Deloraine 60 miles away or
Morden, 70 miles distant and had to journey 80 miles to Emerson with a
grist.
They endured many hardships and privations, battling with cold in
winter, terrible heat and mosquitoes and slow labour in summer and
protecting their stock from beasts of prey the wolf and bear. In 1885
anxieties were cast over the district by the outbreak of the Indians,
known to us as the Riel Rebellion. It was a common occurrence to have
bands of Indians or pairs of them approaching and demanding, not
asking, for food and on one occasion they skulked off with the last
loaf of bread in Mr. Cooper's house and the family was obliged to make
bannock and eat what was in reach until Mr. Cooper returned with the
grist. The Indians were in easy reach of these people since they camped
along the Pembina Valley from Rock Lake to Pelican Lake and their dead
are buried en route.
The first house built was that of Wm. Stark 6-4-14 and the first church
services were held there conducted by Rev. Hoskins, Methodist and Rev
Currence, Presbyterian were carried on until 1899 when the Roseberry
School accommodated the gatherings.
Roseberry School was built on SW 33-3-14 in 1886 by contract. R.B.
Watson was responsible for the building. The trustees were Wm. Stark,
John Neelin and H.N. Cooper The latter being the Sec.-Treas.,
too. The first teacher was John Lawrence and then Mrs. B. C. Martin,
John Gochen, G. Peters A. McGinnis, A. E. Buttress, A. S. Rose, D. A.
Ross, Miss Kitty Lockerby, Miss B. Leece and Miss Carrie Cumming. One
teacher was dismissed because he taught by sound… the parents fearing
his sanity.
In 1907 the school was moved to Neelin and served the purpose until
1914 when the present building was erected. The first teacher was Miss
Carrie Gumming and the following : the Misses M. Leece, S. Gardiner. M.
Little, E. Hettle, M. Cumming, A. Winram, M. Castell, K.
Winder, I. Hooker, I. Garnett, B. McKenzie, F.Cullen, E. Hopkins, E.
Beatty, L. McDonald and J. Reikie, Miss A.E. Buttress and
C. Goodridge who shocked some folks by attending Divine Service wearing
moccasins.
The High School, held in the Bank of Toronto building was started in
1919 with Miss F. Warner, holding only a Prof. Grade 1 without Science
or languages and drawing a salary of $1500 a year. There were 12
enrolled and many of them are teachers now. From then
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on students have been going through to
Grade 11and many have gone on to Grade 12.
We have from there Dr. W. I. Easton of Selkirk and a Minister Rev. H.
L. Newbon. Nurses Lottie Aitken, Elsie Withers and Leonora
Bolton. In training are Elsie Richens, Dorine Robertson and
Orma Lumb.
Anglican services are held in the School and the Union were also until
1936 -when the members built their own church. The Sec.-Treas. was Jas
Graham who held it until his death in March 1923 leaving a vacancy
which was ably filled by Geo. Way who held it till his death in January
1938. Succeeding him is Frank Neelin.
South of the old Roseberry School in 1886 on SW 28-3-14 Mr. John Neelin
had a Grocery Store and part time had the Post Office, the mail being
driven from Pilot Mound. Before that Alex Kelso had the mail in
Moropano, 5 miles west of Roseberry.
Mr. Joseph Neelin farmed on 29-3-14 and later moved to the present
location - Neelin. When John Neelin moved away the post office went to
H. N. Cooper's and the mail was driven from Baldur till 1910 when the
Post Office was 'moved to Jas. Graham's and the mail came by C.N.R.
Very early settlers were John Harrower, John Clark, James Graham,
Cummings, Somervilles, Eastons, Brimmers, Andrew and Walter Mabon,
Waitt Bros., Fred Stevens, and H. Woods. For medical attention the
settlers relied on chances of driving for Dr. Davidson at
Cartwright or Dr. Riddell of Crystal City.
In 1893 a prairic fire swept thro' and left devastation in its wake,
nor was it checked 'till it had reached J. Brinkworth's. Tree, logs for
buildings, game and stock were not spared. It burned the Cowie and
Watson Grist and Sawmill and they didn't replace it.
John Montague had two sawmills —one on the Neelin farm and one at
Kelly's Creek. Charlie Waugh operated a sawmill on what is now the
Bramwell farm.
In 1902 rumors were abroad that a railway was coming. Surveyors,
Engineers and road officials were real busy and the first survey was
started on. Grading was done in l903 and the steel laid in 1904.
Neelia started in 1906 and got its name from Joseph Neelin on whose
land part of the town is situated other names suggested were Rock Lake,
Roseberry and Watsonville.
The first building was Bolton and Way's General Store and was built on
blocks as they could not get a foundation. Later Andrew Embury bought
the store and post office which had been in the rear of the store was
moved to its present, location and is still run by R.H. Bolton. The
store is now owned by F. Aikenhead.
The first hardware Store was built and operated by J. M.
McKay and changed hands to Geo. Thompson, then to Pritchard
and McCreary, then to Oscar Beatty, back to J. M. McKay and now to H.
Newton and Son.
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