We Made Baldur

We know that Jessie Chester was instrumental in determining where Baldur was located; that Sigurder Christopherson and his wife Carrie suggested name Baldur; and that a group of forward-thinking pioneer businessmen with names like Playfair, Cramer, Curtis, and Fowler established the economic foundation of the new village of Baldur.

What we mustn’t forget that despite the noteworthy contribution made by the people identified in this tribute, they weren’t alone.  

Of the many families who made Baldur what it is today, these names stand out, partly because many of the names live on through descendants in Baldur today. Their exploits are well documented in “Come into our Heritage”.

Conibear Family – James Shiells Conibear homesteaded NW 23-5-13 in 1889.

James Conibear

Cramer Family - Albert Edward Cramer came to Manitoba from Ontario in 1879. He filed an application for a homestead on NE 18-5-13 on May 5, 1880. In 1883, he built a log cabin and on June 3, 1884 he married Elizabeth Playfair, daughter of G.W. and Jessie Playfair. The district at that time was known as Otenaw Post Office. Albert and Elizabeth raised five children, born in the log cabin. A.W. moved the first building on to the new town site of Baldur and his son, G.W. built the first blacksmith shop.

Cramer Family

Dearsley Family – Sydney Richard Dearsley came to Argyle (by way of New Mexico) in 1901.

Frederickson Family – Several Frederickson were among the early Icelandic settlers in the Grund area. It is interesting to note how many of Baldur’s older houses have a connection to the Frederickson family.

Goodman Family – The descendants of John and Gudrun Goodman who arrived in 1884.

Lockerby Family – The descendants of David and Marie Lockerby settled in the Greenway district about 1890.

Lodge Family – Oswald Lodge homesteaded in 1886. Three of their daughters married three Dearsley creating an intricate family tree. Some 100 years after Oswald arrived there were 147 descendants – several in the Baldur area.

McLaren Family – Archie McLaren married Lavina Sexsmith in 1882, connecting two pioneer families.

Parsonage Family – We have recorded the role Everett Parsonage in Manitoba’s  Icelandic settlements. The decendants of his brother Henry have had a wide ranging influence in the Baldur region.

Ramage Family – The descendants of Nelson Bradford Ramage, through his son Robert Burns Ramage are well known in Baldur’s farming and business community.

Skardal Families – Two Skardal brothers came to the region in the early 1900’s. The decendants of Magnus and Ingun Skardal, and of Sigurdur and Ingiborg have been inflienctial since that time.

Strang Family –  John Strang, from Exeter Ontarion,  bought 25-4-14 from the C.P.R in 1882 with his four sons in mind. Two of those sons, Peter and Henry began farming the land in 1883. The story of the troubles and triumphs of their early days is representative of the pioneer experience. The influence of the family on Baldur’s history is more than the story of two young men. It is the story of the extended families.

While Peter and Henry were influential in Baldur’s early history, with Peter acting as Reeve and taking a role in securing a rail link for the settlement; it was brother James who married Annie Lovell and came west on 1891 and settled on 25-4-14 a farm soon known as “Borland Grove.” Who established family links that have endured in the community. One of their daughters Marguerite, married Hershel Lockerby, while another, Doris, married Jack Stone.  Both families have contributed much to the Baldur story.

Warrener Family – The story of Albert Warrener’s trip to Argyle in 1885 is another fine example of the pioneer experience. Coming west he on the same train as Louis Riel who was being taken to Regina for his trial and execution. After arriving at Brandon he walked to Argyle, swimming across the Assiniboine when it happened to be in his way. (see p 700 Come into our Heritage) .

And the list goes on.

We might well have included the Bannermans, the Campbells, the Desrochers…. and we might also have extended our reach in that the pioneers of the Marringhurst, Glenora, Neelin, and Greenway districts also had an impact on the Village of Baldur.

There rightfully is no beginning and no end to the list of Baldur’s notable people. For a more comprehensive look at the region’s influential citizens see the Argyle Notable People Project, available at the Argyle Museum, and above all, explore the pages of  “Come into our Heritage.”