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William
Easton
Father,
William Easton, was born in Ettrick, Scotland, near Selkirk, about the
year ’42. Mother, Anna (Burton) Easton, was born in Yarrow,
Scotland, about 1840.
Children:
Andrew, Annie Belle, Alice, all born in Scotland; Beatrice, born in
Manitoba December 8, 1884.
Our
parents were quite Scotch in accent and speech.
Reason
for coming to Canada: My father was overseer on an estate, as his
father was before him, quite near the Duke of Buecleuch’s estate.
We often heard him speak of the old duke. Mother lived in Selkirk
till she was married. The owner of the estate died and left no
heirs, and strangers took the estate and left my father out of his
position. At that time, there was great talk of Canada. Two
friends, the Miss Starks, had a brother, William Stark, in Manitoba,
living in what was later named Huntly district. The sisters gave
very glowing accounts from their brother. So the following year,
March 1883, the Easton family left Scotland.
On May
3rd, 1883, they arrived at Emerson, after six weeks on the water.
They came by ox team by way of Pilot Mound, crossed the valley at the
end of Rock Lake and arrived at Mr. Stark’s, who lived alone. He
had one large log house, with attic. Mr. Stark lived for many
years in Huntly district and was well-known by everyone. He was
highly educated. My father and mother lived there for two years.
In
the
meantime, they took the homestead quite close to Lorne Lake. One
small part just touched the lake. I think it reminded them of
Scotland. They built a log house, one and a half storeys, with
large kitchen built on
.
Mr.
Stark had only home-made furniture but had a team of horses, several
cows, chickens and pigs. Mother brought everything except
furniture – all household things, bedding, blankets, linen, clothing of
every kind, dishes, silverware, practically everything, even to a
hand-machine-knitting yam. So they were quite comfortable that
way. She made and knit every stitch of clothing. She
brought all her handmade drapes and floor rugs.
Mother
died in 1896. Father died November, 1913.
Discipline:
strict, Scotch.
Social
life: just visiting the neighbours during the first years.
Church:
In 1884 Father had church services started at Mr. Stark’s. Mr.
Farquharson, a student minister from what is now Pilot Mound, held
services at Mr. Stark’s till Huntly School was opened in 1888.
Also there was always Bible-reading in our home.
Yes,
Mother named the school Huntly, in memory of her home in Scotland.
Neighbours
in 1883 close to Mr. Stark: Jim Graham, real Scotch; Mr. &
Mrs. Little; Mr. Neelin, and just a mile away, the Maxwell family –
nine in their family, three grown-up girls and Mrs. Maxwell. Our
parents must have been thrilled to have their family so near. Mr.
& Mrs. Stevens, Miss Stevens later married Jim Graham; Fred later
had the Baldur paper for many years. The Mathers family and the
Porters some few miles north of Mr. Stark. Jose Cumming, later
his mother and two brothers, Malcom and Will. John Cumming, Long
Johnnie, as he went by at the time, had his homestead near Rock Lake;
later moved near the Maxwells, then to the place beside our homestead a
few years later.
There
were whole Metis families living all along the hill alongside of
us. Sometimes Indians came through our yard. Always Mother
made them tea and scones, but she must have been a little nervous
during the Riel Rebellion.
It
was
a great day for mother when Mrs. Cumming moved in so near us, also the
Danial family, old Billy he was always called. We kids all grew
up together, Cumming family especially. We had such good times
together.
It
is
only a few years since the old Cumming log house was torn down, but the
other part must be about seventy years old; still Little Johnny’s home;
more than that, it has never been empty for seventy-five years.
By
that
time, many more families were in the Huntly district, and many
wonderful times, socials, concerts, etc., were held; debates, dialogues
by the elders, sing-songs. Mr. Stark as chairman and Jim Graham
with his grand Scotch songs could make a concert on their own.
Our socials were considered the best all over. Mrs. Charlie
Cumming, the Moir’s mother and father, Les Williamson and others took
part in everything. People came all the way from across the
valley and even from Killarney.
Our
school was rather crude. On large room, high big box stove which
held a great oak log. Froze your feet and cooked whoever was
near. We had a lady teacher first term, Mr. William Coutts
followed for quite a number of years, a wonderful teacher. Miss
Kate McPhail was our first teacher. There were all the new
families in the district when the school opened. Moirs,
Williamsons, John Cumming, ourselves, McKays, Maxwells, Charlie
Cummings (Big Charlie), Danials, Bremners. Rory McLennan’s maybe
a couple of years later. We had quite a large attendance and held
church service in the school, with old Mr. Cairans as minister.
He lived in the Marringhurst district.
Transportation
& Travel: All by wagon and sleigh, early years often oxen.
Work,
all farming till later when towns started. Killarney, the only
town at that time, and for many years our business place.
Threshing-out was the only employment, often till on in December and
January. All stacked. Only one machine. It went
as far as Glenboro. Usually all men worked on the machine, I
think wheat sold for around thirty-five cents. Every fall, late
on, all the men joined up and went all the way to Souris with wheat and
oats to be made into the year’s supply of flour. It took several
days both ways. Everyone by that time was short of flour and
porridge meal. Once I remember well a blizzard came up and our
mother and all were terribly anxious. But the men had unloaded
the bags of grain and turned the sleigh boxes up for shelter.
They were well supplied with buffalo robes and blankets and were none
the worse. We had no flour, but Mother had a large coffee
grinder, and we ground the oats and wheat and made something out of
that.
Political
activity: very active. I believe Mr. Greenway was premier
of Manitoba at that time. Many a real battle between Grits and
Tories, or Liberals and Conservatives. In my father’s opinion, no
one but a liberal was worth anything. Unfortunately many
Conservatives were of the same opinion (about their party). Many
bitter tongue battles, but no enemies after election was over.
Military
experience: None.
Our
first post office was across the valley at Mr. Knight’s. Later
on, we had the Moropano post office at John Cumming’s, right beside
us. Mr. Knight’s was over five miles, a long trip in winter,
where our mail for Moropano post office was brought from.
The
Bryson family were not early settlers. They came about
1898. Johnie and his wife, later her family, the Lockerbys.
The girls, Maud, Katie, and Mrs. Johnie Bryson were a great help to the
community, as all were very musical and lovely singers. They
helped so much at our school concerts.
There
were a few deaths in very early days. I believe Mr. Maxwell would
be the first. He was buried on their homestead near the old
home. The two Montague children died of diphtheria. There
were no doctors nearer than Brandon. Mrs. Charlie Cumming and my
mother and father nursed far and near. Later the two Charlie
McKay children died of diphtheria, both at the same time. It was
a dread disease in those days. Mr. Jim Williamson had a long very
serious illness, but Dr. Patterson from Killarney was able to come to
him. Several cases of pneumonia but no deaths. Many, many
times my mother was away days at a time. I often heard them tell
of Jim Graham driving all the way to Brandon for a doctor in December
for Mother when she was very ill.
Times
were hard, but the grand neighbours all over the district made up for a
lot. It was slow work breaking land with a one-furrow plough and
oxen. The people from Ontario mostly brought out horses and some
cattle. Very few left of the old pioneer people.
I do
not think I should take up any more space, and you may shorten this to
suit. Perhaps some others could fill in a few more details.
Miss Carrie Cumming has records of quite far back history. None
of the elder Williamsons are alive now and young members would not
remember. I am a poor writer, but perhaps you can arrange the
details better. Practically all settlers were Canadian or from
Scotland. Yes, my brother Andrew knew the Davids well. Our
aunt, Mrs. Irvine, with boys, lived close to the Davids.
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