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Henry
and Meliisa Eggleton
By
Mrs.
Ina Steward
April
24, 1892 – A Monday morning broke bright and clear, a beautiful day for
a new beginning, which it was for Henry and Melissa Eggleton and their
four children, Arthur, Wilbert, Mildred and Ella.
This
was the day they left Sterling, Ontario to make a new home in the
West. The West, a new place they had talked of and planned for, a
place to raise their family, make a new home and the fortune that
everyone talked about.
They
said goodbye to family and friends and started, not without tears and
misgivings, but fully believing it was the best move to make for the
children, the tears were soon forgotten, as it was their first ride on
a train and to sleep and eat on it for a week was really something to
look forward to. I wonder if it was such a holiday for mother?
They
stayed one day in the Immigration Hall in Winnipeg and when they
started out again, Dad had $1.50 in his pocket, a wife and four
children to look after in a completely new country. They arrived
in Holmfield just before dusk on Saturday night and were met by Uncle
Walter and Uncle Charlie with a team of oxen and sleigh with poles on
for the bottom covered with hay and blankets, mother and children were
wrapped up well, with Uncle Charlie driving started out for the
homestead, ten miles northwest. Dad and Uncle Walter set out to
walk and, of course, made better time, so when mother arrived they had
a fire going and supper ready.
They
lived at Uncle Walter’s until fall. Myrtle was born in June.
They
moved to Mr. Forrester’s log house and stayed until the next fall, then
moving to Mr. O’Brien’s farm where Tena was born. Then Dad took
up his own homestead on December 18, 1894 (Southeast 30, Township 2,
Range 16) and a small log house was built on it.
Uncle
Will and Aunt Eliza Cooke came out and settled at Bannerman; Aunt
Maggie and Uncle Will Floyd came out and finally settled at
Wapelle. Uncle Walter married Amelia Anderson. I will never
forget going there every year for New Year’s as mother and dad always
held Christmas, we always had lots of fun, as there were big families
at both homes.
Dad
ran
a herd for years with both boys riding and then extra ones hired.
We
always had lots of company as mother was an excellent cook, she baked
bread for a lot of bachelors which they certainly appreciated.
Every
Thursday night was Prayer Meeting, Mother and Dad were strong
Methodists and very strict with us children, not until very late years
were we allowed to have a pack of cards in the house or go to a dance
except the ones at Uncle Walter’s on New Year’s night.
We had
a very good organ and Millie was a good organist so we always had a lot
of playing and singing. Arthur was good cording, so when anyone
came with a violin we had a real evening of music.
I
wasn’t very old the fall Uncle Alf and Aunt Florence came out on their
way further west, Uncle Alf was a minister and I can still, in memory,
hear him singing, “The Holy City”. I have never heard anyone sing
it just the way he sang it. His one son Harry is now a missionary in
Trinidad.
We
all
went to Fairdale School, which was 2½ miles away. Harry Pascoe
and Jean Rankin were two of my teachers along with Irene Arnott who was
teaching the day the school was struck with lightning. Jack
Morris was the one who got us all out. That was one day I shall
never forget, my first thought was for my dress, we got only one new
dress a year and mine was white with a lovely pink sash, of course it
was burnt off as were the rest of my clothes.
Dad
was
a great horse man and always had a good driving team even after leaving
the farm to move to Holmfield where he bought the livery barn. He
loved to drive and he always drove the doctors from Killarney and
Cartwright, also the ministers.
We
were
fortunate in having such good neighbors as the Thomas Fryes, Bessie
& Dan Forester, Mr. & Mrs. Sam Forester and one older
couple. I loved to visit Mr. & Mrs. Remus, also the Chathums,
Ernie Hysops, Jack & Kate Morris of course, and Mr. & Mrs. Gus
Taylor. We had such good times at the Red Cross box social held
in their spacious living room in a setting of evergreens.
Lottie
was born in the old log shanty. I was born in the new frame house
so I only know what mother and dad told me of the early days.
One
thing, Sunday night at mothers was always special. She made a
cake with icing and used her best set of china. I never remember
anyone leaving our house without a cup of tea. Perhaps we only
had bread and butter, but mother always made it seem like something
special, her and dad were always the first ones to go to anyone in
trouble, and many a weary traveller found a good bed and a hot meal at
their home.
Their
last years were spent in Holmfield not too far from their homestead and
close enough for their old friends and neighbors to visit them.
They made two long visits back to Ontario, but the west was always home
to them.
They
are buried in the little cemetery at Holmfield the place they called
home.
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