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Forster
Family
Fairdale
District – the Forster Family
Back
to
the early 80’s, Mr. & Mrs. Dan Forster’s grandfather, Thomas, and
son Tom came to the district and took up his homestead in
20-2-16. Walking from La Riviere. Then getting a team of
oxen and enough logs to build a home.
In
1882
the grandmother, with two sons George and William, arrived in Brandon,
coming from England and Mr. O’Brien, a neighbour drove to Brandon for
her with the first horse and buggy in the district. Their mail
came to La Riviere at that time, the trip was made by walking, then
three day trip there by oxen for supplies.
Around
1887 other sons arrived, with wives and young families. By this
time the C.P.R. railway was this far. The spring of 1888 Sam
Forster went to Boissevain to put in his claim for his homestead, Sec.
30-2-16. In the winter the farm looked nice and level, and he
discovered by spring sloughs and hills and a few stones for good
measure. In time some land was broken for crops, the sod turned
by oxen and walking plow in the early hours of the day and late
afternoon. The heat of noon day and flies, the ox preferred to
rest or graze, or stand in the middle of a slough. As time went
on a cow or two, few hens and pigs, enough for their living was added.
Very
often the small crops were hailed or frosted and not threshed until
spring. A great deal of this done by hand and then by the old
hurdy-gurdy – six horses hitched to the machine and making a continual
circle.
Most
of
the barns for stock were cut in the hill and built with poplar poles
and sod roof, and in the winter with the snow and three-day blizzards
would be completely covered, and making an opening in the roof the
stock would be fed. Melting snow or hauling water in barrels from
the river, cutting a hole in the ice and driving the stock to it for
water. The spring floods often meant swimming the rivers and loss
of cattle climbing up the muddy bank and drowning.
Many
log homes and sod roofs, which leaked when it rained, and in winter
were banked with earth or snow and iced with water to make it warmer.
Roads
in those days were all across country, prairie trails to nearest
village or supply or stopping place. The nearest church service
was at Highview and the families walked, happy to meet the neighbours
and visit. For blacksmith work it meant a week’s trip to Crystal
City, walk and carry, taking turns carrying the plow shares.
Mr.
Tom
Forster had the misfortune to be burned to death in his shack when it
caught fire in 1888. In those days when death came, they were
buried on their farms. Near the lovely grove of evergreens where
Mr. & Mrs. Dan Forster live, the grandparents are laid to
rest. Also graves of early settlers can be found on Mr. J.
Stamper and Tindale farms. Also a young child of Mr. & Mrs.
Bob Hamilton was buried near a gully on the east quarter of Mr. Clark
Moody’s farm.
The
kindness of neighbours in time of sickness, and here a tribute to Mrs.
Dan Forster who travelled many, many miles day or night to nurse the
sick, or brought to her home to be cared for. Much of her travel
was done by horse and buggy or sleigh.
The
winters were spent hauling wood from the bush at Turtle Mountain for
fires and building log homes, usually several men would start off
around four in the morning and stay overnight in a shack in the bush,
depending on storm and snow how soon they reached home.
From
the tent, log home, frame dwelling and stone homes built from rocks
hauled from the land and then brick purchased in Killarney around 1900
to 1902 or 1906.
A
great
hazard in those days was the prairie fire, which destroyed many a home,
stable, the bush and stray stock. When this happened everyone
turned out to help to plow furrows to stop the fire.
Noted
most of the very early settlers settled by rivers, creeks or ravines,
for water, and living for a while in tents then log homes, and means of
conveyance, walking, oxen and cart, horses and covered wagons,
democrats and buggy in winter sleds.
As
there were no markets at this time for much grain or produce it was
mostly barter and trade, for supplies, with so little or no money, even
for a postage stamp. Fish and wild game were plentiful and wild
fruits. With bannock made from flour, water and salt and cooked
on top of a stove. From this plain fare later to eggs, fowl, salt
pork, bread and butter and dried fruits. Then fresh beef in
winter and corned beef for summer. So changed to this day of
packaged and refined foods.
Many
of
the original homes are still used, very much altered and repaired, and
names remembered of the very early comers are: George Reynolds,
Robert O’Brien, (Stamper farm) Mathers McNeil, (Kozak farm, named
Orange Hill), Wm Wock, (High farm) W. Eggleton, C. Eggleton, H.
Eggleton, Bill Perkins, Tom Rocky, Kilpatrick, Moore, Dan McNeil, Tom
Forster, Sam Forster, Will Forster, P. Dufty, Tudhope, E. Hamilton, J.
Brown, S. J. Kellaway and others, Mr. Hysop and Mr. Chatham.
This
information gathered by Mrs. B. Wien and Mrs. H. Maynard from their
parents and grandparents.
Mr.
Thom. Forster came to Manitoba in April, 1880. His son, Tom, came with
him. Homesteaded 20-2-16. Mrs. Forster came in 1882, with
two sons, Geo. and Wm. To Brandon. Robt. O’Brien bought a new
buggy to fetch her from Brandon, and the first hens.
Sam
came with his wife and family and three children in 1887. That
year his brother, Thos., lost his life in a fire on his
homestead. His shack burned.
Job
came in 1902. Job’s son and Joe came in
1894. (Mrs.
Clayton)
George
Forster came to Manitoba with his mother in 1882. Before leaving
England, he was on the Staffordshire police force, and when he arrived
here, he joined the North West Mounted Police force, who were looking
for recruits, and was stationed at Broadview, Saskatchewan,
headquarters. He served a term of five years and was in the North
West Rebellion of 1885. In 1887 he settled on his homestead S. E.
20-2-16. In 1895 he married Ida Proctor, daughter of Mrs. Thomas
Fry, other early settlers in the district.
(Olive Forster
Sanders)
The
Forster Family
Thomas
Forster came to Fairdale district in April 1880. His son, Tom,
came with him. He homesteaded 20-2-16. He walked from La
Riviere, then got a team of oxen and enough logs to build a home.
Mrs.
Forster came in 1882, with two sons, George and William. She
arrived in Brandon, and Mr. O’Brien, a neighbour, drove there to fetch
her with the first horse and buggy in the district.
At
that
time, their mail came to La Riviere, and the trip was made by
walking. A trip by oxen for supplies took three days.
George
Forster had been on the Staffordshire police force before leaving
England, and when he arrived here he joined the North West Mounted
Police Force, as they were then looking for recruits. He was
stationed at Broadview, Saskatchewan, headquarters. He served a
term of five years and was in the North West Rebellion of 1885.
In 1887 he settled on his homestead S.E. 20-2-16. In 1895 he
married Ida Proctor, daughter of Mrs. Thomas Fry, other early settlers
in the district.
Tom
Forster has the misfortune to be burned to death in his shack when it
caught fire in 1888.
Mrs.
Dan Forster was Bessie Forster, daughter of Sam Forster.
In
1887, Sam Forster arrived, with his wife and children. By this
time the C.P.R. railway was through this district. In the spring
of 1888 Sam went to Boissevain to put in his claim for his homestead,
Sec. 30-2-16. In the winter the farm looked nice and level, and
by spring he discovered sloughs and hills and a few stones for good
measure. In time some land was broken for crops. The sod
was turned by oxen and walking plow in the early hours of the day and
late afternoon. The heat of noon and the flies made the oxen
prefer to rest or graze or stand in the middle of a slough. As
time went on, a cow or two and a few hens and pigs were added, enough
for their living.
In
1893, Dan Forster came to Manitoba.
In
1894, Joe Forster came to Manitoba
In May,
1902, Job Forster, father of Joe, arrived.
(18-2-16
in 1902; 17-2-16 in 1904).
Life in
those early days was not easy. Very often the small crops were
hailed or frosted and not threshed until spring. A great deal of
this was done by hand and then by the old hurdy-gurdy – six horses
hitched to the machine and making a continual circle.
Most
of
the barns for stock were cut in a hill, with poplar poles and sod
roof. In winter, what with snow and three-day blizzards, these
barns would be completely covered, and an opening had to be made in the
roof in order to feed the stock. Snow was melted or water was
hauled in barrels from the river. A hole was cut in the ice, and
the stock driven to it for water. The spring floods often meant
swimming the rivers, and cattle were lost climbing up the muddy bank
and drowning.
There
were many log homes with sod roofs which leaked when it rained.
In winter these homes were banked with earth or snow and iced with
water, to make them warmer.
Roads
in those days were all across country, prairie trails to the nearest
village or supply or stopping place. The nearest church service
was at Highview, and the families walked, happy to meet their
neighbours and visit. Blacksmith work meant a week’s trip to
Crystal City, walk and carry, taking turns carrying the plow shares.
In
those days when people died, they were buried on their farms.
Near the lovely grove of evergreens where Mr. & Mrs. Dan Forster
live, the grandparents were laid to rest. Graves of early
settlers can also be found on the John Stamper and Tindale farms.
And a young child of Mr. & Mrs. Bob Hamilton is buried near a gully
on the east quarter of Mr. Clark Moody’s farm.
Great
kindness was shown by neighbours in time of sickness. In this
connection a tribute is due to Mrs. Dan Forster who travelled many,
many miles by day or night to nurse the sick or bring them to her home
to be cared for. Much of her travel was done by horse and buggy
or sleigh.
The
winters were spent hauling wood from the bush at Turtle Mountain for
firing and log homes. Usually several men would start off around
four in the morning and stay overnight in a shack in the bush, and it
depended on storm and snow how soon they reached home.
Buildings
changed from the tent and log home to frame dwelling and stone houses
built from rocks hauled from the land, and then to brick purchased in
Killarney around 1900 to 1902 and 1906.
A
great
hazard in those days was the prairie fire, which destroyed many a home,
stable, the bush and stray stock. When this happened, everyone
turned out to help to plow furrows to stop the fire.
Most
of
the very early settlers settled by rivers, creeks or ravines, for
water, and lived for a while in tents and then in log houses.
Their means of conveyance were walking, oxen and cart, horse and
covered wagons, democrats and buggies, and in winter sleds.
As
there were no markets at this time for much grain or produce, it was
mostly barter and trade for supplies, with little or no money, even for
a postage stamp. Fish and wild game were plentiful and wild
fruits. Bannock was made from flour, water and salt, and cooked
on top of a stove. To this plain fare there were later added
eggs, fowl, salt pork, bread and butter, and dried fruits. Then
fresh beef in winter and corned beef for summer. And so to this
day of packaged and refined foods.
Many
of
the original homes are still used, very much altered and
repaired. Names remembered of the very early comers are:
George Reynolds, Robert O’Brien (Stamper farm), Mathers McNeil (Kozak
farm, named Orange Hill), William Wock (High farm), W. Eggleton, C.
Eggleton, H. Eggleton, Bill Perkins, Tom Rocky, Kilpatrick, Moore, Dan
McNeil, Tom Forster, Sam Forster, Will Forster, P. Dufty, Tudhope, B.
Hamilton, J. Brown, S. J. Killarney and others. Mr. Hysop and Mr.
Chatham.
This
information was gathered by Mrs. B. Mien and Mrs. H. Maynard from their
parents and grandparents. Contributions were added by Mrs. Roy
Sanders and Mrs. Clayton (Sr.)
The
Forsters
The
grandfather was Thomas F. Forster. He came April 1880;
homesteaded S.W. 20-2-16; died about 1900.
Grandfather
Thomas’ sons were (elder to
younger):
Job, Came May 1902. Methodist lay preacher. Did not
homestead.
Samuel, Came 1887. Homesteaded S.W.
30-2-16.
George, Came 1882. Five years in N.W. Mounted Police. In 1885
Rebellion. Homesteaded S.E. 20-2-16. T
homas, Came April
1880. Homesteaded N.W. 18-2-16. Burnt to death
1888.
William, Came 1882. Homesteaded N.E. 24-2-17.
Job’s
Children:
Joseph, Came
1894.
Daniel, Came 1893. Worked with his grandfather on S.W.
20-2-16. Took over the farm and still lives there. His son,
Tildesley, runs the
place.
Mary
(Mrs. Roland
Forster).
Margaret (Mrs. Walter
Leedon).
James
(Veterinary).
John
Eli Fletcher (Methodist minister.)
Samuel’s
Children:
Elizabeth (Mrs. Daniel
Forster)
Roland
Robert
Kate (Mrs. J.
Morris)
Arthur.
George’s
Children:
Thomas
E.
Olive (Mrs. Roy
Sanders)
George
Reginald
Howard
E.
Sible (Mrs. W.T.
Mullan)
Mary (Mrs. W. S.
McGill)
Ella (Died when a girl)
Thomas’
Children: (He never married)
William’s
Children:
Rose (Mrs. F.
McIntee)
Myrtle (Mrs. W.
Marsh)
Edith (Mrs. K.
Campbell)
Susan (Mrs. Fred
Simpson)
Ethel (Mrs. H.
Roberts)
George
Clarence
Pearl (Mrs. W. Brown)
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