|
Angus
Gall
Angus
Gall was born on a Good Friday, April 15, 1870 to Mr. & Mrs. David
Gall near Fergus, Ontario, and named George Angus Arburthnot
Gall. As a lad about eight he traveled west to Winnipeg with his
parents and brothers and sisters. For a short time they lived in
a tent close to the Red River, later moving to a house on Alexander
Avenue. Angus sold the Free Press paper at the corner of Portage
& Main.
Mr.
Gall and the older boys including Angus, a few months later, continued
on west to Manitou by sleigh and oxen. On this trip they endured
many hardships, barely escaping death by freezing when they became
lost. But a kindly Indian took them in and they were grateful for
his skill at thawing frost-bite, and for the muskrat soup he warmed
them with. In the spring, the rest of the family joined them in
Manitou. A diphtheria epidemic hit them in 1880 and two younger
brothers died. Angus believed taking electric oil internally
saved his life. He received no formal education after coming to
Manitou, but had to help provide for the family.
As a
young man he came to the Killarney district and bought from the C.P.R.
the N.E. quarter of 21-2-18 in the Turtle Mountain Municipality, about
10 miles S.W. of Killarney.
On
December 27, 1894 he married Mary Hendry Cooper, then a lass of 19 at
the home of her parents Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Cooper, in the diocese of
Rupert’s Land in the Lyonshall county. Rev. Johnson performing
the ceremony.
This
young couple had little of this world’s goods, but had faith and
determination. They had good neighbors, one being Mr. & Mrs.
George Gregory, an English couple with two small children, who lived on
the S.E. quarter of the section and remained life long
friends.
Mr.
& Mrs. Gall were blessed with eight children, all but the youngest
born at home without benefit of a doctor – but there was always a good
mid-wife to assist. The names of the children in order of age
are: Mary Catherine Alberta; Jessie Muriel; Florence Elizabeth
and Margaret May (the twins); David James; Harry Angus; Edith Helen and
Gladwyn Lenore. Mrs. Gall passed away on April 12th, 1926 after a
few months’ illness. David died Oct. 25th, 1937 following a brain
tumor operation, and was buried on his 35th birthday. Both
funeral services were held in the home.
Angus
Gall had been brought up in the Baptist faith. Mrs. Gall was a
Presbyterian. For a time they attended Baptist services held at
the home of Mr. & Mrs. Jones in the Lyonshall district. Later
a Presbyterian Church was built a mile north of their home, and this
was the family church from then on, all the children attending Sunday
School as well as Church Services. Long River School #720, two
miles south, was where all the children received their elementary
education, walking that distance regularly. But up until about
1913 the school was closed during January and February and the summer
holidays were the month of July. Mr. Gall served as trustee for
many years, faithfully walking to the meetings.
The
most memorable occasion at the school was the Christmas concert.
This was truly a momentous event, with every child taking part and
sometimes the grown ups would put on a dialogue and also entertain with
musical numbers, both vocal and instrumental, the Davidson brothers all
being musical. Santa was a big attraction and no child was
forgotten. Long River seldom held a school picnic, but the annual
one at Lyonshall, held down by the river was always attended with
glee. Dominion Day, July 1st was eagerly awaited, for this was
the day Wakopa held their picnic. Our little patriotic souls were
thrilled with the flags and bunting. We travelled to this in the
wagon, generally picking up a neighbor girl on the way. Everyone
took lunch which was pooled. Long tables were set up for the
grown ups, the children sitting on the grass. Food was plentiful,
as also was lemonade and tea. This system gradually changed and
about 1915-16 the people gathered in their own little groups to have
their lunch. I’m afraid the spirit of neighborliness was losing
out to class distinction.
At one
time surprise house dances were popular in the district. Mr. Gall
did not approve too highly of dancing, but when Alex Cooper worked for
him, one dance was held at the home. The children were allowed to
sit on the stairway for awhile and watch, which to them was quite
thrilling. Playing cards was not allowed either for many years,
but cards with pictures like Lost Heir or Old Maid were considered all
right. The others, we were told, were used by gamblers and evil
men.
Christmas
and New Year’s were always celebrated in the traditional manner with
fowl, plum pudding and Christmas cake. The big pudding was boiled
in a floured sack, there being enough to last for both days and once or
twice more during the winter. It was kept frozen in the barrel at
the north of the house along with the meat. The latter was
generally a steer butchered, as soon as the weather was cold enough for
it to keep and shared with a neighbor, who butchered his beast the next
year. In the summer, the meat was mostly salt pork, which after
being salted was stored in the bin of oats. Apples in the winter
were a must and generally five big barrels were purchased and an apple
or more a day was customary. One barrel would be Spies, one
Talman Sweet (for eating), one Greenings and perhaps Winter Banana or
Baldwins or Russets. Mr. Herbert Jones ordered honey from Ontario
for all who desired it and a big 50 lb. tin came to our house.
Tea, called Daly’s tea, was purchased from a travelling salesman and
bought in 50 lb. wooden boxes. For a big family everything had to
be bought in large quantities as trips to town were seldom made in the
cold weather, and were made by team and sleigh for coal and coal oil
for the lamps. These were hard cold trips and anxious ones for
those at home, who listened eagerly for the sound of sleigh bells to
herald the approach of a team and all safe again.
Mr.
Gall had only a quarter section of land on which to provide for his
family of then six. In 1910 he purchased the N.W. quarter of
22-2-18 from Mr. J. M. Rankin for $5000.00. Times must have been good
for an addition was put on the house, a piano was purchased, also the
traditional parlour furniture and a carpet. A barn replaced the
old stable with the sod roof and a hen house and pig pen with a loft
was built. A deep well ws drilled near the middle of the yard,
and a windmill erected, which did away with the far well and the back
breaking job of carrying water to the house.
Mr.
Gall passed away Nov. 9, 1945 at the age of 75, after a few months of
illness. The funeral was held in Lyonshall Church, as the snow
was very deep and the road to the house was not open. Dr. Alison,
a long time friend was the officiating clergyman. One notable
little incident took place that day. A son-in-law’s car carrying
the pall bearers slipped off the track into the deep snow and in short
order, many willing hands of Mr. Gall’s friends literally lifted it
back on the road. Living descendants today, 1966, of Mr. &
Mrs. Angus Gall number 88 – 7 children, 19 grandchildren and 62
great-grandchildren.
Today,
1966, the old home, no longer in the family, but owned by Mrs. Graham
Wark, bears on the gate post the name, “The Angall’s Farm.” A
truly fitting memorial by the new owner to a fine hard-working couple
who had great love for their country and faith and trust in God.
|
|
