Covered wagons may have figured prominently in the
settlement of the
southwest although seldom mentioned by early settlers. It was on a
Sunday, July 8,1900 that Thomas Shirley Loucks drove his covered wagon
up the main street of Melita, to complete a long 600 mile journey from
Forestburg, South Dakota. He first settled west of Melita.
Of United Empire Loyalist descent, Mr. Loucks was born in
Fredericksburg, near the town of Napanee, Ontario in 1871. In his 23rd
year, he married Nellie May Brooks.
He then decided to go west, and he and his wife and children set out by
train, arriving at Dickey, North Dakota. They remained there for two
years, returned to Ontario and again made the trip to the western
states. This time they settled at
Forrestburg, South Dakota, coming to Canada two years later.
Their children Melbourne and Anna received their education at Peninsula
and Melita Schools. In this period, Mr. Loucks served 18
years as secretary-treasurer of the Peninsula School district as well
as branching out into the larger field of Municipal Councillor and
Reeve. Altogether, he was connected with the Arthur Council for
twenty-two years.
He was a former president of the Arthur Pioneers' Association and
passed through all the chairs of the Oriental Lodge A.P. and A.M.,
Melita. His first vote in the Dominion election was cast for Sir John
A. MacDonald, Canada's first Prime Minister. His twilight years were
spent in Melita. He died on July 1, 1956. His wife, Nellie May,
predeceased him in August 1937.
Several members of the family have remained in this southwest region.
Adapted from Our First Century, page 616
Submitted by Laura (Loucks) Warren and Anna (Loucks) Sterling
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