Originally from Ontario, Frank and Margaret Schultz
settled at Mapleton on the banks of the Red River north of Winnipeg,
where Frank taught school. On leaving there, they moved to the Belmont
district where Frank took up a homestead south of the town. Needing
money, he undertook to teach at Northfield School near Wawanesa. There
Nellie McClung was one of his pupils. She made several references to
him in her book "Clearing in the West". Later in thankful remembrance
of her early teacher, she sent Margaret a copy of each of her books as
they were published.
By Mrs. Mooney’s own account Mr. Schultz influenced her in several
ways. Not only did she learn to read and write in his care, she had the
opportunity to experience views that she might not have encountered
otherwise. The year 1885 saw hot debate and not a little hysteria over
the Metis uprising. Mr. Schultz offered what today is a conventional
view, that the Metis had legitimate grievances, and that the native
people who supported the Metis or merely sympathised with them had
legitimate grievances as well. These were not popular sentiments in the
region but Frank Schultz, who had lived in Red River and who had met
Riel was able to offer them in such a way that he impressed Nellie and
avoided antagonizing the parents.
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