William Alexander left Quebec in the 1890's where it is thought he took out a homestead. Some think he worked as a drayman while in Manitoba. In 1896 he moved to North Dakota where he had several jobs. At one time he operated a restaurant with his sister Maggie. Later he operated as a drayman and opened up a hotel in Knox North Dakota. He married Anna Janowski in Dec. 26 1899 in Know North Dakota and they had 3 children Percy Margaret and Herman in short succession. He again moved to the Canadian prairies in 1904. The family joined him in Granum. They moved again the following spring to Elinor now Barons. William built a shack and sod barn and broke up about 20 acres that spring seeding it to wheat. Fuel was supplied by the children picking up buffalo chips (buffalo dung) on the prairies. Water was hauled to the farm by stone boat from a neighbours well. As they became established grain was hauled by team and wagon 35 miles away to Lethbridge. William also raised registered Aberdeen Angus cattle and Clydesdale Horses.His homestead patent was registered in 1907.In 1913 William traded property in Alberta for property in Agassiz BC. where he had dairy cows and fruit trees. Still a mover he moved back to the Barrhill District in 1917. For the next few years the family lived in different locations in the Carmangay Barons area. Times were tough, the cattle had to eat green Russian thistles because of the drought. The historic blizzard of 1919 killed off many cattle.In 1926 William bought a farm 3 miles south of Iron Springs which he worked until it was taken over by his son Wilfred in 1919. This farm was in the area brought under control by the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District so was good for cattle sugar beets and hay. In 1947 William and Anna moved to a house in Picture Butte and his final years were spent in a home in Camrose.
I remember my Grandfather chewing tobacco and spitting into a tobacco can. When he visited us in his later years he would get confused and wander off down the road in search of Picture Butte. But he was a kindly man and very mild spoken. His ice cream making on the farm was a wonderful treat for all his Grandchildren.
I remember my Grandfather chewing tobacco and spitting into a tobacco can. When he visited us in his later years he would get confused and wander off down the road in search of Picture Butte. But he was a kindly man and very mild spoken. His ice cream making on the farm was a wonderful treat for all his Grandchildren.
William Alexander left Quebec in the 1890's where it is thought he took out a homestead. Some think he worked as a drayman while in Manitoba. In 1896 he moved to North Dakota where he had several jobs. At one time he operated a restaurant with his sister Maggie. Later he operated as a drayman and opened up a hotel in Knox North Dakota. He married Anna Janowski in Dec. 26 1899 in Know North Dakota and they had 3 children Percy Margaret and Herman in short succession. He again moved to the Canadian prairies in 1904. The family joined him in Granum. They moved again the following spring to Elinor now Barons. William built a shack and sod barn and broke up about 20 acres that spring seeding it to wheat. Fuel was supplied by the children picking up buffalo chips (buffalo dung) on the prairies. Water was hauled to the farm by stone boat from a neighbours well. As they became established grain was hauled by team and wagon 35 miles away to Lethbridge. William also raised registered Aberdeen Angus cattle and Clydesdale Horses.His homestead patent was registered in 1907.In 1913 William traded property in Alberta for property in Agassiz BC. where he had dairy cows and fruit trees. Still a mover he moved back to the Barrhill District in 1917. For the next few years the family lived in different locations in the Carmangay Barons area. Times were tough, the cattle had to eat green Russian thistles because of the drought. The historic blizzard of 1919 killed off many cattle.In 1926 William bought a farm 3 miles south of Iron Springs which he worked until it was taken over by his son Wilfred in 1919. This farm was in the area brought under control by the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District so was good for cattle sugar beets and hay. In 1947 William and Anna moved to a house in Picture Butte and his final years were spent in a home in Camrose.
I remember my Grandfather chewing tobacco and spitting into a tobacco can. When he visited us in his later years he would get confused and wander off down the road in search of Picture Butte. But he was a kindly man and very mild spoken. His ice cream making on the farm was a wonderful treat for all his Grandchildren.
I remember my Grandfather chewing tobacco and spitting into a tobacco can. When he visited us in his later years he would get confused and wander off down the road in search of Picture Butte. But he was a kindly man and very mild spoken. His ice cream making on the farm was a wonderful treat for all his Grandchildren.
