Article by Erica Woodward, Sun Staff Writer "Work with a Purpose" and live 100 Years.
Margaret Jane Craig of Swift Current has been a Canadian for a century.
She was born in Seaforth, Ontario, Apr 11, 1866, a year before confederation.

"The Queen is much interested to hear that you are celebrating your 100th birthday, and sends you a warm congratulations and good wishes," said a telegram from Buckingham Palace, which arrived for Mrs. Craig on Monday morning.
Congratulations also came from Prime Minister Pearson, John Diefenbaker, Lieut. Governor R. L. Hanbridge, leader of the Opposition in the legislature, W.S. Lloyd, Minister of Welfare Dave Boldt; Mayor J.D. Keene, MLA E.E. Wood and Jack McIntosh, MP for Swift Current-Maple Creek.
The guest register was signed by 150 visitors Monday, when Pennant Eastern Star Chapter No. 43, held a come-and-go tea for Mrs. Craig at the Geriatric Centre.
"Hard work never hurt anyone" said Mrs. Craid. "Working with a purpose in mind is the secret of living."
She felt that the secret of long life is enjoying what you are doing and being so busy you don't have time to think about getting older.
Mr. and Mrs. Craig came west from Kincardin, Ont., with there seven children when they were in their 50s, and Mrs. Craig took part in cattle roundups until she was well past 60, sometimes staying in the saddle all day.
"I rode side saddle when I came out here," said Mrs. Craig, "but I soon learned to ride astride like the cowboys."
The Craig family rented a box car to bring heir horses, cattle, machinery and furnishings to the homestead at Pennant. Mr. Craig and the boys road with their possessions in the box car and Mrs. Craig and the younger children travelled in the coach.
"She was a beautiful woman, loved dancing and parties and was full of fun," said her nephew Les Caswell of Success, who remembers "the good old says."
She was always called upon in times of trouble and actred as a midwife in the district in the early days, he said.
Mr. and Mrs. Craig celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at Pennant in 1936. They were married in Bruce County, Ont., in 1886 and moved to Pennant in 1913. Mr. Craig died in 1938.
They had seven children, 17 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Harry Gainor (daughter Verna) of Vancouver and Wallace Craig (son) of Lakeside, Ont. are the two surviving children and they were both in the city for Mrs. Craig's 100th birthday Monday.

Mrs. Craig was the recipient of a posthumous Military Cross for her son, George, killed in action during the First World War.,
She also received a Red Cross pin for outstanding contributions to women's work during the 1914-18 war.

Margaret Jane "Maggie" Blake was born in Seaforth, Tuckersmith Twp, East Huron County, Ontario, Canada to James Blake Sr. and Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Shannon. Both her parents were born in Amagh, Ulster Province, Northern Ireland. Her father's family (Grandfather Thomas Blake and Grandmother Ann Jane Chambers) immigrated to Canada in 1830 from Northern Ireland . Her mother's family immigrated 1844. Her parents married about 1851 in Ontario, Canada.

Maggie was only 2 years when her mother died on March 25, 1868 after giving birth to 7 children with her husband. They were Elizabeth Ann Blake 1853-unknown; John Blake 1-22-1855 to 12-19-1927; Martha Blake 11-5-1857 to 4-6-1930; James Blake Jr 2-21-1859 to 5-4-1927 (the first 4 children were born in Alton, Caledon Twp., Peel County, Ontario, Canada. Then her parents moved to Seaforth, Tuckersmith Twp., East Huron County, Ontario, Canada where her mother gave birth to her 5th child Thomas George Blake Jan 11, 1862 to Apr 13, 1942; Solomon Valentine Blake 2-14-1864 to 2-26-1936 and Maggie, Margaret Jane Blake 4-11-1866 to 8-19-1967.

Maggie's father waited a respectful 2 years before he took a 2nd wife when he married Hannah Lee (an irish lady whom family came to Canada from County Cork, Southern Ireland. Hannah was one of her parents' (James Lee 1801-1890) and Thomasin June 1794-1879) 7th child (the last three of the total 7 being born in Canada rather than Ireland. Hannah was born in the Neighborhood of Streesville, City of Mississauga, Toronto Twp., Peel County, Ontario, Canada.

Hannah Lee was the only mother than Maggie new except for her two older sisters..Martha who remained a spinster until her late 40's and whom cared for her father's children and his home until about 1900. Hannah mothered Elizabeth's 7 children and bore James Blake Sr. 4 more children: Thomasena "Sena" Blake 7-5-1871 to 7-7-1940; Henrietta "Etta" Blake 5-11-1873 to Jun 8 1956; Mary Hannah Blake 4-21-1876 to 1-5-1856; and Fredrick Lee Blake 9-28-1879 to 5-19-1933.

Within 24 hours of Fredrick's birth, Hannah Lee-Blake died at age 38 yr, 10 mo., 5 days. Maggie was 13.

Maggie was a warm, loving child and as in many families one child may make more of an effort to hold the family together. Maggie became very close with her sisters until you would never realize that some were born by a different mother. Maggie in her many years would travel to visit her siblings and keep the family connected. She outlived all of her siblings from the first 11 children.

Her father did try to marry again by a marriage on Feb 14, 1881 to Martha Armstrong McLaughlin Lachay. Martha had 8 children and brought to the home of 11.. 8 children from age 15 to 2 years of age. But the marriage didn't last until longer than about a year and a half. Margaret's first husband, Robert McLaughlin was reported dead in a war - Margaret had married a Mr. Lachay but he may have died also. The problem was when Mr. Robert McLaughlin returned from the war after Martha had given birth to Lillis Blake in 11-7-1881 and was pregnant with another child. Margaret was not a widow and thus James Blake's marriage to Martha was null. Margaret returned to Robert her 1st husband and gave birth to Victor Colonel Blake 5-1-1883. James Blake Sr. made sure that his name was on the birth certificate but since Martha was living in Mar, Albemarle Twp, North Bruce, Ontario near James' farm.. James packed up, left his first 11 children with the oldest children and immigrated to Lopez Island, San Juan, Washington USA.. following his father-in-law the father of Hannah Lee who moved from Albemarle Twp. to the San Juan Islands 6 months prior.

It took Maggie's father from 1883 to 1887 to buy land in the USA and get a home built for his children. In 1887 he sent for his oldest daughter Martha to bring the small children to the United States to live with him again. Martha stayed in Ontario Canada and kept the two babies bore to James Blake with her. The family took years to join into a family of James Blake's total 13 children.

By 1887 Maggie had met Henry Norman Craig and stayed to Albemarle Twp., North Bruce, Ontario to live near Norman's parents George Craig and Elizabeth "Elzia" Coqan. She became very close to her Craig family. Her older brother James Jr. married Norman's older sister Susannah Craig.

Of the original 11 children, Elizabeth Ann and her son William John Blake were lost..Elizabeth was 18 and not married the last we know of her. John the 2nd to the oldest child married and remained in Albemarle Township until death with his wife Elizabeth Ann "Annie" Gawley. Annie was close to her Gawley family. The other 8 children went one by one to live on Lopez Island in Washington USA and raise families. Some immigrating sooner than others. The last two children (Lillis & Victor) were raised in Sarnia, Lambton, Ontaria.

Margaret Jane "Maggie" Blake married Henry Norman Craig on Apr 18, 1886. They made a home in Kincardine, South Bruce, Ontario before the birth of their 2nd child. The 3rd child was born in Glamis, Kincardine, South Bruce. followed by the 4 more children for a total of 7: Walter H Craig b: Albemarle, N. Bruce 4-21-1887 to 11-17-1952 when he died; James Hillyard Craig 3-12-1896 to 11-2-1918; George Craig 9-10-1896 to 10-30-1917 (George died in WWI Ypres, West Flanders his body not returned to his parents); Orvil Norman Craig 6-8-1899 to 5-1-1959; Irene Craig 7-11-1901 to 1-31-1903 died age 2; Verna Elvin Craig 2-14-1904 to 5-21-1973 and Wallace Craig 3-13-1909 to 4-4-1986.

Norman and Maggie took their family west to live in Saskatchewan, Canada. Maggie was a strong woman who went on cattle drives learning to ride astride a horse instead of side saddle to withstand the many miles on horseback.

Norman died in 1938 and Maggie finally gave up the farm to move into Pennant near Swift Current. Maggie travelled to the United States many time in the following years to visit her siblings. She slowly went quite deaf but nothing stopped her independents.. making her younger siblings seem less adventurous. I remember visiting her half sister, my Grandma when I was younger. She wore coke bottomed glasses but continued to knit and crochet. The two old women would get together in late evening when the house was quiet so she could hear better and they could visit for hours on end.

Maggie was dearly loved. She was an avid writer of letters and cards. I still have a small china tea set she gave my mother so many years ago.

Margaret Jane "Maggie" Blake lived to be 101 years, 4 months and 8 days of age. On her 100th birthday she was written up in her local paper and received a telegram from the King and Queen of England. She died in Pennant Village, Swift Current County, Saskatchewan on Aug 19, 1967 and was buried in the Pennant Cemetery.

From a small tintype photo: Margaret Jane Blake/Mrs Henry Norman Craig "Maggie" seated on the left holding her first child Walter H Craig (no period after H were the instructions on he birth certificate). Next to her is her sister-in-law Elizabeth Ann "Annie" Gawley who married her older brother John and daughter Ida in her lap. Standing behind then is Julie Norton (Annie's sister. Taken about 1888