Lewis Dunkley was born June, 1897 in Floore, Northamptonshire England to William and Clara Dunkley he was the fifth son after Will, Arthur, Reginald, Fred and he was an older brother to Francis and Christopher. His father was a carpenter and undertaker.
In England, it was customary for children to start school at age three or four, and continue until 13 or 14 years of age. Few went on to higher education many took any jobs they could get, and some started an apprenticeship. Each Dunkley boy became an apprentice in a different trade around the age of 14. Lew was working for a tinsmith when the family followed the two older sons to Canada. The other brothers Reg (age 18) was working for a butcher, Fred (16) for an electrician, Francis and Chris were too young to have started work.
Shortly after arriving in Calgary, Canada in April 1911, the family built homes and claimed homesteads east of Calgary south of Chinook. Lew helped his parents and brothers in the construction and in establishing the homsteads until he was old enough to apply for one himself in 1915. By November the youngest brother Christopher became ill and died in Calgary.
A number of families from Flore moved into the area south of Chinook in a district called Bigstone, and groups often got together at the school where the minister held services on Sunday. Neighbors included a doctor and a lawyer. During the winter they made up hunting parties for coyotes, using Reg's dogs.
In the spring of 1915, they continued breaking more land, and by June seeded 80 acres with wheat and oats. Lew joined brother Will in helping with fencing and enlarging the barn to include a granary, and they harvested a bumper crop. Unfortunately, they did not finish the roof, which resulted in serious damage to the grain that was stored in the granary.
L. Dunkley applied for a homestead in July 1915 on NW 18-25-8 W4. The Index of Titles listed Reginald Dunkley for this property, but there were no photocopies related to it. It is possible that Lew started filing a homestead claim for it before he enlisted in the Canadian Army, because he turned 18 in 1915, and enlisted on December 29, 1915.
After his discharge from the army, Lew was approved by the Soldier Settlement Board for a Soldier Grant Entry for SE 30-25-8 W4, which was immediately south of Reg Dunkley's pre-emption. The property was identified on the map as Soldier L. Dunkley April 1921, but there is no record of Lew farming the land.
World War I, which had started in 1914, caused serious disruption in the lives of several of the Dunkleys. Lew served in France and Germany, and continued in the occupation forces in Germany until his demobilization in May, 1919. Sadly, Lew had been away when his brother Reg died in 1918 of the influenza epidemic which often struck young people.
Lew spent his twenty-first birthday in Bonn, Germany, while with the army of occupation. After his return in 1919, he worked on a homestead for a year or so, then as a tinsmith in Calgary. In 1923 he move to Blairmore and started a tinsmith business, which was not successful, so he took a job as a miner in Blairmore.
In 1925, Lew married (Bertha) Louise Gresham, known by family as Louie, daughter of the local magistrate Major J. W. and Mrs. Bertha Gresham Mr. Gresham had been a welder previously in Blairmore. Louise appears to have been born in England in 1905 and the family came to Canada about 1907. Louise had a brother who was as an adult a Custom Agent in Del Bonita, Alberta. Louise’s mother died in 1944 in Blairmore. The year after their marriage Lew and Louie had a premature son who died at birth. The death disturbed Louise so much that she spent much of their early married life in the mental hospital at Ponoka.
Lew continued to work as a miner until 1927, when he was exposed to gas in a mining accident. He became caretaker of a non-operating plant of Rocky Mountain Cement Company in Blairmore. Later, Canada Cement Company bought the plant with the intention of re-opening it, and Lew continued as caretaker.
In 1932, Lew was given a contract by Canada Cement Company to demolish the plant where he was caretaker so it would never again be use as a cement plant. Brother Will moved his family to Blairmore and joined Lew in the demolition project and in other business ventures on the property. Lew’s father William joined Lew and Will in the demolition project for a few months.
After the demolition and disposal of the equipment, Will and Lew had a contract to supply limestone for a sugar factory in Raymond. They undertook a chicken-raising project which was not successful. The next venture was in a lumber mill and construction partnership as Dunkley Brothers, but the depression doomed it also. Lew left Blairmore in 1937.
Lew moved to Sundre in 1937 and worked in the creamery there. About 1940, he took a position as an orderly in the Col. Belcher Hospital in Calgary. He was later in 1944, transferred to the Veteran’s Hospital in Edmonton. Louie joined him there, until his death in Edmonton in May 1962. Louise died in April, 1983 in Edmonton.
Lew and Louie are buried in the Beechmount cemetery in Edmonton.
In England, it was customary for children to start school at age three or four, and continue until 13 or 14 years of age. Few went on to higher education many took any jobs they could get, and some started an apprenticeship. Each Dunkley boy became an apprentice in a different trade around the age of 14. Lew was working for a tinsmith when the family followed the two older sons to Canada. The other brothers Reg (age 18) was working for a butcher, Fred (16) for an electrician, Francis and Chris were too young to have started work.
Shortly after arriving in Calgary, Canada in April 1911, the family built homes and claimed homesteads east of Calgary south of Chinook. Lew helped his parents and brothers in the construction and in establishing the homsteads until he was old enough to apply for one himself in 1915. By November the youngest brother Christopher became ill and died in Calgary.
A number of families from Flore moved into the area south of Chinook in a district called Bigstone, and groups often got together at the school where the minister held services on Sunday. Neighbors included a doctor and a lawyer. During the winter they made up hunting parties for coyotes, using Reg's dogs.
In the spring of 1915, they continued breaking more land, and by June seeded 80 acres with wheat and oats. Lew joined brother Will in helping with fencing and enlarging the barn to include a granary, and they harvested a bumper crop. Unfortunately, they did not finish the roof, which resulted in serious damage to the grain that was stored in the granary.
L. Dunkley applied for a homestead in July 1915 on NW 18-25-8 W4. The Index of Titles listed Reginald Dunkley for this property, but there were no photocopies related to it. It is possible that Lew started filing a homestead claim for it before he enlisted in the Canadian Army, because he turned 18 in 1915, and enlisted on December 29, 1915.
After his discharge from the army, Lew was approved by the Soldier Settlement Board for a Soldier Grant Entry for SE 30-25-8 W4, which was immediately south of Reg Dunkley's pre-emption. The property was identified on the map as Soldier L. Dunkley April 1921, but there is no record of Lew farming the land.
World War I, which had started in 1914, caused serious disruption in the lives of several of the Dunkleys. Lew served in France and Germany, and continued in the occupation forces in Germany until his demobilization in May, 1919. Sadly, Lew had been away when his brother Reg died in 1918 of the influenza epidemic which often struck young people.
Lew spent his twenty-first birthday in Bonn, Germany, while with the army of occupation. After his return in 1919, he worked on a homestead for a year or so, then as a tinsmith in Calgary. In 1923 he move to Blairmore and started a tinsmith business, which was not successful, so he took a job as a miner in Blairmore.
In 1925, Lew married (Bertha) Louise Gresham, known by family as Louie, daughter of the local magistrate Major J. W. and Mrs. Bertha Gresham Mr. Gresham had been a welder previously in Blairmore. Louise appears to have been born in England in 1905 and the family came to Canada about 1907. Louise had a brother who was as an adult a Custom Agent in Del Bonita, Alberta. Louise’s mother died in 1944 in Blairmore. The year after their marriage Lew and Louie had a premature son who died at birth. The death disturbed Louise so much that she spent much of their early married life in the mental hospital at Ponoka.
Lew continued to work as a miner until 1927, when he was exposed to gas in a mining accident. He became caretaker of a non-operating plant of Rocky Mountain Cement Company in Blairmore. Later, Canada Cement Company bought the plant with the intention of re-opening it, and Lew continued as caretaker.
In 1932, Lew was given a contract by Canada Cement Company to demolish the plant where he was caretaker so it would never again be use as a cement plant. Brother Will moved his family to Blairmore and joined Lew in the demolition project and in other business ventures on the property. Lew’s father William joined Lew and Will in the demolition project for a few months.
After the demolition and disposal of the equipment, Will and Lew had a contract to supply limestone for a sugar factory in Raymond. They undertook a chicken-raising project which was not successful. The next venture was in a lumber mill and construction partnership as Dunkley Brothers, but the depression doomed it also. Lew left Blairmore in 1937.
Lew moved to Sundre in 1937 and worked in the creamery there. About 1940, he took a position as an orderly in the Col. Belcher Hospital in Calgary. He was later in 1944, transferred to the Veteran’s Hospital in Edmonton. Louie joined him there, until his death in Edmonton in May 1962. Louise died in April, 1983 in Edmonton.
Lew and Louie are buried in the Beechmount cemetery in Edmonton.
Lewis Dunkley was born June, 1897 in Floore, Northamptonshire England to William and Clara Dunkley he was the fifth son after Will, Arthur, Reginald, Fred and he was an older brother to Francis and Christopher. His father was a carpenter and undertaker.
In England, it was customary for children to start school at age three or four, and continue until 13 or 14 years of age. Few went on to higher education many took any jobs they could get, and some started an apprenticeship. Each Dunkley boy became an apprentice in a different trade around the age of 14. Lew was working for a tinsmith when the family followed the two older sons to Canada. The other brothers Reg (age 18) was working for a butcher, Fred (16) for an electrician, Francis and Chris were too young to have started work.
Shortly after arriving in Calgary, Canada in April 1911, the family built homes and claimed homesteads east of Calgary south of Chinook. Lew helped his parents and brothers in the construction and in establishing the homsteads until he was old enough to apply for one himself in 1915. By November the youngest brother Christopher became ill and died in Calgary.
A number of families from Flore moved into the area south of Chinook in a district called Bigstone, and groups often got together at the school where the minister held services on Sunday. Neighbors included a doctor and a lawyer. During the winter they made up hunting parties for coyotes, using Reg's dogs.
In the spring of 1915, they continued breaking more land, and by June seeded 80 acres with wheat and oats. Lew joined brother Will in helping with fencing and enlarging the barn to include a granary, and they harvested a bumper crop. Unfortunately, they did not finish the roof, which resulted in serious damage to the grain that was stored in the granary.
L. Dunkley applied for a homestead in July 1915 on NW 18-25-8 W4. The Index of Titles listed Reginald Dunkley for this property, but there were no photocopies related to it. It is possible that Lew started filing a homestead claim for it before he enlisted in the Canadian Army, because he turned 18 in 1915, and enlisted on December 29, 1915.
After his discharge from the army, Lew was approved by the Soldier Settlement Board for a Soldier Grant Entry for SE 30-25-8 W4, which was immediately south of Reg Dunkley's pre-emption. The property was identified on the map as Soldier L. Dunkley April 1921, but there is no record of Lew farming the land.
World War I, which had started in 1914, caused serious disruption in the lives of several of the Dunkleys. Lew served in France and Germany, and continued in the occupation forces in Germany until his demobilization in May, 1919. Sadly, Lew had been away when his brother Reg died in 1918 of the influenza epidemic which often struck young people.
Lew spent his twenty-first birthday in Bonn, Germany, while with the army of occupation. After his return in 1919, he worked on a homestead for a year or so, then as a tinsmith in Calgary. In 1923 he move to Blairmore and started a tinsmith business, which was not successful, so he took a job as a miner in Blairmore.
In 1925, Lew married (Bertha) Louise Gresham, known by family as Louie, daughter of the local magistrate Major J. W. and Mrs. Bertha Gresham Mr. Gresham had been a welder previously in Blairmore. Louise appears to have been born in England in 1905 and the family came to Canada about 1907. Louise had a brother who was as an adult a Custom Agent in Del Bonita, Alberta. Louise’s mother died in 1944 in Blairmore. The year after their marriage Lew and Louie had a premature son who died at birth. The death disturbed Louise so much that she spent much of their early married life in the mental hospital at Ponoka.
Lew continued to work as a miner until 1927, when he was exposed to gas in a mining accident. He became caretaker of a non-operating plant of Rocky Mountain Cement Company in Blairmore. Later, Canada Cement Company bought the plant with the intention of re-opening it, and Lew continued as caretaker.
In 1932, Lew was given a contract by Canada Cement Company to demolish the plant where he was caretaker so it would never again be use as a cement plant. Brother Will moved his family to Blairmore and joined Lew in the demolition project and in other business ventures on the property. Lew’s father William joined Lew and Will in the demolition project for a few months.
After the demolition and disposal of the equipment, Will and Lew had a contract to supply limestone for a sugar factory in Raymond. They undertook a chicken-raising project which was not successful. The next venture was in a lumber mill and construction partnership as Dunkley Brothers, but the depression doomed it also. Lew left Blairmore in 1937.
Lew moved to Sundre in 1937 and worked in the creamery there. About 1940, he took a position as an orderly in the Col. Belcher Hospital in Calgary. He was later in 1944, transferred to the Veteran’s Hospital in Edmonton. Louie joined him there, until his death in Edmonton in May 1962. Louise died in April, 1983 in Edmonton.
Lew and Louie are buried in the Beechmount cemetery in Edmonton.
In England, it was customary for children to start school at age three or four, and continue until 13 or 14 years of age. Few went on to higher education many took any jobs they could get, and some started an apprenticeship. Each Dunkley boy became an apprentice in a different trade around the age of 14. Lew was working for a tinsmith when the family followed the two older sons to Canada. The other brothers Reg (age 18) was working for a butcher, Fred (16) for an electrician, Francis and Chris were too young to have started work.
Shortly after arriving in Calgary, Canada in April 1911, the family built homes and claimed homesteads east of Calgary south of Chinook. Lew helped his parents and brothers in the construction and in establishing the homsteads until he was old enough to apply for one himself in 1915. By November the youngest brother Christopher became ill and died in Calgary.
A number of families from Flore moved into the area south of Chinook in a district called Bigstone, and groups often got together at the school where the minister held services on Sunday. Neighbors included a doctor and a lawyer. During the winter they made up hunting parties for coyotes, using Reg's dogs.
In the spring of 1915, they continued breaking more land, and by June seeded 80 acres with wheat and oats. Lew joined brother Will in helping with fencing and enlarging the barn to include a granary, and they harvested a bumper crop. Unfortunately, they did not finish the roof, which resulted in serious damage to the grain that was stored in the granary.
L. Dunkley applied for a homestead in July 1915 on NW 18-25-8 W4. The Index of Titles listed Reginald Dunkley for this property, but there were no photocopies related to it. It is possible that Lew started filing a homestead claim for it before he enlisted in the Canadian Army, because he turned 18 in 1915, and enlisted on December 29, 1915.
After his discharge from the army, Lew was approved by the Soldier Settlement Board for a Soldier Grant Entry for SE 30-25-8 W4, which was immediately south of Reg Dunkley's pre-emption. The property was identified on the map as Soldier L. Dunkley April 1921, but there is no record of Lew farming the land.
World War I, which had started in 1914, caused serious disruption in the lives of several of the Dunkleys. Lew served in France and Germany, and continued in the occupation forces in Germany until his demobilization in May, 1919. Sadly, Lew had been away when his brother Reg died in 1918 of the influenza epidemic which often struck young people.
Lew spent his twenty-first birthday in Bonn, Germany, while with the army of occupation. After his return in 1919, he worked on a homestead for a year or so, then as a tinsmith in Calgary. In 1923 he move to Blairmore and started a tinsmith business, which was not successful, so he took a job as a miner in Blairmore.
In 1925, Lew married (Bertha) Louise Gresham, known by family as Louie, daughter of the local magistrate Major J. W. and Mrs. Bertha Gresham Mr. Gresham had been a welder previously in Blairmore. Louise appears to have been born in England in 1905 and the family came to Canada about 1907. Louise had a brother who was as an adult a Custom Agent in Del Bonita, Alberta. Louise’s mother died in 1944 in Blairmore. The year after their marriage Lew and Louie had a premature son who died at birth. The death disturbed Louise so much that she spent much of their early married life in the mental hospital at Ponoka.
Lew continued to work as a miner until 1927, when he was exposed to gas in a mining accident. He became caretaker of a non-operating plant of Rocky Mountain Cement Company in Blairmore. Later, Canada Cement Company bought the plant with the intention of re-opening it, and Lew continued as caretaker.
In 1932, Lew was given a contract by Canada Cement Company to demolish the plant where he was caretaker so it would never again be use as a cement plant. Brother Will moved his family to Blairmore and joined Lew in the demolition project and in other business ventures on the property. Lew’s father William joined Lew and Will in the demolition project for a few months.
After the demolition and disposal of the equipment, Will and Lew had a contract to supply limestone for a sugar factory in Raymond. They undertook a chicken-raising project which was not successful. The next venture was in a lumber mill and construction partnership as Dunkley Brothers, but the depression doomed it also. Lew left Blairmore in 1937.
Lew moved to Sundre in 1937 and worked in the creamery there. About 1940, he took a position as an orderly in the Col. Belcher Hospital in Calgary. He was later in 1944, transferred to the Veteran’s Hospital in Edmonton. Louie joined him there, until his death in Edmonton in May 1962. Louise died in April, 1983 in Edmonton.
Lew and Louie are buried in the Beechmount cemetery in Edmonton.
Inscription
89 BATTN C E F
9 May 1962
Age 64
Gravesite Details
Louie is listed as Bertha Dunkley interred in Block 643 Lot 54
Family Members
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