Recollections of Jean Cameron Kelly, Part III

Jean Kelly Cameron was the second school teacher in Peace River, arriving in December of 1913. In "I Remember Peace River, Alberta and Adjacent Districts 1800s - 1913 Part I", Cameron recalls her journey to Peace River, her memories of school and how Peace River Crossing looked in 1913. The first installment of the Recollections was published in our first newsletter sent out to our Members. For more membership information, please visit: http://peacerivermuseum.blogspot.com/2008/08/membership-drive-2008.html
call the Museum at 780-624-4261.

Recollections of Jean Cameron Kelly, Part III

"...Past the Hudson's Bay Post we drove west until we came to the River, passing on the way the Hudson's Bay residence, presently the home of Mrs. Ann Cambridge, which then stood fairly close to the present CKYL building, and just across the road from it stood the whitewashed log building which was the house of the fabulous Captain John Gullion, a riverboat captain, widely known as the strongest man on the Peace River, and tales of his feats of strength were unbelievable. A little farther down the river we passed the little log Anglican church which was then the only Protestant church in the Crossing. The minister was the Reverend Robert Holmes. Captain Magar's handsome Siwash wife (a Dudeward from the British Columbia Coast) was the organist, and often a soloist.

Crossing the river on the ice we drove up the George Hill to Mr. George's homestead. Until recently, when it was purchased by the Department of Highways, it was the Percy Eyre place, and was owned by John Lang-Hodge prior to that. We were welcomed by Mrs. George, the former Louise Auger from Wabasca, and her four children. Three of them Bertie, Alice and Ethel, were pupils of mine, but Emma was a baby in the mossbag.

The next night being New Year's Eve, we all went to the dance, which was held in the dining room of the new log hotel. Mr. George had had his piano moved there for the occasion, and there was a fiddler, also a large crowd of people, both white and native, all of whom seemed to be having a wonderful time. There was a surplus of men so there were no wall-flowers. My foot being too painful to dance, I ended up at the piano accompaning the fiddler for the evening. [NOTE: Miss Kelly's foot had been burned on her way to Peace River by a foot warmer]

At the stroke of twelve, there were twelve revolver shots from outside, whereupon everyone kissed the ones nearest him or her. Mr. George had prepared me for this and also told me that on account of this custom, New Year was called "Kissing Day" by the natives. Some of the ladies I remember at that dance were Mrs. Allan MacKenzie, Mrs. Pierre Gauvreau, Mrs. Anderson (wife of the O.C. of the R.N.W.M.P.), Mrs. H.A. George, Mrs. Willie George, Mrs. Gullion, Mrs. M.R. Upton and Mrs. W.J. Doherty.

On New Year's Day we drove to the home of the M.L.A. for the constituency, Mr. T. Allan Brick, a son of the Reverend Gough Brick, an Anglican missionary who founded the Mission at Shaftesbury about twelve miles up the river. We had a wonderful New Year's dinner there. There was stuffed turkey with vegetables and cranberry sauce and a real English plum pudding. We spent the night there, and I learned the local meaning of the word "camp." It did not mean roughing it in the open or in a tent, it simply meant that you spent the night somewhere. So, we camped at Bricks' that night and the next day drove home and moved across the Peace to Mr. George's town house, a large story and a half house which was destroyed by fire in 1966.

There were four bedrooms upstairs, and the greater part of the downstairs was in one large room, originally used as a sort of ball-room when the factor gave a dance for his trappers in the spring at the conclusion of the fur buying business of the winter. This large room was also my schoolroom, where I taught by day, and at night rolled down my bedroom on the floor behind the stove and slept there. In a couple of weeks one of the upstairs rooms was furnished and set up for my bedroom.

Recollections of Jean Cameron Kelly

Jean Kelly Cameron was the second school teacher in Peace River, arriving in December of 1913. In "I Remember Peace River, Alberta and Adjacent Districts 1800s - 1913 Part I", Cameron recalls her journey to Peace River, her memories of school and how Peace River Crossing looked in 1913. The first installment of the Recollections was published in our first newsletter sent out to our Members. For more membership information, please visit: http://peacerivermuseum.blogspot.com/2008/08/membership-drive-2008.html

call the Museum at 780-624-4261.

"In the morning I was awakened by a tall Métis who brought me a cup of coffee...He reminded me of Pierre of the Plains. We were soon on the road and at the next stopping place I slept in a bed. A pretty young Métis gave up her own bed to me, with its new rabbit paw robe, a quilt with a filling made of pieces of rabbit paw skins, instead of wool, very cosy (sic) and warm. She told me her name was Pelage Stoney, and that she was sixteen and would soon be married. She asked me if I were married and when I told her no, she asked with great concern how old I was. When I told her twenty-five, a look of distress came over her face and she said commiseratingly, "Oh, that's too bad! But maybe you will find somebody at the Crossing."
The next day we started out on the last day of our trip, out of the unholy Grouard trail, which I later heard described as one of the worst roads in North America. We arrived about dusk December 30th, at the top of the Grouard Hill just east of the Crossing. We slid down the hill into the little community with Bell hanging desperately to the wheel and yelling all the way, "I can't do it! I can't hold it!"
Despite his fears he did it and held it, and the car came to a stop at the telegraph office. Our actual travelling time from Edmonton was twenty-six hours, which was considered good, since we had no lights and could travel only in daylight, of which we had about five and one half hours daily. Also, we were so overloaded that at ever little incline we had to get out and walk...
The telegraph office, the present residence of Mrs. Henry Miller, then stood in very much the same location as the one which was recently removed to become the Friendship Centre. A crowd was waiting to greet the arrivals, interest being equally divided between the car and the new teacher. After looking me over, Harry Coombs (later Captain Coombs, who died of war wounds received in World War I) collected a bet from somebody. He had bet that the new teacher would have blue eyes, as it was his theory that the blue-eyed people were the explorer and adventurer type, and he pointed out that the only white person in this pioneer community who had dark eyes was a young Englishman named George Matthews.
Just east of the telegraph office was the Revillon Freres trading post (later the United Church and presently the Elk’s Hall), whose manager was then William John Doherty. South across the road from these buildings was Johnny Gaudet's pool hall and stopping place, a store and a half log building which occupied approximately the site of the Motor Car Supply Building. As I recall it there were no other buildings as we proceeded west until we came to the Hudson’s Bay Post, the building which was recently wrecked to make way for the Campsall Block. The Hudson’s Bay factor at that time was Mr. Gamlin, the first of the two Gamlin brothers who successively served as factors here.
North across the street from the Hudson’s Bay Post a three story log building was under construction on the present Firestone location. This was H.A. George’s “New Peace Hotel.” There was nothing but woodland north of this on Main Street. Turning south, the Old Peace Hotel stood where the Eaton Building now stands, and on the south side of the present location of the Stedmans store was a rambling frame building which was the store of the third trading company in the Crossing, the Peace River Trading and Land Company, colloquially known as the “Diamond P” from the brand placed on their freight – a Capital P enclosed in a diamond shape. The manager of this company was then Phillip Godsell.
Behind the Diamond P was the Maple Leaf Restaurant, where Jim Lonsdale was the chef, and in this building was [where] the first telegraph set had been set up on a packing case. However, when I arrived it had been installed in the regular telegraph office, Pierre Gauvreau being the first operator.
Farther south and east, out on the point where the Heart [River] joins the Peace stood two old log buildings, which I heard referred to as the old Revillon warehouses; however, at a later date Jim Cornwall told me that they had been the warehouses built by his own company, Bredin and Cornwall. At the time of my arrival they were housing the first bank in Peace River, the Canadian Bank of Commerce; the manager was Allan MacKenzie, whose first customer had been Pierre Gauvreau.
South across the Heart from these buildings stood the tower of the Government Ferry. As well as I can remember, this was the extent of the business section at this time – there was nothing at all on the east side of Main Street that first day I came down the Grouard Hill.”

Recollections of Jean Cameron Kelly: Part II

Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace - Alex Mackenzie

The "Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace" is a feature written by Beth Wilkins, Curatorial Assistant and Researcher, in conjunction with the Museum's Treaty 8 Exhibit on display until the end of August. The articles have also been published on the Community Page of the Peace River Record-Gazette.

Alex McKenzie

PRMA 68.130

Alexander McKenzie was born November 1843, near Three Rivers, Quebec, to Alexander Mackenzie, Sr. and Mary Traversy, a Metis woman. It is said he is a descendant of explorer/fur trader Sir Alexander Mackenzie.

He was orphaned when only an infant and thus sent back to his father’s homeland, Scotland, to be nurtured and educated by his parental relatives.

Alex is among the first Peace River settlers, arriving in 1863, coming from Norway House to the Athabasca District on snowshoes. Peace River became his home for more than half a century.
He married Elizabeth (Eliza) Sawan, nee LePretre/LaFleur) at St. luke’s Anglican Church, Fort Vermilion, Sept. 30, 1876. Eliza died June 6, 1917.

Alex retired from the service of the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1888 after 27 years. His successful, adventurous career, laden with hardships and hairsbreadth escapes, was admired even by his opposition for his cleverness and his attention to service. He was extremely popular with the natives, which made trading easier. Farming then became his main endeavour on River Lots 30 and 31 on the Shaftesbury Trail. His family continues to farm on those lots. The Province of Alberta, in 1993, lauded the family with the Alberta Century Farm and Ranch Award for having owned, operated and maintained the 285-acre farm for more than 100 years.

A well-known picture of McKenzie shows him wearing the typical coureur-de-bois outfit, formerly worn by all Hudson’s Bay Company employees and natives in the country – a blue blanket cloth mackinaw with cream blanket cloth cape and red trimmings, a turban cap to match and black pants with trimmings of Indian design.

Alexander McKenzie died Jan. 16, 1919 from the flu.

It was said that his death brought to an end the link between the Peace River Country of that day and the early days when the first of the Hudson’s Bay traders ventured into the unknown North to ply their trade with the natives of the country.



Sources: Peace River Record; Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre files; Peace River Record-Gazette; Caron Riley

Make sure to join us starting next week for Recollections from Jean Cameron Kelly, the second school teacher in Peace River and her journey north in 1913. The first installment was in our inaugural newsletter which is available to all members of the Museum. Information about Museum memberships is available here: http://peacerivermuseum.blogspot.com/2008/08/membership-drive-2008.html

Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace - Louise Auger George

The "Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace" is a feature written by Beth Wilkins, Curatorial Assistant and Researcher, in conjunction with the Museum's Treaty 8 Exhibit on display until the end of August. The articles have also been published on the Community Page of the Peace River Record-Gazette.

Louise (Auger) George

Louise (Auger) George: Photo cutline: (l-r) Amy Eaton, Louise George (the first Mrs. H. A. George). The child is Alice George. From Peace River Remembers

Louise (Auger) George was born December 1883 at Wapiskow Mission—Claim No. 513. Scrip Certificate No. 1078A. Louise’s parents were: Father Michel Auger (Metis) and her mother Mary Anne Chekastaye (Metis)

She married Herbert Alfred (H.A.) George, September 1898 at Wapiskow Mission.

Louise was 15 – her husband 18. He was a Christian teacher at the Indian residential school for two years prior to his employ as an accountant with the Hudson’s Bay Company.

The couple and their two children, Max and Bert, moved to Peace River when H.A. became the manager of the Hudson’s Bay post -- among the first residents of the community. He is said to have told a friend that when he and his family left Wapiskow (Wabasca) with all their earthly possessions loaded on a light set of sleighs pulled by a team of cayuses”, he had the worldly sum of $400 in his pocket.

Later, the George’s had four more children, among them Louisa Irene George for whom Peace River’s first hospital was named.

The headstone bearing her name and year of death, 1915, and the names of two of the George children – Maxwell Sandfield, age 10, June 1910, and Louisa Irene, age two years, September 1910, now resides on the grounds of the Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre.

The George children were the first known burials in the Anglican cemetery on the ledge overlooking what is now the Bishop’s Lodge.

Source: Peace River Remembers; collectionscanada.gc.ca; Record-Gazette

Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace - Nancy Brick

The "Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace" is a feature written by Beth Wilkins, Curatorial Assistant and Researcher, in conjunction with the Museum's Treaty 8 Exhibit on display until the end of August. The articles have also been published on the Community Page of the Peace River Record-Gazette.

Nancy (Gray) Brick

The Brick Family (l-r) Standing - Emma and Allie; Seated: Nancy with, probably, Robert (PRMA - AR89.36.024)

Nancy Gray, a Métis woman, was the daughter of a Red River Hudson’s Bay employee. In 1895, she married Thomas Allen (Allie) Brick, first Peace River Member of Provincial Parliament (now Minister of the Legislative Assembly).

While Allie was establishing a commercially viable farm along the Shaftesbury Trail, and representing a constituency one third the size of the province of Alberta, a staunch supporter of his efforts became, herself, widely known in the Peace River district.


She acted as a hostess to many travellers who stopped at the Brick farm in their quest for land and trade.


Jean Cameron Kelley wrote in Peace River Remembers, about a wonderful New Year’s meal she and other guests enjoyed at the Brick’s home. “There was stuffed turkey with vegetables and cranberry sauce and a real English pudding” – a testament to Nancy’s culinary and hospitable flair.


The Bricks had nine children – three lived to adulthood – Earnest, Fred and Emma.
A heart attack during preparations for anesthetic prior to dental work was the cause of Nancy’s death in 1923, leaving Allie a widower.



Source: I Remember, Peace River and Adjacent Districts – 1914-1916 (Part 2); Electoral History of the Peace River Country of Alberta – 1905-1993

Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace - Pat Wesley

The "Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace" is a feature written by Beth Wilkins, Curatorial Assistant and Researcher, in conjunction with the Museum's Treaty 8 Exhibit on display until the end of August. The articles have also been published on the Community Page of the Peace River Record-Gazette.

Pat Wesley – Peace River Benefactor Lends Name to Creek

PRMA AR89.36.022

One of the Town of Peace River’s pioneers was a man, who lent his name to a creek running from an area northeast of town between Kaufman and Grouard hills and through it to meet with the Peace River behind the Third Mission Heritage Suites.

Although details of Pat Wesley’s life are obscure, it is plain to see the man, who was in the area from at least 1902, indeed, was an important person in the history of the town.


An Evelyn Seeley poem lauds Wesley for whom Pat’s Creek and the district of Wesley Creek in Northern Sunrise County are named.


Wesley was Métis. “He was one of the Métis who took scrip – that is the title to certain land,” writes Muriel Oslie in Peace River Remembers. According to Oslie, he moved onto his land and lived in a cabin near Pat’s Creek. He gave five acres to the Anglican Church, asking only that his body be laid to rest in the shadow of the church to be built on the land he had donated.


In 1910, Wesley contracted smallpox, the disease, which eventually killed him. He was buried, as requested, in what is now the rectory garden.


Three of the five acres Wesley donated were sold. The funds from the sale were used in 1916, for the erection of a house on ground near Wesley’s grave for the Incumbent of St. James Church, Rev. Harold Hesketh.


Current buildings on the property include: rectory, Synod office, St. James Cathedral, and Athabasca Hall.



Sources: Peace River Remembers; Archdiocese of Athabasca; I Remember 1; Record-Gazette; Northern Sunrise County Web site; Place Names of Alberta, Vol. IV; I Remember 2

Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace - The Flette Family

The "Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace" is a feature written by Beth Wilkins, Curatorial Assistant and Researcher, in conjunction with the Museum's Treaty 8 Exhibit on display until the end of August. The articles have also been published on the Community Page of the Peace River Record-Gazette.

The Flette Family

PRMA 79.1021.2 Nicholas Flette in his WWI uniform, seated. The other chap is unknown.

Nicholas Flette

Often called Sunny or Nick

Born: December 1896, in Fort Vermilion area, one of William and Charlotte (Smith) Flette’s sons
Died: December 1965, died of a heart attack

Served in First World War – said to have served in Siberia driving a dog team in the line of duty

September 15, 1928, Nicholas married Caroline Margaret Lawrence

Margaret Flette

Margaret Flette in one of her many hats

Born: March 17, 1904, in the Fort Vermilion area, third child of 15 and descendent of pioneers and missionaries – Sheridan and Julia Lawrence. Died: July 31, 2007, 103 years old

Received early education at home – went to a school on Lawrence family ranch, also attended by local children – won Governor General’s Medal for highest marks in grade school – travelled to Winnipeg for further education in 1924 – taught school in Fort Vermilion for two years – had varied careers thereafter.


Following Nick’s death in 1965, Margaret continued to live in their Peace River home, to which they had moved in the late 1950s, having sold their previous house to daughter Hester and husband, Fred Hutton.



Margaret had many talents, one of which was making delicious cinnamon buns – a treat at Chuck’s Place – a popular Peace River restaurant. Even after the closure of the restaurant, she continued, well into her 80s, to bake the treats. She was always busy – taking in boarders and roomers – being active in several organizations and her craft interests.



Margaret was also known for her hats and her walks along Main Street.

The Flettes

Nicholas and Margaret renewed their friendship while both were in Cloverbar, Alberta, near Edmonton. They had five children: Hester, Clifford, Lawrence, Allan and Shirley. Clifford died while serving in the Second World War.

After their marriage, the Flettes homesteaded at Cloverbar before succumbing to the lure of the Peace Country. They farmed in the Stewart District (Weberville Road) for more than 20 years.

Source: Fort Vermilion People In Our Vast Trading North; Margaret Flette’s obituary

Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace - Duncan Tustawits

The "Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace" is a feature written by Beth Wilkins, Curatorial Assistant and Researcher, in conjunction with the Museum's Treaty 8 Exhibit on display until the end of August. The articles have also been published on the Community Page of the Peace River Record-Gazette.

Duncan Tustawits, Tastatoots, Testawich

PRMA 76.689.39 - Photograph taken 100 miles north of Peace River Crossing (no date available): Duncan Testawits on dog sled with Dr. Bayfield in foreground.

Duncan Tustawits, first Headman of the Duncan’s Band was one of the signatories of the second signing of Treaty 8, witnessed by North West Mounted Police Sgt. K.F. Anderson. Duncan signed on behalf of the Cree population of the Peace River Crossing district, July 1, 1899. He was a capable ambassador of his people, speaking Cree, Beaver, French, English and Chippewa.

The Duncan’s Band in 1899 had 46 members. By 1900, it had grown to 67 members. Today the Duncan’s Reserve population is 101





The 1918 flu epidemic took many lives, though no figures are known, including all but two sons and one daughter of the 18 children of he and his wife. Duncan also succumbed to influenza in 1918 at the approximate age of 70.



The well-respected band Headman farmed on River Lot 1 at the western end of the Shaftesbury Trail and was a familiar figure in the White Swan and Griffith Creek Districts. He was reputed to have been a good farmer and a supporter of education. To the latter end, his children attended school the Anglican Christ Church Mission on Shaftesbury Trail.




His farming enterprise included a large herd of horses, which is said to have supplied the equine needs of many area settlers.



The Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre invites readers to provide it with any more information or photographs you may have of Duncan Testawits and his family. The Museum may be reached at (780) 624-4261 and e-mail: museum@peaceriver.net



Source: Brick’s Hill, Berwyn and Beyond, a history of Berwyn and District; On the North Trail, the Treaty 8 Diary of O.C. Edwards

Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace - The St. Germains

The "Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace" is a feature written by Beth Wilkins, Curatorial Assistant and Researcher, in conjunction with the Museum's Treaty 8 Exhibit on display until the end of August. The articles have also been published on the Community Page of the Peace River Record-Gazette.

Joseph Simon St.Germain and Charles St. Germain

PRMA 75.655.001 - (L) Joseph (Joe) and (r) Charles (Charlie). Date and place of photograph unknown.

Joseph [1874 – 1959] and Charles St. Germain [1874 – 1958], twin sons of Charles and Angelique (Lafournaise) St. Germain, settled with their family along Shaftesbury Trail on River Lot 39 in 1894.

Charles Sr. was among the last of the buffalo hunters whose expeditions took him into Montana and Minnesota. He was also reported to have been quite a rum-runner in his time.
The St. Germain family raised livestock, crops and a huge garden. The farm was a well-known Stopping Place for weary travellers.
The tradition of hosting a mocchigan – food, good fellowship, music and dancing – provided ample opportunities for Charles and his brother to learn to play musical instruments.

Joseph

Joseph, known by some as “Little Smilin’ Joe” because of his easy-going manner and kind disposition, married Elizabeth Louise McKenzie, daughter of Alex McKenzie at the St. Augustine Mission Chapel in 1903.
In the winter months of 1907 to 1910, Joseph hauled freight for Revillion Freres, but eventually he and Elizabeth settled in West Peace on their land grant property.
The Joseph St. Germains had eight children. Only four lived to adulthood – Edmond, Thomas, Philomene Riley and Ruth Gardner
Joseph was a fine fiddler and played for many dances and parties in the Shaftesbury and Strong Creek districts.

Charles

Charles married Maria McAllister in 1895. They had 15 children of which nine lived to adulthood.
Charles, known for his log-building skills, built the church at Dunvegan, as well as the surrounding buildings. The family farmed in the area later known as St. Germain Lakes in the Chinook Valley area and Shaftesbury.

Source: I Remember, Peace River and Adjacent Districts – 1800s-1913 (Part 1); Peace River Remembers; Caron Riley

Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace - Angelique IsKwesis

For those of you who missed out on our wonderful articles published in the Record Gazette, they will be re-posted here for your enjoyment. We will be posting one every day this week:

The "Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace" is a feature written by Beth Wilkins, Curatorial Assistant and Researcher, in conjunction with the Museum's Treaty 8 Exhibit on display until the end of August. The articles have also been published on the Community Page of the Peace River Record-Gazette.

Angelique IsKwesis (Chickalee) – “A Real Friend”

PRMA 73.531.071

Chickalee was familiar to the people of Peace River. This short, determined Beaver Indian woman was often seen walking along Peace River streets wearing a long black dress, tied at the waist by a cord, a black hat and moccasins. She was in town on her way to purchase her meagre supplies from J.D. Levesque’s store. After her purchases and talking to J.D., who spoke Cree, one would see her sitting in front of his store smoking a pipe.

She was a mysterious soul, who suffered ridicule and harassment. With all of the disrespect shown her, she also commanded the friendship of others. “I forget how you say ‘real friend’ in Cree, but Chickalee did have a lot of them in the Peace River Country,” says columnist R.C. Colmer in an April 1984 newspaper article.

Angelique (Chickalee) was Number 28 to accept Treaty (8) with the Peace River Crossing Band in July 1899. There is speculation regarding the origin of the name Chickalee – some say it is a derivative of Pi-chickleese – good-natured – jolly, while others suggest it means “tiny one”.

Regardless, she was a woman of character.

She was married twice – first to Guillaume Bell in the mid-1800s – then, as his widow, married Jean Baptiste (Johnny) LePretre, July 5, 1914, at St. Augustine Mission, Shaftesbury Trail, about which there was a recollection of an auspicious occasion at which people from all over came by various means of transportation. There was even a gun salute and “much merry-making.”
Johnny died in 1923.

Chickalee, as far as is known bore only one child – Louise in 1893 – the first student to attend St. Augustine Mission School.

Angelique (Chickalee) IsKwesis Bell Le Pretre died at Hotel Dieu Hospital, Whitelaw, Dec. 23, 1958 – age 108. She rests in Peace River’s Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Sources: Peace River Remembers; Caron Riley; Record-Gazette