Frederick James Francey was born in Ontario and was raised on a farm. Later he was employed as a cabinet maker in Wisconsin, USA. In 1903 he came to Western Canada and lived with his sister, Mrs. D.H. Lent and her family. A year later, Fred settled on a quarter section of homestead land in the Wabamun area just east of the Lents' land and built his home. Later that year, Fred's parents came west and lived with him.
In 1905 Miss Jane Boyd, a school teacher, came west from Baltimore, Ontario. She and Fred had grown up and gone to school together. They were married that same year at Innisfail, Alberta. In the next three years two sons were born to the couple, Allan and James. In the meantime, Grandpa and Grandma Francey moved in with their daughter, Mrs. Lent. Grandpa died in 1908 and was the first to be buried in what is now known as the Smithfield Cemetery. Grandma died in 1911 and was buried beside her husband. The land for the cemetery was donated by Mrs. Lent.
The Lents were the Franceys closest neighbours. Other families scattered throughout the district were two families of Bests, the Hopkins, Hedges, Dunns, Woollards, Shields, Lords, Woods, Baileys, Fiddlers and the Charlie Smiths. About 1904, Dr. Carthew homesteaded in the district and was the first doctor to serve the area.
Bush trails served as roads and supplies were brought from Edmonton. To make extra dollars, Fred hauled fish from Wabamun to Edmonton and freighted supplies back, which was a round trip by team of three or four days. Mail came out by team from Edmonton to Mewassin Post Office, south of Duffield. The postmaster at that time was Hiram Akins.
For these hardy pioneers who worked long, hard hours to make a living off this new land, most still felt the loneliness for family and friends left behind in more comfortable circumstances. For many, the life was too harsh and they stayed only a short while.
Entertainment was important for a healthy outlook in this grim land and family picnics, Christmas concerts, dances and church socials kept neighbours in touch with one another. County fairs were very popular in those early years, and farm wives competed for top honours in baking, butter making, home canning, garden produce, and of course those beautiful handmade quilts. The men competed for honours in agriculture, livestock and horse racing.
About 1908, the Hopkins Methodist Church was built under the supervision of Rev. Charlie Hopkins and assisted by many volunteers from the community. It was situated about one half mile west of what is now known as the Duffield Corner on Highway 16. The Franceys were staunch supporters of this church which in about 1925, with the coming of church union was renamed Hopkins United Church. About 1960, the Wabamun and Smithfield United Church congregations amalgamated and since then services have been held in the Wabamun United Church. Hopkins Church now serves as a community centre. Over the years, ministers came and left, but all helped to fill the spiritual needs of the district. They lived at the Indian Mission on the Paul Band Reserve east of Wabamun Lake and served the Indian and local communities.
Schooling in those early years was a necessary element in the lives of the children. Mr. Charlie Smith donated a piece of his land on which to build a school, asking only that it be called Smithfield School. This was the name of the area in England from which he had come. His generous gift was gratefully accepted and so the district of Smithfield was born! The school was built two miles west of Duffield corner on Highway 16 and in 1914 was moved one and one-half miles east on the same road. The school was a one-room building large enough to accomodate thirty-five to forty students from Grades I to VIII. Their only means of transportation to this "hall of learning" was a walk to school of several miles or travel on horseback.
Fred Francey was foreman of the crew that built many miles of road between wabamun and Manly on Highway 16 West. He continued to farm and in 1905 when the Province of Alberta was formed, was appointed a Justice of the Peace, a post he held until his death. For many years Fred served on the Local School Board, and in later years was on the council of the old Inga Municipality. Throughout the years he was caretaker of the Smithfield Cemetery and from 1942 until 1972, his son, Allan, continued this service to the community.
Mrs. Francey was a charter member of the Duffield Women's Institute which was organized in 1927, and through the years she was an active member of the Ladies Aid of the local United Church.
In 1918, Fred Francey sold his homestead and moved to the quarter on which his son Allan and wife still live at Duffield Corner on Highway 16.
Fred passed away in 1942, at the age of seventy-three. His youngest son, James died in 1955, aged forty-seven. Fred's wife, Jane, died in 1964, at age ninety-four. They are all buried in the Smithfield Cemetery.
In 1929, Allan Francey married Winnifred Luck of Edmonton and they have lived on the home quarter since 1931. They have a family of three: a son, Fred, of Edmonton who is a safety supervisor with the Worker's Cmpensation Board of Alberta; and twins, a son George of New Westminster, British Columbia, a computer analyst with Honeywell; and a daughter, Marjory Shewchuck of Bragg Creek, Alberta who is a registered nurse. There are ten grandchildren ranging in age from six to twenty-one years.
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