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MERRYWEATHER, William and Sarah.
William was born in 1850 near Sheffield, England. Sarah Cooper was born at Aston in the county of Yorkshire in 1848. William and Sarah met and were married in Sheffield in 1883. They had three children. George was born in 1884, Elizabeth in 1886 and Archie in 1888. George died in 1942 but at this time Elizabeth and Archie are alive and comparatively well. In England William Merryweather was a coal merchant in the district of Abbeydale, near Sheffield. His son George immigrated to Canada in 1902, and in 1904 William and Sarah followed with their son Archie. Elizabeth remained in England until 1919. William had inherited a little money so upon arriving in Edmonton the family bought a home at 1159-4th St. William worked as a barber on Saturdays and also gardened and raised ducks.In 1906 William and his son George were granted homesteads in the Rexboro district. They moved onto the homesteads in 1908. In 1912 a small municipal district was formed and William became the secretary-treasurer. In 1918 the district became the Municipal District of Morthen #551 and William remained secretary-treasurer. Later George took over in this capacity. William and Sarah remained on the original homestead for many years, before moving to a house on Whitewood Lake. Although their home was made of logs I always remember it as comfortable and homey, and the Merryweathers were among the pioneers who brought some of the refinements and "niceties" of life to a rugged way of living.
William was born in 1850 and died in 1926. Rev. Hatfield officiated at his funeral.
Sarah was born in 1848 and died in 1936. Rev. Franklin officiated at her funeral.
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MILLS, Nancy Bewley.
Nancy came from England and was married to Edgar (Gary) Mills. For a time they managed the Western Canada Experimental Farm at Rexboro. Later Gary was the teacher at Rexboro, then a fisheries inspector when they moved to Seba. Our records are very incomplete but they show that Nancy died of a ruptured appendix, I think she was possibly in her late forties when she died.
Nancy died in 1928. Rev. Hatfield officiated at her funeral.
MUDIE, Henry Alexander, Minnie Wilson, Ronald and David.
Harry Mudie was born in London, England and Minnie was born in Broadstairs, Kent. At the age of 13, in 1888, Harry came to Canada with his father. They farmed at Whitewood, Saskatchewan. In 1901 Harry moved to the Cypress Hills in Alberta, where he had a small ranch. He returned to England in 1903 and came back married. While they lived at Cypress Hills, three children were born to Harry and Minnie; Edith, Ronald and David. As the school facilities were not very good at Cypress Hills in 1918, the Mudies looked for a new location and chose Darwell. Very soon after they moved there Helen was born. The Mudies farmed just south of the village of Darwell. Theirs was a mixed farm, but Harry had a lot of sheep. For many years Harry butchered and sold the meat in the neighbourhood. He and Ronald used to deliver it in an old model T Ford. I remember Ronald cranking the rather temperamental car to get it running and when the engine did start, Ronald would hop aboard as the car went past him! We always enjoyed visits from the Mudies. Harry never lost his London accent and even the children inherited it to a certain degree. They all had a lively sense of humour. Mrs. Mudie always remained an English lady who never let down her standards of living under the rigorous life of a homesteaders wife. David's death at an early age was a great tragedy to this closely knit family. In later years the neighbourhood missed Harry and Minnie when they passed on. Ronald remained on the homestead. He never married and died at the age of sixty. Edith made teaching her career until she married. Helen is also married. They live in Alex and Delburne.
David was born in 1912 and died in 1929. Rev. Hatfield officiated at his funeral.
Harry was born in 1875 and died in 1953. Rev. Watts officiated at his funeral.
Ronald was born in 1906 and died in 1966. Rev. Smith officiated at his funeral.
Minnie was born in 1881 and died in 1969. Rev. Linster and Rev. Rushton officiated at her funeral. (Return to Sylvan School)