Alfred Lewis Root was born January 14th, 1873, at Gananoque, Ontario. His mother lived in Glasgow until she came to Canada. Olive Louisa Judson was born March 1st, 1877 in the United states, coming to Canada when a baby. Alfred Root of Brockville, Leeds County of Ontario and Olive Judson of South Crosby, Leeds, Ontario were married at Singleton Corners on January 3rd, 1900.
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Root and their two young sons Clarence and Giles came to Edmonton, Alberta in 1905, where they lived for two years. Earl was born in Edmonton in 1906 and died during the influenza epidemic in 1919.
In 1907 they moved to their homestead, forty miles west of Edmonton, SW28-53-3-W5, which was west of Bailey's Lake.
As told by Clarence Root:
We were very isolated on the homestead because of a 250 yard muskeg which made it necessary to leave the wagon on the other side and drive the team of oxen home. The water in the muskeg in high water time was almost up to my belt line.
My dad used to drive about six miles to old Wabamun, which was on the end of the bay, where he bought his supplies in Bill Dunn's store. Mrs. Dunn could speak Cree which must have been a great help in those days. Hellum had a blacksmith shop about a quarter of a mile from the store and Dad got work done there.
Trees! There were plenty of them. While digging a well, about fifteen feet below the surface, my Dad came to a tree with red roots that ran diagonally across and three limbs came out in the regular manner of any tree. It was completely decomposed.
When I was a very small boy my dad helped build the Hopkins Methodist Church. It was on the top of a hill, not far from the Duffield Road. We all went to the church when the road was passable.
In the early years people joined together in putting up buildings and then returned the favor and thus no money exchanged hands but things got done just the same.
The first school I attended was on Highway 16 at the crossroads turning to Roy Lent's place, called "Wabamun School", then, later "Smithfield". I went to school with Ellis Dunn and Bill Hellum.
In 1910 we moved to the site of New Wabamun. At this time the railroad was being put through and as my dad was a carpenter, there would be work for him to do. The first home he built in Wabamun was later converted into a telephone office. Our second home was bought by Dr. Carthew. My dad built the first school in Wabamun and I put most of the shingles on.
My dad was mayor in Wabamun from 1911 to 1913. Ross and Pearl were born when we were in the Wabamun District.
The curling rink was in Wabamun in 1914 and Dad curled on that team. The kids used to "borrow" their mother's sad irons and play at curling when the rink was free.
From Wabamun we moved to the farm formerly owned by Mr. Lord. It was a two storey house and a fine home in those days of log houses. This had been Mr. Lord's homestead on Section 16.
Dad joined the Duffield U.F.A. in 1923 and Giles was a junior member, being very helpful with the young people's club.
I remember the first gasoline tractor that came into the district - The Indian Department had an International "Titan" 10-20 HP. It was ploughing new land out east of the Indian Reserve buildings and I made time over there, watched for an hour or so and how I wished Dad could get it to do some on our place. That would have been real fun! I always liked engines and worked as an engineer for many years.
Dad and Mother moved to a cottage on Moonlight Bay, Wabamun Lake. Finally they moved to Vancouver Island where they lived the remainder of their lives.
Olive Root died on August 19, 1953 at Ladysmith, B.C.
Alfred Root died on November 14th, 1953 at Ladysmith, B.C.
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