The Death of Bill Nevard

 Weird title but that is what yesterday's anniversary was. 51 years ago on November 7th we got the news Bill had died. Age 73. Doing what he enjoyed. Cutting firewood with his younger brother, Dick, on their father's land. Bill and Dick were second cousins to me. 

I remember some details of the day. That morning, at my grandfather and uncle's yard showing off the "new to us" 1970 Dodge pickup truck when neighbour Art comes driving into the yard with the shocking news. Barely a mile South of where we were standing and happened quite suddenly. Art was working across the road at Eddie's yard so that was where Dick went for help but it was pretty much too late. Bill had suffered a heart attack or two several years earlier and in those days it seems they didn't do anything like by pass or angioplasty to fix the problem. 

He seemed to get along ok taking it easy and even accompanied his brother on a trip to England, land of their ancestors, earlier that same year. 

Bill was a talented individual who could write songs, poetry, fiction, practiced art all his life. Kept a daily journal with fascinating details of family history. Some of which I share here on this blog. 

Bill worked almost 20 years at Fort San tuberculosis sanatorium and his recording of daily life at the San is fascinating. 

Bill and Dick would often stop in here for a visit on their way from Fort San out to the homestead where they kept a huge garden. 

He left me with enough material to keep this Nevardblog going for a long time. 

Arthur's Letter From Indian Head Forestry

No date on this one but would have to be between 1903 and 1905. My Dear Brother: I was very pleased to hear from you and to hear you are doing (well). I am staying on here for another month and I would like to stay all the summer if it was not for losing my place as the money is up to $44 per month now. So it is $30 a month and board now and that is as good as most of the farmers pay. I have asked Mr. Godfrey to see John Hunter for me and find out about work for you and shall see him tomorrow night and then I shall post this so you will know early. In the meantime I had let Mr. Smith, the teamster at our place, know I wanted to see Hunter or had casually mentioned it and he met him on the sidewalk and he spoke to him about you and he promised you a job as soon as he starts up and he has got a good sized job at the power house. So I will let you know what Mr. Godfrey says. I have got an order for $2 for you but I will send you another $5 and when you get working you can let me have it back if I want it back as I expect I shall. I have written to Emily and told her that Horace will lose 10 or 12 weeks work by putting it off so late. I think it is a pity as he could be getting some money for the winter. There is a brick building going up in town soon. The bricks are already on the spot Joe tells me. And one man has about 20 houses to put up so there seems to be plenty of work to be done. I hope you will both have a good summer's work but it will not be so late as in the Peg as they start earlier up here and finish earlier but whats the odds. You may just as well be brick laying two months in the spring as walking about in Winnipeg paying your board where you may earn just as much money and get on the homestead as soon as it freezes up instead of working the two months that you lose in spring. Perhaps Mr. Lochhead will put up the team until I come up as I expect brick laying will start as soon as the weather breaks up enough but I shall know tomorrow night. You might tell them to keep my mail until I come up as I have changed my address. There will be a Family Herald and Nor West Farmer and Canadan Thresherman. I sent the change of address notice last week so they will likely be up there from this time. You had better look me up at the Forestry when you do come down. I will ask Mr. Godfrey to look you up a lodge if you like as I guess he knows plenty of people by this time. P.S. Dear Earn: I have seen Mr. Godfrey and he tells me J. Hunter will give you a job as soon as you get here and will give you 50 cents an hour and I have sent you $7 so you can come as soon as you are ready. Goodby A.W.N.

87 Years Ago In Nevard Farm History

November 28, 1936 Uncle Horrie went to town with wheat and Dad went with him. Prince and Dixie got scared by a truck loaded with furniture on 35 highway near the cemetery and tipped the wagon and load over into the ditch causing much trouble and delay. It was Dad's new box. If it had been one of the old boxes it would probably have been demolished. I hauled water and got a jag of dry wood home. Karl Miller re-elected councillor. Bud got the mail home. November 29, Sunday. Church service at Headlands. Mr. Hillary. Dad, Dick, Uncle Arthur and I all walked. Others attending were Tom and Ed North, John Leslie, Mrs. Binnington, Agnes and Bert, Cliff Barton and Paul Morrison. Uncle Horrie, Roy and Joy here to supper. Dick and Uncle A. stayed at Murphy Newton's. Bud fixing up a radio he bought somewhere.

Leaving The Colonist Train

My great uncles Arthur and Ernest Nevard joined the Barr colonists in England in April 03 to journey to what would become Saskatchewan and go farming. That was the plan but by the time the train reached Winnipeg, Manitoba, the uncles had decided to leave the colonist train and strike out on their own. Ernest went into his former trade of brick laying which was quite in demand in the growing prairie city. This letter, dated August of 1903 indicated they were seeking a refund of the $10 entry fee paid to the Rev. Barr for their homestead since they had by that time paid another entry fee on homestead land in what would become the Lipton, Balrobie district. What amazes me is how fast they worked. According to family history by the time winter began they had travelled to the new homestead in Sask. and built a good one room log house to live in. The letter is dated August of 03 so they must have worked fast to get all that done in just a few months. Makes me wonder how different life would have been if they had continued on with the colonists to the Lloydminster area.

Bill Turns 65

February 23, 1967
At last I have attained my 65th birthday and retirement. Laurence Robillard worked for me so I could have the day free and after dinner I walked up to the San for my party in the assembly room.
It was also a party for Mrs. Regal who is being retired on account of ill health. Her son-in-law and daughter, Brodners from Dysart brought her.
A good representation of the staff turned up to wish us well. Someone said there was over 100 present. Dr. Barnett handed me a purse from the staff with $103 in it and of course we had coffee and cakes.
February 25
My last day of work at the San and I managed to get through it without  collapsing. Dick went to a Church school meeting this afternoon. It was a beautiful moonlight morning when I went to work.

Studio portrait from 1975.

Group photo of some of the Fort San workers including Bill Nevard upper right. Early 1950s.

April 13th In Nevard History

Yesterday, April 13, marked the day in 1903, that my Nevard ancestors first set foot on Canadian soil. Ernest and Arthur Nevard arrived on the Barr colonist's boat, Lake Manitoba, at Halifax harbour the day before. The 13th was Ernest's 25th birthday.
This photo is likely one of the earliest I have of them. Building their first home in what would later become Saskatchewan. Ernest on the left.

I was less than 5 years old when Ernest Nevard died so my visual memories of him are limited to photos like this one from 1954.

The Nevard Birthday Calendar

January 19 would have marked the 142nd birthday of Mary (Hall) Nevard. Wife of Ernest Samuel Nevard, mother of Bill and Dick Nevard. Born at Saxmundham, Suffolk, England, she came to Canada to join Ernest on  the homestead in what eventually would become Saskatchewan in 1905.
This photo from the early forties  is possibly one of the last pictures of her. She died in September of 1943.

November 1951, Business as Usual At Fort San

November 16: Dad went to Regina on the bus today and bought a new coat and several other items. We had a union meeting at Birn's house tonight but not many there.

November 17: I went to Lipton on the bus this morning. Charlie Bull also went to Lipton and Cecilia Tomack went on to Regina apparently. I went to the Post Office to try and trace the missing money order I had sent to Uncle Arthur. I also visited Fishers and Mrs. Fisher told me that Kenny has another son born on the 9th. I started walking back to the San but got a ride on an oil truck most of the way. There was an amateur hour on in Lipton tonight. Bob Smith and Darlene took part in it.

November 18: Sunday. Dad went to a morning service in Lipton with Mr. Corkhill. Dick and I walked down to an evening service at St. John's and rode back with Mr. Stiff. Laura Motherwell also got a ride back to the San. Sandy Goff came along tonight to ask Dad to go to Lipton tomorrow and help them fix up their furnace so Mr. and Mrs. Goff can move into town.

November 19: Dad went to Lipton to help Goffs fix up their furnace. He missed the bus so Sandy came and fetched him and he came home on the bus at night.

Building T. Goff house in 1951. From left: Ernest Nevard, Mary Goff, Grace Hobetzeder, Les Goff, Horace Nevard. 

65 Years Ago In Bill's Journal

1952
November 5: The two Indian women recently admitted to East 3 are Mrs. Nellie O'Watch and Lena Peigan. The latter being Tommy John's cousin.
Dick voted at Bye's today. Dad and I got driven to Balrobie in Sandy Goff's car to vote. Mrs. Wheale and her grandson, Wayne Fushtey, went with us to vote. Then he drove up back to Lipton where Dad bought some groceries. Roy was in town with both Uncles. We had supper at Tom Goff's , then waited for Sandy to drive us home, which he did eventually. We got home around 9 pm. Fred Senft got elected as reeve but the contest between Sandy Goff and August Zielke was in doubt.

Sandy Goff and his Model T Ford with a few friends a few years earlier. 

Tears Of Israel

Every year at this time, the Jewish holidays between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, I'm reminded of a quote that (great) uncle Ernest Nevard would mention. It is a common belief that it will always rain during the Jewish holidays so farmers liked to be done harvest before that time if possible. Or they expected to be shut down by rain for a while until the crops dried enough to re-start harvest. Uncle Ernie used to refer to the rain (when it fell) as "the tears of Israel". I don't know if there is a story behind that saying and there is nobody to ask now. I only recall this from stories told to me by my parents as I was not even 4 years when uncle Ernie died.
This photo of him from the late 1940s Ernest left and son, Bill, on the right.

Kelsale Saxmundham

This post card sent from Kelsale, Saxmundham, Suffolk, U.K. to Canada in January of 1908 was sent by Alice Hall who would later marry Horace Nevard to become my grandmother. I don't know how they met as the Nevards were from Lexden, Essex. That is not so many miles today but in 1908 travel  was on foot, bicycle, or if you could afford it, train. Possibly Ernest Nevard, in his chosen profession of brick layer had a work project in Saxmundham, who knows? In any event, he met up with Mary Hall at Kelsale who later became his wife. From that point on it would not be too surprising if his younger brother, Horace (my grandfather) tagged along and met up with Mary's younger sister, Alice Hall in the early 1900s. Although they did not marry until 1918 after WW I ended.
It can be a complicated family tree to follow. Even more so when you consider that one  of  the  Hall girl's brothers, William, married the Nevard boy's sister, Louisa. Confusing  enough to follow? It is a good thing I have it all down on paper to refresh my memory sometimes.

Heading Home On The Queen Elizabeth

From Dick Nevard's journal. Although the war ended in May of 1945 it was January of 1946 before he  left England on the RMS Queen Elizabeth

January 28
We set sail for New York and said goodbye to dear old England. Saw a cruiser, a destroyer, and a submarine.
January 29
Some of the boys started to get sick but I was ok right through the journey never missing a meal. Went to bible study and sing song.
January 30
Bought a calendar and post cards of RMS Queen Elizabeth. Also a box of 24 chocolate bars. Saw another picture show. Went to bible study at night.

January 31
Sat up on the promenade deck all morning. We had boat drill and then I stayed on deck and took in a picture show. Sweeping promenade deck at 10:00 pm.
February 3
Arrived in New York harbour. Left the ship about 11:00 at night. Had donuts , coffee and fresh milk. Crossed the harbour on ferry and got on board the train.
February 4
Travelling all day across New York. Arrived in Hamilton and had an orange and apple. Arrived at Toronto by dark.
February 5
Travelling all day. It was raining when we arrived at Fort William. Heard the Fort William girls band which I had heard before at Camp Shilo.
February 6
Arrived at Winnipeg and then Regina at 7:00 in the evening. Got blankets and made my bed up in barracks. Then went to Aunt May's.
February 8
Chatted on train with George Macknack on the way to Lipton. Went to Mr. Gray's for lunch. Jim Millward and I hired Campbell to drive us home. I walked in on Dad, Bill, and Uncle Arthur unexpectedly.

Easter Sunday 1903

Easter Sunday was on April 15th in 1903. It is a historic date in Nevard history. Ernest and Arthur Nevard arrived in Halifax harbour aboard the S.S. Lake Manitoba from Essex, U.K. It was Ernest's 25th birthday. They had a long journey by rail before eventually reaching what would be their homesteads in district of Assiniboia (later Saskatchewan).

Vintage Nevard Christmas

Vintage Christmas cards sent to the Sask. Nevards by their family still back in Essex, U.K. in the early days of the 1900s.
This one from Uncle Cecil Nevard in 1907 to nephew Bill. (E.W. Nevard).

December 17, 1907

My Dear little E.

I hope you will like this card but I am afraid you will not receive it in time for Xmas. I suppose you have plenty of snow now but we have not seen any yet. I hope you received the order I sent for you. I am very sorry that you have had the toothache. Please wish your Uncles Arthur, Horrie, your Mother and Father a very happy Christmas from us all and give them our love and accept the same for yourself. 

With much love, Cecil

Cecil Nevard 

A letter from Arthur Nevard to his brother, Horace. No date on this one but I would guess around 1911 or 1912.

                                                                                                            2210 Quebec Street
                                                                                                            Regina, Sask.
Dear Horace
I am sending you the receipts, or all I can find of them but don't show them on any account.
I think I paid, I am positive I paid up October and did not miss any before that but I
cannot find the October receipt so the best way would be to know nothing about the receipts but
 find out what is due from me. I have paid anyhow $345 this year. It should be easy enough as
 the bank or the collector would know how much he had to collect and if they don't, deduct $345
 from the amount of the note anyhow. I am glad you sent the money from S. Wheale and Fleming.
I had to pay my mortgage by the 15th so I had to borrow some.
Ask Earn about the October receipt if by any chance he has got it with his as we cannot find it
anywhere.
You had better keep some oats for the filly as I would like her to have some this winter. I think
you had better sell all the wheat off my place if Earn's Marquis turned out well. You can buy some
Marquis from Earn with the money that S. Wheale will pay and if he wants it before, pay it out of
the proceeds of my crop.
Please let me know how much I owe Earn for the wheat sown on my place last spring as I will have to pay for it this winter. I keep forgetting it and he could do with the money.
Also how much is number 3 per bushel, and oats as well? I guess it would be best to buy new oats for
my place but if you think they will be alright you can keep some back for seed. But don't take any
chances.
You might let me know how much you made with the outfit. I mean profit, and how did it work? How big is the filly getting? She should be as tall as her mother by now.
I hope all the stock is alright. I will try and spare the money for a fence next year. If you can get
pickets you can buy them but I will write later.
I hope you are ll well. Give my love to all and wish them all a Merry Xmas for me and yourself also.
I remain your loving brother,
Arthur.

Lilacs At The Poplars

http://mindlessramblings-rlg.blogspot.ca/2014/06/lilac-time.html
After this latest blog post at "Mindless Ramblings" I thought maybe it was more appropriate to show it here in the Nevardblog since it makes reference to Ernest and Mary Nevard's homestead at The Poplars.

Long Letter From Lexden 1911

An edited version of a long news letter from Emily Nevard to her sister in law, Mary Nevard, in Canada

                                                                                                    36 Straight Road
                                                                                                    Lexden, Essex

The 3 Nevard brothers had been in Canada over 7 years at the time this letter was written to Ernest's wife, Mary , by his sister, Emily , still back in Lexden, Essex, England.

Dear Mary: We were very pleased to hear you received the parcel alright. I don't mind the trouble of making things and sending them off if you get them. We had rather a business to get it off as we are always so busy.
We always have plenty of work , you see there are 12 of them in family at Hill House. Mr. and Mrs. Husnard, 4 children and 6 servants (2 nurses, housekeeper, cook, housemaid and parlourmaid). Then they are often having visitors so we have plenty to do. Then there are 5 of us to wash and cook for .
Mother is very pleased to hear you spent Xmas day altogether. You were really a jollier party than we were only we were more fortunate than you as we were able to go to Church.
The Parish tea was held on Friday the sixth of January. Cecil and I went. The entertainment was very good. I sat at Miss Colvin's table. She packed me a bonbon box full of things to bring home for Horrie. Ham sandwiches, jam pastries, sausage rolls, currant cake and bonbons.
It was a very wet day so I rode down in the tram car but it cleared off nice in time for us to come home. There were plenty of people.
I don't know if I told you that Mrs. and the Misses Colvins live next door to Mr. Griffin in the Warren Lane at the house where Captain Daniell formerly lived. Lance Stonehouse drive them in his brougham when they are out at night. Also to Lexden Church and back on Sundays. In the summer they drive in their pony trap.
Mrs. O'Grady did not have a table at the Parish tea so she decided to have a party on her own account and invited all the Mothers she knew. Mother, Mrs. Clayden and Aunt Annie and Aunt Vera received invitations and they enjoyed themselves very much.
Uncle Fred has been ill in bed for some time since before Xmas and he doesn't get better. Cecil is doing his work at the hall in the meantime. The Rector has invited the choir and Sunday school teachers to supper and a musical evening Thursday.
Uncle Jim is married but he is not at all well. Charlie died of consumption. A fortnight before he died the disease went to his brain. He was at his father's for 3 weeks. He told Aunt Annie he didn't wonder at people committing suicide if they suffered as he did. He said it felt as if the top of his head was being lifted off. He couldn't get any rest night or day until his father got a bottle of medicine from the Chemist to send him to sleep.
Fred Mann's son, young Jack, who has been in the army was out asked last Sunday and is to be married. They are going to live in the Colne Road.

Thursday Evening: Dear Mary, Cecil has been out to see Uncle Fred this afternoon. He found him very ill in bed. The doctor says he has had influenza and kept about at his work. Now it has settled in his leg. His leg is very much swollen and very painful so he can not get much rest. Cecil says he looks very thin and remind him so much of Father. They live just opposite Stanway Hall now
I have been thinking of paying Louie a weekend visit for some time but I don't know when I shall be able to go as it is hard work for me to get away. Mother get so tired by the time we have finished up the work.
We were very pleased to see the photo of the threshing outfit but we would like to have a clearer view where we could see who they are. I hope one day they will be rich enough to have a real good photo taken.

Grandmother is always very pleased to hear all the letters read. She always tell me to send our very best love to all. Isn't it wonderful how she live so long. It is very dull for her to sit by herself all day, especially washing days but we generally finish on Tuesday night. Horrie amuses her a good bit. It is quite amusing to hear him talk to her. He talk to her so old sometimes. Now I must leave off as I am going to start ironing. Thank Ernie very much for his letter. Now I must say goodbye with love to you all from us all.
From your loving sister, Emily Nevard.

Narratives, The Final Chapter.

Tommy was our first cat. . I had suggested to Dad that we might get a cat and he replied, "what do we want a cat for, we have no mice?" I asked cousin Joy to save a kitten for us. I bought a case of cat food and put it in the shed. Dad saw it and asked "what is the cat food for?" I replied that it means we are getting a cat. Dad said nothing more. He only smiled.
That fall we got Steve Tomenchuk to haul our firewood down to the new house for us. Dad went with him and brought the cat back too. As they started back Dad had Tommy in a sack on the cab floor. Tommy was protesting so Dad carried him home on his lap. The cat was quite comfortable and content there. Dad and Tommy became quite attached to each other. Dad would get up in the night to let him in.
Aunt Alice passed away on April 27 of 1953.
On October 29th, 1952 my cousin Joy, and Leslie Goff were married at St. John's Anglican Church in Fort Qu'appelle. The reception was held here in my house at Dad's suggestion. It was a warm, sunny day. Even Tommy the cat joined in the celebrations by eating some leftover ice cream.

In 1956 neighbors George and Jennie Birns gave us driving lessons and that summer we bought a new Chevrolet. We built a double garage and gave the Birns half of it in payment for teaching us to drive.
My father, Ernest Nevard, passed away September 5, 1958 at the age of 80. Uncle Arthur on January 11, 1965. My brother Bill passed away on November 7, 1975.
The author, Richard A. (Dick) Nevard passed away March 14th, 1995. Just past his 80th birthday.

Narratives 8 The War Years

On April 3, 1916 Uncle Horrie enlisted in the 195th battalion of the Canadian Infantry Corp. In November he sailed on the Empress of Britain for further training in the U.K. and by the end of the month he had landed in France to join the battle.
Uncle Arthur joined up in August of 1916 with the 238th Battalion of the Forestry corp and went to Scotland.
Reverend Moffat was now taking the Church services at Balrobie. He came in 1915 and had the loan of Uncle Horrie's horse, Captain. Bill was confirmed while in Regina in 1915 at Grace Church by Bishop Harding.
Around that time Dad built a log stable for the livestock. For the first years he had a sod stable. In 1917 he added on to the log stable. I was just beginning to get about outside by that time and very helpfully put my foot in the freshly mixed plaster Dad was using on the walls. He carefully washed my foot saying, "it would not do for your mother to see that".

Bill Nevard by new barn.

We had a dog named Nell and her pup, Frank. Mother said that when I was out playing with the dogs she could hardly tell boy from dog. In that year Mr. North bought a pair of pigs from us. They came for these one Sunday morning. Mr. North had his two sons, Tom and Ed with him. Tom Smith was also along with  him on this occasion.
That summer Aunt Daisy came up from the city for a while and lived in their house on the farm, Winstanley Grove. Our farm was named "The Poplars'. Mrs. McNeil had suggested calling it "the bluffs" but Mother did not agree. Mrs. McNeil had named their farm "Murdock" after a place in Scotland.
On the southeast quarter of section 12 just south of McNeils's lived Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson and their daughter Shatty. In 1917 at haying time Mr. Ferguson had his team run away with the hay rake and he suffered bad head injuries so Shatty came over to our place to get Dad to drive them to the station to catch the train for Regina. Mother had Shatty stay the nights at our place while her parents were away. That year we had Christmas at Fergusons. The next year they came to our place. Mrs. Ferguson said she was going to keep me. I thought she meant it and was quite worried. Actually I don't remember it, being aged two at the time, but have heard it referred to since.
Aunt Daisy held a picnic at her place in 1917 in aid of the Red Cross. I imagine all the neighborhood would be there. I remember hearing that the North family were there. Ed North told me that he remembers sitting on the running board of Tom Goff's Model T Ford.

                   Goffs and Nevards. Model T in background.

Narratives 7

That same year, Tom Goff and his  bride, Mary Elizabeth Lane were married in the Arthur Nevard home on November 27.
1911 was also the year of the earthquake. It happened on a Sunday afternoon. Dad, Mother and Bill were visiting at Braithwaite's (the farm that Hobetzeders bought later). There was an earth tremor that rattled the dishes in the pantry.
The Leslies homesteaded on the northeast quarter of section 26. They were burning some rubbish one day when the fire got away and traveled across Uncle Arthur's land and burnt his shack down. On the Sunday the Leslies followed the path of the fire finding out that Uncle Arthur's shack was no longer there. They paid him for it.
In 1911 the crop was hailed. Now the next paragraph will sound a little inconsistent but according to what I was told, Bill shoveled grain for Uncle Horrie. Uncle Arthur had an accordion and Bill played it so naturally he wanted one of his own. Uncle Horrie promised him that if he shoveled the grain for him he would buy Bill an accordion. Mother remarked that Bill got a little weary so Uncle Horrie would make the motions of playing an accordion to encourage Bill to continue on with his shoveling.
Aunt Daisy enjoyed company so one week a couple of young women came and spent a few days with her. When Mother and Dad got the mail and weekly paper there was a letter written by Aunt Daisy stating that there were lots of bachelors around and Aunt Daisy closed the letter with, "Come along girls".
I believe it was that fall when Uncle Arthur and Aunt Daisy went to live in Regina. The crops were hailed again in 1912. I think Dad worked in Regina that year. He worked on the jail one year, the Normal school another year , and lastly, the Regina General Hospital.

The Reverend H.A. Lewis came as rector of St. Johns Church in Fort Qu'appelle in 1911. He began holding Church services in Balrobie school. He came to our home Saturday evening, spent the night there and held the service the next morning. While here he would give Bill lessons. One day Mr. Lewis came along and Bill did not see him approaching while he was stooking. The stook fell down and Bill got rather angry at the miserable stook. Mr. Lewis said "too bad" and helped Bill to put the stook back up. They sat on some sheaves and Bill had his Sunday school lessons. Bill did all the stooking in 1913 when he was eleven years of age.
In 1914 Uncle Horrie worked in Regina. That was the year that war was declared in Europe. In February of 1915 Mother and Bill went to Regina. Bill went to Wetmore school until the end of June. Yours truly was born March 4, 1915 on Atkinson Street. I believe it was in the 2100 block. On the fourth of April I was baptized in Grace Church , Regina. That is where St. Matthews Church now stands. The Reverend Erp was the minister. Mother wanted Bill to be one of my god-parents but he was not well that Sunday as he had just his tonsils removed the day before. On the Monday, Mother and Dad brought me home to the homestead. Uncle Horrie was there to meet us and take us home from the train. The big item of news that day was the Jack Johnson-Jess Willard world championship heavy weight boxing match. As there were no radios in those days the news came over the rail station to telegraph wires. As the train stopped at each station they heard how the fight was progressing. The match was over before they arrived at Lipton so they were not kept in suspense. Jess Willard won in twenty or more rounds.
Dad made a cradle for me but I would not sleep in it. The cradle was used as a newspaper stand or holder instead. The Sunday following my arrival home was a nice day so Mother took me to Church at Balrobie school. The Reverend Lewis asked Mother about having the baby baptized. Much to his surprise Mother told him that it was already done. I understand the reason for my baptism in Regina was because they heard Mr. Lewis was leaving and there was a possibility of not having a replacement for a while.