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Table of contents
8
Maple Leaf Women's Institute
Location
Map from Meacham's Atlas, 1880
Map of Traveller's Rest today
An Island Centre
Inns
Post Office
Agriculture
Fox Fur Farming
Oyster Farming
Mussel I Mud Digging
Ice Bushing
Traveller's Rest Railway Stations
New Annan Railway Station
Blacksmith Shop
Tannery
Tilson's Mill
I Ta i lor
Traveller's Rest School
New Annan Hall
Traveller's Rest Hall
Monument
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16
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18
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19
19
20
21 - 22
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23
24
- 25
25
28
28
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26 - 27
27
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28
28
29
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29
29
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32
33
34 _ 36
36
" 37
37 - 39
Reminiscences
Stores
Indian Camps
Egg C irele
Barber Shop
Literary Club
'Centennial Celebration' 1926
Farm Forum
4-H Club
Sports
Marine Colloids
Canadian Industries Limited
Ace idents
Family Histories
Sources of Information
39
40
40
40
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40
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4
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41
42
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44
44
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48
47
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81
82
History of Traveller's Rest
Prince Edward Island, Canada
1800-1973
We dedicate this book to the memory of Charter Members of Maple
Leaf Women's Institute. These ladies, through their foresight and vision
have enabled succeeding generations to enjoy a richer, fuller and more
abundant life.
Copyright -1972
INTRODUCTION
In compliance with the wishes of Provincial Board of the Prince
Edward Island Women's Institute and recognizing the endeavours being
made by the Prince Edward Island Heritage Foundation to preserve the
history of early days in their district of Traveller's Rest the members of the
Maple Leaf Women's Institute, which was organized in 1913, have written
this book to record information on early settlers and other historical items of
interest.
This work was begun in January 1971 and was completed for their
1973 Centennial Project and for the Jubilee Anniversary of their organization.
The appreciation of the members is expressed to all who supplied
information and pictures for this history and who helped in any way in the
printing of this book.
Any errors and omissions are unintentional and regrettable.
Maple Leaf Women's Institute
History Committee
Louise Marchbank
Alma Adams
Edna Waite
MAPLE LEAF WOMEN'S INSTITUTE
Traveller's Rest Women's Institute was organized on July 25, 1913
and included members from Traveller's Rest, Sherbrooke and New Annan.
The first officers were Mrs. John J. Hall (Grace Marchbank), president;
Mrs. Major Townsend, (Lizzie Brown), vice-president; and Miss S. M. MarNeil, secretary-treasurer.
At the August meeting in 1913, a petition signed by all members
called for a ban on the running of automobiles on Island roads.
At the September meeting, the name Maple Leaf suggested by
Miss Sara MacNeil was selected as the name of the branch.
The districts continued to work in unison carrying out to the fullest
the aims and objectives of the institute, and, by so doing, set an example
for future members to work for Home and Country.
During World War I, members worked for Red Cross, Navy League,
British Empire War Relief Fund, Prisoners of War, Belgian Relief and Halifax
disaster.
The industry of members can be gauged by their production of 1,575
pairs of knitted socks, 30 pairs of mittens, in addition to hospital shirts,
pyjamas, quilts, comfort bags and ambulance pillows. They also donated
boxes of clothing for refugees and victims of the Halifax disaster.
In 1921 the Institute was instrumental in having a monument erected
on the Hall grounds to honor four boys who sacrificed their lives in the war.
Following World War II the names of four more boys who had made the
supreme sacrifice were inscribed thereon.
In March 1921, the members decided to form two Institutes.
Traveller's Rest retained the name Maple Leaf and officers were Mrs. Harry
Walker, president; Mrs. John W. Hall, vice-president; Miss Emmeline
Marchbank, secretary; Miss Etta Walker, treasurer.
An annex to the community hall was built in 1926. Maintained by
the members, it has been used as a club room for all the community throughout the years.
In 1938 at their anniversary meeting in July, Emmeline Marchbank
read a summary of the Institute's work over the past twenty-five years which
she had compiled.
During and following World War II the members sewed and knitted
articles for the servicemen and sent many food parcels to Britain and elsewhere. Boxes of good used clothing were packed and shipped to Europe.
Many warm quilts were also included in the shipments.
Some of our members attended Civil Defense meetings and participated in Civil Defense Courses.
The members also took an active interest in the upkeep of the community hall, school and monument. Donations were made to many voluntary
organizations. At their regular meetings time was allotted for educational
and recreational programs followed by a social period over a cup of tea.
July 1953 was a milestone in the life of the Traveller's Rest Women's
Institute when they celebrated their fortieth anniversary at Birch Hill Tourist Home. Four of the five living charter members were present namely:
8
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Mrs. Parvin Cass, Mrs. Colin MacDonald, both of Sherbrook and from
Traveller's Rest Mrs. Agnes (Pillman) Riley, Miss Emmeline Marchbank and
•ws. Hubert MacNeil who was absent, sent a message of regret.
The birthday cake was cut by Emmeline Marchbank assisted by
phyllis Maclnnis after all had partaken of a sumptuous repast.
Toasts were proposed to the Queen by Edna Waite and to the Charter members by Lorena Gillis to which Mrs. Reilly responded.
The President, Louise Marchbank presided for the Pageant which
followed portraying the changes in Women's Institute work and fashions of
leach decade. Those taking part in the program were E. S. Marchbank
who read the minutes of the first meeting and Ruth Poole who modelled the
styles of 40 years ago. Mrs. Percy Marchbank read the summary of the
women's Institute work over 25 years and Velda Wood modelled. Mrs.
Marry England read more information about Institute work and Freda
punning showed the styles of the thirties. Mrs. George Gunning gave
Information on the forties and Edna Waite was dressed appropriately for
that era. Ruby Marchbank spoke of the present day activities while Esther
Moase was the model. Suitable songs of each decade were sung at different intervals with Anna Moase as pianist.
MAPLE LEAF WOMEN'S INSTITUTE OF
TRAVELLERS REST
By Mrs. George Ramsay
-orty years of activities
Are here presented in rhyme,
And some of the older women
vlay think it's a long, long time.
i/Vhile some of the younger ladies
May be, somewhat surprised:
:
or it was in the year of 1913 That "Maple Leaf" was organized.
At that time some will remember,
Two districts were as one;
When a group of Sherbrooke ladies,
Did with the "Maple Leaf" join.
We then did meet from house to house
And enjoyed each friendly greeting,
Each trying to do their little bit
To interest each meeting.
In looking back, we each can see,
That much has been accomplished;
By being a member of Institute
And know the work has prospered.
After several years had passed,
Mid' pleasant hours together,
Sherbrooke then did start a branch
11
And from their friends did sever.
The willing members of Traveller's Rest,
Still worked with might, and main,
With genial helpfulness and love,
Their watch-word to maintain.
Tis worth our while to stop, and think,
Of all the funds we've raised,
Each willing to co-operate.
Tis worthy to be praised.
We've worked for school, for hall and shed,
And charitable institutions:
A club room we are proud to own,
By community contributions.
Tis here we gather every month
A loyal, happy band,
To work for "Home and Country",
And for our native land.
A certain point of interest
Which rolls round, at quite a pace,
Is the annual district conventions
That are held from place to place.
It is here that certain members,
Like to show what they can do,
While a capable supervisor
Oversees the work right through.
It is a day of preparation
When several districts meet,
To show handicraft, and talent,
That is sometimes hard to beat.
The members of each district
Can with satisfaction view,
The year's advancing progress
And meet new members too.
There's a time for social intercourse
And last but not the least;
Is when the ladies bring around
Their satisfying feast.
We too should take a moment
In memory of the past,
To speak of those who gave their time
So willing to the last.
Some have moved to other places
Some have passed away,
And so it is at this time
We should a tribute pay.
And too, we feel especially proud,
Of each new member who
Has joined with us, to work with us,
And carry our motto through.
So now at this particular time,
We'll re-affirm belief,
In work for Home and Country
And the name of Maple Leaf.
12
The next twenty years of Women's Institute work followed somewhat
pie same pattern with more emphasis on leadership training.
Courses for local and district leaders and conveners were conducted
bach year by the Provincial Board. District Conventions were held each
spring followed by the Annual Convention in July.
Life Memberships have been presented for recognition of service in the
-Women's Institute work. The recipients were Mrs. Percy Marchbank, Mrs.
James Marchbank. Miss Emmeline Marchbank, Mrs. George Waite and
nMrs. Violet Gunning.
Support was given to the various projects conducted under the 4-H
Programs. Mrs. Elton MacKay has been a very efficient leader for the sewing classes and vegetable garden projects. Many of our members have instructed the various classes in knitting, crocheting, embroidery work,
isewing, etc. The members have many red, blue or white ribbons as well
as trophies to remind them of the honors they have won in competition not
only at the local level but at fairs throughout the province and at the Maritime
Winter Fair.
Music has been taught in our school since 1959 due to the efforts of
our members and the financial assistance they have given. Each spring the
students compete in the chorus for two room schools at the Musical Festival
in Summerside. In 1967 they won first place. In 1968 they came third and
in 1970 placed second. These awards are framed and hanging in our school.
Our Women's Institute has had membership in the Music and Drama
Festival Association since its inception in 1945 by the provincial board.
Over the years recognition has been given to outstanding students
in the district. Miss Jeanette Poole was honored when she wrote the
Maritime Board Exams and came first in Prince Edward Island. Miss Adele
Marchbank, an athlete in the field of discus and shot putt, received recognition through our Women's Institute when she became the Canadian Champion discus thrower in her class in 1967. Donations of money have been
given to Athena for prizes. When Grade X was the highest grade level in
the local school a prize was given to the student who had the highest aggregate of marks. Later this was changed to the Grade VIII level and the prize
is presented to the student having made the greatest improvement in studies
during the year.
I
One of Traveller's Rest's W. I. members, Mary Baker, brought honor
not only to herself but to our W.I. and community when she won 1st place on
two successive occasions and honourable mention on the third in the
Tweedsmuir Competition, a national project of the Federated Women's
Institutes of Canada. This citizenship contest was first won in 1964 for
writing a play concerning municipal affairs. Mary's play was named "May
The Best Man Win". She and other W.I. members motored to the National
Convention at Acadia, N.S. to receive the award — The Senator Corinne
Wilson Silver Rose Bowl. Three years later Mary again entered the competition and the winner, when announced at the National Convention at
Guelph, was Mary Baker — this time the topic was a short historical story
and Mary's entry was entitled "The Path To Glory". In 1970 she competed
in the Essay, "Challenge to Women in the Next Century", and won Honourable Mention when the announcement was made at the convention at Winnipeg.
13
At the Guelph Convention in 1967 Addie Walker, a delegate representing our No. 5 (a) Convention area read to the delegates, Mary Baker's
winning entry — "The Path To Glory".
At this same convention, Louise March bank was appointed Convenor
of Agriculture and Canadian Industries for a three year term. Under this
convenership she represented the Associated Country Women of the World
at a Young World Food and Development Conference at Toronto, and was a
director of the Canada Council on 4-H.
In 1969 she was elected president of the Prince Edward Island
Women's Institute. In 1970 she attended the Federated Women's Institutes
of Canada Convention at Winnipeg where she took part in the Convener's
Panel and presented a paper on Environmental Control. In 1971 Louise
was a delegate to the Associated Country Women of the World Conference
at Oslo, Norway. She is presently a vice-president of the Prince Edward
Island Rural Development Council, a director of Canadian Arthritis and
Rheumatism Society, a member of the Advisory Council of the Prince Edward
Island Environmental Control Commission, and a member of the Prince
Edward Island 1973 Centennial Commission.
One other member, Emmeline Marchbank, served as a director on the
provincial board.
Phyllis Maclnnis was sponsored by our Institute in the Married
Women's Beauty Contest at Kensington during Centennial 1964, where she
was chosen as a princess.
Ruby Marchbank received honorable mention in the Tweedsmuir
Competition for hooked chair seats in 1961, at the Federated Women's
Institutes of Canada Convention at Vancouver, British Columbia.
Edna Waite was the first Convener of Health and Home Economics
at the District Convention level in our District No. 5 (a).
Other activities of our Women's Institute over the years were:
February, 1919— Supported a petition from General Secretary of the
Prohibition Commission to enforce Prohibition.
December, 1922— Excerpt from minutes "some considered it only a fad
and needless expense to have children examined by
Red Cross Nurse".
May, 1924 — Purchased organ for hall for $148.00.
1946— New Annan and Read's Corner joined Traveller's Rest
Women's Institute to view an Exhibit of war paintings
done by Canadian artists and showed by H. B. Chandler.
October, 1949— Shared the cost of a film projector for the districts of
Wilmot Valley, Sherbrook and Traveller's Rest.
March 1959 and Sponsored Talent Shows — Shur-Gain Amateur
October, 1961 — Cavalcade.
July, 1959— The Institute members were invited to sing three winning songs in the Tweedsmuir Competition at the
Annual Provincial Convention; first place winner —
Manitoba; second — Saskatchewan and the third song
— second place provincial winner — Maple Leaf
Women's Institute entry which was as follows:
14
1961 —
pecember, 1963—
1964—
February, 1967—
May, 1967—
April, 1969—
June, 1969—
April, 1971 —
May, 1971 —
June, 1972—
1972—
1973—
April, 1973—
June, 1973—
A chain of members old and young
Extends from strand to strand,
And links the ranks of womanhood,
In Canada, our land.
For a common goal our groups are joined,
For home and country too,
Our aims and hopes forever are,
Stand firm, hold fast, be true.
Then let us all devote our love
And lend a helping hand,
To live for God and our human rights
For home and native land.
Members had instruction on Fallout on the Farm —
Steps to Survival and Emergency Measures,
Women's Institute began to collect fees yearly for Fire
Protection from Kensington Fire Control Unit. Elton
MacKay and Bert Poole were named fire-chiefs for the
district.
The members had a First Aid Course conducted by
Ralph Emery.
Celebrated, in form of a birthday party at the home of
Mary Maclnnis, the 70th Anniversary of Women's
Institutes.
As a part of Centennial '67 celebrations, members provided a welcoming party including children and adults
to greet the Stage Coach travelling from Charlottetown
west, at a stop-over at Traveller's Rest as in former
years. Cool drinks were served.
A large class participated in a Defensive Driving Course.
Women's Institute members served at check point at
Traveller's Hall for Miles for Millions Walkathon.
Supported Head Start Program for the summer months
in our vicinity.
Community History Project in full swing.
In support of S.E.T. - Society of Environmental Trustees
— Women's Institute members spearheaded a community clean-up campaign. Workers were personally commended while at work by Premier, Hon. Alexander
Campbell and The Minister of Environmental Control,
Hon. Robert Schurman.
Sponsored a Baby Sitting Course for the interested
young people in the district.
The Prince Edward Island Women's Institutes will be
celebrating their 60th year of Institute work.
The first Monday in April has been designated for all
local branches to have their celebrations of Jubilee
Year. In this way all members across the province will
be celebrating at the same time.
A Jubilee Day is planned for all Institute members at
Charlottetown. Included in this one day affair will be
15
an appropriate guest speaker and a pageant portraying
the work and achievements of the Prince Edward Island
Women's Institutes.
As in the past, the Maple Leaf Women's Institute will join with sister
members in these festivities.
Love thou thy land, with love far-brought
From out the storied Past, and used
Within the Present, but transfused
Thro' future time by power of thought.
Tennyson
LOCATION
One of Prince Edward Island's oldest communities is Traveller's Rest.
It is situated in Lot 19, about the narrowest part of the province.
At Traveller's Rest Corner, one can look to the north to Richmond
Bay and to the south to an arm of Bedeque Bay.
The community is served by several roads. On the east are the
Condon and Wilmot roads, which separate the district from New Annan.
On the south is the Loyalist line, which is the division of farms between
Wilmot Valley and Traveller's Rest. On the west is land which was formerly
owned by Stutley Yeo, John Hall, John Milligan and Richard Wood. These
lands adjoin the Sherbrooke School District. To the north lies Richmond
Bay, now better known as Malpeque Bay.
T r a v e l l e r s Rest Shoreline
16
17
TRAVELLERS REST
AN ISLAND CENTRE
In the early 1800's Townsends Corner, now Traveller's Rest Corner,
was one of the well-known Island centres for stage coach stops. Overnight
lodging was also provided for weary travellers, who quite often travelled on
horse-back, at that time their only means of transport. At the beginning,
accommodation was in a log cabin which was provided by the government.
The story is told of one way farer who spent the night at this cabin.
He made himself comfortable by using the fuel provided and later wrote
"Traveller's Rest" above the door; thus the disrict reputedly got its present
name.
As time went on and school districts were outlined, Traveller's Rest
Corner was expanded to include more territory. On the Old Post Road,
(that is the main highway between Traveller's Rest and Kensington), the
New Annan boundary reached to the brook about 300 yards east of Traveller's Rest School and Hall. Thus the early settlers by the name of Marchbank and Walker and the Country store were, and still are, addressed as
New Annan.
The lower road which is nearer to the North Shore is now in Traveller's Rest district, but was formerly known as the Barbara Weit Road.
When Meachim's Atlas was published in 1880, Traveller's Rest had
approximately 30 farms and a very few other home owners. To-day many
farmers have sold lots and present homes in the district number 75. Only
ten families are actually engaged in farming operations.
"INNS"
In early days when there was only a bridle path from Charlottetown to
the west of the Island, the Government erected a log house at Townsend's
Corner. It has a fireplace and a supply of dry wood always on hand for the
convenience of travellers.
One early settler, John Townsend, owned and operated one of several
inns at Townsend's Corner, now Traveller's Rest Corner. Another inn was
located where the war memorial now stands. It was known as the Clifton
Inn and was operated by Mrs. John Milligan. Several taverns were located
at this Corner over the years and here, and elsewhere in Prince Edward Island, the sale of liquor was big business. Rum imported from the West
Indies was sold to the public by the taverns and alcohol eventually became
a problem. As early as 1773, government intervened and passed a law requiring a license to sell liquor. In 1852 a further law was passed requiring
taverns to supply bedding and stabling for travellers and their horses. Notwithstanding these precautions, intoxication among the people became so
widespread that clergymen and others interested in the welfare of the
people and the prosperity of the country began to exert pressure in the
direction of total abstinence. To help control this problem, Sons of Temperance Divisions were organized.
Traveller's Rest division began in 1885. The Prohibition Act was
passed in 1900. Shortly after, this act was repealed and the Temperance
Act was introduced in its place. In 1951 the Temperance Act was renamed
the Liquor Control Act, which remains effective to date.
19
POST OFFICE
About one hundred and fifty years ago, on the recommendation of
his Excellency Lieutenant Colonel John Ready, the General Assembly met
and took up the matter of our Island postal service. As a result of this meeting, mail was sent out from Charlottetown to Princetown (now Malpeque) at
least once a week in summer and once a fortnight in winter returning via
Traveller's Rest where John Townsend was appointed as postmaster in
1827. He remained so, until his death in 1882 when his son, Thomas Townsend, took over the service. Thomas held the position until his death in
July 1910, and in September of that year Annie Townsend was named postmaster, and remained as such until January 31,1917.
Richard Bagnall of Hazel Grove Inn delivered mail on horseback to
Townsend's Corner, now Traveller's Rest. In 1830 Mr. Bagnall made six
trips with western mail at twenty shillings each — $2.40 at to-day's exchange
rate.
In 1830 a stage coach began from Charlottetown to Port Hill and
stopped at Traveller's Rest. In 1899 mail was delivered three times a week
to Traveller's Rest Post Office.
From 1894 to 1904 mail was transported by Thomas Townsend from
Traveller's Rest railway station to the Post Office where mail could be obtained daily. On one of these trips while awaiting the late arrival of the
train, Mr. Townsend was unfortunate enough to freeze his feet. Mail was
also received at New Annan station and the Baker family looked after and
sorted it at their home, on property near Moase's store.
Major Townsend of Sherbrooke began a petition in 1907 to have
rural mail delivery in this area. About the same time the Dominion Government decided to make this service available to all Prince Edward Island
residents.
Traveller's Rest post office, which was one of the first in the province
after Charlottetown, closed on February 1,1917.
The first rural mail courier in this area was William Bowness followed
by William Matthews, Eddie Gillis, Elton Robertson, Harvey Colwell, Russel
Waite, Jack McNally and presently Russel and Jean Hogg.
Summerside became the site of the local post office and here rural
mail was sorted for the various routes.
Since October, 1968 road transport instead of railway has been used
to deliver the "Guardian" to island post offices as the last train trip was
made September 30,1968. A great deal of other mail, transported by air is
now sorted at the Summerside office.
One of the earliest papers published in Charlottetown was "The
Examiner" edited by William Cotton. Summerside publications were "The
Island Farmer" and "The Pioneer" which later became "The JournalPioneer".
It is interesting to note that prior to the establishment of Island post
offices all mail for Prince Edward Island came to Charlottetown. Individuals
learned of its arrival by word of mouth and could then claim it by paying the
postage. When post offices were established at such points as Malpeque
and Traveller's Rest postage for the first time was put on letters by the
senders.
20
AGRICULTURE
When the pioneer farmers cleared the land, they found the soil very
productive for the growing of grain and potatoes. These crops were first
planted around the stumps. As more land was cleared, larger crops could
be grown and some of the surplus grain was exported to England.
In those times the sickle was first used to cut the grain. This was
followed by a reaper which made sheaves but did not bind them. For both
the sickle and the reaper grain was picked up by hand while part of the
grain was twisted into a rope to bind the sheaf. Next the binder was invented, which used twine to bind the sheaves.
About the same time the tread mill powered by horses was used for
threshing the grain. The oats and wheat were taken to Wrights grist mill at
New Annan to be made into oatmeal and flour.
After the binder, came the combine, both pull type and self-propelled,
which eliminates the threshing which used to be done with power from an
engine or tractor. The grain grown was used chiefly as feed for livestock.
Since more land is available now for the growing of grain, a new elevator
was built at Kensington in 1971 for the storage and drying of grain. This
elevator is to be used by all farmers in the vicinity.
Hay was cut with a scythe and left lying on the ground to dry, then
raked up with a wooden rake and made into coils. It was pitched by hand
onto a wagon and taken to the barn where it was again pitched by hand
onto the loft. Later a hay fork, which was hoisted by means of a horse was
used to convey the hay to the loft. Gradually machinery was invented.
First the mowing machine, which cut one swathe at a time, the dump rake,
men the side delivery rane, wnicn roiled the swathes into a large row which
could be coiled or picked up by the hay loader. In more recent years,
mowing machines are just an attachment on the back of a tractor. The hay
can also be put through a machine to condition it. If the crop is very heavy,
it need not be raked. The baler comes along, picking it up, and makes it
into bales; an escalator takes the bales from the wagon to the loft.
Potatoes, too, grew well in the new soil. In the spring potato seed or
set as it was called was planted around the stumps and hoed into the
ground. When the plants began to grow they were kept mounded up with
the hoe. When they reached maturity in the fall the potatoes were dug by
hand with a hoe. As more land became cleared, potato sets, with an eye in
each one, were planted after the plough about one foot apart. They were
planted every second or third row depending on the distance needed between the rows. They were kept clear of weeds by use of the scuffler. As
the plants grew large two teeth were removed from the scuffler and mold
boards were attached to be used to hill up the plants when needed.
If the Colorado potato bug attacked the plants Paris Green was used
to kill these insects.
In the fall the potatoes were dug with a drag which had five flat prongs
and was shaped like a hoe. Later a wide plow was used to turn the drill
upside down and the potatoes had to be scratched out by hand and picked
into a basket which when full was dumped into a cart to be taken to the cellar where they were stored. The invention of the elevator digger made work
easier as the potatoes were left on top of the ground to be picked and
21
Ernest Rayner digging potatoes at
Horatio Waites'. Mr. Waite's grandson
Harold Champion is on digger with
Mr. Rayner.
emptied into bags or barrels. Potato planters and harvesters, bulk potato
boxes and escalators have all been beneficial aids in potato growing.
The old Maclntyre potato, blue in color, was a favorite. The white
potato was more easily bruised.
When blight attacked the potato crop a sprayer drawn by horses and
later by tractor was used to spray the entire field. Today aerial spraying is
carried on in some areas.
After the potatoes were picked they were stored in bins in cellar or
barn, if not sold directly to the potato dealer. These stored potatoes were
then graded on a hand-made slat grader. Next a chain grader was manufactured followed by a mechanical grader which graded according to size.
The present trend is to package the graded potatoes in paper bags of various sizes.
Strawberry planter used on
Montgomery farm, 1952
22
FOX FUR FARMING
Prince Edward Island's fox industry began as far back as 1867 when
the first foxes were dug out of the ground with a view to ranching them.
The place was Fox Hill, near North Cape and the man was a fisherman named Thompson. There are no other details but Charles Dalton is
regarded as one of the pioneers of the industry. He, along with his friend
Robert Oulton, became partners in the first honest to goodness fox ranching
effort in the province.
They began raising foxes within the confines of pens, constructed of
wire netting which had to be dug down several feet underground to prevent
the fox from escaping. The pen contained a wooden den for shelter.
Seemingly the Prince Edward Island climate lent itself well to the production of beautiful fox fur pelts. Prices sky-rocketed as high as twenty
thousand dollars. Breeding stock brought even higher prices.
In 1914 due to the war, the European market fell and pelt prices were
down to fifteen to twenty dollars a piece.
Following the war the price became more stable for a short while.
The extent of the fox ranching industry on Prince Edward Island can
be gauged from a report in a Montreal newspaper several years ago, that,
per capita, Summerside was the wealthiest town of its size in North America.
This was directly as a result of the fox industry.
The company-owned ranches were located in the general location of
the farms now owned by Mrs. Davis Moase and Walter Bergmann.
The Magic ranch was operated by Messrs. Lecky, Simmons, Callback,
Lea and Stave rt.
The Monkley ranch by Ed Monkley.
The Urch-Champion by Ed Urch and Alexander Champion.
The Leeland by John A. Lee.
Individuals raising foxes within the district were Davis Moase, Howard
England, Harry Walker, David Walker, James Marchbank, George Ramsay,
Harold Moase and William Taylor.
Happiness and laughter are two of die most beautiful things
in the world for they are purely unselfish, and the finest
tonics known. Then can we say too much in the praise
of the man who can bring happiness to us, make us
laugh? God never gave a man a greater gift than die
power to make others laugh and be nappy. We honor, we
revere and admire our great soldiers, statesmen, men of
letters, but we love the man who cheers and comforts us.
23
OYSTER FARMING
Traveller's Rest can boast of many able men who relied on oyster
fishing for their livelihood. Most of them owned their own boats and harvested the bi-valves from beds in Malpeque Bay during the scheduled fishing season.
At one time there was a road leading to Rayner's shore. The land
for this road was donated by James Rayner. Farther over in Waite's Creek,
Robert Milligan built two sailing vessels, the plank for these being sawed by
hand. At one time as many as forty boats could come into these creeks
which today are filled in and cannot accommodate ships.
A local resident, James England was a buyer. He shipped the oysters
in barrels from Traveller's Rest Railway Station to New York City. George
Waite, one of the men who worked for Mr. England remembers hauling loads
of frozen fish including oysters from the storehouse on the England farm to
the station about a half-mile away. He used a sled and his dog Teddy to
pull the loads over icy fields. This was much faster than hitching a horse.
James Pillman was also a buyer of oysters. He would meet the
fishermen down at the wharf at Rayner's creek with a team of horses and
truck wagon when they brought their fish ashore. After grading the oysters,
he hauled them to Summerside and sold them to a buyer, James Sharp.
Around 1880 oysters were plentiful in the Malpeque Bay and there
was no need for concern about the supply. Unfortunately disease attacked
the oysters in the 1920's and as a consequence stocks became depleted.
In recent years a Biological station was built at Bideford by the Dominion Government and officials began a study of local waters. In the late
fifties the industry improved somewhat, largely due to the assistance program whereby bedding oysters are deposited on the bottom of the bay.
Prince Edward Island waters are regarded as ideally suited to the
culture of oysters because of water temperature and good sandy bottom.
24
Oysters sit on the floor of the bay and do not dig themselves into the sand
[like clams.
Other crews are studying our rivers, bays and streams under the
IDevelopment Plan and report that a great deal of siltation, contamination
and pollution are deterring factors in the process of growing local oysters
[which once had an enviable reputation.
At the Paris Exhibition, France, around the turn of the Century, Malpeque oysters from these waters were awarded the Grand Prix!
MUSSEL MUD DIGGING
Every year in the month of March before the ice on the bay broke up,
farmers of Traveller's Rest and surrounding area gathered at the mussel
mud digging grounds on Malpeque Bay to obtain their yearly supply of
mussel mud.
Edmund Phillips and son of Hamilton built and operated the mud
digger, which provided the mud that was at that time a fertilizer for the land.
The mud was 85% lime.
The mussel mud was brought to the surface by a scoop, which was
lowered to the bottom of the bay and then raised by means of a horse and
capstan. The mud and shells were dumped into the farmer's sleighs and
hauled to their farms. Sometimes the green mud was spread, other times it
was left for a while. Many trips were needed to supply the required amount
to make the land ready for the spring seeding.
Many friends were made with men from Clermont, Hamilton, Indian
River, Mills Point, New Annan and Malpeque. All enjoyed the wit and humor
exchanged by one another while waiting for their loads. The farmers used
ten loads per acre. About 1935 crushed limestone was brought in from New
Brunswick and the same results could be obtained with much less work.
Thus mud digging was gradually replaced by the application of lime.
ICE BUSHING
For many years, in winter the only means of travelling was with
horse and sleighs. By using the ice one could cut off many miles of travel.
One such shortcut was between Traveller's Rest and Keir's Wharf, Malpeque
a distance of 8 miles.
As a safeguard against unexpected storms and poor visibility bushes
were placed in the ice as a guide from shore to shore.
To make this possible, men from Beach Point, Malpeque and Traveller's Rest provided six-foot trees of spruce or var in readiness to haul as
soon as the ice was dependable.
The first chore was to cut holes forty yards apart, and place a tree in
each until the distance was completed. This route was used both for business and for pleasure.
Sleigh loads of grain, beef, pork, lamb, fowl and other products would
be seen approaching Rayner's Creek regularly and in return they would haul
25
home coal, oil, lumber and other necessities. Owners of MacNutts' store
profitted by hauling merchandise across the ice to their general store
Malpeque.
Many patients were transported over this route to the old Summerside Hospital in all kinds of weather with Dr. Jim Keir in attendance. Even
people from the Bedeque area relied on the good doctor for attention at his
home and had to travel by ice from Bedeque to Wilmont and again from
Traveller's Rest to Malpeque.
A well-known retired Summerside dentist Dr. Archibald MacMurdo,
still quite active, attended people of all ages including school children who
crossed the ice for dental extractions and fillings via Traveller's Rest.
TRAVELLER'S REST RAILWAY STATIONS
The railway was laid through Traveller's Rest in 1872. Shortly after,
the first railway station was built at Traveller's Rest on the north east side of
the railway crossing with the entrance facing south toward the tracks. It
was a small building with a bench all around inside for people to sit on while
waiting for the train. There was no door, only an archway to enter and it
really only served as a shelter from the weather.
Later, Canadian National Railways built another station more adequate for the needs of the community. This had two rooms, one for passengers and the other for baggage. A supply of coal was kept on hand to provide a fire when needed.
This station was placed on the opposite side of the road, the north
west. It remained there until the sixties when so many country railway stations were phased out. This station house was bought by L. J. Murphy,
Irishtown Road, Kensington and was hauled there on a truck and float by
Lome Wright of Reads Corner.
Across the road from the railway station, two warehouses were
built by brothers, J. Loring and Delbert Rayner.
Delbert built the first warehouse for storage of potatoes in 1948. It
was sold to Thane Ellis in 1964. Its present owner is Harold Cairns, a produce buyer fron Summerside.
26
Lorning Rayner's warehouse was built in 1955 and is now owned by
|he Prince Edward Island Bag Factory, Summerside.
A disagreement arose during the construction of the latter warehouse
bn the location of a pole.
Apparently it was solved by building around the pole on three sides
end this oddity was later featured in Ripleys Believe it or Not.
NEW ANNAN STATION
New Annan Station is situated just inside the Traveller's Rest boundary alongside New Annan district. This station played an important part in
Ihe development of the community. Mail for New Annan, Wilmont Valley,
end Blue Shank was dropped off from trains coming from Charlottetown and
boing to the boat in Summerside to connect with the mainland. In summer,
the mainland connection was between Summerside and Point du Che'ne,
New Brunswick, but winter crossings were either by ice boat from Cape
(Traverse to Cape Tormentine or by steamer from Georgetown to Pictou,
\lova Scotia. When the ferry service was inaugurated about 1919 and
rains from the mainland could come over to the Island, the railroad had to
36 widened to accommodate the wider locomotive cars.
German prisoners of war laid the rails and it was a familiar sight to
tee the men escorted by a guard armed with a rifle come to the farm homes
or drinking water. The rhythm of the rows of men moving the heavy steel
'ail and laying it in place was interesting to watch. At that time a twosnded switch was put in and the station became important for shipping out
'arm produce and bringing in supplies for the store as well as car-loads of
fertilizer, feed and even horses from Western Canada.
The Joseph Read Co. of Summerside had a warehouse alongside the
tation for a number of years. Later John C. Pillman, a potato grower of
Traveller's Rest built a large warehouse and bought potatoes from the
farmers for export.
From here several cars of donated produce and clothing were supplied to Western Canada during the drought years.
Adjoining the warehouse is a comfortable dwelling first occupied by
Nelson MacKay for a number of years. Later George Chapped lived there
and Arthur Arsenault is the present tenant.
The property and warehouse which passed into the hands of Simmons and MacFarlane was managed by Walter Simmons for some years.
Recently David Walker purchased the warehouse.
New Annan Station was phased out and it was hauled to Schurman's
shore where it was used for a summer home by David MacKay until it was
destroyed by fire in the winter of 1972.
27
BLACKSMITH SHOP
home Co:
profitted ( f o r e t h e a g e o f mechanized machinery, when horses were used
M a l p e q u i j 0 r t a t j o n a n t j f a r m j n g i blacksmiths were in great demand to shoe
M
s as well as to repair parts of machinery when broken,
side •"i°sle shop contained a forge for the fire and a bellows to fan it. W h e n .
people r j , e c a m e r e d hot, t n e j r o n w a s heated until it was malleable. It
no me an p 0 u n ( j e d on the anvil with a hammer and shaped into shoes to fit I
Traveller.g hoof. The nails to fasten the shoe were also made by the black-1
A
still quit€ m e horses became accustomed to being shod and would stand
crossed ^ j j e 0 jhers were more nervous and were hard to manage. This
dangerous work depending on the temperament of the animal
>d.
r R A e f' r s t shops were located at Traveller's Rest Corner and some of
smiths were Joseph Rayner, Tyndle Semple, James Heffell, Sr.
j(Bll and later Joseph Mallett, who moved to a shop near Charlie
the first Residence.
the railwpgood Rayner did blacksmith work at George Ramsay's shop,
was a srmmons and MacFarlane, in recent years, built a new shop on the
waiting fpurchased from George Ramsay and have Rankin Cornish as
really oni.
Li
f0
g^sean
d THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH
vide a fir
Tl> spreading chestnut tree,
west. Itie smithy stands,
tions we a mighty man is he
IrishtowrJ and sinewy hands.
Lome Wiles in his tawny arms
Apng as iron bands.
built by t
M
Ji
TANNERY
duce bu}
1861 there were fifty-five tanneries in the province. One of these
vicinity of Traveller's Rest Corner.
e leather produced was used by the shoemaker, the harnessmaker
iddler.
9 story is told that the tanner liked to keep some of the sides of
r his own profit. These he stashed under the floor boards of his
a result of complaints, officials came to investigate but they could
ice of the leather. In 1953 when Elton MacKay was excavating for
lent of his new home at Traveller's Rest Corner, three half-ton
s of sides of leather were unearthed. The hides had been piled on
another and some of the leather in the center of the hides was in
ndition. It is anybody's guess if these were the missing ones.
'0ss the road from the tannery there was a shoemaker's shop
i operated by George Gay. This was on the site presently owned
I Lilly.
28
TILSONS MILL
ned by
Two streams flowing through the Heffell and Maclnnis propeehouse
0 form Rayner's Creek, a creek which today is so silted that boat
onger sail here.
e sides
Around the turn of the century this creek was called Tilson
ifter a man of the same name. At that time sail boats were a farm
n this area. A dam was constructed and an oatmill mill was ope
Mr. Tilson.
John Pillman, French River, father of James Pillman, Travelle
was a sailor who loaded ships with scantling, then called "deal", al
Creek.
A story is told about James Marchbank, father of James S. F
>ank. As a young boy, he used to be around the mill and was one <
ng a Marchbank relative at Montrose when he recognized a part o
that had been on the Tilson Mill. James said to his nephew - "W
you get that bolt" (a framework for sieves that decided the various £
Datmeal). The reply was - "From Tilson's Mill, Traveller's R e s t " - D o u n c i nodded "I know you did, because I saw it there and recognized the
."
. „
pan in
1
Valley,
_ . , ^ _
»wn and
TAILOR
ummer,
Ch^ne,
One man who did tailoring in Traveller's Rest was Davi<n Cape
whose wife was Becky Simmons. The custom was to visit the horr Pictou,
needed tailoring. Mr. Glover always sat on the table to sew.
19 and
Mrs. Maude Heffel, one of our oldest residents reminiscin' n a d t 0
early days related this story.
One cold January day Mr. Glover was busily at work, sitt s J9 n l t 0
kitchen table at Douglas Milligan's. To keep everyone comfort^ nomes
Milligan kept stoking the fire and piling in more hardwood. The f r o ^ v ^ t e e l
to thaw from the window panes and Mr. Glover had streams of pen a t w 0 "
on his brow. Finally he cduld stand the heat no longer so he looke H n 9 o u j
o a d s of
said "By golly the snow is getting a scutching today!"
side the
w of
TRAVELLER'S REST S C H O O L
° "
om the
In the days of inns and taverns at Traveller's Rest, a log cabin
with moss served as the first school. It was built on the site w , r e SU P"
present school now stands.
According to information gained from research in the Public >Pied by
Charlottetown and the Department of Education, it has been ascerta ! d there
the present school area was at one time contained within the R
area. It was referred to as Richmond Bay or sometimes Lot 19. Arof Simfrom the Department of Education on Travellers Rest files states: i years.
1839 — Rich mond Bay — Lot 19
"Benjamin Clark — Teacher — 40 pupils
jrman's
This school has been but very Jately established yet very fair i' 't w a s
ment has been made by those writing and several are already well a
29
i
ed with the primary rules of Arithmetic. The pupils are classed together s
far as their books and respective progress will allow and all give promise
creditable improvement under the good method of instruction followed byj
the teacher. The room in which the school is at present held in unsuitable!
in several respects but a good and sufficient house is in the course of being]
completed.
To further substantiate this information there is extant a copy of a
resignation which reads as follows:
"I herewith tender my resignation as trustee of Richmond School".
James Marchbank
Dated July 8,1882.
cfa*n^*s
&*/f7J
Alm^c
<J^y
This photostatic copy of a tax bill, dated November 26, 1873 to Mr.
James Marchbank shows how taxes have changed over the years.
The following excerpt from the Department of Education registered
29 day of September A.D. 1902 states: New District established and very
commodious house built since former visit but energy and ability the qualities requisite in a teacher sadly wanted here.
Signed: Alex Anderson, Visitor of Schools
This it is believed is when the separation took place and Traveller's
Rest school became No. 103 as it is today.
When this school, described above, outlived its usefulness, it was
hauled to Read's Corner and used as an Ice House.
The present school was built in 1908. It consisted of one room.
Over the years the school population fluctuated necessitating a change in
1941 from one to two rooms. In 1948 it was found necessary to close one
room but in 1960 two rooms were again needed.
When Athena Regional High School was built in 1961 the pupils from
Grade IX and X travelled by bus to this school. Due to over crowding
Grade VII and VIII pupils were taken to Kensington for one year. The following year Grade VII and VIM students attended Athena Regional High School
where more facilities had been provided.
In 1970 a temporary Elementary school was built at Athena Complex
to accommodate the surplus students in the surrounding school districts.
Grade VI, VII, and VIII students will travel by bus to this school until such
time as a permanent school will be built.
30
A highlight each year in the district was the Annual School Meeting
presided over by the Senior Trustee. Lively discussions were sometimes
held when a controversial matter of importance was being discussed.
Each district had three trustees one appointed each year for a three
ear term.
Their duties were to hire or fire a teacher, look after the maintenance
f the school building, levy and collect the taxes and make other necessary
"(decisions.
When Regional High Schools came into being another School Board
was set up and a trustee represented a general area. Usually a chairman
end five or six trustees comprised this Regional School Board.
In 1972 the new Comprehensive School System was introduced which
consists of five Administrative Units in which Traveller's Rest is incorporated
Within Unit 2. Each Unit has one Superintendent of Education and 15
trustees, ten of whom were elected by the ratepayers and five appointed by
the Department of Education. There is also a Business Administrator and
-Assistants who supervise these units.
As new schools are built, the present smaller schools will be phased
out and the pupils bussed to larger centers.
Other information gained from research is as follows:
In 1845, Lot 19 school, W. H. Richardson, teacher, 40 pupils as reIported by John MacNeil, visitor of schools.
In 1849 school vacant.
1849-51 J. Porteous, teacher. He was also a merchant who leased
VA acre of land from John Townsend June 3,1847.
Teachers:
1855-56 — Robert Wilson
1859-60 —G.Corbett
1863-64 — Donald MacKay - engaged in December
1864-65 — Donald MacKay
1869-70 — Alexander McKinnon - 45 pupils
1872-73 — Minnie Cotton
1873-74 — Minnie Cotton
1874-75 — Sarah A. Nelson
1877-78 — Mary A. Burns
1878-79 — H. C. MacPhail
1879-80 — Emma Burns
1880-81 —Lawrence Mclnnis
1881-82 — Bertha J. Burrows
1882-83 — Mary I. MacQuarrie - Traveller's Rest
1883-86 — Elizabeth Bowen
1886-87 —Eliza Walker
1887-88 — Emma Silliker
1888-92 — Wilhemina Squarebriggs
1892-93 — Alice Brehaut
1893-94 — John McLaughlin
1894-95 — Minnie MacKay
1895-97 —James W. McNeill
1897-98 — Laura Raynor
1898-1900 — William J. MacMillan
1900-03 — Grace Marchbank -Traveller's Rest
t
I
31
1903-04 — Lula A. Stewart
1904-05 — Vincent Murphy
1905-06 — Lucy Marchbank
1906-10 — Jean Arbuckle
1910-11 — C . Simpson
1911-14 — Georgina Matheson
1914-15 — Georgina Matheson, Annie Matheson
1915-16 — Georgina Matheson
1916-18 — Minnie Carruthers
1918-21 — Marjorie Matheson
1921-22 — Margaret Howatt
1922-24 — Georgina Matheson
1924-25 — George Cass
1925-26 — Vera Costain
1926-30 — M. Ellen McNeill
1930-33 — John S. Driscoll
1933-34 — Ernestine Marchbank
1934-36 — Margaret Pi 11 man
1936-40 — Mary MacDonald
1940-41 — Rayworth Rayner
1941-42 — Miriam MacDonald, Helen Muttart
1942-43 — Jean Campbell, Marjorie Champion
1943-44 — Marjorie Champion, Doris Home
1944-45 — Merle Crozier, Mrs. Marjorie Champion
1945-46 — Mrs. Lucille MacKinnon, Marjorie Champion
1946-47 — Bertha Noring, Marjorie Champion
1947-48 — Marjorie Champion, Zelma Curley
1948-52 — Marjorie Champion
1952-53 — Ellen Buchanan
1953-54 — Pauline Moase
1954-56 — Mrs. Anne de Moss
1956-59 — Georgie Murray
1959-60 — Georgie Affleck
1960-61 — Hester MacPhee, Gertrude Corbett
1961-62 — Ruth Campbell, Gertrude Corbett
1962-63 — Gertrude Corbett, Mary Laughlin
1963-64 — Mary Laughlin, Gertrude Corbett
1964-66 — Mary Laughlin, Kathleen Roberts
1966-67 — Mary Laughlin, Leta Moase, Pauline Walker
1967-68 — Mary Laughlin, Pauline Walker
1968-69 — Mary Laughlin, Louise Doiron
1969-70 — Mary Laughlin, Catherine Stevenson
1970-71 — Ruth Grose, Shirley Leighton
1971-72 — Phyllis Green, Shirley Dyment
32
NEW ANNAN HALL
In 1821 Robert Walker received a grant of land on which to build an
inn and donated a lot for a Community Hall. This hall was situated on the
_road leading to Wilmont Valley directly opposite to the present residence of
ohn Marchbank. The site is now in Traveller's Rest School district.
The hall was used chiefly for church services by both Presbyterians
"•nd Methodists, the former coming from North Bedeque and the latter from
jSummerside. Some of the ministers were: Presbyterian - Rev. Robert S.
Patterson, Rev. William Scott, Rev. Tufts, Rev. Thompson, Rev. MacArthur,
Rev. Whidden, and Rev. Macintosh. Methodists - Rev. Maggs and Rev.
IWaddell.
r
There was no organ but an elder David Walker, led the singing.
Sunday School was conducted for a time with Percy Marchbank as superintendent. Later Traveller's Rest Sunday School became more popular and
the one at New Annan closed. New Annan hall was also used for community social events but as time went on it was needed less and less and about
11918 was sold to David H. Auld of Covehead who converted it into a general
store and dwelling house.
When the church services in New Annan hall were discontinued, the
Bible and Pulpit which had been donated by Robert Walker were taken to
Traveller's Rest hall for use there in church services for the community.
33
TRAVELLER'S REST HALL
The Excelsior Sons of Temperance Division promoted the buildinc
of a hall at Traveller's Rest around 1890. It was built on land leased by
Thomas Townsend for 100 years. People of the community contributec
their time and labour to the building of this hall. It was used as a commun-1
ity center and paid for chiefly with basket-socials and lectures for which]
tickets were sold.
Two of the lecturers were: Father Gillis, the parish priest of Indian j
River, who lectured on a trip to the Chicago World Fair, and Charles Murphy I
of Summerside, on John Boyle O'Reilly.
Church services were held regularly in the hall for the members of
North Bedeque Charge, living in this area. Rev. Thomas Whent was the
last minister to hold service in the hall as these services were discontinued
permanently in the fall of 1968.
There was also a non-denominational Sunday School with supplies
being obtained from David C. Cook Publishing Co. The first Superintendents were Colin Townsend, Percy Marchbank and Delbert Rayner.
A popular use of Traveller's Rest Hall was the holding of the Annual
School Concert, an event very important in the life of the teacher, pupil and
parent. Amateur plays were presented almost every winter and their
dramatization was eagerly looked forward to by everyone.
In 1921 the hall was moved to the north side of the Post Road, now
Highway 2, on land donated by Robert Marchbank, who had purchased the
Townsend property. The old lot reverted to the Marchbank property. The
next year, 1920, the War Memorial was placed beside the hall.
A big revival service was held in 1924 at the hall when Rev. D. K.
Ross was minister and Rev. Dr. Sidey was the Evangelist. Huge crowds
came every night for two weeks and over two dozen people were received
as church communicants.
34
In 1926 a Club Room was annexed by the Women's Institute. The
onthly meetings of the W. I. were held here and it also served as a kitchen
r suppers held in the Hall. Often times the Young Peoples Club, 4-H Club
id other gatherings met here.
At election time two polls were in operation, one in the main hall,
id one in the Club Room.
Not until 1934 was there a horse shed at the hall. In previous years,
obert Marchbank stabled hundreds of horses for people who attended the
any varied functions at the hall. When motor cars became popular and
e shed was no longer needed, it was purchased by Harry Heffell in 1957
id moved in September to his farm by Allan MacDonald.
Recently, due to lack of interest because our youth have easier
eans of transportation and can travel farther, the hall has been rapidly
jteriorating.
The general consensus is that it is too costly to convert this structure
a modern hall. Also in the near future our school, which is in good repair,
ill be available for purchase.
MOMUMENT
After the war of 1914-1918 the citizens of Traveller's Rest felt that a
jitable recognition should be given the four boys who made the supreme
icrifice.
The suggestion of a monument was spearheaded by the Women's
stitute, and after considerable discussion, it was decided to erect one in
eir memory. •
This monument was placed on the north side of the old Post Road
ith the Hall as its background on land previously donated by Robert
larchbank. The cost of this monument was shared by New Annan, Sherrooke, Read's Corner and Traveller's Rest.
The following excerpt taken from a newspaper clipping regarding the
nveiling of the memorial at Traveller's Rest is as follows: "The unveiling of
e beautiful soldiers monument at Traveller's Rest on Wednesday afterDon, September 14, 1921 was a most impressive affair, and one that showj that the gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives in the war is very
uch alive in the hearts of all. There was a very large number of people
resent from all parts of the surrounding country and the program was cared through well.
A large stage was erected by the monument to accommodate the
loir and speakers. The choir was composed of about twenty-five voices
rid the music was indeed of a very high order.
The stand was handsomely decorated with bunting and flags from
lany staffs. Flowers too. were there in abundance. There were wreaths
lorn the Women's Institute of New Annan, Traveller's Rest, Sherbrooke, as
veil as many given by friends of the departed boys.
The service opened with the doxology, after which the children
barched from the school, carrying flags and led by "Miss Canada". After
•arching around the monument, they lined up and sang "O Canada". The
rildren are deserving of the highest praise for the manner in which they
arried out their part of the program. Miss Matheson and Mrs. Margaret
35
Shaw, who trained the children, are especially to be commended for their
successful work.
After the reading of scripture and prayer by Rev. Mr. Herman, the
choir, with Miss Amy Townsend presiding at the organ, sang "Only Remembered by What We Have Done".
The chairman, Mr. James Marchbank, made appropriate remarks
and excellent addresses filled with patriotism and also with sympathy were
made by Premier Bell, Rev. Dr. Gauthier, Rev. C. DeWolfe White and Hon.
Walter Lea. Especially impressive were the words of the two clergymen
who paid eloquent tribute to the memory of those who had sacrificed all in
the greatest war of history.
The music was a most pleasing feature of the ceremony and included
a solo by Mr. Tyndall Semple, "No Burdens Yonder", with Miss Margaret
Crozier as accompanist and a solo by Mr. Sandy MacGregor, "The Holy
City". The choir also sang, "Some Time We'll Understand" and "Oh, God,
Our Help in Ages Past".
Mr. D. C. McKinnon whose son, Alexander, was one of the boys who
died in the war, unveiled the monument and it was a most touching sight.
The names of the heroic dead were then called: Alexander McKinnon,
Claude Milligan, Gilbert Matheson, William Riley. The last named lived
until the day after the Armistice. He died in Prince County Hospital from
wounds received overseas.
After the unveiling of the monument, the "Last Post" was sounded by
Pvt. Daniel Noonan, followed by the National Anthem.
The monument, which is a very handsome one, was designed and
built by Bell and Chandler, Charlottetown. It is of Scotch granite, about 12
feet high and stands on raised ground. The shaft is five feet high, and the
die containing the names is about two feet square. The plot on which it
stands is enclosed by a beautiful ornamental fence, the gift of Maple Leaf
Women's Institute.
36
About a year and a half ago the collection work for the monument
yas started and funds raised by public subscription, and by the worthy eforts of the Women's Institutes of Traveller's Rest, New Annan and Sherrooke.
Surely the communities of Traveller's Rest, Wilmont, Sherbrooke and
slew Annan have every reason to be proud of their memorial to the heroic
lead.
Following the war of 1939-1945 there was a second unveiling at this
nonument. This time to the memory of four more boys who made the
upreme sacrifice in that war. They were: Roy A. Crozier, Alan Read,
lames Tuplin, Osborne Lefurgy. The speakers at this time were Lieutenantovernor J. A. Bernard and Judge Thane A. Campbell.
Each year on Armistice or Remembrance Day, November 11th, the
toyal Canadian Legion conducts a Memorial Service, during which time we
>lace a wreath in honor of these fallen heroes.
It has been the tradition for children to parade from the school and
lake part in the service.
"THE GIFT OF PEACE"
D Valiant hearts, who to your glory came
hrough dust of conflict and through battle-flame;
ranquil you lie, your knightly virtue proved;
'our memory hallowed in the land you loved.
plendid you passed, the great surrender made,
Tnto the light that nevermore shall fade;
beep your contentment in that blest abode.
Who waits the last clear trumpet-call of God.
Sir J.S. Arkwright
REMINISCENCES
By Annie Pillman Houston Paynter
In winter the people from Hamilton and vicinity came across the ice
as a short way to Summerside where the shopping and business of the
locality were operated.
Groceries, especially, were bought in large quantities as compared
K> the present way of supplying our food. For example — a chest of tea,
B bag of sugar, or a barrel of flour. Meat and vegetables were grown on the
farm. Ham was salted and maybe smoked for summer. In the spring we
would get a barrel of herring, salt them and have them for winter. At my
pome we did our shopping at F. W. Strong's store which was started in
1873, Holman's store, which began in 1857 and at other stores where we
occasionally bought clothing. It was the custom to make at home all under37
wear, dresses and aprons, so a web of cotton or flannelette and an old
Raymond sewing machine were usually around somewhere. As for knitting]
and some underclothing, we sheared the sheep, washed the wool, took it to]
a mill to be carded into rolls which we spun on the old spinning wheel into!
yarn. This yarn was knitted into socks and mitts and stockings for over our [
knees or sent to some neighbor who had a loom to be woven into cloth and
blankets. Cotton warp of different colors was used to improve the appearance of the cloth. We made our own soap with cans of lye and the fat from
the insides of the slaughtered pigs and cattle. The meat from these animals
was used for food. The soap was made in a large iron pot and boiled on
the stove.
We also made our own butter. The cream was put into a wooden or
earthen dash churn and churned into butter, the by-product being buttermilk. After draining off the buttermilk and washing the butter curds in cold
water until all milk had been washed away, we added salt and made the
butter into prints or packed it into crocks. In winter it was necessary to
use coloring to get the butter the right shade.
In the kitchens of some of the old houses a primitive hand mill for
grinding grains called querns could be found. Fastened to the heavy beams
of the ceiling was a wooden pin which was used to turn the quern in which
the family ground their wheat for bread. This bread they cooked in a big
iron pot covered with hot ashes. Afterwards grist mills were set up.
I remember starting to school at the age of seven. I had already
learned to read from the Bible with help from my Grandmother Cotton. My
first teacher was James MacNeil, a brother of John and Alex MacNeil, who
were doctors in Summerside. Some of my other teachers were Laura
Rayner. Grace Marchbank. and William MacMillan. who later was a doctor
in Charlottetown for many years. In those days many doctors and lawyers
taught school for a while to get money to further their education.
Among my schoolmates were Byron, Frank and Ethel Bowness,
Grace, Emeline, James and Jennie Marchbank.
The school was rather crowded. The older pupils who were not
taking regular classes but supplementary subjects, sat around the stove on
chairs. Other school mates I remember were: Harold Rayner, Major, Fred
and Hubert MacDonald, Jean Waite, Maude, Margaret and Wesley Rayner,
Alfred Green, Emily, Charlie and James Rayner.
We used slates and pencils, but pens and ink in bottles for examinations. On Fridays we had spelling matches or recitation of poetry.
There were no grades but six readers. As soon as we finished one reader
satisfactorily, we went into the next one. Arithmetic was handled in the
same manner. We had copy books to learn how to write and we used our
pen and ink. As we got further along, there was Grammar, Latin and
French. Each pupil advanced by himself personally.
If we deserved punishment for talking or minor offences, we would
have to write out 100 words on our slates or stand up for a while with our
back to the class. In cases where severe punishment was needed, there
was a hand to hold out and there would be so many strokes applied with a
stick, which was kept in the teacher's desk.
We stood up in class and counted the mistakes in reading or spelling.
We had to learn to spell every word in the lesson. Whoever had least mistakes took the head of the class.
38
For vacation, we had three or four weeks in Spring and Fall in order
for the older children to be home for the planting and picking of potatoes
and other farm work.
When Health Reader was started, parents were against it. They
thought children's health was no concern to anyone but themselves. This
was when Dr. MacMillan was a teacher.
Our Canadian History was just an extra chapter in the back of the
British History.
STORES
When New Annan Hall was no longer needed, it was sold in 1918 to
David H. Auld of Covehead, who converted it into a general store and dwelling house. After his son, Sterling, returned from active service, he and
Samuel Profitt of Freetown worked there as clerks. Others who worked in
the store at different times were: Emeline Marchbank, Laura and Ruby
Rayner and Maria Stavert.
After a few years, the Aulds sold out to the Moase Bros, and Edgar
Moase and his family became residents of the house behind the store.
They had come from Revelstoke, B.C. and after a short time returned there,
dgar's brother, Major and his wife, moved in next and their son Carl was
born there. However, they bought a farm in North St. Eleanors, and Harold
JR. Moase moved in and spent the rest of his life building up a prosperous
business. His aunt, Mrs. John Moase, kept house for a while and later his
sister, Lila, came to New Annan to be his helper in both house and store.
Their nephew, Edgar Hogg of Kelvin Grove, worked in the store for
b few years. Some of his other helpers were: Horace Campbell, Martha
Dawson, (Mrs. Don Schurman), Bert Poole. Since the death of Harold
Arioase, this store has been operated by his wife. Anna, with the assistance
pi Bert Poole.
Many people have operated stores at Traveller's Rest Corner. The
first of which there is a record, was Muirhead's store which was established
In a house on the corner lot, recently owned by James Heffell. Later, Mrs.
Lames Rayner operated the same store.
Next, was Wesley Rayner, who had a small store in the Rayner
ard. Joe Maclntyre opened his business in a house on the present site of
:lton MacKay's barbershop. That house was purchased by B. I. Rayner,
who hauled it to Read's Corner, and is still occupied by Mr. Rayner and
family.
In the late thirties, Loring and Delbert Rayner built another store on
t i e MacKay site and Geraldine Rayner worked there with her brothers.
• he property was sold to Wendell Rodd in the early forties and in 1948 it
pas acquired by Brad Maclnnis and Alex MacDonald.
In 1949, Elton MacKay bought the store and carried on the combined
usiness of selling groceries and barbering until 1957. The store building
as then sold to George Waite, who moved it to its present location, adlacent to the Waite residence.
39
(
INDIAN CAMPS
In a grove of trees, commonly called "Hubert's Bush", an Indian
Camp was once located. This was near the shore on the Hubert MacNeil
farm.
Through the years, members of the MicMac Indian tribe also set up
camp in other parts of the district — usually where suitable materials could
be found to make a variety of baskets, brooms and chairs. On completion
of their labors, they would sell their wares from door to door or oftimes exchange them for farm produce.
EGG CIRCLE
In March 1914 a meeting was held in Traveller's Rest Hall under the
auspices of the Women's Institute of Traveller's Rest and Sherbrooke for
the purpose of forming an Egg Circle. This meeting was well attended.
Mr. J. Marcellus attended the meeting as a substitute for Mr. Benson, a
representative from the Department of Agriculture.
He gave an interesting address regarding the organization of Egg
Circles following which one was organized at Traveller's Rest.
BARBERSHOP
After Elton MacKay sold his store in 1957, he built a barber shop on
the site where his present shop stands and began barbering. After a few
years, he decided to move his shop to Read's Corner, where he continued
to barber for eight years.
Due to expansion of the Lighthouse Motel at Read's Corner, Elton
had to move back to Traveller's Rest Corner and here he has continued in
his barbering profession.
LITERARY CLUB
The citizens of Traveller's Rest and surrounding area were quite
literary-minded around the turn of the century and formed a club.
Members met weekly at each other's homes and exchanged books.
At each meeting, it was customary for a paper to be read and discussed.
These included treatises on the works of classical authors, playwrights and
poets such as Geoffrey Chaucer, father of English poetry; William Shakespeare; or Robert Burns.
Subsequently, members became interested in modern drama and
staged many plays at the hall. On different occasions they produced Aaron
Slick From Pumpkin Creek, The Hand of The Law, Mrs. O'Leary's Cow, Calling All Cars, The Poor Married Man, etc.
As well as providing popular entertainment and developing local
talent, the drama program boosted the finances of the hall and added to the
coffers of the sponsors, the Sons of Temperance Division and the Maple
Leaf Women's Institute.
40
"CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION" 1926
The commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the founding or settling of Traveller's Rest community took place July 14th, 1926 at the hall.
A program was planned and an invitation to this affair appeared in
the "Pioneer" paper July 10th, 1926.
Ex-Premier Bell was one of the speakers, also W. L. Cotton, owner
and editor of the "Examiner", a newspaper published then in Charlottetown.
The history of Traveller's Rest up to that year was read by Mr. Cotton, who
was a relative of the Pillman family of this district.
Mr. Cotton was born in New London, later lived in Traveller's Rest
and went to school there. His father was Reverend Richard Cotton.
St. Paul's Band. Summerside. took part in the program and many
selections were enjoyed.
Meals were served on an adjoining lot, where a huge schooner sail,
borrowed from Chester Palmer, Summerside, was used to form a tent or
covering for the tables, ladened with food, provided by the Maple Leaf
Women's Institute.
Despite the inclement weather many people attended the celebration
and enjoyed the excellent program and delicious meals.
FARM FORUM
Radio Farm Forum was an educational program for farmers. Traveller's Rest was among the many districts which formed a club. Members
met at their homes to listen to the weekly broadcasts on which they later
held discussions. They made reports to the Department of Agriculture in
I which they offered constructive criticism.
Many friendly games of cards were played after the broadcast and,
generally, lunch was served by the hostess.
4-H CLUB
The local 4-H Club instigated by the Farm Forum was first organized
in 1952-53. After a brief period of inactivity it was reorganized in 1956 and
continued until 1970. Among the leaders were Roy Walker, James Heffel,
Keith Thompson, Clarence Marchbank, Brad Maclnnis, Carl Montgomery,
Mrs. Elton Mac Kay, Edwin Walker, and Garth Marchbank.
Assistance was also received from the Women's Institute as well as
other local organizations and individuals.
Projects over the years included dairy calf, gardening, sewing, knitting, as well as self improvement courses, such as public speaking and debating. Numerous prizes and awards on every level were won by our
members climaxed by the 1968 C.B.C. television production of our Achievement Day for Country Calendar.
The 4-H Club took an active part in community life, sponsoring many
projects which were backed by the whole district. Annually an average of
twenty members took part in the enjoyable and educational activities of the
4-H Club.
41
SPORTS
For many years Traveller's Rest has been interested in sports activities.
One of our senior citizens, Howard England, played hockey and baseball. Until quite recently reunions were held with the original hockey
players. Bob played hockey in the early 1920's at North Bedeque on the
Beaver Team. Some of the other players were Everett Phillips, Jimmie
Clark, Heber MacQuarrie and Hartwell Condon.
Baseball was played at Summerside and their team was called "The
Red Socks".
In the early thirties the school girls organized a softball team and
played games against neighbouring teams. They proved good sports and
enjoyed the game whether they won or lost.
Down through the years different generations of boys have participated in organized baseball games.
Also in the early thirties, New Annan and Traveller's Rest had a
soccer team. Great interest was shown in the games and trophies and a
shield were donated by Heath Strong, M.L.A., Hugh Morrison, M.L.A. and
Hon. A. E. MacLean. Members of the soccer team who resided in the district were: Halsey Gunning, Ronnie MacDonald and Clarence Marchbank.
The field across the road from James Marchbank's home was the location
for many of these games.
In 1934 the Soccer Team were Prince County Winners and were
awarded the A. E. MacLean Shield and the Strong and Morrison Trophy.
ALL STAR HOCKEY TEAM
by Mrs. George Ramsay
In nineteen hundred and thirty four
Ambitious boys did meet,
So interested in a line of hockey
And they made their line complete.
A name was first suggested
And all both near and far,
At last in full agreement
Decided it would be - "All Star".
The team was always ready
And had ambition keen,
Whatever day, date, or weather,
They would at the rink be seen.
Those who took special interest
Were one family that did play,
One. two. three big husky fellows
With the Scottish name "MacKay".
They were - David, Edwin, and Nelson
And later on, Francis too,
They had the pluck and courage
42
To follow the games right through.
In those days it was a pleasure
For the fans to watch the fun,
The brave courageous "All Stars"
Played till they a cup had won.
Since that a new generation
A younger MacKay family too,
Who still have the name "All Star"
And were bound to see hockey through.
These were Bruce, Eldon and Reggie
With Ellery minding the net,
Hockey no doubt was born in them
For they had the best pluck yet.
We give the whole group credit
That bear the "All Star" name,
By the look of the year just ended
They are on the road to fame.
George Moase was genial coachman
And also a forward too,
The boys just had to obey him
When he told them what to do.
Chester Gallant deserves much credit
For the number of goals he scored,
When he went zig-zag down the ice
He had his contestants bored.
David Walker was a great forward
With a ready smile on his face,
How he did grab that rubber
When it came from any place.
He sure took a special interest
Tho' considering married life,
And just as the season ended
He had for himself a wife.
Reg MacKay did a good job
Up on the forward line,
He made so many good efforts
To place those goals in the twine.
Not forgetting Freddie Gallant
Who was the young girls choice,
When he went flying down the ice
They sure made lots of noise.
Bruce MacKay was the short one
But he had lots of luck,
As he could slip right under
When he wanted to get the puck.
On this line was a set of twins
Lawrence and Edwin Wall,
Edwin could see right over
For he was six feet tall.
David Schurman and Mallett
Were the brave and strong defence,
They were like Johnny on the spot
And received some good comments.
43
To relieve them there was Ellery
Who was the defenceman's spare,
He was the nice looking fellow
With the pretty light brown hair.
Walter Simmons was a good sport
To act as their referee,
He kept his eye on all the boys
For he knew their tricks you see.
At last on the final evening
With no referee in sight,
They were lucky to have Fred Semple
Who was umpire for the night.
This game was between the "All Stars"
And a team from North Bedeque,
And in the minutes of overtime
Someone exclaimed "by heck".
The "All Stars" scored the final goal
Which made each one look up.
We hope they'll always show the stuff
That they showed to win that cup.
No word of Congratulations
No cheer of Hip Hip Hooray!
They were presented with the cup
And they laid their skates away.
"MAT-MEN"
"Mat-Men" as they were nicknamed were people who made it their
policy to obtain hooked mats in trade for Congoleum squares of floor covering, bedspreads and dishes. Many original designs for mats were obtained
in this way.
MARINE COLLOIDS
In 1967, a moss plant was opened for business at Traveller's Rest
in a building owned by Delbert Rayner.
The owner of this plant is Marine Colloids Ltd. of Pictou, Nova Scotia,
and the operator and manager is Bayfield Shaw, St. Eleanors.
Over one hundred customers profit from the moss and many truckloads of dry moss are delivered during the season until a sufficient quantity
is collected for shipment. It is then shipped by tractor-trailer to a processing plant in Rockland, Maine, where it is used in the manufacture of fish
meal, nylon and cloth, leather, dairy products, drugs, food stuffs, cosmetics
and in brewery distilling. Moss which has been previously graded and
dried is delivered to the plant from the local areas and from as far away as
Tyne Valley, West Devon, Cape Traverse, Borden and Cavendish. Two
full-time employees operate this plant.
Because of the inadequacy of the building from which this moss
business was operated, it was found necessary to move to a more suitable
location in Summerside in June 1972. Present plans are to build a new
warehouse in Traveller's Rest.
44
CANADIAN INDUSTRIES LIMITED
During the spring and summer of 1966, Canadian Industries Limited
built a plant, opened in September, 1966, in Traveller's Rest.
The head office for this company is Montreal, but there is a regional
office for the Maritimes at Halifax. The first plant manager was Graeme
MacDougall who held this position until July, 1972, when Don Johnson from
Ontario became manager.
This C.I.L. Agromart is a combination farm service centre and clinic
to meet most of the farmers' needs. It stocks farm input items such as
fertilizers, pesticides, animal feeds and animal health products, seeds, farm
paints, twine, polyethylene film, and other products to meet the needs of the
local farmers. At the same time, it provides technical services, and will
also supply spreading equipment for the application of lime and fertilizer.
Bulk blending equipment is of prime importance at the Traveller's Rest
Agromart as it provides a full range of C.I.L. fertilizers blended to meet the
specific requirements of the farmer.
Due to the volume of business, it was found necessary in 1970 to
expand this plant. Therefore, storage facilities were enlarged, a second
mixing unit was added, a product showroom was provided as well as equipment to provide feed services and enlargement of the outside storage pad.
The new storage space for pesticides is divided into two sections.
One is heated to provide proper storage conditions for certain pesticides.
Equipment is installed to handle protein supplement such as fish and soybean meal. By using this protein supplement and a pre-mix, a farmer can
use his own grain to produce a complete feed.
The enlargement of the outside storage pad will permit the stacking
of extra bag goods to meet sales surges during peak periods.
This plant employs three full time employees the year round but during the rush season, in April, May and June, an additional 12 to 15 helpers
are needed. All employees hired are from the local area.
A TRUE STORY
On the Hall grounds, where once stood a house, an old well recently
caved in. Two of our very young boys, Gordie MacKay and Donnie Maclnnis
were the first to notice this hole in the ground. They rushed over to Donnie's
father and begged him to come see what they had found. When Brad
ignored them, Phyllis went with the boys. As they were leaving Brad, Gordie
looked up and said quite seriously "Well, you know, we can't bring the
hole over to you".
One of the early settlers John Walker, cleared about 20 acres of land
on what is now Robert Marchbank's farm. Early one morning the pigs got
into the garden. The family rushed out in the nude to save their garden.
A Mr. Johnson was passing by, going home from courting, and seeing the
couple he put his hands over his face and cried "Oh! Oh! Adam and Eve!
Adam and Eve!"
45
ACCIDENTS
When the Trans Canada Highway was extended through Traveller's
Rest in 1965, a few homes at the corner were isolated in a triangular section
where the roads converged. The Norden home at the turn-off was particularly vulnerable and although the department of highways agreed to move j
the house to another location, it was still there in July 1971. On July 1st,
1971 George was a patient at Prince County Hospital and one evening while
Mrs. Norden was visiting him, a car failed to make the turn and crashed
into the house, moving it a foot off its foundation. It hit the kitchen end and
wrecked its contents.
Fortunately, the Norden children were all in the other end of the
house and were unhurt. The four occupants of the car, two from Halifax
and two from Cape Breton were seriously injured. One died as a result of
the accident.
The house has since been moved to a location in Wilmot and the old
basement was filled in by the government.
This area has had other accidents but none as serious as the above.
One night some people rolled their car near the Norden home. The occupants took off on foot and those who came to assist found only the car.
Another evening a car missed the corner, broke off a tree on Heffell's
lawn and came to rest alongside of the Heffell home.
A DRIVER'S PRAYER
Dear Lord, before I take my place today
behind the wheel,
Please let me come with humble heart
before Thy Throne to kneel,
And pray that I am fit to drive each busy
thoroughfare,
And that I keep a watchful eye lest
some small child be there.
And keep me thinking constantly about
the Golden Rule
When driving past the playground zones, or
some busy school.
Then when I stop to give someone his right
across the street,
Let me my brother's keeper be and spare
a life that's sweet.
Please make me feel this car I drive, you
gave me to enjoy
And that its purpose is to save mankind,
and not destroy.
Give me a careful hand, a watchful eye,
That no one may suffer as I pass by.
46
'Pamilq *&i4to>UeA
ADAMS
Wallace Adams, son of Caseley Adams moved from Darnley to Traveller's Rest in 1967 with his wife, Alma Campbell of Irishtown. Their daughter
Earith married Marvyn Ramsay of Summerside and they have one daughter,
Melanie.
The Adams residence was built by George Carr in 1965 on a lot purchased from George Taylor. It was sold by Mr. Carr to Neil MacLeod of
Baltic who later sold it to Wallace Adams. Wallace is an employee of Kensington Co-op Feed and Hardware and his wife is a teacher in Elm Street
School, Summerside.
ARSENAULT
Arthur Arsenault and his wife, the former Edna Martin, St. Felix,
moved from Freetown to Traveller's Rest in 1958. Arthur works for Simmons
and MacFarlane at the warehouse and lives in the house adjoining it.
The Arsenaults have eight children: Edmond now living in Toronto;
Barbara married to James Semple, Montague; Joe married to Theresa
Arsenault of Amherst and is living in Toronto and they have one daughter,
Velda married Allison Maclnnis, New Annan and they have three children.
Walter, at McGill University (Agriculture); Marena, student Athena High
School; Gilbert, student Athena Elementary School; Karen attends Traveller's Rest School. Arthur is a veteran of World War II, Service Corps.
BAGLOLE
(see Wood history)
BAKER
Daniel Baker bought the home of Edwin and Libby Rayner just west
of the present Pillman homestead. He was a fisherman and day labourer.
Their family was: Aggie, Clara, Elizabeth, Nina, Maude, Belle, Frank and
Robert.
Aggie married Joe MacDonald, a carpenter by trade. They lived at
Traveller's Rest Corner on the site where Clifford Lilly now resides.
47
BAKER
John Hugh Baker was born in Clermont. He married Annie MacNeil,
New Annan. They lived just west of New Annan store, having bought the
house and lot in 1900 from William Bowness. John Hugh was a carpenter
and carriage builder. They had a post office at their home, and would go
to New Annan station to meet the trains to receive the mail and sort it for
the neighbours.
They had a wonderful orchard, which included apples, plums, and
cherries as well as small fruits such as gooseberries, black currants, etc.
The following is their family: Lauretta Catherine. (Mrs Arthur Inman)
now living in Ontario; Joseph Ambrose, now living in Mass., U.S.A.; Mary
Greta, Sister Naomi who died in 1970; John Cedric, now living in Oshawa,
Ont.; Annie Cecilia, (Mrs. Leo McCarville), of Spring Park Road, Charlottetown.
Mr. Baker died in 1923 and Mrs. Baker in 1950.
The property was bought by Harold Moase and the former Baker
home was moved and is used by the Moases for a warehouse.
BARLOW
Sterling Barlow was born in Wellington. He served with the Royal
Canadian Air Force from 1939-1945. He married Edna Birch of Wellington
and after retiring from the Air Force settled in St. Eleanors where Sterling
specialized in market-gardening. In 1956 he moved from St. Eleanors to
Traveller's Rest where he purchased the property of Kaye Hansen and continued to carry on the business of farming, market-gardening and hog raising. For over twenty years he supplied vegetables to the Prince County
Hospital. In 1971 he sold his property to Clarence Simmons of Wilmont.
The Barlow children are: Bruce, Vice-President of Traders Finance
in Oakville, Ontario; Wilfred, a major with the Canadian Forces, Petawawa,
Ontario; Gary, employed with the Hollywood Film Board in California. At
present, Sterling, with his wife as assistant, is caretaker of a huge apartment building in Oakville, Ontario.
BERGMANN
Walter Bergmann bought property in Traveller's Rest in 1939, formerly called the Magic Silver-Black Fox Company Ranch or Magic Ranch as it
was known. He also purchased other property in the vicinity. The land is
farmed by Elmer Waite of Sherbrooke. Mr. Bergmann has never lived here
permanently but plans to retire and move from Scarboro, Ont., in
the near future. He was associated with the Bergmann Construction Co.
Ltd. of Ontario and operates a Gulf Service Station at West Hill, Ontario.
Mr. Bergmann is married and has one son, Walter, a lawyer living in
Vancouver, B.C.
48
BLANCHARD
Oliver Blanchard was born at Caraquet, New Brunswick. His first
wife was Marguerite Downing. They lived in Western P.E.I. Their first son
was Piere (Peter) who was born near Palmer Road. In later life he lived with
his sister Justine, (Mrs. Vincent Mallett), and worked for many of his Traveller's Rest neighbours. Other children were: Marie, Raphael, Mary Celina,
Adie Josephine, Marie Hildegarde Louise, Marie Louise.
His second wife was Marie Poirier. Their children were Joseph, who
went overseas in the Second World War and then to Western Canada.
Marie Margaret and Theophide were twins and died young. Josephine married W. J. O'Brien and lived in Traveller's Rest. George and Ernest
were twins who also died when they were young. Joseph Arthur was a truck
driver in Western Canada for thirteen years. He was in the Army for four
and one-half years during the Second World War. Later, he was employed
as a labourer by farmers in the area. He is married to Muriel Hooper of
Toronto. They have a daughter, Sarah, attending Holland College.
Genivieve married Dan Noonan, Indian River. Daisy married Richard
Wall, New Annan, and after his death married Oliver Paynter and lives near
Kensington. Oliver Blanchard and his wife and family moved to Traveller's
Rest in 1906. He was a fisherman by trade and also worked for fox ranchers in this area.
j^ffa*
BOWNESS
William Bowness was a carriage builder with four shops — a paint
tehop, wood-working shop, blacksmith shop, repair shop, and a warehouse
lor lumber.
At first he lived on the Robert Walker farm until he sold to James
Marchbank in 1890. He reserved a lot now owned by Mrs. Harold Moase.
He hauled a house, bought from Mr. Dickeson in Wilmot and lived in it. He
poarded the five men who worked in his shops.
In 1898 he moved to Summerside, where the Rankin place is now
located. The shops were taken apart, hauled on wagons and set up in their
new location at the corner of Harvard Street and the Summerside Road.
f\e was postmaster at New Annan with the post office in his house.
He married Jane Sutherland of Sea View and their family was Alma,
pyron, Pearl, Ethel, Frank.
Alma is married and lives in Shediac, N.B., Byron married Jennie
•Walsh, lived in Charlottetown, where he died recently. Pearl married Harry
Pridham and lived in Summerside in a house now owned by the United
fchurch. Ethel never married.
Frank, a dentist, married Ethel Ling of Wheatley River, lived in Kensington, retired and lived in Charlottetown until his death in 1972. He had
f son Frank, Toronto, and a daughter Pearl of Charlottetown.
49
BURT
In 1952 Elmer Burt bought the Sandy Maclnnis property at Traveller's
Rest Corner from James Maclnnis. He and his wife Janie Cole lived here
until Mrs. Burt's death in 1958. They had an adopted daughter Marion who
married Ralph Williams and lives in Fredericton, N.B. Elmer was a carpenter by trade. In later life he was janitor for the school. In 1960 he married
Ida (Reeves) Lawless. In 1964, they sold their Traveller's Rest home to
Clifford Lilly and moved to a Senior Citizens Home in Summerside.
CARR
George Carr, son of John Carr and his wife Eleanor Kent, Pugwash,
N.S., came to Traveller's Rest in 1885 where he married Josephine Crossman, daughter of Artemas Crossman and Elizabeth Rayner, of Traveller's
Rest, in 1888. He was a fisherman and labourer. He was the first fish
warden in Traveller's Rest and he owned the first marine gas engire in the
area.
They had the following family:
Artemas who married Francis Gunning. They had three children
namely: George who married Blanche Rayner.
Harold married Marion MacDonald, Summerside. They have two
children. Lilia married Gerald Mill of Clermont and Malpeque and they have
two children.
Eva married James Burlock of Anagance, New Brunswick and they
have four children.
Hazel married William Doughart, Long River. They have two children.
Jane married George Larson, North East Maine. They have three
children.
Eston married Lavina Mallett, New Annan, they reside in Traveller's
Rest on the homestead.
Ernest married Lois Barlow, Wellington and they have seven children.
CHAMPION
Alexander Champion moved from Alberton to Traveller's Rest. His
wife was Jane Powers. The family was:
Violet, (Mrs. Canfield), New York, U.S.A.
Reta, (Mrs. George Cass). Moncton. N.B.
Russell married Jean Waite and lived in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Robert married Laura Rayner and lived in Summerside.
James married Marjorie Champion and remained in Traveller's Rest.
Preston married Evelyn Maclnnis and lived in Summerside.
50
CHAMPION
Marjorie Champion was a sister of Annie and Georgie Matheson.
(see Matheson history)
ROBERT CLARK
(see Simmons history)
COAKES
Walter and Laura Coakes moved to Traveller's Rest from Western
Canada in 1957.
For many years, Walter assisted in farm work in the Kensington area
before setting out for the West. On their return they purchased their home
from Stan Rayner. Walter is presently employed at the Linkletter Tenting
Grounds.
Walter's talent for playing the accordian has made him popular at
many social gatherings.
COLLETT
Arthur Collett moved from Bedeque to Traveller's Rest in 1962. He
built his own home on a lot purchased from George Taylor. He is married
to Mary Kaye Mayhew of Margate and they have three children: Brenton,
Cathy, and Ronnie. At present Arthur is employed with Rogers & Arnett Ltd.,
Wholesalers, Summerside.
CONDON
Michael Condon owned the farm which is now in the possession of
Mrs. Alfred Schurman, Lower New Annan Road.
When the Condon family lived there, the farm was much larger — it
is now divided into smaller acreages and owned by different people.
He was married to Miss MacDonald, Clermont. They had a family of
[three girls who all died quite young, and two sons Tom and Joe who settled
in Western Canada.
A nephew of Mr. Condon is Hartwell Condon who now resides at
[Kensington.
51
CORBETT
It was on December 18, 1968 that William Allison Corbett and his
wife Nancy Lee Corbett purchased a newly constructed home in Traveller's
Rest. This property is situated on land previously conveyed by George
Taylor to Mrs. Ruby Maclnnis, then to Emanuel Mallett. The Corbetts have
two children, a son, William James and a daughter, Tracey Anne. Mr. Corbett is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sterling Corbett, South Granville and Mrs.
Corbett is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eric MacMurdo, Kelvin Grove.
Mr. Corbett is employed with the Credit Bureau of Summerside Ltd.
CORNISH
Rankin and Jean (Coughlin) Cornish moved from Western P.E.I, to
Traveller's Rest. They have the following family: Marlene, Brenda, Paul,
Dianne, Darrin and Holly.
Rankin works with Simmons and MacFarlane and does a great deal
of their mechanical work.
COTTON
Bruce Cotton, son of Lawson and Luella Cotton of Summerside, married Maureen Chappell, South Granville, and moved to Traveller's Rest in
1966 where he built a new home on a lot of land purchased from Mrs. Ruby
Maclnnis. They have six children namely: Kathy, Kevin, Kent, Kenneth,
Kendall, and Korey. Bruce is presently employed at the Canadian Forces
Base, Summerside as an electrician.
CRILLY
Alfred and Maureen Crilly came to P.E.I, from Sarnia, Ontario in July
1970. Their first home was at Carleton Siding where they resided for nine
months. In May 1971, they moved to Traveller's Rest where they occupy the
home owned by Garth Marchbank. The Crillys have two sons, David and
Alfred. Mr. Crilly is employed by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Summerside. Both Alfred and Maureen were born in Ireland.
CROKEN
(see MacDonald history)
52
DALZELL
Robert Dalzelt who was employed at Canadian Forces Base, Summerside purchased the property of Ellsworth England, formerly owned by Harry
Walker. Bob along with his parents Mr. and Mrs. Edson Dalzell moved from
their home in New Annan in 1958. His mother passed away in April 1960
and his father in August 1971.
DESROCHES
Alvin OesRoches was born in Wellington, and married Shirley Winchester, Grand River. They have eight children: Donald, Blaine, Catherine,
Deborah, Kenneth, Carmen, Karen and Lori Ann. They came to Traveller's
Rest in 1969 and were employed with Seabrooks but presently are working
for Campbell and Burns, Bedeque.
ENGLAND
James England married Agnes Winslow of Oyster Bed Bridge, and
lived on the farm, formerly owned by Stephen MacNeil. He was a farmer
and fish dealer. His family was:
Howard Edson, (Bob), who lived on an adjoining farm and is married
to Agnes Rayner. Their daughter Helene married George MacKay of New
Annan and they reside at Harrington.
Walter Ellsworth was a bachelor.
James Harold, (Harry), married Margaret Campbell, Coleman. Harry
was in the fox-farming business all his life and lived at Coleman, North
Bedeque and in Traveller's Rest, where they purchased the Harry Walker
home. Their family are Ellsworth, Muriel, Norman and Phyllis.
Ellsworth served in the R.C.A.F. He married Elizabeth Kaiser, New
York. They have one girl and live in Washington, U.S.A.
Muriel joined the Canadian Armed Forces in World War II. She attended McGill University and became a librarian. She is married to Gordon
Wood, M.D. and they reside with their two girls in California.
Norma also served in the Canadian Armed Forces and attended McGill University. She became a medical doctor. She married Tom Calder
and has six children. They live in New Westminster, British Columbia.
Phyllis is married to David Morris and lives in Victoria, B.C. Mrs.
Harry England resides in Vancouver, B.C. near her daughter. Harry is being
cared for in a Nursing Home near his former home at Coleman.
Mildred married George Hyndman and lives in U.S.A.
Reta married Lyman Hall and lived at Sherbrooke. Reta now resides
at Summerside.
Mae, aged 90, never married and is presently at Waite's Nursing
Home, Kensington.
On Mr. England's farm, there was a race truck where people from
Summerside and vicinity trained their horses for that Sport of Kings - horse
racing.
53
GILLIS
Situated immediately north of where the Trans Canada Highway andJ
the Canadian National Railway intersect and on the west side of the high-]
way in Traveller's Rest is a property (2y2A) owned by Camillus Gillis. This]
property was purchased in 1952 from Emanuel Mallett who had previously
purchased it from Mrs. Bradford Yeo.
Camillus is the son of Joseph Murdock Gillis and his wife Mary
Adeline Gillis of Indian River. He married Lorena MacLellan, daughter of
Charles MacLellan and his wife Mary Hynes of Spring Valley. They have
five children namely:
Mary, married to William Peter Farris of Kensington and residing in
Traveller's Rest.
Marlene, Joseph, Kathleen, Robert at home. Camillus is presently
employed with R. T. Holman's, Summerside, while Lorena is a teacher at
Parkside School, Summerside.
GLOVER
I
John Glover was a farmer who lived on the farm owned by Frank!
Rayner and more recently by James Heffell.
GUNNING
George Gunning and his wife Elizabeth (Campbell) moved to Traveller's Rest from Granville, March 21, 1901 and bought the farm formerly
owned by Albert Kelly.
They had six children: Frances married Artemas Carr, Sherbrooke.
They had three children: Dougald married Sadie Walfield and had one
daughter Goldie (Mrs. John MacNally; John married Gladys Lyle and they
had seven children. John and Gladys' children are: Halsey married to
Addie Thompson; they live in Summerside. Stanley married Ethel Smith
and has five children; they live at Summerside. Florence married Jabez
Mill, Clermont, Grace (deceased) was married to Norman Hogg. They had
three children and reside at Summerside. Hazel married John Quigley,
Carleton and have seven children. Pansy (deceased) married Alex Matheson, Charlottetown, and had one daughter. Helen married Walter
Maclnnis; they have five children and reside at Summerside.
Elizabeth married William MacEwen, Sherbrooke and they had eight
children.
Everett married Freda Smith and they live on the old homestead with
their son, Smith.
George bought a house from Arthur Locke in 1918 and hauled it to
the shore with eight team of horses and located it on part of his father's
farm. They have the following family: Marion Mildred (Mrs. Sydney Clark),
lives in London, Ontario and has two children; Muriel Annie (Mrs. May54
nard Bryanton) lives in Malpeque and they have eleven children; Margaret
Elizabeth married Robert Barnard. They are in the Air Force. They have a
family of four. Lilly Leola married Captain Vernon Cole; they live in Calgary
and have five children. Willard Elton married Joan Dutcher and lives in
Dorchester, Ontario. They have three children and George Wesley married Freda Muttart and live in Traveller's Rest with their family, Maureen,
Wendy and Paul.
HARKNESS
John Harkness and his wife, Janet MacCaull with their daughter
Sarah came from Scotland to Charlottetown where they were met by the
MacCaulls of North Bedeque with a horse and cart. The Harkness family
settled on a farm at Traveller's Rest in 1852. They had the following family:
Sarah, Janet, Ellen, William, Mary, Elizabeth Ann, Henry, Anthony, Mariah,
and John.
Sarah married Richard Smallman, Oleary; Janet married Nathaniel
Milligan, Traveller's Rest; Ellen married Robert Milligan, Traveller's Rest;
Mary married Horatio Waite, Traveller's Rest; Elizabeth Ann married James
MacArthur, Traveller's Rest; Mariah married Alexander Maclnnis, Traveller's
Rest; John married Ellie Milligan of Traveller's Rest; William and Anthony
moved from Prince Edward Island.
The Gaelic sayings used in the Harkness home are remembered by
the younger generation. For many years, Scotch bread and cookies were
sent at Christmas time to this family from Glasgow, Scotland.
HEFFELL
James Heffell was one of Traveller's Rest's earliest settlers. John
Townsend, who had received a large tract of land near the corner, divided
his land with his half-brother James Heffell who. with his wife, had come
from the British Isles with the Townsends and landed on the north shore in
the Sea View-Park Corner area.
James, the son of James Heffell, married Ellen Marchbank of Traveller's Rest. Another son, Thomas, moved to Cape Traverse while William
and his sister Ann lived where the Mathesons now reside. The two latter
never married and died in Traveller's Rest.
James and Ellen Heffell's family included Robert who married Delia
Harkness and lived for a time in Traveller's Rest before moving to U.S.A.;
Ada married James Heffell, Cape Traverse; Samuel married Henrietta
Schurman and lived in this district. They had two boys, Jim, living in Regina. and Lloyd in U.S.A.
William's first wife was Agnes Milligan. They had one son, John,
married to Elva Reeves. They lived in Freetown and Read's Corner and
[have three sons and four daughters.
William's second wife was Maude Rayner. The following is their
family: Harry, living with his mother at home; Gertrude (Mrs. William
Finnigan), Mass., U.S.A.; Hilda (Mrs. Edward Leard), Searletown; William
55
(deceased) married Elva Chappell and had one son William who lived for a
while in Traveller's Rest and later moved to Kensington; Mary Ellen (Mrs.
Ralph Burns), Freetown; Dorothy (Mrs. Emily Germain). Montreal; Stella
(Mrs. Edwin MacKay), Toronto; James married Lorna Warren, and lives at
Traveller's Rest; Marjorie married Fred Howard (deceased) and is now Mrs.
James Somers. They live on the family farm and Mrs. William Heffell and
Harry. Jean, (adopted) married Roy Ramsay and lives in Summerside.
HOGG
John Hogg was one of the early settlers in this district. His wife was
Margaret Crozier and they had eight children.
Rosie and Mary (twins), Jane, Edward, Robert, Walter and William
Rosie married Dan MacDonald, Seven Mile Bay; Mary married William
MacDonald and lived at Traveller's Rest Corner; Jane married Malcolm
Kelly, Traveller's Rest; Edward married Charlotte Carr, Traveller's Rest;
Robert and Walter moved to California and died there. William married
Annie MacLellan and lived in Traveller's Rest. Members of this family:
Rosie, Lilly and Margaret, all of whom moved to U.S.A.
HOGG
Edward Hogg married Charlotte Carr. Their family was Gordon,
Walter and Hazel.
Gordon married Gladys Oatway of St. Eleanors. Their family of five
are: Lea married Hilda Clark of Union Corner and reside in Summerside.
Russel married Jean Fitzsimmons of Long River and reside in this district.
Ora married Elery Arsenault of Wellington. Loretta married Francis Waite,
Sherbrooke. Charlotte married Elmer Rayner, Alberton. Gordon and
Gladys' home was destroyed by fire in 1961 and was replaced by their present one.
Russel and Jean live beside the home place. They have a family of
five.
Norma (Mrs. Edmund DesRoches), Summerside; Donna (Mrs.
Edward Lecky), North Bedeque; Austin, Faye and Kenneth at home.
HOGG
Edward Hogg and Margaret MacKinnon lived where Robert Taylor
now lives. They raised a family of six children namely: Wesley, William,
Irene, Dell, Eva and Lemuel, who died of poisoning as a child.
When the house burned. Edward moved in with his sister Mrs. Robert
Waite (where Mrs. John Maclnnis lives). Later he moved to Summerside
where he died. The family all moved away.
Since then the farm has been owned by Harry Walker, William Taylor
and now Robert is living there.
56
KELLY
George Kelly and his wife farmed at Traveller's Rest on land now
owned by Everett Gunning.
Their family was three boys: Albert, Henry and John.
John married Adelaide Keefe of Kinkora. Their son Wilfred married
Mabel MacDonald of Kensington. Wilfred resides in Summerside.
LAUGHLIN
Errol Laughlin married Margaret Murphy of Halifax, N.S., in 1946. In
that same year, they came to their present farm in Traveller's Rest.
Errol is a successful farmer. He was secretary of the local school
for approximately twenty years. He is active in the Air Force Association
and secretary of the Summerside Co-Op and a past president of the Summerside Chamber of Commerce.
Errol and Margaret's family is: Diane (Mrs. Kevin Griffin), who with
her husband is attending Acadia University where Diane is studying for her
Master's degree in science. Sharon (Mrs. Vernon Harris), resides at Traveller's Rest. Gerald at home, is working with his father on the farm. Erwin
is working in Simcoe, Ontario. Pauline is a senior high school student at
Athena. Kevin is in Grade XI at Athena. David attends Sherbrooke school;
and Barbara is at Traveller's Rest School.
LEA
John A. Lea was a fox rancher and a car dealer in Summerside. He
also owned a fox ranch called the "Merry Sunshine", which was on Harvard
Street, next door to the Summerside Electric Plant. He operated a business
office in the building which is now the Journal-Pioneer office.
In the 1920's he bought property in Traveller's Rest and moved his fox
ranch to this district and named it "Lealand Ranch". After Mr. Lea's death
in Moncton in 1963, the property was sold to Baldur Petersen, who still lives
there.
Mr. Lea was twice married and had a family of four girls. Margaret,
now deceased, was married to Paul Harding, son of Rev. Mr. Harding of
Summerside.
The second family was Katherine, Pauline, Virginia and an adopted
boy, Bill Denny. Mrs. Lea and family live in Ontario.
LILLY
Clifford Lilly and his wife Dorothy Clow of Montaque bought their
house from Elmer Burt, October 1964. They have two children Wayne and
Corrine. Clifford is presently employed with Simpson-Sears and his wife is
an employee at Island Motor Transport.
57
MacARTHUR
James MacArthur was born in Lot 11, son of William Macarthur from
Scotland and his wife, Rebecca Pickering, Sea View, who was of English
descent.
Mr. MacArthur settled in Traveller's Rest and built his own home
there. This is the house that was moved by George Waite and his wife,
Edna, to its present location where they now reside. Mr. MacArthur married
Elizabeth Ann Harkness, daughter of John Harkness and they had the following children: Mary, Ethel, Bertha Bell, William Wallace, John Brewer, James
Allan and Harry Roy.
Mary Ethel married Alfred Seaman of Moncton, N.B.; Bertha Bell
married Bradford Yeo of Wilmot; John Brewer married Gertrude Lynch and
they had one son, Kenneth. After his wife's death he moved to the U.S. and
married there.
James Allan and Harry Roy moved to Saskatchewan and were married there; William Wallace never married - he lives in Mount Pleasant, P.E.I.
Mrs. Bertha Yeo remembers the weaving that the women did in olden
days and this was used for their clothing. Some of the women were very
fine seamstresses.
After a number of years spent in Traveller's Rest where Mr. MacArthur was engaged in fishing and farming, the family moved to a farm in
Mount Pleasant. This property is now in possession of their grandson,
Kenneth and his wife, Natalie, who is from London, England.
MacARTHUR
Wilfred MacArthur came to Traveller's Rest in 1966) and bought a lot
of land from George Taylor on which he placed a trailer which was used as
his residence until his new home was built in 1971. He is married to Gloria
Shaw, Bloomfield, and they have two children Dana and Grant. Mr. MacArthur is in the moss industry.
JOE MacDONALD
(see Daniel Baker)
MacDONALD
Mrs. John MacDonald, formerly Pearl MacDonald, was born in Lot 11.
She married John MacDonald of Grand River, and they moved to New Jersey,
U.S.A. In 1968 they purchased the home in Traveller's Rest, built by John
Mallett on land, formerly purchased from George Taylor. In 1970, after the
death of her husband, Mrs. MacDonald came to live in Traveller's Rest.
They had no children.
58
MacDONALD
Henry MacDonald, Mount Pleasant, married Jessie Simmons from
[Montrose and came to live in Traveller's Rest in 1910 on what is now known
las the Hubert MacDonald farm. He was a fisherman. Mrs. MacDonald had
the reputation of being a fine seamstress. She never needed a pattern.
[Anyone wishing a dress made, came in the morning with their material and
went home in the evening with the article completed. They had the following family:
James, who married Katherine Oatway and lived in Traveller's Rest
just north of the school. They had one daughter, Marion.
Ethel married Walter Hogg of Traveller's Rest. They have two children, Veta and George, both in United States.
Elizabeth, not married, lives in United States.
Frances married Ray Paynter, New London and they have thirteen
[children.
Walter married Hattie Reeves of Coleman and now resides in SumI merside. They have one child.
Mabel married Arthur Newcombe, Needham, Mass. They have two
children.
Alice married Leslie MacKinnon, St. Eleanors. They now reside in
Charlottetown and have one child.
MacDONALD
Ronald MacDonald, Traveller's Rest, was born in Bedeque in 1834
and died in Traveller's Rest in 1912. He was married to Frances Rayner.
His grandfather, Ronald MacDonald, son of Donald MacDonald, head of the
First House of Tracadie was born in Glenaladale, Scotland, in 1762. He
married Isabella MacDonald of Scotland and came to Prince Edward Island
about 1780 and settled in Bedeque where his nephew, Sandy MacDonald,
deeded Isabella one thousand acres of land.
Ronald died in 1840 and Isabella in 1841. Their daughter Jeannie
married Donald MacDonald from Allisary, Scotland, and were the parents of
the above Ronald, who bought the farm in Traveller's Rest.
Ronald's sister, Isabella, married Malcolm MacNeill, Traveller's Rest,
parents of Hubert MacNeill of Traveller's Rest.
Martha married Hughie Maclntyre of New Annan, parents of Joseph
and Peter Maclntyre.
Cathe'rina married James MacLellan of Grand River, parents of Kenny
MacLellan and Miss Matilda MacLellan of Grand River.
Ronald and Francis had the following family: Colin, Jennie, Herbert,
Florence, Maude, William, Daniel, Frank, Gertrude, Major Fred and Hubert.
Colin married Bertha Cotton, Wellington. They lived in U.S.A. for a
while then returned and took up farming in Sherbrooke. They had a family
of six children. They retired to Summerside. Their son Fred and his wife
live on the homestead in Sherbrooke.
59
Jennie married John MacNeill and lived in Brooklyn, New York.
Herbert lived in Roxybury, Mass., and was twice married. His second wife was May (Donahue) Weldon formerly of Souris. There were three!
children from the first marriage.
Florence married Alex Gillis, U.S.A.. formerly of Nova Scotia. She!
died shortly after the birth of her daughter, Florence, who then lived with!
her grandmother in Traveller's Rest.
Maude married Neil J. MacNeill, New Annan, and they had a family of I
three.
William and Gertrude died of scarlet fever when very young.
Daniel remained on the homestead and married Clara MacDonald of I
Bloomfield. He was a farmer and carpenter. They had the following fam-l
ily: Ronald, Mary, Jean, Hubert, Margaret, Florence, D. Alexander, Marjorie, I
Bennett, and Alan. Ronald married Rosella MacGrath, Tignish, and bought I
the D. B. MacDonald farm in North Bedeque. They had eight children.
Mary was a school teacher. She married Walter LesChuck, California.
They have three children. Jean married Dr. Alex MacDonald, Winnipeg,
Manitoba, and resided in California. She died in 1971. They have three
boys. Hubert was a teacher. He married Mary O'Hanley. St. Margarets.
They live in New Annan on the farm formerly owned by Allie MacNeill. For
a few years he was a dealer in Case Machinery. They have seven children.
Margaret married Walter Croken, Summerfield. Following Walter's death
Margaret and six children moved to Traveller's Rest. The Croken family is
James, married Jo-anne Cormier lives in Summerside; Maureen is a student
in Sociology at Carleton University, Ottawa; Janet who now works in Vancouver was one of the cyclists who completed the trip to Osaka, Japan in
1967; Bernadine a student of U.P.E.I, recently returned to Vancouver with her
sister, Janet; Allan and Eugene are students at Athena.
Florence married Alex Simpson, New York, and they have a family
of four.
D. Alex (MacDonald) married Kay Stewart, Wood Islands. They reside in Summerside where he established the firm of D. Alex MacDonald Ltd.
They have ten children.
Marjorie married Ernest Brennan, New Brunswick. They operate a
store in Pictou, N.S., and they have four children.
Bennett married Marie Dekker, Sherbrooke, and settled on the homestead in Traveller's Rest in 1964. Their children are: Lynn, Glenn, Frances,
Sandra and Donald, all at home.
Allan enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy then returned to Traveller's
Rest. He married Leona Arsenault, R.N., of Wellington and they now reside
on the John Milligan farm in Sherbrooke with their four children.
Frank married Maude Shea of Waterford. They lived in Wellington,
New Annan, Traveller's Rest, Searltown, and are now retired in Charlottetown. They had seven children.
Major bought the former Art Locke farm in Sherbrooke. He married
Edith Laughlin who died in 1947. They had two children. In 1950 he married Loretta MacDonald, R.N. of Bloomfield and New York. They lived in
Summerside and later built a home in Summerside East which on retirement they sold and moved to Traveller's Rest in 1962 where they built a new
home. Major was a farmer, cattle-buyer and manager of the Summerside
abattoir for 20 years. He died in 1971.
60
Fred graduated from Commercial College, Summerside, and went
to Rosalind, Alberta, where he bought a general store and with his sons still
operates this business. He married Margaret Weller, Alberta, and had a
family of seven.
Hubert, a teacher, served in World War I. He was awarded a military
medal in France. Later he graduated as a dentist and practised dentistry in
Michigan. He married Edna Weldon, Mass., who died in 1966. They had a
family of three. In 1969 Dr. Hubert retired to Florida and married Penelope
(MacDonald) MacDonald, R.N., of Glenfinnan and Quincy, Mass. They
spend their summers at their cottage in Glenfinnan.
MacDONALD
William MacDonald married Mary Hogg and lived at Traveller's Rest
Corner where Ralph Maclnnis now lives. Their family was Walter, James
and Daisy.
Walter died here, Daisy moved to U.S.A., and Jim was known for his
musical ability on the violin. Jim's daughter married Roland Crozier. Following the deaths of their husbands Mary and her twin Rosie lived together.
Mary will be remembered for her faithfulness in tending the fires for special
functions at the Hall and Club room. After Mary's death, Rosie went to
Searletown to live with her daughter.
MaclNNIS
Alexander Maclnnis born at New London, in 1861, died in 1943. He
moved to Sherbrooke in 1878 and married Maria Harkness; they had one
son, Brewer. Mrs. Maclnnis died and Sandy, as he was familiarly known,
later married Mary Ellen Harris and took up residence in Traveller's Rest.
Sandy Maclnnis was an oyster fisherman and farmer. He bought a farm
from Malcolm Kelly and he later sold it to his eldest son, John, the only one
of the family to settle on Prince Edward Island. Mr. and Mrs. Maclnnis
purchased a house at Traveller's Rest Corner, first owned by a Mr. Champion, then sold to Joe MacDonald and finally to Sandy. This home burned
and Mr. and Mrs. Maclnnis built the present home. Mary Ellen Maclnnis
died in 1951. They had eight children, namely; Fanny (Mrs. Howatt Sudsbury) Moncton, N.B.; John, Traveller's Rest; Hazel, (Mrs. Charles Corkum)
Waban, Mass. U.S.A.; Jim, Worcester, Mass., U.S.A.; Sue, (Mrs. Eddie Bero)
Auburndale, Mass., U.S.A.; Pearl, (Mrs. Brad Bernard, U.S.A., deceased;
Margaret and Percy died young.
The eldest son, John, who purchased the farm, lived there from 1890
till his death in 1967. He married Ruby Rayner and they had five children
namely.
Dan who married Vertis Boulter, Augustine Cove and settled in
Toronto, Ont. They have three children, Lynn, Susan and Beverly.
Brad married Phyllis Milligan of Bideford and they have five children;
Brian, Barbara, Wayne, Nancy and Donald. Brad purchased a house from
Alphonse Mallett, Traveller's Rest in 1950, later sold to Fred Ross and built a
61
house at Traveller's Rest Corner in 1968. Edna married Charles Dennis of
Margate. They adopted two sons, Dean and DaryI. Charles died in 1970
and Edna later married James MacKenzie. They live in Kensington.
Florence married Robert Maclsaac of Dunblane. They have two children
Dale and Gary. They live in Toronto, Ont.; Ralph married Mary MacLaurin
of Belmont and they have three children Bobby, Gregory and Sandra. Ralph
purchased a house at Traveller's Rest Corner in 1954, formerly owned by
James MacDonald.
MaclNTYRE
Joe lived in the house Tyndle Semple vacated on moving back to
Kensington. Joe operated a store.
He was married three times. One of his wives was Hannah Noonan.
The family were: Mamie, (Mrs. MacDonald), Borden; Emmett, who lived on
the Inman farm, New Annan; and Wilbert, who worked at Falcon Wood
Hospital in Charlottetown and died quite suddenly.
MacKAY
Elton Mac Kay was formerly from Sea View. In 1949 he bought
approximately three-quarters of an acre of land and The Cash and Carry
Grocery store from Alexander MacDonald and Bradford Maclnnis. The
land formerly belonged to the Townsend farm.
Elton's first wife was Ruth MacDonald who passed away when their
daughter Linda was born. Linda is married to Bart Musgraves, Summerside.
Elton's second wife is Daisy Adams from Ellerslie. They built a new
house on the same lot in 1953 and a barber shop nearby in 1956. Their
children are: Shirley, (Mrs. Robert Aitken), Summerside; Roger; Kenny;
Gordie; and Lynn, all at home.
MacKAY
Edgar MacKay, born in New Annan, purchased land for his house
from George Taylor in 1964. He is married to Edith Campbell of Darnley.
They have three children, Toni, Rickey and Christopher. Edgar is a plumber
by trade.
MacKAY
Eldon and Marjorie Mountain MacKay moved to Traveller's Rest
corner in March 1961. They bought their home from George Norden and
moved it in 1963 to a location on the road leading north from the comer to
Rayner's Creek. They have five children, Brian, Linda, Ronnie, Barrie and
Bobby.
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MacKAY
Ellery MacKay, son of David and Robina MacKay, married Doris Wall
of New Annan.
In 1961 they moved to Traveller's Rest where Ellery, a carpenter by
trade, built his own home on land purchased from George Taylor. They
have three children Martin, Mary and Lisa.
MacKAY
John MacKay and his wife Barbara MacKenzie have established an
excellent repair shop and garage on a lot of land beside the brook. This
lot was purchased from George Taylor. The many vehicles, which one see
stopped at John's place is evidence of the large clientele he has built up in
the few years, he has resided in Traveller's Rest. Alongside, he has placed
a trailer where they reside.
MacNEILL
Malcolm MacNeill was born on the Isle of Barra, Scotland in 1812 and
emigrated to Canada with his parents in 1819. It is believed they first
landed at Crapaud, later moving to Traveller's Rest. Malcolm married Isabella MacDonald of Bedeque and settled on the farm on the west side of
Rayner's Creek in Traveller's Rest, where he resided until his death in 1894.
From this marriage eight children were born, namely: Hugh Joseph,
who married Flora MacKinnon of New Annan and lived in Traveller's Rest
until the year 1898 when he moved to Western Canada and settled in Brandon, Manitoba, where he died in 1914. While here he was engaged as a
farm machine and life insurance agent. Later he established a real estate
and life insurance business in Brandon. They had twelve children, seven of
whom lived to adulthood and moved with their parents to Brandon. One
daughter, Margaret, married James E. MacDonald and returned to Bedeque
in 1920 and is presently living at Somerset Manor, Summerside.
While attending Business College in Brandon Margaret went to a
Rally where Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier was speaking. She took the
notes of this meeting and her writings were chosen to be printed by the
reporters who were there. Quite an honor for a young girl in 1900.
James Alexander married Sarah MacNeill of Miscouche and resided
in Summerside. He was a blacksmith by trade and later, with his sons,
established a farm business in Summerside; David went to the Western
States and was drowned in 1870 while fording the Green River in Colorado;
Simeon and Ronald both married and settled in Aspen, Colorado. Neither
had any family. Hubert Peter married Eliza Currie of Wellington and inherited the homestead, in Traveller's Rest where he lived until his death in 1941.
They had three children. One of them, James Edwin presently residing in
Summerside, retains possession of the homestead. Mary Ellen (Ellie)
married Adrian Arsenault of Summerside and after his death moved to
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Antigonish, Nova Scotia, where she now resides. Margaret Isabell died]
when young.
Mary Ellen, sister of Hubert Peter, married John Goodwin of Welling- j
ton. John Bernard moved to Randolf, Mass., U.S.A., where he married and
lived until his death.
Of interest to those who remember the Hubert MacNeill family, a]
cousin, Elizabeth Cameron, resided in the MacNeill homestead for many
years and remained with the family until Mrs. MacNeill went to live with her
daughter, Ellie in Antigonish. Elizabeth was a cousin of Mrs. MacNeill's.
She moved to Welland, Ontario where she died.
MacNEILL
Stephen MacNeill was a farmer who lived on the farm now owned by
Clarence Simmons. He had a race track on his farm which owners of race
horses used when training their horses.
Other owners of this farm were James England, Theodore Waite,
Kaye Hansen and Sterling Barlow.
The first burial to take place in the People's Cemetery, Summerside
was that of Stephen MacNeill.
Of interest to those who remember the Hubert MacNeill family, a
cousin, Elizabeth Cameron, resided in the MacNeill homestead for many
years and remained with the family until Mrs. MacNeill went to live with her
daughter, Ellie in Antigonish. Elizabeth was a cousin of Mrs. MacNeill's.
She moved to Welland, Ontario where she died.
MAILMAN
R. E. Peter Mailman purchased a house and lot from the Estate of
Isla Woodside in 1966. Peter was born in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, and
married Christine Mugford who was born near London, England, and came
to Charlottetown at the age of six. Peter is Regional Manager, Genu Products Canada Ltd.
Their children are Patricia Anne (Patti), Peter Lee and Michael David.
MALLETT
Vincent Mallett lived in the Western part of P.E.I. He was first marmaried to Margaurite Poirier. Their son was Joseph, a blacksmith by trade.
He married Mary Perry, St. Louis, and settled in Traveller's Rest. They had
the following family: Ada, (Mrs. George Ling), Saint John, N.B.; Gladys, (Mrs.
MacMillan), Saint John, N.B.: Lavenia, (Mrs. Eston Carr). Traveller's Rest:
Eliza, (Mrs. Fred MacCormick), Miscouche, Charles married Margaret Perry.
Their family is: Marilyn, George, Vincent, Paul and Tom.
Charles and family reside on the Condon Road in Traveller's Rest.
He is a painter. Joseph's brothers and sisters, Charles Tom, Peter, Louise,
Gladys, and Lavenia all resided elsewhere.
64
Vincent's second wife was Justine Blanchard. They lived on Ram
Island and had eleven of a family. Two died young. Marie Margaurite
married Emmett MacMillan, New Annan, died in 1939. Francois Jean died
young. Frank married Claudia Bernard. John who never married, now
resides in New Annan. Charlie, and his wife Ethel live in Guelph, Ont.
Louise married Harold Manderson, New Annan. Mary married Fred Wall,
New Annan. Manual never married and lives in Kensington. He is a carpenter. Alfonse married Lucy Doucette. They built a home in Traveller's
Rest. In 1950 they moved to Summerside. Alphonse is also a carpenter
and has built many fine homes. Their daughters are Lorraine and Vivian.
After Vincent's death Mrs. Mallett and family moved to Traveller's Rest in
1927 and bought a large lot of land from Robert Marchbank. Frank remained at home with his mother after the rest of the family had left and
worked at the carpenter business. Misfortune struck this family in 1951
when Mrs. Mallett was accidentally burned to death.
In 1962 Frank built for himself a new home. He turned the old home
into a modern and efficient workshop containing many labor saving devices.
These past years, he has spent much time in his workshop working
at his hobby - building boats, trotting sulkies, jog carts, wheel barrows etc.
MANDERSON
John Manderson, Hamilton, married May Wall, Spring Valley. They
moved to Princetown and had the following family.
Joe, who now resides in Traveller's Rest; Harold living in New Annan;
and Willis, Vancouver, B.C.
After John Manderson's death, Mae Manderson married George
Cameron, Cape Traverse. They moved to Traveller's Rest where George
was engaged in fishing. They had one child Robina, Mrs. David MacKay.
Mrs. Cameron and Joe lived together until her death in November
1969. Since then Joe resides alone.
MARCHBANK
The original surname of the family was the ancient one of Johnston
of Annandale who held the title Marquis of Annandale, and whose motto was
"Never not ready".
The name Marchbank, derived from Marjori-banks is believed to
have been assumed when Walter, Lord High Steward of Scotland and heir
to the Barony of Ratha, was granted lands designated - Terre de Mattio by
the King's Charter when he married his daughter Marjorie.
As is the case with many other families no records remain of the early
history and intermarriages of the House of Marjoribanks (Marchbank) but
their ancestors can be traced back to Robert the Bruce of Scotland.
Several of its members, however, are mentioned in Histories of
Scotland as representatives in the Scottish Parliaments. (The above information is contained in an old Bible in the possession of Marjorie Marchbank
Cairns).
65
When the first Marchbank settlers came from Annan, DumfreshireJ
Scotland, they landed in the Miramichi area of New Brunswick. About 1829
they came to Prince Edward Island and settled in the area that they and th J
Walkers and MacKays named New Annan. This area is now included in the!
Traveller's Rest School district. They named their farm Outermains and!
the branding iron with the Outermains name still remains with the family!
The name James has been carried down through the generations.!
The first Marchbank settler was James. He was born in Scotland. Besides!
farming he moved grain to England and was lost at sea. His wife was Mary]
Walker. They had a family of nine children. Margaret, (Mrs. John Glover),]
Kelvin; Mary, (Mrs. Platts); and Isabel, (Mrs. Platts). Both Platts families]
moved to U.S.A. David died in his youth; John went to California by sailing]
around the Horn, South America. He later settled at DeSable, and operated]
a mill and farm. Robert went to the gold fields in Australia. When he came
back, he began transporting grain to England until he also was lost at sea.
Ellen, (Mrs. James Heffell), remained in Traveller's Rest. Samuel farmed at
"Outermains" and married Mary Ann MacKay. James bought the Mugridge
farm and named it "Hirkledale". He married Jane Webster. Their family
was: Robert, married to Lizzie Yeo, who bought the Townsend farm at Traveller's Rest Corner. They had no family.
Percy bought from William Bowness the farm originally settled by
Robert Walker. Although their home is in New Annan part of their land is in
Traveller's Rest where their family attended school. His wife was Mae
Cairns. They had a family of four: Ernestine, (Mrs. John Scott), Summer-'
side; Marjorie, (Mrs. Wyman Cairns), Summerside East; Mary, (Mrs. Kenneth
MacLean), Central Lot 16; and John on the family farm. His wife was Ruby
Cousins who died in 1967. They had a family of three: Robert, married to
Nancy Simmons, and living in New Annan; Garth at home, and a daughter,
Myrna Jane who died in infancy in 1946.
Mary, Mrs. Robert Crozier, Kelvin, had one son. Belle, first married
Samuel Stavert, Lower Bedeque and later married Allan Marchbank,
Montrose. Grace was a school teacher. She married John J. Hall and later
John W. Hall, Sherbrooke. Lucy was a school teacher and died at an early
age of thirty-one years. Neither Jennie, a practical nurse, nor Emmeline
ever married. They made their home with their brother James at Hirkledale.
James' wife was Amy MacMurdo. Their children were Margaret, (Mrs. Earl
Lowther), Cornwall, and Clarence who married Louise Johnson and their
children are Adele, a secretary at DeBlois Bros., Charlottetown and James,
a student at Athena School.
After Clarence's death in 1969, the land at Outermains was sold to the
Waite Brothers but the house that was built by Clarence in 1940 continues
to be the home for his family. Hirkledale still remains in the family name
with Garth Marchbank as its owner. James S. R. resides with his daughter
Margaret at Cornwall. Outermains has had many owners beginning with
the first James Marchbank to his son Samuel thence to Samuel's brother-inlaw John MacKay then to Harry Stewart and Samuel Waugh. The third
James Marchbank bought the farm for his son Clarence. Today Clarence's
son, James, being the fifth generation and fourth James Marchbank, is residing at "Outermains".
66
MATHESON
The Matheson ancestors came from Rosshire, Scotland in 1806 on a
ship "The Rambler" and settled in Wheatly River.
Donald Matheson married Amanda MacNiell, daughter of Gilbert and
Anne (Manson) MacNeill of North Carleton. They moved to Reads Corner
and in 1917 to the old Heffell farm at Traveller's Rest. This large family included seven daughters and five sons. William Arthur married Anne Wanda
Small and remained on the farm at Read's Corner; Georgina Amanda and
Anne Manson (twins) were teachers; Florence Donna married James Stewart
Clarke of Palo Alto, California; Charles MacNeill married Margaret Rayner
Shaw and settled in Western Canada; Duncan Robert lived in the Peace
River district; Gilbert Sutherland taught school in United States and enlisted
in the 48th Highlanders. He was killed overseas in 1918. Ruth Bell married Clarence Genasce of Minto Park, California. She received her B.A.
degree from the University of California. They have one son, Donald Matheson Genasce, who is an architect. He and his wife live in London, England,
and both work for the English government. During 1971 he was a visiting
Consultant to Cornell University, New York. Marjorie Gordon, a teacher,
married James England Champion, Traveller's Rest. They had one daughter, Audrey Jane, who married Earl F. Smith of Charlottetown. She is librarian at Spring Park School, Charlottetown. Elizabeth Beer, never married
and died quite young. Donald Lemuel married Rose Fay Johnson and they
lived on Vancouver Island. The three surviving members of this family are
Ruth (Mrs. Genasce) California. Anne and Marjorie (Mrs. Champion) at the
old home in Traveller's Rest.
MILLIGAN
John Mil.ligan married Margaret Sloan in Dumfries, Scotland in 1783.
They had ten children; Robert, David, James, Helen, Alexander, John, Mary,
Janet, Thomas and Anthony.
John was buried in Lot 16 cemetery in 1844.
Robert, their son married Margaret Caven in 1807 in Scotland. Their
children were: Nathaniel, Margaret, Alexander, Douglas, John, Robert, David
land Mary.
Robert's second marriage was to Elizabeth MacDougald in 1830.
Their family was; Helen (Mrs. Edward Waite) Traveller's Rest, David, Thomas
who died at two years, James, William, Elizabeth, Jane, Rebecca, Caleb and
Ann.
Douglas, a son of Robert's first family built carts and wooden pumps.
His family was Robert, Nathaniel, Delia who married John Robert Milligan,
El lie (Mrs. John Harkness) and Kate who never married.
Douglas' brother, Robert, married Ellen Harkness and lived on property now owned by Allan MacDonald. Their children were Wallace, John,
Lydia (Mrs. Willis Kelly of Traveller's Rest and the State of Michigan, U.S.A.)
iAgnes, (Mrs. Wm. Heffell of Traveller's Rest, Ida, Harry, Russell, Jennie,
Claude (a war veteran) and Chester.
67
Another full brother, Nathaniel married Janet Harkness and they
had two sons, Arthur and John Douglas. They lived on property named
"The Maples" which was near the MacDonald property. The family later
moved to the United States.
John married a Miss Maclntyre. Their family was Mary Ellen, married
to James Rayner and John Robert who married Delia Milligan. Frank moved
to Western Canada and Alonzo settled in New Brunswick.
MOASE
Herbert Davis Moase was born at Kensington in 1896 to Robert
Thomas and Lucy (Burrows) Moase.
He was one of eleven children. He married Edith Smatlman, R.N.
from Knutsford in 1921.
They moved to Traveller's Rest in 1929. In 1935 they purchased the
Ephraim Urch property. Later it was named the Mainstay Ranch.
Davis was engaged in fox farming for quite a few years winning a
number of Championship awards. He was also engaged in mixed farming
specializing in Jersey Cattle and Landrace swine.
Davis and Edith had the following family: Doris, who died in infancy;
Alma, married Harold MacDougall from Morell, and resides in Scarborough,
Ontario; Virgina married Harry Isherwood, Gunningsville, New Brunswick.
They have three children; Herbert married Kathleen Morrison from Summerside. Their five children are all at home with them in Wilmot.
MOASE
Harold R. Moase, a brother of Davis Moase, took over the store business from Mr. Auld in 1923. He married Anna Riley of New London in 1928.
They have two children: George, married to Mary Campbell who has
a family of four. They reside in Moncton, N.B.
Thelma married Maurice Clark of Kensington and has one daughter.
Harold passed away in October, 1963. Anna continues to carry on
the store-keeping business.
MONTGOMERY
The first generation of Montgomerys to live in Traveller's Rest was
Donald and his wife Sarah Cole. Their family were: John, who lived in Lot 4
and died young; Anna and Isabella who never married; Sandra and Margaret
lived in Mapleque; Benjamin married Emily Ann Baker. Their family consisted of John Patterson; Ella Nora, who married Ray Schurman and moved
to British Columbia; Leona married Tom Schurman, New Annan, and they
had three boys Donald, Eldon, and Alfred who married Thelma Clark. (See
Schurman history)
68
Benjamin DeWit Talmage married Florence Schurman. Their family
is Georgie (Mrs. Floyd Caseley, Wilmot; Miriam, (deceased), married Wilfred Woodside. Their daughter Norma lived with her grandparents and
married Keith Moase, Kensington; Milton, (deceased), married Ella Tuplin
and they had two children: Carl who married Donna Daye and has two children, Carta and Nancy. This family resides on the homestead. Milton, a
mechanic at A. E. MacLennan's, married Raye Morrison and they have one
child, Todd.
Ella Tuplin Montgomery married W. P. Miller, Lot 16 in 1970.
Donald Louis married Sadie Reeves and their children are Ingham,
New Annan and Wallace, Carleton.
Evelyn Esther died young.
The Montgomerys have always been farmers and interested in the
cultivation of strawberries.
NORDEN
George Norden came to Traveller's Rest from Moncton in 1959. He
bought a lot of land at the corner and lived in the home since bought by
Eldon MacKay until his new home was built in 1960. He married Kathleen
Dawson of Albany. He is a carpenter by trade. They have the following
family: George, Gary, Debbie, Peter, Chris and Cathy all at home.
PERLEY
Hober Perley, his wife and family of Lyle and Mae moved to Traveller's Rest in 1962 from France. He was a Sergeant in the Air Force. They
lived in Arthur Blanchard's house. In 1967 they moved to British Columbia.
Lyle is married and living in British Columbia also. Mae, Mrs. Patrick
Phinney, with her husband and two boys has just returned to Prince Edward
Island from the west coast. They plan to reside here.
PERRY
Mosey and his wife Shirley live in the former John C. Pillman house.
They have nine children: David, Noreen, Betty, Katherine, Patsy, George,
Diane, Gerry and Mary. Mosey is employed with Simmons and MacFarlane.
PETERSON
Baldur Peterson and his wife came to Traveller's Rest in 1964 and
bought the John A. Lea Ranch.
Baldur was born in Denmark. He came to St. Eleanor's in 1928. He
married Margaret Compton in 1930.
They have eight children; Harlan, Eleanor, Robert, Gordon, Gene69
vieve, Frances, Ooreen and Grant. Harlan married Patricia Young of Ottawa
and resides there with six children.
Eleanor married Jacob Wierinja of Holland. They live in Sarnia,
Ontario and have three children.
Robert married Doris Compton of Sherbrooke and they have three
girls. They reside at Oyster Bed Bridge.
Genevieve married Frederick Mahar. They have three children and
reside at Hamilton, Ontario.
Frances married Donald MacAleese of Moncton, New Brunswick and
has four children.
Doreen married Allison Bowman of New Wiltshire. They live in
Ottawa, Ontario. Grant is living in Sarnia, Ontario. Baldur is a carpenter
by trade.
PILLMAN
James Marks Pillman bought a farm from Edwin Rayner and moved
to this district in 1887. He was the son of John and Agnes (Warren) Pillman,
French River. James' grandfather, Francis, came from Devonshire, England
to French River in 1812. He was a coppersmith by trade. His wife was
Jane Wilmot.
James Marks Pillman married Flora Lawson Cotton, daughter of Rev.
Richard Cotton and had the following family: Annie Elizabeth, Ellen Winnifred, Maria Lawson, Agnes Wilmot, Benjamin Frances, Marian Florence,
William James, John Cotton, Margaret Mary and Evelyn.
Annie Elizabeth, a trained nurse, married William Henry Houston,
Harrington. They had a daughter, Margaret. Later Annie Elizabeth
married Wesley Paynter, French River. She now resides at Somerset Manor, Summerside.
Ellen Winnifred married John T. Rodd, Harrington and had four children. Maria Lawson, a trained nurse married Harry Jones of Linkletter.
Agnes Wilmot, a trained nurse, married Austin Reilly and lived at Sherbrooke. After Austin's death, for a time, her two children Charles and
Austina resided with their uncles, John and Ben and attended school in
Traveller's Rest. Charles received his doctorates in Physics and Chemistry
and is living in Houston, Texas. Austina, (Mrs. Maclsaac) lives in Applehill,
Ontario. Agnes is now living at the Senior Citizens Home, Summerside.
Benjamin Francis, married Annie Gardiner, widow of his brother
James. Their children are Frances, a school teacher in Western Canada
and Vivian, married to Willis Silliker and residing in the district with her
children, Garth Georgie and Maria.
William James, a farmer, married Annie Gardiner, Central Lot 16 and
has one son, James, living in Bramalea, Ontario. John Cotton married Edith
MacDonald, who died after a short marriage. His second wife was Hope
Mill.
Marian Florence married Howard Cudmore of Brackley. Margaret
Mary was a school teacher. She married Wilbur Stavert, North Bedeque.
They have four children. Evelyn was a school teacher. She married Neil
Simpson of Hamilton and had one child.
70
John C. Pillman was an enterprising farmer and produce dealer.
Following the death of his father, he operated the family farm. He grew
large acreages of potatoes. He owned the warehouse at New Annan Station where he stored potatoes for himself and other farmers. He provided
work for many men in his daily operation of farm business. In later life, he
sold the establishment to Simmons and MacFarlane.
Benjamin and his wife Annie also farmed. They are now retired but
still reside at their Traveller's Rest home.
RAMSAY
George Ramsay was formerly from Hamilton. In 1914 he bought the
farm from Harry Stewart. In 1916 he married Harriet Louise Phillips. Their
daughters are: Myrtle, at home, and Evelyn, Mrs. Lome Waite, Norboro.
Besides farming George sold Massey-Harris machinery for a while for
George Sutherland, Charlottetown. He also was a car salesman and potato
inspector for the area in the vicinity of Charlottetown.
When he retired, due to ill health, he sold the farm to Simmons and
MacFarlane. He died in 1965. Mrs. Ramsay and Myrtle continue to live in
their home in Traveller's Rest.
RAYNER
Edwin Rayner lived on the Barbara Weit road on the farm, afterwards
owned by the Pillmans. He married Libby Pillman.
Another Edwin Rayner sold his land to William Heffell. This land is
now the two lower fields belonging to Harry Heffell just north of his home.
RAYNER
The first Rayner family to settle in Traveller's Rest came from England in 1828 and settled at Tilson's Creek, now known as Rayner's Creek.
Their first home was a log cabin which in due time was replaced by a house
which served as a homestead for over 150 years. It was known as the
Ernest-Rayner homestead. After the death of Mr. Rayner the land was purchased by Roy Walker, and the house was torn down.
James Rayner and his wife Mary Ann Simmons had a family of six
boys and two girls. One son, William Alexander, married Amy Cannon and
they had a family of nine boys and two girls, namely: Robert, Violet, Isaac,
Ernest, Otis, Emily, Charles, James, Elmore, Howard and Martha. Some
moved to Western Canada, others to United States. Those surviving at
present are Martha in California and Elmore in Saskatchewan.
While in U.S.A., Ernest met and married Harriet Williams of Tyne
Valley. They returned to P.E.I, in 1918 to reside in Traveller's Rest. They
had a family of 12 children namely:
Loring, who married Margaret Pickering (deceased) of Sea View
71
and they had five children. He is presently married to Eleanor Higson of
Charlottetown;
Delbert married Marjorie Hooper of Searltown and they have six children; Geraldine married Mervin Inman of Belmont. They have two children;
Ray married Wanda Yeo of Summerside. They have five children;
Melinda married Ervin Weagle, Shrewsbury, Mass. They have three
children;
Ken, (deceased), married Marion MacCaull of Bedeque;
Hazel married Eddie Young of Victoria, British Columbia. They have
four children;
Amy died when young (16) from appendicitis; Emeline married
Warren Nesbitt, Toronto. They have three children;
Doris married Leigh Linkletter. They reside at Linkletter, with four
boys;
Ruth married Stutley Moase of New Annan. They live in Toronto and
have four children, and
Sylvia married Ivan Daye, Norboro. They have three children.
RAYNER
James Rayner married Mary Ellen Milligan and had a family of nine.
Gertrude, Mrs. James Wagner, Lot 11, Francis, who never married, lived at
Traveller's Rest. Daniel married Maude Harkness and lived in Traveller's
Rest. Maude, Mrs. William Heffell, Traveller's Rest, Margaret, Mrs. Russell
Shaw of Traveller's Rest also Vancouver, Wesley married Helene Stetson,
Florida, Alfred married a Newfoundland girl and lived in Mass., U.S.A., Boyd
never married. He lived in U.S.A. and Agnes married Howard England,
Traveller's Rest.
RAYNER
Daniel Rayner married Maude Harkness and like his father, James,
had a family of nine children. Ruby, (Mrs. John Maclnnis), Traveller's Rest;
Laura, (Mrs. Robert Champion), Summerside; Verna, (Mrs. Clarence Doyle),
Summerside; Rena, (Mrs. Arthur Wright), New Annan and now Mrs. Allie
MacNeil, Hamilton, Ontario; Blanche, (Mrs. George Carr), Traveller's Rest;
Alfred married Velma Smith and lives in Traveller's Rest. Velda, (Mrs. Lloyd
Wood), Traveller's Rest; Olive, (Mrs. Sydney Murray), Bedeque; Stanford
married Myrtle Barlow, Ellerslie.
RAYNER
Stanford Rayner now lives on the home place and married Myrtle
Barlow of Ellerslie. They had the following family: Earl, married to Elaine
Martin, and they live in Summerside; Jean, married Leroy Delaney (deceased), later she married Vernon Murphy, Toronto; Erma, married Ralph Hogg
72
and lives in Halifax; Ivan, married Gloria Warren. They live in Oshawa,
Ont. Keith lives at home. Dan married Laura Mountain and they have
three children: Patricia. Tammy Lee and Daniel Scott. They reside in
Traveller's Rest in an apartment at Robert Taylor's.
REYNARD
Carl Reynard married Geraldine Smith. They were both born in
Yarmouth, N.S., and now reside in Traveller's Rest. They have a son,
Christopher attending school.
Carl is a Teletype Technician at the Canadian Forces Base, Summerside.
ROSS
Fred and Margaret Ross bought the home of Brad and Phyllis
Maclnnis in 1968 after their new home was built.
Fred is retired from the Air Force and is presently a Commissionaire
at Canadian Forces Base, Summerside.
They have two children, Bernard, married and living in Ontario; Bernadine, a student at Athena Elementary School. In the spring of 1972, they
sold their home and moved to Summerside.
SCHURMAN
Alfred, son of Thomas and Leona Montgomery Schurman, bought
the farm from Frank MacDonald in 1937. He moved his family from New
Annan to Traveller's Rest and lived here until his death in 1967. He was
married to the former Thelma Clark of Kensington. They had three sons.
David married Elizabeth Woodington and Walter married Frances
Coughlin from Coleman and they both live in New Annan. Jack married
Iva MacKay and lives in Traveller's Rest. They have five children, John,
James, Brenda, Eric and Joy. Jack works for the Civil Service as a road
machine operator.
SCHURMAN
John E. and Verna Schurman moved to Traveller's Rest in 1970.
John is the son of the late Clayton and Emma (Bernard) Schurman
of Summerside.
Verna is the daughter of the late William F. and Alice (Craig) Gay,
Summerside.
Their daughters are Sandra and Arlene who are married and living
outside the province.
The Schurman family is descended from the first William Schurman
who settled in Bedeque and came from Amsterdam.
It is said he built the first road from Bedeque to Charlottetown.
73
SEMPLE
Tyndle Semple was born at New Glasgow. He married Gertie Essery, j
Kensington, and came to live at Traveller's Rest Corner where he carried on
a blacksmith business. Tyndle had great musical talent. Everybody loved
to hear him sing, which he did at many entertainments. The family have
carefully preserved records of his favorite songs. Among them are "Face
to Face" and "Old Black Joe".
The following are their family:
Irene, (Mrs. Roy Mill), Kensington. They had a family of two.
Thelma, (Mrs. Sudsbury), Charlottetown, had three children and
Grace, (Mrs. Donald Cousins), Park Corner, also had three children.
William (deceased) married Ruth MacArthur, Kensington and had a
family of two.
George lives at Kensington. He was first married to Ethel Doughart
and had a daughter, Mabel. His second wife was Muriel Marks (deceased).
Their family is a daughter and son, Tyndle.
Earl married Gladys Walker. They have three children and live at
Kensington. Fred Married Lucy Brown and they have three in their family.
They also reside at Kensington.
Tyndle, Mrs. Semple and family moved to Kensington in March, 1918.
Mrs. Semple died in 1967 and Tyndle in 1969. Both of them were in
their 90th year.
SILLIKER
(See Pillman history)
SIMMONS
Clarence Simmons of North St. Eleanors and Wilmont purchased the
farm property of Sterling Barlow in 1971 and came to reside in Traveller's
Rest.
He continues to carry on the business of farming as well as that of a
dealer in livestock. He is married to Sheila Woodside and they have three
children Marilyn, Cheryl and Dianne.
SIMMONS
Walter Simmons married Georgie Profitt from Margate. They bought
a lot of land from David L. Walker and built a home in 1952. Upon completion they moved from Freetown to this community.
Walter operated the potato warehouse at New Annan for Simmons
and MacFarlane Co. Ltd., formerly owned by John C. Pillman and now owned
by David Walker. Walter continues to manage the extensive farm business
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of the same company.
They have three children: Marcia, R.N., is married to Robert Clark,
office clerk with the P.E.I. Bag Co., Summerside. Marcia and Robert with
their young son, Robin, recently moved to Traveller's Rest, having purchased
the home of Mrs. Major MacDonald.
David is with the R.C.M.P. and is presently stationed in Toronto.
Donna, a student of the University of Prince Edward Island, plans a nursing
career.
SOMERS
(See Heffell history)
STEELE
Donald Steele and family lived on the farm now owned by Benjamin
Pillman on the Lower New Annan road.
They had a family of two sons and one daughter.
Joe bought the farm from his father. He lived there until his death.
Shortly before his death he had sold the farm to Mr. Pillman.
The other son, John, worked as a Carriage Builder at the Bowness
Carriage Shops.
STEWART
George and Winnifred Stewart bought a house from Fred Ross and
came from Crapaud to the district in July 1972.
George is an employee of the Prince Edward Island Government in
the Environmental Control division.
They had the following family: Melanie, (Mrs. Hartinger), Toronto,
Ontario; Lynda, (Mrs. Gerald Mann), Kensington; Gail, (Mrs. Desmond
Lecky), Charlottetown. June works in Toronto, Ontario; Karen attends Summerside High School and Kathleen attends Athena School. George is a
student at Sherbrooke school.
TAYLOR
William W. Taylor moved to Traveller's Rest from Granville in 1921.
He bought the late Harry Walker's farm. His wife was Melvina Yeo. They
had one son George.
George married Phyllis Moase, New Annan and purchased the farm
from Robert C. Marchbank in 1941, formerly the Townsend property. In
1969 Robert Taylor bought William and George Taylor's farms.
In 1972 George and Phyllis Taylor moved to Summerside and their
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home in Traveller's Rest is being rented.
George and Phyllis have a family of seven. Robert married Nancy
Biggar and lives in the William Taylor house and has two sons, Kent and
Kevin. Sandra married Victor Iwaniuk from Penticton, B.C. Presently they
reside in Germany.
Raymond married Debra MacMurdo from Bedeque. They built a new
home beside the George Taylor house in 1971.
Brian, Lois, Joy and Cheryl are all at home.
TOWNSEND
James Townsend came from Berkshire, England and took up holdings in the French River area in 1775.
James' son Captain John was twice married and died in 1790.
His son John moved to what is now Traveller's Rest in the early
1820's and received grants of land from the Crown. This area included
land on both sides of the old Post Road and east of Traveller's Rest Corner.
The first settler, John Townsend was a timber-looker, who ranged the
woods looking for masts for ships. He married Ann Montgomery in 1819
and their children were: Eliza, Thomas, John, Archie, James, Montgomery,
and twins Ann and Zillah.
Thomas stayed on the home farm, married Amy Green, a school
teacher. He built a house behind his father's where George Taylor's house
now stands. Their family was William, Albenia, Colin, Gilbert, and Annie,
none of whom married.
William became a Presbyterian clergyman and spent all his preaching years in New Brunswick, where his sister, Albenia was his housekeeper.
Rev. Wm. Townsend retired to Charlottetown where he and his sister lived
until his death.
Colin Gilbert intended to stay on the farm but an accident in the
woods left him physically unable to carry on farm work, so he studied at
home and eventually went to Pine Hill Divinity School, Halifax, Nova Scotia,
and was ordained around the turn of the century. He took a charge in
northern New Brunswick. Soon thereafter he developed pneumonia and
died.
Thomas their father carried on farming operations with the help of
his nephews, Angus and Sandy Green until his death after which the farm
was sold to Robert C. Marchbank in 1910. Annie served as Postmistress at
Townsend's Corner for seven years. John married Mrs. Amy (Linkletter)
Clark, from North Bedeque and moved to Sherbrooke, where his son Major
farmed and raised a family.
Archie, who was a bookkeeper lived in the home place. He married
Eliza Clark and had the following family; Elizabeth who was a dress-maker,
married John Anderson, who was later Provincial Auditor. They lived in
Charlottetown. Bert married Mr. Hancock, Mary, Mrs. Lockhart, Alfred,
Leslie, Clark and Louis. Their father Archie died reasonably young and was
buried in North Bedeque. Mrs. Townsend and the rest of the family moved
to United States.
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Montgomery never married but lived in the home place until his
death. James married Eliza Walker and moved to New Annan to the farm
now owned by Walter Moase.
Anne never married but lived with her brother Thomas.
Anne's twin, Zellah, married James Muirhead of Summerside.
Eliza married Archibald Ramsay and lived in Hamilton.
URCH FAMILY
Ephraim (Ed) Urch and his wife, Mabel Ellen MacArthur, their two
children, David and Edna, came from western Canada to live in Traveller's
Rest in 1925. (Mr. Urch really came the year before). They boarded at the
home of Alex Champion, north of Traveller's Rest Hall for about a year, then
bought a lot of land and house, which was then situated on land between
the hall and school. The land was later sold to the Hall Company or the
Women's Institute and the house was hauled to property owned by Mr. Urch,
which is presently lived in and owned by the wife of the late Davis Moase.
This house was quite old and had layers of birch-bark betwen the boards
and shingles. Mr. Urch had a large Silver and Black Fox Ranch and was a
very prominent man in that industry. At one time the Urch family, resided in
Kensington, P.E.I.
Ephraim Urch Jr. was born in New Castle, New Hampshire, U.S.A.,
son of Ephraim Urch Sr. and Arabella Vennard, of the same place.
Mabel Ellen MacArthur was born in Margate, daughter of Newton
Lee MacArthur and Catherine MacArthur.
Edna Vennard Urch was born in Margate.
David Sherman Urch was born in Summerside. One of the nurses
who waited on Mrs. Urch at the time of David's birth was Ann Elizabeth
Pillman. now Mrs. Wesley Paynter. whose family lived in Traveller's Rest
David became a druggist and at the time of his death was vice-president in
charge of marketing, of the Ayerst Pharmaceutical House, Montreal. He was
married to Dorothy Flower of Lancaster, N.B. and they had three children.
Edna married George Waite, son of Horatio and Mary Waite. They have no
children.
Mr. and Mrs. Urch were very community minded and gave of their
time and ability to the welfare of Traveller's Rest district. They were very
popular with all ages and their home was open to many social gatherings.
WAITE
James Theodore Waite purchased the James England farm in 1932
and moved to Traveller's Rest. He was the son of John and Elizabeth
Rayner Waite and married Jessie Belle Chisholm.
They had one son Fred who was born in Boston, Mass. He married
Ruth Waugh, North Bedeque. They resided with his parents on their Traveller's Rest farm. Fred and Ruth had one daughter, Doris. She is married
to Newton MacArthur, Kensington, and has five children. The Waites
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retired in Summerside, when they sold their farm to Kaye Hansen in December, 1953.
WAITE FAMILY
Horatio Waite was born in Traveller's Rest, April 19th 1863. His
father was Edward Waite and his mother, Helen Milligan, daughter of Robert
Milligan and Elizabeth MacDougald. They were of English and Scottish
descent. Horatio, or Raish, as he was known, married Mary Harkness,
daughter of John Harkness and Janet MacCaull of the same district. They
had four children; namely, William Oran, Jean Armour, Bruce and George.
William, as a young man, moved to Haverhill, Mass., and married
Olive Fenenko of the same place. After living a number of years in the
States, he moved to New Annan, where he died in 1971. His wife, Olive, is
employed by the Town of Summerside in the Town Office and still resides
in New Annan.
Jean Armour married Russell Champion of Traveller's Rest and they
had one son, Harold, who lives in Wilmot with his wife, Ruth Martin of Winnipeg. They have one son, Bruce. Jean and Russ are deceased.
Bruce married Helen Vosberg of the State of New York, where he
lived for a number of years. In 1948 he moved to New Annan, P.E.I, where
he and his brother, William built their own home. After his wife, Helen,
died, he moved to Traveller's Rest and lives next door to his brother,
George.
George married Edna Urch and they live in Traveller's Rest.
Mr. Waite was a fisherman and their home was near the shore on
Richmond Bay. This house was burned and they rebuilt; then in 1952 the
family suffered a further loss by another fire. George and his wife, Edna,
who were living there at that time purchased a house from Stan Gunning,
which was on property formerly owned by George's maternal grand-parents
and had the house hauled to a lot of land on the George Taylor property,
where they still reside. Many interesting stories of the old days of fishing
and horse-trading were enjoyed by young and old as told by Mr. Waite.
His wife, Mary, (or Aunt Mary as she was known to many), did spinning all
her adult life and during the war years (World War I) she did spinning for the
socks the local ladies knit to send overseas. Some of the wool blankets
(yarn she spun) are still in the home of her son, George.
Bruce and George, now Senior Citizens, remember the Rev. William
Townsend coming to their home to baptize the four Waite children. This
was often done in the early days of the community.
WILLIAM WALTER WALFIELD
The Walfield family came here from LaHave Island, Nova Scotia, and
their parents were formerly from Holland.
William married Henrietta Crossman, daughter of Artemus Crossman, Traveller's Rest.
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William and Henrietta had two children, Sadie and Williard.
Sadie married Dougald Gunning of Traveller's Rest and they had one
daughter.
Williard married Marjorie Boates, daughter of John Boates. They
have three daughters, Eunice, Edna and Doreen.
William Walfield was a fisherman and on his retirement they moved
from Traveller's Rest to Summerside, where they lived with their son Williard and Marjorie for nine years. Mrs. Walfield died about 1957 and Mr.
Walfield seven months later.
THE WALKER FAMILY
David Walker married Margaret Heatherington in Annan, Scotland,
1783. They had twelve children. The sixth child, John, born in 1795 married Jean Davison Weir, 1819. They, along with other members of the Weir
family, emigrated to Canada in 1825.
On their voyage a five-year old daughter died and was buried at sea.
The ship was grounded off the North shore of P.E.I, and many came ashore,
among them "The Walkers". Mrs. John Walker was so fed up with the trip,
she couldn't be persuaded to continue to Ontario with the rest of the Weir
family.
They settled on land, now owned by Robert Marchbank. Here they
cleared 20 acres of land.
About this time new land grants were being given out so Mr. Walker
walked to Charlottetown to receive the land where his descendents still
reside. They lived at first in a log house. Later the home that is still in
use was built with the foundation beams and hand hewn boards that are still
in good condition. The house has had renovations three different times.
John and Jean's son David married Deborah Lowther and had four
children namely: John, who died at age 17; Henry who married Harriet Clark
and had one daughter Jean, (Mrs. Hal Sterns), living in Summerside.
David, married Margaret Ferguson. Their family is David Leroy,
married to Addie Taylor who lives in the Walker Homestead; Helen, married to Brad Cairns, Summerside East; and Ruth died at age four.
The family of Roy and Addie Walker are Margaret, (Mrs. Irving Boswell), Marshfield. who has three children; David, married to Shirley Morrison
and their five children, all at home, are: Catherine, David, Patricia, Peter and
Janice; Joan, (Mrs. Nason Glover), Kelvin Grove, has four children; Edwin,
married Pauline MacCallum and has two girls: Sharon and Kimberley. The
brothers David and Edwin farm the original land as well as other acreages
within and in nearby districts.
At one time there were four generations of David Walkers living in
the Walker home. This home was also used as a halfway house for the
Rev. Mr. Patterson as he walked from his charge in Malpeque to North
Bedeque. The little bedroom off the parlour was known as the preacher's
room. This was prior to the holding of Church service at New Annan Hall.
As Mr. Patterson travelled to and fro people would come to the Walker
home for Service.
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John's brother Robert received a grant of land and kept an inn where
Jack Marchbank now resides.
Other sons and daughters of John Walker were: Thomas, William,
Gavin, John, Mary, Rachael, Margaret, Eliza, Jessamine, Jane, Henry Anne.
Thomas married Miss Wiggins and moved to Kensington. William
married Ellen Walker and lived in Sherbrooke. After Ellen died he married
a Mrs. Hall from Crapaud.
Gavin married Isabella Scott and moved to St. Peters. John married
Anne Bell, moved to Bradford Road. Rachael married William MacKay,
New Annan. Mary married Joseph Davison, Burlington. Margaret married
Mr. Steele and moved to New York, U.S.A.
Eliza married James Townsend, New Annan. Jessamine married
William Sloane and moved to New York, U.S.A. Jane married John Hooper.
Henry Anne married Elijah Schurman, Bedeque. and moved to U,S.A.
WAUGH
Samuel Waugh, North Bedeque and his bride Ethel Simmons, Wilmot
came to Traveller's Rest in 1920, having bought a farm from Harry Stewart.
They had the following family.
Herman, who died at age three.
Ralph married Gerda Wood and they live at Summerside East and
have four children. Leslie married Audrey Maynard and reside at Searletown. They have seven children. Audrey married John Wheeler. They
and their son live in California, U.S.A.
Claude married Emma Schurman and has three children. They live
at Summerside. Wilfred married Elizabeth Brookins and with their three
children reside at Montague. Errol married Shirley Mill. They have one
boy and reside at New Annan.
Herman, Ralph, Leslie and Audrey were born at Traveller's Rest.
In 1932 Samuel and Ethel sold the farm to James Marchbank and
moved to Albany.
Samuel died in October, 1969 and his wife resides with Miss Ruth
Simmons, Summerside East.
RICHARD WOOD
Richard Wood was one of the early settlers in this district. He married Barbara Waite and they had four sons; William, Leslie and Thomas, all
of whom moved to the United States, and John who remained on the homestead. John married Ruby Sweet of Cascumpeque and they had six children; Luella, (Mrs. Lawson Cotton), Summerside; Pearl, (Mrs. Roland
Thompson), now residing in Ontario; Velda, (Mrs. Lloyd MacDonald),
Oshawa, Ontario; Evelyn, (Mrs. Keith Callbeck) Alberta; John, who married
Olive Cawley after a sojourn in Alberta; Lloyd, married Velda Rayner and
remained on the homestead. Their children are Rena, married to Douglas
Profitt of Freetown; Ruby, Mrs. Everett Baglole, formerly of Lot 16 and now
residing in Traveller's Rest with 2 children Kevin and David. Gordon married Dale Rayner and lives in Summerside, and Garth resides at home.
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I
I
|
!
WOODSIDE
Mrs. Isla Woodside and family bought a house from James Heffell
and moved to Traveller's Rest in 1961 from Clinton.
They had a family of four: Geraldine, who had married Wendell Moase,
New Annan* prior to the family moving here. Linda, a Mount Allison University graduate married Edward Paton and is living in Hamilton, Ontario.
Wendy married Ronald Cossette, Montreal. Bloyce is in Hamilton, Ontario.
Isla died in 1966 and a short time after, their home was purchased by R. E. P.
Mailman.
ROY WYAND
In July, 1971, Roy Wyand, formerly of Cavendish, moved to Traveller's
Rest with his wife Doreen (Grant) and their daughter Susan. Mr. Wyand is
employed with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and Mrs. Wyand
is a R.N. at the Prince County Hospital.
WILLIAM HAMLIN YEO
The boundary line between Wilmot and Traveller's Rest runs through
the Yeo property with the home located in Wilmot.
William Yeo came from North Devon, England. He married Anna
Bella Hacker of New London. They had the following family:
Stutley, a bachelor, was born and died in Wilmot; Winnifred married
Benjamin Cairns of Wilmot; Mary Isabella, a spinster; Wyman Prowse was
first married to Neah Muncey and then to Kathleen Carroll; Bradford married Bertha MacArthur. After his death she continued to reside alone in the
homestead. The present home on the Yeo property was built in 1875.
ANECDOTE
The story is told of a certain resident who had misbehaved to the
extent that two constables came to his home to interview him. Seeing
them coming and not wishing to be approached in this manner he eagerly
looked for a hiding place. His wife thinking quickly opened the hatch in
the kitchen floor and ushered him underneath, closed the hatch and pulled
a mat over it. concealing all evidence. She chatted with the constables
and said she didn't know where her husband was. After a lengthy lull in the
conversation the husband, hearing no voices thought they had left. Anxious
to get out, he lifted the hatch and asked - "Be they gone, Biddy?" Needless
to say this was a stroke of luck for the constables.
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SOURCES OF INFORMATION
General Index to Statutes of Prince Edward Island 1869-1918.
Historic Bedeque
Long River History
New Annan History
Public Archives
P.E.I. Directory of Post Offices
Land Deeds and Registry Office
Douglas Murray — Compiler of History of Island Post Offices
Department of Fisheries — Oyster Culture — Ellerslie
Lynn Phaneuf — Confederation Center Archives
Mrs. Maude Heffel
Mr. James March bank
Mrs. Ann Elizabeth (Pillman) Paynter
Mr. Ben Pillman
C. I. L. Industries Ltd.
Department of Education
Postal Department, Ottawa, Charlottetown, Summerside
Mrs. Edward Laughlin
Mrs. George Ramsay
Edwin MacNeil
I KNOW SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT YOU
Wouldn't this old world be better
If the folks we meet would say —
I know something good about you!
And treat us just that way?
Wouldn't it be fine and dandy
If each handclasp fond and true
Carried with it this assurance
"I know something good about you!"
Wouldn't life be lots more happy
If the good that's in us all
Were the only thing about us
That folks bothered to recall?
Wouldn't life be lots more happy
If we praised the good we see?
For there's such a lot of goodness
In the worst of you and me!
Wouldn't it be nice to practise
That fine way of thinking, too?
You know something good about me
I know something good about you!
Louis C. Shimon
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"THE GOOD OLD DAZE"
Grandma, on a wintry day, milked the cows and gave them hay
saddled the mule and got the kids off to school. Did the washing, scrubbed
the floors, washed some windows and did some chores. Cooked a dish of
home dried fruit, and pressed her husband's Sunday suit. She swept the
parlor and made the beds and baked a dozen loaves of bread. Split some
firewood and then tugged in enough to fill the kitchen bin. Cleaned the
lamp, filled it with oil and stewed some apples she feared would spoil. She
made some supper that was delicious, and after that washed all the dishes.
She fed the cat and sprinkled the clothes and mended a basket full of hose.
Then opened the organ and began to play:
"When you come to the end of a Perfect Day".
Here in Grandma's own words is how she got her clothes whiter than
white.
"Receet"
Bild fire in back yard to heet kettle of rain water. Set tub so smoke
won't blow in eyes if wind is pert. Shave hole cake lie soap in bilin water.
Sort things. Make three piles, 1 pile white, 1 pile cullord, 1 pile work
britches and rags. Stur flour to smoth, then thin down with bilin water. Rub
dirty spots on board, scrub hard, then bile. Rub cullord but don't bile, just
rench and starch. Take white things out of kettle with broomstick handle,
then rench, blew and starch. Spread tea towels on grass. Hang old rags
on fence. Pore rench water on flower bed. Scrub porch with soapy water.
Turn tubs upside down. Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with side
combs, brew cup of tea set and rest and rock a spell and count blessins.
PACK PEDDLERS
TRAVELLING SALESMEN
It was a customary sight in foregone days to see pack peddlers
wending their way from door to door through the country selling their wares
which they carried on their backs.
These articles were varied and ranged from kitchen utensils to men's,
women's and children's clothing.
They would be given meals and overnight accommodation at the
homes and in return would give as payment an article or two from their
wares.
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