HERITAGE - A history of the Town of Neepawa and District as told and recorded by its people 1883 - 1983
July 1-8 1983 Compiled by the History Book Committee at Neepawa, Manitoba

SETTLEMENTS AND ARRIVALS OF PIONEERS
by F. L. Davis Courtesy Neepawa Press, June 27, 1933

The Mekiwin district was first settled by Alex. Halliday, the McGregors, Wm. Ferguson and John Ingram in 1874 and 1875.
The Salisbury district (Salisbury was the first post office in this part of the added territory later referred to) was settled by Hector McLean, Hugh and Robert Riddle, Stephen Orton, Jas. T. Crawford, and Wm. Miller in 1876 and 1877 and here Wm. Miller for some years ran a store and stopping place.
All about the district the settlers were coming. M.E. Boughton, Samuel McGorman, W.S. Burton, the Van Blaricoms, the Montgomerys, Marshall Scott, Jas. Tennant, Jas. Sutherland, Harry Bowe, Wm. Babcock settled along the Arden Ridge and the adjacent Glenholm. A little farther west and extending into the Eden district were Alfred Greentree, Donald Fraser, Arthur Kilburn, Jas. Gardiner and his sons, Alfred Chatwin, Geo. Edwards-, Harry, James, John, Robert and Thomas Honeyman, Richard Edwards, Peter Inglis, mostly arrivals of 1878. East of Neepawa were Duncan McLaren, James Dark, James Drysdale, the Ritchie family, Pat Dempsey, Samuel and John Buchanan, Walter and John Hunter, David Bigg, Wm. Stevens and Andrew Baker on the future townsite, mainly arrivals of 1878. C.C. Turpin used to claim that he was the first settler in Glendale. A considerable settlement in Glendale of English people - Pattisons, Chisholms, Dyers, Laidler and Loggan came about 1879, and in this year James Molland, Robt, Dunsmore, Wm. and Geo. McLaughlin, Geo. Little, Wm. Robinson and Jos. Hamilton, the Petchs, Wm. Watson, Moses, Timothy and James Poole, W.J. Sharman, James Hill, Alex. Ross, Duncan Laing settled, mainly in Glendale.
In the north a similar settlement was beginning - slower because the district there was then heavily wooded. John Grover, John Bare, John Birnie, Stephen Impett, the Edens.
West and northwest of the town were A.C. Sewell, who homesteaded in 1876, Richard Campbell, R.C. Campbell, the Kerrs, George, John, Robert and James; J.R. Begley, Wm. Connell, Fraser Stevens, David Coulter, Wm. Galloway, and between Neepawa and Eden the Smiths, Jos. Jackson, W.H. Jackson, R. McMurray, John McIntyre and the McKees.
South of Neepawa were the McShannocks at the crossing of Boggy Creek, Wm. McKinnon, Wm. Hamilton, Robinson Hamilton, Jos. Hamilton, Layngs.
These were the earliest of a stream that was steadily flowing and growing in numbers and still the only access to the district was by way of the trails. It is interesting to note that many of the newcomers had lived in what then was the older settlements of Manitoba, Red River, Portage la Prairie.

D.J. WATSON RIDING MOUNTAIN JULY 14th, 1930
D.J. Watson
Mr. Jno. Bradley as requested by the Press. I am sending you the date it arrived in this country, with my parents and the rest of the family. We left our old home in Perth County Ont., on the 14th of May 1879 and arrived at our Manitoba home six miles north of Neepawa on June 6th the same year, there being no Railway into Winnipeg. We crossed the river on a ferry and then completed the rest of our journey by Prairie Scooner and ox-cart, tenting along the trail and cooking meals on a little camp stove among oodles of mosquitoes. We followed the old south trail over the big plains and sand hills driving our milk cows behind the wagons and carts, among the old timers I remember being in our party were James Watson, wife and family, David Watson, wife and family, Alex Long, wife and child, John Buchanan, wife and family, Samuel Buchanan, John Howe, Joseph Ducklow, Wm. Moore, Jno McTavish.

HOW DID NEEPAWA GET ITS NAME?
The Centennial Book Committee has been interested in learning the origin of the name of our town.
We know that our seal "the cornucopia" was chosen by our first town council at its second meeting January 16, 1884. A cornucopia signifies plenty and is a horn of overflowing or abundance. "Neepawa" is derived from an Indian word. To learn its meaning we wrote to Professor Bruce Sealy, researcher, U. of M. The following is his reply. It is printed here as received. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did. Professor Sealey is a former resident of Arden, and attended school in Neepawa for a few years.
"As I mentioned in our telephone chat, it is almost impossible to be certain of the origin of the name Neepawa, for it is assuredly an attempt by an English speaker, to pronounce and write a Cree word.
The root of the word might be NEPA, and means eating the last meal of the day. Example: Nepakawawin -supper; Nepakwawao - he provides supper by hunting.
On the other hand, the settlers might have heard Nepowewin - standing place (against the enemy) or site of a battle. The Metis of St. Lazare tell of a battle fought between the Cree and Sioux in about 1800 just east of the Riding Mountains.
The word can have nothing to do with Beautiful Plains for the Cree is (Flat land) plains - muskotowun; beautiful - meyonakosew.
The word closest to it (Neepawa) in Cree is Nipawin
[page 25]

HISTORY OF RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF ROSEDALE
by Arnold "Bud" Birch assisted by Harold McConnell
We would like at this time to present a brief history of the Rural Municipality of Rosedale. Before we begin the resum6 may we express our thanks to Mrs. Harvey Thompson of Neepawa who prepared the list of Reeves and Councillors plus some of the highlights of early Council meetings. She was assisted by Miss Nora Benson who served so faithfully for many years as the Secretary-Treasurer for the municipality.
On January 8, 1884 a meeting was held at the home of Robert Watson, who lived on Section 32-15-15, to form the Municipality of Rosedale. We know 32-15-15 as the original Doble farm.
From the gathering these gentlemen were chosen for the first Council:
Reeve James Watson, Ward One: Robert Campbell, Ward Two: Robert Carson, Ward Three: Jim Honeyman, Ward Four: Wm. Gardiner, Ward Five: Jas Coulter, Ward Six: John Carter, Dick Edwards was appointed clerk
You will appreciate the fact that it would be tiresome and lengthy to list the make-up of each succeeding elected Council, so we will just give names as they appear and not attempt to name the wards they represented nor whom they succeeded in office.
We have no details of discussions or payments decided on at the first meeting but we know that in 1885 the council met at R.J. Carson's and each Councillor was paid $7.00 per meeting. The member had been changed by then. It appears all were elected for one year terms at first.
In 1885 the Reeve was John Crawford and he held office till 1889. Three new members elected during those years were Jos. Jackson, Wm. Ewer and Peter Stewart.
In 1886 John McKee and Arthur Kilburn were new members.
In 1887 the Council began to hold their meetings in Neepawa with a new councillor being Jas. D. Allan.
Robert Campbell became Reeve in 1889. New names were John Logan and D. Fletcher. Mr. W.F. Young was hired as Secretary Treasurer at $200.00 a year. Mr. Campbell was reeve until 1897 and during his term of office these gentlemen served as Councillors during different years. Geo. McLaughlin, John Walker, Thos. Everall, Alex Miller, John Birnie, John Furber, H.R. Honeyman, Thos. Roberts, G.H. Edwards, Sam Adamson, W.C. Campbell, George Kerr and John Grover.
Mr. F.R. Davis was chosen as solicitor and the clerk Mr. Young received a raise in pay from $200 - $300 in this period. The Council met in the Simpson House in Neepawa.
The auditors were H. Honeyman and Robert Bruce and they received $15.00 for the auditing of the books.
[page 66]

BUCHANANS
by Mervyn R. Buchanan

Our branch of the Buchanan clan came to Canada in the fall of 1847. In this particular era of history a number of families immigrated from Ireland due to a potato famine. A large number of people immigrated to Canada and the United States. My great-great-grandfather, Andrew Buchanan, and his wife, whose maiden name was Jane Long [?], came from Armagh, [Omagh] County Tyrone in Ireland to Canada. My great-grandfather Samuel Buchanan was seventeen years old at this time and one of seven brothers and one sister who came with their parents to this country. Our forefathers were seven weeks on a sailing ship before landing at Kingston, Ontario. They were quarantined on board ship for another three weeks due to a fever epidemic among the passengers and crew. After landing at Kingston our family settled in Perth County in the Elma township of Ontario.
My great-grandfather Samuel Buchanan married Mary Watson in Ontario and they, along with their family came to Neepawa area in the year 1878. They came by rail to St. Boniface and then by ox cart and wagons to Neepawa. There were eight sons and one daughter born in this family. My grandfather Robert George Buchanan was born September 28, 1875, the second youngest of nine children. When my great-grandfather came to Neepawa district he homesteaded the east half section of 28-15-15 in Rosedale municipality which has now been in our family for four generations and is presently farmed by my brother Gerald. The west half section of 28-15-15 was homesteaded by my grandfather's oldest [older] brother John Buchanan. Our great uncle John fought in the Riel Rebellion in 1885. Other than a period of 10 or 11 years through the 1920's when this half section belonged to the Jim Connell family, this farm has belonged to our family and is the farm where my brothers and I grew up. Our early school days were spent at Mountain View School which was situated one mile south of our farm on Section 21-15-15.
My grandfather R.G. Buchanan married Annie Coulter on February 14, 1900. There were two children born to this couple. The oldest child, Gertrude, was born in May, 1901 and my father, Samuel, was born in Oc-tober, 1902. My grandmother died when my Dad and aunt were very young and both of these children spent a lot of their early childhood with their grandparents the Coulter's who also farmed in the Mountain View district prior to and after the turn of the century. Grandpa remarried Katie Watson and to this marriage three children were born. The oldest son, Norman, was ac-cidentally killed in a fire in 1931. The second son, Bert, farmed the east half of the section prior to he and his wife, the former Betty Howard, retiring to Neepawa, where they still reside. The youngest was Anne, who married Charles Bradshaw and are presently living in Riding Mountain, Manitoba.
Family born to R.G. Buchanan's children are: Gertrude married George Wilson and they live in Maple Ridge, B.C. Their only daughter June married Bill McCracken, presently living in Port Moody, B.C. June and Bill have two children, Scott and Laurie. Scott and his wife Karen live in Port Moody and Laurie is working in Winnipeg.
Sam married Margaret Jackson in 1927 and had a family of four boys. The eldest son, Deryle, died in in-fancy. Their second son, Mervyn, married Mary May McCracken, presently living in Moo~e Jaw, Sask. Their family consists of twin daughters, Judy and Joanne, and one son, Howard. Judy married Al Frankowski and they have two sons, Christopher and Derek, who live in Regina. Joanne married Randy Kuharski and they also have two sons, Kyle and Myles. Joanne and her husband, who is a member of the R.C.M.P., are currently stationed at Hay River, N.W.T. Howie and his wife Janice (nee Chodakowski) are presently stationed in Toronto with the R.C.M.P. Third son, Gerald, married Marilyn Wood and they have a family of three boys. Their oldest son Robbie and wife Susan (nee Huxley) live in Swan River where Rob is teaching school. Scott is employed in Winnipeg and Byron is completing high school in Neepawa. Gerald is farming the original section of land homesteaded by our great-grandfather and great-uncle. Ron, the youngest son, and his wife, the former Donna Pacquette, have a daughter Catherine and a son Kevin. Ron and his family presently reside in Winnipeg.
Anne and Charlie Bradshaw have a family of two daughters. Their oldest daughter Sharon is married to Eric Davies and they have two daughters, Tammy and Shaunna. Sharon and her family are living in Riding Mountain. Their younger daughter, Marjorie, is married to David Morden and they have two sons, Christopher and Ryan. Marjorie and her family live in Brandon.
This is a short family history from the time our family came to Canada nearly 140 years ago.

ANDREW BUCHANAN FAMILY
by Mrs. Jean Hunter

The potato famine of 1845 [1847] in Ireland was the cause of a great exodus of many Irishmen from their homeland. The Buchanans of County Tyrone were among those going their different ways to Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada.
In 1847, after an arduous sea voyage of nine weeks, Andrew Buchanan, his wife Jane [possibly] (Long) and their seven sons; Robert 1815-1868, his wife Margaret (Booth); Charles 1817-1905, his wife Nancy (Porter); James 1821; William 1824; Andrew 1826; Samuel 1830, John 1831; and Jane 1836, arrived in Canada. Fever had raged on board and the passengers were quarantined for three weeks in harbor; here Andrew died of fever. Jane and her children settled in Perth County, Ontario.
On May 20th 1878, Robert, John, Samuel, and Jane's husband James Watson came west to make homestead claims, arriving in late July. Each laid claim and returned to Perth County for their wives and families.
In 1879 John Buchanan and his wife Isabel Watson settled with their children: Jane married John Hamilton; Margaret married John Keating; Mary married Wm. Ash; James married Sarah Watson; Robert (Red Bob) married Margaret Buchanan Tibbetts; Elizabeth married Daniel McGillivray; William married Elizabeth Watson, on their homestead SW 6-15-15.
Their son, Robert (Red Bob) married Margaret Buchanan Tibbetts and they homesteaded SW 10-15-16 in 1880, raising all their family: John James married Eva Puff [Pfaff]; Isabell married Walter Hunter; Russell married Gertrude Barnhart; Elizabeth married Wilbert Livingstone; Douglas married Grace Birch; Stanley married Hazel Birch; Hazel Margaret married William James Griffith; Edward married Elizabeth Birch.
Their son John James (deceased in 1918) married Eva Puff [Pfaff]. They raised 2 children: Almer Melvin (Sonny) married Reta Bud. They have 3 children: Darlene married Leonard Perrett and they have 2 children, Mitchell Scott and Lindsay Jannelle; Wayne Melvin; Bonnie-Lou married William Gagawchuch and have one daughter, Darcie Lea. Edna married William L. Jasper. They have 5 children: Wilma married Arnold Buchanan, and their children are: Kenneth married Sylvia Wabick, they have 2 children, Wm. John and Tracy Lynn; Deborah married Don Norris, they have one daughter, Michelle Mary; Brian married Judy Roland, they have 2 daughters, Jodi and Jacquie; Dawn; Roy married Sheila Goss, they'have one son Wm. Leslie; Keith married Doris Staggs, they have 2 children, Timothy Wayne and Wanda Gail; William married Lorna Crandall, they have 2 children, Richard William and Karen Rose; Wendy married Wayne Henuset, they have 2 children, Shane Dennis and Tera Lee.
Their daughter Isabell married Walter Hunter in 1907. They resided in the Neepawa area during their lifetime and raised nine children: Gordon married Kate Shaw. They have 2 children: Delmar married Linda Atchim, they have 3 children, Scott, Alana, and Nickole; Harold married Donelda Redaway, they have 2 children, Dale and Adam. George had no family. Vernon married Betrice Liecks. They have 3 children: Beverley married Alph Young, they have 3 children, Grege, Carla, and Scott; Marie married Wayne Friesen, they have 2 children, Tyler and Collon. Violet married Jesse Rogers. They have 2 children: Viola married Danny Lewis, they have 2 children, Tammy and Walter; Isabell married Bill Robinson, they have one daughter Heather. Lillian (deceased) married Ross Howatt. They have 4 children: Josie married Harvie Hill, they have 4 children, Greg, Heather, David, and Denis; George married Dorne Stone; David; Ritchard married Jann McDonald. Bessie married Jack Arnold. They have 2 children: James married Christen Oakly, they have 2 children Robyn and Catherine; Donna married Charles Snezyk, they have 3 children, Karl, Teresa, and Jamie. Wellington married Marge Stockley. They have 4 children: Cheryl; Linda married David Ducharme; Garry; Kim. Jack J. was awarded the Military Medal for bravery at Dieppe in August 1942, where he lost his life. Glen was accidentally killed in October, 1958.
Their son Russell (deceased) married Gertrude Bar-nhart. They had 2 children: Audrey married Ernest Wilkie, they have 3 children, Trever, Lynne, April; Arnold (deceased).
Their daughter Elizabeth (deceased) 1918 married Bert Livingstone. They had one daughter: Margaret (Peggy) married William S. Birch. They have 4 children: Murray married Mavis, they have 3 children Garry married Donnelle Busch, they have 2 children Kelly and Deborah, and reside in Missouri; Lynne married Lanny Lillibridge, they have 2 children Matt and Heather, and reside in Colorado; Jo-Anne married Roland Lovely, they reside in California.
Their son Douglas (deceased) married Grace Birch. They have 3 children: William (deceased) married Phyllis Rodgers Buchanan. They have 2 daughters, Kimberly and Colleen; Murray married Lorraine Francis, their children are, Randy and Deborah; Marie married Lorne McKinnon, their 4 children are, Douglas, Dale, Denise, Darren.
Their son Stanley (deceased) married Hazel Birch. They had 2 sons: John (Jack) (dec.) married Phyllis Rodgers. They had one son David married Diane Jordon. Their 3 children are Cristine, David and Jordon. Glen married Ada Brooks. Their 3 children are Glenda married Wilf Goodburn, they have one girl Sheryl Lynn; Allen; Jacquie.
Their daughter, Hazel Margaret and her husband William James Griffith, spent their life together in the Neepawa, Arden, and Keyes areas, raising a family of six: Margaret Edna (deceased) married Stuart Milne of Keyes. Their only daughter, Karen Hazel married Keith Lambert of Westbourne. They have 2 children, Charles Joseph and Holly-Lee Margaret. John Douglas married Jean Watson of Arden. They have 6 children: Beverley Shannon married Charles Lee; Richard John; Robyn Douglas; Timothy Lawrence; Bonnie Jean; Daniel William. All reside in the Stonewall area. Willard Jean married Peter John Hunter of Arden. They have 5 children: Joseph Garth married Darlene Simon, they have one daughter, Christina Lynn; Peter Brent; Tannis Jean married James Brown, they have 2 children, Tannis Lynn and Michael James; Stephen Wade; Alayne Faye. All reside in the Neepawa area. Althia Berniece married Wilmer Andrew Smith of Gladstone. They have 5 children: Valerie Diane married William Ward. They have 3 children: Shelly Diane, William Kyle, and Scott Andrew, they reside at Wanless, Manitoba; Reginald William; Vicki Jean of Laduc, Alberta; Wilmer Ross married Barbara Laner, they had a daughter, Kristi-Rai Martina (deceased) and one son Jory Joseph Andrew; home base is Winnipeg. Joyce Isabell married Lionel Welbourne of Newdale. They have 3 children: Shannon Joyce; Lyle Dwayne; James Evan. All reside in the Souris area. Joan Elizabeth married George Douglas Kitson of Franklin. Their 4 children are: Heather Joyce married Peter Behrens; Brian Douglas; Kevin William; Trevor John.
Their son Edward (deceased) married Elizabeth Birch. They had 2 children: Robert (Danny) married Mavis Johnson. They have 4 children: Bruce; Kelly married Brian Derkson, they have one daughter, Amanda Lee; Rodrick; Lisa; Bernice (deceased) married Frances Turner.
One story of amusing interest told about the Buchanan and Watson families journey from the east in 1879 worth retelling; They came by train as far as St. Boniface. The livestock in one boxcar, equipment that they owned in another, and all the family members in another. There was no dining-car so the womenfolk had to provide meals for their men and children in very trying and crowded conditions. They brought their own provisions and relied on "Old Bossy" to supply fresh milk. So when it came near milking time, one of the men would take up a milk pail and wait until the train stopped at a station, or for some other reason, and would jump off and run along-side the train to the livestock car, where he would do the milking. He would then have to wait, patiently or im-patiently, until another stop was made so he could jump off and make the return dash with his donation for the meal.

GLADYS AND WELDON BUCHANAN
by The Family

Weldon Buchanan was born on January 8th 1904 in the Rosedale Municipality the seventh child and youngest son in a family of ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Buchanan. Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan met and married in the district after immigrating from Ontario, and took up farming as early pioneers in the Mountain View school district. Weldon attended this school, and farmed 16-15-15 until his retirement to 235 Boundary Street in Neepawa in October of 1970. He was keenly interested in sports and was a faithful supporter of the Cubs and Farmers Baseball teams, and an active curler.
In 1942, Weldon married Gladys McGhie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter McGhie of Arden. The McGhies had immigrated from Scotland and became acquainted with each other at Arden, where they married and settled down to farm.
Gladys and Weldon had one son "Terry Weldon." Terry married Sharon Leigh Johnson and have two children Tara Lee and Bryce Weldon, and this family lives in Minnedosa Man. where Terry works for the Department of Highways.
On March 5th. Weldon passed away and Gladys had to make a new life for herself. Prior to her marriage she taught school for ten years at Salisbury School and boarded with Miss Sarah Millar. She was often spoken of as "the other Millar girl" as she became part of the family life and social events. She was an active com-munity worker and led the United Church Womens group for 5 years on the farm and continued in this capacity for 2 years after moving to Neepawa. For seven years she kept the girls together, but involvement in town activities proved a problem so the group disbanded. Gladys was an avid curler and played lead on the rink that won the Sr's playdowns in 1972 with Agnes Mc-Dougall as skip, Edith McCracken third and Olga Wolko second.
Since becoming a widow Gladys has set a standard for herself of doing one good deed each day, unknown to the recipient, and "living for others"

LAWRENCE C. AND DORIS BUCHANAN
By Lawrence C. Buchanan
I came to Neepawa in 1943 with my parents, Bert and
Maud Buchanan. At this time my father was employed at the Neepawa Airport. I worked at the Neepawa Co-Op for a short time, then began work at the Airport. When the Neepawa Airport closed I went to the Portage Airport until 1945.
I then returned to Neepawa and was employed -with Walter Mathews as a plumber and tinsmith. This is when 1 took my training as a sheet metal worker. In August of 19511 began working in the Neepawa Post Office.
In January, 1952 I met Doris Sneesby, the third eldest daughter of Albert and Jean Sneesby of Woodside, Manitoba. At this time she was living with her grand-mother, Mrs. Charles Patterson, and working at the Neepawa Co-Op.
We were married at her parent's home at Woodside in March, 1953 and lived in Neepawa until September, 1980 when the Post Office transferred us to Altona, Manitoba.
Doris continued working at the Co-Op until 1959 when our first child arrived. Brent Lawrence was born in July, 1959. He took all his schooling in the Neepawa schools and graduated from Grade XII in 1977. He managed the Port West Music Stoie until it closed. In 1980 he went to Portage where he began his training as an undertaker with the Omega Funeral Home. In 1981 he went to work and continued his training with Brockie-Donavon Fun-eral Home in Brandon.
Brian Mark was born in July, 1960 in Neepawa. He took all his schooling in Neepawa and graduated from the Neepawa Collegiate in 1978. He attended Central Pentecostal College for one year. He moved to California in 1979 where he managed a Happy Steak Restaurant until he moved to Flagstaff, Arizona to work as a painter's apprentice. In 1980 he married Deborah Plett. They have one son, Micah James.
Sharon Doris was born in November, 1964 in Neepawa. She attended school in Neepawa until 1980 when she moved with her parents to Altona, Manitoba where she took her Grade XI and XII at the W.C. Miller Collegiate and graduated in 1982 with a business education diploma.
In 1960, Ronald and Gordon Davis came to make their home with us.
Ronald Cameron was born in 1954. He started his schooling in Winnipeg in 1959, then came to Neepawa where he graduated from Grade XII in 1972. He attended Central Pentecostal College in Saskatoon for three years. He then went to Laval University for one year where he studied French. In 1976, he married Holly Stephenson of Saskatoon. They went to serve as missionaries in Sept Isle, Quebec, for two years. He attended Brandon University where in 1980 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1981 he received his Master of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Saskatoon. In 1981 he began serving as Assistant Pastor at Elim Tabernacle at Saskatoon, and in 1982 he received his certificate of ordination to the ministry.
Gordon Russell was born in 1955. He began schooling in Neepawa in 1960 and graduated in 1973. He later attended the University of Manitoba for two years. He obtained work with Household Finance where he managed his own office until he moved to Calgary, Alberta. In 1977 he married Vicki-Lou Cameron. They lived in Winnipeg until 1981 when they moved to Calgary. Gordon is now employed with Revenue Canada.

ROBERT M. BUCHANAN
by K.M. Buchanan

Robert M. Buchanan was born at Donegal, Ontario in 1861, the second son of Robert and Margaret Buchanan. Following the death of her husband, Margaret married a Mr. Long and they came West to Neepawa with her three sons, Andrew, Robert and John.
Elizabeth Bell was born at Newboro, Ontario in 1863. She came West with the William Millar family in 1877. The Millars operated a Post Office and Store, known as the "Half-Way House", located half way between Gladstone and Minnedosa. Elizabeth worked there and met "Big Bob" as he was known. There were several Robert Buchanans there. Having no second name, Big Bob's mother was Margaret, so it was decided to take M. for his initial and save confusion. Robert M. and Elizabeth were married in Minnedosa in December 1882, and lived in Rosedale Municipality. Three sons and eight daughters were born to them: Robert, known as "Wee Robbie" born in 1889, whose death occurred in 1911; Sanford married Katherine M. Averill, they farmed in Rosedale, and retired to Neepawa in 1968; Weldon Roy, who married Gladys A. McGhie, they farmed in Rosedale, retiring to Neepawa. Weldon died in 1980; Ida Elizabeth, who married Thomas Holmes, and lived in Neepawa. Following the death of her husband, Ida was the first guest admitted to East View Lodge where she resided until her death in 1972; Margaret Hester married Arthur A. Smith, and they farmed in Rosedale; Mary Ellen married James V. McLaughlin, they also farmed in Rosedale. She died in 1981; Lucie Stella married William Edgar Coulter. They lived in a number of towns in Saskatchewan where he was a grain buyer. She died in 1965; Beatrice Mildred married Bert Fenwick. They farmed at Hayfield, Manitoba. She died in 1957; Flossie died in infancy; Florence Bell married Maurice Habkirk, they farmed in Langford, later retired to Neepawa; Flossie May married Allan Scott. They lived in Neepawa. She died in 1971.
Robert M. Buchanan was a member of the Loyal Orange Lodge and for some time was a member of I.O.O.F. until his death. He died in 1927, following a long illness.
Elizabeth Buchanan died in 1937. They are buried in Rosedale Cemetery.
[pages 404-408]

THE COULTER'S
contributed by Lu Buchan Winnipeg, Manitoba

My father William C. Coulter and mother Isabella Stinson were both born in Ireland seventy five miles from Belfast near Armagh in the county Tyrone. My parents never met in Ireland but they both had relatives in the United States and it was there they met in Philadelphia while visiting their relatives. Our parents were married in 1888. Some years after their marriage our parents decided they wanted to come to Canada. William and Isabella along with Annie the oldest of our family came to Neepawa along with our grandparents. Cold weather and little money made conditions most unbearable but our folks decided if other settlers could survive the hardships they could do likewise. When our family arrived in Winnipeg it was a city of tents.
Upon coming to Neepawa our parents settled on Sec. 21-15-15 in the municipality of Rosedale. This farm was where the rest of our family was born. I had 3 sisters and 4 brothers. Our education was obtained at Mountain View school. Our father was a plasterer by trade and he was able to secure work in the small towns plastering the homes that grew like mushrooms. We had a good bringing up and were all happy and healthy.
Annie married R.G. Buchanan. Rob married Cassie McCauley. Jean married Jack McFadyen. Flossie married Roy Clyde. Ed married Lucie Buchanan. Fred married Belle Urquart. Lu married Roy Buchan and Carl married Evalena Munstein.
The Coulter clan are all deceased except Lu, Rob's second wife Ruby Hamilton, Fred's wife Belle and Carl's wife Evalena. Our families are widely scattered over Western Canada and the United States.

JAMES WATSON FAMILY
by Mrs. Mabel Henry

James Watson and Jane Buchanan were married September 22, 1858, in the township of Elma in Perth County, Ontario. They became the parents of a family of thirteen.
In the spring of 1879 Mr. and Mrs. Watson, with several other families, including Buchanans and Ducklows, moved to Manitoba.
On the way, when the train stopped at a station, one of the boys would get into the stock car and milk the cows as the train was moving, and at the next stop would bring the milk back to the passenger car.
They arrived at St. Boniface the first year that the railway reached that point. There was no bridge across- the river, so equipment, supplies and passengers were ferried across to Winnipeg which at that time consisted of a few huts and tents. Oxen were getting stuck in the "Red River Gumbo" which became Portage Avenue.
The party stayed a few days to get organized and then trekked by ox carts and wagons to the Neepawa area, struggling through mud and mosquitoes all the way.
Mr. and Mrs. Watson settled on the farm in the Springhill district, later known as "the Doble farm". While there they experienced prairie fires that destroyed much of the precious hay and badly burned a team of horses, but by careful nursing they recovered. Grain had to be taken to the grist mill at Portage, a difficult trip.
The Rosedale Municipality was organized at a meeting at the home of Robert Watson (32-15-15) on Janurary 8, 1884, and James Watson was elected the first reeve. Councillors were: Ward 1, Robert Campbell; Ward 2, Robert Carson; Ward 3, John Honeyman; Ward 4, William Gardiner; Ward 5, James Coulter; Ward 6, John Crawford; Clerk, Dick Edwards.
In 1886 the Watsons moved farther north and opened the first farm in the Riding Mountain district (SE 16-18-15).
For several years their home was a "stopping house" where horses were exchanged and drivers given a meal on the stage route between Neepawa and Dauphin on the Burroughs Trail which Mr. Watson helped to establish.
Doctors were miles away, and travel difficult so James extracted teeth for his neighbors, and Jane stitched up wounds from axes and saws in the bush.
[There is a picture of the James Watson family with all of the names]