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1911 Courtship: May 7 Dear Ethel

1/27/2013

Indian Head, Saskatchewan, Canada. The town is off to the right side. Undated postcard, suspect around 1910. Courtesy of http://scaa.usask.ca/gallery/mainstreet/images/033a.jpg

Author of Letter: Noah Clement Draper (24 yrs old)
Dated: May 7, 1911
Addressed to: Miss E.Nelson, Bellhaven, Ont., Dear Ethel
Mailed from: Grand Coulee, Sask.
Relationship: Courting
Profession: Farmer
Writing instrument: Fine point pen, Black ink, but looks grey in places and pencil-like in others.
Writing Paper: Thick, textured, linen-like paper, 9 inches x 6.5 inches. Paper is folded in half, with a front and back page, but inside, Noah has turned the paper lengthwise and written straight down both pages.

People/places mentioned in this letter:

Mother - *Sarah Sophia Deverell Draper, Noah's widowed mother
*Steward - Noah's cousin, Stewart Trueman Draper of Indian Head, Sask
*Louie - Noah's sister, Sarah Louisa Draper, married to Fred Coventry
*Veda - 16 yr old daughter of Noah's sister, Eva & Joseph Perault who live nearby

Other mentions:

-Alf - Noah's *hired man, also referred to as 'that man'
- manless - doesn't have a hired man working for him at the moment
- Will's man - also referred to as the parrot - hired man of Noah's brother-in-law, Will

- the dog mentioned in Noah's postscript (written along the side of the last page) refers to Ethel's last letter where she wrote, "Manuel got bit on Friday night by our dog. It is torn to the bone on the one side of his leg." Emanuel is Ethel's 5 yr old brother, so this is a very traumatic experience for the Nelson family.

* Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this
person/place/thing.
** see Genealogy Notes below

Grand Coulee, May 7/11.

Miss. E. Nelson,
Belhaven, Ont.
Dear Ethel; --
Well I got two letters
this week but none the
week before so you see it
is either a feast or a famin
Well I hope you are all well
as this leaves me. Mother is
down at Steward's went down
last night expect she will
stay a week.
Have not started batching
yet but I guess I will to-morrow.
Am going into Regina in
the morning after my buggy
have been getting it painted
Wine. colour. come up and have
the first ride in it.

Say Ethel mother is afraid to go east alone
& wants me to go along but I am afraid
to go unless you will come back with
me. cant you see your way clear to come
back about the first of August. it would
only be about five months and I guess
I could get you enough to eat for that
much longer . . eh. But if for any
special reason you feel it your duty
to stay at home that much longer
why just say so and that ends it.
but I dont think they love you any
better than I do.
Well Ethel I guess you will think
I am selfish & I cant deny the charge,
so far as you are concerned anyway
so if you can over look it I guess I
can.
Well I finished seeding wheat on the
4 of May. and will sow the oats next
week. thot it was a little early to
sow them when I finished the wheat.
Say that man of yours must be a
sticker. I have had two this spring
already sosoon, no. yes. but as they
say am manless just now. & I didnt
have any trouble geting rid of the
last one either. Mother & Louie were
up last Wed. & Louie asked me if I
were going to keep Alf. and I said I did
not know. I did not like him nor never
did. & our parrot (that is Wills man.) went
& told Alf so as his his time was up
next night when I went out after

supper he said will you make
up my time please and I said
all right. He had told Will what
the old man said so I did not
blame him for leaving. Eh.
But he had told Will the day
before he was going to stay for
the summer. Ha Ha.
Say did'nt I tell you Veda
did not go to College. She is
having her hands treated in
Regina with the ex-rays &
radium. but I hope she
will be able to go after summer
hollidays.
Well Ethell I guess this is all
for this time. so good Bye
am looking for a letter on
Thursday. Bye Bye.
May your shadow never grow
less. write soon to your little Willie
x x x x x N.C. Draper

P.S. Have you shot that dog. if you dont. we will
have a funeral when I go down. N.D.

Genealogy Notes

Since Noah keeps referring to the Stewart's, this would be a good time to show you my research on the Stewart Draper family, continuing with what I've already posted:
- Stewart's name (Stewart/Steward)
- map showing Indian Head, Saskatchewan

Stewart Trueman Draper b 1876, Belhaven, N Gwillimbury, York Co, Ontario
Bertha Charlotte Hamilton b 1879, Mount Pleasant, N Gwillimbury, York Co, Ontario

Stewart and Bertha married on 29 Jan 1902 at her family's home in Mount Pleasant, North Gwillimbury Township, York County, Ontario, Canada:

Taken from The Newmarket Era dated February 21, 1902. (Note spelling of Stewart's name.) Courtesy of www.ink.ourontario.ca

Sequence of Events:

Nov 1902 - Elvyn Hamilton Draper is born, but he dies 9 months later of meningitis.

Aug 1904 - Norma Elizabeth Draper is born.

Based on the above confirmed facts, I suspect the date of 1904 on the photograph below is wrong for the following reasons:
- the child Bertha is holding (behind Stephen and Martha, sitting) cannot be Elvyn, nor is it a newborn.
- Almeda and Edward didn't have a child until 1905

Farm home of Stephen Draper and Martha Barnhart and Family, ca 1904 ?, Keswick, Ontario. Courtesy of a member on ancestry.ca

I'm so very grateful to the ancestry.ca member who contributed the above photo as it's the only one we have of Noah's cousin, Stewart Draper and his wife, Bertha Hamilton, who play a big part in the upcoming courtship letters. Although we can't make out the actual faces, the notation shows us:
- Stewart's parents: Stephen Draper (1846-1919) & Martha Barnhart (1846-1923)
- Stewart and Bertha's child - Elvyn b 1902 or Norma b 1904
- Stewart's sisters:
- Almeda with her husband, James Edward Baker, and child, Milburn b 1905
- *Edith Draper and future husband, Frank Kavanaugh
**see Genealogy notes below for more info on Stewart, Bertha, and their child

Apr 1906 - Lennox Draper is born.

The Newmarket Era. April 13, 1906

Stewart & Bertha head to Canada's North-West Territories (the prairie provinces).

The Newmarket Era, Apr 12, 1907

I suspect the family photo above was taken during the summer of 1906 as preparations were underway for Stewart and Bertha to move West.

This brings us to the date of Noah's letter of May 7, 1911. Stewart and Bertha and their 2 children are living a few miles out of Indian Head, Sask (image at the top of this post).

Noah's mother, Sarah Sophia Deverell Draper, spends time at Indian Head because Stewart is her nephew by marriage. (Noah's dad, David, and Stewart's dad, Stephen, are/were brothers.)

If anyone has more information, or would like to dispute my research, please let me know as I strive for accuracy.

I have more images of early Indian Head, but I'll save them for future posts.

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1911 Courtship: May 1 Dear Noah

1/22/2013

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Sorry for getting this out late, but I don't want to print erroneous information and I'm in a quandry about the Deverell Family. More on that under Genealogy Notes.

Author of Letter: Ethel Isabell Nelson, age 21
Dated:  Apr 23, 1911
Addressed to: Mr. N. C. Draper... Dear Noah
Mailed from:  Belhaven, Ontario
Relationship:  Courting
Profession:  Farmer's Daughter
Writing instrument: Fine point pen, black ink
Written on: Light bluey/gray, slightly thick, textured, linen-like paper, 9 inches x 6 inches, folded in half. Ethel has written straight front to back like a booklet, with a PS page tucked inside.

People/places mentioned in this letter:

- Our English man - *hired man
- Robert Davidson - a Belhaven neighbour
- Manuel - *Emanuel Nelson - Ethel's 5 year old brother
- *Sedores - Hugh Sedore and his family had diphtheria
- Pa - *James Henry Nelson
- Rob't - the Nelson's hired man, Robert, who plays the violin
- Herb Deverell **

*Absence makes the heart grow fonder

Legend:
* Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this
person/place/thing.
** see Genealogy Notes below

Belhaven. May 1st 1911.

Mr N. C. Draper
Grand Coulee.
Sask.

Dear Noah,-
I missed your letter last
night, but I will be looking for one
to-morrow night. I sometimes
get them on Monday.
Say I just wish you
were here to hear our English
man talk, He gave us girls a
great old lecture last night
(Perhaps we need it eh) Well I
would rather have you lecture
us anyway.

I was down to Mr Robt
Davidson's yesterday. They
had a barn raising. There
were about 125 men there
There little boy has pneumonia
Glen)
Manuel got bit on Friday
night by our dog. It is torn
to the bone on the one side
of his leg.
Say: did you get that
letter, if you did not I think
it must have gone astray
for I posted one to you that
week. You may depend I
will write if I possibly can.

For I know just how I look for
your letters. I don't know but
I don't believe you are quite
as foolish as I be.
You say absence make the
heart grow fonder. I think by
the time I see you again that
love surely will reign, for I thot it
did before. I have no objections
to how strong my love grows
to thee in your absence.
But oh! I wish it was just
so you could run in once in
a while. Is your mother
still thinking of coming down?
Wish you were coming to.
But never mind it wont be
long after I hope until I see you.
I am awfully glad you sent your

photo. It don't let me for get you.
I tell you there was no danger of me
forgetting you. The card is handled
quite a bit.
How are all the folks up there.
There is quite a bit of sickness
around here just at present. 4 cases
of pneumonia. It was Mrs Sedore
that was sick at Sedore's they are
out now & Hugh is working here.
I think Pa has about ten acres
to sow yet.
I don't know wether Robt can play
"I don't know why I love you but I do" true
I think I will wait and ask you.
instead of asking Robt. Pa has told Robt
twice for to leave, if he don't soon
pay attention I think Pa will be
tempted to walk with him to the road
unless he soon does better. hope your
man is better than ours. Well I think
I am nearly to the closing point for this
time. I am the same as B 4. with all love
x lots x this x time x eh x from Ethel Nelson
x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x

P.S.
I am going to send you
the piece that was in the
paper about Herb Deverell's
death. Suppose you have heard
of it before this reaches you
but perhaps not got the little
piece of the paper. It was in the
News. I wrote my letter Sunday.
So to-day when I had it ready
to post I just happen to think
that I intended to send it to you.
So here I am, finishing
up on Monday. It has been
raining nearly all day.
I guess I am making my P.S.
rather long. so Good-Bye
Ethel

THE TOMB

DEVERELL - At 107 Chester Aven-
ue, Toronto, on Thursday, the
20th April, 1911, Herbert Wil-
liam Deverell, aged 36 years.
Funeral last Monday. Internment
at Queensville.

* * *

Herbert Deverill Fasted
and Died from Weakness
We clip the following from the To-
ronto Star. Mr. Deverill was a native
of Ravenshoe.
      Herbert Deverill took sick with the
grip this winter and refusing to give
up and go to bed continued work ev-
ery day in Medd's grocery store in
Gerrard street east. On an occa-
sion of a former illness, due to dia-
betes, he had obtained good results
from a prolonged fast of 21 days,
and he became firmly convinced
of the efficacy of that treatment. He
tried it again for this grip and after
fifteen days, during which he grew
steadily weaker, he died at his home
at 107 Chester avenue. The funeral
will be from his widowed mother's
house at 291 Palmerston avenue on
Monday.
      Herbert Deverill was well known in
New Ontario. He was the manager
Revillon Brothers' store at McDou-
gall Chutes for some time, and con-
ducted stores of his own at Abilibi
Crossing and at Corcoran.   It is
said that he strained his vitality by
too heavy and too prolonged work.
When the prospectors came in for
outfits, they were always in a hurry
and Deverill would frequently work
all night. He worked all day carry-
ing 100 pound bags of flour and sugar
half a mile to the boat from his store,
or from the railway station.
He was never a heavy or robust
man, but on the termination of his
former long fast, he became very
fleshy and continued so for a consid-
erable period.
He came to Toronto on the death
of his father about a year ago to
settle the estate, and he still owned
a general stock of goods in the north
country. He is survived by a wife
and three children.

* * *

Genealogy Notes

I found the newspaper clipping about Herb Deverell that Ethel mentions in her letter and have posted it above. But as it happens with many things in genealogy, there's a mystery here as well...

Noah's mother is *Sarah Sophia Deverell and Noah's father is David Draper. Both Sarah and David were born and raised in Belhaven in North Gwillimbury Township. But in 1867 when David was 25 and Sarah was 21, they went all the way to Haldimand Township which is around the western tip of Lake Ontario and almost directly across from Erie, Pennsylvania, to get married. Why so far away? I can't find any record of family living there. Or did they elope?

The following info on Sarah Sophia's family is taken from the 1861 Canada census for North Gwillimbury:
Father - William H Deverell b1808 in England, Occupation: Minister
Mother - Fanny b1815 in Ireland

Residence: Conc 3 Lot 26 Ravenshoe, North Gwillimbury

Note: the following children were all born in the above house.

Mary b1840
Robert b1855

Sarah b1846
Letitia b1857

Frances b1848
Thomas b1860

However, there was another Deverell family living in the same township and here is their information according to the 1881 Canada census for North Gwillimbury:
Father - William H Deverell b1814 in Ontario (English heritage), Minister
Mother - Fanny b1818 in Ontario (English heritage)

Residence: Conc 4 lot 1 Queensville, North Gwillimbury

This William H and Fanny live with their son's family:
William Deverell b1846 and his wife Euphemia b1848
And among their many children born in Queensville are:
- Charles b1869
- Herbert b1876

A note here... C Deverell is mentioned in the letter of Feb 4 Dear Ethel when Noah talks of going up to Burke's Falls and seeing him having a rest. But according to the obit, he came down from the 'north country' soon after that.

So, we finally found Charles Deverell and Herbert Deverell and from the above information, it looks like they could be Sarah Sophia's nephews thereby making them Noah's cousins. And that would explain why Ethel is sending Herbert's obituary.

Except for a few things... it would also mean their father - William Deverell b1846 - would be Sarah Sophia's brother, right? But they can't be siblings for the following reasons:
1. they share the same birth year but were born a couple months apart
2. their parents have the same names & jobs, but not the same birth years
3. if they were siblings, William would show up on Sarah's 1861 census.

So what relation are Charles and Herbert to Sarah Sophia?

(If you know, please tell me as I've exhausted all my leads.)

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1911 Courtship: May 1 Dear Ethel

1/13/2013

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Celebration of Queen Victoria's birthday on the grounds of the second Government House of Upper Canada (the first outside of Fort York), at the corner of King and Simcoe Streets, Toronto. ca 1854. Courtesy of wikipedia. Date 1854

This week's letter marks the first of several that mention Victoria Day which fell on May 24th in 1911. Noah's letter is dated May 1st, so when he simply asks Ethel if she is going to a 'big picnic on the 24th', all Canadians know he's talking about Victoria Day. This start-of-summer holiday isn't always on the same calendar day, so check the Genealogy Notes below for more information.

Author of Letter: Noah Clement Draper (24 yrs old)
Dated: May 1st 1911
Addressed to: Miss Ethel Nelson, Bellhaven, Ont., Dear Ethel
Mailed from: Grand Coulee, Sask.
Relationship: Courting
Profession: Farmer
Writing instrument: Fine point pen, Black ink, but looks grey in places and pencil-like in others.
Writing Paper: Thick, textured, linen-like paper, 9 inches x 6.5 inches. Paper is folded in half, with a front and back page, but inside, Noah has turned the paper lengthwise and written straight down both pages.

People/places mentioned in this letter:

*Maud
*Della
Mother - *Sarah Sophia Deverell Draper, Noah's widowed mother
*Louie - Noah's sister, Sarah Louisa Draper, married to Fred Coventry
*Elva & Will - Ethel's cousin, Elva Jane Nelson, married to William Mitchell *Steward - Noah's cousin, Stewart Trueman Draper of Indian Head, Sask
*Leslie Nelson (the missing cousin) - 20 yr old brother of Elva Nelson (above)
- Manfred - I suspect Noah is talking about his cousin on the Draper side, Manford Terry, married to Etta May Prosser, and living in the township of North Gwillimbury (same township as Belhaven).

Other mentions:
** Picnic on the 24th
*the Head - see my map of Indian Head, Saskatchewan

* Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this
person/place/thing.
** see Genealogy Notes below

Grand Coulee, Sask.
May. 1st 1911.

Miss Ethel Nelson,
Belhaven, Ont.
Dear Ethel;-
Well I did not get your
letter last week but hope
to get it today hope you
are well. I have a little
cold & am feeling blue but
guess I will pull through.
Well we have had 3 days
rough weather & it stoped
the seeding but we are at
it again now. suppose you
are through down there. I
have about 135 acres of wheat
to put in yet and 30 of oats.
that means about 4 1/2 days.

Well I suppose you will be going to
a big picnic on the 24th. Have not
heard of any around hear yet but
guess there will be one all right.
Have not started batching yet
& you bet I hate to start so come
up and help me out. I tell you
that batching is not what it is
cracked up to be when you have a
nice little Lassie only 1600 miles
away.
Say you said I would have to
tell you what I most wanted to
hear. cant you guess. it is only five
words and starts with come and ends
with me say I wouldn't be long
in doing it you bet.
Has Maud gone out to B.C. yet
or has she gave up the notion?
And is Della back from Toronto
or did she get spliced up & stay there.
Well I guess you would think I -
was not very buisy just now if
you could see me. it is about
2 p.m. & my teams are out in the
field and I have to soon go &
draw out wheat for them.
Mother is down at Louies for
a few days then she is going down

to the Head for a while.
So you did not know Elva
& Will were in the West. yes
they are working for Steward
this summer.
Dont know wheather that
cousin is out hear or not but
will try & find out and let
you know.
Oh say Ethel you asked me
who told you about the man
having the money it was
Manfred.
Well Dearest I guess I will
close for this time. & will
be glad when I do not have
to write way down there
but can jaw you all I like.
Ha. Ha. Bye Bye write often
Your wee Lover. N. C. D. xxxxxx
an a lot more xxx

Genealogy Notes

The picnic on the 24th - In 1911, May 24 was Victoria Day, which is a celebration of the Queen Victoria's birthday as well as the reigning monarch.

Although Queen Victoria was born on May 24th, 1819, we don't always celebrate on the 24th. Officially, the holiday falls on the Monday closest to, but not past, May 25th, which is usually, but not always, the third Monday in May. Yes, it sounds confusing, but thankfully, we all have accurate calendars that show us the date from year to year.

I checked the Newmarket Era, which is the newspaper Ethel received, and found that even back in 1911 the day was spent in athletic tournaments like Baseball games just as we have it today. In fact, as you'll find in the next few weeks of letters leading up to the 24th, both Noah and Ethel will talk about the sporting events and festivities happening in their locales.

Unofficially, Victoria Day is the first day of summer to Canadians, just as Labour Day is our last. For more information on what Victoria Day means in Canada, check out my It's Canada Day post I did for my group blog over at Inkwell Inspirations.

What do you do to celebrate the beginning of summer?

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1911 Courtship: Apr 24 Dear Ethel

1/7/2013

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Since it's spring seeding in both Ontario and Saskatchewan during the time of this letter and Noah talks about his equipment, this week's images will be on that theme.

Different brands of pre-1920 Seed/Grain Drills, courtesy of Prairie Postcards, Peel Library, University of Alberta

Author of Letter: Noah Clement Draper (24 yrs old)
Dated: Apr 24/11
Addressed to: Miss E. Nelson, Bellhaven, Ont., Dearest Ethel
Mailed from: Grand Coulee, Sask.
Relationship: Courting
Profession: Farmer
Writing instrument: Fine point pen, Black ink, but looks grey in places and pencil-like in others.
Writing Paper: Thick, textured, linen-like paper, 9 inches x 6.5 inches. Paper is folded in half, with a front and back page, but inside, Noah has turned the paper lengthwise and written straight down both pages.

People/places mentioned in this letter:
*Will - William Rigler, married to Noah's sister, Ethel
*Veda - 16 yr old daughter of Noah's sister, Eva Amelia and Joe Perrault
*Sadie - Ethel's 16 yr old sister in Belhaven
Alf - Noah's hired farm worker
Sam - Noah's horse

Other mentions:
*diptheria
** Deering seed drill
** Kentucky seed drill

* Look under the Categories/Labels in the right column for more posts on this
person.
** see Genealogy Notes below

Grand Coulee, Sask.
April 24/11.

Miss E. Nelson,
Belhaven, Ont.
Dearest Ethel;-
Received your letter last
Friday and was glad to hear
you had escaped . the
diptheria. Hope you are well
as this leaves me. also as
buisy. Ha. Ha.
Say Kid I have had a
big time getting a drill
to suite me. ordered one from
the Deering people. lost
about four days over it
so yesteraday I tookit
back & went in to Regina

and got another make. New Kentucky
brot it home & set it up today
and it is a dandy. I drove in the buggy
to Regina. and my man took the
waggon. I left the buggy in to
get painted. & Alf. that is my mans
name led Sam out behind the
waggon & I came home on the
local & brought up a team from
the Coulee, got home about 2 am.
so just laid down in the stable
& slept untill 4.30. that is the
third night I hve been out.
so I feel like bed. but as I am
going down to the office tomorrow
night thought I would not miss
this chance.
Say Ethel dont you get a letter
every week? I have not missed
writing once. but I have missed
your letters. & Oh gee aint I cranky.
I guess. ma????
Well Isuppose you have nearly
finished seeding down there by
this time. We have Wills wheat
in & will have about 2 days yet
at mine we sow from 40 to 45
acres a day with 2 drills.

Well May will soon be here
wish I were down for the 24th.
Oh you fishing.
Well Ethel Veda is not going
down to college untill after
mid summer hollidays. but
is going to the public school
now.
Tell Sadie to be careful
how she starts her letters
to the young men. Ha. Ha.
Well Ethel I guess I will
have to close for this time
& am looking for a letter so
good bye. from your Lover.
x x x x x x x x x N. C. Draper

Genealogy Notes

Noah talks about needing a new drill for seeding his crop. For whatever reason, he's not happy with his Deering model, so he brings it back and buys one with the Kentucky brand.

Deering sounds like it belongs to the John Deere company, but it's not. William Deering (1826-1913) was an American businessman who established the Deering Harvester Works in 1880. In 1902, the Deering Harvester Company and three smaller agricultural equipment companies merged with the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company to form the International Harvester Company (IHC).

In 1911, LA Langford uses a 4-horse team and an IHC grain drill to seed land in the Hanna, Alberta area. Courtesy of Glenbow Archives of Alberta.

Here's an illustration from the 1910 Kentucky Grain Drill catalogue. The big difference that I see is that with the Deering a drill, the farmer stands on either the foot boards provided at the back, or on the top of the seed hopper as in the photo at the top of this post, whereas the farmer sits at the back of the Kentucky Grain Drill. I wonder if that's why Noah calls the Kentucky make a "dandy"?

Sometimes called a seed drill, and other times called a grain drill, the purpose is to plant all the seed at a uniform depth. Before the seed grain drill was invented in 1701 by English pioneer agriculturalist Jethro Tull (1674-1741), the seed was broadcast by throwing it - a very inefficient method of sowing.

Although many farmers still use the updated versions of the older type, modern ones use hydraulics to shoot seed and fertilizer through tubes and into the ground.

I took the following video of an air drill in action from my front yard. It's not the best footage, and the sound is horrid due to the wind, but it will show you how drills have changed over 100 years.

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1911 Courtship: May 7 Dear Ethel

Genealogy Notes

1911 Courtship: May 1 Dear Noah

Genealogy Notes

1911 Courtship: May 1 Dear Ethel

Genealogy Notes

1911 Courtship: Apr 24 Dear Ethel

Genealogy Notes

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