Category: Update

Courtship Letter Special: July 20 From Ma & Sadie

7/7/2013

The Massey Harris binder about to start cutting the wheat. Courtesy of wikipedia.

In this week's letter, Ethel's ma tells Ethel that Pa bought a new binder and already has some wheat cut. This was necessary since their old binder burned in their barn fire. Although the above photo shows a binder pulled by a tractor, in 1911 Ethel's pa would use horses to pull his binder which would cut the wheat, tie a string about a bunch of stalks to bind them in a sheaf, then drop the sheaves by the side where someone would come along and stand them in stooks or shooks to dry. The shape allowed the rain to slide off.

Author of Letter: Ida Amelia Glover Nelson and Sadie Nelson
Dated:  July 20th, 1911
Addressed to: Dear Ethel (Ethel is up in Huntsville, Ontario visiting Ida Amelia's sister, Sarah Elizabeth Glover)
Mailed from: Belhaven, Ont.
Relationship:  Ethel's ma, and Ethel's 16 yr old sister
Profession:  Farm Family
Writing instrument: Blue Ink
Written on: Off-white, beautifully textured, linen-like paper, 9 inches x 7 inches, folded in half. Two notepapers, one with a pansy motif, the other with a forget-me-not motif.

People/places mentioned in this letter:

- *Christie - Christine Maud Nelson - Ethel and Sadie's 6 yr old sister
- Crouders - *Crowders
- *Noah Draper - Ethel's fiance out on the Canadian prairies
- *Elva Mitchell - see Special Letter of July 15 as well as Label list
- Pa - *James Henry Nelson
- Grandma - *Eliza Crouch Nelson in Aikens, Benton, Iowa, USA
- Aunt Lill - Lillian Maria Blizzard married to Pa's cousin, James A. Nelson- **Sarah - *Sarah Elizabeth Glover, sister of Ethel's ma
- Theao Ralston
- Francis Slingerland
- Edna, Wilmot, Gertie, and Lottie
- Sweets and Thompsons
- Gertie and Walt Brooks
- Nancy
- Perry Morton

Legend:
* Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this
person/place/thing. If you don't see a label, use the search box at the top of page.
** see Genealogy Notes below

Page 1 - Written by Ethel's ma, Ida Amelia Glover

Belhaven July 20. 1911
Dear Ethel.
got your letter tuesday
I suppose you are going
to the picnic. we are
staying at home having
a good time watching the
people go by Crouders just
went by in a buss it is Just
1/2 past 9 oclock. I washed tuesday
Sadie and Christie went picking
berries got 2 quarts we had 7
men tuesday. yesterday Just

Page 2 - Written by Ethel's ma, Ida Amelia Glover

our own men and J and
your pa went to theao
Ralstons raising and I
got the sick head ache
came home and went to
bed. there was only about
50 men and 15 women
and some kids. they had
a nice supper but I couldnt
eat any they were very
clever with me. and there
was Noah Draper from
the west there. when I heard
them peeking about Noah
you bet I did some squinting
untill i saw him but it
wasnt tall Noah.

Page 3 - written by Sadie

Ma is getting to be a
regular gad about
since you went away
She has been away
nearly everyday. Tuesday
was the only day she
stayed home. Christie
wants us to tell you
that she can comb her
hair. I have got two
cards and you got
a letter from Elva
and pa got one from
grandma. I am having
a fine time since you
went away. Francis
Slingerland came here

Page 4 - written by Sadie

Sunday after dinner
and stayed until
after nine at night
Edna, Wilmot, Gertie
and Lottie have been
here. I was down to
Sweets and Thompsons.
The rigs are just stringing
along here to the picnic.
There has been an awful
lot go. Mine hasn't come
yet but will be here soon.
Gertie was here last
night and Walt Brooks
walked home with her.
Ma is going to see how
Aunt Lill is if she can

Page 5 switches to Ethel's ma where she writes, "Well Sadie has been spinning yarns..."

over the 'phone
She did and she
is better. We have
got beets and
beans on for
dinner and we
are going to have
green apples for
supper. (Don't your
mouth water?) We have
got liver too for dinner.
well Sadie has been
spinning yarns I was
to Crouders 1/2 a hour was
not in house and to

Page 6 - written by Ethel's ma

Nancies about 3/4 hours
took her nives home
well i must quit
this and get to work
perry Morton is working
here to day Christie
has got to go to
belhaven for salt
for dinner.
Sadie has got the blues every rig goes
by it makes her worse
there was a big storm
yesterday. we have got
our new Binder set
up and one piece
of wheat cut

Page 7 - written by Ethel's ma

well my head aches
and i dont feel
very good wish
i could scribble
some more. but i
must quit how
is Sarah hope she
is better did you get
a return tickit if
you did you will have to come
in a month for it is only good
for a month unless you got
if for longer. say you
write soon for i get
the blues once in a while.
Sadie is looking bad she is
holding her mouth on one side
she looks so cross.

Page 8 - written by Sadie

Ma wants to know
if we can set the old
hen behind the bee boxes
If so how soon? How
many eggs do you
think she can cover.
It is the grey hen that
has a red feather for
a collar. They have
got the barn boarded
in and the floor
nearly all laid. As we
can't afford to waste
any more paper over
you we will have to quit
Write soon
Ma and Sadie

Genealogy Notes

Genealogy Note 1: Update on Fred Coventry's Sister in Alberta

Update to Louie and Fred Coventry going to visit his sister in Alberta which Noah mentioned in his last letter in 1911 Courtship: July 19 Dear Ethel... we have a new development. While researching the Coventry family and trying to find out what happened to Louie (Noah's sister), I hit a newspaper goldmine on the usual ourontario.ca website I use for the Newmarket Era except this time, I've discovered the Halton News which encompasses the Acton Free Press and Georgetown Herald.

The Coventry family came from the Halton area of Peel Country, Ontario and the newspapers covered many of their social events. One of the first items I discovered was a wedding announcement for Maggie Coventry aka Margaret Jane Coventry and a Mr. W. T. Campbell.

Acton Free Press (Acton, ON), 1 Aug 1901, p. 2

CAMPELL-COVENTRY - At the residence of the Bride's parents, Kenlis, Assa., on Wednesday, 10th July 1901, by Rev. A. Robson, Mr. W. T. Campell to Miss Maggie Coventry, daughter of David Coventry.

From the same newspapers I've found the obituary for Fred's father, David Coventry, as well as the brief announcement on Louie's death. They are both almost illegible due to the inking process and I need to decipher them. However, I've read enough to know that David Coventry's daughter, Mrs. W. T. Campbell (Margaret Jane) lives in Vancouver, BC and his other daughter, Mrs. C. F. Powell, lives in Alberta. So it's not Maggie in Alberta, but rather Mary Catherine whom I thought stayed in Ontario. (I've updated last week's Genealogy Note 1)

Genealogy Note 2 - The Lennox Picnic

Can't you just picture 16 yr old Sadie in this week's letter as she stands by the door watching all the rigs and outfits (autos and conveyances) filled with excited people as they make their way to the Lennox Picnic?

I love the part where Ethel's ma writes on page 7, "Sadie is looking bad she is holding her mouth on one side she looks so cross."

For more info on the Lennox Picnic, check the Genealogy Note 3 on July 2: Dear Noah. Here is a news article about the post 1911 Lennox Picnic:

The Newmarket Era. July 28, 1911 - Page: 5, Part 1

That's 15,000 people attending the Conservative Party's annual picnic and a good portion of those people drove right past the Nelson farm where Sadie stood by the door watching them go by. No wonder she felt she was missing out.

However, other snippets tell of pickpockets in the crowd, as well as people coming home with empty pockets due to buying the refreshments. Many people commented that their neighbors either got home late and loud, or didn't get home until the next day. By most accounts, it sounds more like a 'liberal' party than a 'conservative' one.

The Newmarket Era. July 28, 1911 - Page: 5, Part 2

1911 Courtship: July 9 Dear Noah

5/27/2013

Playing Croquet in 1900-1920's Ontario. Courtesy of Burlington History Collection, http://www.bpl.on.ca

Author of Letter: Ethel Isabell Nelson, age 21 (born 31 May 1890)
Dated:  July 9th, 1911
Addressed to: My Dearest Noah (Mr. N. C. Draper, Grand Coulee, Sask.)
Mailed from:  Belhaven, Ont.
Relationship:  Courting
Profession:  Farmer's Daughter
Writing instrument: Fine point pen, blue ink
Written on: Ivory, slightly thick, textured, linen-like paper, 9 inches x 7 inches, folded in half. Ethel has folded the paper in half and written in booklet form where the front and back are pages 1 and 4, but inside, she wrote the right side first and then the left, so the order of pages are 1, 3, 2, and 4. Of course, I've rearranged them here for clarity.

People/places mentioned in this letter:

- Pa -  *James Henry Nelson
- Ma - *Ida Amelia Glover
- *Sadie Nelson - Ethel's 16 yrs old sister
- *Christie Nelson - Ethel's 10 yr old sister
- *Veda Perrault - Noah's 16 yr old niece (Joe & Eva Amelia's daughter)
- *John Winter - husband of *Sarah Elizabeth Glover, sister of Ethel's ma
- **Mr John Warriner (Ethel spells it Warner)
- G.C. - It appears we're missing one of Noah's letters.
- **Edith Draper
- Orville *King - close neighbor

- Update **Kellington

- croquet - a game played with mallets, balls, and wickets, shown above
- Ethel mentions the heat wave which will be in next week's Genealogy Notes
- *Hunstville
- *Keswick
- ** Pink Pills

Word/Phrase Use - 'go for' for 'gopher'

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

Belhaven. July 9.th 1911,

My Dearest Noah,
Well I was glad to
know you were able to be having a
good time. as it leaves us all well
but very tired indeed. we have been as
busy as anyone could be. We did'nt have our
raising yester day. but are having it tuesday
afternoon. Say! just come along now and
we can give you enough to eat now.
if you never did get enough here before. Oh Say it
is hot in this kitchen of ours, (baking)

Pa & I were up to Keswick this
morning to Mr John Warner's funeral.
He dropped dead on thursday night.
amid the excitement of a game of
croquet. We dont find much time to
play croquet this summer,
Sadie is going to write a letter to Veda
this afternoon. Say. Sadie got your
card all safe & sound. I hope she
never has the misfortune that poor girl
was having.
I am going to Huntsville on Saturday
July 15 if nothing happens. I hope your
letter happens to come on Friday next.
Send my letters to Huntsville in
careof John Winter. I certainly do wish
you were going there too. I expect to stay

about a month or 6 weeks.
Say! you had better "don't suppose"
I was with G.C. on the first. I
hav'nt been in his rig since you
went home. Nor do I want to be
when I am with other people sometimes.
I just get so lonesome. thinking about.
you. I don't half enjoy my self. I think
it will be my happiest day when
I see you again. wish it were to-morrow.
It was 90 in the High School on
Monday last. the heat here has never
been so. for 100 years back.
Saw Edith Draper this forenoon she is
the same old girl. Say don't let those
old railroad men carry you away.
I hope they are finished by your place when
I go up. for if they are anything like the

gang of men that worked on this track
down here. I'd want to be out of their
reach. even though I wouldn't be much
loss if they did carry me away. "eh"
If I were you I would 'go for' that (gopher)
Were you able to read your last letter
Sadie & Christie thot they would
like to read it, so of course they had
to do their best to get it. Sadie is
lying here on the bed sound asleep.
It is starting to rain. My it will do ever
so much good. & Ihope it cools the air a
bit. I don't know wether Orville King is
going west in time for the fair or not
but he says he's going this fall. He wanted
to know if I was going and I told him I
thot I would wait until he came back. Lahs (?)
I close now with love from your Sweetheart.
x x x x x x x Ethel Nelson

Genealogy Notes

There are 3 Genealogy Notes this week:

Genealogy Note #1 - Kellington Update re 1911 Courtship: July 2 Dear Noah where Ethel writes, "Mr & Mrs John Kellington are here visiting & Mr R. Davidson's are they living anywhere near you."

When I posted the above letter, I didn't quite understand what Ethel was saying. My genealogy notes for that post shows my research for the James Kellington family, but nothing on R Davidson's because I couldn't find any appropriate R Davidson's in the North West. However, Ethel kept mentioning Robert or Rob't Davidson who lived on the 5th Concession near Belhaven. She mentions him in the following letters:
- 1911 Courtship: July 2 Dear Noah
- 1911 Courtship: May 7 Dear Noah
- 1911 Courtship: May 21 Dear Noah

After more research into last week's letter for James Kellington however, I've found the following obituary of 1958:

The Newmarket Era. Dec 11, 1958 Pg 5

The obituary at left is for James Wesley Kellington who married Hattie (Ida Elizabeth) Draper in 18 Feb 1904.

James and Hattie moved west to Estevan which is about 190 km/118 miles southeast of Grand Coulee where Noah lives.

However, this obituary states that James' sister, Lillie, married Robt (Robert) Davidson and lives in Belhaven. Robert and Lillie married 19 Mar 1904 and their children match those of the Robert Davidson mentioned in Ethel's letters.

Genealogy Note #2 - Edith Draper In this week's letter, Ethel writes, "Saw Edith Draper this forenoon. She is the same old girl."

This is not the same Edith/Edyth Draper mentioned in 1911 Courtship: Mar 5, Dear Noah who was Noah's 1st cousin since his dad, David, and her dad, Stephen, were brothers.

Although this week's Edith Draper was also born in Belhaven, she was born in 1868, so in 1911 as a 42 yr old spinster, she really is "the old girl" as Ethel writes. She was Noah's 2nd cousin once removed as they share the same g-g-grandfather.

Edith Alicia Sarah Jane Draper was the 14th out of 15 children born to Luther Draper (1819 - 1904) and Hannah Bennett (1823 - 1917). Twelve years separated Edith from her next older sisters, twins Martha and Margaret, born in 1856, so Edith may have stayed home and single to care for her aging parents because she was the youngest female and felt obligated. However, another reason may be that she was ill much of the time.

The Newmarket Era. July 6, 1894 - Pg 2

The Newmarket Era. May 31, 1901 - Pg: 7

In fact, if it hadn't been for the above snippets and others, I wouldn't have believed the following ad which not only appeared in The Newmarket Era, but also in the February 17, 1898 edition on Page 7 of the Qu'Appelle Progress in The North West Territories (now Saskatchewan).

The Newmarket Era. February 12, 1897 - Pg: 5

The Newmarket Era. Feb 12, 1897 - Pg 5

Whether Luther and Hannah Draper approved of the ads, or perhaps even was paid a stipend for them I can't tell you. Neither do I know if Edith suffered from the ailments
mentioned in the ads. At the time, ads for Dr. Williams' Pink Pills abounded in the local papers and I have nothing to prove or disprove their value. However, for a girl who suffered heart failure, etc in 1894 as a 26 yr old and stayed sick for several years, she went on to live a fulfilling life.

Luther's death record states he died at 85 yrs of age from old age. In 1911 during Ethel's letter, Edith was still living at home and caring for her 88 year old mother, Hannah, as shown in the following 1911 Canada Census:

1911 Canada Census for Hannah Draper and daughter, Edith.

As the above census shows, Hannah is a widow and is the head of the house, and her daughter, Edith, is living with her. The last column shows neither have an occupation, so Luther must have left them enough money to live in comfort without having to work.

Since I don't think Ethel mentions Edith again, I'll tell you the rest of her story because it's quite inspiring and I may even use her for a character model some day...

Hannah died in June of 1917 at 93 years old with the official cause of death being old age after 2 yrs of senile weakness. Edith is listed as the informant...
... and was for the first time in her 49 yrs, Edith was alone.

There is much more to the story of Miss Edith Draper, but it will have to wait for another day.

Genealogy Note 3 - John Warriner - he's not in the family tree according to my research to date, but I found a very ineresting Era snippet about him when you look at it in context with Edith's snippet above...

The Newmarket Era. July 14, 1911 - Page: 6

It was with deep regret I learned
of the sudden termination of the life
of my esteemed friend, John War-
riner of Keswick.
I feel confident that in the use of
patent medicines such as Dr. Wil-
liam's Pink Pills, etc, his life might
have been prolonged for many years.
But medical etiquette is inexorable.
Under no circumstances would such
remedies be prescribed. Our sin-
cere sympathy is with the bereaved
friends.

Of course, now I want to know about these little pink pills that Miss Edith Draper took and thrived, and Mr. Warriner didn't take and died. The snippet seems to imply that many considered them more of a 'snake oil' remedy than a proven medical alternative. If anyone out there knows, please share your knowledge. Otherwise, I guess I have more research waiting.

1911 Courtship: Mar 26, Dear Noah

10/21/2012

We've been posting the letters of Noah Draper of Grand Coulee, Saskatchewan, and Ethel Nelson of Belhaven, Ontario, who began exchanging courtship letters in February 1911. The last letter published was Mar 20, Dear Ethel however, the links to all the letters are listed here.

Author of Letter: Ethel Isabell Nelson, age 21
Dated:   March 26th, 1911
Addressed to: Mr N. C. Draper, Grand Coulee
Mailed from:  Belhaven, Ontario
Relationship: Courting
Profession: Farmer's Daughter
Writing instrument: Fine point pen, Black ink
Written on: Slightly thick, textured linen-like paper, 9 inches x 6.5 inches. Once again, Ethel has written page 2 and 3 lengthwise so you have to turn the letter after the first page and then turn it back for the final page.

People mentioned in this letter:

- Maud Bruels - friend of Ethel, I'll add a post card from her soon
- Frank Tomilson and Bessie Chapman*
- Stanley Mahoney and May Anderson*
- Elgin Barker and Ada Boadway*
- Veda - (Veda Perrault, daughter of Noah's sister, Eva & Joseph Perault)
- Jim Barker*

- Update on the Draper move west posted below under Genealogical Notes*

Belhaven Mar 26th 1911

Mr. N.C. Draper,
        Grand Coulee,
My Dear Noah. --
                    I have just come
home from Church, and I am
very thankful . I am here . for it
is raining quilt hard. There were
not many out, I guess it was
to dark.
                     Maud Bruels came
home with us from Sunday
School and stayed for tea. Say. she
is quilt a girl. She is talking of
going out to British Columbia in about
     two weeks.

            Do you remember Frank Tomilson!
He is engaged to Bessie Chapman.
They say she is only sixteen. I think
She is to young. (just like myself.) dont you?
They are to be married in June.
Stanley Mahoney and May Anderson.
are also engaged, and Elgin Barker and
Ada Boadway Suppose there are lots
more.
        Will you soon be starting seeding?
I don't think it will be long before they
get started here. Pa has hired a foreigner
for a while, He is quilt a musician.
         Well Noah I wish you did not
live so far away. I think if you were
nearer here time would pass or seem to
pass much quicker. for me anyway.
           Hope you are having a good
time all these days.
           Suppose Veda is studying hard
ready to try for her Entrance.

   Was reading a story in one of
your magazines last night
"River Robers." I think it was fine.
Am reading Uncle Tom's Cabin now.
It is quite nice.
       Jim Barker starts for the West
next Monday. I dont know just what
post he is going to. I think I have
did some poor writing to night,
as you say all blots & blurs & blunders
are kisses. I think there are a good
many of them.
             I can't think of any thing
much more that I can write. But
if you were only here. Guess I could
talk awhile. If I was'nt to overjoyed,
Will be looking for your letter.
and waiting for the time when it will
be you I am looking to see come. Good-Bye
    xxx              x x x          from Yours. Ethel

Genealogy Notes

*Frank Tomilson and Bessie Chapman: Finding these two was more difficult because I assumed Bessie would be listed under an official name like Elizabeth. Nope. My initial search for Frank Tomilson and Elizabeth Chapman didn't offer any appropriate choices. But when I searched for Bessie Chapman alone, I found a 1901 census with an 8 yr old Bessie Chapman living in Ethel's area. In the sidebar of that page was a suggested list of relevant records which
included a 1911 census. The census was taken in June of that year and lists Bessie as being 17 yrs old with a birthday in Dec.

Yet another suggested relevant record was Bessie's marriage certificate to Frank Tomilson. I pulled it up and guess what? It shows that Frank married Bessie on Aug 16, 1911 except it lists Bessie's age as 19 yrs old...

Isn't that funny how a person can age a couple years in a few months. 'Nuff said.

*Stanley Mahoney and May Anderson: The Mahoney's have been mentioned twice in these letters so far:
- Mar 12, Dear Noah - a brief mention about Mr. Mahoney's buggy
- Mar 20, Dear Ethel - an explanation of the Mahoney Family
According to the 1911 census, 22 yr old Stanley Mahoney is one of Della's younger brothers. When I clicked on Stanley, suggested relevant records showed up in the sidebar of his census record and one of them was a marriage record which showed that Stanley Mahoney and Edith Mae Anderson would marry in Belhaven on June 17th, 1912. According to Voters Lists, the Stanley Mahoney family would stay in the area for many years.

*Elgin Barker and Ada Boadway: I searched for Elgin Barker with a spouse named Ada and their location as Gwillimbury Township, York County, Ontario, Canada - the same location as Ethel - and the first thing that popped up was their marriage certificate. Here's their story... In Oct of 1912, 28 yr old Elgin and 22 yr old Ada would marry in nearby Sutton. There is no mention of Elgin and Ada in the 1916 Census for the Canadian NorthWest Territories (now Saskatchewan), so we don't know if they ever made it to the West. However, in Nov of 1919, Elgin Barker, his wife, Ada, and their 4 children crossed the international border at Niagara Falls with a destination of New York. While searching the newspaper for info on Elgin Barker, this showed up:

However, while checking the newspaper to see if Jim Barker ever went west, I came upon this notice:

BELHAVEN.

    Prof. Dales...
    Mr. Elgin Barker, Mr. Harold
Winch, Mr. Orman Willoughby and
Mr. Orville King left for the West
this week. They will appreciate home
when they land in Ontario in the
fall.
    If reports are true, bells are ring-
ing already, though there are no
signs of sleighing yet.

I didn't find Jim Barker going West yet, but it seems that Elgin Barker went west before he married Ada Boadway and emigrated to the U.S.

According to other reports in this Newmarket newspaper, the sound of bells is used when there's a rumour of impending marriage but it hasn't officially been announced. I assume this is the rumour of engagement between Elgin and Ada.

*Update on when Noah's family moved West - Further to the last update which I'm still thanking Geoff Bowerman for, I found a bit more information about Noah's father, David Draper. We know David Draper moved his family west in 1903 after Noah finished school, but apparently he didn't sell his land at that time. Perhaps he wanted to hang on to it in case the upheaval didn't work out. He may have rented it for a while, too, but whatever the case, it was the end of 1904 when he got around to selling his farm in Ontario:

David Draper Auction Sale, Newmarket Era, pg 3, Nov 25, 1904

When I searched the old newspapers for an obituary for Noah's father, I found this:

David Draper Obituary, Newmarket Era, pg 6, dated July 2, 1909.

1906 Percy's Policy

7/2/2012

In the continuing story of Noah and Ethel, I’m posting the letters, cards, and other bits of historical papers I found in the treasure box collected by Ethel and handed down to my husband. For a list of corresponding posts, check the Genealogy Post Index.

This past week, I went through the final envelope which contained a haphazard collection of legal documents from several generations. Some of them are private, but others should be posted for their historical value, and genealogical information. That's why I'm presenting this life insurance policy - it gives genealogical information about the Draper Family and helps answer the question of when they moved to Saskatchewan.

Life Insurance Document:

Company: The Supreme Court of the Independent Order of Foresters
Benefit Member: Percy R. Draper of Grand Coulee, Saskatchewan
Beneficiary: Sarah Draper (nee Deverell)
Relationship: Mother
Amount of Policy: 1000 Dollars or 200 pounds sterling
Dated: 19 November 1906 in Toronto, Ontario
Writing instrument: Black Inked pen

Tri-folded 1906 Life Insurance Policy for Percy R. Draper.

The policy is tri-folded so the centre block with Percy's name, his address, the amount, and the policy number are on the outside and the two flaps fold inside.

When fully opened, the 'benefit certificate' measures 12 inches x 19 inches. I find it strange that the policy isn't in Percy's handwriting, nor is it signed by him. I base this fact on his handwritten postcard to Noah in the post, 100 Year Old Postcards.

1906 Life Insurance Policy for Percy R Draper

Please excuse the reproduction quality of these images. Since I didn't want to create new folds in this 106 year old document by photocopying it, my only choice was taking photos.

In case you can't make out the detail of the header image, I'm showing it below again and hoping it's better quality.

1906 The Supreme Order of Foresters Whole Life Benefit Certificate.

With the document folded in half once again, you read where Percy named his mother, Sarah Draper as his sole beneficiary. By naming his mother, the document tells us that in November 1906, Percy was still a single man, because if he had been married, he would have named his wife as his beneficiary instead of his mother.

1906 Life Insurance Policy naming Sarah Draper as beneficiary

Through this post, I hope others looking into their genealogies will realize that one document or one small newspaper clipping won't give a complete picture of your ancestors. However each is small puzzle piece in the overall picture of your past. When placed in a timeline, those small bits of information flow together to tell the story of how you came to be where you are today.

Some good news:

A welcome event happened this week due to the posting of material from Ethel's treasure box... one of the Draper descendants commented on 1909: To Noah, A Letter From Home and as well as 100 Year Old Postcards and left valuable information which has solved the first major puzzle of this story.

Thank you going out to Geoff Bowerman who commented that David Draper moved his wife, Sarah, and their children, Percy, Louie, Jennie, and Noah to the NorthWest Territories (now Saskatchewan) in 1903. He based this on Noah and Ethel's 1912 marriage certificate.

Since I have that document listed as a citation for proof of their marriage, I went to take a closer look at it and indeed, Mr. Geoff Bowerman is correct. I had missed the line where it lists Noah as having lived in Grand Coulee as of 1903. Geoff was also correct about the bad handwriting, because I can't make out if they moved in June or July 1903. The word looks like Juny.

So what does this all mean? It means that the family moved west as soon as Noah - the youngest child - received his school certificate, dated July 1903, as shown in my post, Noah & Ethel 1887-1911.

In the story of Noah and Ethel, we now know:
- their place and date of birth
- when they completed school
- what they each did in the time leading up to their courtship year

Or do we? We still don't know why Noah was in Burk's Falls, Ontario on 25 Dec 1908. As a mixed farmer, he would be required on the farm during the winter months. Would he leave Sarah, Jennie and Louie alone to do the chores? Or were they strictly grain farmers?

I'll present another piece to the puzzle of Noah and Ethel next week.

Courtship Letter Special: July 20 From Ma & Sadie

Genealogy Notes

1911 Courtship: July 9 Dear Noah

Genealogy Notes

1911 Courtship: Mar 26, Dear Noah

Genealogy Notes

1906 Percy's Policy

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