R. J. REID AND FAMILY – by Mel Reid
Dick Reid and with his family and brother-in-law, Sam Christian, arrived in Innisfail in early summer of 1900, from Bracebridge, Ontario. They both proceeded to homestead west of Innisfail across the Red Deer River. They couldn't get to see their homesteads due to high water, so being thoroughly disgusted, they took off for Seattle where the family spent their first western winter. By early spring 1901, they were back in Calgary and Dad filed on a homestead, one mile north of Crossfield. Sam took his eight miles northwest of town. The family lived in Calgary on 8th Ave. and 4th Street east in one of Mayor Costello's houses. The two men worked on government survey crews for the next two summers and during the winter they went to logging camps. Early in the spring of 1903 they built a shack on Dad's homestead and in April of that year, leaving the family to take the train to Crossfield, they drove up with team and wagon and all our possessions, leading a cow behind. The family arrived at Crossfield depot, a boxcar, and couldn't get across to the George Becker Hotel on account of too much water and no sidewalks. Mr. Becker and Mr. Joe McCool Senior, who then had a store, came over and carried most of the family to the hotel.
In a couple of days, we were happily together on the homestead. Many ups and downs happened in the years to follow. In the fall of 1906, then a family of six children, diphtheria struck, taking the lives of the three youngest. We moved into town for the winter and in the spring of 1907, my older brother Wellington, died at the age of 12 years. That summer Dad had a railroad construction crew and Mother, Stanley, and myself moved from camp to camp with them. I remember some of our teamsters where Hugh McIntyre, Sam Christian, Archie Broadhurst, Carl Riddle and Dan McFadyen. Of course, I was old enough to go to work, so I was ploughboy. That was the year the fill was put in for side track and railroad crossing at Wessex, Carstairs, Radnor and Kananaskis, west of Calgary and Sawback, about 12 miles west of Banff. I remember so well the echo of the train whistles through the mountains. We moved back on the farm late that fall and continued to live there until 1926, when Dad sold out and moved to Langley, British Columbia.
During the time 1906 to 1926 eight more children were born to the Reid family, nearly all starting their school days at Crossfield. What has happened to the Reid family and where are they now? Dad passed away at Langley, British Columbia in 1950 at the age of 78 years. Mother remarried a few years ago, now Mrs. Wm. Moore lives at Whonrock [White Rock], British Columbia. At the age of 84, she lives a healthy and happy life which she so rightfully deserves.
And now down the line of their family: Mel and wife live in Calgary, have one son living in Jasper, a daughter at home. Stanley passed away at Crossfield in 1961 at the age of 62. Cliff and wife live in Calgary, have two daughters, and one son. Clayton and wife live in North Surrey, British Columbia, two sons and one daughter. Lila, Mrs. Jack McDonald lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, one daughter, Viola, Mrs. Ralph Smith lives in Summerland, British Columbia, two sons, Violet, Mrs. Murchison, a widow, two sons. Nelson and wife live at Langley, British Columbia, one daughter and one son. Norman and wife live in Summerland, British Columbia, one daughter and two sons. Mildred, Mrs. Wm. Berry lives at Langley, British Columbia, two sons and one daughter.
I neglected to say that the few spruce trees near the railroad track and close to the road mark the graves of those four who died during the fall of 1906 and spring of 1907, as the Village of Crossfield did not have a cemetery at that early date.
Prairie Sod and Goldenrod: History of Crossfield and District
Published by The Crossfield History Committee in 1977. Hardcover. 359 pages.
https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/CS.aspx?VP3=DamView&VBID=2R3BXZJKFN14T&SMLS=1&RW=1536&RH=695 (accessed February 29, 2024)
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British Columbia Registration of Death 1976-09-007873
Born: Crossfield, Alberta
Daughter of Stanley Reid
Wife of Ralph Harold Smith
Died: Penticton Regional Hospital, Penticton, B.C.
Informant: Ralph H. Smith - husband
Burial: 14 May 1976, Lakeview Cemetery, Penticton, B.C.
R. J. REID AND FAMILY – by Mel Reid
Dick Reid and with his family and brother-in-law, Sam Christian, arrived in Innisfail in early summer of 1900, from Bracebridge, Ontario. They both proceeded to homestead west of Innisfail across the Red Deer River. They couldn't get to see their homesteads due to high water, so being thoroughly disgusted, they took off for Seattle where the family spent their first western winter. By early spring 1901, they were back in Calgary and Dad filed on a homestead, one mile north of Crossfield. Sam took his eight miles northwest of town. The family lived in Calgary on 8th Ave. and 4th Street east in one of Mayor Costello's houses. The two men worked on government survey crews for the next two summers and during the winter they went to logging camps. Early in the spring of 1903 they built a shack on Dad's homestead and in April of that year, leaving the family to take the train to Crossfield, they drove up with team and wagon and all our possessions, leading a cow behind. The family arrived at Crossfield depot, a boxcar, and couldn't get across to the George Becker Hotel on account of too much water and no sidewalks. Mr. Becker and Mr. Joe McCool Senior, who then had a store, came over and carried most of the family to the hotel.
In a couple of days, we were happily together on the homestead. Many ups and downs happened in the years to follow. In the fall of 1906, then a family of six children, diphtheria struck, taking the lives of the three youngest. We moved into town for the winter and in the spring of 1907, my older brother Wellington, died at the age of 12 years. That summer Dad had a railroad construction crew and Mother, Stanley, and myself moved from camp to camp with them. I remember some of our teamsters where Hugh McIntyre, Sam Christian, Archie Broadhurst, Carl Riddle and Dan McFadyen. Of course, I was old enough to go to work, so I was ploughboy. That was the year the fill was put in for side track and railroad crossing at Wessex, Carstairs, Radnor and Kananaskis, west of Calgary and Sawback, about 12 miles west of Banff. I remember so well the echo of the train whistles through the mountains. We moved back on the farm late that fall and continued to live there until 1926, when Dad sold out and moved to Langley, British Columbia.
During the time 1906 to 1926 eight more children were born to the Reid family, nearly all starting their school days at Crossfield. What has happened to the Reid family and where are they now? Dad passed away at Langley, British Columbia in 1950 at the age of 78 years. Mother remarried a few years ago, now Mrs. Wm. Moore lives at Whonrock [White Rock], British Columbia. At the age of 84, she lives a healthy and happy life which she so rightfully deserves.
And now down the line of their family: Mel and wife live in Calgary, have one son living in Jasper, a daughter at home. Stanley passed away at Crossfield in 1961 at the age of 62. Cliff and wife live in Calgary, have two daughters, and one son. Clayton and wife live in North Surrey, British Columbia, two sons and one daughter. Lila, Mrs. Jack McDonald lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, one daughter, Viola, Mrs. Ralph Smith lives in Summerland, British Columbia, two sons, Violet, Mrs. Murchison, a widow, two sons. Nelson and wife live at Langley, British Columbia, one daughter and one son. Norman and wife live in Summerland, British Columbia, one daughter and two sons. Mildred, Mrs. Wm. Berry lives at Langley, British Columbia, two sons and one daughter.
I neglected to say that the few spruce trees near the railroad track and close to the road mark the graves of those four who died during the fall of 1906 and spring of 1907, as the Village of Crossfield did not have a cemetery at that early date.
Prairie Sod and Goldenrod: History of Crossfield and District
Published by The Crossfield History Committee in 1977. Hardcover. 359 pages.
https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/CS.aspx?VP3=DamView&VBID=2R3BXZJKFN14T&SMLS=1&RW=1536&RH=695 (accessed February 29, 2024)
----
British Columbia Registration of Death 1976-09-007873
Born: Crossfield, Alberta
Daughter of Stanley Reid
Wife of Ralph Harold Smith
Died: Penticton Regional Hospital, Penticton, B.C.
Informant: Ralph H. Smith - husband
Burial: 14 May 1976, Lakeview Cemetery, Penticton, B.C.
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