WALTER AND SARAH SEAFOOT
(Click for original with images)
1.
Walter Seafoot was born in Saxony, Germany, on December 18, 1850. He came to Canada at the age of 2 years with an aunt. He arrived at Mitchell, Ontario. He never attended school and was a wage earner at the age of 11 years. He learned to write his name after his marriage to Sarah Roberts (born January 20, 1855) at Goderich, Ontario, on April 3, 1876.
Sarah was born in Calne, Wiltshire, England and arrived in Clinton, Ontario, in 1874.
In 1879 the couple, with their two small children, George and Albert, arrived in Winnipeg where many people lived in tents. Amelia was born there. In 1882 they built a log house on their homestead. In 1884 they obtained their first cow, their earlier children were raised on bread and tea (rather than milk and bread considered the staple food of pioneer children).
Seven of their 10 children were born at The Homestead, that is: Bill, Ema, Alex, Annie, Kathleen and Fred (one other boy died in infancy).
Walter Seafoot became a naturalized citizen in 1885, at the Brandon Court House.
The Seafoot home became a “Stopping Place” for many new settlers en route from Brandon to the land south of the Souris River. The following is a quote from Beckoning Hills, pioneer settlement in Turtle Mountain Souris-Basin Area as recorded and remembered by J.H. Nelin of Boissevain of his trek from the train at Brandon to go South in March, 1884; quote: “We had dinner at Seafoot’s a few miles south of Brandon, and north of the Souris River. Fearing we might have trouble, Mr. Seafoot came with us in case we needed help. It was very kind of him to accompany us he had to walk home. At Sheppard’s ferry, about a quarter mile east of #10 hwy. today, the water was running a foot deep on top of ice and snow began to fall.” (end of quote).
After the land was broken, any crop was put into bags and hauled to Brandon elevators via wagon or sleigh. It took one day to go and another to return. The railroad came through Carroll from Winnipeg to Regina in 1892 which made shorter delivery of crops (wheat, oats, and barley).
In 1892, also, a frame house was built. The wall plaster was very thick and held together with hides-hair from horses and is still intact in the walls upstairs. The foundation was of stone and the basement had a floor trap door entrance out of the living-room and an outdoor entrance for storage.
2.
In 1896 a barn with stone foundation was built into a bank or hill with a driveway into the left. This building burned in 1924 and was replaced by another structure on the same foundation in 1925.
Around the turn of the century, pack toting peddlars walked throughout the countryside selling sewing equipment and dress goods, sometimes mitts, clothing and footwear. They had special places to spend the night and Walter Seafoot’s was one. They often paid for lodging with merchandise. These “merchants” often got quite angry if no purchases were made.
Walter and Sarah Seafoot, like most pioneers, rose with the sun and worked all the daylight hours – the coal-oil lamps were not lighted in the summer evening, as bed was welcome after a long day.
Sarah Seafoot acted as a midwife for the birth of many babies in the district when a doctor was unavailable. She also made butter which she traded for groceries. The milk was set out in pans in the cool basement until the cream was risen to the top. It was skimmed off with a skimmer and the milk fed to the calves or pigs. The butter was packed in five or ten or twenty pound crocks and sold in slabs. Later a one-pound print was used and wrapped in butter paper at the farm. A cream separator was used by 1923.
Walter Seafoot was at the first meeting re building the Riverbank School which was opened in 1896. He was a trustee in 1898. All their children went to that school #384.
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After an active life at the farm, Mr. & Mrs. Seafoot retired to Brandon in 1923 until her death at age 87 years (in 1941), and his death in 1943 at age 92 years. They both were buried in the family plot in the Minnewawa Cemetery, near Nesbitt, Manitoba.
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3.
GEORGE AND BERTHA SEAFOOT
Walter George Seafoot, the eldest of Walter and Sarah’s children, was born in Clinton, Ontario, on February 5, 1877. His parents moved to Carroll, Manitoba and homesteaded in 1882.
When George was in his twenties, he homesteaded on 21-17-10 west half near Wolseley N.W.T. (now Saskatchewan).
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On December 2, 1903 he married Bertha Berkau Bertha was born in Toparish, Russia, on April 15, 1882. Bertha immi- grated with her family (German parentage) when she was about 6 years old.
In the years that followed he prospered, building a new house in 1912. He and Bertha had 5 children there – Edith, Emma, Fred, Gordon, and Edna. George bought shares in oil in Alberta, lots at Transcona, Manitoba, a house in Swift Current and loaned money freely. When wild oats took over the farm, and he had lost money in shares, he decided to trade the farm for a pool hall and bowling alley.
In 1916, they sold their business and homesteaded again in Eastend, Saskatchewan. A tent was brought along for them to live in and an upright water tank. The good furniture from their former home, the piano, violin, paintings and carpets were hauled out to the homestead. The tent was set up and was blown down more from high winds than it was up. George broke 10 acres right away and lumber was hauled out for a 24X32 shack with the promise of a new house in later years.
In 1917, there was no crop, so George went to work on the railroad by Govenlock and Bertha did dressmaking for the ladies of Eastend. In following years, George put up a lot of hay. He charged $5. a load.
The first years in Eastend the neighbours would gather for music and singing. Edith played the piano, George and a neigh- bour played the violin. In the winter the family skated on sloughs and skied. George and the boys made skis from left-over lumber. They boiled the tips in boilers of water and bent them over a door.
In 1921 the crops were good around Instow so the family went harvesting. Bertha and Emma on a cookcar and George and the boys pitching bundles. They spent the winter there and returned in the spring. The roofing had blown off the shack and the furniture was badly damaged. The violin was traded for seed oats which didn’t produce a crop, and the piano was lost for a $50. final payment.
Wilfred and Jubilee were born in Eastend during the twenties.
4.
George and Bertha never missed a dance or concert at Atkins School. George loved to read, listen to the radio and write stories, one of which was published in the “Blue Book” magazine. He wrote a column for the “Eastend Enterprise”. He also tried many a puzzle for extra money. He bought a steam engine to break land, mined coal and dug rocks, but never got ahead at this. In later years he was satisfied with his home and surroundings but never built the new house.
George died in 1947; Bertha on August 20, 1957. They are both buried in the Eastend Cemetery.
Edith Annie Matteson (Seafoot) was born September 12, 1904, at Wolseley, NWT. She was educated in Wolseley and had extra music training. Edith retired from Moose Jaw Training School in September 1969. She is now active in volunteer work, bowling and playing the piano for church — Sunday School, and Weddings. On January 10, 1921 she married John Matteson. John farmed and did carpenter work. He retired from air base December 31, 1965. John passed away on July 13, 1974. Edith and John had two daughters:
Sandra Anne (born February 13, 1943). She attended University of Regina and the University of Calgary. She received a degree in music and a Bachelor of Education. Sandra teaches in Calgary. She married Glen McAlister in August 1963. Glen is the manager of two Alberta Government Telephone Repair garages. They have two sons Roderick John born September 17, 1971 Kenton Glen, born February 28, 1975
Carole Jackie (born December 20, 1945). She attended University of Regina and University of Edmonton. She received a B.A. and a B.L.S.D. and is the chief librarian for the Energy Department in Edmonton. On August 20, 1966 she married Don Dawson. Don is a Personnel Director for the Alberta Government. Carole and Don have one son Edward Andrew, born August 27, 1981.
Edith 723 1st Ave. S.E.
Carole
Moose Jaw
692-8450
467-8269
Sandra 3228 26A S.W.
Calgary
249-7279
Emma Violet (Seafoot) Campbell (born August 14, 1906) was the second child of George and Bertha Seafoot. She took nurses’ training at Medicine Hat, Alberta and graduated as an R.N. in 1928. She remained nursing there at the General Hospital and married Dr. Wilfred Campbell Dec. 20, 1930. They spent the rest of their lives there. Emma died on March 15, 1973. They had two children: Archie (born November 10, 1932) and Kay (born March 8, 1935).
5.
Wilf. Campbell married Mary Marshall on October 27, 1973.
George Archibald Campbell
Archie (born November 10, 1932) is the elder child of Emma and Dr. Wilf Campbell. He graduated from the U. of Alberta with B.Sc. in Physics in 1961 and worked for several years in Alberta Government Telephones in mobile radio Servicing. He is presently
an Electronics Instructor at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (since 1963). He married Margaret Eleanor Webb (born August 19, 1933) on June 1, 1957, who has a B.Sc. degree in Pharmacy and worked for several years and is presently involved as a Layperson in the United Church, acting as a chairperson for conferences and other national committees. They had one girl, Janet and two boys, Robert and James.
Janet Eleanor (born September 27, 1959) has a diploma from Grant McEwen College in Rehabilitation Services, and works as a teacher aide in Glenrose Hospital School with a blind student.
Robert Stewart (born Sept. 14, 1960) has a high school diploma and works as a maintenance man at 2 shopping centres.
James Archibald (born Oct. 9, 1964) has a high school diploma and works part time with Hudson Bay Co.
Kathleen Mary (Campbell) (born March 8, 1935) McCallum was born and raised in Medicine Hat, Alberta. She attended the University of Alberta for two years in the Arts Programme majoring in Psychology. She then attended the Edmonton General Hospital for one year and graduated in 1956 as a Medical Record Librarian (now called Health Record Administrator). On Sept. 1, 1956, she married James Lorne McCallum (born Nov. 1934) who was a pilot in the R.C.A.F. and later became an Air Traffic Controller. They were divorced in April 1976.
On August 6, 1976, Kay married Clifford Spence (born June 26, 1926) who owned and operated his own Commercial Real Estate business. They were divorced in April 1980 and Kay legally changed her name back to McCallum. In September 1980 Kay moved back to Medicine Hat where she is employed at the Medicine Hat and District Hospital as a Health Record Administrator. She enjoys such interests as golf, tennis, reading and crocheting. Kay and Jim McCallum have 3 children 2 boys and 1 girl.
James Campbell McCallum (born July 15, 1957)
A Journeyman Autobody Mechanic who works for Intercity Glass and Auto in Medicine Hat.
Jim’s greatest love has always been cars, but he also enjoys golf and hockey, as well as coaching hockey in the Minor Hockey Association.
Robert Neil McCallum (born May 22, 1959) A Journeyman Electrician working for Reco Electric in Calgary. Neil enjoys football, racquetball, fishing, and hunting.
Patricia Kathleen McCallum (born August 4, 1961) Pat is completing her second year in the Police Sciences Program at Mount Royal College in Calgary. She hopes to join the Police Department in Medicine Hat when she is finished. Pat’s interests are tennis, racquetball, soccer, biking, and jogging.
ADDRESSES
Dr. W.C. Campbell 46 Chinook Dr. S.W. Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 7M6 Ph. 526-3618
Jim McCallum 236C – 5th St., S.E. Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 0M6 Ph. 526-8618
Mrs. Kay McCallum 29 Campbell Cres. S.E. Medicine Hat, Alberta T1B 1J7 Ph. 526-4804
Miss Patty McCallum #31 – 3528 Charleswood Dr. NW Calgary, Alberta T2L 2C3 Ph.: 282-8095
Neil McCallum #707, 3600 Brenner Dr. NW Calgary, Alberta T2L 1Y2 Ph.: 284-9813
George Archibald & Margaret Eleanor Campbell 10220-70 Street Edmonton, Alberta T6A 2T4James Campbell McCallum (born July 15, 1957)