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THE WILLIAM GLASMAN FAMILY - by (Mrs. Earl)
Alice Glasman
During the late 1890's, Mr. August Leifer Sr., a native of Fairfax,
Minnesota, U.S.A., and a land agent in his time, had travelled to Manitoba before his
death. His interest in its fertile lands, led to his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs.
W F. (Bill) Glasman coming to Manitoba with their four sons, Earl, Clarence, Elmer and
Bud. A daughter, Grace, was born to them later in Manitoba .
Having bought what they called the McPherson place, three miles south
of Russell, preparation got under way for the move in early October, 1909, from their old
home in LaFayette Minnesota. Two freight cars were packed to capacity with settlers'
effects and horses. The cattle had been sold. As well as food being packed, water was
stored in barrels and tanks in each car. Earl, although only 16, was placed in charge of
one car, while his dad took the other, where from a pile of hay and blankets, a close
vigil was kept on the horses.
The first break after three days of travel was at the border town of
Emerson, where the horses were unloaded and turned into a corral to be tested and where
they could at least walk around or lie down. The procedure taking two days the men could
relax, too, and go up town for a cooked meal which was enjoyed, "except for the
coffee," Earl said. From a previous visit to Canada, Mr. Glasman knew that black tea
was served and not coffee, which they had been used to. Stopping at every Station and
perhaps side-tracked for a time, Binscarth was reached finally after three more days of
travel. Here their cars were coupled to the Russell train, which at that time, plied
back and forth daily from Russell to Binscarth with passenger and freight.
Getting settled before Christmas proved a busy time for the Glasmans.
As members of the Methodist church, it did not take Mrs. Glasman long to fall in line with
her interest in that capacity and to become an active member in the Women's Institute.
Mr. Glasman, a keen horseman was soon a member of the Agricultural Society and was
the recipient of many prizes for his fine Perchion horses at the community fairs. When
time allowed, the boys took part in the various sports of the season and thus the family
soon became adjusted to their new life in Manitoba.
THE LOUIS GLASMAN FAMILY
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Glasman and their seven children, three boys and
four girls came to this part of the country from Minnesota, USA in the year 1919. :Both
parents were of German descent. One son was born to them after coming to Canada. Mrs.
Glasman thought they had landed in quite a wilderness and they faced many hardships in
getting established. They moved around for a while and finally settled on S.E.
32-20-28. Mrs. Glasman died in 1954 at the age of 74, .Mr. Glasman in 1961 at the age of
81.
Of the eight children, four still live in or around Russell. Alward, who married Shirley
Gilmour, farms the home farm and Luella lives in the farm house. Ivy carried Dave McKinnon
and they farm in the Craigie District. Iris is Mrs. Ed Leife and now resides in Russell.
Florence (Mrs Coutts) is at Red Deer, Alberta. Harvey is married and farms at Bjorkdale,
Sask. Orville, the son born in Canada, has been living at Calgary.
This site made possible by the Town of Russell
Family History Main Page | Town of Russell | Town History Pages
NEW - History being collected. If you live or have ever lived in the Russell area please click here.
The site created and maintained by The Grain Web.