The James Grainger Family

    James Grainger and Mary Smith were married near Walton, Ontario on November 13th, 1901. They lived on a farm near Brucefield, Ont. Their son, Robert was born there.

    In the fall of 1903 James travelled west by train to Neepawa, Manitoba, then got a ride to the farm of John Angus (now the site of Angusville) where he worked through that fall and winter. In the spring of 1904 Mary and Robert came to join him and they were able to rent a farm from Henry Cochrane, three miles east of Silverton. On this farm four of their children were born. Life was lonely here for the first settlers a few young men building their homes would come to the Grainger home in the evening for a game of cards and a cup of tea, but many weeks would pass without Mary ever seeing another woman. The howling of wolves around the house was frightening.

    In 1908 James bought a quarter section of land two and a half miles east of Angusville. He and William Chaytor, his only neighbour, picked the site for the farm buildings on a knoll just half a mile from the Chaytor home. The house and barn were built from logs taken from the place and were covered with siding a few years later as other buildings were added. The three youngest children were born on the homestead.

    When the Angus school was opened in 1910 Robert and Murray Grainger were among the original thirteen pupils that were necessary to open a new school.

    The Graingers lived a happy and busy life in the community. Jim worked hard for his family He helped with the building of the schools and the United Church in Angusville He was keenly interested in the curling and skating rinks, the boys and girls club fair and was an enthusiastic member of the Odd Fellows Lodge for many years.

    Mrs. Grainger kept busy with her home and family, was called on to nurse in the home of neighbours and relatives at times and was very interested in church and school activities. She and Mr. Grainger celebrated their twenty fifth wedding anniversary in November, 1926 in their farm home. It was the last time the family were together.

    Robert went to Moose Jaw, Sask. where he is now a detective sergeant on the city police force. He and his wife Agnes have three children: Keith is a leading seaman in the Canadian Navy; Ian married and living in Regina; and Muriel, a student.

    Murray is a photo engraver in Calgary, Alberta. His daughter Patsy and her husband, Bill Blacky, and small son Douglas live on a farm at Balzac, Alberta. His son Donald married Margaret Blackie. He is with the Provost Corps at Camp Shilo, Manitoba.

    Pearl is a practical nurse in a nursing home in Rochester, Minn.; Margaret is also in Rochester - she and her husband Curtis Dunlap, work with the patients at the Mayo Clinic. Their son Walter, is married - he and his wife Kathy are in Teacher's College; Bruce Dunlap is in college majoring in Art.

   Dorothy is married to James Sterling who farms on his grandfather's homestead at Agencourt, Ont. Their three children are at home, Robbie working, Dawna and Ann in school.

    Tean is married to Robert Campbell. They live in Russell, Ontario. Bob works at the Ottawa airport, and Tean is a nurse in a doctor's office.

    Don has a stock farm at Bottrel, Alberta. His wife Jean teaches school. Their three oldest children are married, Florence to Larry Robertson; Jannette to Jack Robertson; and Ben to Joyce Wilson. The two youngest children, Robert and Dick are in school.

    Bi11 is a postman at Penticton, B.C. His wife Jessie works in a dry-cleaning plant.

    Mr. and Mrs. James Grainger movd from their farm which was bought by the Bartrum family in 1941 and they moved to Angusville. Mr. Grainger died in Brandon in 1947 and Mrs. Grainger moved to Russell, Ont. where she died in 1952.

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