The Peter Hyde Family
                - Harvey and Merna Hyde (Mrs. W. McLeod)

Peter Hyde was born in Perth County, Ontario on April 18, 1848. At the age thirteen he left school to assist his mother with the management of the farrm as his father had died. For eight years he worked at home and then he became a hired labourer acting as a farm hand for three years.

    On the 22nd of December 1873, Peter Hyde was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Forbes in North East Hope, Ontario She was born in Peterhead, Scotland, and had come to Canada at an early age. In the early spring of 1880 Mr. and Mrs. Hyde and family came to Balmoral near Winnipeg. Mrs. Hyde and her two sons and daughter stayed there with relatives while Mr. Hyde walked to the Silverton district. He settled on land Sec. 4-21-27. Of all the land homesteaded at that time in the area, this is the only farm remaining in the same family and is presently owned by Harvey Hyde, a grandson.

    After making preparations he returned to Balmoral, Manitoba where he learned the sad news that his two oldest children had died in May with the measles.

    Mr. Hyde purchased a team and wagon and with his wife and infant son George, came to the farm at Silverton. Mrs. Hyde was the only woman in the settlement that winter. She was a kind lady and was good to the bachelors around, giving them food. she soon came to be known as the "bachelor's friend". Later she became the chief mid-wife of the district.

    Besides being interested in mixed farming, Mr Hyde took an active part in community affairs. He was president of the Russell Agriculture Society, secretary of the Silver Creek School board, and a councillor and reeve of the municipality of Silver Creek.

    Mrs. Hyde passed away in July, 1909, and Mr. Hyde in November, 1915. They were survived by a family of five. Geo. the eldest, was born in January, 1880. He remained on the farm until his death in 1944. He never married. Jessie, who was the first white girl born in the area, arrived in March, 1882.

    She married George Allen in November, 1918. They farmed for a number of years and then moved to Russell where she lived till her death in 1950. They had three children, Sidney, killed in World War 2, Dorothy ( Mrs. Howard Coates) of Winnipeg, and Robert of Winnipeg.

    Peter was born in April, 1884. After receiving his education he taught school for a number of years and then took up a business career. In 1912 he married Nellie Hainstock. After his return from World War 1, they moved west.  They had three children, Margaret, who lives in England, Vernon of Ottawa, Ontario, and Murray who lives in Vancouver, B.C. Peter passed away in 1962.

   Bill was born in April, 1890. He married in 1913 at Medicine Hat, Alberta, where he was employed in a bank. They later moved to Regina, Saskatchewan, where they lived until his death in 1964. They had a son, Stuart, and a daughter Audrey, both of Regina.

   Jack was born in August, 1893. He was raised on the farm and received his education at Silverton. In July, 1924, he married Ferne Bowles. they remained on the farm until l 951, when they moved to Russell. They had three children. Harvey, who lives at Treherne, Man., Merna, (Mrs. W. McLeod ) of Russell, and Ruth (Mrs. Robt. Pickrell) of Semans, Sask.

    When the Hyde children were young, they were very frightened whenever they saw anyone coming. One day Bill and Jack were outside and they saw a man coming. He was an Indian but they weren't sure who it was so they ran inside and hid under the bed and waited. After a while they heard their mother talking and inviting the man in for something to eat. Bill being older than Jack, had a little more nerve so at last he crawled out and peeked through a crack in the wall and then he went back under the bed. He told Jack to be very quiet. After a long time Jack said to Bill, "Who is it? " Bill said, "I'm not sure, but I think it's God. It just looks like him."

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