This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: RobertJBriggs Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.canada.cangenweb/1827.1.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: this will be of interest to you as well The Withers Story By Alfred Withers and Mildred Dryborough The Withers family emigrated from England to Canada in May, 1908 residing in Ottawa for two years where Mr. Withers was employed by a firm named Carsons. He was put to work doing all the plate glass glazing in the Ottawa Museum Building and continuing his trade of painting, sign writing etc. In May, 1901 the call to "Melville the Wonderful" brought the family west where he established a home and continued working in his trade, and was very active in church and community work. Two of the older daughters were married in Melville by the first United Church pastor in Western Canada, Rev. J Reed. At the outbreak of World War 1, Annie's husband, Sam Peet and George Withers, (then only 17 years) enlisted in the 229th battalion. By this time Annie had 3 children, Grace, Denis and Faith. Ethel, (Mrs. Widdows) also had two children, who were living on a farm near Melville. Annie's husband was anxious to go farming if and when he returned from overseas. With this aim in mind, Mr. F. S. Withers sold his property in Melville and purchased the NW1/4 of section 12 township 26, range 13, located four and a half miles south east of Kelliher and moved there in May 1917. Bill Saville moved our effects out to the farm for us. 1917 was a tough pioneering year for all the members that moved to the farm, and the summer and fall were spent living in tents. The cooking was done on the wood stove outdoors. A start was made on building a house, then sickness struck. Mrs. Withers was stricken with a very severe breakdown and Mrs. Gale was called to nurse her. Also three members of the family were taken to the hospital with typhoid fever. At this time a good Samaritan appeared in the person of a Swedish pastor, Mr. Lindberg, who was minister of the local Swedish Church. He faithfully looked after the needs of the family by carrying fresh drinking water on foot for a distance of half a mile from a Swedish neighbour's well. This neighbour was Peter Larson and family with whom we became staunch friends over the years. Mrs. Withers' recovery was slow and the responsibility of caring for her was left entirely to Annie with three small children. Mr. Withers and son Alfred recovered from typhoid fever and continued construction of the house. With just the walls covered with shiplap and the half the roof shingled, Thanksgiving was celebrated in the rain. That winter was spent trying to keep warm in just a tar papered building. This meant someone had to attend fires during the night. Everything in the house still froze. The spring of 1918 had brighter prospects. The house was made more weather proof and comfortable. Some crop was seeded (which was later frozen) and the livestock, poultry, garden and wild game provided a living. Bad news came that son, George, had been wounded. Worse news came just as the war ended that Annie's husband, Samuel Peet, had been killed in action. The flu epidemic struck that fall and things were very grim for some weeks. The New Year saw things much brighter. Mrs. Withers and Annie became involved in the "Saskatchewan Homemakers" and conditions generally improved after the war. Daughter Mildred married William Dryborough, son of a farmer living north of Kelliher. Daughter Florence married Howard Lancaster who was in the employ of the Kelliher Hardware. Church services were held in the Garnock School. These were conducted by the minister stationed at Ituna. Travel was by horse and Keston Farm was the usual Stopover for the minister. As a family and individually the Withers took part in practically all community affairs regardless of nationality or creed and enjoyed it to the fullest. Son Alfred left the farm in 1923 to take a position in Regina with an automotive firm. In 1925 he married Marjorie Cooksley of a pioneer Ituna family. Mr. and Mrs. Withers were very active in Community work organizing the Homemakers, working in the Agricultural Society and working to form the poultry Pool. Mrs. Withers traveled extensively in the Province until the Poultry Pool was finally formed. Mr. Withers continued to farm until 1937 when it was time to retire and they moved to Vancouver, B.C. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.