A Pioneering Spirit
A daughter celebrates her mom, who came to Canada almost a century ago, and still remembers the journey
The sturdy Norwegian family of Peter and Signe Thompson, and their ten children, moved from Minnesota to central Oregon in early spring, 1916. By late summer of 1919, their eldest son Tom had ventured into Canada after learning of the federal government’s homesteading offer— ten dollars would get you started on a quarter-section of land in Alberta.
Upon telling his folks, they were enthusiastic, as they had five sons in their teens and early 20s who needed to build a future for themselves.
Peter, along with Tom and his eldest daughter Nora, travelled to central Alberta that fall and chose one quarter-section of land northwest of Edmonton, in the Barrhead area.
Tom stayed there over the winter, working in a local sawmill and building a house for the family on his homestead, while Peter and Nora went back home to prepare the family to move once again.
Jennie, their ninth child (and my mom), is now 110 years old. She still remembers the trip very well, though she was just 13 years old at the time.
Peter and Signe loaded the livestock and furniture on the train to come north, sending sons Henry and Gib along to look after the livestock.
Their small truck was loaded down with personal effects arranged so Signe and the girls could sleep on top of the load at night, while Peter and two of the boys would bedroll underneath on the ground.
A LONG ROAD
During the journey, they often had to exit the truck in order to push it through deep, loose sand on the roadway.
Crossing the border from Idaho into southeastern British Columbia, they soon ran into a situation near Fernie where the road was entirely blocked due to a mountainous slide. They discovered the railway tracks were clear, so after a couple of days of thoughtful consideration, Peter believed if he timed it right, he could drive on the railway tracks between scheduled trains and arrive on the other side of the blocked area. He was right and they were able to continue on the journey.
More trouble lay ahead. In early May, southern Alberta was still experiencing a spring thaw and the dirt roads with mud-filled ruts were impossible to drive on. They abandoned the truck and climbed aboard a train to Edmonton; then, it was on to the new town of Westlock, Alta.
While they had sent word ahead for the boys, who were already at the homestead, to come and meet them, the family walked west towards their new home. Jennie remembers being so tired her legs didn’t want to carry her anymore. They were finally met on the road by the boys with the team and wagon. Gib had stayed home to cook supper and Jennie says those potatoes were the best she’d ever eaten.
As the young people reached the age of 18, they could apply for their own homesteads, which they all did. Each of them found a loving partner and settled on surrounding farms, clearing and cultivating the land and raising families.
A GOOD LIFE
In that first year, Jennie and her younger sister Ethel rode horseback three miles to the nearest country school, Summerdale. Jennie was put back a grade, requiring her to repeat Grade 7, so she soon became discouraged and wanted to quit. Her parents agreed, having had little formal education themselves.
Ladies in the com- munity who were expecting a baby often needed help in their homes. Jennie worked for various families, helping mostly with the housework and other young children.
She eventually married a young homesteader in the district and worked hard baking, canning, and sewing inside the home. She helped outside as well, gardening and berrypicking—all this while having seven babies of her own!
Jennie and her husband, Will Sutherland, were early pioneers in the Barrhead area. They helped develop viable farmland, improve roads and centralize schools so their children could go to high school. They became role models of good citizenship in our great country.
Upon early retirement from the farm, Will and Jennie’s desire for better education led them to serve in the school and public library for many years.
Today, Jennie lives in a seniors’ lodge, propelling her wheelchair around with her feet—the same feet that carried her over many miles on her journey to Canada. She often reminisces about that trip. ■