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Esplanade Archives

Annett, Harold Wellington

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Harold Wellington Annett, "Cricket", was born in Ontario, March 6, 1912, the son of Blanche and Wellington Annett. His parents farmed and raised cattle. He had 6 siblings: Gwendolene (1905), Geraldine (1907), Kathleen (1909), Charles (1913), Ralph (1915), and Patricia (1918). Each fall he would come west to Maple Creek to buy cattle and ship them home on the cattle car to Ontario. Harold married Marjorie Mae McConkey in 1943. She was born February 23, 1918 in Toronto. She was the daughter of Edith and Jack McConkey. Harold and Marjorie lived near Maple Creek and operated a feed lot. They later became ranchers raising Hereford cattle. They had no children. They lived in the Maple Creek district until 1964. At some point they moved to Medicine Hat. Harold Wellington Annett passed away in Medicine Hat on October 17, 1982.

Ansley Coal Company

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William Ansley came west from Ontario in the 1890's to homestead at Rouleau, NWT. There, he also operated a lumber and hardware business with his first (?) son Harvey, who was born September 29, 1874, in Brooke Township, Ontario (30 miles west of London). William married/remarried Adaline (nee Hunter/Curry?), at Drinkwater, Saskatchewan. There were two other children (step children?), from another marriage; a son William J. Ansley and Charlotte (Mrs. George Temple). The Ansley family came to the Medicine Hat area about 1906. In about 1908, William Ansley purchased what was then known as the Crockford Mine, located west of Medicine Hat along the riverbanks of the South Saskatchewan River. It was soon thereafter renamed the Ansley Coal Mine operated by the Ansley Coal Company Limited. Coal was hauled by steam engine to the top of the hillside where it was then loaded into wagons pulled by horse teams. As many as 11 miners were employed at the mine during its busiest months (winter), and as much as 4 to 6 tons of coal were hauled daily. Some families may have resided on the nearby flats, as had been done during the previous ownership by the Crockford brothers. The site consisted of a weigh house, bunk house, cook house, dining room and an 800 ton capacity tipple. The mine tunnel reached a distance of 1500 to 2000 feet, with a coal seam 6 feet thick. The coal was a soft coal, and was therefore of cheaper market value. In 1910, coal from the mine sold for $2.75 per ton, in 1911, for $3.00 per ton, and in 1912, for $3.50 per ton. Eventually, the Ansley family sold out to J.B. Swan around 1918, at which time the mine was renamed the Swan Mine. Son Harvey Ansley was married to Annie May (nee Rose), on December 25, 1901, at Drinkwater, Saskatchewan. Annie was born February 14, 1882, in Warwick Township, Ontario, and was the daughter of David Rose and Letitia (nee Phillips). A daughter, Myrtle Rose Ansley, was born in Medicine Hat, March 5, 1908. Myrtle taught school in Medicine Hat, retiring in 1970 due to illness. In July 1980, she moved to New Westminster, British Columbia. Her father, Harvey Ansley, died May 1, 1930; her grandfather, William Ansley, died on March 18, 1918, at the age of 75 years.

Appleton, Eric

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Thomas Henry Appleton arrived in Medicine Hat from England in 1911; his wife Dena, who stayed behind in Cheshire, England, came over to Canada and Medicine Hat, in 1912 with the help of the below listed map. Thomas Appleton was employed as a letter carrier in Medicine Hat for 33 years. His son Eric, who was employed as a custodian with the Medicine Hat School Board, continues to reside here.

Armstrong (family)

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The Armstrong family, headed by father Robert Goodfellow Armstrong and mother Euphemia (nee Miller), are among the early pioneering families to settle in the Medicine Hat area. Robert Armstong, having graduated from the Veterinary School at Agricultural Hall, Toronto, in June 1872, also attained the rank of Captain in the militia, and was also referred to as "Doc" or "Captain". Married on June 26, 1876, the Armstrong's were blessed with five children; Peter Robert (1877-1926), Katherine Somerville (1878-1963), George Miller (1880-1965), William Goodfellow (1882-1968), and Fannie Elizabeth (born and died March 28, 1890). In 1893, Euphemia Armstrong passed away. Robert later remarried to Elizabeth (nee Callard) (1870-1938), and two more Armstrong children were born; John Edward (1909-1961), and Marjorie Helena (1911-?). The exact year which the Armstrong's moved west is unclear. It is believed that the eldest son, Peter, came to the Fort Walsh area around 1895, seeking employment with horse ranchers who were known by his father. George, William and Katherine soon followed, (ca 1897). Their father eventually applied for homestead near Reesor Lake on Sec. 32, Tnsp. 8, Rg. 1, W4th, in 1900. By 1906, the elder Armstrong abandoned the Cypress Hills ranch, and relocated to Macklin, Saskatchewan. By 1918, the Armstrong parents had returned to their original property in Ontario. Brothers Peter, George and William were employed with several Cypress Hills ranchers, among them were Sam and William Fawcett of the East and West Ranch. Vowing to keep the family together, sister Katherine helped to maintain house and home until her marriage to Frederick McLaughlin in June 16, 1906. Eventually, the brothers married; Peter to Etta Porter in June 1923, George to Annie Zwick in November 2, 1922, and Will to Winnifreth Beal Browne in 1913, and later to Helen Margery Browne, in 1949. William took up farming at Central Butte, Saskatchewan. In 1913, Peter and George became owners of the East and West Ranch. Following Peter's death in 1926, George assumed the responsibilities of the entire ranch until his three sons, Robert, Peter and Arnold took over in 1947. This partnership was dissolved in 1982. Peter still manages the "home place", while brother Robert, manages his Bassano land.

Ashburner, Rod

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Roderick Ashburner was born on September 23, 1913, in Medicine Hat. He was employed as a reporter and then as editor of the Medicine Hat News and later, as an insurance adjustor. He was also actively involved in the community having served as President of the Cypress Club in 1961, President of the Chamber of Commerce in 1970, Director with the Chamber of Commerce from 1966 to 1971, Director and Vice-President of the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Company, Chairman of the Board at Medicine Hat College, and President of the Rotary Club. Mr. Ashburner was also a member of the Senate at the University of Calgary, the Medicine Hat Kinsmen Club and was actively involved in several musical theatre productions. Rod Ashburner died August 1, 1974.

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