Notes
Note N10031 Index
In his family history, Raymond Lee Scribner remembers his brother, Thornton Anson (nicknamed "Ab"), as follows:
First, speaking of his parents' journey through western Canada, Raymond states that "They then moved on, heading east to the 'Hope' area where their first child was born...somewhere there in the wildreness in 1910. it never was determined, just where that first child was born. 'Anson' (Ab) by name, his birth was never registered. He had a problem getting the Old Age Pension when he became 65 years old I've heard it was near Ruby Creek, but I cannot find a Ruby Creek "
"Anson (Ab) left home about 1931. I was four years of age then, and I remember a couple of 'incidents' involving him. A neighbor's bull went mad, broke out, and menaced the town. It dumped the 'jigger' off the track and was rampaging, looking for trouble. A fellow from town took his rifle and had to shoot him before more damage was done. My brother, Big Brother Ab, was elected to hitch our team and drag the big, dead bull to the 'nuisance grounds' (the dump). We kids followed and were so excited. We went back the next day to see if the bull was still dead. Of course, he was still there, but there was air and gas hissing out of him. We thought he might get up, and so we took off
"Another incident was that Ab, Jim and I were in a little field (potato patch) between our place and our neighbors, the Stinton's. I was just a little over 4 years, but remember this well Mr. Stinton (they called him 'Old Harry') was in their little barn milking the cow at about 6 o'clock p.m., when Ab picked up a lump of hard dirt and threw it at the barn. In about one minute, old Harry came out covered with straw, manure, and milk. He had a three-tine pitch-fork in his hand and murder in his eye, and was yelling bad things. I was small and under foot. Ab and Jim took off for the creek, the escape route, while I was left, scared to death. (Old Harry did not care about me, but I did not know that.) He was saying what he would do if he caught the other two How could I forget that That was a big two days in our lives at that time.
"Ab left home shortly after that and went west to Alberta. He ranched at Riley, Alberta, for a few years, and met his wife Jenny there. Both worked for Mr. Rex Boites. Jenny is of Norwegian background, and had migrated with her folks from Minnesota (where our Dad was born). They had their first child in Alberta, a son, Tommy. Later they moved to B.C., and lived a number of years on Churchill Street in North Vancouver. They then moved to Surry where they stayed. Virginia, Dale , and Jeanne were all born in B.C. Ab was employed for many years at Dominion Bridge Company where he was a foreman. His work involved many installations on the mainland and Vancouver Island. He died in Surry in 1988, at age 76 years.
"Jenny still resides in Surry. We visit her sometimes. She is a young 81 years. Tommy was killed in a car crash years ago, and I believe was in his 20's. Virginia and Freeman Renalds live at Gibsons, across from Horseshoe Bay on what is called 'The Sunshine Coast.' Dale and Dianne live on Kelty Street in new Westminster. They have two daughters, Casey and Ann, who are just getting started in school."
Notes
Note N10032 Index
"Rachel was a little round chubby girl," writes her brother, Raymond, in his family history, "who was always short round and jolly "
"Sister Rachel was married when I was yet young, to Walter Mackie of Ninette. To mae, she was always 'Rachel Mackie.' They lived around Ninette, and saw real hard times. None worked so hard as Walter Mackie, with little education, and few jobs. He was very ambitious and expert with an axe, but there was such little pay for anything. It was a\'a good day' when Walter 'got on at the San' to empty coal cars (box cars) used to fire the big steam boilers that provided heat and power to the 'San' [the Sanatorium at Ninette].
"Being much older, Rachel was like a mother to us younger ones at times. She used to ask me to 'mind' her kids-all girls at the time: Joyce, Jessie, Bernice, and Margaret (Neil and Linda were still to come ). I was quite close to their age, especially Joyce and Jessie. I was not 'out of the woods' myself, and so it was a bit hazardous. They used to ask, 'Do you mind?", which means in today's terms, 'baby-sit.' The difference was, there was 'no pay' involved, just some little treat, and some of those kids were terrors We had fun. I hold a lot of respect for Rachel and Walter, to this day. Their six children, all married and scattered, and have families of their own. Neil, I believe, lives near Ninette. Rachel and Walter are both deceased a number of years ago."
Notes
Note N10033 Index
"Daniel (Dan) was next, possibly born in Alberta also, in 1914. Dan was a rover and a story teller during his entire life " So writes Raymond Lee Scribner of his brother, Dan. "He rode the freight trains a lot, and lovd Calgary, Alberta. He could be in Ninette one week, and in Calgary the next week (That is easy today, but not so then.) They called him 'Calgary Dan' He could tell stories with zest and entertain us younger ones. He could make and quote poetry easily. We'd sit with open mouth at all his adventures. He knew how to place himself as the hero of most stories He told us about the Calgary Stampede and it was 'he' that drove the chuckwagon at breakneck speed
"Dan was way up to Yellowknife, N.W.T., at the gold mines and would tell how you looked South to see the Northern Lights He even had the town's people in laughter even though they knew it was mostly made up, and we kids loved it He married Gertrude Haynes grom Gravelberg, Saskatchewan. They had three girls: Rosemarie, Gloria, and Alice. Dan kept on the move too much for a good marriage. He is deceased, a diabetic victim. Gertrude lives in Medicine Hat, as do their three daughters and their families."