Home on the range

Letters home: Letters from Douglas to his wife Catherine back in Pilot Mound
give us a glimpse into the homesteading experience on the Canadian prairies.

Starting in 1909, Douglas Fraser, Sr. and sons Doug and Pete homesteaded near Elrose, Saskatchewan on a parcel of land described as Part NW, Section 12, Township 26, Range 16, Meridian W3. The hardship was eased by the steady stream of correspondence between Pilot Mound and the homestead in Saskatchewan. Some of Doug Sr.'s letters to his wife Catherine are included in this blog.

Catherine (Hay) and Douglas Fraser, Sr.

These hearty types made the best of it, and adhered to the rules set down by the Dominion Lands Policy.

To encourage settlement in the west the Dominion Government offered a free homestead of 160 acres for a $10 registration fee. In order to receive the patent for the land the settler had to be a male 21 years of age or a woman who was the sole support of her family. Before being granted a patent the applicant had to be a British subject or a naturalized British subject.

Proving the land:

• Settlers had to live on their homesteads for six months of the year for three years, cultivate at least 30 acres, and erect a house worth at least $300.
• They had an option to purchase the quarter section next to theirs as a pre-emption, by paying the market price of the time which was about $2.00 / acre. Even-numbered sections were reserved for homesteads and pre-emptions, while odd-numbered sections were sold.
• Upon receiving the Dominion Land Grant patent for a quarter section, the homesteader could apply for a pre-emption. This entitled him to purchase an additional 80 acres adjacent to the homestead at the rate of one dollar per acre [later the rate changed to three dollars per acre]

Various Dominion Land Acts:

• The Dominion Government made an agreement with the Hudson Bay Company for land take over. The HBC were to receive 1/20 of fertile land so for every fifth township, all section 8 and 3/4 of section 26 were set aside as HBC lands. The Dominion Lands Act of 1872 provided that the Company should receive all of section 8 in each township, all of section 26 in each township with a number divisible by 5, and the southern half and the northwest quarter of section 26 in all other townships. In some townships HBC land was in sections other than 8 or 26. This happened if, for example, the Dominion Government required these sections for its own purposes.
• Provisions were made that Sections 11 and 29 of each township were school sections.
• Railway grants gave odd-numbered sections to the C.P.R. for 24 miles on either side of the railroad. Later the sale of the remaining odd-numbered sections were used to build the Hudson Bay Railroad.
• Grazing land could be obtained for 1 cent an acre for two years and gave up to 100,000 acres.
• The Soldier Settlement Act gave a free quarter section to veterans.

Measurements

• 160 acres = Quarter Section = Homestead = 1/2 mile x 1/2 mile
• 1 acre = 4,840 square yards
• 1 mile = 1,760 yards
• 1 kilometre = 0.621 mile

Info sources:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cansk/Saskatchewan/homestead.html

http://www.saskhomesteads.com/home.asp

Photos:
Rosetown Centennial Library Archive
Saskatchewan Archival Information Network (SAIN)
http://sain.scaa.sk.ca/items/index.php

Letter from the homestead - Dec. 5, 1909

It was a long way from Pilot Mound to Elrose (541 miles)

Tezorton, Sunday Dec. 5, 1909

Dear Mrs. F.

Just got started to write when one of those looking out of the window shouting “Here comes the boys and the dogs.” So I dropped writing till after dinner. Stanley wrote his letter before dinner so Peter, Howard and I are into ours now as we must send them to Tezorton this evening. The mail leaves there tomorrow morning so we must get busy. It is no easy matter to write with the boys talking a good gait all around me. Pete & Stan and Bob Cairns went to Rosetown on Monday and got back to C’s Tuesday night, then next forenoon they brought it home, some lumber & coal & other things for family use.

Rosetown, ca. 1910 (photo courtesy Rosetown Centennial Museum Archive)

We have a nice cellar 8 ft. by 12 ft. and a little over 5 ft. deep. Part of it we will use for our coal about 8 ft. by 4 ft., which will leave 8 ft. square for other things. It was pretty hard digging but the boys made a good job of it. Since then we got the floor laid with two door in it one for coal and the other for general use. Yesterday Peter put up the bunks. We have been very short of bed-clothes since I came. Our boxes have not come here yet. Doug found that they were still at the C.P.R. freight-sheds. He paid the freight on them and we’ll likely get them this week. I haven’t had a good feed of potatoes since I left home except what I got at Cairns’ the day and a half I was there. You know how that goes with me. We have no meat either and that does not make it any better. We had a little beef when I first landed but it has been used up long ago. We must get a quarter of beef so that we can have soup &c. I am wishing much for my pork, I am so fond of it. Will think all the more of it when it arrives. We have porridge every morning, then bread & syrup. I have still some of my cheese left. Occasionally biscuits. We are on the whole quite at home and happy. Three weeks from yesterday till Xmas. I have an invitation from Mr. & Mrs. Cairns to have Xmas dinner with them so it’s likely I’ll take advantage of it. They seem a nice old Scotch couple. Mrs. C. is very anxious for you to come and neighbor with them, although they are 6 mls. from us. We get our butter from them at 25¢ a lb. She gets 30¢ from the other Homesteaders. We get a preference as we give them all our freighting. He does it very reasonably too. Five dollars a load and it takes two days to draw it to their place and another day to take it to our places. We pay the expenses of men & teams while they are out to town, besides. Liverymen in town charge $10 a load. We are thro. with our freighting except coal. We have about 25 hundred of coal now. I would have had it in the cellar yesterday, only that Stan was baking. I’ll get it in to-morrow if all is well. Boy will likely go either to Stan’s or Willie’s to-morrow. To-day is settled again. I must draw to a close as the boys are waiting to take it [to] the office and talk is too busy for writing anyway.

Your affectionate Husband
D. Fraser

I am going to get the Exposition to come to Tezorton. The Times will be enough for you.

Letter from the homestead - Jan. 2, 1910

Joe Paquette's first store and post office, Rosetown, 1906
(photo courtesy Rosetown Centennial Museum Archive)

Tezorton, Sun., Jan. 2. Ten O’clock 1910.

My Dear Mrs. F.

Here I am again sitting down to answer your ever welcome letters. I say letters for I got two together out of the last mail, one of which was written on the 12th the other on the 19th & 20th. We got Jessie’s also in the same mail. We get our mail from Tezorton every Wed. Last week I took the notion that I would go for it myself as it was a very fine day and I wanted a little exercise. It is 3 miles or a little better across the prairie and I found the walking pretty heavy as there was no track before me. The snow is 7 or 8 inches deep except where the grass was burnt off entirely. By the time I got to the P.O. I was sweating pretty freely. I left home shortly after 12 O’clock and I reached the Office about 2. I sat and chatted with Mr. and Mrs. McGuire & family till after 3 and then started for home. I got there a little before dark. Stan and I came in together. He had been over to Howard’s & Billy’s. The calves of my legs were sore for some days after the walk but nothing the worse. Peter was for starting after me if I hadn’t got home before dark. But there was no danger as the day was clear & mild. But there is great danger here if the day is misty or heavy snow falling or a heavy drift blowing, as the following will show.

Last Tuesday morning Willie left our shack to go to his own to do some work there. He had on his big heavy overcoat and carried a little tin pail in his hand. The day was foggy but none of us ever suspected any danger as he had made the trip many a time before so had we all. The distance is about 3 miles and the shack easily seen from one when there is no fog. Well this day shortly after leaving our shack he lost sight of both, but he kept walking on as he thought in the right direction till at last he found himself in the hills to the south of us. Then he knew he was lost. He had been walking for hours and didn’t know how far he might be out of the proper track. He still had presence enough of mind to know that he was perfectly safe yet if he would just follow his own tracks backward and they would take him back to our shack. Yet he didn’t like to go back on his own tracks knowing what a long tramp it would be, so he kept on still trying to reach his own shack without going back. At last he came to a shack which he knew to be Potters. As there was no one living in it just then he had to jog on. He was now as far S.W. of his own shack as he was N.W. when he left ours but he was still game and started N.E. for home. He however kept a little too much E. and got to Gatrix shack and was all right although still quite a distance out of his way. Another brave attempt from there and he reached his own shack about half past four. He found it empty. Stan and Howard had been there to help him that day but as he had not shown up they went back to Howard’s again. They too were lost for a while that morning. Willie at last made his way to Howard’s too. He vows now that nothing but a case of very series sickness would ever tempt him to again travel across the prairie on a misty day. Willie’s little adventure will be a very good warning to all the boys here. It seems that it always takes something like this to bring home the danger of travelling the prairie in a mist or snow storm where there is no good trail. Now I wouldn’t have told you this little incident if I thought you would feel nervous over it or take it too seriously. Don’t forget that there never was any real danger to be feared as the day was calm and mild and that he could always reach home by retracing his own footsteps.

Rosetown, ca. 1910  (photo courtesy Rosetown Centennial Museum Archive)

Peter and I are all alone to-day and yesterday. New Years Day was a very tame one with us. We didn’t have breakfast till half eleven. I think it was the dullest day for me since I came here. I had finished the last of our books the day before “Hawdy Audy” and the papers had all been scanned several times. The day was very cold and stormy. I sat by the fire reading the many happy returns of that day “when you and I were young Katy.” It is a long time since we first met on one of those days. Another milestone is passed, and I hope there may be fore us a good many more to pass yet. Our journey though long has on the whole been a pleasant one. Here and there we have met with jags, but I try to forget those and I know you do too, and let our remembrances dwell on the pleasant parts of the road.

The last day of the year was our first real bad day. It got stormy in the afternoon, the wind blowing a regular gale and the snow drifting to beat the band as Jack McBurney would say. The wind settled somewhat during the night but got up again yesterday and we had it pretty rough something like what you have been having at the Mound. To-day the weather is settled again, the wind has gone down, but we have got more frost than we had before the storm. You seem to have lost faith in Foster as a weather prophet but we haven’t. The last two days are the only days that we could complain of. We certainly beat you for weather so far. I told you in my last letter that Doug and Stan were going to Rosetown last Tues. Doug to take McKellar’s team out and Stan Cairns’. That arrangement fell through owing to Mr. McKellar taking sick (a little stomach trouble) and Archie having to drive him to town on Sunday with the drivers in the sleigh. Archie didn’t get back till Thursday and his father remained in town to help to finish his house & stable there. I think I told you before that he had bought a house partly finished. Archie had to leave one of his drivers there too. It had been sharp shod and had over-reached and cut itself pretty badly so Archie said. He got another horse however and brought our boxes home at last. There was great rejoicing when they arrived. All the boys came over with Archie and had supper here. The boxes were opened and emptied, each boy taking what he thought was his own of the vast treasures that had been hidden there so long.

Rosetown, ca. 1912  (photo courtesy Rosetown Centennial Library Archive)

You may laugh at us calling them treasures. But put yourself in our places and then think how you would feel to see blanket after blanket coming out till we wondered when they would cease coming. After that boots & rubbers till we could hardly find room in the shack for them. The shack to-day would remind you of a boot & shoe store without the sign. Then came “butter bricks” made so by the frost. “Is that all” was asked several times by Doug, who was putting them away in the cellar, before the last brick came. But Oh! My! When the cans of strawberries were reached, I can’t describe to you the astonishment and happiness pictured on the faces of those poor hungry Homesteaders at seeing so much delicious fruit being placed within their reach. There will be no one crying sour fruit here. Even Peter thought they weren’t bad without any more sugar. The two hams of meat were there too, they were left in the box and put outside again in the frost. Archie took back in the sleigh with him Howard’s and Willie’s things but left Stan’s with us. I tell you we have plenty clothes for our beds now, so don’t worry any more “My Dear Martha” for you were always careful & troubled about these things. You always said that I had a good bed. I don’t need to say that I was always grateful to you for it. I think you will acknowledge to that. But yet I feel more grateful now when lying on a hard bed, although I am not complaining in the least of what we have.

I am now at the sixth page and it seems to me that I haven’t told you anything that will interest you. You will be doing with this letter what you need to do with one, just stay with it a few minutes and then run to something also more engaging. However I don’t want to part with you yet and so will try [to] make this more interesting by answering some of your quiries. You advise us to take the soft cord a good advice too, which we follow as far as we can, but once there was no soft and we had to take a load of hard and poor stuff it was too as there was so much dust in it. I wish we had one cord of your good wood here to start the fire in the morning. They charge $8 a cord in Rosetown for it. You ask where McK. Kept his horses till he got his own stable built. MrK. He kept them in Cairn’s most of the time and part of the time at Gatrix as G. was out at Swift Current for several weeks. Well about the papers I would say don’t send any more Globes nor any others unless there is something very particular in them. Stan gets the Family Herald and weekly Free Press and Wingham Advance so if you send us an occasional Sentinel we will be all right. Now My Dear Spouse don’t let Mrs. McKellar outdo you in showing your loving attachment for your poor lone husband here on the prairie. Keep my photo well brushed too, but don’t let her see you kiss it, for that would give you clean away. Your love I know is stronger than hers but I don’t want everyone to know it. It’s quite enough that I know it and appreciate it.

I guess I’ll have to trouble you to read a few more lines of nonsense “But a little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest women.” I think McKellars are getting their mail better now. Ours has been very bad too. We hope it will be better from this out. The next item after McKellars Photo, which I hope I have disposed of to your utmost satisfaction is about the Apple Butter that Herb sent to Stan. I can’t answer that as fully as the Photo as neither Doug nor Stan has yet put in an appearance and it is 15 min. to 2 O’clock. It’s just possible that they may be in Rosetown yet as it was a bad day yesterday to be on the road. I think however that Stan would get Apple butter as he got the shipping bill last mail.

Gas tractor (Rumely Oil Pull) train, Rosetown, ca. 1915
(photo courtesy Rosetown Centennial Library Archive)

You speak of the reservoir, we don’t miss it. The boys have a tin boiler in which we melt the snow first filling the barrels with snow. It’s only a short job getting water this winter as we have none to get for the horses. It wouldn’t be a killing job to melt for a few horses either. Mrs. Cairns had trouble getting clean snow up to Xmas. Don’t know how she has got along since. Stan is looking up a homestead for his father. One that he had in his mind for his father has been taken up since by a neighbor who has purchased it at $3 an acre quite a snap too. We can purchase another Homestead too each of us but not till the present ones are proved up which will be 2 years at the least. If any are left by that time and you and I don’t get tired of the job I may then take another. It will be easy made money for one. South African Scrip is also a very good investment too for any person who is not too proud to Homestead. Tezarton Postmaster is an agent for a Company in Winnipeg that deals in them.

Perhaps you don’t understand this Scrip business. Well it’s this: The Dom. Government gives a half-section as a Homestead to every Canadian soldier who went to the South African War. They have to do Homestead duties the same as we have only that they have to put up a house worth at least $300 and plow I think 50 ac. In this connection I might just say that all Homesteaders after this have to put up houses worth $300. This doesn’t apply to us.

Now if the soldier doesn’t want to go Homesteading as a great many of them don’t because they came from cities and had other occupations or professions like Abram Smiths son, the Govt. then gives them a chance to sell their right to a substitute who will perform the duties.

Now the Real Estate men all over the country are buying from the soldiers and selling to substitutes. In Tezarton P.O. I saw a notice posted up where a Wpg. Co. was offering this Script for $625 on good terms. Just think of it a half section to anyone not too proud to Homestead who has a little to start with. Women can buy these just the same as men. I wouldn’t wonder gut it was one of these that Mrs. Cuthbert’s sister got. Here’s a chance for Jesssie Murray or anyone else.

Other notations were written across the edges of several pages of the letter:

20 min. to 4 O’clock. I see Doug coming so will not close till he comes. He got back yesterday with a tone of coal & 400 of flour. They are at Cairn’s yet. Stan will bring them home to-morrow. Stan got his Apple butter too.

Stan forgot to take his papers with him and so will have to go back again. Doug got his filled all O.K. I have to go some day too.

Peter baked on Friday and we have good bread. I’ll not forget – John S. We get too hard a crust sometimes on the bread. Can you suggest a remedy.

Gordon Fraser (1888-1967) was the 7th
of 8 children born to Douglas and Catherine.

Tell Gordon that we were all proud of his achievement on his skates. I have faith too that he & Bill will do the Spring work just as well.

I forgot to tell you about the stove. It’s plenty big enough for us, 4 lids No. 9 Metal top but sheet iron sides, a better heater than Howard’s which is all metal.

You spoke of putting the meat in the stoop. We haven’t got the stoop yet but we keep it in a barrel outside. There as just one set of tools so we must bide a wee. We are worse off for a closet at present than a stoop. It’s not very pleasant out over the Break as the boys call it – a night like last night. The fire break is about 6 rods from the shack.

We had our first soup yesterday. No potatoes, can’t get any now either. Peter got a few split peas in towns, we used them & bread crumbs.

I must now close but sorry to do so. I must leave a little for future letters at present then a hearty good bye to you and all the rest. Love to all and to yourself love with 40 years growth.

Letter from the homestead - Jan. 8, 1910

Tezorton Jan. 8 Sat. night, 1910

My Dear Mrs. Fraser

I am starting this letter a little earlier than usual as Stan may perhaps go to Cairns’ to-morrow should they come for him on Sun. and if they didn’t come on Sun. for him he was to go to their place Mon. evening to be ready to start Tues. morning. I think I told you that Stan lost his last trip out as he forgot to take his papers with him. Zelandia is 14 mls. Farther away than Rosetown so I have decided at last not to go with Stan this time but wait for a chance to Rosetown to file my papers. I have till Jan. 25th and surely there will be a good chance before that.

Zealandia, c. 1909 (photo courtesy Rosetown Centennial Library)

We had arranged with Archie to go out with him this week when he went out for his father, but Archie got word Tues. night to come out right away to Rosetown so he started off Wed. morning without giving Stan or I any notice and he isn’t back yet unless he came this afternoon. Watt went out with him. Not very accommodating to Stan and I, was it? But perhaps they have some good excuse for it and so we pay no heed to it. I’ll still hope that Cairns may have occasion to go to Rosetown before the 25th. I would go to Zelandia with Stan, if it were not for the extra 14 mls. I don’t like to risk it. It takes 2 whole days to make the trip 38 mls. Each way from Cairns’, and I’m not going to risk being out on a stormy day for that distance.

To-day has been an ideal winter day, calm and very mild. Peter went to Scottie’s to-day to help him to line his shack on the inside with boards. They got that finished but have a table to make yet, which will likely take another day. They don’t work very long hours so it takes a good many days to finish a job. But they are not at all anxious now everyone has a shack fit to live in. Peter thinks that Willie has perhaps the warmest shack of all. His was the last to be built and so has improved on the rest. He put a ply of building payer on the studs on the outside and then siding. He did the same on the inside thus leaving a dry air space between the studs. Our shack has two ply of boards on the outside with paper between thus leaving no dry air space. So far we have no reason to complain of the cold in ours except a little while when we were using hard coal entirely, shortly after we moved here. However I intend boarding it on the inside next year to keep you warm when you come to join us to cheer us in our new loneliness if we should have an attack of the blues. I intend to put an addition to the front too, same size as the present shack 12 ft. by 16 ft. which would then make a building 24 by 16. However we’ll consult you on that before we build as you could no doubt perhaps suggest a better size and maybe a better shape for the addition. We have had remarkably fine weather since I came here with the exceptions of a few days shortly after I landed and then New Years Day and the day before it. I hope that you may be getting your turn of good weather by this time. Our turn for the rough will come some of these days I have no doubt but the longer it keeps off the shorter time it can last.

Since the boxes came we have been very comfortable so far as the beds are concerned, not quite so comfortable tho. as the bed you gave me ever since we started life together. Whatever else we had to do without you saw to it that I had a comfortable bed anyway, and I don’t forget it either, I think it does us all good to go away from home sometimes, yes even to rough it a little in Homesteading or something else. We learn then to appreciate more highly many of the comforts that we enjoyed at home and which we often thought if we ever thought at all of the subject should come as matter of course without giving that proper amount of credit and recognition to the kind hearts and willing hands which provided them for us.

Pardon me if I have ever seemed to you to have been ungrateful for your many thoughtful consideration for my welfare as I assure you I never meant to be.

Main Street, Zealandia, 1909 (photo courtesy Rosetown Centennial Library)

While I am writing this I can hear a strong wind blowing from the south which has got up since dark. We have had a great deal of south winds this winter, perhaps that accounts for our winter so far being milder than yours. This afternoon Doug and I took a walk across the hills and away to the west of the hills just for a little exercise. It was good walking as the snow is pretty well blown into drifts and the drifts will carry nicely. I enjoyed the walk and I know it will do me good to get a little walk occasionally. Yet I never felt better in health than I do now. I eat two hearty meals a day. I think as much porridge & meat as any of the boys. We have no cakes, pies or puddings since Xmas, occasionally a few soda biscuits may come on the table. We are firm believers in plain living and high thinking. I enjoy the pork you sent up immensely, you know how fond I always was of pork, many a meal I take without tasting butter as I prefer the gravy. But oh! I’ll miss the potatoes. Can’t get them near here and it’s too cold to bring them from town. I don’t know whether they can be had there or not, you bet I’ll find out when the weather gets mild towards spring. We keep the pork in a coal oil barrel outside along with a piece of beef which we got. The side meat and sausages are done and we made a start on one of the hams a day or two ago. My if we just had some mashed potatoes and eggs with the ham wouldn’t it be princely fare. The boys put the porridge on the stove the night before to boil, I can hear it now boiling behind me. They use a double dish or rather one dish inside of the other. It’s less trouble in the morning, to get breakfast ready you see, and time is quite a consideration too. We like to have breakfast by ten O’clock anyway if we can at all manage it. We don’t always succeed tho. I like your porridge better than this which is too much boiled for me. I never say a word about it to the boys since they all like it and all make it in the same way. I have come to like it now too but only till I get yours again. We use condensed milk or cream with it. I didn’t think much of the milk at first but that too I have got used to as it’s much better than no milk or molasses either. Sometimes we get a can of milk from Cairns and we all remark the difference. The porridge made by the new method fortunately requires very little milk. We are into Stan’s apple butter already. He has been with us all week. He hadn’t been very well for some days, a touch of Grippe I think. He is a good deal better to-day but wouldn’t go for a walk with Doug and me though.

The apple butter goes fine, and we all feel like Mordy Clump about the milk. We got another ton of coal into the cellar on Monday and 4 cut. of flour. We maybe have flour enough to do us but I’m afraid about the coal and our money is about all gone. We gave Howard about $70 since we came in. However we’ll see about money toward spring. Gordon will perhaps be able to get Doll sold towards the end of the winter which if he does will let us out nicely. Our Homesteads so far have cost the boys and me about $110 each, while the other boys are quite a bit over $200 each. Ours is less than I figured on providing that we don’t require much more coal. As far as food is concerned I think we are pretty well supplied now, clothing the same. If we get off with $500 here including plowing 25 ac. and $150 at home for two men to take Pete & Doug’s place at the spring work I feel that we will have made a good winter’s work. For it means that one of the homesteads will be settled for that is one-third of the time will be in for all 3 homesteads. Now a homestead when proved up will [be] worth anywhere between $2500 and $3000 at least and it is costing us say 7 or even 8 hundred dollars so that we can easily clear at least $500 each by sitting quietly here in our shacks which is surely better for us than idling round home.

I felt as disappointed as a young kid looking at a Xmas tree after it was stripped and nothing had come to him, when Doug came from the P.O. on Wed. last without a letter from you. The Globe came and that was all for us. Our mail connection is not good at present, but we mustn’t be too hard to please. I have no doubt that the officials are doing the best they can. We will likely get two mails from you next Wed. Wed. can’t come too soon. You asked several times about the dishes that we have, but you know my dear that I’m no man to notice these things or to describe them. But I think that the boys have got all the dishes they require till you come to take charge. Peter got a very large nice granite bake dish, much larger than we need but it was the only one they had that day. When they were teasing him about the size of the dish when he got it, he said that he bought it to wash the twins in. We have a nice granite pail and dipper. The wash tub is a zinc or tin tub I think not wood anyway.

Peter cut about a foot off the length of the table and put a drawer in it. It is long enough yet but is too narrow. It is now getting late and you’ll excuse me if I discontinue my rambling remarks and give you a rest. I may add some more to-morrow. So a good night to you and all the dear ones that are with you.

Forever yours
D. Fraser

Peter wanted to put in a sheet so I’ll not add any more this time, but keep the rest for next letter,
D.F.

Douglas Fraser, Sr. (1848-1915)

Letter from the homestead - Jan. 31, 1910

Tezarton Mon. 12-30 Jan. 31st 1910

My Dear Mrs. F.

This is the last day of Jan. and a very lovely day it is too, calm and warm, the snow is melting and was melting yesterday too. If the weather at the Mound hasn’t changed for the better before this you had better just leave there and join me here where you would be delighted with our genial climate. I finished my lasts letter to you in a great hurry. I am in the same position to-day. Willie Cleyhorne has just dropped in to see us and to tell us that Cairns are going out to the Front (Rosetown) as Malcolm calls it to-morrow morning. Willie is going to take this over to Cairns’ just as soon as I can get through with it. On that account I am not writing you but a very short epistle this time. Cairns are going to draw out their grain right away so we can get a good chance to post our letters while they are at the hauling.

Rosetown, ca. 1912  (photo courtesy Rosetown Centennial Library Archive)

Howard had Malcolm’s buggy. He looks after McK’s driving team while Archie and his father are at the Front. 5 weeks yesterday since the father went out. I still stick to my homestead yet, haven’t been at any of the shacks since I started in my own. After this thaw we’ll have a little better walking in the snow and then I’ll visit around more. I think I told you that I had a standing invitation to go to Mr. Maguire’s early some day for the mail and have dinner with them and another good chat. I had a good walk again over the hills on Saturday. I was out for 3 hours. My legs didn’t feel tired either. The walking is better than when I went for the mail some time ago.

Doug had quite a washing on Sat. when I was away. It doesn’t look too bad either. He dried them in the house. We have no line outside yet. Some of these days the clothes would dry nicely in the open air. Peter wrote yesterday two letters one to Dau. Fraser and a very long one to Paul Powell. He said that ordered a broom for me at Daus for my reception there when on my way home. But Peter said he wouldn’t pay for it beforehand for fear I might be too home sick to stay off there. However I think I’ll try it anyway and risk the home sickness. Willie has sent home for one of his brothers to come out. If he thinks of coming he’ll likely be here in about 2 months. There is a homestead near Willie’s I think can be cancelled then, and naturally he would like to get it for his brother, hope he may. Stan is looking up one for his father too. I think likely he’ll go to Saskatoon this week or next.

Peter and Willie are talking so that it is very hard for me to collect my thoughts. I think I’ll better just sign off and leave the rest for a few days longer. I like better to write after I get a letter from home as then I have a chance to answer.

Doug is away over to Stan’s for a screwdriver to put a latch on our door. Peter put on the latch to-day we have had nothing but two buttons, so far. The boys tell me to-day that some man has bought six sections of land near McKellar’s and is coming in next spring with a big gasoline outfit to work half of it and he intends to let the working of the other half. It looks as if there would be something doing here next summer. I shall now bid you a kind good bye. Give my kindest fond wishes to all inquiring friends. I’ll not detain Willie any longer. It was hardly worth while detaining him at all for this short scribble.

Your dearest husband
D. Fraser

Letter from the homestead - Feb. 25, 1910

Tezorton Feb. 25th 1910

My Dear Mrs. F.

This is Friday evening and again I resume that most pleasant occupation of writing to you. You gave me a nice long letter in your last. You can scarcely conceive how charming it is to us to get a letter from home. I say us because the boys must have a reading of your letters just as soon as I get through with them. I have written two letters this afternoon already, one to McCavan in the Mound when renewing a note, the other to your cousin in the Old Country. I wrote him a long letter and took considerable pains with it so as not to deceive him in any way in regard to his chances for work here at his trade. I gave him to understand that during the building season there was here plenty of work for joiners at the present time and would be for some years to come.

At the same time I advised him to write to some joiner here on whom he could rely to give him full particulars as to wages, cost of living, hours, length of season &c. that I as a farmer could not do. Don’t know whether it will suit him or not, but I did my best so you can rest easy on that score. It will save you the trouble of writing. I wrote to Cameron not because I like writing letters now more than I used to do, but simply because you asked me to do so, and also because I feel that many a time in the past I did not accommodate you in this way when I might and should have done it. You also ask me to write to John S. again, I can assure you I’ll not fail to do so since you wish for it.

My time is half in to-night, and to look back seems but a very short time since Scottie and I landed at Cairns’. I look for the next half to go faster when I can get working in my garden and travelling on the prairie visiting my neighbors or admiring the work of the steam plows as they turn over the sod 8 or 10 furrows at once. I think I told you in some of my former letters that we look for quite a number of these plows in our immediate vicinity.

I still keep close to my shack, haven’t been out two days out of it yet since I started. And you can depend on me putting in the rest of the time too just as well. I don’t purpose giving you or myself any uneasiness on that account. How must Mrs. W. Elliot feel if what you heard about their Homestead is true. What a worry is still in store for her between the two places. I don’t doubt at all but the story is true. Can you remember if his being on his homestead for any one year for 6 mo. I don’t think you can, for the simple reason because that he wasn’t. I wouldn’t wonder to see our friend Malcolm in just such a box some day if he does not mend his ways. Homesteads are far too valuable now to allow any one to get his without doing his duties as he swore to do and as others do.



Rosetown - cutting grain with binders and steel-wheeled tractor, 1910
(photo courtesy Rosetown Centennial Library Archive)

We got a little surprise in our weather yesterday. For a change we were treated to a good Pilot Mound storm, a heavy fall of snow with a good gale from the east. Kept us well indoors. There was a little drift to-day but not at all as bad as yesterday. To-night we are back to our usual calm weather. The frost was not at all severe and we did not suffer in the least. This was the first and only stormy day since New Years Day. What a blessing!

No wonder you got a good long letter for your last when you took nearly a week to write it. Keep me with your good work as you have started. Writing a letter by instalments enables you all the better to make sure that no item of news that might be interesting to us will be missed. It is quite a task for me a stranger in a strange land to find material enough to fill mine with! Nothing of any interest is reported from the other shacks. In my last I told you that Stan and Howard were going out this week. Well they have done, and Oh! I forgot Chad came in Tues. night and went out again Wed. morning. Haven’t heard from them yet.

I see by your last epistle that you still adhere to your antiquated method of warming a bed, by means of the cordwood sticks. I think I can beat you. During the day I wear two pairs of socks and my felt boots, at night I pull the boots off but cleave to the two pairs of socks, and I have yet to know what it is to have a cold foot in bed since I adopted that sensible method of preserving the heat of my poor old body. Don’t laugh now, but try it and you will find it vastly superior to your wooden arrangement. Your second method, getting me to warm it was a good enough method, but not very feasible while I am over 500 miles from the bed. So my honest advice is to try the socks, and don’t forget. Yes try them.

You say you often read my letters to while away the time. I don’t see what you find in them to interest you. I would much rather read yours. They are a sure cure for an attack of home sickness. So I keep them in my coat jacket, nearest my heart. When an attack threatens me I out with them and begin to read and away flies the disease at once. Sure cure. Don’t think mine could do that. No. No.

You say A. Bell likes her new teacher, am pleased to hear it. I do hope she passes next Exam. I don’t like to think of a Fraser failing. Do your best Annie.

Douglas need not have worried about his daughter's exams.
Annie's Normal School Diploma, 1910.



Annie Belle Fraser (1892-1974) was the youngest of 8 children
born to Douglas Sr. and Catherine Fraser.

I am not going to give you a long letter this time as this is the second I have written to you this week already as the Dutchman says. So don’t imagine that because this one is shorter than most of his predecessors that I may have another girl on the string, for I have not. The true reason is that Peter is going to the store with some other letters to post there so that they would be sure to go to Zealandia on Mon. I forgot to say that he was going to-morrow morning. So you see I never forget you, never miss a chance of catching a mail. Doug has written one to W. Hogg too so you’ll get both together. Doug had a big washing yesterday. It is still on the line, and looks not too bad at all. You’ll miss him next winter when you will be here as he intends staying here all summer and will finish his second term a few days before Xmas. You and Peter and I will have the shack to ourselves. You can make a good washerwoman out of Peter perhaps. If not you can try me. I won’t go back on you now. Peter’s last baking was his best I think. We have still 3 sacks of flour, Ogilvie’s Royal Household. Our coal is getting low though. I wish we had another half-ton which would perhaps do us. Doug intends to bring up a coal oil or gasoline stove with him when he brings up his horses in a few weeks. One of these stoves will be much more convenient for him when he is alone. It will not need to be going except when he is in from his work. Some of the neighbors will bake his bread and he can then easily do the rest.

You might make enquiries about these stoves before Doug gets home. I would like something better than the one at the McDonald Place. One that you would like to use yourself the next summer. It’s getting late, Peter is snoring and Doug at a novel. So I must again bid you an affectionate good bye and love to all the dear ones around you.

D. Fraser

Letter from the homestead - Mar. 22, 1910

Tezorton Mar. 22nd, 1910 Tuesday night

My Dear Kate

I finished tea about an hour ago, then took a short stroll over the hills till the shades of evening compelled me to return to the shack for safety. To the east and the north-east, thunderheads lie across the sky from which we can see the lightning play from cloud to cloud. All afternoon the sky has been threatening, and is still so. We have had now a week of real warm June weather. I am afraid we will suffer for this yet. If the thunder should come, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it followed by cold backward weather. Still it won’t do to get pessimistic over it. Haven’t we had a delightful winter and an ideal Spring so far and surely we can’t reasonably complain if we do get a few rough days yet in March or the beginning of April.

I don’t know why I’m starting this letter so soon after the last, which I finished last Sat. morning. Perhaps you can tell, you may have sent a hypnotic spell across the prairie without warning your dear old homesteader. Whatever is the cause I can’t explain, I have no news to send, yet I must write. I feel that I must.

Zealandia, 1909  (photo courtesy Rosetown Centennial Library Archive)

On Sat. after finishing my last letter to you, I got ready to pay a visit to M. McKellars. Well I first discarded a pair of pants then one of my heavy undershirts. Afterwards I washed myself and combed what little hair I have left straightened out the rough whiskers left my coat behind and started off in my shirtsleeves. I forgot to tell you too that Peter cut my hair for this fresh occasion. It had never been cut till then since you my dear cut it. Had you been here this winter it would have been attended to long ago, wouldn’t it?

1st Avenue, Zealandia, 1909  (photo courtesy Rosetown Centennial Library Archive)

Well the day was very warm and before your old husband reached his journey’s end he was too warm, yet scalded. I got there about 12-30 and found the door locked, but could see Archie in the distance coming home with a load of sheaves. He came past Howard’s shack and took him along to help him to unload. In the meantime I went to Watt’s home, which is only about 20 rods from Malcolm’s. I found Watt, just finishing a meal. He called it dinner and offered me some. I declined with thanks as I had just got up from breakfast before I started on my walk. He has his shack lined on the inside with this white building paper, which gave the room a bright clean appearance. The walls are covered with calendars. The boys say he has a mania for gathering them. However that may be, they certainly give a pleasing relief to the eye when hung up on the white background. The blankets and quilts of his bed were out on the grass. I asked if he had washed them that day, he answered no. He just put them out to air. He said it was a custom of his to put them out every Sunday morning in the summer time. Ours have never been out yet. I think we must take a lesson from Watt here and do likewise.

When Archie and Howard got the horses in I went back to Malcolm’s where a good repast was prepared for us by Archie. We finished his biscuits. If you remember they brought in a great supply of them. Everything there is in pretty good order although Malcolm himself admits that Mrs. M. would still find fault with it, especially with the way they entertain strangers. Malcolm and Dick were off early Sat. morning with two young men who were after homesteads. Dick gets $7 a day and expenses. They were out all day. I saw them in the distance, to the south, as I neared my own shack in the evening about six or a little later.

On my way home I met Peter who was going to Howard’s for the night and from there Sun. morning to the store with your letter or rather my letter to you. Dick went out to the hunt on Sun. and took the letter. Still Peter rode with him as far as the store to get his photo if it was finished. It happened to be finished and he brought it home with him Mon. morning. You would scarcely know him as your son, rough as a badger with a pipe in his mouth standing beside a chum, homesteader, Harry Lang. To-day Peter shaved off all but the moustache, which made him look 100% better. He reminds me of your brother John when he was about Peter’s present age. I think he must be a Hay sure enough. I wonder if any of the boys are really Frasers.

Sat. night Chad and I were all alone. We read till about ten O’clock, Chad at Uncle Tom’s Cabin and your dearie as you sometimes call him finished “The King of Diamonds.” To-day I finished another book, a very good one too, “Stepping Heavenward” by E. Prentiss. Sunday morning Chad and I got up about nine or ten. As a rule we like the clock around, if we don’t sleep all the time. Chad then got the breakfast, but burnt the meat before he was aware of it. We have to watch the steel pan for that and keep turning the meat if there is a good fire on. However I found no fault with the boy and all blasted off as if no mistake had occurred.

After breakfast he asked me to take a walk over to Stan’s with him. To this I readily consented as I owed Stan a visit. This was the first time I was on his place in his shack. I guess you can scarcely credit this. You may have been picturing me as gadding from house to house all over the prairie but such was not the case. I haven’t been a night out of my shack since I came from Zealander now don’t intend to be till I am on my way to the Mound. Such in the fidelity of your own homesteader.

Zealandia's first post office, 1906  (photo courtesy Rosetown Centennial Library Archive)

When we reached the shack we found Stan within looking well and appearing quite happy. He had finished his breakfast and got the dishes away and everything in apple pie order before we landed. He succeeded in getting a homestead for his father just exactly one mile south of mine. I think I mentioned in my last that Stan went to Moose Jaw for that purpose. And now before I forget I may also tell you that Dick succeeded in finding homesteads for the last two men he brought out from Rosetown. But the first two who were after scrip, were unsuccessful. Well let us go back to Stan’s again. Chad and I weren’t there more than 10 minutes when who should step in but Watt. He shot off quite a lot of his nonsense for half an hour or so, and Stan was just the boy to keep him a-going, while poor Chad would nearly burst himself at the ridiculous sayings and actions of poor Watt. Stan saw Wm. Jobb while he was out this time. W. J. is a general agent for the International Harvest Co. Stan found out too, that wee Geordie Harris has a homestead just 36 miles north of us and is doing well.

About an hour after Watt arrived, who should next appear on the scene but Malcolm, Archie and Howard with their buggy and double teams. There was a shack full for your life, and Stan away all the week before. If you had been in his position my dear Martha, you would have been troubled about what you could give them to eat. But it doesn’t concern us homesteaders very much. We give them what we have and make no excuses while the visitors make no remarks, and everybody is pleased no matter what is amiss.

Rosetown, Feb. 16, 1913. McLaughlin car in front of the North Western Land Co. Building
(photo courtesy Rosetown Centennial Library Archive)

Fortunately though, Chad took over a loaf of bread from our shack with him or things mightn’t have gone off so well for Stan. We got a lot of information from Malcolm about various things, especially about the land hunt of the day before. It seems, accordingly to his account that they had a great dispute about the exact location of a certain quarter section that they had picked on. Mal maintained that some person had interfered with the stakes and had taken their stake from some other section and placed it there. He said that he had to get up his Scotch blood at last before he could convince them. You can imagine to yourself how he would tell the story of his triumph. I left Stan’s for home at 6-15 and had to hike for fear the darkness might be upon me. However, I got home in good time, a little warmed up with the smart walk. I sat in the door for as long as I could see a distance on the prairie looking for Peter to come home, but no Peter came that night. I read a while and then went to bed all alone, the first night and only night I have been alone. Yet not alone for I imagined you were with me in my solitude, but what a delightful change had come over you. You found no fault with my wearing my socks all night. And when I raised up my legs to rest them by a change of position you didn’t kick them down and shout “You’re letting in the wind.” You were just a charming, yes a model bed-fellow. Hope you’ll remain so.

Rosetown, ca. 1910-20  (photo courtesy Rosetown Centennial Library Archive)

Wed. morning 11:40. Peter is just off for the mail, and I am all alone again. Have you ever been alone? I suppose you may have been. Well you’ll know what is meant by it. I don’t intend to write much this hitch, but will finish my scrawl after I regale my flagging spirits from a perusal of your cheering epistle. Wouldn’t I get a jar if Peter should come back from the P.O. without a letter from you. Well I almost hate to mention weather to you for fear that you may think I am boasting, yet it’s about the only thing that I can think of to fill my letter with, when I am stuck for news. As for you, you are never at a loss for something to say, you can drive right straight ahead by hour. Well I am going back to the weather again, and believe me I’m not boasting when I say that it is yet most delightful. We had a few drops of rain last night but not enough to call a shower. However the big drops made quite a sound on our thin roof. Wonder what a heavy shower or a hailstorm would sound like. The burnt prairie has a distinct green shade this morning. The crocuses have pushed their heads about an inch out of the ground already. This is our first flower in the west. You may have any amount of them along the roadside around your place. By the time this reaches you, if this weather continues, you will be able to gather bouquets of these. Please to pluck a few choice ones for me.

Well looking out through my window I can see a team following at Willie’s. He is getting Gratrix to plow 10 ac. for him. This he intends to sow in oats. Flax would be better than oats for breaking, but it’s impossible to get good flax seed now. So we, who didn’t buy our seed in the winter must content ourselves with oats. According to the regulations we must have a reasonable amount in crop for two years, so we must sow something to comply with this. A good many so’s in the last two lines. Well I’ll just draw this page to a close, till I hear from my dear one. She may have some questions that require answering. We’ll try to have this letter reach you sooner than some of the others. There is considerable communication with the front lately and we may be able to send it out Friday or Sat. giving you an agreeable surprise.

Wed. 7 p.m. and am started again, this time to finish my letter to you, and Peter tells me to hurry as he has several to write with only one pen and one pad between us. So I’ll have to cut my discourse shorter than I intended. Still I know your generous nature will pardon me if I stop a little short of my first intentions. Peter and I were highly delighted with your letter. It was so characteristic of you, especially your sympathy for poor Doug, and your kindly advice to him and also your entertainment of Willie while he was snoring. All this was so natural and home-like to both of us. But Peter said mother might have spared both sympathy for and advice to poor Doug if she had only known how much he had got of both while here. But it surprises me that you refer to this episode as if it were mentioned in the last letter of mine that you read. It seems like ancient history to us, something that happened long ago. You wrote also of there being a chance for Mrs. McPherson’s half-section for Jessie. Now to me it seems a very long time since I told you that that chance was gone as was news from Rosetown had homesteaders. However it’s maybe better as it is. Remember when Mrs. Reddaway used to say “whatever happens is best.” I see by to-night’s paper that the Minister of Interior is going to give the South African Veterans an extension of one year, that is to the end of 1911. That will suit us to a T, we’ll be thro. homesteading and will have a chance perhaps to sell at the Mound if we could get the price Isaac Trimble got for his $12000 cash wouldn’t it just suit us. We would then try to get our scrip all together, no matter where would like to see the two Jessies together with us. Peter had a letter to-day from Len H. Len is sending us another $200. He wrote on March 10th and said he would send the money in three or four days afterwards so it will now be on its way here but we can't get the cheque before next Wed. and Peter will then go out to Rosetown with it to Doug and also to help him to unload and drive one of the teams. I suppose I must now give way to Peter.

Your own loving D. Fraser 

Thursday morning 8-20, and I’m at it again. Yes before breakfast, Peter sleeping sound. He wrote three letters last night after I surrendered pad and pen to him, one to Paul, one to Len Henning and another to Will Smith. Well it won’t do to forget the weather, that never failing topic of conversation with farmers. We have got a change at last and that too since I got out of bed. It is now snowing very heavy, great large flakes and falling very calmly. If it continues for half an hour at this rate the ground will be covered. The prairie a beautiful white again. When I got out of bed there was a heavy mist all around but no snow or rain falling and I thought to myself that it wouldn’t be safe for Peter to venture out to the store with our letters. It is certainly not safe to go now, can’t see 20 rods ahead. Neither Doug, nor Scottie would attempt a journey across the prairie under such circumstances. I hope you people at the Mound get a good fall of soft snow as you say in your last that you had less than usual this winter. The ground was dry last fall and needs a good soaking to start the grain.

Hotel Elrose. Doug Fraser Jr. (1882-1946) lived here when he was
the elevator agent in Elrose. The hotel burned in 1968.
(photo courtesy Rosetown Centennial Library Archive)

I do hope that Doug stays long enough with you to help the boys to get lots of grain chopped and cleaned.

I hardly like to give orders to the boys at home about the work this spring as I am not there to see what should be done and when it should be done. We must trust to their own judgment till Peter arrives and then he’ll take all responsibility.

However there are a few things I might speak of: First there is the 150 ac. of backsetting on the boys place, it turned up very dry and rough last spring, at any rate before it gets too dry again. I intended also to get another Disc drill to sow the wheat on the boys place (220 ac.) It’s too much for one Disc Drill to sow in time. But I expect Doug would attend to that. I see by the Sentinel that you will have two very large sales, near you while he is with you. Doug is taking away a set of harrows, which leaves you only two set at home. So you better get another set. You may get in that way a good deal of harrowing done before it will be time to seed, which will be a very great advantage to the boys. They can then keep the two seeders a-going for a good while without a break. I would like to sow a good deal of wheat this year again. As far as I can judge from the papers, the prospects for wheat prices next year are still good. I intend therefore to sow the sod that was plowed around Crams house in wheat too. Last fall I thought of putting oats in it. That will give us considerably over 400 ac. wheat and if this should be our bumper year! Well I’ll not say any more about it; you know what was in my mind. Breakfast over, snowing a little yet, but melting as fast as it is coming. Peter expects to be home 4 weeks from day after to-morrow. I’m like you I wish it was only 2 weeks. You’ll want a man for all seeding to take Doug’s place. Hope you get a good one, and if the weather is favorable you may one one then to take Peter’s place till he arrives. Gordon, then, better drive the colts and the cripples. He’ll be the best hand to take care of them. We don’t want them driven too hard. A little work each day and then the chores; in this way everything will go on just like clockwork. Don’t you worry yourself about the boys, they’ll be all right. Just see that they get up in reasonable time in the morning and all will be well. Snow all gone already “a moment while trees last forever.” I guess Peter will be anxious to start with the letters, but on looking around I see him reading a paper and the dishes not washed yet. Both he and Doug always forget to put on water to heat for the dishes until breakfast is over. Time isn’t of much consideration with them here, so it doesn’t matter much when it is heated. But if they were in your place for a while I suppose they would soon learn something different. I must now again bid you a kind adieu. Peter has to go 8 miles to the store with this and he thinks no more of it than you used to think of going to Glenfarrow.

Your most loving
D. Fraser

d'oh!

Pilot Mound's weekly newspaper, The Sentinel Courier, runs a column entitled "Down Memory Lane," featuring excerpts from past issues. In a recent (January 31, 2012) edition, a brief item dated January 31, 1952 reads, "Oil was discovered at Elrose, 90 miles south of Saskatoon. It was a major natural gas find on land that once belonged to Pete Fraser of Pilot Mound."

No doubt Pete would have read the article in his 1952 Sentinel. His reaction is unknown.

For better or worse, the Frasers never packed up the truck and moved to Beverley. I suppose we can take some small consolation in the fact that Pete (1876-1955) is still being mentioned in his town's newspaper 57 years after his death.