My great-grandfather was a homesteader in the Peace River country. His obituary was published in the Northern Tribune in December of 1937.
Charles
McNaught Appleton District Passes Away
Was Pioneer in Western Area, Having come into
The Country in 1912 A True Pioneer-Funeral One of the Largest Ever Seen in the
District-Death Casts Gloom Over Whole Community
APPLETON, Dec 14 A
shadow fell over this and surrounding districts when the death of Charles McNaught
on Friday morning at the family home became known. While it was known he had
been in poor health, it was hoped that he would regain a measure of good health
again.
Born in
Brantford County, Ontario, in 1856, son of Samuel McNaught, Scotch immigrant of
1834, Mr. McNaught with his brother Samuel (late of Halcourt), operated the
family farm three miles from the city of Brantford. He married Eliza Connor of Brantford and
later moved to the village of Glen Morris, where he farmed until he left the
East for the last frontier of the West- the Peace River country.
With Mrs. McNaught he made the trip over the Edson Trail, homesteaded and filed on land
in the Beaver Lodge Valley in 1911.
The
following year Mr. McNaught brought in his family and farm effects and built
was has been not only the family home but also the centre of all community activities
in the early days. (The McNaught homestead is now a designated provincial historic resource)
 |
| McNaught Homestead |
The
McNaught home in a new land has ever cherished the hospitality and helping
spirit that characterizes the true pioneer.
For several
years after 1912 Mr. McNaught was a familiar figure on the old Edson Trail,
making the trip down to Edson on eleven different occasions as well as trips to
High River for supplies.
Whenever he
came among men he brought June sunshine and made even despondent and surly men
feel a fuller and warmer summer was at hand for in the late Mr. McNaught was
embedded all the great and noble traits of the Scotch race.
No more eloquent
nor true tribute could be paid by his friends than to say he was one of nature’s
noblemen.
The late
Mr. McNaught had the courage to come to a new country, and he would not shudder
to go out on a voyage of discovery which shall reveal a vaster and more brilliant
country, not fear the ascent of the eternal hills.
Left to
mourn Mr. McNaught’s death are his wife, one son John, four daughters, Margaret,
Isobel, Euphemia at home and Mrs. George Martin of Edmonton; also two
grand-daughters, Margaret and Janet Martin.
The funeral
cortege was one of the largest ever seen in the western district.
Funeral services were held at the family home
Monday afternoon, Rev. Sidney W Semple officiated. J.B. Olivers had charge of the funeral
arrangements. Internment was made in the
family lot at Halcourt. Pallbearers were
Messrs E.J. Heller, B Elcome, J Perry, Mortwedt, L. Mackie and J Dixon, close
friends of the departed
To the bereaved
ones the sympathy of the community is extended.
There were
many floral tributes.
O sweet be thy sleep
in the land of the grave
Where suffering can no longer harm ye
Where the songs of the good, where the hymns of the blest
Through an endless existence shall charm thee.
Where suffering can no longer harm ye
Where the songs of the good, where the hymns of the blest
Through an endless existence shall charm thee.
-Robbie Burns
The Northern Tribune
December 16 1937
View the family tree on ancestry.ca
