MARY'S GENEALOGY TREASURES
by Lenora Lumley
The Gilberts moved here from the U.S.A. and came to a small
farm southeast of Lethbridge. When irrigation was introduced
they moved to West Lethbridge. At first they worked for Mrs.
Susan Davies on her farm. In 1927, they bought the
N I/2 NW2-9-22 and started a dairy farm and poultry. He
was proud of his Percheron horses and good Holstein cows.
Mrs. Gilbert used to drive to Lethbridge a few times a week
with cream, eggs and vegetables. On one of her trips to
Lethbridge she had a serious accident; her team of horses
and rig with a car. She spent many months in hospital.
She hurt her spine and legs. She never ever walked again
without crutches. She stayed with my Aunt Grace and Uncle
Jim Logan for a long time after her illness in Lethbridge.
I believe it was after this they lost their farm. Mr. Gilbert
built a small house across the road, near the railway track
south of Lenzie Siding (Gordon Black's land). Sam was
caretaker of the powder magazine while they lived there.
He also farmed the land that joined the magazine. Murray
used to drive the dynamite truck so visited the Gilbert's
quite often, I used to go with him
Sometimes, Mrs. Gilbert would go to Lethbridge and stay
at my Aunt Grace's to take care of things while they
were away.
In 1946 they moved their house to the riverbottom, where
they lived until 1953 when the flood came. Sam didn't
want to leave, but eventually the Mounties evacuated
them by boat. They stayed with Art and Eva Bennett.
They later moved home after a lot of cleaning had been
done. Sam always had chickens and a beautiful garden.
Mrs. Gilbert did beautiful crocheting, knitting etc. She had
trunks full. She also made beautiful pies. She used to
babysit for me when Sam and I would go pick coal at the
coal dump in Coalhurst. She walked around the house with
one crutch . She used to make all her dresses in earlier
days from flour and sugar sacks. My Uncle Jim told me
about them, I guess they really saved and times were hard.
Grandpa Gilbert suffered a stroke and was in Galt Hospital
for many months. We used to have him over for meals
and drive him to town to shop and visit. Grandpa's
stomach started to bother him a lot and he finally moved
to a boarding house up town, near the hospital.
Grandpa passed away in October, 1962.
Grandma passed away in January, 1964.
They never had any children, but raised a niece and nephew.
They really loved children.
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