My dad came to Canada in 1903, and worked on a ranch at Medicine Hat as a cowboy. There was no Alberta at that time.

He then worked on the old A.R. & I. Railroad as a fireman, then on a crane when the High Level Bridge was being built in Lethbridge. In 1910, he married Aletta Christiansen, who came from Norway, and in 1912, a son was born.

In the fall of 1912, Dad and Mother homesteaded two miles from the U.S. border, in what was known as Hacke and now Twin River. They suffered many hardships in the early days, and had lots of trouble with the McIntyre cattle, which roamed the prairies, until they were forced to keep them under control.

The folks drove a horse and buggy to Lethbridge, and always carried a big black umbrella to scare the cattle so they wouldn't attack them.

A daughter was born in 1914. She resided in Twin River until her marriage.

My dad did blacksmith work for the neighbors for miles around. He was also Justice of the Peace for years, until the failing of his health. In January, 1940 he passed away. My mother passed away soon after in 1941.