Bill Robinson was born in Ireland in 1893. After the family
emigrated to Canada in 1906, they lived for a year near
Kincardine in Ontario, and then came west to Nanton,
Alberta. While in Ontario, Bill helped Herb Watson in his
brick laying business. Later, Bill married Herb's
youngest daughter Vera in Etzikom in 1917.

The Watson and Robinson families decided to come west
and homestead. Both families stayed in Nanton for two
years, before venturing south to Etzikom, the homestead
country.

In 1923 Bill, his wife Vera and their three children moved
to a farm owned by Mart McMahon south of Wilson Siding.
Crops had been very poor around Etzikom for many years
and this had prompted the move. For many years Bill
did not get enough returns from his homestead to pay
the taxes. Rather than lose it, he paid them with
money made on his farm at Wilson.

Two of the children started school at the Wilson School.
This meant a ride of several miles on horseback each
day. In the spring of 1927 a daughter was badly hurt
while riding to school. McMahon School opened in the
fall of 1927, so that meant a change of schools.

In 1928 the family moved to a farm two miles north of
Wilson Siding. It was while living on this farm that
the family grew up. The children now included seven
children.

Bill and Vera were active members of the community.
He was a member of the local school board, the U.F.A.,
the Lethbridge Fair Board, and the Kiwanis Club in
Lethbridge. He also was a director of the Lethbridge
Coaldale Beef Calf Club, and a founding member of
the Alberta Wheat Pool. in 1951 Bill was awarded the
Leadership Award from the Canadian Council on Boys
and Girls Clubs, for fourteen years of leadership in
the Lethbridge district.

For a few years after World War II he worked on the
committee administering the funds for the Veterans
Land Act. He was a farmer, a rancher, an involved
member of his community and a family man proud
of his children.

Vera was a farmer's wife raising her seven children.
She too was involved in the community. She was
a founding member of Wilson-White Community Club,
a member of Women's Institute, U.F.W.A., Quota Club,
I.O.D.E. and the Ladies of the Kiwanis. She helped
with the Kiwanis Musical Festival in any position
she was needed.

Bill and Vera were members of Southminster Church, and
the Pemmican Club of Lethbridge. In 1945 they left
the farm and moved into Lethbridge. When a son
returned from the war, he took over the farm at Wilson.

We, their children can be proud of the fact that we
were all given the opportunity to get a good education.

For several years after moving to Lethbridge, Bill and
Vera travelled extensively. They visited Bill's old home in
Ireland and relatives in Australia. They also made
many trips across Canada, the United States, Europe,
Japan, and Hong Kong. In 1969 Vera died of
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Bill died in 1981.

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