Thomas Albiston was born November 14, 1860 at
Staley Bridge, Lancashire, England. He was the son of
Joseph Albiston and Mary Ann Clayton.

In 1879 his father went to America to find a place for
his family to live. August 29, 1883 Thomas, his brother,
Joseph, and his mother set sail on the steamship
"Nevada" for America. His ticket cost 17 pounds, six
shillings and five pence.

After a long, stormy, rough voyage, Thomas, his
mother and brother landed in the U.S.A. and joined his
father in Smithfield, Utah.

October 12, 1885 Thomas married Annie Katherine
Jensen who was born October 12, 1865 in Solberg, Den-
mark. She had also immigrated to America with her
mother and had settled in Smithfield. They started rais-
ing a family, and about this time several families from
the Smithfield area moved to the Cardston district.
Glowing reports came back of the wide open spaces
where grass grew lush and waist high, of clear swift
streams and rivers full of fish. This land was open for
homesteading. This sounded inviting to Thomas (Tom)
and his family so they sold their home and outfitted two
covered wagons. They loaded their possessions and fami-
ly into the wagons and on August 1, 1901 headed north.
They arrived in Augusta, Montana September 1, 1901.
The next morning they found themselves snowed in and
were held up there for almost a week. This made them
wonder just what kind of a country they were going to.

Their journey ended September 13, 1901 when they
arrived in Taylorville at the home of his brother, William
Albiston, who had settled there a year or so earlier.

Tom rented a house from Walter Low which was
located on his homestead about two miles east of Taylor-
ville. There they lived for a few months until he could buy
a house. It was located next door to Lornin Little in the
village of Taylorville and close to the little white
schoolhouse which was also used for a church house and
all other community activities. They lived there for a year
or so.

In the meantime he filed on a homestead two and a
half miles southeast of town on the N.E. of 12-1-24. This
was a great deal of work. He hauled logs and poles from
the mountains, built fences and a log granary, broke land
and dug wells.

When this was done he moved their house onto the
homestead and built onto it. They were quite comfortable
and became involved in the business of farming, raising
grain, milking cows, haying and gardening.

One day while cutting hay and not having been out
very long, Tom got off to check the mower. He noticed
the knife was wet and red as blood. It didn't take him
long to find the cause. Hidden in the tall grass was a
patch of the biggest juiciest strawberries he had ever seen.
No more of those lovely berries went to waste.

It was not all hard work in this new land though.
They took time off for celebrations, ballgames and many
dances. Tom had a violin and loved to play. When they
first moved to Taylorville the ward had just been
organized. They didn't have an organist so he played his
violin for accompaniment. He and his violin were in great
demand all around the area to play for dances. As the
boys grew older they often accompanied him on the
organ. He also gave violin and a few piano lessons.

Sorrow came to the family September 8, 1912 when
Mrs. Albiston (Annie) passed away. Life was harder
from then on. This hardship left Edna responsible for the
household duties until she was married and moved to her
own home.

Their lives were saddened again in 1923 when Joseph
passed away in Lethbridge. Years later June 30, 1939,
Thomas died quite suddenly, taking another early
pioneer of southern Alberta who had lived a useful life of
service in his community. This tribute was paid him at his
funeral, "Men who meet the test when judged by hap-
piness, friendship, neighborliness, generosity, and virtue,
are really worthwhile-Mr. Albiston measured high by
this standard."

Children of this family include Lester (married Vicky
Lowry), Ernest (married Jennie Pyper), May (married
Ben Lowry). Wilford (married Edith Olsen), Edna
(married Eugene Berezay), Joseph (married Mable John-
son), Vern (married Martha McEwen.)

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