Grandpa Tiffin, a pioneer of the Lethbridge District known
as Reuben, was born in l843 and died May 3O,l930. He was
the youngest member of the family of five boys and three girls,
and was the only one that was born in Canada. The father's
first name is not known, but his mother's maiden surname
was Dryden. They came to Canada by sailing boat that
took six weeks to cross the Atlantic Ocean. There were
two brothers that traveled from England to Canada. After
landing they reported to have used the only means of travel
at that time was by oxen and wagon, cutting their way
through the forest to the final destination near Toronto.

Before Grandpa Tiffin was of school age, the family moved
to Godrich, travelling through forest to their destination.
Grandpa Tiffin grew up in this district and later was married
to Margaret Taylor of Godrich. They lived on the home farm
for a short while, then sold out and moved to Lucknow.

Previously three other brothers moved to Langside, then one
of them, Jackson, moved to Manitoba about 1890. Grandpa
Tiffin and his family lived there until they pulled up stakes
and moved west.

Their family consisted of five boys and one girl, of which more
information will be given as they are the sons and daughter
of one of the pioneers of Lethbridge District.

Grandpa Tiffin was born in 1843 near Toronto and died in
Lethbridge May 30, 1930. Grandma Tiffin, whose maiden
name was Margaret Taylor was born in 1844 in Canada,
place of birth is unknown and died at Lethbridge in 1907.
The family consist of:

Allie, born in 1876 and died in 1940 at Elmworth near Beaver
Lodge in the Peace River Country. William Albert, known as
Bert born in 1879 and died in Victoria B.C. in 1955. Reuben
Taylor, born in 1883 and died in Cranbrook May 20, 1951.
Joseph John, known as Jack was born in 1886 and lived on
the same farm they came to in 1901 until he passed away in 1966.
One boy born about 1890 deceased during infancy. Melvin Earl,
born in 1893 and died in Vancouver in 1958.

On March 18, 1901 Reuben Tiffin with his wife Margaret
and the family boarded the train to Lucknow under blizzard
conditions and travelled west for eight days and nights
arriving in Lethbridge on a balmy warm spring day. Land
being scarce in Bruce County in Ontario and jobs not
available, Grandpa decided to look for other places for his
growing family so decided to come west. In 1900 Grandpa
Tiffin came to Manitoba on the harvest excursion and worked
at Pilot Mound Manitoba for the threshing season. After harvest
he inquired and looked around for a new place to locate. During
his travels he came across a gentleman who told him of the
irrigation development in Lethbndge in the North West Territories.
That fall he came out to investigate. After looking over the
situation, he decided this would be a good place to settle.
When he returned home, he talked it over with the family
and all agreed to sell the farm and move west.

Seven head of horses and one cow, a buggy, a wagon and some
household effects were loaded in two box cars. In transporting
animals to their destination, two members of the family rode
free of charge to look after the stock. This was Bert and Jack's
job. On the way out they met a cousin, Dick McBurney, at
Winnipeg who wanted to go west too, and so he hopped on
the box car and rode with Bert and Jack.

After arriving in Lethbridge the family rented a house on Third
Avenue that used to be the O.K. restaurant, where the A.M.A.
office is now located. Just across the street Dr. Frank H. Mewburn
had his residence. Dr. Galbraith was his assistant and used to ride
horseback making his visits to the homes. His horse was blue-grey
with a white face and patch on one side. He just loped along
slowly at a snails pace, to make his calls. The Lethbridge
Herald 60th Anniversary Edition shows a picture of Dr. Galbraith
sitting on this particular horse.

In the spring of 1901, the irrigation ditch was completed. The
water commenced to flow in a small stream down Third Avenue.
The children in the area thought it was great joy to play in the
water. One day they discovered a good sized fish in the stream.
Being the eldest and biggest boy, Jack came up with the fish
for supper.

Grandpa Tiffin by this time had completed negotiations for the
purchase of 3/4 of section 11, township 8, range 21, west of
the 4th meridian. The land was purchased at the rate of $8.00
an acre below the ditch, and $3.00 an acre above the ditch,
to be paid in ten years.

A carpenter was hired and the house and farm buildings were
built that summer. The contractor's name was Rex, a brother
of Mr. Gladstone Virtue. The family moved to the farm in
the fall. During the summer, land was broken using a walking
plow. They broke 50 acres that season. A crop was planted
and feed was obtained the first year.

In 1902 the year of the flood there was lots of moisture and a
good crop reaped. There were few markets to sell the produce.
The Mining Company bought some of the grain, the settlers
who were moving into the district bought some, and some was
sacked and shipped to the mountains. It wasn't until 1912
after the farming congress that markets were established.
Settlers were gradually pouring into the district. Among them
were the Whites, Dr. Fairfield and the Gwatkins. Over the next
few years more and more settlers were arriving. In 1902,
Grandpa Tiffin and Mr. White, the Baptist Minister, who just
lived west of Gwatkins, made arrangements with the Government
to build a school. The Seat of Government for the North-West
Territories was situated in Regina. Once approved the school
was built. Melvin Tiffin was one of the first pupils to attend this
school. During the first winter in Lethbridge, Bert Tiffin went
to work in Fernie, on the Great Northern Railway Construction.
The next winter he went to Michel and worked there for the
Saw Mill Company. He found that the mill needed extra help
and also extra horses. He went back home, picked up the
team of horses and rode with Jack to Macleod to pick up the
third horse. Together with the horses they returned to the Saw
Mill Company. Their return trip was treacherous for they were
caught in heavy snow fall, and blizzard conditions which made
them decide to travel along the railroad track, which was more
difficult because of encountering bridges on the track. They
travelled along without mishap around the bridges for a while,
until the horse Bert was leading lost his footing and started to
slide down the mountain side ending up at the bottom of the
ravine. A track led them to the camp which was made during
the construction of the railroad. Jack followed Bert with his
team. They finally arrived at the camp in the wee small hours of
the morning. At the Saw Mill the work they were involved in
was cutting down the trees, then collecting the logs into a sloup.
One end was loaded on a bob sled and the other end was left to
trail behind to act as a break. The horses were hitched to the
sled and would guide the load down the hills, travelling at break
neck speed to keep out of the way of the load. In the spring
Jack returned home, and Bert stayed on working. This was the
spring of the Frank Slide, and Bert was not far away and was
soon at the scene of the disaster when the news arrived.
Later that year the Michel fire swept through and burned the
whole mountain side, thus lumbering was discontinued in the
area. Later Bert obtained work on the bridge construction over
the Old Man River on the edge of Lethbridge.

Dick McBurney, the cousin who boarded the train at Winnipeg along
with Rube, went to Cranbrook and found work there. Rube was
soon employed on the railroad and continued the service on
the Canadian Pacific Railway until his retirement in 1940.
Dick also was employed by the Canadian Pacific Railway
and also continued until his retirement. They both completed
their service in Cranbrook, although they have worked in
other centres in Western Canada.

During the summer of 1904, an American by the name of Jim
Duncan came from Idaho with about seventy head of horses.
His idea was to locate a ranch to raise horses for sale on
the market. He rented the Archie Plail homestead in the
Porcupine Hills near the Walrond Ranch for the winter.
Arrangements were made for Jack to spend the winter
there to look after Jim Duncan's horses and also their own
stock. That winter temperatures went down to 50 below
zero, however, the cold snap was short and the loss of
stock was few. Jack returned home in the spring. Two
years later a cheque of $45.00 from the Burns Company
was received for the missing steer that turned up at
Gleichen in their round up about 100 miles away from
the Plail Homestead. The brand 4T on the right rib was
the identification of the owner of the animal, registered
through the Brand Office.

In 1905, Alberta became a province. Jack being in the foothills
doesn't recall any celebrations being planned for that occasion.

In 1906 and 1907, one of the worst winters on record, many
of the cattle were lost. The Circle Ranch, located on the Old Man
and Little Bow Rivers,and others were hard hit. The snow
storm came from the north then the snow thawed and froze
solid for the rest of the winter. The cattle kept travelling
during the day in search of food and stayed wherever
they were for the night. Many of the cattle were dead in
the morning, the others travelled on. The prairies were
covered with a sheet of ice so that the cattle were unable
to break through for food. Many came to the six mile coulee
viaduct west of the farm. The folks had some hay to winter
their own stock but not enough for those passing by. In
the spring of the year they used to ride the range in search
of their horses. This time in June Jack was riding the Chin
Coulee when he came upon Joe Gerricks homestead and
found that he had just received a shipment of cattle from
Manitoba which he thought would be of fair stock to start
a dairy. He rode home with the news.

They were in favor of it, and arrangements were made to
purchase seven head of cattle at forty five dollars a head.
This was the start of the Tiffin's Dairy Business.

The milk was produced on the farm. Billy Reed who lived
on the White Farm was the driver for the rig which picked up
the milk. Billy Reed's brother, Job Reed, usually known as
Bud, owned the horses and rig that delivered the milk to the
people in town. Billy didn't last long, and a brother-in-law of
Billy by the name of Watson was the next driver.

In a recent write up in the Lethbridge Herald Mrs. Dora E.
Trew, tells of a section of Lethbridge that was related to the
dairying in 1888 and I quote from her article of; "Old City
Street Names remain in Part of History."

"But continue along to Thirteenth street, once called
Westminster Road. Look to the left, and the first house
across the track, now almost hidden by commercial buildings
is the old Wallwork home, once a dairy on a considerable
tract of land. At the back of it still grows a very ancient
cottonwood tree, transplanted from the river bottom in 1888.
Many a big can of milk cooled beneath its shade up to 1903.

Now we walk south till we come to Sixth and Seventh Avenue
formerly the area of the market garden managed by the
enterprising Job Reed who played his energetic part there
around 1885. Though trained as a teacher and doctor,
he was busy growing and selling vegetables and developing
his dairy herd.

Job Reed, referred to in this write up, is the father of Bill and
Bud Reed, who were connected with the delivery of the milk
in Lethbridge. The milk was picked up in bulk cans, then a
quart measure was made at the tin smiths to measure the
milk for the householder. The householders came out with
their own container and the milk was measured out into it.

The quantity of milk available in the winter usually fell down
because in the summer there was more feed available and the
pattern of reproduction came during the summer months.
Then the quota system came into being so as to have more
milk available in winter. Remedies to this situation will come
later and will be discussed.

We shall now find out what each member of the family did
during their life time. In June 1907, the family was saddened
by the loss of their mother, Grandma Tiffin. Then in the fall
happy events took place for Bert married Florence Robinson
and Allie married Franklin Brewer.

Allie was the eldest in the family and was quite a musician.
She taught music lessons in Lucknow and played the organ
for church services. She continued giving musical enjoyment
in their communities for many years.

Franklin originally came from Nova Scotia. For a while they
lived with Grandpa Tiffin, Allie, continued to look after the family.
Later on they bought a quarter section land in Bow City.
They farmed there for a few years then sold out and moved
to Elmworth, near Beaver Lodge. In the meantime three girls
were born including a set of twins One of the twins died
and was buried in Lethbridge in the Tiffin family plot. In
Elmworth they filed on a homestead and obtained the land
after three years and continued farming until their death.
When Grandpa Tiffin was eighty years of age he went up to
Elmworth, filed on a homestead and stayed six months of
the year with Allie and Franklin for three years. Franklin
made the improvements each year until Grandpa Tiffin
obtained the Title and then turned it over to Allie and Franklin.

After Allie had passed away, Franklin remarried Myrle Cambell
in July 8, 1945 and died on October 31, 1961.

Bert Tiffin was one of the first settlers under the A.R. & I. ditch,
and broke his land with a walking plow. He farmed for 52 years
until he retired to Victoria in 1953. He died in 1955 at age 74.

Bert and Florence started their married life on the farm at Lethbridge.
In 1908, their only child, a daughter, was born. After several years
Bert purchased a half section of land at Iron Springs and moved
there, renting out the home place. Later he filed on a homestead
in the same district. Several years later he sold the land returning
to their farm in Lethbridge. He then bought a half section west of
Henderson's farm on the Magrath Road. In 1940, this land was
sold to the Hutterite Colony. He bought two sections of land east
of Warner. He also was in partnership with Mr. D.P. Carlyle on a
half section of land just north of Lethbridge, where Golden Acres
Lodge is now situated. On retiring he sold his farm at Milk River,
rented the home place to his brother Jack, and moved to Victoria.

Rube was married to Anna Marie Beninger on December 2, 1909,
who died March 8, 1925. Rube remarried in October 3, 1934
to Marie Walsh. Two sons were born to them. The family
lived in the following centres; Nelsen, Medicine Hat, and
Cranbrook.

Melvin Earl Tiffin, graduated from elementary White School
and the Lethbridge High School. He entered Normal School
to obtain his teaching certificate. He taught school in the
Coalhurst District for approximately two years, before he
enrolled at the University of Alberta, where he studied Medical
Arts for two years. At that time Canada was involved in the
Great War 1914, and Melvin joined the forces. He was
grouped with the Ambulance Corp and was in action at the
great battle of Vimy Ridge in France. Later he was released
to complete his medical education and graduated from the
University of Toronto in 1920. He married Majorie Forester,
a graduate nurse of Toronto Hospital.

They returned to Alberta and B.C. and practised the Medical
Arts at the following centres; Kimberly, Nanton, Rocky Ford
and Edson. In later years they moved to Vancouver and
there he continued his medical practice until his death in
1958. Three children were born, two sons and a daughter.

Jack Tiffin: usually known by his friends and neighbors as Jack.
In 1913 on February 5th, he married Alberta Mary Wight, known
as Allie whom he met at the home place while she was teaching.
Allie graduated as a teacher from Bowmanville, Ontario and
applied for a position with the White School district in Alberta.
She often made the remark, and I quote; "My name was Alberta
Wight and I chose to teach in the White School in Alberta". The
school teachers usually boarded at the Tiffin's Farm. At the time
there were a number of young men living at the household, so on
her arrival they drew lots to see who would meet the new school
teacher at the station, and the lot fell on Jack. Jack's sister Allie
Tiffin sent along her fur coat to wear during their trip back home,
so she felt well taken care of (on) her arrival here.

She often spoke of having a small class to begin with but with
the teaching of sewing her class increased to nearly thirty
pupils. She taught school from January 1911, till June 1912,
then returned home to make arrangements for their wedding
on February 5, 1913 There were five children, three daughters
and two sons. Margaret Grace, born April 26, 1920, died in
infancy March 11, 1921.

They continued farming on the home place for four years.
Then in 1918, Jack with his family along with Grandpa Tiffin
rented out their farm and moved to Vancouver for a year.
After their return from Vancouver, Jack has continued
farming on the home place to this day.

In 1919, a dairy herd was purchased and gradually
over the years. A foundation for a diary barn was
constructed in 1916 by Tom Stubbs. Building Contractor
and completed in 1921.

Silage was important in the cows diet, so, in 1926, a
silo was erected. Each summer an extra crew was
hired to put up the silage, to mow and stack alfalfa,
and harvest the grain.

The area just south and west of the house was open
prairie, and the cattle were turned out to graze on the
prairie grass in the summer. Eventually this half section
was purchased in 1924 and fenced. The South West
quarter of it continued to be used as pasture until 1936,
when it was broken up and put into production. A Massey
Harris tractor with a two bottom plow was purchased, and
the North West quarter was broken and later planted. The
original horse barn was torn down and replaced by a new
building with a hay mow. Also a calf and hog barn was
built and was used for a number of years.

Eventually the machine age gradually took over the horse's
place on the farm. With the growth, and the increase in
the dairy herd the old horse barn was gradually reconstructed
into the present calf barn with a section reserved for the
maternity cases. One wing was added for grain storage.

The old roothouse served its purpose for many years,
storing a supply of potatoes and vegetables to feed the
family and the farm crew. Eventually the root house was
torn down and reconstructed into a garage and machine shop.

Around 1924, a Hinman milking Machine was installed.
With this machine they ran into considerable difficulty and
later returned to hand-milking. With the advent of World
War II farm labor became very short and in order to continue
dairying, it was necessary to make changes. The De Laval
Machine was purchased and installed and proved satisfactory.
The milk was transferred to eight gallon cans and stored in
a tank of water over night. Eventually a cooling device was
installed in the watertank to help to keep the milk cool.

They wanted to increase their dairy herd, but the present
facilities were inadequate, as it was geared for fifty milking
cows. They changed over to the Loose Housing System.
This system included; a loafing parlor, a waiting room,
the milking parlor, then the dining room. With this change
over they were able to increase their herd to around 100-110
cows. Next came the installation of the Bulk Refrigerated
Tank with the milk picked up by truck every other morning.

Growing peas for the Magrath Canning Company for
several years and growing sugar beets for the Sugar
Factory, helped to develop the dairy industry. The
pattern of unmarried hired men with the bunkhouse and
boarding facilities soon changed. Houses were needed
for married couples on the farm. At present there is
accommodation for six families.

There is a saying; "that all work and no play makes Jack
a dull boy". Recreation and divergence from routine duties
had a place in the midst of their daily duties. Visiting
neighbors, attending church and evening house parties
were the main channels of entertainments. Plays, poetry,
games and musical evenings had their place. We have a
few pictures of the cast of the play that was presented a
short time after the families arrivals. Jack was one of the
main characters. With the building of the school more public
gatherings were held thus the settlers in the district became
more acquainted. When the first Marconi Radio came into
Lethbridge, some one brought a set to the school the evening
of a card party. During the evening they would take turns
putting on the ear phones to listen to a program being broadcast.
There were only a few that had a chance to listen. Eventually
the White School became too small for the number of pupils
attending, so they moved the building a half mile east and
added a second room. Here dances were held in the new
additional room and card parties in the old part of the school.
Children too young to enjoy the dances were bedded down
on the desks while the others danced into the wee small hours
of the morning. I recall our family were always on their way
home immediately after midnight lunch. Morning work started
early on the farm.

In order to keep abreast with the developments in the farming
field and also assist in the development of the district,
Jack filled a number of executive positions. As his father
had done before him, Jack served on the local board
for many years. (Grandpa Tiffin served on the first board
of White School along with A.E. Keffer & Rev. White.)
He became Chairman of the Divisional Board in 1937
when the Lethbridge School Division #7 was established.
Mr. Owen Williams was Superintendent of the division, Mr.
G.C. Patterson was Secretary-Treasurer. A trustee on the
board stood for three years. In order to arrange that all
member's term of office did not expire at one time, they
drew their number out of the hat. Jack drew his for one
year duration. He was voted Chairman of the Board for
that first year. He allowed his name to stand for the
second term, and continued as Chairman of the Board.
After completing his term of office, he did not let his name
stand again due to the increase in farm responsibilities.

Jack held a position of Chairman of the Lethbridge Milk
Producers Board at periodic intervals. He was always
interested in the association, as they tried to interpret
their position with the creameries and to keep abreast of
the developing industry. During his period, Bill Darby and
Jack worked on a "Quota System", the pattern of which
was later taken over by the Board of Public Utilities under
the Provincial Government. This system is still in existence
today.

The Lethbridge Producer Association appointed Jack to
be on the Milk Foundation supplying literature pamphlets
on milk and its products, making them available to the
school districts from which their supply of milk comes.
In 1965, Jack along with Lance Snowden was presented
with a leather plaque for the distinguished service with the
Organization of the Milk Producers. At a Milk Foundation
meeting in the same year, Jack was presented with a plate,
an Emblem of Alberta for his service as Director on the Board.

During January 1966, The Union Milk Company held a banquet
to which their Milk Producers were invited. Dinner was served,
and a film shown. Then in honor of being the longest milk
shipper to the dairy, Jack Tiffin was presented with Herald
McCraken's book "The Charles M. Russell Book". This
recognized his faithful service of over fifty years.

The Southern Alberta Co-op. Association was first known
as "Farm Products Assoc.", which was managed by W. A.
Hamilton and Leonard McKenzie. They were interested in
the marketing of farm products, such as hay, grain, and
potatoes. Wilbur McKenzie expanded the products to hogs
and cattle. He was one of the men who worked with the
group to instigate Red Label Beef. After it became the
Southern Alberta Co-operative Association, Jack was a
member of the board for a number of years.

Jack recalls an amusing incident following one of their meetings.
One of the members gathered the eggs before coming to the
meeting and had put a few in his pocket and forgot them.
Engaged in conversation after the meeting he leaned against
the counter which produced a crunching sound.

A look of horror came over his face, then a stream of profound
exclamations came forth.

Around Farmers Day each year in June, a picnic was held
presenting displays, speeches, races and refreshments.
Each visitor was presented with several free tickets to
obtain what ever they desired at the refreshment booth.
This picnic was always a high light of each year.

Jack became a member of the Lethbridge Rotary Club in 1929,
and was an active member until 1964. Then he took out his
inactive membership. He was always very keen on any of
the programs they sponsored. He also served on the Urban
Committee of the executive.

Some of the activities were as follows:

1.Rotary Minstrel Show
2.Rotary Hobby Fair
3.Rotary Baseball Tournaments
4.Manning the gate at the Lethbridge Exhibition.
5.The Mardi Grass.

Other committees and organizations he took part in were:

1. Chairman of the South Lethbridge Mutual Telephone
2. Active member of the U.F.A. from the beginning.
3. He collected for each Victory loan drive during World War II
4. Chairman of the Southern Alberta Irrigation Co.

In 1935, Knox and Wesley churches united to establish
Southminster United Church. Jack continued as a session
member. At the 1966 Annual Meeting he became an honourary
member of session for the service he had rendered.

Allie Tiffin also took an active interest in the community services.
She was a member of the Women's Association for the
church and member of the Women's Institute and U.F.W.A.
when they existed.

Allie assisted with quilting bees, school concerts and group
teas that were held. She did a lot of sewing for families in
need as well as her own. She tried to assist the members of
our family to become independent which proved successful,
in fact we were able to carry on after her death, on Feb. 1, 1933.

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