|
Mary (Polly) and Harry Tall
In May, 1870 Polly and Harry had their first child, a son that they named Henry Edward, after his two deceased uncles. About a year later, it was decided that Harry would leave her and their young son behind when he came to Canada, sending money over when he could to pay for them to join them. He didn't believe in married women working, so he and Polly had a long distance argument through letters about the fact she insisted on working. But Mary's sisters were willing to look after her son while she worked, and the money she earned helped buy her and the child clothing, and they were soon on their way to join Harry in Canada. Harry told Polly which ship to come on, but she was impatient and left a week earlier, only to see the second ship pass them in mid-ocean! For a while in Canada Harry, together with a partner, Mr. Davis, ran a road roller. Unfortunately the dust from the roller created health problems, and Harry's doctor advised him to move into the country. So Harry, Polly, and their son Henry and twin children Will and Hattie moved to Kearney. The family continued to grow, with one tragedy coming in 1894, when their son Henry died. In the spring of 1901, Polly and Harry, and their family moved to the Swan River area, together with Polly's sister Jenny's family (the Sims). Polly's sister Ellen, and her husband, Arthur Sims, were already living near Swan River. Harry helped to organize the Sunday School in Swan River. In the summer of 1902 typhoid fever broke out. Three of the children - Ethel, Fred and Alf - came down with the fever, as did Harry. The children survived, but Harry passed away on September 29, 1902. In one of the many articles Polly's granddaughter Gladys would later write, she records that cornstarch pudding always reminded Polly of her husband's death, because it was the last food she served to him before he died. (Article titled "The Place Where Yesterday Waits") After Harry's death Will left home, and 19 year old Charlie became the head of the household. The children were still weak from the fever, and winter arrived. The doctor told Mary that the temporary house built when they moved the year before was not good enough, and that they would need to build a permanent home. An elderly neighbour, Mr Shotten, heard the news and called a work bee, cutting down poplar logs building the house. With green logs used, large cracks developed, and Polly worked hard to keep the cracks filled. Around Christmas time Maria Westcott moved in with Polly and the remaining children. Then Nellie moved back home, together with her two children and a third on the way. * * * * * * * *
|
