Magnus and Anne Cromarty
By Mrs. Sokolotosky

    Magnus Cromarty was born at York Factory, N.W.T in 1857 and was married in 1876 to Miss Anne Francis Henderson on the bank of the Red River in Manitoba. Only a few years later he and his young wife took part in the Red River caravan train of ox driven carts and were one of the first six settlers to take a homestead on River lot 12, on the northern banks of the North Saskatchewan River, called Fort Victoria. 

    Their journey took two and a half months, and they endured many hardships along the way. They raised three sons, William, John and Edward, and four daughters Ann (Mrs Snyder), Ameilia (Mrs Erasmus and later Mrs Pruden after the death of her first husband), Bella (Mrs. Whitford) and Barbara (Mrs. Buchanan).

    The Cromarty home always had a large ice house underground in which was kept salted meat most of the summer months. Large blocks of ice were cut on the river in the winter months and packed in sawdust from the nearby saw mills, this was one of the earliest refrigeration methods.

    The year 1936 brought a big event, their diamond wedding to which relatives and friends came from great distances for a supper dance. Cromarty's home was open to many social functions such as whist drives and dances.

    Mr. and Mrs. Cromarty both lived past eight and died three weeks apart in 1942. They were laid to rest in the Victoria Cemetery, over looking their homestead. Picture of their graves taken in 2001, by James Knockleby. 

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