Happy Pioneer Day

Dear Family

July 24  is Utah Pioneer Day, commemorating the arrival of the first wagon train of settlers on July 24, 1847. Our ancestors may not have crossed the plains with Brigham Young, but we have lots of ancestors who had pioneer experiences. And sometimes we are pioneers too, 

Our Buchanan ancestors came to Canada from famine-stricken Ireland in 1847, Then they came to Manitoba in 1879 to settle this area which had recently been purchased from the Hudson's Bay Company by the Government of Canada. Then shortly before Alberta became a province, they came here. George Buchanan married Dorothy Ing.

On the Kinney side, the arrival here was more direct. Ernest Kinney was born in the Liverpool area of England, and came to Canada to do farm work. The great depression made him wonder why he came here. "I sometimes felt like I had jumped from the frying pan (of adversity) into the fire." He married Ione Teale.

Richard Ing arrived from London, England as a 14 year old boy. When he was an adult, his mother suggested that he needed a wife. She may have suggested that he write to Louisa Wright, a single girl back in London. Louisa had been engaged to marry a sailor but he drowned shortly before their wedding day. Louisa and Richard carried on a long-distance courtship by letter. In 1913 she agreed to come to Canada and marry him. They had a wonderful marriage. Dorothy was one of their children.

Arthur Teale was from Hessle, Yorkshire, England. He married Alice Simpson, whose parents were both born in Canada, with roots in Scotland and in the United Empire Loyalist community. Arthur died in World Ward I during the battle of Vimy Ridge in France. Ione was one of their children.

This is the barest sketch of their lives, Besides this, they had families and helped to build homes and communities. They were known as people who were not afraid to try to accomplish new things. Were they always successful? Of course not. But they were generally known as friends with whom you could spend time enjoyably and as people you could count on.

Here is Jane Buchanan Watson, my second great aunt, telling the family story.

NOTE: This animated photo was created using the Deep Story feature in my MyHeritage.com account. Unlike those who use "deep fake" technology to cheat people out of money, this usage allows us to show a long-dead ancestor telling their own story. It is a much better use of the technology.