Edenbank The History of a Canadian Pioneer Farm

by Wells, Oliver N.; Weeden, Marie; Weeden, Richard; Fotheringham, Allan

• ISBN13: 9781550173031
• ISBN10: 1550173030
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-11-04
• Publisher: Harbour

Summary

In the spring of 1862, fertile natural meadows in the eastern Fraser Valley of British Columbia made a similar impression on Allen Casey Wells, a greenhorn prospector on his way to the Cariboo. There was no fortune awaiting him in the goldfields, so he returned to the valley where, in 1867, he established the farm that would sustain and inspire four generations of his family. Edenbank's pioneering of agricultural science, its dedicated breeding programs and its award-winning Ayrshire cattle made it famous across Canada and beyond. This fascinating history by Oliver Wells, grandson of the farm's founder, details farming methods of a bygone era and evokes the deep contentment to be found in family, nature and the rhythm of seasons. Richly illustrated with sketches and historical photographs, it also chronicles everyday life in British Columbia at a time when most people lived in small, rural communities.

Author Biography

Oliver N. Wells (1907-1970), a farmer and stock breeder, was also a naturalist, writer, ethnographer and historian. Before conservation became fashionable, he established a bird sanctuary on his family's land. He helped to revive Salish weaving techniques and documented the Halkomelem language and Native myths in a number of publications Marie Weeden, the youngest daughter of Oliver Wells, grew up on Edenbank Farm. Like her father, she has a keen interest in history, particularly that of the Chilliwack area. She co-edited and researched The Chilliwacks and Their Neighbors, a collection of interviews by her father. In 1970 Marie and her husband, Richard Weeden, took over the management of Edenbank Farm and subsequently tried in vain to have it preserved as a provincial heritage site

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. xi
Foreword	p. xiii
Introduction	p. 1
Adventure Calls	p. 3
Arrival of miners
A journey by native canoe up the Fraser to the Chilliwack River
Origins of A.C. Wells
A long trudge to the gold-fields
Allen settles in Yale as a harness maker
Wife Sarah and sister Jane arrive, 1864
A Lovely Valley	p. 11
J.K. Lord's description of the Chilliwack Valley
A.C. assists at the Evans farm, 1865
The Royal Engineers' cabin on the trail to Yale
Sarah and baby Lillie move to the Evans farm
Scouting out the land
A Home in the Wilderness	p. 17
Purchase of land and a Crown grant
Building a home, 1867
Excerpts from Reverend Edward White's diary
Smallpox epidemic
Road building, land clearing, purchase of livestock
Collins Telegraph line
First Protestant church built, 1869
A new baby and a new barn
Battling High Water	p. 23
Widowed Jane Evans's trip by freight canoe from Yale, 1871
The productive land
Haymakers' picnic
Further farm improvements
Sarah's saddle horse, Molly
A community "bee" for a campground
The infamous chinook of 1875 and a river battle
Mail delivery in early days
The naming of Edenbank
Sowing the Seeds for Success	p. 29
A pioneer's farm library
Expanding markets for dairy products
Construction of a horse barn, wagon shed and root cellar
The 1880 harvest and a friendly competition
Clearing the farm lane
First creamery
Land clearing in winter
Stock experimentation
A bovine disaster and a Chinese funeral
Hand seeding of thirty acres, 1892
Threshing grain by steam power
A new silo for corn
Shoring up the riverbank
Father and Son Work Together	p. 41
Edwin's education and marriage to Gertie Kipp
The birth of a son, the building of the "Big Barn" and the big flood, 1894
Haying methods by horse and team
Haymakers' picnic and camp meetings
First farmers' co-operative, the Eden Bank Creamery Company
Report by The Farmer's Advocate, 1897
Family and Community Life	p. 49
First Chilliwack exhibition
Camp meetings and a new Methodist church
Allen in public office
Gertrude Kipp and her family
Edwin becomes a partner
Land clearing contract with Kwong
A retirement home, 1898
Animal exhibitions, purchases and exports
An overseas visit and tragedy at home
"Edenbank" trademark becoming widely known
Daybook entries, 1903
Edwin, Gertrude and Their Growing Boys	p. 57
Hog cholera on the farm
New creamery built, 1904
Edwin as a progressive farmer
A succession of sons
Exhibition wins further afield
First B.C. Electric train, 1910
The Farrow marriage
Fred and George Bryant's recollections
Records of production testing
Oliver's early farm memories
The torch is passed
New home construction, 1913
A Time of Worry	p. 67
Labour unrest and a strike
Farm workers during World War I
A devastating ice storm
Flu epidemic, 1918
Death of Gertrude Wells
Bulls Robinhood and Peter Pan do battle
Establishment of farmers' associations
Milk shipped to newly formed FVMPA, 1917
Diamond wedding anniversary, 1919
Death of Sarah Wells, 1921
B.C. Dairymen's Association convention held at Edenbank
Death of A.C. Wells, 1922
Farm Chores for Teen Boys	p. 75
Margaret Smith's arrival
British farm workers
Crop experiments
School-day chores
Ronald's near-fatal accident
Edwin instructs his sons in veterinary practices and home butchering
Livestock propagation
Tornado the boar loses his tusks
Pure-bred Clydesdales at Edenbank
Horse Tales	p. 85
The breaking of Dan and Red
Sara McKeil arrives to board at the farm
A horse trip to Liumchen with Chief Billy Sepass
Gordon and Oliver save for a special purchase
Oliver rides a bucking bronco
A polo team and Roman riding
A farm of Champions	p. 93
Exhibiting the Ayrshire herd
Bob Stewart and a ripping bull encounter, 1923
On the Prairie circuit
Ayrshire breeder meetings in Ontario and Quebec, 1925
Ken Hay prepares herd for show
Oliver's trip to the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto
Margaret quilts with winning ribbons
Introduction of Cheviot sheep
Bob Sibbald's show flock
Standing watch at night
Memorable Hands	p. 99
Eight-foot snowdrifts in a severe winter, 1923
Purchase of Promontory upland for pasture and woodlot
Dr. Milton, a dedicated veterinarian
Heavy workdays by capable farm help
FVMPA purchases land for utility plant
Demolition of old straw barn, a close call and Ron's first flight
Oliver and Gordon attend UBC
Sid Plevy's wild ride
No more hand milking, 1928
A riding trip to Liumchen Mountain
The Hungry Thirties	p. 107
The Dunwaters' herd and a gift to UBC
Dehorning of the stately Ayrshires
More wins on the Prairie circuit, 1930
The bull Robinhood and Oliver's encounter
Export trade to Washington, Oregon and China
Oliver as herd manager
The pleasant work of haying
Sara and Oliver marry, 1931
A royal visit
Hungry men of the Depression
Arrival of the Bells
Cutting corn by hand
Stampede horses
Edenbank Under the Third Generation	p. 117
Oliver takes over the farm, 1939
Landscape plantings
Wartime farm help
The death of Edwin Wells, 1942
Records of production testers at the farm
Ayrshire Breeders' classification of herd
Strong showing on the Prairie circuit, 1946
A very cold journey by rail with cattle to the Royal Winter Fair
Last exhibits of the herd, 1947
The Great Fraternity	p. 123
Ayrshire breeders, some old and some new associations
First Ayrshire breeders' field day in B.C., held at Edenbank, 1925
Another field day in 1938 with Highland pipers
Junior Farmers, forerunner of the 4-H clubs
Notable breeders of the period
Irrigation and the Flood of '48	p. 127
Formation of the Wells Family Society by the five Wells brothers
An experimental irrigation project
The flood of 1948
Percy Evans brings cows to Edenbank
A New Sire	p. 131
Trips to Quebec and the eastern States to visit Ayrshire breeders
Hugh Bone's visit
Carnell Standard Bearer purchased from Scotland
Cattle sales as far as New Zealand
Improvements to the cattle barn
North Country Cheviots imported from Scotland
Another winter storm, 1950
Jack Enoch as herdsman
A new tractor and putting up hay with a sweep
Tony and David Way immigrate to Canada
Prominent Guests and A New Resident Breed	p. 135
Sara and Oliver host guests from across Canada and abroad
Oliver chooses Aberdeen Angus after extensive research
Oliver's 1953 daybook entries
Kamloops bull sale
Formation of the B.C. Aberdeen Angus Association
Years of Celebration and Recognition	p. 141
Limiting of herd size to a one-man operation
Centennial field day, 1958, with one thousand visitors
Oliver receives Superior Breeder Award (Canadian) for 1959-60
Alister Clyne from Wick, Scotland, visits
Oliver awarded life membership of Canadian Ayrshire Breeders' Association
Bringing Nature Back	p. 145
Environmental change on the farm over many years
Wild birds and fish runs
Allan Brooks as a young man
Demise of the valley as a hunter's paradise
Early development of a bird and wildlife sanctuary
An Avian and Artistic Legacy	p. 149
The banding of birds
Encouragement by bird artist Allan Brooks
The bird sanctuary, a successful endeavour
A collection of Allan Brooks paintings
Correspondence with wildlife and nature artists
Canada geese shipped to Britain
Hatching eggs from Alaska, 1950
Exhibits of Brooks paintings
Art in the family home
A New Era	p. 157
The busy life of a dairy farmer
Sale of the Ayrshires, 1962
Establishment of Eden Drive
Still farming ninety acres
Family company formed, 1967
More time for hobbies, including historical research
S. & S. Company supplies black wool to native knitters
Oliver helps revive Salish weaving
John Wallace, canoe maker
Assisting the Chilliwack Arts Council
Grandpa, the babysitter
Christmas 1967
Epilogue	p. 169
Acknowledgements	p. 171
Map of the Fraser Valley	p. 172
Wells Family Tree	p. 174
Notes	p. 176
References	p. 180
Index	p. 182
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.