Roots: The Sheep Joneses

The Joneses of Rhiw emigrated to Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1911, where they became known as "The Sheep Joneses.

 

Above: Rhiw in 2004

In the early part of the twentieth century a family by the name of Jones lived at Rhiw, namely David Cadwaladr Jones, of Ty Newydd, Capel Garmon, who on 21 May 1904 married Jane Jones of Penrallt, Nant y Rhiw. David Cadwaladr had been born 26 Feb 1874 at Bryn y Cyplau, Nebo, and Jane at 31 May 1886 Bryn Fawnog, Capel Garmon.

They had two sons, William Owen born 29 Jun 1907 at Rhiw and John Cadwaladr 25 Nov 1908, and another two children who died and are buried in Capel Garmon.

They emigrated to Canada in 1911 and had an-other seven children, Jane Ellen on June 30, 1913, Robert Thomas June 27, 1915, Abel David October 17, 1917, Margaret Ann October 11, 1919, Catherine Elizabeth on August 12, 1922, and twin daughters on January 4, 1924, who died at birth. Edward Evan was born on March 4, 1926, and David Trebor was born on March 5, 1928.

 

The Jones family.

 

Above: The Jones family in Saskatchewan with, on the rear right, David's brother Robert ("Uncle Chicago"), visiting from Illinois. Another sister, Catherine Ellen, became Mrs Andrew and settled at Cae'r Ceiliog, Tafarn y Fedw.

They always spoke Welsh, and their daughter Jane Ellen (nicknamed Jenny in Canada) could speak Welsh fluently when she visited Wales in 1984.

 

Above: Jane Jones ("Auntie Jane Saskatchewan"), Katie Williams and Ellen Ann Evans at Fronwen about 1954

Members of the families on both sides of the Atlantic have kept in touch ever since, and have visited Wales recently. Janet Schappert and her son Jason visited the family home, Rhiw, in 2004, and their photo can be seen at the end of this page.

David and Jane's son Edward wrote the following account of his family's history.

DAVID CADWALADR AND JANE JONES

By Edward Jones

David Cadwaladr Jones was born in Denbighshire, North Wales in 1874. He was experienced in farm work and was engaged in this during his life in Wales. Jane Jones was born in Bryn Fawnog, Nebo, North Wales on May 31, 1886. Her father, Abel Jones, died when she was very young and her mother remarried. Her stepfather was quite mean to her and consequently she left home to work in the Nebo area near Llanrwst, Wales.

David and Jane were married on May 21, 1904 at Llanrwst. A son William Owen was born to them on June 29, 1907. A second son, John Cadwaladr, was born on November 25, 1908. Along with many other emigrants, they left Wales to come to Canada and in particular, a Welsh settlement at Bangor, Saskatchewan. They arrived in Canada in October 1911, and traveled by train from Halifax. For the first couple of years David worked for a wealthy farmer. He paid his men at the end of each year, but at the end of the second year there was no money to pay the workers with. Meanwhile David had a family to take care of, so he decided to strike out on his own. He bought a quarter section of land just east of Bangor along with some livestock, mostly sheep. On this quarter there was a small log house in which they lived. It required constant maintenance, particularly in chinking the outside between the logs. This was done with mud and cow manure, which there was plenty of, mixed with straw to make it more binding. An addition was built on to the east end out of logs, for storage. It was about 10 by 12 feet in size with no windows or heat, and it became known as the “Dark Place.”

A couple of years after their arrival in Canada, the family started to grow and a daughter, Jane Ellen was born on June 30, 1913. Robert Thomas was born on June 27, 1915. Abel David was born on October 17, 1917. Margaret Ann was born on October 11, 1919. Catherine Elizabeth was born on August 12, 1922. Twin daughters were born on January 4, 1924. They died at birth. Edward Evan was born on March 4, 1926, and David Trebor was born on March 5, 1928.

They raised purebred registered sheep and Dad used to show them at fairs as far away as Saskatoon and Regina. He won many prizes, usually at the top of the line like “Grand Champion, Champion and First Place.” Transportation to these far away places was by rental of a railway car in which the sheep, personnel and camping equipment plus food were transported. Dining at restaurants or sleeping in hotels was out of the question for financial reasons. As sheep were the main type of livestock we had, we became known as the “Sheep Joneses”. There were many Jones families in the Bangor-Atwater areas and to distinguish between them, they were identified by their occupation, trade or some other peculiar trait. For example, there was a “Yankee Jones” who immigrated from the States. Then there was D.B. Jones known as “Shorthorn Jones” because he raised purebred Shorthorn cattle. There was also a bachelor named Davey Jones and he was known as “Davey Jones Batch”.

After they became old enough, Bill and John used to help Dad at the fairs, preparing and holding the sheep while the judge examined them. Having become well known at the fairs, they used to sell purebred registered rams each fall all over Saskatchewan.

In order to supplement the farm income, David worked on the CNR Section gang out of Bangor until his sudden and unexpected death in July 1928. Jane was left alone to raise nine children, the youngest of which was David, aged about four months. The older boys continued to run farming operations under their mother’s guidance. Finally, the little log house became too small for the family and consequently they moved to a farm home about five miles north of Atwater.

Similar farming operations were continued, i.e.: mixed farming, and though we had very little money we always had enough food to eat and clothing (usually homemade or hand-me-downs). The children who were of school age and others becoming so attended a country school, Fertile Belt, about a mile and a half away. We generally walked to school through all kinds of weather and winter temperatures. We considered ourselves quite fortunate in that the school board supplied pencils, erasers, scribblers, etc., free of charge, where as in many of the other nearby schools the children had to supply their own. The teachers were generally pretty good and their word was law, and if anyone got the strap, you could rest assured that there would be more disciplinary action taken at home. Things were quite good and children so inclined to misbehave could usually get away with it except for the odd tattler.

Fertile Belt School had a half basement in which a coal and wood furnace supplied heat to the classroom through a floor register. This was not quite adequate to heat the whole classroom on very cold days, so the boys during recess or noon hour would go down the basement and stoke up the wood fire while many of the girls stood on the floor register with their skirts billowing out from the rising heat. After the fire got going pretty good, several of the boys would urinate directly on the fire and then run outside to play. This created a foul smell that would practically drive everyone out of the classroom. This went on for some time until one of the girls caught on and tattled to the teacher. So much for that.

To get back to more of the serious side of living in the 1930’s, to supplement what little income there was from the farm the older boys used to go out shearing sheep on a custom basis each spring. This would last for about a month and a half and would help substantially in ready cash.

Family entertainment was quite limited by today’s standards and usually consisted of dances at local country schools or visiting neighbours to engage in card games or just visiting. Sometimes checker tournaments and whist drives were held at a number of schools.

Heating of homes was usually poplar wood or coal, when the latter could be afforded. Each winter, a supply of poplar trees were cut and hauled from the bush. Towards spring a sawing bee would be held to cut it into stove lengths and allowed to season during the summer, ready for the next winter. The house we lived in was a large two-story structure of lumber, lined with plaster and lath. It did not have a bit of insulation like most houses in those days and it took a lot of wood to keep it heated. If the fire was allowed to go out on cold nights, a pail of water in the kitchen would have a layer of ice on it in the morning. To remedy this situation, on real cold nights the tin heater was stoked up with coal or mother would sleep downstairs on the couch to feed wood into it every two hours or so.

The farm we lived on was rented on a crop share basis by way of a ten-year contract. When the contract ran out we moved lock, stock and barrel to a half section farm southwest of Bangor in the spring of 1942. The only persons left at home to run the farm were Ed, aged sixteen, and David, aged fourteen, along with mother.

 

Above: Edward Evan Jones RCAF AC

She continued farming with David until about 1948 or 1949, and then moved to Melville where Dave commenced work as fireman on the CNR. She lived in Melville until it became unsafe for her to live alone.

 

Above: Edward Evan Jones, Royal Canadian Mounted Police 1947-1966

She spent some time with Ed who by this time was in the RCMP at Fort Smith, N.W.T., and Penticton, B.C. In the mid 1960’s, she lived with Catherine on the farm, and with Ed and family in Yorkton in the wintertime.

 

Above: Jane with Win, Catherine and Lewis in December 1965.

She was quite a superstitious woman, particularly about the number thirteen. As the good Lord would have it, she suffered a stroke and passed away at the Yorkton Hospital on Friday, of all days, January 13, 1967. She was buried at Bangor beside Dad, whom she loved and remained true to for approximately forty years after his death.

 

David, Edward, Abel, Robert, John, William, Catherine, Margeret, and Jenny in January 1967.

William had his schooling at Bangor School and helped on the farm at home. He worked part-time on the railway section gang along with Dad. Later on, during the winter months, he acquired a wood-sawing outfit powered by a one cylinder Galoway engine, along with a grain chopper and went out with a sleigh and a team of horses doing custom work. In the late 1930’s he drove a truck for George Morris’s garage hauling everything from gasoline to lumber. In the 1940’s he moved to Melville to work for the CNR as a train conductor until his retirement. On December 15, 1937, he married Ellen Duns and they raised five children: Robert David born February 26, 1939; William John born January 5, 1942; Sharon Anne born December 7, 1945; Janet Elizabeth born March 15, 1949 and Nancy Ellen born December 10, 1954. Bill passed away on August 15, 1976, and was buried at Melville. Ellen still resides at Melville.

 

Above: William O Jones, 1945.

John received his schooling at Bangor and helped out on the farm. He also worked part-time on the railway section gang. He was largely responsible for continuing the raising and showing of registered sheep after Dad died in 1928. He along with some of the younger brothers and friends, used to go shearing sheep on a custom basis through southern Saskatchewan and western Manitoba. He joined the Canadian army in June 1940, and served overseas. He was wounded in action on the continent and returned to England for hospitalization.

 

Above: John Cadwaladr Jones in the Canadian Army. He met and married Phyllis Evans of Belmont.

While visiting relatives in Wales, he met Phyllis Evans and they were married on June 17, 1943. A son, Gwynfryn, was born on December 26, 1945 at Llanrwst, North Wales, and came to Canada in the latter part of 1946 with his mother. John farmed in the Bangor district for a number of years after the war. A son, John Vincent, was born on June 23, 1947 at Yorkton. Margaret Rose was born June 25, 1948. Gladys Ann was born November 5, 1952, and Linda Mary was born on June 8, 1955. John started working for Saskatchewan Liquor Board in the late 1950’s and continued with this until his retirement at Yorkton. He passed away January 25, 1981, and was buried at Yorkton. Phyllis passed away on April 26, 1986, and was also buried at Yorkton. Gwynfryn died in Ontario on February 19, 1991, and was buried at Bangor.

Jane Ellen had had her schooling at Bangor and worked out as a domestic until she married John Madrin Sanders on November 17, 1934. They lived on a farm north of Atwater and a son Arthur Murray was born on November 25, 1941. John (Jack) passed away on February 14, 1960, and was buried at Atwater. Jenny and Arthur continued farming until she passed away on August 22, 1990. She was buried at Atwater. Arthur continues to farm on the home place.

Robert received his schooling at Bangor. He helped out on the farm at home and some years during the summer months worked for local farmers. He also sheared sheep with John. In late April 1939, he moved to the Sundre, Alberta area with the Charlie Marsh family. On December 15, 1939, he married Irene Mary Marsh and the following children were born: David Charles on September 4, 1940. He worked in the oil industry in Alberta and was killed in a car accident on May 27, 1981. He was buried at Sundre. Next was Marjorie Elaine, born may 30, 1942. Trevor Robert was born March 16, 1949. Lynwen Mary was born February 25, 1953, and Catherine Ogwen was born on June 24, 1958, all at the Olds and Sundre districts. They farmed for quite a number of years north of Sundre and they still live on the farm. Bob and Irene celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary on December 15, 1999. (Bob & Irene left the farm in January 2004 to live in a nursing home; Bob passed away on Feb. 29, 2004 and Irene passed away on Dec. 25, 2005).

Abel received his schooling at Bangor and the remaining year or two at Fertile Belt School north of Atwater. He worked on the farm at home most of the time and later on, worked for local farmers. He joined the army in 1943 and served in England and on the continent.

 

Above: Abel David Jones, Canadian Army.

He returned to Canada in 1946 and on March 20, 1947, he married Florence Annie Gibson. They farmed on the Co-op farms in the Smoky Burn area, east of Carrot River. During this time the following children were born: Owen Edward on April 5, 1948: Murray Eldwin on May 16, 1951, and David Alvin on July 11, 1955. In 1970, Abel began working as a general store manager for Carrot River Co-op at Smoky Burn. He was later transferred to the Co-op store at Laird, and when that store closed down he continued working for the Co-op at Rosthern until his retirement. They moved to Cupar in the late 1980’s. Abel passed away September 16, 1990 and was buried at Cupar. David Alvin was killed in an industrial accident near Saskatoon on October 30, 1981. He was buried at Laird. Florence still lives in Cupar. (Florence passed away on April 17, 2004.)

 

Above: The Joneses in December 1937 - Robert, William, Ellen, Margaret.

Margaret Ann started school at Bangor and finished off at Fertile Belt country school. She worked for a local farmer as a domestic for several years and then moved to Winnipeg, where she took further schooling and became a clerk stenographer. She worked in this capacity for a number of years in Winnipeg and moved to Toronto to continue the same line of work. In 1951 she married Jerry Clarke. This marriage was short lived, but a daughter Melody was born in August 1953. They were divorced in Edmonton shortly after that and Jerry took Melody to live with some of his relatives in Alberta. Her current whereabouts are unknown. Margaret eventually moved to Vancouver where she passed away on December 18, 1969. She was buried at Yorkton.

Catherine took her elementary schooling at Bangor and Fertile Belt Schools and in order to complete her high school she went to work part-time at the A.R. Kime farm near Bangor. She completed her Grade 12 in June 1942. She worked for a short while at Regina until she married Lewis Kime at Regina on April 7, 1943. The following children were born to them: Eloise Gloria on February 1, 1944; Adel Eleanor on July 15, 1947; and Winnifred Elsie was born at Winnipeg on June 18, 1955. Catherine and Lewis farmed on the home place until 1969 at which time they moved to Yorkton where Catherine still lives. Lewis passed away March 22, 1989, and was buried at Yorkton.

Edward received his schooling at Fertile Belt School up to Grade 9, then Grade 10 at Bangor School, when what was left of the family at home moved to a farm southwest of Bangor. He worked at home on the farm until 1944, at which time he joined the RCAF as aircrew (air gunner). He served in England and returned home on July 17, 1945 and discharged from service on September 12, 1945. In the summer of 1946 he worked on the farm for Lewis Kime. He joined the RCMP on April 12, 1947 and served most of the first fifteen years in the Arctic by choice. He retired from the RCMP in February 1966, and then worked at the potash mine near Esterhazy for about a year and a half. He married Elizabeth Pankonin on September 24, 1955, resulting in the birth of two children: David Emil on June 11, 1956, at Melville, and Jane Louise on June 11, 1959, at Penticton, BC. They moved to Nipawin in 1968 to commence working for the town in the Town Police and later in the municipal office, as clerk and inspector. He was divorced from Elizabeth in 1972, and married Ethel Montgomery on October 26, 1974. He continued working for the town until his retirement in 1986. Ethel and Ed are still residing at Nipawin.

David obtained his schooling at Fertile Belt School until 1942 and then attended Bangor School for the rest of his education. He worked on the home farm until 1949 when he and Mother moved to Melville. He worked as fireman and engineer for CNR. He was married to Eileen Hahn in September 1955, resulting in the birth of two children: Donald David born March 11, 1958, and Wrenee Esther born September 1, 1961. He continued working for the CNR until shortly before his death on February 14, 1975. He was buried at Melville. He had been divorced from Eileen and never remarried.

Of all the children mentioned above, many marriages have taken place and grandchildren born as well as some great-grandchildren. The numbers are quite large and considered too numerous to mention here.

** This story was written by Edward for the Bangor History Book for 2002. Unfortunately he never got to see the book. Edward Jones passed away on April 7, 2002. He was buried at Nipawin.

 

Janet Schappert and her son Jason at Rhiw on 2 May 2004.

Janet has studied the family history extensively and has compiled a family tree from Lewis Roberts of Cae Dafydd Llwyd (about 1787-1866 approx) via Cadwaladr Roberts 1823 – 1892 down to the present time, which includes many families both local and overseas.

This tree does not include descendants of Lewis Roberts' other children. It may be that this can be compiled and added to these pages some time in the future, with help from the descendants themselves.