Margaret Jessie Thoms (Ladell) Wilson (1903 - 2002)

Born 28 Sep 1903 in Travis County, Austin, Texas, U.S.A.

Ancestors

Wife of Earle Bliss Wilson — married 1 Nov 1930 in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

Descendants

Died 20 Mar 2002 at age 98 in Vernon, B.C., Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ron Wilson [send private message]

Biography

Margaret Jessie Thoms (Ladell) Wilson born in Travis County, Austin, Texas, U.S.A., Sept. 28, 1903, the first daughter born to Arthur Henry and Ada Emily (Thoms) Ladell. She had nine siblings from two families awaiting her arrival.

Her father's first wife, Cecily (Crompton) Ladell, had passed away at the age of 39, just seven days after giving birth to Cecily Geraldine Ladell, leaving Arthur with a baby and four other children to care for.

Shortly after Arthur married his 2nd. wife Ada Thoms on April 3, 1893, they had packed up their five children and moved to Texas. They bought the "Elm Grove Dairy" which was located just one mile north of Austin's city limits. While in Texas there was a steady growth in the dairy and also a steady growth to their family. Just after Margaret was born the family, for health reasons, decided to move back to Port Sydney, Ontario, Canada.

In a sales pamphlet written by A.H. Ladell, dated January 15, 1904, the 400 acres known as the "Elm Grove Dairy" was advertised for sale. This pamphlet is now listed by the University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History.

After a decade of running a very successful dairy business, and with the property sold, the family, (now 10 children), packed their personal belongings and were soon on the train heading north to Canada. The older members of the family recall the long, weary train trip, especially for their mother, with caring for small children without many conveniences. Margaret was too young to remember that trip early in 1905, but her sisters would certainly let her know about it later.

It was the family's intention to move to Alberta after a short stay in Port Sydney. Because Arthur's 81 year old mother, Mary Ann (Spanton) Ladell was in poor health they ended up staying there for two years. Margaret's sister "Connie" was born on May 31, 1905. Arthur's mother passed away on Aug. 24, 1906 after living 38 years in Port Sydney. Over twenty of those years living at the "Balsams", the family home, store, post office and resort on the beautiful shores of Mary Lake.

After his mother's passing, Arthur went out to Alberta on a business venture, but soon returned after having purchased a section of land from the C.P. Railroad.

On April 1, 1907, they moved to near the future family homestead at Halley, about 8 miles north of Bittern Lake, Alberta. Margaret's sister "Dorothy" was born in Camrose Alberta on June 3, 1907.

They lived in a rented log house until Margaret's father finished building a large house with an attached store which was to be home to the Ladell's and their twelve children. It was later used to board the school teacher and the visiting Anglican Church minister. Margaret's father hired a teacher and classes were held in their home for their children and others from families in the area.

Margaret was only five when her father and his brother-in-law E.C. Roper led the way in building Holy Angels and All Saint's Anglican Church just across the road and a bit south from their home. The Anglican Church services had been held in their home from Dec.1, 1907 until the new church opened on Jan. 31, 1909.

The Ladell family farm was a very diverse section of combined crops, especially heavy-yielding oats and livestock production (cattle, hogs, horses, sheep and poultry). With this and the store, Margaret and her siblings would always be kept very busy with a variety of chores.

From March 1, 1908 Arthur Ladell, had also served as Postmaster for the Bittern Lake Post Office located in their home. On April 1, 1910, the newly named Halley Post Office was officially opened. It was named after Halley's comet that was to pass over the area on May 29, 1910. After Arthur resigned his position on July 10, 1917 they sold the farm and moved to Edmonton.

Some of the older children were now married, some were working and the younger ones were in school. Although the children had a good education in the little school there was no grading system, so after arriving in Edmonton, Margaret and a brother were assigned to Grade eight. Margaret, not being too happy in high school soon stayed home to help her mother with the home and the children.

Margaret talked of sleigh riding on McDougall hill and singing in several Gilbert & Sullivan operettas while in Edmonton. After five years in Edmonton they moved to Victoria, B.C..

Margaret, with only a grade eight education and her sister Connie were accepted, and soon started their nurses training at St. Joseph's Hospital in downtown Victoria. The story goes that their acceptance went with the agreement, that if they did not keep up to their standard, that they would leave quietly without any fuss. Connie decided that nursing wasn't the career for her and she soon left. Margaret stayed and received her certification as a Registered Nurse on the 22nd. of June 1927. She had also completed a course in "Obstetrical Nursing" on April 21, 1927.

Bertha (Johnston) White from Summerland, B.C., one of the girls that Margaret trained with, let her know that the Summerland Hospital needed relief work nurses for July and August. Margaret accepted the position and enjoyed working and living in Summerland that summer. With no further employment available, she went back to Victoria in the fall.

Polio was rampant and she nursed people privately and at a boy's school near Duncan, B.C.. In 1928 her father was dying of cancer and she stayed close to home until he passed away on June 27th. of that year at the age of 72.

In 1929 she returned to nursing at the Summerland Hospital and to renewing a friendship with Earle Wilson, whom she had met while being there in 1927. The relationship grew and the next year they drove to Kamloops and were married on Nov. 1, 1930. Bertha Johnston, who was responsible for Margaret's going to Summerland in 1927, was a witness to their wedding.

Margaret and Earle first lived in an old tarpaper shack on his parent's property. They soon bought five acres of land, (eventually six), on the north side of Trout Creek point.

They started building a home on the property and lived in the basement for several years before they could afford to frame in the main house and the roof. During this time they also planted cherry, apricot, peach, Italian prune, apple and pear trees in the orchard.

Earle had worked in a fruit packing house and then became a federal government fruit and vegetable inspector. On many days, after working at their regular jobs, Margaret & Earle would spend more hours working in their yard, garden and the orchard.

Their daughter Shirley (Wilson) Wells was born in January 1932 and seven years later their son Ronald in June of 1939. As they grew up they were kept busy doing chores in the house, the gardens, the orchard and of course cleaning out the two chicken houses.

Each year Margaret was kept busy putting up preserves of fruit, vegetables, chicken, tomato juice, jam and honey. After visiting her sister Cissy and her husband Oliver Smith, who was a commercial fisherman, it was canning salmon.

Over the years Margaret and Earle opened up their home to relatives from the B.C. coast and the prairies. Many of their nieces and nephews would help by working in the orchard and in return they enjoyed a great summer in a beautiful climate, the beaches and meeting new friends. One nephew, Jim Burnard (son of Margaret's sister Connie) met his future wife, Joan (Marshall) Burnard, while visiting.

They sold their home and orchard in 1957 and moved up the hill to Summerland, just blocks from the town center. They had a smaller home on a large lot which with enough room for Earle to still enjoy his flower and vegetable gardens.

On Nov. 1, 1980 Margaret and Earle celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. An anniversary tea was held in the afternoon at St. Stephen's Anglican Parrish Hall, followed by a dinner in the evening. Family members attended from as far away as Wetaskwin, Alberta and Bellingham, Washington, State. Margaret especially enjoyed having her 88 year old sister "Cissy", and her younger sister "Connie" and their families being there as well as all of Earle's side of the family. While taking photos there was a poster behind them on the wall offering marriage advise. A good laugh was had by all.

Margaret was a life member of Summerland Chapter #63, Order of Eastern Star and was active with their Thrift Shop from when it first started. (50 years) She was a member of the Summerland Hospital Auxiliary and the St. Stephen's Anglican Church Ladies Guild. Margaret enjoyed the sport of curling and participated in many bonspiels with her friends.

After Earle retired in 1969 he spent many happy hours working in his garden. Margaret still helped make cancer dressings twice a month and worked on other projects at home and down town. They now had the time to travel and visit relatives and friends in B.C. and Alberta. They both had been long time members of the Order of Eastern Star and now enjoyed travelling to visit other chapters.

Earle had suffered from Asthma most of his life and Margaret was always there to administer medication. In those days it was shots to the arm up to three times a day. Unfortunately, after many years of working long hard hours his body was weakening and Margaret did not have the strength to look after him. The doctors decided that he should move to the "Extended Care" facility located at the Summerland General Hospital. His mind stayed sharp until his passing away on Dec. 31, 1985 at the age of 81.

In the meantime, Margaret lived with her son Ron and his wife Marlene in Penticton for awhile before a room was available at Summerland's Parkdale Place retirement home. That didn't stop Margaret from jumping in the truck and going camping in the 5th. wheel with Ron and Marlene. They travelled all over the province and even went as far away as Prince Rupert, B.C. to see her granddaughter Sheila Wells. While out camping she even tried gold panning at Shirley and Mev's gold claim on the Kettle River.

She stayed at Parkdale Place until 1993 when Ron & Marlene decided to retire in Celista, on the north shore of the Sushwap Lake. Given several options, Margaret decided to move to the Gateby Seniors home in Vernon where she would be close to her daughter Shirley and her son-in-law Mev Wells.

While at Gateby she continued to sew and knit touques, slippers, etc. for her family, friends and anyone who was in need. She loved having visits with all her children, grand children and great grandchildren.

Margaret had a pleasant disposition, was gentle, and had a very kind heart. She really cared for those persons who were less fortunate than herself and spent most of her life trying to help them.

She was over 95 years old before she started to suffer from dementia. One day she slipped, fell down and broke some bones, thus she was taken to the Vernon General Hospital. Considering her age and her general health, the decision was made not to operate. A few days later she passed away on March 20, 2002 at the age of 98 1/2 years.

Sources

• Ladell family tree; Camrose Parish Registers in Provincial Archives of Alberta. Christ

Church, Port Sydney, Ontario, Canada.

* Birth Registration Card of Margaret Jessie Thoms Ladell, Certificate Number 150694 (Jan. 24, 1962) , Bureau Of Vital Statistics, Austin, Texas, State Registrar.

• Certificate of Holy Baptism Dec. 27, 1903. All Saints Anglican Church, Austin, Texas.

• The Bitter 'n Sweet, The Bittern Lake-Sifton District History Book Association 1993

• A short Story of Halley, Alberta, Post Office;

A postal history by Melvin Patrick (Mev) Wells (Margaret's son-in-law)

• St. Joseph's Hospital, Victoria, B.C. (Obstetrics certificate)

• Graduate Nurses' Association of British Columbia. Certificate of Registration No. 2680.

• Certificate Of Death of Margaret Jessie Thoms Wilson, Registration No. 451301683-921 (Mar. 21, 2002) , Ministry of Health and Ministry Responsible for Seniors, Division of Vital Statistics, Province of British Columbia, Victoria, Canada.