Page 45 - Cape Bretoners Who Went Away: Murdock McPhee in Ontario

ISSUE : Issue 61

Published by Ronald Caplan on 1992/8/1

hauled home by team and sleigh. In 1897, the new barn was built. In the following three or four years they took the timber out for a new house and about 1901 they had a new nine-room home. The lot grandfa ther bought for timber also had the mineral rights and it was found that the vein from the Rock Lake mine ran through the lot, so he sold it for a con? siderable amount of money at that time. My father stayed with his parents and worked in the lum? ber camps in the winter. In 1910 he married Elizabeth Cooper and they lived with his parents and I was born there in 1911, He bought a farm close by and had a house and barn built and moved in in the fall of 1911. He and Grandfather worked the farms togeth? er. I think it was in 1920 my grandmother, a very fine lady, died with cancer. My father and mother bought the farm and Grandfather and his youngest son Kenneth, who was retarded, lived with us for a year or so. He travelled quite a bit. He and his daugh? ter Marion visited Cape Breton and it was from her that I got some of the information on the family. While visiting his son John in Toronto he met a very fine lady and in The Murdock Malcolm McPhee Family. Standing, I. to r.: Florence, Murdock Malcolm (author's grandfather), Martha, & John. Sitting: Angus (author's father), Neil, Kate, Kenneth, Sarah (author's grandmother), & Marion. 1923 they were married. They lived in the house my parents had. He bought a new buggy and new harness for his driver and this is how they got around for a few years. They had a cow for their milk and raised the calf each year for their meat. They also had hens for eggs. He had a big garden and grew most every? thing they needed. They bought a new car in 1927. a Model T Touring. He tried to drive it but never mastered it. She drove some but took a lot of road. And in 1934 they traded for another new car but someone else drove most of the time. In 1935 I mar? ried Thelma Bell and Thelma and I had their car for our wedding car. We lived beside them in a small house we SALES - SERVICE - mTALLATlON JaT WELLS & PUMPS- • Water WeUs: DrUled & Dug' • Pumps • Test Holes • Water Conditioners Serving Cape Breton 9642145 O U N (Ucence No. 264) WE'RE PROUD TO SHARE... Scottish and Acadian Festivals Hiking trails, picnic and camping parks Museums and heritage The warmest waters north of the Carolinas! Cottage crafts and works of art The Cape Breton highlands National Park Fresh and salt water fishing Horse racing, canoeing, and other sports Fine accommodations, gift shops Restaurants Wildlife The Sunset Side Requests for Visitor's Guide, brochures, and general infonnation may be made to: Inverness County Department of Recreation/Tourism P.O. Box 179. Port Hood, N.S. BOE 2W0 (902)787-2274

Cape Breton's Magazine