| Notes |
- According to Sheila Richards (neice) in an email to Dawn Kirkpatrick dated 1/4/2003:
"When Uncle Bill was young, (born & raised in Scotland, but I don't know where) he worked on the cattle ships between Scotland and South America. If I remember correctly, he was only about 18 or 19 when he started. When he got tired of that, he got off in New York (?) then came west, thru' Canada somehow. I don't remember knowing more than that. When I was a kid, he ran and managed Rothney Farms for Sandy Cross (of the famous Cross family of the Calgary area.) I think you'll probably get more info from your aunt Fern. I know I sure did love my Uncle Bill. Especially the way his eyes would twinkle!"
Later in a conversation with Dawn, Sheila said that Uncle Bill's property bordered Sarcee land and she would get to go to dances over there when she was 15. The dances were so much fun and the boys could really swing a girl aroud, almost off her feet! There were fiddlers and square dancing...
From a telephone conversation between Sheila and Dawn:
3:20 PM 1/11/2003
Mom's memories of Uncle Bill's farm:
Summers out there, almost every weekend Sandy Cross would take them out or Grandma Milly would take them out.
Sandy Cross, multi-millionaire; Uncle Bill was the manager of Sandy's big farm.
Sandy went to Scotland bought purebred shorthorn, $32,000. (about 45 years ago?), Calrossy Highland Piper ("Piper") -- most ever spent on that kind of thing in Canada to that date. Gentle bull. Made all money back in the first year. Would let mom take him down to the trough for water.
Mom would go into his pen and take a broom handle and beat him up and down the back and the dust would fly and he would close his eyes and wiggle under the broom handle in bliss.
Wandered around. Buster the greyhound, slope behind the house, dog and mom would lounge around on the rocks, garter snakes sunning themselves alonside. Auntie Weez [Louise] asked mom to bring in wood. Lifted piece of wood and found nest of baby snakes, picked up handful and hid it in the wood. Wood went flying, Auntie Weez was not impressed. The only time mom ever saw her mad. "But they're just babies, Auntie!"
Loved to spend time with Uncle Bill, outside helping him. Auntie Weez couldn't get her to help in the house.
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Letter from Mildred (Charlton) May to "Uncle Bill", unknown date, but may have been before he passed away - perhaps he was ill:
Dearest Uncle Bill:
The joy you brought to me, is most beautiful!! You took my Sheila and Fern in tow, and taught them many things, they would never have known about.
You made my Pete's day, when we had lunch in the barns, during the Stampede!! It was a highlight in our lives. To see the big "calves(?)" suckling at the nursing cow, was rather startling, even to me! But you made your crown, Dear Unk, by the ribbons you won!
I also have the many laughs, we shared, which go by the wayside, but dear Bill, we love you and have courage!
Your Milly, and family
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1908 - 1991 (82 years)