Ezra Davey

Ezra was born 3 Sept 1884 at Freeman, Washington to John and Agnes (McNee) Davey. He grew up in the area helping his father farm and working in the local brick plant for the sum of 75 cents a day. There was a charge of 25 cents a day if you bought lunch at the plant, so needless to say, Ezra carried his lunch from home. On 15 Sept 1909, he married Mina Newell who was born 3 Nov 1883 to Henry and Eliza Newell of Lemars, Iowa. In 1910, land being available for homesteading in Canada, a company of young people from Freeman, Washington of which Ezra and Mina Davey were members, formed a colony in southwestern Saskatchewean, forty miles from the nearest railroad. Ezra homesteaded in the Valley St. Claire district in 1910, filing on NE 1/4 section 34 Twp. 9 Range 14 West of 3 Meridian and pre-empted on the SE 1/4 of the same section. For these years, the homesteaders endured all the privations of pioneer life, but at the end of that period, a railroad was built and the towns began to prosper. On 7 Jan 1914, a son, Russell Ezra was born. After a lengthy illness, Mina passed away on 27 Jan 1918. Russell was then cared for by his father and by Mrs. James Baker (Ezra's sister), who with her husband, was residing with Ezra at that time.

On the 16th of November 1920, Ezra had married Frances Ursula Babcock who was the daughter of Alfred and Frankie Babcock of Cadillac, Canada. The marriage took place in Swift Current, Canada. A daughter, Isabel Nettie was born on the 17 Aug 1921. A second daughter Esther Ruby was born on the 13 Oct 1922.

On 30 March 1925, Ezra purchased the "Bill and Katherine Mee" place, which was the N 1/2 of Section 35 Twp. 9 Range 14 W 3, and on 5 Feb 1927, the "Reginald Baumhard homestead" was purchased, this being the N 1/2 of Section 2 Twp. 10 Range 14 W 3.

Days on the prairie were hard, with long hours of work in the summer and the cold winters filled with many chores to attend to, as all the farming was done with horses in the early years. However, there were many good times as well. The people were young and hardy and did not seem to mind the hardships. There was church, homemaker's clubs, summer picnics to attend and close neighbors on all sides to visit with. The children attended school at Highway School, driving a horse and cart in the summmer and a sleigh in the winter.

On 25 August 1928, Reena Agnes was born, followed by Neil Alfred two years later on 4 December 1930. Sometime during this period, Ezra bought what was referred to as the school land. It was SE 1/2 Section 11 Twp. 10 Range 14 W 3.

The last child born to this family was Ursula Elizabeth on 8 August 1936.

During these farming years, Ezra often had hired help living with the family and a few of the names we recall are Bernie Tobin and Phil Toboe. Mina Daniels spent a couple of years with the family helping Fanny with the numerous chores that is synonymous with raising a family and having a farming operation going on all about you. In 1934 and 1935, Isabelle McIver lived with the family and taught school at the nearby Highway School. In 1936, Lillian Ferguson boarded with the family for a short period.

The 1930's were known as the dirty 30's as there was much dry, windy weather and many of the crops failed. In the mid- 1930's, Ezra's father and brother passed away in Washington State and his mother implored him to come back to his old home and farm the family farm. In 1937, one of the worst drought years, Ezra decided it was time for him to move his family back to the state of Washington. On 5 August he shipped, for sale, his 35 head of horses to Harrismith, Ontario.

The family arrived in Washington to farm the family properties near Rockford.

For many years thereafter, Ezra farmed both sides of the boarder, by commuting back and forth each season. In 1943, Ezra sold his outfit in Canada and leased his land to John Baker. In 1945, he again decided to farm his own land by commuting. In 1949, he purchased the "Reggie Babcock" land, S 1/2 Section 35 Twp. 9 Rang 14 W 3. Then in 1953, he purchased the Greenfield place, which was W 1/2 Section 27 Twp. 9 Range 14 W 3.

In 1955, Ezra became ill and passed away on 5 January 1956. Upon his death, his son Russell took over the Canadian farming operation and son Neil took over the American farms. Fanny continued to reside in the Davey family home in Rockford, Washington, which was built by Ezra's parents in 1908. All of her children have resided within a twenty mile radius of her.

Occupation: Farmer

Occupation: Workman in local Brick Plant

PROP: 30 MAR 1925 Bill and Katherine Mee Place was purchased

PROP: 5 FEB 1927 Reginald Baumhard Homestead was purchased

PROP: 1930 Purchased school land

PROP: 1949 Purchased Reggie Babcock Land

PROP: 1953 Purchased Greenfield Place

Emigration: 1910 Out West

Emigration: 8 NOV 1937 Washington near Rockford- due to drought