JOSEPH CASWELL
Compilation of notes and newspaper articles edited by
Judy (Todhunter) Rosmus
Unfortunately there wasn't a photo of Joseph in all the pictures collected by John and I.
Joseph was the second youngest
of the Caswell Clan,
only Robert (R.W.) was younger. He was born 15 August 1857 in Biddulph,
Ontario. At the age of fifteen
Joseph moved to Palmerston
with his family. In 1879 he went
to California, along with some of his brothers where he was engaged in the railway
industry in the mountains for three years.
He spent part of a year
in Manitoba
with a railway,
before coming to Saskatoon.
From the Saskatoon
Phoenix, Illustrated Supplement, Christmas, 1903: “R.W. and his brother Joseph Caswell were
among the first group of men who
journeyed from Ontario to the 2,000,000-acre land tract the federal
government had granted the Temperance Colony Society for the price of $1 an acre. Robert
& Joseph were in
the party to arrive the second year
of the founding of the Colony.
The CPR ended
at Moose Jaw and from
here the settlers travelled
by wagon. On the
19th of April 1883
they left for Clark’s Crossing. The party consisted of the assistant
commissioner, Mr. and Mrs.
Carl Kusch and children, Joseph and Robert Caswell, Harry and Jim
Goodwin. Close by were
J. J. Conn, Mr. Pugsley,
and Mr., McCordick,
and in the rear were
Peter Latham and two boys, with
some others”.
“The first incident
of this trip was camping
for three days in a snowstorm
a splendid introduction to pioneer life.
Then came a huge mistake
in the road by the assistant commissioner, in which he took the outfit
down into the valley of Big Arm Creek,
which they tried to cross, but had to return to high land. Trials in plenty followed, and the elbow of the South Branch of the Saskatchewan River was reached after some four days. Here the assistant commissioner was "treed" again by the band because he "didn't know where he was going, or the road he was travelling." They threatened to drown him in the river so he skipped out, riding seventy-five miles
on horseback to Moose Jaw. They, however,
came on courageously to their destination, and reached here in due time to meet the settlers of 1882.”
“The Society had organized in 1881 from the strong
temperance group that existed
in the Toronto-Hamilton area. According to one early account,
"the Temperance Colonization Society had the avowed object of establishing a Temperance Colony on a tract of land granted by the South Saskatchewan River." While some members undoubtedly recognized the windfall business
and real estate
opportunity, the primary
aim of the Methodist Church-based society was to have absolute control on the question
of prohibiting
the sale of intoxicating liquors within their
jurisdiction in the Territories.”
On May 24,
1883,(1)
R.W. noted in his journal
that, "brother Joseph and myself
reached the border of the Promised
Land, the Temperance Colony.
We had to cross
the Jordan River and
settle as squatters at the north end of the colony." The
'Jordan' was the South Saskatchewan River; the Promised Land was the newly created
Temperance Colony settlement of Saskatoon.
In 1951, the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
said “the two Caswell brothers were among the trail-blazing pioneers of
1883. Indeed Robert is recorded as an
eye witness to the accident of the spilled molasses; it was from this incident
that the coulee near Dundurn received the name Blackstrap Coulee.”
The Saskatoon Phoenix of 3
March 1905 had a long interview with Joseph Caswell in which he was described
as a “well Known successful farmer and breeder of thoroughbred cattle”. Joe praised the merits of this region and
told how he arrived in 1883 and how he now had 85 cattle, 44 of which were
registered shorthorns, 11 horses and 2 pigs.
When Joe and his brother Robert first arrived at
Saskatoon the regular ferry on the South Saskatchewan river had been swept
away, so they built their own 12ft scow, taking their equipment across bit by
bit and swimming the oxen.
Joseph lived
with Robert from May 1883 to
October 1891,
while working on his homestead.
The following
is
from an interview with Joseph regarding
the formation of the fair. “In
1893, he was vice president
of the agricultural fair. “I was elected a director of
this society in 1886 and the first show or fair was held in Saskatoon in October
of that year. Our
first showroom was George Grant‟s house and later the stone schoolhouse, since moved to the university grounds. Our first “stock-barn” was a pole to which the horses
and cattle were
tied. It was built by volunteer
labour on the river bank near the top of the Long Hill.”
In the June 30, 1905 issue
of this newspaper there is a letter to the editor, urging that there be more
funds for the Agricultural Society; it is signed by Joe Caswell, President,
Agricultural Society. He and his brother
Robert were the ones who actually initiated and organized the first fair at
Saskatoon and were major exhibitors of Clydesdales, Shorthorns and
produce. At the first fair in 1886 a
registered Shorthorn cow “Mary of Palmerston” was exhibited by two Caswell
brothers.
“After some years we moved to the west side of the river and our
inside exhibits
were shown in the roundhouse
then operated by the Canadian
Pacific Railway. Sometime later we arranged for a location
near the present site of the king Edward School. We took around a subscription list
asking townspeople and farmers for money to build the hall.
They subscribed splendidly. Jimmie Flanagan headed the list with
$25 and other followed
suit down to, perhaps,
their last dollar. The money bought
the lumber and the
hall was built by volunteer labour.”
“My brother, J.J.
Caswell, and I
picked our vegetables
and
started for the fair a day in advance.
Another
brother of mine, Robert, saw some fine cabbage in our garden
and brought two heads in the morning of
the fair and beat us
with our own cabbages.”
“When Sir Wilfred Laurie and his party were touring the west prior to his
election as Prime Minister
in 1896, the directorate invited him to attend
our fair. The
invitation was accepted
and the special
train was stopped
in Idylwyld, near the
show.”
“I, a bachelor
then, won first prize in butter which greatly amused Sir Wilfred, who
with his political slap
on my shoulder called the attention of the ladies of his party to the “confirmed
old bachelor‟ winning the prize.
Needless
to say I voted for him at that election. All of the party were
very enthusiastic about our display and took away a nine-pound black
Spanish radish and
wrote me later how the enjoyed it en route home.”
In a story Rob related to
Annie Paul he gleefully told her that on one occasion many years earlier, his
garden was completely destroyed by hail while the garden on Joe’s farm a few
miles away was undamaged. So when Uncle
Joe, a big, serous man was at the fairgrounds, Uncle Rob – a small, very active
man – selected the best vegetables from Joe’s garden and exhibited them at the
fair and won the top prizes – defeating the exhibits Joe had shown.
In 1906 Joseph married
Louise Cooper. She was
the niece of Emily Humpidge, wife of brother Sam. In Patience
Caswell‟s letter file is
an announcement: Marriage of Joseph
Caswell to Anita Louise Cooper,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
J.W. Cooper. On 5 January
1906 at Big Rapids,
Michigan. At home after March 1, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. (Not sure
why they were married in Michigan)
According
to Cliff Davidson, Joseph fostered Joe Cowley who came from the Bernard School
for boys. Uncle Joe was a bachelor for many
years. His wife, Aunt Lou, was a very
vivacious woman. They had no
children. My main recollection is
visiting their farm when I was about six years old. I was in love with a young colt and Uncle Joe
said that I could have it if I would stay with them. It was a tough decision!
Joe wrote many letters to the Dominion
Department of the Interior and it’s Land
Agent in Saskatchewan between 1886 and 1915. Although he settled
at Clark's Crossing, near Osler, before the survey, he could not get a pre-emption for his land.
His mother, Mary Jane,
had begun homesteading in the same area but when the Government
changed the method
of survey they refused
to honour the grants.(2)
The following gives a glimpse
of his situation in 1898.
Osler, 16 November 1898
Dear Sir:
I came in 1883 and took
this place before the survey.
It was first surveyed into river lots. I
took one and could not get a pre-emption. My mother also took a river lot but had to leave the county on
account of sickness after being here about
two
years. She died shortly after going to Ontario.
Her homestead
duties were not completed when the Government
decided to change the survey back into ¼ sections
and her improvements were on Sec.
11.39.4W3rd.
The Government then refused to allow
either her or her heirs to complete duties and get property.
I was a bona fide settler here since ’83
working my place and living with my
brother on the adjoining ¼ section.
I fulfilled the requirements of the government except that I did not
live the three months early
enough to entitle me to a second homestead entry.
I have now
got 65 head of cattle and 14 horses.
Twenty of the cattle are registered
Short Horns. The Mennonites and Galatians are crowding around so that I am
forced either to dispose of the cattle or move out to where there is
more hay and pasture. I think
of going South of Saskatoon into the sand hills so
that the farmers
may not crowd me out again..."
The Caswells came
unscathed through the Second Riel Rebellion (1885), although the story is that
Joe rode from Clarks Crossing to Battleford bearing news of the massacre of the
Northwest Mounted Police at Duck
Lake. On the way he
had patched the telegraph wires cut by the rebels,
so that the message
preceded him. Joe and Rob both
played a role in the Riel Rebellion.
The following is from an article by Archie Brown.(3) I have included only the section that
pertains to the Caswells. Joseph and Archie came together with the Temperance
Society in 1883.
One
day the line between Clark's Crossing and Battleford went out of commission,
Gen. Middleton wired up: "Could a message be got to Battleford
somehow?" I offered to go for five dollars a day from time of leaving to
time of return. Malloy said "Not enough, ask ten." I said all right.
Then Malloy said ask for a guarantee for the horse. Gen. Middleton then wired
the risk was too great to send a man alone, answer came get another. Joseph
Caswell called at the office; Malloy asked him if he would go. He said
"Yes", and went to make his preparations and get his horse. I had
arranged with old Mr. Blackley for a good saddle horse. The ice got in such shape
the horses could not be got across the river, so I had to take one of the
Government Telegraph ponies.
We
made an early start one morning, one blanket and three days' provisions, plenty
for the horses to carry with us through the drifts. All day it was plunge and
struggle through the drifts. Night found us thirty-five miles out at Telegraph
Coulee where the horses were glad of the shelter of the repair man's stable and
we were glad of our portion of it to shelter us.
Early
start again next morning. Travelling was now much easier as a warm wind was
sweeping this part of the country, and the snow had largely disappeared. While riding along the line we discovered a
break and repaired it, resuming our journey. Near noon we arrived at Eagle
Creek, a most uninviting place to cross. It was running bank full, large cakes
of ice coming down. If the horse missed the crossing and got swept below it
there was no chance for him; the current was too swift and the banks too steep
to scramble out. A man might have saved himself by hanging on and pulling
himself out by the brush.
Right
there a discussion was held. Caswell claimed that I, as the man hired to carry
the message should lead the way. I claimed that he knew the crossing; having
been across several times in the summer and would know just where to head his
horse, so he should lead. Finally l won out and he led the way. Just as the
horses lost their footing their forefeet caught on the opposite bank and we
were soon on dry ground again.
That
night was spent in the next line repairers' shelter and the next afternoon the
old town of Battleford was entered. This was deserted; everybody had gone to
the Barracks across the Battle River. Buildings were burnt, rolls of dry goods
were tumbled out of stores on the road, everything being scattered as if the
looters had been in a hurry to get away. No doubt they were, as the Police kept
it hot for them. Dead pigs were lying around, being shot by the police, I
suppose as something seen at a distance to be moving. We were expected and the
police wagon with a boat soon arrived to take us across the river.
My
horse, being only a pony was turned into a corral with lots of hay. There were
snow banks to eat so he was supplied with drink also. Caswell refused to risk
his horse, so he swam him across behind the boat. While waiting for the police
to come across the officer in charge called to us to keep under cover in case
of shots from the hill.
As
soon as the Barracks was reached we had to report to the Officer in charge. We delivered
our message. His first question was "did you repair the line?” Proudly we
answered "Yes." To take the conceit out of us he then said. "In
future when carrying out military instructions carry out your orders to the
letter, but do not undertake to do things which you were not told to as you
have no means of knowing that what you are doing is not directly contrary to
the plans of the officer in charge. Make yourselves comfortable, rest before
returning home.” The police treated us
like kings.
Saskatoon Star Phoenix,
Wednesday, July 3 1940:
J. CASWELL, PIONEER OF 1883 DIES. LED
FIRST SETTLERS TO DISTRICT
WITH HIS BROTHER ROBERT ILL SHORT TIME MESSENGER
IN REBELLION, MEMBER OF SASKATOON'S FIRST FAIR BOARD
Joseph Caswell, who, with his brother
Robert W. Caswell, led the first group
of
settlers to the Saskatoon
district, in 1883, died in hospital
here early in the morning. Nearly 84 years old, he had been
operating his farm just south of the city until this spring. He was a messenger
in the Riel Rebellion
of 1885, was on the
board which held Saskatoon's first fair, in 1886,
and raised some of the first championship grain and livestock in the West. Mr.
Caswell had been ailing for a month but had been on his
feet until two weeks ago. He is survived by his widow and his
brother, Robert.
PIONEER SETTLERS IN AND AROUND
SASKATOON
A pioneer settler is defined as
one coming in by trail and before the Railway in 1883
The names of the following appear in the Minutes
of the Temperance Colony Pioneers' Society as members without having been
entered as voted into the Society. The presumption is that they are charter
members from its inception on March 1st, 1884, and therefore came into the
settlement during the previous summer (1883). However, as all the minutes are not
embodied in the Minute Book, there is some doubt in the case of names only
appearing in and after May, 1884. When there is substantial corroborative
evidence of their coming in in 1883 the names are placed here as charter
members.
Brown, Archibald L.
Caswell, Joseph.
Clark, Frank.
Coon, John J.
Copland, Thomas.
Dulmage Robert W. (brought in his wife and children, Anson,
Howard, Esther and Lucy, next year).
Garrison, Geo. W.
(Goodwin, H. W. 1882)
(Hamilton, James, 1882, 1st President of the Society).
(Hamilton, Robert, 1882).
Horn, William F.
(Latham, Peter, 1882, 2nd President of the Society).
Lyness, R. (John?)
McCordick, Robert.
McGowan, James.
Powers, J. W. (1st teacher, publisher of the "Saskatoon Sentinel").
Richardson, Richard T.
Trounce, William Henry.
Willoughby, Gerald T. A.
Willoughby, Dr. J. H. C. (1st Secretary of the Society).
Wooldridge, E. J
(2)The
change from river lots to the American method of quarter sections, affected not
only Joseph and his mother, but the Metis as well, one of the reasons prompting
the rebellion.
(3)In the early days, a general sketch written in and
published in the Saskatoon Phoenix Christmas Supplement 1903. NARRATIVE
OF MR. ARCHIE BROWN
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