Sarah Caswell Case 1836-1919

Sarah Caswell and Ephraim Case and their descendants

By Cliff Davidson as told to me by my father Francis Ernest Davidson (edited by Judy Todhunter Rosmus)

Sarah Caswell Case

     Sarah Caswell, second child of Andrew and Mary Jane.  She was born in Ireland in 1836 and died in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1919.  Ephraim Case was born in 1821 in Ontario and died at Clarks Crossing, Saskatchewan in 1905.  They were both buried in the Smithville Cemetery on the north side of #14 highway a mile west of Saskatoon.

Children of Sarah Caswell and Ephraim Case

-      Mary Catherine Case, B: 12 Sep 1862 in Palmerston, Ontario, D: 16 Mar 1951 in British Columbia, M: Richard Gordon Barager, Ontario

-      Margaret Case, B: 25 Feb 1866 in Palmerston, Ontario, D: 06 Apr 1930 in Juniata, Saskatchewan, M: Albert Howard Morden Beirnes, 10 Aug 1893 in Cardwell, Muskoka, Ontario

-      Martha Emily Case, B: 18 Jan 1870 in Hecla, Muskoka Co., Ontario, D: 04 Jul 1959 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, M: Joseph Beirnes, 23 Jul 1889 in Rosseau, Muskoka Co., Ontario

-      Jane Case, B: 20 May 1874 in Palmerston, Ontario, D: 29 Mar 1931 in Asquith, Saskatchewan, M: Robert Gregory, 09 Jun 1909 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

-      Ephraim Case, B: 12 Jun 1876 in Cardwell, Muskoka, Ontario

-      Lavina Case, B: 25 Aug 1878 in Cardwell, Muskoka, Ontario, D: 14 Jan 1966 in Winnipeg, Manitoba

-      John Henry Price, B: 15 Dec 1890 in Rosseau, Ontario; adopted, D: 04 Oct 1977 in Hope, British Columbia, M: Mary Clement, Oct 1919 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

-      Ernest Davidson, B: 29 Jun 1891 in Rosseau, Ontario; adopted, D: 01 Feb 1981 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, M: Celia Jennet Beirnes, 20 Jun 1917 in Juniata, Saskatchewan.

    

Ephraim and Sarah Case

     Ephraim Case was born in Sutton, Ontario and lived for a time in Pennsylvania before coming to Palmerston, Ontario.  I am not able to find out when or where he met and married Sarah Caswell, or just how long they lived in Palmerston before they moved north to Parry Sound County, near the town of Rosseau, Ontario where they raised 5 daughters.

     Ephraim at the age of 70 and Sarah at the age of 56, after having raised 5 daughters, fostered two baby boys – Jack Price and Francis Ernest Davidson.  Jack was five months when he was picked up.

     A short time later on the morning of June 29^th, 1891 Sarah walked into Rosseau to do some shopping, there she learned of the death of a lady, who had just given birth to twin boys.  She walked on another three miles, picked one boy up and carried him home.  That boy was my father Francis Ernest Davidson. 

     In the fall of 1892 they decided to move west.  In the spring of 1893 Ephraim and Sarah Case, aged 72 and 58 years with their youngest daughter Lavina (Livy) age 17 and two foster baby boys, Jack age 3 and Francis age 2, arrived in Saskatoon, North West Territories.  As the ferry had been washed away in the spring flood they had to float their wagon across the South Saskatchewan River.  Their worldly possession consisted of two horses, two cows, a few hens, one wagon, one walking plow and some household goods.

     They filed on a homestead, the NE ¼ of Sec. 18, township 39, Range 3, west of 3^rd meridian (NE 18-39-3-W3rd) on the west bank of the South Saskatchewan River, about 20 miles downstream from the present city of Saskatoon, in the area known as Clarks Crossing.  They were approximately 1 mile east and one mile north of the homesteads of her brothers Robert & Joseph Caswell.  The South Saskatchewan River flowed across the south east corner of their ¼ section.  They purchased a government house about 6 miles upstream, cut it into sections and floated it downstream to their homestead, where they re-erected it in a coolie near a spring.

     This spring was their drinking water and their refrigerator.  A hole dug in the bank with the cold spring water running through it was a cool place to keep their milk, butter and meat from spoiling in the hot summer weather.  The house was a frame building with no insulation 20 x 24, one large room downstairs and two rooms upstairs.  Hot in summer and cold in winter and I’ve often heard my dad tell about waking in the morning to find their bed covered with snow that had drifted in through the cracks in the wall. A small cellar was dug underneath the house, where they kept their vegetables in the winter.

     Grandpa Case loved to hunt and fish; as they were right on the bank of the river and the river was full of several different kinds of fish.  During the summer they ate lots of fish.  In the winter the country was alive with rabbits and prairie chickens so they had no shortage of meat and with the vegetables from their garden, they always ate well.

     In our world today when most people are retiring at the age of sixty years it is hard to believe that this old couple, with two baby boys, could start into building a new life, in a raw, unsettled land and face the hardships that those pioneer people had to face and not enough years left to ever hope to enjoy the fruits of their labours.  But that was the way of life in those days and somehow they managed to survive.

     Ephraim Case stood five feet seven and weighed approximately 155 lbs.  Sara stood just over five feet and weighed just over 100 lbs.  Both were small people in statue but big in heart and courage, proving that old adage, “It’s not the size of the man in the fight but the size of the fight in the man”.

     By the year 1899 they had 42 acres of land under cultivation, a frame house 20 X 24 (value $200), a frame stable 30X40 and a frame granary 12 X 14 (value 100), 2 horses and 7 head of cattle.

     In the year 1905 the spring break up came early.  On April 3rd Grandpa Case walked behind his walking plough that afternoon and after supper that evening they sat on the riverbank watching the ice go out. Later that night Grandma Case woke my dad and told him Grandpa was sick and for him to get on the horse and to tell her daughter, Mary Barager to get the doctor from Saskatoon, 20 miles away.  The next morning, April 4^th 1905 Grandpa Case passed away at the age of 82 years. (** see obit - story a bit different)

     At this time all the daughters, except Jane were married and living around the Saskatoon district.  Jane was keeping house for her Uncle, Joseph Caswell.  The two foster boys, Jack Price, age 14 & Francis Davidson, age 13 went to work for farmers around the district.

     For a while Grandma Case lived with her married daughters, later she built a house in Saskatoon and lived out her final years at 533 Avenue East, south about 150 yards from the west bank of the South Saskatchewan River.  On Jan 23, 1919 she passed away at the age of 84 years. 

     Later her daughter Emily Beirnes and husband Joe lived there.  When they passed on their daughter Gertie and husband Will Johnson lived out their final years in this little house.

**Obit of the Late Mr. E. Case

     An old resident has passed away in the person of Mr. Ephraim Case of Osler, who passed peacefully away at his home on the 4^th instance.

The deceased, who would be 83 years of age on the 4^th of June next, was plowing on his farm all day Monday, the 3^rd, even went out to plow after supper.  Retiring at his usual hour he complained of a headache, but slept soundly all night, and not awakening at his usual hour his wife went to call him when it was found impossible to get him to awaken, remaining in a comatose condition until he passed away at five on the morning of the 4^th. 

He leaves a widow as sister of the Carswell brothers, and five daughters, namely Mrs.R. Baragar and Mrs. J. Bernes of Osler; Mrs. A. Bernes of Eagle Creek district, Mrs. Clark, widow of the late John Clark of Nutana, and Miss Jane Case. 

     Born in the township of Gwilliamsbury, Ontario the deceased spent his early manhood in the township of Wallace, afterwards removing to Muskoka.  Leaving there eleven years ago he took up his abode at Olser where he continued to live up to the time of his death.

Mr. Case was always an industrious hard working man but circumstances were against him until he settled in the Northwest where he has succeeded remarkably well for a man of his age.

     The service was held at the Presbyterian Church on Thursday at two pm after which the body was interred in the Smithville Cemetery.

The pallbearers were:- Joseph Bernes, Albert Bernes, Richard Baragar, S. Caswell, J.J. Caswell and David Caswell.

A letter from Sarah Caswell Case (widow) to her brother, John J Caswell Saskatoon, March 4, 1906

Dear John, Patience and all:--It is Sunday afternoon and I am standing at the stove looking at your picture. The pictures are all splendid only Annie looks too sober looking. Still I can see it is her all right. I was very glad to get it. It made me feel bad at first when I looked at it but I can look at it now better. Thank you very much for the money you sent me. Thomas sent me five dollars too. I put them both together and got two pairs of window curtains, an eight day clock, two pairs of glasses, and enough stuff to cover three chairs. I suppose I might tell you what I have done with the house since you were here. I would like to be there talking to you but I am glad I can tell you on a piece of paper, itself. I took three dollars went to town and I got myself some nice wallpaper. Mrs. Fleming, Ethel and I papered the front room. I had nothing done with it yesterday morning and now it is all done. I am looking at the wall and then at your picture, time about. I have my hanging lamp hung up with a new flowered shade on that I told Clinkskill nearly two years ago to get. I haven’t it straightened up yet but I think it will look well when it is straight. I needn’t tell you now about the laugh we had at Sam’ about the money you sent me because Ethel told you. She is here yet. Livy and baby are up at Osler now. We got Jane’s trunk the other day. She is not coming home till her ticket runs out. She went to Toronto about a week ago. Albert Beirnes’ sister’s husband is dead struck on her staying till the last day. So she thinks she will stay. There are quite a lot of things in her trunk. There is a nice framed picture for me, a cup and saucer, and pinnies for the baby. That is all the things there are any names on. Maggie has had a very bad turn and had a different doctor. He says it is stomach trouble and not heart trouble that is wrong with her. She is a lot better now and can eat brown bread. Annie Barager has gone home now. Her mother needed her home the first of next month. I never knew anything about it till about a week ago. I forgot to tell you I got three of the chairs covered. It will take me quite a while getting the rest of my house fixed. It has got so smoked with the old broken stove. I got a nice little range. I think it is like the one we were looking at in Clark’s or a little nicer. I have only been to Rob’s once this winter. They came down and took us up for dinner and tea. They had goose for dinner. They were coming for us New Year’s but they heard we were still at the Creek. I hope I will be able to be out there. I would like so much to see you, William, Thomas and A.K. I am going to keep roomers now and save money to go. Give my love to all of them and lots to yourselves. We have had a beautiful winter except about three weeks altogether that was pretty cold. David was here yesterday. He has about all his wheat hauled now. I haven’t seen any of the Osler folks but a couple of times. I have only seen Emma and Mary once since your sale.

     The winter has gone pretty fast, with us, all three, and the baby together. Don’t wait for me to write. Ethel is writing for me now and she is at school every day so she hasn’t much chance to write. The wind is whistling around the corner of the house pretty hard to-day. With love from all to all, Sarah

Letter from Darlene Clark -History of her mother Lavina Clark

     Grandma (Lavina Case Clark) lived with us until her death in 1966. She told me she was brought up in a little community in Ontario near the great lakes. Her father was Pennsylvania Dutch and her mother was Irish descending from Ireland. Where Grandma lived it was like a family community as I recall. They did farming and also there was a lot of orchards. In those days there was only horse and buggy. Their entertainment was playing musical instruments and singing hymns. Grandma said that everyone went to church on Sunday. She said the whole Caswell clan was there. After church they would have a picnic together. The women would chat and the men and children would play games. Sometimes after church on Sunday they would gather together at the lakeside and different ones would receive baptism. She said they would be submerged in the lake. This is how it was done. Later some of the Caswells moved to Saskatoon. My Grandma was one of them. There she met my Grandfather Clark, where she married him. The Caswells were a type of family that were very caring about one another and liked to keep family close together. John Clark died of T.B. in January of 1905.

     It appears from the letter from Sarah Case that Lavina and young son came to live with her.

Lavina Case Clark, a tribute from Cliff Davidson

     I remember Aunt Livey very well. She was a wonderful person and one of my favorite aunts. In spite of the hard life she had, she was always jolly; she had a wonderful sense of humor. She loved children and was always a great favorite with the young people. The two things she will always be remembered for were laughing and eating. She could eat more than any man.

     Her husband, Jack Clark, died in 1905. Jack Clark and Lavina Case had one son, called John, born three months after Jack died. Livey, with her son John, lived in Juniata and Floral Saskatchewan. In 1940 they moved to Winnipeg.

Jane Case and Robert Gregory - info from Cliff Davidson 

     Robert Gregory was born in 1867 in Palmerston, Ontario and died in Saskatoon. He is buried in the cemetery in Asquith. As a young man he came west to Neepawa, Manitoba. Sometime in the early 1900’s he moved to the Douglas Plains district south of Asquith. In 1918 or 19 he purchased land NW of Juniata, the w ½ of 21-36-10 W3rd. In 1924 or 25 he moved back to the Asquith district and the farm at Juniata was purchased in 1927 by my dad, Francis E. Davidson.

     Jane Case Gregory was born in 1874 in Palmerston, Ontario and died at Asquith, Saskatchewan in 1931 at the age of 56 years, 10 months and 9 days. Buried in the cemetery at Asquith. She lived in Palmerston, Rosseau and Toronto, Ontario, Saskatoon, Asquith and Juniata, Saskatchewan. Jane came to Saskatchewan as a young woman and kept house for her uncle, Joseph Caswell for 9 years. She then returned to Ontario and worked in Toronto for few years before returning back to Saskatchewan. I’m not sure, but we believed it was 1910 that she married Robert Gregory. They had one daughter, Mildred Castle Gregory, born 14 Apr 1911 at Asquith, Saskatchewan