The Life and Times of Hubert Brooks M.C. C.D.
A Canadian Hero
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This CHAPTER will focus on the Nellie (Brooks) Bolstad family line.
GENERATION 7
| Hubert (Rousseau) Brooks (b. October 4, 1862) (d. January 23, 1930) (m. January 7, 1884) wife: Marie (Grégoire Rousseau) Brooks (b. November 03, 1867) (d. September 3, 1944) |
GENERATION 8
| (Joseph) Alfred Brooks (b. Feb. 18, 1891) (d. May 13, 1944) |
Joseph (Albert Antoine) Brooks (b. Dec. 20, 1901) (d. Jan. 8, 1982) |
Otto (Hubert) Brooks (b. Nov 10, 1903) (d. Oct 26, 1969) |
Aimé (Hubert) Brooks (b. May 17, 1895) (d. Jan 15, 1952) |
Marie (Theodora) Rousseau Brooks (b. Sept. 25, 1887) (d. Aug 8, 1970) |
Marie Eugénie Nelida Brooks (b. Jan. 12, 1885) (d. Oct 12, 1937) |
Siffroid Rousseau (b. Dec. 25, 1884) (d. ?? 1892 to 1910) |
Marie-Anne Séduile Juliette Brooks (b. Jan. 5, 1893) (d. Jan. 6, 1893) |
| Marie Eugénie Nelida Brooks (b. Jan. 12, 1885) (d. Oct 12, 1937) (m. June, 20 1905) to husband: Oscar John Bolstad (b. Nov. 28, 1880) (d. June 18, 1964) |
GENERATION 9
| Marie Laura Bolstad (b. Oct. 29, 1906) (d. Jan. 17, 1907) |
Hubert Oscar Bolstad (b. Nov 10,1908) (d. Oct 7, 1985) |
Theodore Alfred Bolstad (b. April 18, 1909) (d. June 6, 1990) |
Frances Beatrice Bolstad (b. Aug. 6, 1911) (d. Oct. 13, 1996) |
Eugene (Gene) H. Bolstad (b. 1923) (d. ) |
| Hubert Oscar Bolstad (b. Nov 10, 1908) (d. Oct 7, 1985) (m. Aug 12, 1942) to wife: Lila Gertrude Webster (b. Sept 9, 1912) (d. Dec 21, 1982) |
| Ted Alfred Bolstad (b. 1909) (d. June 11, 1990) (m. 1942) to wife: Muriel Grant, (b. ?) (d. 1945) ******************* (m. 1953) to wife: Myrtle (‘Randi’) Irene Smith, (b. Nov 13, 1915) (d. June 29, 1994) |
| Frances Beatrice Bolstad (b. Aug. 6, 1911) (d. Oct. 13, 1996) (m. Dec 29, 1939) to husband: George Herman Fisher (b. June 28, 1896) (d. Nov 17, 1980) |
| Eugene H. Bolstad (b. Sept. 1923) (d. ) (m. Feb. 16, 1946) to wife: Agnes Kruger (b. Aug. 21, 1924) (d. Jan. 23, 2009) |
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GENERATION 10
| Robert (Bob) Bolstad (b. Dec 4, 1943 ) (d. Dec 27, 2002) Barbara Wellwood (b. Oct 10, 1947) |
| Donald (b. March 26, 1943)(d. Feb 1988) |
| Paul Fisher (b. Jan 17, 1953) Ann Fisher Longair (b.Jan 14, 1958) (George) Philip Fisher (b. Oct 15, 1944) Charles ("Charlie") Andrew Fisher (b. July 2, 1946) |
| Wendy (b. 1947) Allan Bolstad (b. June 29, 1951) Lois-Ann Bolstad (b. Feb 17, 1955) (d. Mar 1, 1959) Gordon Bolstad (b. 1960) David Bolstad (b. 1962) |
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As discussed in Chapter 9 on the Move to SASKATCHEWAN, in the summer of 1913 Nellie Bolstad made the move to Saskatchewan.
The REASON for the move back to Canada is still unknown - especially since Oscar had a "good" job in his older brother's bank based in St. John. Since all 3 families ( Brooks, Warrens and Bolstads) all left St John, and each to a different town in Saskatchewan it is presumed that all 3 of the families were moving away from a deteriorating situation in St John and were seeking prosperity elsewhere.
Although no border crossing records can be found as to when husband Oscar Bolstad and their children; Hubert, Theodore or Frances followed it is presumed that it was shortly thereafter in the later part of 1913. The Bolstads would eventually end up about 75 miles down the road from LaFleche in Scotsguard, Swift Current, Saskatchewan.
What is clear is that Oscar Bolstad applied for a Homestead on 4-Jan-1916 and listed his current residence as Scotsguard,
SK.
The Bolstad's would also appear in the
1916 CANADA CENSUS
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COMMENT: Both La Fleche (where the Brooks family was centered) and Scotsguard, along with several other similar villages along Highway 13 in southern Saskatchewan, are now ‘officially’ ghost towns. The whole area is now largely huge corporate farm operations.
To encourage settlement in the west the Dominion Government of Canada offered a free homestead of 160 acres for a $10 registration fee. In order to receive the patent for the land the settler had to be a male 21 years of age or a woman who was the sole support of her family. Before being granted a patent the applicant had to be a British subject or a naturalized British subject, had to reside on the homestead for a period of time, usually six months of the year for three years, make improvements to the land by cultivating at least 30 acres of land, and erect a house worth at least $300.
The online Saskatchewan Homestead Index (and ENTER the name BOLSTAD) records the entry for Oscar J. Bolstad.
| File Number | Name | Part | Section | Township | Range | Meridian | Type | Application Date |
| 2897385 | Bolstad, Oscar J. | NW | 5 | 9 | 16 | W3 | Homestead | 4-January-1916 |
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DOCUMENT - APPLICATION for a HOMESTEAD |
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DOCUMENT - Form No. 158 Application for PATENT for a HOMESTEAD |
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DOCUMENT Supporting Sworn Statement by neighbor ELMER BRIEN to: |
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DOCUMENT
Form No. 31A LAND PATENT for a HOMESTEAD Issued to |
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The Bolstad's were to appear in the 1916 Canada Census as seen below.
Nelida was then recoded as ‘Nettie Bolstad’ in the 1916 Canada Census. It would seem that the Bolstad's were running a small boarding house as well from the list of names residing in their house.
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Oscar and Nelida Bolstad were to have 3 children while the couple resided in the US and one child while in Saskatchewan;
The Canada 1921 Census ( as of June 1, 1921) had the family living in Bone Creek, Saskatchewan and summarized the following for Oscar and Nellie Bolstad.
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Hubert Bolstad (b. 1908), a teacher in Saskatchewan, R.C.A.F. in WWII, returned to teaching in BC at the towns: Nakusp and Chilliwack. Hubert Bolstad married Lila Webster in 1942. They had two children, Robert and Barbara. The date for Robert's marriage and death are not known. Barbara was born in 1947 in Nakusp, BC, and married James Wellwood in 1970, in Chilliwack, BC. They had two boys, Stephen and Michael, dates of birth unknown. Barb, a nurse, lives with Jim in Calgary, AB. Hubert Bolstad died on Oct 7, 1985.
Theodore (Ted) Bolstad (b. 1909), RCMP in 1928, served 13 years in the Arctic, was married in 1942 to Muriel Grant, a nurse, in Fort Norman, NWT. They had one son, Donald, b. 1943, who became a deep sea diver in the Navy, but died in a diving accident in Halifax in 1987(?). Muriel died in a drowning accident in Fort Smith, NWT in 1945. Ted retired in 1949. Ted later married Myrtle Smith, commonly known as ‘Randy’, in Edmonton in 1953. They moved to Nassau, Bahamas, in 1954, returning to Canada in 1985(?). Ted died on June 11, 1990 in Osoyoos, BC. ‘Randy’ died on June 29, 1994, also in Osoyoos. Both are buried in the Osoyoos Lakeview Cemetery .
Frances Bolstad (b. 1911 St John, North Dakota). Frances later became Mrs. Frances Fisher. Lived in Scotsguard, a teacher in Sask., moved with husband George Herman Fisher to Lumby, BC in 1942, died 1996 in Lumby and is buried in the local Lumby Cemetery. George Fisher died Nov 17, 1980.
George Fisher was a big supporter of the Lion's Club and following his passing, the local Lumby Lion's Club was instrumental in getting the Village of Lumby to name a park, George Fisher Memorial Park in August 2013 to honour George Fisher.
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and Eugene (Gene) Bolstad (b. 1923) in Shaunavon Saskatchewan, lived in Scotsguard until family moved to Shaunavon in 1931. Became a consulting professional engineer in Edmonton, retired in 2003 at 80 and now lives in St. Albert, AB.
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As mentioned earlier, the Bolstad's first settled in Scotsguard, Saskatchewan for some 17 to 18 years moving in 1931 to Shaunavon Saskatchewan.
The 1929 to 1936 time period was a disaster on the prairies, particularly in Southern Saskatchewan. Not only was there a financial depression, but it was accompanied by severe drought, dust storms, grasshopper hordes. Oscar Bolstad lost his homestead. To make ends meet he went to work wherever he could, generally on farms in the summer, spending the winters in Shaunavon, living in bare bones houses, renting for $4 per month. In 1936 the family upgraded to a house renting for $6 per month. There were times when there was barely enough food to eat. Also in 1936 Oscar opened a cafe, doing all the cooking himself. Full dinners at 35 cents!
In 1932, from spring to fall, Eugene and mother Nelida went to assist grandms Marie in Bluesky. Eugene went to the log cabin school southeast of the farm. They attended Otto and Mary's shivaree (a French term for jovially ‘harassment’ made to a newlywed couple by an assembled crowd of neighbours and friends after their wedding). What a party it was!
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Frances (Bolstad) Fisher and George Fisher had the following children:
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Ted & Muriel Bolstad had the following child:
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Hubert & Lila Bolstad had the following children:
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Eugene and Agnes Bolstad had the following children:
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Nelida Marie (Brooks) Bolstad passed away at a relatively young age on Oct 12, 1937 at Moose Jaw Sask.
Nellie had, amongst other things, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and had fallen ill in the spring of 1937 and was put in the Shaunavon hospital until she became gravely ill in September and was then transferred to the Providence Hospital in Moose Jaw, where she died of pleurisy. She was brought back to Shaunavon, Saskatchewan for burial.
Both immediate and extended family members were shocked and saddened at Nellie's early, untimely passing. Whereas Dora was usually perceived as the stern disciplenary sister, Nellie was always the kind, thoughtfull soft-spoken person that everyone loved.
Sister Dora (Brooks) Warren and mother Marie Brooks attended the funeral of Nelida Bolstad who was buried at Shaunavon at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery.
Following the ceremony, Dora sent the following letter to Joe Brooks and his wife Bertha. (Note the comment that mother Marie would be returning to Bluesky.)
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Nelida Bolstad Obituary
courtesy of Grand Coteau Heritage & Cultural Centre, Shaunavon, SK
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The Shaunavon Standard October 13, 1937 Obituary-BOLSTAD Following an illness of three months, the death occurred in Providence Hospital, Moose Jaw, at 8 o�clock Tuesday morning of Mrs. Nelida Bolstad, wife of Oscar J. Bolstad, Shaunavon. Deceased had been taken to Moose Jaw three weeks previous after having been a patient in the Union Hospital here for a number of weeks. Born in Grand Forks, N. D., the late Mrs. Bolstad was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Brooks and received her education at the public school in St. John, N.D., and at St. Joseph Collegiate Institute, St. Boniface, Man. She was married at St. John and after residing there for some time moved to La Fleche in 1913, later moving to Scotsguard where the family lived for a number of years, and coming to Shaunavon several years ago. She was an ardent member of the Ladies' Altar Society at Scotsguard and in Shaunavon. Surviving her untimely demise are her husband and four children- Hubert, Radville, Sask.; Lance-Corp. Theodore Bolstad of the R. C. M. P., Ottawa; Frances and Eugene, Shaunavon; Her mother, Mrs. Marie Brooks, Blue Sky, Alta.; one sister, Mrs. J. G. Warren, Canora, Sask.; four brothers, Fred, Montreal; Aime, Joseph and Otto, Blue Sky. Her father predeceased her seven years ago. Her husband and children, mother and sister, were present when death came and all except Hubert arrived here Tuesday evening, Hubert accompanying the remains. Lance-Corp Bolstad arrived from Ottawa Saturday noon, having but returned from three years spent at Port Harrison, Quebec. The last rites will be held from Christ the King Roman Catholic Church, Shaunavon, Thursday morning at 10 o'clock, Rev. Fr. J. Reibel and Rev. Fr. A. Rousseau, Cadillac, a cousin of the deceased (Editor's Note: See Section A2.1 Rousseau for more background information on Father Achille Rousseau), officiating. Interment will take place in St. Mary's Cemetery, the following friends acting as pallbearers: Tony Boyle, Dan Clifford, and George Dunnigan, Shaunavon; A. J. and J. E. McGovern and C. H. Grimm, Scotsguard. Mrs. H. Regimbal and Mrs. T. H. Bourassa, La Fleche, cousins of the deceased, will arrive tonight to attend the funeral. |
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One additional item of minor note is recorded by the U.S. BORDER CROSSING RECORDS, which indicate that on
June 28, 1941,
Oscar J. Bolstad, then aged 60 crossed by car into the US at Loring Montana along with friend Meuborn Korn (presumably the driver).
The stated
PURPOSE of the trip to the US was to visit Oscar's ailing father John (Johann) Bolstad.
An image of the original US Border Crossing CARD for Oscar's visit to see his ailing father is as follows:
Some points of note from the US Border Crossing CARDS signed by AJ Bolstad:
Place of Birth: Dawson Minn. 11/28/80 now Aged: 60.
Occupation: Garage Proprietor
Contact: Daughter Mrs. George Fisher
Planning (length of visit): 2 weeks
Height: 5 ft 5 ½ inches
Hair: Gray Bald
Eyes: Blue
Presents 3 telegrams regarding poor health of father, last stated 7/27/41 stating
Father growing weaker chances for recovery appears growing less daily. Baptismal Cart showing birth in Lac qui Parle Co. Minn.
11/28/80 to John and Laura Bolstad.
(Editor's Note: Oscar had been born in Dawson, Minnesota, a town in the Riverside subdivision of Lac Qui Parle County, Minnesota to Johann and Laura Bolstad
both who originally hailed from Norway.)
Oscar John Bolstad passed away In Chilliwack B.C. on June 18, 1964 at the age of 83. He is buried in Row Q Plot 194 of the
Chilliwack Cemeteries, Chilliwack, BC (located in Fraser Valley).
(See also
B.C. Archives Listing for Bolstad Family.)
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The Life and Times of Hubert Brooks M.C. C.D.
