John Graham Oliver Cowdy
1880-1952

Barr Colonist tents at the railyard in Saskatoon:

• Photo 1
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• Photo 3

He farmed until 1912, then built and operated a dry-goods store there in partnership with a Mr. Garrish until 1919. He married Edith Annie Ricketts in that year. They returned to England, and after a period in the building business at Dover, he farmed at Egerton, Kent for the rest of his life. They had three children: Philip, Edith Ruth, and Jessie.

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Ruth's mother, Edith Ricketts, was born in Birmingham in 1887, and grew up there. She left school at age 12 and was apprenticed to a Ladies' Tailoring business. In those days children often left school early to learn a trade. She was very clever at sewing, and learned how to make ladies' suits. She was also very interested in cooking, and joined an evening cookery class.

Ruth's father, John Graham Oliver Cowdy, was born in London in 1880, one of a family of eight siblings. When he left school he was at first put in a newspaper office. He did not like city life or office work, but he was clever with his hands, so his parents had him learn carpentry. He was good at that.

If you have read all about his going to Canada in 1903 to farm, you will wonder how he met my mother, who grew up in Birmingham.

Two clergymen, Rev. Barr and Rev. Lloyd, led the group now known as the "Barr Colonists" to Canada and helped them settle in Saskatchewan. Rev. Barr mishandled the money the prospective settlers had paid in advance in England, which was intended to provide farming tools and necessities when they arrived. This caused much hardship at first. Rev. Lloyd (for whom Lloydminster, on the Alberta border, was named) was very helpful to the new settlers, and was well liked. Many of the settlers were married, but not John Cowdy. After a while, Rev. Lloyd asked him why he had not married, and he replied that he had not met a girl he liked well enough. Rev. Lloyd had come from Birmingham, and he put my father in touch with a young lady in his former congregation. They corresponded and exchanged photographs.

The first world war, 1914-18, delayed things. After that, Dad made a trip to England and at last met Edith. Rev. Lloyd was also in England at the time, and performed their wedding.

The newly-weds went back to Canada, but not for long. Edith's mother and sister Mabel had emigrated to New Zealand, not succeeded there, and returned to England in acute financial difficulty. It was necessary to support them. There were other considerations. John had built a dry-goods store in Marshall, Sask. Canada, and gone into partnership to run it with another Barr colonist called Garrish. Then the railway, expected to pass through Marshall, went another way; and Mrs Cowdy did not get on with Mrs Garrish.

John, with four people to support, went into building at Dover in Kent, and that lasted five years, during which time they had three children, Philip, Ruth and Jessie. In 1925 all seven moved to a small-holding at Egerton and raised chicken and fruit, and this household persevered through the great depression of the thirties and on to the second war, 1939-45, to which they very close. The smoke from Dunkirk marked the washing hung out to dry; the flying bombs came over, and one fell short in the orchard. Ruth still dislikes loud noises.

It was a good thing that Edith had learned to sew and cook. She made all Ruth's and Jessie's coats and dresses as we grew up, and cooked delicious food. Ruth learned a lot about housekeeping from her.

Birth:

1880 Lambeth, London, England

Census, 1891:

Age 11, Holland Road, Lambeth, London

Census, 1901:

Age 21, carpenter, Father John J., Mother Jessie, 3 sisters, 1 brother, Lambeth, London, Middlesex, England

Census, 1911:

Age 31, Single, Battleford Sub-Districts 1-58, Saskatchewan, Canada

Marriage:

with Edith Annie Ricketts, summer of 1919, Kings Norton, Worcestershire, England,

Returning to Canada:

Quebec, QC Oct 1919, Ship Metagama
See the original passenger list showing John and Edith as returning immigrants: (lines 13 and 14)

Death:

1952, Ashford, Kent, England