When I first became interested in Genealogy it was because I discovered one branch of my tree was completely unknown. My grandfather reinvented himself (for reasons that will never completely be understood), and no one in my dad's immediate family knew about the Pellack family heritage.
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| *Clyde & Mary (nee Thomson) Robertson *AKA - Max Pellack My dad's parents - My grandparents |
My dad never met his grandparents on his dad's side.
He was very connected to his mom's side of the family. I grew up hearing so many family tales of Scotland and Canada that I never realized I was only hearing about half of his family of origin. Grandma was a story teller, and Dad too. I heard many tales from grandma directly, and then dad repeated them for me with photos and artifacts. I thought I knew my family history.
I was 29 years old when I found out that there was more to my dad's family story than either of us understood.
I began searching.
What I discovered was a hardworking family who immigrated from Galicia to Saskatchewan, Canada in 1909. They traveled with my grandpa's three older siblings on the ship Willehad. They left the Port of Bremen on June 2nd 1909, and arrived in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on June 19th 1909. They became homesteading farmers in Gronlid, Saskatchewan.
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| Sourced below Page 16 - Library & Archives Canada, Immigration, Passenger Lists |
In the book, Our Courageous Pioneers, the journey was described by a family member when the book was published in 1991.
" ... The family departed by train from Skoroki to the port of Bremen, There, a wait of several days ensued while sufficient cargo of livestock and people were assembled to make the voyage profitable. Livestock were placed in the bottom and people were placed in the middle deck. Sometime in May, 1909, the leaky ship set out to sea With numerous stops for additional cargo and delays caused by traffic and icebergs, the voyage took some sixteen days.
Quebec felt cold. From the large gathering hall which was the dispersal point for all immigrants, the family was shuffled onto a train bound for Winnipeg and eventually to Star City. Alexander's brother, Makita who immigrated to Canada two years earlier, met them at the train with a cart and oxen which he had hired from a neighbour. It was a long trip from Star City to the homestead east of Gronlid. Imagine bumping down cut lines, over stumps through sloughs. It was an unforgettable experience, a dark rainy night, with their first encounter with mosquitoes! ..." 1
I imagine that my great grandmother, Mary Maximiw, would tell me this story many times over the years. Each time the story would provide new and different details, but the important details would never change. She would answer all of my questions, and provide more details to explain. I would grow up knowing exactly where my family came from.
Of course this moment could never have happened because my great grandmother died many years before I was born. Her oldest daughter was 11 years older than my grandpa. Maybe she would have been the one to share stories with my dad and his siblings. I was an adult before my great aunt died - maybe she would have gathered me close to tell me of the long journey to come to Canada where my grandfather was the first one born on their homestead in Saskatchewan.
When my dad was born both his grandparents were alive. I wonder if they ever knew that their 4th born child had gotten married, and had 4 grandchildren living in British Columbia.
A few months ago I found my grandfather in the 1926 census with his usual place of residence as Edenbridge, Saskatchewan.
WHAT --- I thought he lived in Gronlid, Saskatchewan.
Curiosity peaked I began searching Edenbridge. I discovered that the detail had been right under my nose since I received my great grandfather's homestead records in 2017.
When I went looking for more information about Edenbridge I discovered there was a lot of information online & many published memoirs. I began researching while I waited from my interlibrary loan department to find me the books: Uncle Mike's Edenbridge: Memoirs of a Jewish Pioneer Farmer & Edenbridge: The Memory Lives On.
The European Jewish results in my Ancestry DNA were beginning to make sense. In November 2018 I was left wondering if there was a mistake when the results showed 14% European Jewish. In May 2019 my dad's results showing 27% European Jewish which made everything clear and yet completely confusing.
Now that Edenbridge was a part of my Saskatchewan story I began to wonder if my grandparents followed the Greek Catholic church as I had understood or if they were Jewish. The centiMorgans (cM) of European Jewish in mine and my father's results fit for one of his grandparents to be Jewish.
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| Alexander & Mary (nee Maximiw) Pellack my dad's grandparents - my great grandparents |
My great grandfather's brother Mikita Pellack was a founding member of the Victory Church, also known as St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church, in Gronlid, and by all accounts Alexander and family attended too.
I then found this map online:
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| https://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/Edenbridge/Edenbridge%20Maps.html |
In the upper left my great grandfather's homestead is the second over from Herman Katzeff who was one of the references on Alexander's homestead application.
Once the 2 books arrived from interlibrary loan I was also able to see that Herman Katzeff was a founding member of Edenbridge. There was a mention in the book that helped clarify things for me.
Edenbridge sought it's first Rabbi, and Max Shallitt arrived. In describing his character it was noted that:
" ... Mr. Shallitt was also very popular with the gentile neighbors, particularly the Ukrainians. They were very grateful to him as he would do all their English correspondence." 2
I also discovered that Edenbridge was the name of the post office of the area's farming village.
I would like to believe my great grandparents and their relatives were who was being referenced as having a connection to the Jewish settlers. Although the European Jewish blood running in my veins likely came via them they are not listed in any of the Edenbridge documents by name so likely did not identify as Jewish.
My Pellack relatives lived in close proximity to Edenbridge. They arrived in the area at a similar time to the immigrant arrivals that began Edenbridge. While reading the two books I realized just how difficult it had to have been for my great grandmother Mary (nee Maximiw) Pellack to have arrived to homestead in the Canadian prairies.I would like to introduce you to my great grandmother. I now know a bit more about how that journey must have been based on the memoirs of others.
Mary Maximiw (Maksymiv) Pellack
Born December 24th 1875 in Ukraine/Galicia/Austria
Died August 12th 1946 in Gronlid, Saskatchewan, Canada
From just an idea to homesteading in Canada.
"... while visiting the Post Office, he picked up a pamphlet which attracted his attention. ... by the Canadian Government stating there were homesteads available in the west consisting of 160 acres each for the price of only $10.00. ..." 3
"The ocean voyage was no picnic! Our ship, which looked like a New York skyscraper in dock, when let out to sea, bobbed up and down like an empty nutshell. Compared to the vastness of the mighty sea, our great vessel and it's hundreds of passengers were quite insignificant. the hustle and bustle of the crew frightened us. Sailors ran up and down; signals flashed, and danger seemed imminent. ..." 4
"The conductor called out "Star City", and I realized that I had arrived at my destination. I had to get off the train. The trip was really over. I found myself in the middle of a vast, uninhabited country. The only evidence of civilization was the rooftop of the railway station jutting out ... there was no city in sight..." 5
"...One can imagine their surprise to find a small village at the end of the steel rather that a bustling city as the name implied ..." 6
"...The ride took place with no sign of a road anywhere. We bumped along through brush and muddy swamps, periodically being splashed from head to foot. Suddenly the wind changed direction and there, on the 26th of May, we were caught in a terrible snowstorm, ..." 7
"... Mr. Riederer informed them that the other members of their family and friends were settled some twenty miles north of Star City ..." 8
"Arriving at Star City, he [Mikita Pellack] met a gentleman by the name of Tony Reider who briefed him on available homesteads 20 miles north known as the Ratner district, ..." 9
"...filed upon virgin land for $10.00. In order to acquire title to the land, the homesteader was required to 'prove-up' by spending at least six months each year in residence on the land and to clear off scrub and put into a tillable state at least five acres a year over a three year period. Having met the above requirements and following an inspection by a homestead inspector, a patent to the land was granted. Among other things, the pioneers first concerns were to build a house on their newly acquired homesteads and to purchase motive power (oxen) and farm implements." 10
"...With unbounded determination and courage, with sweat and tears they cleared the land stump by stump, they drained the mosquito infested swamps, they tilled the soil, and transformed the wilderness they found in 1906 into waving fields of grain with accessible roads, schools, homes, and a synagogue ..." 11
"When the women saw their little log cabin, which was to be their home for a while, they wept, and almost ganged up on their husbands, and if they had ropes, I believe they would have lynched every last one of them. We are going right back they said, we are not remaining here to be eaten alive by these big elephants, which you call mosquitoes ..." 12
"...more important than any other single factor was how necessary it was for the wives of the new settlers to be courageous: to be strong; to hide their disappointments..." 13
When Mary arrived with her family of 5 they had no house yet. The homestead records show that by 1914 the Pellack home was a 420 square foot log home for a family of 7. By 1914 they had 8 cattle, 31 acres in crop, 1 mile of fencing, a well, and had continually lived on their homestead.
"...Farther north along the range line the children of Jewish settlers attended Athol School .." 14 suggesting they attended school with my grandfather and his siblings.
"...He stood out in the rain for several minutes restraining a strong urge to inform his friends that he had had enough of this great adventure and was ready to go back, But as he contemplated this decision, ...Our young immigrant realized there was no turning back. Come what may, Canada was his new home. ..." 15
As I read through the memoirs of others I began to get a sense of what the journey to Canada must have been for my great grandmother as they traveled with 3 children. My grandfather's birth was never registered. He claimed May 10th 1910. If that date was correct he was conceived not too long after arriving to their homestead. If the date is not accurate she may have been pregnant on the long journey by boat and train.
In considering who in my family tree fit for strong woman I realized I had never thought about great grandma Mary Pellack, and it was time that I claimed her as mine.
Descended from a long line of strong women!
This is why I search -
Cause ...
You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***
Footnotes:
1 "Our Courageous Pioneers : History of Gronlid and Surrounding Districts of Argus, Athol, Edenbridge, Freedom, Maryville, Murphy Creek, Sandhill Creek, Taelman, Taras, Teddington,." (Melfort Saskatchewan: Phillips Publishers , 1991), 188
2 Rosenberg, Norman. "Edenbridge: The Memory Lives On." (Melfort, Saskatchewan: Phillips Publishing, 1980) 67
3 Rosenberg, Norman. "Edenbridge: The Memory Lives On." (Melfort, Saskatchewan: Phillips Publishing, 1980) 61
4 Usiskin Michael, "Uncle Mike's Edenbridge: Memoirs of a Jewish Pioneer Farmer." (Winnipeg Manitoba: Pequis Publishers Limited, 1983), 13
5 Usiskin Michael, "Uncle Mike's Edenbridge: Memoirs of a Jewish Pioneer Farmer." (Winnipeg Manitoba: Pequis Publishers Limited, 1983), 14
6 Rosenberg, Norman. "Edenbridge: The Memory Lives On." (Melfort, Saskatchewan: Phillips Publishing, 1980) 13
7 Usiskin Michael, "Uncle Mike's Edenbridge: Memoirs of a Jewish Pioneer Farmer." (Winnipeg Manitoba: Pequis Publishers Limited, 1983), 16
8"Our Courageous Pioneers : History of Gronlid and Surrounding Districts of Argus, Athol, Edenbridge, Freedom, Maryville, Murphy Creek, Sandhill Creek, Taelman, Taras, Teddington,." (Melfort Saskatchewan: Phillips Publishers , 1991), 189
9 Rosenberg, Norman. "Edenbridge: The Memory Lives On." (Melfort, Saskatchewan: Phillips Publishing, 1980) 13
10 Rosenberg, Norman. "Edenbridge: The Memory Lives On." (Melfort, Saskatchewan: Phillips Publishing, 1980) 14
11 Rosenberg, Norman. "Edenbridge: The Memory Lives On." (Melfort, Saskatchewan: Phillips Publishing, 1980) 17
12 Rosenberg, Norman. "Edenbridge: The Memory Lives On." (Melfort, Saskatchewan: Phillips Publishing, 1980) 62
13 Rosenberg, Norman. "Edenbridge: The Memory Lives On." (Melfort, Saskatchewan: Phillips Publishing, 1980) 40
14 Usiskin Michael, "Uncle Mike's Edenbridge: Memoirs of a Jewish Pioneer Farmer." (Winnipeg Manitoba: Pequis Publishers Limited, 1983), 35
15 Rosenberg, Norman. "Edenbridge: The Memory Lives On." (Melfort, Saskatchewan: Phillips Publishing, 1980) 11
Sources:
CBC, Story of Saskatchewan's Jewish farmers goes to national museum, published July 12, 2013. Retrieved March 6th 2020 from
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/story-of-saskatchewan-s-jewish-farmers-goes-to-national-museum-1.1302867
Find A Grave, Alexander Pellack, Retrieved March 6th 2020 from
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/137111772/alexander-pellack
Find A Grave, Mary Maximiw Pellack, Retrieved March 6th 2020 from
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/137112024/mary-pellack
Gronlid and District Historical Society,Our Courageous Pioneers : History of Gronlid and Surrounding Districts of Argus, Athol, Edenbridge, Freedom, Maryville, Murphy Creek, Sandhill Creek, Taelman, Taras, Teddington, Melfort, Saskatchewan, Phillips Publishers Ltd, 1991
JewishGen, Kehila Links, Homestead Maps, Edenbridge, Saskatchewan, Canada, Retrieved March 6th 2020 from
https://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/Edenbridge/Edenbridge%20Maps.html
Library & Archives Canada, Immigration, Passenger Lists, Page 16, Retrieved March 6th 2020 from
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/immigration/immigration-records/passenger-lists/passenger-lists-1865-1922/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=5121&fbclid=IwAR0bFKIO58BlaeooRHtWlgBb6yrB7Ii6RlXBMf3dzADF_YdBLfITZJzNJtw
Manitoba Historical Society, The Contribution of the Jews to the Opening and Development of the West, Retrieved March 6th 2020 from
http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/transactions/3/jewsandwest.shtml
Rosenberg, Norman. Edenbridge: The Memory Lives On. Melfort, Saskatchewan. Phillips Publishing, 1980.
Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon, Church of St. Michael constructed 1949-1951 near Gronlid; R.M. 458., Retrieved March 6th 2020 from
https://www.skeparchy.org/wordpress/about-us/parishes/gronlid-st-michael/
Usiskin, Michael. Uncle Mike's Edenbridge: Memoirs of a Jewish Pioneer Farmer. Winnipeg Manitoba: Pequis Publishers Limited, 1983.
Links:
Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/
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