Tom and Frank's Story

Two Aylmer Boys Return Home, 1905, Part: 1

Tom and Frank were, at the least neighbours, but more importantly friends. I’m including this story not only to fill in the family history but also to demonstrate the kind but demanding local society of Bayham. Add to that, a strong adhesive sense of personal and neighbourly responsibility. More than your brother’s keeper, an individual was his neighbour’s keeper.

The first mention of Tom was in a letter dated Aug 20, 1905 from Mary, Mother, to Frank, living in Mohawk, Ontario canvassing Brantford selling books door to door. “Mr and Mrs Smith have just gone home have been over for the evening. Tom is quite poorly coughs bad as ever.”

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Aug 31, 1905 from Frank in Port Arthur General Hospital, Northern Ontario to Mary, Mother, in Bayham, Ontario, “I fell and my foot flew against the wheel (Sue’s Note: wheel of the train) which ran over the toes. I didn’t faint or anything else like that and honestly it didn’t hurt very much. See 'Frank' post June 17, 2008

Poor Fred (Sue’s note: Frank’s brother) will be pretty near wild when he hears it because he and Claude & Grinville managed to get a car at Toronto and came on ahead of us. J Cropp, Guy Loop, Tom Smith, and myself stayed together and got along allright until this accident happened. I would not let the other fellows stay although they wanted to very much. Bunch held out fine and this morning Tom felt much better.” The young men were on route to the fields of the west.

This poster, reproduced in the magazine Canada West, may have spurred them forward in their pursuit of riches, adventure, and a new life. (National Archives of Canada C30623) That and 160 acres free with stringent conditions applied.

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Sept, 4 1905 from Frank in Port Arthur to Mother, Father and Brothers, etc, in Bayham, Ontario, “… he didn’t say anything about Tom. As soon as you find Tom’s address sent it to me as I wish to write him. Thurs morning as he bid me goodbye in the ambulance (Sue’s note: at the train) he said he was feeling better and when Fred saw him in Winnipeg. He was also feeling quite frisky.”

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Sept 14, 1905 Frank in Port Arthur to Fred, “Say Fred, is Tom Smith near you. I had a card from him the other day but his address is Box 144 Souris so I imagine he is not very close to you. You should write to Tom as he felt pretty blue about you not staying with him.”

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