Person:William Tuffnell (1)

William Robert Tufnell was born in Collingwood, Ontario. At the age of 20, William working as a servant along with his sister, Hattie, for the Emerson family. A few years later, William made his way to Arcola, Saskatchewan.

In 1906, William married Florence Scarrow, and they began a family. During that time, William took up a homestead. As the homesteading process required that the homesteader meet certain criteria with regards to land use, there is extensive documentation of the first few years on the farm.

The following information is located in the homestead documents (sourced below), which were filed with the Dominion Lands Office in Estevan, Saskatchewan:

In November of 1908, the family built a 16x20 log house worth $150, and the family moved in the following month. The farming details are as follows:

1909 - Broke 4 acres, cultivated 4 acres, had 2 cows and 2 horses 1910 - Broke 11 acres, cultivated 15 acres, had 4 cows and 3 horses 1911 - Cultivated 15 acres, had 4 cows and 3 horses 1912 - Broke 1 acre, cultivated 16 acres, had 4 cows and 3 horses 1913 - Broke 14 acres, cultivated 20 acres, had 6 cows and 4 horses

By this time, a stable had be built worth $75, a well valued at $50, as well as fencing of 160 acres worth $125. The patent for the land was issued to William Robert Tufnell on September 13, 1913.

According to his daughter, Hattie McEachen: "My dad's mom died when he was very young. He was brought up by a family called the Twiggers. He was always kind and played a lot with us. He worked in a livery barn when we lived in Arcola." - As written by Donna Lapointe who interviewed Hattie for her family records.

1. ↑ Assiniboia, Dist 207, Subdist 27, in Canada. 1911 Census of Canada. (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada)
   18.
   Image:1911 Census - Assiniboia - District 207 - Subdistrict 27 - Township 9 - Tufnell.pdf
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Ontario, Simcoe North, E-8, in Canada. 1901 Census of Canada. (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada)
   8.

   DOB listed as 19 May 1882. Along with sister, Hattie, working as a servant for Robert Emerson. William is listed as being able to read, write, and speak English.

   Image:1901 Census - Simcoe North - E8 - Schedule 1 - P8.pdf
3. ↑ Canada. Department of the Interior. Dominion Lands Branch. Saskatchewan homestead records, 1870-1930, and index. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1977-1980).

   The homestead file for the NE quarter of Section 23 Township 9 Range 4 of the 2nd Meridian. Available from the Saskatchewan Archives Board.

4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2}
6. ↑