Francis Elizabeth "Fanny" McLean

From "Bridging the Years" - Carmangay and District:

"Angus McLean married Fannie McLeod in 1908 and they homesteaded the NE 16-14-24. Mrs. McLean writes that when her family of the McLeods arrived at Fort MacLeod, they rode in the caboose of a freight to Stavely, rather than wait for a passenger train. When they reached their homestead they lived in tents for three months and listened to the coyotes howl all night. She remembers having to stay up until midnight to keep the range cattle away from their feed stacks during the hard winter. The neighbours helped each other construct buildings. Water was a problem but they finally dug a well beside a slough and got good water. It also saved them a two mile trip to the river.

After their marriage, Angus served on the Washington School Board and was a municipal Councillor for some years until failing eyesight forced his retirement. He passed away in 1926 when the youngest daughter, Olive, was only six months old. Mrs. McLean stayed on the farm and did a man's work with the aid of her son Melville, who was only 15, until she could get help. They battled grasshoppers and the weather, but they still kept the farm. She retired in 1949 and lives in Calgary, as do her daughters Dorothy and Olive, and sons Irving and Robert. Melville married Marjorie Downing and they live in Champion. Allan lives on the home place and farms it and his grandmother's (Rebecca's) homestead. He married Barbara Dow of Champion. He followed in his father's footsteps and was County Councillor for this district. He attended high school in Champion before the van service started, by pedaling his bike over miles of prairie road. They have two children, Dana and Heather."