Looking back - 1978 : 100-year-old farm still in Paynter family

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Published on Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Photo courtesy of the Neepawa Banner & Press Archives

SIX OF THE EIGHT Paynter family members were present at the 100th anniversary of the family farm. Pictured are: (L to R), Bob Graham and wife Annie (Paynter) Graham, Mrs. Charlie Moscrip (Isabell Paynter), Winnifred Paynter, Nellie Paynter, and Mrs. Fred Schmall (Nettie Paynter). A sister Bessie from Melfort, Sask., was ill and unable to attend, and a second son Harry, died in 1921 at the age of 18.

By Cassandra Wehrhahn
Neepawa Banner & Press

80 years ago,

Tuesday,

July 19, 1938

Motors operating at 30,000 revolutions per minute and cutting wood with paper discs high speed turbines spouting jets of steam with a velocity of 23,850 miles an hour, model airplanes battling against man-made gales in excess of 80 miles an hour, and precision instruments capable of measuring within a millionth of an inch, were among the scientific marvels on display April 30 at the annual open house off the University of Michigan.

Among the exhibits were the Otto-Langdon internal combustion engine of 1870 a one-cylinder, four cycle affair, fired not by a spark-plug, but by a flame from a pilot light. Despite its crudity, the apparatus is said to have been the forerunner of the modern automobile.

70 years ago,

Thursday,

July 22, 1948

A monster community picnic sponsored by the Neepawa Board of Trade, the Canadian Legion and Lions Club is to be held at Riverbend Park on Wednesday, July 28, starting at 1:00 p.m., sharp.

60 years ago,

Tuesday,

July 22, 1958

Grant MacEwan, who made the suggestion during his visit here Anniversary Week that the Pioneer Museum be made a permanent affair, has repeated the advice in a letter to Mayor Whitmore.

“All the best to you and may I take the liberty of hoping again that a permanent museum will prove to be one of the fruits of that good week”.

50 years ago,

Friday,

July 19, 1968

Miss Marian Adams, formerly of Neepawa, returned recently from the Canadian National Railway at Winnipeg.

Miss Adams left Neepawa in 1927 and started with CNR at Saskatoon in April, 1929. She was honored on her retirement recently by business associates at the Westminster Motor Hotel, when she was presented with a wallet and gift of money.

40 years ago,

Thursday,

July 20, 1978

One hundred years ago, a 21 year-old called Henry Reynolds Paynter registered a land claim in the Portage la Prairie land claims office, and then hiked the 45 or so miles by foot west of Ogilvie, south of Plumas, where he settled down to business of building a homestead.

This past Sunday, July 16, six of Harry Paynter’s seven surviving children, along with their many friends and neighbors celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Paynter farm.

In honor of the anniversary, Annie (Paynter) Graham read a poem in tribute to her pioneering parent and the family farm. Mrs. Margaret Cook, a friend and former Ogilvie school teacher, saluted the Paynter family and read a brief history of the farm.

She described how Harry Paynter came west from his birthplace of Owen Sound in 1878 with his brother Tom and a group of immigrants, led by his father, an immigration agent. The group travelled by foot up the lakes and the Red River to Fort Gary, now Winnipeg, and then by oxen from Winnipeg to Palestine, now Gladstone. The two brothers then trekked by foot back to Portage la Prairie, the nearest land titles office, where Henry filed his claim, picked up supplies, and went back to Ogilvie to homestead.

On December 27, 1893, he married Christina Reid Wilson of Beulah, Man., and they had a family of six daughters and two sons: Charles Stewart; Winnifred Marion; Elizabeth Wilson (Mrs. Dave Abel of Melfort, Sask.); Isabel Christina (Mrs. Charles Moscrip of Gladstone); Helen Victoria “Nellie”; Henry Reynolds Jr.; Annie Scott (Mrs. B. Graham of Gladstone); and Janet “Nettie” (Mrs. Fred Schmall of Plumas).

Friends today still describe the pioneering couple with warm words of praise. Mrs. Paynter, along with raising her family often assisted neighbors in times of sickness, acting as a midwife when doctors and nurses were scarce, organizing and leading in church and always ready to lend a helping hand. Mrs. Paynter passed away in 1942 at the age of 76. In 1948, Mr. Paynter transferred the ownership of his land to his son Charles and daughters Winnie and Nellie.

Harry Paynter, well-known for his keen wit and interest in everything “from a good game of cards to a political discussion”, died at his farm home in 1954 at the age of 96.

The farm, in its 100th year, is still in the hands of the second generation. Nellie, Winnie, and Charlie continue to reside in the graceful white farmhouse, keeping the farm in the Paynter family name.

Although there are no direct descendants bearing the Paynter name, there are 35 great grandchildren, to carry on the Paynter heritage.

30 years ago,

Tuesday,

July 19, 1988

Another week and another addition to the interesting things to see at McCreary, July 30-31, 1988. Thanks to the Curling Club who will provide the Upper and Lower Lounges of the rink to house:

1.The Poster Scene of service personnel overseas from 1941-45. Forty percent were from Rural Manitoba.

2.The Photo Scenes of Horses of War from W.W.1.

3.Twelve mannequins wearing uniforms from 1870-W.W.2.

4.Small arms rifles and machine guns, 12-14 pieces. Wayne Wilson generously offered the plywood mountings for this display.

The outdoor portion of the display is scheduled to be:

1.Lynx Armoured Reconnaissance vehicle used by the Fort Garry Horse Regiment and Manitoba Dragoons.

2.Field Artillery Tractor used to move big guns.

3.Universal Carrier (Bren Gun) carrier.

Thanks to the local    Legion branch and members, W. Boiteau and J. Shineton who will billet the service personal accompanying the display and who have cooperated closely with the Lions in bringing this major attraction from the Shilo base.

20 years ago,

Monday,

July 20, 1998

Neepawa defeated Cardale 5-4 in the third game of a best-of-three playoff to determine a Westman representative for the Provincial B midget baseball championship in Morden.

10 years ago,

Monday,

July 21, 2008

Fewer Americans are travelling north to Manitoba this summer, but more Canadians from outside the province and more Britons are making the trip, according to Manitoba Tourism.

The increase in tourists from other areas is expected to make up for the drops in American visitors, said Linda Whitfield of Manitoba Tourism.

“Overall in 2008, U.S. traffic will drop three per cent, overseas will rise three per cent and domestic traffic will be up 2.5 per cent,” Whitfield said.Whitfield said Americans are expected ti make fewer day trips already dropped by 15 per cent between January and April this year, compared to the same period last year.