the chignecto isthmus and its first settlers-第18章
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Bute Circuit。
In 1840 an influenza； much like la grippe； passed through the country and caused a great many deaths。 The family at Prospect were nearly all down with it at once； but all recovered。
The saddest visitation that ever came to this home was in the year 1845。 On the evening of the 28th July death came a sudden and unexpected guest。 The day had been fine； and farm work was going on as usual。 Mr。 Trueman had been at the grist mill all day。 The family had gathered for supper； and a horse stood saddled at the door。 There was to be a trustee meeting at the church that evening； and Mr。 Trueman was on of its members。 Supper over； he mounted his horse to ride to the church。 Ten minutes had not passed when the horse was seen without a rider； and Mr。 Trueman was found a short distance from the house； where he had fallen； to all appearance； dead。 He was quickly carried in and medical aid summoned； but all was of no avail。 It was a heavy blow。 Mrs。 Trueman could not look upon life the same afterwards； and she never recovered from the great sorrow。 There were seven children； the eldest； Ruth； twenty…one years of age； and the youngest； Mary； eighteen months。
Thompson Trueman was in his forty…fifth year。 He was a heavy man； quite different in build from his brothers。 The writer was but eight years old at that time； and so has learned about him mainly from others。 He seems to have made a great many friends； and was looked upon as an upright man。 One who knew him well said； when he heard of his death； this passage of Scripture came to his mind： 〃Help； Lord； for the godly man ceaseth； and the faithful fail from among the children of men。〃
The years that followed were trying ones at Prospect。 The blight that ruined the potato crop in 1846； and the loss of the wheat crop a few years later by the weavil； were felt more keenly because of the loss of the controlling mind。 To give an idea of the financial loss； I may mention the fact that in 1843 two thousand bushels of potatoes were grown on the farm； and in 1847 not enough were grown to supply the table。 In addition to the great failure in these two staple crops； at that time the price of beef； pork and butter went down to a very low point。 A pair of oxen that would girth from six to six and a half feet could be bought for forty…five or fifty dollars。 Pork went down to 4 and 4 1/2 cents per lb。； and butter to 12 1/2 cents； or a York shilling。 In one of the best settlements in Nova Scotia a majority of the farms were mortgaged to carry their owners over these hard years。 Those who remember the period in New Brunswick history will not be inclined to complain to…day。
Samuel Davis； with the help of Mrs。 Trueman； managed Prospect Farm until the sons were able to take charge。 Mr。 Davis was a most faithful and kind…hearted man； and is remembered with the liveliest feelings of gratitude by the writer for the numberless ways in which he tried to make up to him a father's loss。
It is doubtful if the saw…mill； which was built in 1843； was ever a paying investment。
In 1849 a stone kiln and machinery for making oatmeal were added to the mill property。 The loss of the wheat crop had lead the Government of the Province to encourage the use of oatmeal by offering a bonus of L 25 to anyone who would build an oat…mill。 This led to the addition； and oats were made into meal for a large district of country for a good many years； but the expense of keeping the dam up； and the frequency with which it was carried away by the freshets； must have absorbed most of the profits of the business。
Up to this time agriculture had been the principal industry on the Isthmus。 The farmer was the prominent man in the neighborhood； and the aim of every young man was to get a farm of his own。 Now； however； there came a change。 In 1848 gold was discovered in California； and in 1849 and the early 50's numbers of our young men left for the gold… fields。 Then came the telegraph service； which called for bright； intelligent young men。 Ever since that date agriculture has declined relatively in the Maritime Provinces。 As the years went by the products of the western wheat…fields came into competition with the home…grown article； and the result was soon felt in the milling business here。 Since 1872 the grist…mill at Prospect； with its three run of stones； and the saw…mill as well； have been allowed to go to decay。
In 1856 Hiram Thompson married Tryphena Black； of Prince Edward Island； and settled on the second farm north of the old place。 Later he sold this farm and moved to Searletown； Prince Edward Island。 In 1857； Eliza； the second daughter； married William Avard； of Shemogue。
In 1860； April 11th； Mrs。 Trueman died； in the sixty…second year of her age； and after fifteen years of widowhood。 She had a large circle of friends； and was always ready to help those who were in need。 After her husband's death she kept up the family altar； and few mothers have been more earnest in looking after the moral and spiritual welfare of their children。
In 1863； Howard； the third son； married Agnes Johnstone； of Napan； Miramichi； and remained at the old home。 In January； 1864； Margaret； the third daughter； was married to George M。 Black； of Dorchester。 The same year； in May； Mrs。 Howard Trueman died。 In July； 1867； Howard married Mary Jean Main； of Kingston； Kent County； daughter of John Main； of that place。 Mary； the youngest daughter； was married to William Prescott； of Bay Verte； in 1873。
The following minutes of a meeting held at Prospect January 4th； 1875； will be of interest：
〃The meeting was organized by the appointment of David Lawrence as Chairman； and Howard Trueman as Secretary。
〃The chairman stated the object of the meeting was to take steps to celebrate in some fitting way the arrival of the first Trueman family in Nova Scotia； which took place just a hundred years ago。
〃On motion of S。 B。 Trueman； seconded by Edward Trueman； Resolved； that there be a gathering of the Trueman descendants at the old homestead sometime during the summer of 1875。
〃Moved by John A。 Humphrey； and seconded by Martin Trueman； and carried； that a committee be appointed to carry out the above resolution； said committee to consist of representatives from each branch of the family。
〃The following were named as a committee： 〃Martin Trueman。 〃Edward Trueman。 Henry Trueman。 Benjamin Trueman。 Thompson Trueman。 John Glendenning。 David Lawrence。 R。 T。 McLeod。 Harman Humphrey。 Albert Trueman。 〃Howard Trueman。
〃It was also decided to number the descendants and have written out a short history or genealogy of the family； also to place a marble monument to make the last resting…place of those who first came to America。〃
The celebration was held at Prospect Farm on the 14th July； 1875； and took the form of an all…day picnic。 A programme was given； consisting of music and addresses。 The invitations were not confined to the immediate connection。 Friends of the family were included。 It was estimated that about five hundred were present； many coming from widely different points。 The social intercourse was greatly enjoyed； and was looked upon as one of the best features of the reunion。
The following census of the family to day （1875） was given out at that Meeting：
Born。Dead。Living。 MR。 WILLIAM TRUEMAN （2ND）； MARRIED TO ELIZABETH KEILLOR；1777… Children 10 10 0
HARMAN TRUEMAN'S FAMILY Children 10 5 5 Grandchildren 28 3 25 Great…grandchildren 23 3 20 61 11 50
WILLIAM TRUEMAN'S FAMILY Children 11 1 10 Grandchildren 72 23 49 Great…grandchildren 99 22 77 182 46 136
JOHN TRUEMAN'S FAMILY Children 10 3 7 Grandchildren 30 7 23 Great…grandchildren 2 0 2 42 10 32
THOMAS TRUEMAN'S FAMILY Children 13 7 6 Grandchildren 52 12 40 Great…grandchildren 42 10 32 107 29 78
SARAH LAWRENCE'S FAMILY Children 11 3 8 Grandchildren 51 12 39 Great…grandchildren 51 7 44 113 22 91
AMOS TRUEMAN'S FAMILY Children 9 3 6 Grandchildren 47 4 43 Great…grandchildren 17 0 17 73 7 66
ROBERT TRUEMAN'S FAMILY Children 3 1 2 Grandchildren 8 3 5 Great…grandchildren 2 1 1 13 5 8
MARY A HUMPHREY'S FAMILY Children 7 4 3 Grandchildren 20 3 17 Great…grandchildren 1 0 1 28 7 21
BETTY GLENDENNING'S FAMILY Children 6 3 3 Grandchildren 13 0 13 Great…grandchildren 1 0 1 20 3 17
THOMPSON TRUEMAN'S FAMILY Children 7 0 7 Grandchildren 18 1 17 Great…grandchildren 0 0 0 25 1 24
Total in the ten families 664 141 523
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS
Presby… Episco… FAMILY OF Methodists Baptists terians palians Total
William Trueman 78 24 22 12 136 Thomas Trueman 45 33 78 John Trueman 32 32 Harmon Trueman 50 50 Mary Ann Humphrey 15 6 21 Betty Glendenning 9 8 17 Amos Trueman 16 50 66 Sarah Lawrence 80 11 91 Robert Trueman 8 8 Thompson Trueman 24 24 Total 357 63 91 12 523
OCCUPATIONS
Tele… Tin… Assay Student Mill FAMILY OF Farm/Mech/graph/smith/Carp/ /Teach/AtLaw/Rail/Own/Agt
William Trueman 16 1 1 1 3 1 1 Thomas Trueman 6 7 2 1 1 John Trueman 1 1 Harmon Trueman 3 3 2 1 1 Mary A。 Humphrey 1 1 1 Betty Glendenning 1 Amos Trueman 8 Sarah Lawrence 6 3 1 1 Robert Trueman 1 1 Thompson Truema
