Edmond Mestdagh
1887-1945
Born: Knesselaire, Belgium
Died: St. Boniface, Manitoba Canada
<p>This is another very old story that I was given many many years ago. It was written in ink and the name of the person who gave the story, faded away. So I am not sure who gave it to me. </p><p>When Edmond and Romanie got married, times were tough in Belgium. So Edmond worked in France for a while. Friends who had come from America, said they could almost pick money off the street, implying that money was easy to come by. Edmond and some friends decided to go and see if they could make a living out there. </p><p>Edmond was smuggled into Holland from Belgium. From there he took a cattle boat to New York. He and his friends were quarantined for 3 weeks at the harbour waiting to come in. They would not let them off the boat. They then took a train. from New York State and settled in the Swanlake district in the province of Manitoba, Canada. They stayed at Isadore Van Caumberge's for a while. and then they moved to a shack in Swan Lake Manitoba, Canada </p>
<p>This was given to me by word of mouth and I am writing it down as I heard it. Hopefully it is correct and if there are mistakes, I apologize and will add the true facts if they are accurate.</p><p>Edmond Mestdagh came to Canada in 1913 and made his home in the Swanlake district of Manitoba. Born at Knesselare Belgium, 30 October 1889, the son of Petrus Mestdagh and Sabina Delameileure. In 28 April 1909, he married Romanie Saelens, the daughter of Joame Baptista Saelens and Maria Ludovica De Nys. They married at Oedelem Dr West Vlaaderen. Romanie was born at Oedelem, Belguim, 18 May 1889. Romanie and 2 children, Margaret (born at Maldegem, Belgium) and Edward George (born at Oedelem) joined Edmond in Canada. She had stayed behind to care for Edmond's father who was very sick. Two sons Alphonse and Albert were born later in Swanlake area. They then moved to the Bruxelles district where sons Rene and Odiel were born. A few years later they moved to the Swanlake district, where son Marcel was born. The family moved to Somerset district in the fall of 1930, taking over on the Decosse estate farm north east of Somerset. Rene and Marcel are still farming the land at present.</p><p>Edmond Passed away on 19 Sept. 1945 at the age of 58 years. Romanie passed away on 30 March 1974 at the age of 86 years. One son Albert died accidently 16 September 1976.</p><p> As you can see, this story was given to me along time ago. There are dates missing but that was the way the story was given to me. As of this year 2008, Marcel is the only survivor of this generation. He still lives on the original farm in Somerset. He is retired.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>