Roger and Margaret Donnelly

By Vera Carlson

Roger Donnelly was born on May 18, 1864 to Patrick and Mary Donnelly (nee Cain) in Ontario, Canada. He moved to Kansas, USA in 1878. In 1893 he married Margaret Elizabeth Slocum who was born in Missouri, USA. Nine children were born in Kansas, Susie, John, Patrick, Roger, Thomas, Augustine, Frank, Edward and Agnes. They came to Alberta, Canada in 1906. Roger either worked for a brewery in Edmonton hauling wood or coal or operated a ferry across the Saskatchewan River. They lived by the low‑level bridge.

Roger and Margaret Donnelly.

In 1907 they homesteaded in Clyde, then known as Edison. Their last child, William, was born in Clyde. Margaret Donnelly passed away on April 15, 1911. Susie was 17 and looked after her dad, brothers and sister. When she married in 1915, she took the younger children to live with her and her husband, Allie Purschke, at Opal, Alberta. The two oldest boys, John and Patrick, joined the army. Grandfather Roger Donnelly also joined the army in 1916, lying about his age. He was 52 years of age. He was discharged in 1918 and bought the land SE22‑59‑24‑W4 through the Veteran's Land Act.

Frank Donnelly.

Frank Donnelly passed away July 1928. Roger Donnelly Sr. passed away November 7, 1929. Augustine Donnelly passed away March 17, 1969.