John was born April 16, 1916 in Swalwell, AB. John came to the Peace River area in 1936, where he took up a homestead NW12-71-26-W5. In February, 1943 John enlisted in the Royal Canadian Army. His basic training started in May in Prince Albert, SK and was stationed in Halifax, October 27, 1943 where his rank was “gunner”. He remained there until the end of the war. Between enlisting in February and basic training not starting until May, John drove taxi cab in Grande Prairie for his brother-in-law, I.V. Macklin. After serving his country and returning home he resumed farming, along with logging, cat skinning, working on threshing crews with his brothers and neighbours. He was a very generous man and left his estate to Crippled Children and the Arthritis Society. John lived in Crooked Creek and married Ruth Logan. He moved to Beaverlodge Nursing Home in 1998 and passed away there on August 25, 1998.
Taken from “Bridges to the Past” (2001), published by DeBolt & District Pioneer Museum, p. 178
