Fonds 425 Robert Lindley fonds

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Summary information

Administrative history / Biographical sketch

Robert Jervis Lindley was born September 22, 1930 in Brightview, Alberta to parents Bill and Ruth Lindley. He went to Twin Creek School where his grade 4 report card praised him for his hard work, obedience and generosity. He became an independent “character” early in his life. At odds with his mother after his father and brothers, Ralph and Jack, joined the military, he got a granary from someone and at age 14 towed it into the trees and lived there during one winter. But he helped look after the family farm and when his father returned from service, the farm was sold and the family moved to Sooke, B.C. Bob refused to go with them. He farmed in Falun for some time with help from an old “Swede” and then also worked near Rimbey and for the County of Ponoka where he maintained gravel trucks.

Robert had medical problems which forced him to face doctors, hospital visits and take prescription drugs for much of his adult life.

Bob came to the Bezanson area in 1968 and bought a farm previously owned by Johnny Stark. He had heard of the Bezanson land from Stark relatives in his home district of Falun. The farm Bob acquired near Bezanson was a half section – one quarter mostly river hills reaching to the Smoky River and a leased quarter section used for his cattle herd and some grain production. Bezanson proved to be a good community for Bob. He was genuinely interested in community happenings, loved to socialize and he relied on friends he made to help him make a living and he returned the favor when he could. He seldom cooked for himself, relying on visits near mealtimes and later on restaurants where he could find company that could accept his unkempt appearance. He distrusted women and doctors and had a limited ability to read and write.

By 1990, Bob’s cattle herd had decreased to 24 cows and calves; his crop land produced more wild oats than grain and his machinery was almost worn out so he had to depend on others to do much of his farm work but he was still very willing to return favors and help his neighbors, the Creston Stewart family. They in turn kept Bob when he was in failing health. He was finally taken to the University Hospital in Edmonton where he passed away, January 20, 1995, at the age of 64. He was buried in the Glen Leslie Cemetery.

Custodial history

Bob Lindley kept all his business records in the cab of his truck. After his death, Creston Stewart bought his farm and Phyllis Stewart, Creston’s mother, rescued these records and donated them to the South Peace Regional Archives in 2008 along with her recollections of Bob’s life in the Peace country.

Scope and content

The fonds consists of personal papers including a biography written by the donor, letters from Robert’s mother and 13 family photographs; medical records including receipts for payment to hospitals and pharmacies; legal documents; and financial records including property tax notices and receipts, an account book and pay stubs.

Notes

Title notes

• Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents

Access points

• Textual record (documentary form)
• Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
• Family and personal life* (subject)
• Agriculture (subject)

Series descriptions