Force: Air Force, Army
Born in 1923 in Strathclair MB, James (“Jim”) Gould was the son of John Henry and Margaret Morrison Gould. He was the fourth of six siblings: Evelyn, Leona, Leslie, Jim, Rita, and May. From Manitoba, the family moved to Blueberry Mountain AB in 1930. The next move was to Buffalo Lakes area in 1939 where the parents filed on a homestead. Evelyn and Leona both married that year. At 16 years old, Jim hired himself out to work for farmers in the Sexsmith and Grande Prairie areas. In the spring of 1942, he moved to Wainwright for a job. The following year he signed up to join the Air/Force or Army (2 different sources) in Winnipeg, serving overseas for 3 years until 1946 when he was discharged. Moving to St. Catherines ON where his sister lived, he worked in a factory, and while there he met and married Irene (nee Kwrylo) Kingston. Born in Poland, she had immigrated and settled in Thorold ON with her parents. Her first husband, Charles Kingston, died in WW II, leaving her with 2 daughter – Gloria and Charlene. After Jim and Irene’s wedding in July 1951, Jim took a homestead near Eaglesham AB SE-27-77-26-W5. While their log house on their property was being built, Jim and Irene stayed with Jim’s parents. For the next 13 years Jim farmed, worked on oil rigs, and bought a sawmill. When Margaret passed away in 1957, John sold his land to Jim and Irene, and over the years Jim invested in more land. Logging for his own lumber, Jim built a new house in 1964. His production diversified into raising pigs and cattle, yet by 1977 he only farmed grain. The land was rented out in 1987 when Jim and Irene retired, and they enjoyed travelling. They had 4 children together: Jack, Brian, Pamela and Gary.
Source: Buffalo Trails p. 105
Smoky Peace Triangle (Eaglesham…) pp. 227 – 228. Photo of family p. 228