Wagar Family History
WILLIAM ROSS10 WAGAR (was born February 17, 1870 in Parham, ON, and died August 03, 1953 in Dyment, ON. He married ELLEN MARIA ALTON January 21, 1891 in Yarker, ON. She was born Feb 26, 1871 in Parham, Ont. and died December 09, 1963 in Big Beaver, Sask.. They are both buried in Dryden, Ontario. They had a family of 4 children. Julia Adella, Aden Clifford, Lucy Elizabeth and Milton Ross Wagar.
In the early years they homestead in Parham later moving to Big Beaver, Sask. following their eldest son, Aden & their daughter Lucy. They farmed there but after a few years and times were tough they decided to make their way back to Ontario. Julia the oldest child remained in Ontario because she had married there. Milton the youngest made the move to Sask. with them. Upon their return via train to Ontario they made a stopover in Dyment, Ont. Wm. Ross Wagar after he watered and fed the animals that were accompanying them back to their home in Ontario, he decided to take a look around this place called Dyment. In doing so he thought this might be a good place to set down roots. They still had at least another 3 or 4 day journey to go before reaching eastern Ontario and Parham where they originally came from. So they got off the train with their belongings and set about to build a homestead for themselves here. This is how they came about to settle in Dyment, Ont. Aden and Lucy remained in Big Beaver, Sask as they had married by this time and were having families of their own.
1925-1953 Years Living In Dyment Milton moved back from Big Beaver to Dyment also. He met Jessie Scott who came from Teachers College to teach at the school in Dyment and they were married. They have three sons, Robert, Arny & Don.
My Grandparents William Ross & Ellen Wagar lived in Dyment from 1925 until his death in 1953. They were on their way by train back to Ontario from Sask when the train made it’s regular stop to take on water at the water tower for the old steam engines of course diesel was not invented yet. Grandfather decided that this may be a neat little place to build a homestead. So he bought property next to George & Marie Higgin’s store and between where the first Dyment Hall was. (it has since burned) but I remember going to many dances in that hall in the early 60’s after the road was built into the village off #17 highway.
Where the cemetery is now, was property owned by my grandfather and he decided that he would donate it to the community for such purposes as needed.
When my grandparents decided to make their homestead here it was the days when no roads went into Dyment from the Transcanada #17 so if a Dr. was needed from Dyden they came down by CP railcar but, as there were several trains per day that was not really a problem. More of an inconvenience for the doctor. The station house would telegraph a message into Dryden CP rail station house and a message would be sent to the doctor…. This happened when my brother Clayton who was 12 needed a doctor because he broke his leg.
My Parents Aden & Ruby Wagar
decided after Grandpa & Grandma Wagar moved from Big Beaver, Sask back to Ontario, that they too would move so they also settled in Dyment as well.
In about 1928 Aden & Ruby Wagar settled on a homestead north across the tracks from where the village is, and oldest brothers Clayton and Richard (Dick) and my sister June used to walk to school where the present day hall is now, BUT at that time it was the school house. It was considered a good mile and a half probably closer to two miles from the village. Some of the kids they walked with were Len Rustan & his sisters Clara & Agnes, Orvie Henderson & The Richardson boys Bert and Einor.. Brother Henry was not of school age yet so he was lucky and did not have to walk in the deep snow especially after a fresh snow fall. Sometimes in winter they would get a ride to school by horse & sleigh when the snow was very fresh and made for hard walking. As they say “the good old days”!!
They lived in Dyment until 1937 when they decided to move up to Dryden. Better opportunities.
Another two children were born in Dryden, Marjorie (1937) and Betty-Lynn (1945).
Richard “Dick” was killed on the job in 1943
He was doing construction work on the new Dempster Alaska Highway being built during the war.
After my brother was buried in 1943 in Dryden, when Grandfather William passed away in 1953 they decided they wanted to be buried in Dryden where he was. Even though he donated the property where the Dyment cemetery is now.