Alexander Allanach

Alexander Allanach

Parents

• Father – James Allanach
• Mother – Jane Milne

Birth

Alexander Allanach was born in 1874 in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, to Jane Milne, age 36, and James Allanach, age 25.

Siblings

Alexander had two brothers and one sister.

• James Allanach (born 1873)
• Georges Allanach (born 1877)
• Mary Allanach (born 1879)

Marriage

Alexander Allanach married Helen Stuart in Glenbuchat, Aberdeenshire on 19 May 1900 when he was 25 years old.

Children

Alexander had three sones and three daughters

• George Allanach
• Annie Allanach
• James Allanach
• Jane Allanach
• Alexander (Donald) Allanach
• Helen Allanach

Death

Alexander Allanach died on 13 March 1950 in Mannville, Alberta, Canada, when he was 75 years old.

Life Story

1874

Alexander is born in Strathdon at Auldachie on August 17th.

1876

Alexander’s brother George is born. His birth is recorded as location of ‘Forest of Auldachie Strathdon’ with the Father’s employment as ‘journeyman’.

1881

Alexander (6) is living with his grandmother Jane Milne (Allanach) (a farmer of 15 acres of which 12 arable) at Aldachie, Strathdon together with father James (33) a stonemason, mother Jane (43), brother James (8), brother George (4) and sister Mary (2).

1891

Alexander (16) is living with his father James (44), now head farmer at Torrancroy in Glen Nochty, his mother Jane, cousin Agnes (5) and Jane Watt (24), a servant .

1900

Alexander marries local girl Helen Stewart from the Deochry Glenbuchat. Alexander is listed as staying at Torrincroy. There is a lot more info on the Stewarts of the Deochry on the Glenbuchat Heritage site including this local rhyme about Helen’s father, Scott.

“Elder Begg and Bellman Beattie
Scott Stewart and skirlin Eppie
Beardie fierce and Robbin strong
And that completes the Deochry throng.”

1901

Alexander resides at Torrancroy, Strathdon with wife Helen (26) and son George (1). His job is farm overseer. Note a pauper called Jane Coutts lives in a separate dwelling at the farm.

1901

By August 31st 1901 the family had moved to ‘The Lodge’, Glenton, Keig by Bennachie, as we can see from the birth record for Mary Jane Allanach (1901). The same address is stated in  1904 for the birth of Annie Isabella, in1906 for the birth of James in 1908 for the birth of Jane and in 1910 for Donald.

This map from the time shows location relative to Mither Tap and Bennachie and gives an indication why the name ‘Braes of Bennachie’ remained a favourite with Alexander and his family.

MEMORIES OF BRAES O’ BENNACHIE
By Mrs Annie Hubbard (Allanach), Mannville, Alberta, Canada

“The name Braes o’ Bennachie is one of beauty and renown. I was born in Bennachie in a stone house up the road known as the Lodge, My father. Alex Allanach and wife Helen, had a family of five born in this home. One girl died at an early age. My father was a crofter. I can remember him snaring rabbits. I spent two years at Bennachie play school. My teacher’s name was Frances Burnett. I corresponded with Frances until her death. She was a kind and loving person. She had a wee dog called Barney. I remember one day she was visiting mother and wec Barney jumped up and tore my pinafore. Frances was really upset about it all. The first Christmas I can remember was at Bennachie. When Santa Claus came Dr Stark said he had
to come down the stairway as the chimney was too small. My gift from Santa was a little white muff of rabbit hide and lined with satin. I ran home to show my folks and then up the road to show Grandpa and Grandma who lived at the Glenton. The valley and the heather hills were beautiful My Grandma and I used to pick the heather. One day we walked to the Mither Tap.

My brother and I used to sit by the Birks Burn and shake jumbojine in a bottle and suck the froth. What fun! On up the road from our house there was a beautiful rowan tree behind the stone dyke. An enjoyable walk was up the Lord’s Throat. My brother went to Keig School. Then there was the Tinky’s well and ladle by the road where anyone could drink. In 1910 my youngest brother was born. He was to be called Alexander Charles. The cook at Bennachie, Mrs Reid, baked the baptismal cake and put ‘Donald’ on it. Anyway, he was baptized by the first name but got Donald all his life. When he became a man he changed his name to Donald Alexander. My father was out on his bicycle one night and fell off and was rendered unconscious. A Jimmy Cruickshank picked him up and took him in to a neighbour’s. A few years after we came to Canada, father found out Jimmy was just a few miles away. In Bennachie Dr and Mrs Stark’s work in God’s service lives on. I have his book on Bennachie. The last New Year we were in Scotland my dad and mother took me out for Hogmanay. I can remember a wee bit of coal, and we were never empty handed. We stood outside a neighbour’s window with friends and sang: 
‘Rise up, guid wife and shack yer feathers
Dinna think that we are beggars.
We’re only bairnies come to play.
Rise up and gie’s oor hogmanay.’
In the spring of 1910 my dad decided to come to Canada. We had a sale and prepared for a long tiresome journey with five children and one only three months old. I remember my grandfather giving me a bag of rock candy for the journey. It was a sad farewell of tears. We spent two nights in Aberdeen with an uncle. Then on to our boat, the Brittania. Everyone was seasick but we finally arrived in Montreal. The train trip across Canada was long and tiresome. We arrived in Mannville on June 1st. A livery gig took us out to our friends who lived 12 miles out. Our bachelor friend had just a wee, two-room shack. Good Scotsmen can always persevere and my parents surely did just that.”  Quote from ‘Bennachie Again’ by Archie W. M. Whiteley

Above Glenton Lodge in 1952 which Annie Allanach confirms as her childhood home. I have been unable to ascertain its modern location, if it still exists, in Glenton.

Whilst the two Allanach families would have lived on crofts as tenants of the Castle Forbes Estate, the surrounding Bennachie area was host to a well-studied ‘Colony’ of those who lived outwith the imposition of rents.

1903

Daughter Mary Jane Allanach passes on April 28th 1903 from Dyspepsia aged just 8 moths.

1905

The valuation rolls from the Estate of Castle Forbes provide further clues. There are two entries for James Allanach as tenant; one for East Lodge Glenton where Alexander is described as the occupier (rent £3 10 shillings), and another where we can presume James (his father) is the occupier described as a farm in Upper and Grass parks Glenton with a rent of £72 12 shillings.

1908

Jane, Alexander’s mother. passes on 24th January 1908. Location is stated as ‘Upper Glenton’, Keig, suggesting a  continuing different residence to her son’s family at ‘the Lodge’.

1910

“In 1910 Alex decided to have a sale and go to New Zealand. However after the sale there was not enough
money to go so far so they settled for Canada. A good friend, Billie Michie, lived in Mannville so that was to be the destination. I am sure many tears were shed when leaving all their relatives and friends and also to leave their lovely stone house that still stands as staunch as ever. There were six children born in this house and just a mid-wife in attendance. One girl died at the age of 18 months. 

The sale was over and the long journey started. They spent two nights in Aberdeen with relatives. We came across on the Brittania and arrived in Montreal. Then the long journey across Canada by train. A real ordeal with ·five children and the youngest six months old. We arrived in Mannville on June 1, 1910. The ground was white with snow. A warm welcome to sunny Alberta! We stayed in the hotel till morning. We were taken out to Billie Michie’s with a team and democrat owned by Dick Williams. We arrived at Michie’s and found only a two room shack. Bunk beds were made from rough lumber and nailed one above the other. Gunny sacks were filled with straw for mattresses. Helen had brought a good supply of warm Scotch blankets which came in handy. Things went well until Helen got blood poison in her finger. She had to spend a few days in Innisfree under the care of Dr. Adamson. A great time of worry for Alex with five small youngsters to care for.”

1911

“The first year Alex filed on a homestead just north of Michie’s. Next year we moved to
a shack on the Carlson place. During our stay there a new home was built on the
homestead”

On 2 March 1911 Alexander applies for a homestead on Mannville Alberta Canada

Quote from Trails to Mannville (not Annie)  “It was the year after Alex Allanach arrived in Mannville from Scotland with his wife and five children that he decided something should be done about a school for children in the community of Braes. A meeting was held in December, 1911, at the home of George Monaghans. At this meeting a committee was organized with Mr. Allanach as chairman and Mr. Monaghan as secretary. Mr. Allanach served on this committee as chairman except for a period of 15 months, up until the time of his retirement, and Mr. Monaghan also held his position for many years. A letter was written to the Hudson’s Bay Co. regarding the purchasing of two acres of land for a school site at the southeast corner of the N.E. quarter of Sec. 17-51-9-4. Two names were sent in to the department; the name chosen was sent in by Mr. Allanach, Braes O’Benachie, the place he lived in Scotland. The Meaning of the name being the river running between the hills. The bylaw was passed the fifth day of March, 1912, for the Braes O’Benachie No. 2581.”

1912

“In 1912 we moved into a lovely new home with a log kitchen. A dance was held as a house-warming. The neighbors came and danced to the music of Scott and Michie on violins. Alex started out with a team of
oxen and one cow. He soon had more horses and cows. One thing he was never without was cows to milk and cream to sell for groceries.”

“In 1912 Alex decided a school was needed. Three men got together and applied for a grant. They got permission from the Government to go ahead. Charlie Stephenson and Neil MacKinnon built the school for $1,300. A name had to be chosen and three names were sent in . The name Braes O’Benachie, picked
was sent in by Alex . This was the name of the district Alex came from. The first teacher was Miss Oakley hired at sixty-five dollars per month. The school usually closed from December until March due to cold weather. Four of us walked a distance of four miles . 
Alex took cattle buying as a side line. He would drive as far as Myrnam and be away a few days at a time. When he had a carload he would go with them by freight to Winnipeg to sell them. He would arrive back in town at 3 a .m. and ride horseback home, a distance of twelve miles. There were terrific lightning storms in those days.  One night Alex rode home in a bad one. Next morning every fence post for half a mile was split in two.”

1913

“In the year 1913 swamp fever struck the community and many farmers lost their horses. This was also the year of the big prairie fire which came from Vegreville and ended at Birch Creek. Everyone fought fire all night and back fired to save the buildings. It was a sight to behold when the big MacKinnon bush caught fire in the night. The first threshing was done with a hand fed separator owned by Bill Pepper. Everyone stacked their grain in those days. Premier A.L . Sifton was a guest speaker at our house in 1913. This was a great occasion and all neighbours came to hear him.”

1914

“In 1914 another little girl, Helen, arrived. Dr. Brand was the doctor in attendance. In 1914 Alex decided to get closer to the school. He bought the Blackburn place S.E. 16-51-9-W4. This was where he farmed until he retired. One year there were six of us going to school. In the early days the people from Myrnam hauled their grain to Mannville and did their shopping. Our home seemed to be the stopping place to rest their horses. Helen was a warm ‘hearted and generous person. Many times she fed the weary travellers and also bedded down many for the night. The mail man was another who was always welcome and
stopped for a rest. Helen loved children and did a lot of work with them. She was always ready to help
with church work. Every Sunday we all attended service at Wealthy Church which they helped to build. This church was a great asset to the community”

1919

“A cattle dip was built on the farm. This was of great service to the farmers. They had their cattle deloused in the spring. I believe 1919 was the toughest year we had. Feed was so scarce that many straw sheds were torn down and with molasses added fed to cattle. A carload of feed came in from Manitoba and farmers stood in line all day and perhaps came home with one bale of hay. Many cattle died that winter. Another year of disaster was the year of the big crop. Alex stored all his grain at the Lakehead and waited for the price to rise. However he lost every bushel for storage. This was the beginning of the dirty thirties. No one knows the struggle people had to survive only those who went through it”

Below – Alex and Helen Allanach (unknown date) and son Donald Allanach with Bill Mercer (likely 1911)

Below – ‘Allanach Threshing Crew’. Unknown year but thought to be around 1919/20

1919

Alex is thriving in Manville working as a shipping agent.

Wealthy Church with which the Allanach have a connection in its foundation and where they worshipped.

1929

“Alex and Helen went back to Scotland for three months in 1929, the only big holiday they ever had“

1930

22nd December Edmonton Journal : “Allanach A  pretty wedding took place at 3:00 p.m, on Wednesday, Dec. 16, at the home of and Mrs. A. A. Walker of Fort Saskatchewan, when their eldest daughter, Ethel Elena, became the bride of James Allanach, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Alex. Allanach of Mannville. The bride was charmingly gowned in a rose georgette ensemble and was given in marriage by her father.

She was attended by Miss Jean Allanach, sister of the bridegroom, who was gowned in yellow silk crepe. Mr. Stanley Walker was best man. The wedding march was played by Miss Helen Allanach, and the Rev. Thos.

Hart of Mannville performed the ceremony. After the service a buffet luncheon was served to immediate relatives. Mr. and Mrs. Allanach received many gifts and after their honeymoon they will reside at their new House in the Mannville district.”

All Allanach photos and quotes taken from “Trails to Mannville and Districts”, (CU14349621) by Mannville and District Old Timer’s Association. Publicly available courtesy of Local Histories Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary 

1940

Alex Allanach retires from being a councillor :

“Alex served as councillor for the Municipal District of Melberta for 19 years and for eight of these he was the reeve. This was the time when councillors got no pay for their time. Two would go to a convention and bring the report back for the others. He was chairman of Braes  O’Benachie school district from 1912 to 1938. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge. Helen was a member of the Eastern Star. They retired to Mannville and left son Don and Archie Hubbard to carry. on the farm. Alex carried on the livestock buying for many years then Don took over.”

1948

Alex and Helen celebrate their golden wedding anniversary

“They were indeed a couple who gave much to their community. They celebrated their Golden Wedding in 1948 with all their family and friends. Christmas was a great family day and all planned to be home until the chain was broken. Their oldest son, George, married Dolly Milligan in 1929. They had two children Sandy and Helen. Annie married Archie Hubbard in 1930 and had one son Bruce. Jim married Ethel Walker in 1936 and they have four children. Jean chose to be a spinster. During her stay in the Air Force she was stricken with illness. She was a cheerful person regardless of her pain. She helped many young people with school work. Helen married Jim White and had two children. Jim passed away in 1967 and Helen in 1982. Their children, Don and Lorraine live in Calgary. Alex passed away in 1950 and Helen in 1951. Two vacant chairs in a short time. Jean carried on the home until her health gave out. She passed away in a nursing home in
1976 . Don married Evelyn Whitson in 1967 and Archie and Annie retired to town. Don sold the farm in 1971 and retired to town but for a short time. He passed away one month after retirement and Evelyn two years later.”

1950

Alexander passes and his death features in the Edmonton Observer, Wednesday March 15th 1950.

“MANNVILLE, March 15 “Old timer of Mannville district, Alex Allanach, 75, died in Mannville hospital last Monday district, Mr. Allanach came to Canada from Scotland in 1910, to homestead in Braes area, He was in public life, serving for almost 20 years as councillor for the MD of Melberta and over 20 years as

Surviving are his wife, three daughters, Mrs A. Hubbard, Miss Jean Allanach, both of Mannville, and Mrs. J. White, North Battleford:  Three sons, George of Clover Bar Jim of Fort Saskatchewan, and Donald of Mannville and eight grandchildren.”

1950

Alexander passes and is buried in Mannville.