William James Harford was born May 17, 1881 at 4 Wynyard Terrace, Esher Street, Lambeth to parents John Harford and Charlotte Ann Harford, formerly Rogers. William's certificate of birth was issued 'in the sub district of Lambeth Church 2nd in the County of Surrey, in the Superintendent Registrar's District of Lambeth, now in the County of London, but formerly in the County of Surrey'. John's occupation is shown as 'cellarman'.
Little is known about William's early life except that he and his younger brother ‘Ted' (Edwin?) were orphaned when they were in their teens and that Will then took care of his brother. In the 1891 census, Will is listed as living with his parents at 4 Wynyard Terrace in Lambeth. In the 1901 census, he is listed as residing in the civil parish of Finchley, administrative County of Middlesex, age 19, born Lambeth, London, occupation - coachman.
In 1903 William, who was known as Will, emigrated to Canada, leaving behind in London his 22-year-old fiancée, Daisy Jane Elizabeth Elwood. As was often done, he went ahead to the new land to become established while his fiancée remained at home until it was deemed the right time for her to follow her beloved.
A farewell gift from his church friends to William was a Bible with this inscription:
"To Will Harford, From his well wishers in London with the hope that he may find herein a power that will help, and keep him in far off Canada.
‘Lo, I am with you always' Matthew 28.20 Hope Mission, March 1st, 1903"
On a postcard with a photo of a building with the name ‘Surrey Chapel', Daisy sends this message to Will in Canada: "I thought you would like to show your friend your English Chapel. I think it is a very good photo of the place. When I look at it I can hear you saying ‘Do come to open session this afternoon'". Perhaps the congregants of Hope Chapel met in the building named Surrey Chapel. (Daisy sounds a little wistful, doesn't she.)
Will's destination in Canada was a farm at Oak Lake, Manitoba where he was a farmer's helper, quite a change of occupation for a young man from the big city of London. Going from city life to country life was a difficult challenge.
On March 29, 1906, Daisy sailed on the S.S.Canada (Dominion Line) for the long voyage to Canada. A postcard with a picture of the ocean liner contains the brief note in Daisy's handwriting "Sailed March 29/06. Pleasant journey." The ship probably disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia on the east coast of Canada, where Daisy boarded a train for another long trip, overland to the Canadian Prairies more than 2000 miles west. Will and Daisy were married April 11, 1906, immediately after her arrival in Oak Lake, Manitoba. Disappointingly, Daisy's luggage containing her wedding dress didn't arrive until the next day. We have a copy of their marriage certificate, and an copy of the Oak Lake News of April 18, 1906 which carries the announcement of their wedding.
Country life was difficult for Daisy also, for she too had to work on the farm. She and Will were a devoted couple, but many years later Daisy confided "it wasn't right to bring a city girl out here". She told the story of baking bread which had turned out so unedible that she secretly went out and threw it down the well. Which makes one wonder about the quality of the water after that yeasty mixture had been added. Perhaps a glass of water from that particular well had an extra kick in it! (Hopefully, it was an old well, not in use for drinking water.)
By April, 1907 the young couple had left farm life and were living in the city of Winnipeg, the capital city of the province of Manitoba, and a major centre for the booming grain markets. Their first child, Daisy Charlotte was born August 25, 1908, followed by Alice Susan on September 26, 1911 and Rose Violet on October 10, 1914. All were all born in Winnipeg. William was employed as a railway policeman at Canadian Pacific Railway, the great transcontinental railway of Canada.
Sadly, all was not well, for William's health was not good. He had suffered from epilepsy before he left England and then, when his youngest child was just three years old Will was diagnosed with ‘creeping paralysis' (Multiple Sclerosis). He was soon wheelchair-bound and unable to go out to work. To support the family, Daisy went to work as a cleaning woman in the local school, where she could be near her children during the school day. It was hard work; and work to which she was not accustomed. Also,she had some heart trouble as a result of a childhood illness, probably polio.
But they made the best of it. They built a good house (which is still in use) with lots of room for the growing family. Because the house was on the outskirts of the city, they were allowed to keep chickens and that, along with a large, productive vegetable garden, kept them all busy and well-fed. There are pictures of the family, with Will in his wheelchair, on outings when they would walk several miles to Assiniboine Park, the city's largest park, quite a lovely park, many acres in size, still in existence today. Will's wheelchair had a handle which he could turn to propel it himself.
As the daughters grew into young women, they went to work, and in their free time enjoyed the usual activities of young people of the time including, it seems from photographs, long bicycle trips to lakes where they enjoyed swimming and picnicking with friends.
Another great sadness, from which the family never fully recovered, was the loss of their eldest daughter, Daisy Charlotte, who died in childbirth, along with her child. Her husband was Ernie Jennings.
Daughter Alice married John Conger in 1932 and their daughter Joan Harford was born on October 3rd, 1933. Ten days later, Will died of tuberculosis, on October 13, 1933 in Winnipeg. Alice and John's younger daughter, Betty Lois, was born February 4th, 1937.
Will and Daisy's youngest daughter Rose married Gordon Fanstone and they have three children: daughters Helen Diane and Patricia Ann, and son James Gordon.
Daisy lived to her 79th year and died April 7, 1961 in Winnipeg. Of Will and Daisy's five grandchildren, one lives in Winnipeg, three live in British Columbia, and one lives in the U.S. Now, in 2005, there are great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren living in Canada, U.S. and Mexico.
Although life was difficult in the early days in Canada the family has prospered and continues to carry on the admirable values established by our beloved Daisy and Will.