Reasons To Remember

The pioneer settlement era of the "North-West" are days to remember.

Memories of the men and women, whose vision and courage--stamina and fortitude--patterned the future of these Western Plains, should ever be kept alive in the minds and heart of those whose great privilege it has been to inherit the blessings of this rich and prosperous land, which the sacrifices of our pioneers have made available

The story of the Mooney family is typical of that of thousands of other homesteaders who, following the proclamation of the "The Homestead Act" of 1871, heeded the call of "free" land, in the West.

The story of one of these families is recorded in the published novel "Clearing in the West" by Nellie McClung. Her family, John and Letitia Mooney and their five children left their farm at Chatsworth, Ontario, in the spring of 1880 when Nellie was only six years to settle their new homestead at Manitoba.