Melvin Anders Prestlien

   Another name for Melvin was Melvill Anders Prestlien.⁵¹⁶²

  Research Notes:

Summary:

Melvin Anders Prestlien was the oldest son of Anders Mikkelsen Prestlien [1862-1938]. Melvin was also known to use the name 'Melvill'. Melvin was a second cousin, once removed, to my grandfather, Lars T Grue [1887-1958].

Melvin was born in Lessor Twp, Polk Co, Minnesota - his parents were farming in Lessor Twp, Polk Co, MN [north-east of Erskine, MN]. Melvin's parents left MN for Washington State in late 1898 or sometime in 1899, and settled in the
Standwood/Silvana area.

Alberta
It is most likely that Melvin went to Alberta, Canada to the Camrose/Armena area in sometime in late Apr or May of 1910. He likely traveled with a first cousin, Simon I Prestlien and his family. It is also possible that Melvin's father Anders and his uncle Iver also left Washington State at the same time, and it appears that Michael I Prestlien and Martin I [sons of Iver] left at the same time also.

In the Alberta homestead file for Melvin, he took out an entry application on 29 Oct 1910 for a homestead in Whitecourt, AB, with a date stamp by Dominion Land Agent in Edmonton. Melvin records his address as Camrose.
It is not clear in the homestead file if Melvin had actually gone to Whitecourt before filing an entry application. However he did travel to Whitecourt in early in 1911, mostly likely sometime in early May since he is recorded in the 1911 Canada Census in the Whitecourt area. It is also likely that in May 191, he traveled with his dad and uncle Iver and a cousin Michael Prestlien. In 1911 there was not a railroad to Whitecourt, so the group may have traveled by land - there was only a dirt trail through the woods/forests and over creeks and rivers from Edmonton to Whitecourt, a distance of at least 175 kms [110 miles].

There is another possible route that Melvin and others took. They may have taken a train west from Edmonton [the Grand Trunk Railway, with regular passenger/freight service that started in Feb 1911, but the rails had been finished to Edson by Jul 1910]. The Grand Trunk Railway, GTR for short, were building an alternate railway to the west coast to Vancouver [alternate from the Canadain Pacific Railway that was completed in 1885]. It is possible that Melvin and the group took the train as far as Peers, AB. Peers is about 25 kms east and a bit north of Edson, north of the junction of Hwy 16 and 32 [in 2023]. Then less than 5 kms further north, the current Hwy 32 crosses the McLeod River [see my notes on Iver M Prestlien homestead folder for some research notes on the GTR].

In 1910-1911, it would have been a fairly short walk from the Peers station to the McLeod River. It is here that a barge, boat, or raft could travel downstream to Whitecourt. At Whitecourt, the McLeod River flows into the Athabasca River, with the Athabasca River headwaters in the Columbia Icefields between Jasper and Banff. The portion of the McLeod River to Whitecourt is a fairly slow, meandering river with forests on either shore. The main hazardard would be undercurrents, eddies and sandbars. However, with a fast spring runoff or heavy rainfall, the river likely could rise rapidly and become much more treacherous.

In a local history book, "The Sagitawah Saga \endash The Story of Whitecourt", published in 1976, it is stated that a person "...homesteaded in the Allendale area in 1911. [And] Ivor and Mike Presthlien were not far behind. Chris Presthlien, another brother, and Andrew Presthlien also came in then and homesteaded down on the Mink Creek Flats area. Ivor and his younger brother Andrew became experienced raftsmen and brought many other families down the McLeod and oc-casionally the Athabasca in the years to come ... ferrying settlers and supplies down the McLeod from Peers, where the railroad passed through". This is the only reference that I have found that Anders M Prestlien was in Alberta for at least a period of time.

I am not sure, but it is possible that Melvin and his group had taken the GTR to Peers in the summer of 1910 and had surveyed the area around Whitecourt looking for homestead land. Using the homestead records as I indicated above, Melvin was in Whitecourt at the homestead land, likely in May 1911. Melvin is recorded on his homestead in the 1911 Canada Census [enumeration date of 1 Jun 1911]. This census records that Melvin had immigrated to Canada in 1910; next to him is another cousin, Nels E Sonmor. Melvin's uncle Iver and his Iver's sons Michael and Andrew are also recorded on Iver's homestead land in the 1911 Canada Census. Anders M Prestlien is not enumerated in 1911 - although the 1911 Census record is somewhat hard to read, I have reviewed the pages and I have not found his record. It's possible that Anders was on the river, in the forest, or hunting at the time the enumerator came by. Of course, it is possible that he had returned to Washington state, but I don't think so [see below for my reasoning].

On the 28 Jun 1911, Melvin signs a 'declaration of abandonment' at the land office in Edmonton. He states that there is "... too much brush and would take more money than I have to clear it". It is most certainly true that the lands along the McLeod and Athabasca Rivers were heavily treed, with stands of Poplar, Spruce, Jackpine, Willow and Tamarack. Parts of the township had some burnt spots acoording to the 1907 Canadian survey of Twp 59.
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******* 15 Nov 2023 .... about a month ago I started researching for more information detailing the building of the GTP ... This became a much bigger project that I first anticipated ... many article and books to review, along with numerous "tangets" ; re, other historical interests

I suspect my research project will take much more time .... So, I am going to update my Legacy webpage for 15 Nov 2023 .... and hopefully, in the next update in a few months, I will be able to post my research, or link to my research summary and document. Perhaps the above paragraphs will become a part of the document

...... more to come .... in the next update in 3-4 months .......................

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1. Birth location


- death cert records Lessor Twp, Polk Co, MB; b 1888
- WW 1 draft - Canada - records McIntosh, MN [ village in "13 Twp" or King Twp


2. Melvin - 1911 Canada - Whitecourt, Twp 59, Range 11, W 5th; indexed on automated genealogy as "Presthlien"
Alberta, Edmonton District, Sub-District #32, Twp 59, Range 11, W5th; page 19 ; is this the same land as Christian?

- emigrated in 1910; occupation - farmer
- next person listed is Nels Sonmor, age 35 <1876> born in US - see Nils Jacobsen Sonmor b 1830 page and his son, Nils Sonmor b 1875, and next to Nils is Christain

** see notes on Christian I Prestlien homestead file - re; Melvin first took out application for entry on the NE¼ of Sec 35, Twp 59, Range 11 [AB homestead, Reel 2967; images 1002-1004 ]

- entry on 29 Oct 1910; born in US; address as Camrose; signed by Melvin
THEN: 28 Jun 1911, Melvin signed the "Declaration of Abandonment " stating that there was "... too much brush and would take more money than I have to clear it". His address was recorded as Norman, WA
THEN: on 31 July 1911, Michael I Prestlien takes out a proxy entry on behalf of Christian I Prestlien, brother, from Bothell, WA - see Christian's research notes


[ *** Thus, Melvin A Prestlien, likely continue to live on the homestead land [Sec 35-59-11] in the summer since he is recorded in the 1911 Canada census, maybe a bit longer - he likely returned to Stanwood WA for the winter of 1911-1912 and in May 1912, traveled to Giscombe. According to the border crossing record of 1912, Melvin and his brothers Joseph and Nels and his father, Anders M, crossed into Canada in May 1912 on their way to Giscombe. At some point, he move moved to the Giscombe, BC area - since he had paid for BC Crown land with a date of 20 Sep 1916. But it is not clear when he or his father actually arrived at Giscombe ] *** not likely based on the BC land grants registration

--------------- 13 May 2023 --- see BC Crown Land Grants -----



1921 Canada [ 6 Aug 2004 ] - can't find him at - Cariboo, BC; Sub 22, McBride (includes some Giscombe)
BUT:


1921 Canada census, British Columbia, Cariboo, sub-dis 23 [McBride, Dewey, Newlands and Alesza Lake]
page 2 [image 3], line 3, dw/fam 21/21, but
Mervin ? Prestlien [indexed as Prestlen], age 31, [1890??] b in US [also father and mother?]; emigrate to Canada, 1911; naturalized 1913 [?]; own farm
then, line 4, [handwriting clearer] Prestlien, Joseph, age 22 [1899] b in US (also father and mother), emigrate to Canada, 1912; works on farm; recorded as a lodger to the head who was Mervin or Merrin - Joseph was a brother

** this would imply that Melvin was in Alberta one or two years, and likely his brother Joseph went to the Giscome area as early as 1912, and this would fit with the border crossing for Anders M Prestlien ... and also Melvin is also listed, along with Joseph and Nels; so Melvin may have been in the Whitecourt area for about a year or so - 1911
- but I looked again at the pages of sub dis 32 in the 1911 Canada Census [Whitecourt], to see if Anders M or his son Nels but they were not recorded --- so Anders and Nels had left the Whitecourt area before 1 Jun 1911.

1931 Canada Census; British Columbia, Cariboo South, Unorganized; sub-dis 49; page 6, dw/fam 85/86
[line 29]
Melvin Prestlien [recorded: Presteline], age 36 b in US; em 1911, na 1915; farmer, own account; religion, United
wife Minerva, age 25 b in Ont
son Herbert, age 3 b in BC
dau Evelyn, age 5 b in BC
dau Louise, age 2 b in BC
dau Florence, age 4 b in BC
lodger, Christopher Field, age 82 b in Nor; em in 1880, na 1928; laborer, but then crossed off and above - none

post office: Giscome; sub-district 40 - Giscome, Newlands

https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/62640/images/1931_227A-e011760206?ssrc=&backlabel=Return&pId=6446979


3. Giscome ; from: http://cangenealogy.com/pg/pg_postmasters.htm [ accessed 6 Aug 2014 ]
The settlement of Giscome was named in 1914. It was originally called Eaglet Lake and was first established in 1911. Giscome was developed around a sawmill that had been built in Willow River in 1916 and moved in 1917. In 1923 the mill was purchased by the Winton brothers of Minneapolis who re-named it Eagle Lake Spruce Mills. The first store was owned by Connelly and Grayer. The first teacher in 1916 was Mr. Apps.

- Melvin Prestlien and Joseph were recorded in 1921 Canada Census, at sub-district 23 (McBride - then Dewey Newlands and Aleza Lake - this area is past the eastern end of Eaglet Lake and so their location likely the to east of eastern shore of the lake - BUT see my document, "Anders M Prestlien and son Melvin: BC Crown Land Grants, Giscombe area" written, 20 May 2023 [location - Anders Prestlien folder on my PC]


4. Camrose Canadian, 23 Nov 1922, page 7, col 5; Hay Lake, (Nov 21) "After a long absence, Melvin Prestlien returned to our district last week. His stay is short, however, as he and Mr Thompson left on a hunting and trapping trip on Monday."

5. BC Archives: Marriages; 1924; registration # 1924-09-281895

Melvin Prestlien, farmer at Giscombe; age is recorded but I can't make out the number; born in MN; Andrew Prestlien father, mother is named but surname hard to make out
to: Bedore, Minerva Pearl; age 17 [abt 1907] born in Ontario; father, William Bedore, mother ?? 14 May 1924, at Prince George

Prince George Citizen (Prince George Digitalization); issue 15 May 1924, page 8
"Melvin Prestlien, a rancher living in the vicinity of Newlands, and Minerva Pearl Bedore of Newlands, were married .... yesterday morning"

6. World War 1 service. Ancestry collection

Recruit: drafted under the Military Service Act, 1917
- 5 Nov 1917 at Prince George - address as Giscome
Private, 2nd Depot Btln - Victoria
- medical exam - normal with exception of 50% hearing loss in left ear
- it appears that Melvin did not serve and was discharged 25 Mar 1918 - not clear, but likely due to hearing loss

- Melvin's file is a bit of a mess, and I don't see an actual discharge - there was change of Category that looks like "E",
but not really. Other Canadian WW 1 service files that I have reviewed, clearly show privates being sent overseas with dates, etc. and often pay dates, etc; along with discharge etc....... Melvin's file does not have any of this. I also looked this up on Library and Archives Canada ... there may be some backs of pages that were not initially microfilmed and of course, Ancestry [and Lib and Archives Ca] have simply scanned the microfilm pages. There maybe some other papers, but that is not certain. A few years ago I requested photocopies of another person's service file, but I'm not sure if that is still possible. ...

Ancestry link:
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61084/images/b7965-s013-0001?pId=601209096


7. BC Archives: Death, 8 Apr 1977 - Melvin Prestlien; registration, # 1977-09-006026
- died at Nanamio Hospital; and prior to death at Kiwanis Lodge in Nanamio
- carpenter in construction; born 12 Oct 1922 at Lessor, MN; father born in Norway - Prestlien, but unknown given name; mother unknown
married: Minvera Bedore
informant, Evelyn Lee (this is his daughter, Lee is her married name - husband Stewart Lee)

Melvin's obit: Name as Melvill Prestlien; Nanamio Daily News issue 11 Apr 1977, page 18
- died 8 Apr 1977 at age 88 at the Nanamio General Hospital - had been living at Kiwanis Lodge
- born at Lessor, MN; resident of Nanamio for last 30 years (since 1947)
Survived by 4 daughters, Evelyn Lee and Sylvia Gavin both of Nanamio, Louise Frankel of Toronto [*see point 7], and Florence Lundgren of Vancouver; one son, Herbert from Williams Lake; 14 grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren
- Survived by 2 brothers, Joe at San Jose, CA and Nels at Santa Cruz, CA; and one sister, Wanda Stewart of Vancouver



8. The Province (Vancouver), issue 29 Oct 1943, page 40

Louise Prestlien, daughter of Mr and Mrs Melvin Prestlien ; marriage on 29 Oct 1943
married to: Allan Olson, son of Mr and Mrs Victor Olson of Regina
- Miss Sylvia Prestlien, brides sister, was junior bridesmaid
- Herb Priestlien, brides brother, was usher
Note: the article title is confusing, "Pretty Province Model Louise Prestlien Centers Lovely Bridal Picture Today"
- it seems that Louise created bridal mannequins - bridal displays of mannequins
BUT there is another article with photos of her as a Model, and posing for pictures (issue 18 Jun 1949 page 17); "too busy modeling to think of movies"
[ BC death registration, 1997-09-019124 likely; Allan Olson, b 20 Jan 1925 at Regina; died 14 Sep 1997, Peace Arch H, White Rock ; lived Surrey
divorced: Louise Presling
informant Leo Olson, #8, Folkestone Way, West Vancouver; relationship, brother

The Vancouver Sun, issue 2 Aug 1956, page 25
- marriage of Sylvia Prestlien daugther of Mr and Mrs Melvin Prestlien
to: Robert Gordon Gavin, son of Gordon T Gavin
- a bridesmaid, Mrs Florence Lundgren [a sister ??] and Mrs S C Lee (Evelyn Lee, nee Prestlien)

Herbert Andrew Prestlien, Dawson Creek [Vancouver Province, issue 8 Feb 1956 page 6]


9. some newsclips from Prince George Digitalization, 25 notices, but some are about Vivian Prestliens (married Herbert) parents brothers; and

- 17 Sep 1915 - Prince George Fair - A M Prestlien, won first in the Red Glover grasses; and 2nd with Rye, Grain in Sheaf
- 18 Jan 1923 - Mel Prestlien - in court about not being paid by Giscombe Spruce Mills re; timber
- 8 Mar 1923 - re; a dozen of workers from Giscombe had gone to Newlands on Tues to work for Prestlien Bros
- 21 May 1925 - in classifieds, first entry: For sale 200 acres of first-class farm land on the shores of Eaglet Lake. For particulars apply Prestlien Bros, Giscombe, BC. NOTE: this about the same time that Anders returned to Stanwood
- 19 Jun 1941 - Melvin A Prestlien - for sale 160 acres of improved farm land mostly bottom land, lake frontage; frame house 24 by 24, hay shed 30 by 40, other buildings. In the 29 May 1941 issue - for sale... mentions 'frame house, 24x24' [576 sq ft], hay shed 30 x 40; 25 acres in timothy [type of grass for forage] ; first ad for sale of farm ... likely 22 May 1941 ... last ad, 10 Jul 1941

10. .. City Directories: Vancouver

1949; from Vancouver Public library collection, page 467 [image is of poor quality]
- Louise Prestlien - model, 1311 The Crescent
- Melvin Prestlien - 995 or 996 W "T"
below Melvin is: Velra, housekeeper at M L Sweeeny r, 3496 W "L"; is this Minerva ??

1950; from Vancouver Public library collection, page 468 [image is a bit better]
Melvin Prestlien, same address as above
- Velma, - as above; - likely in 1949
Louise is not recorded in 1950, but of course she married in 1949

1948;from Vancouver Public library collection, page 723
- Louise M Prestlien, steno r 1154 Richalles [sp]
Melvin or Minerva not listed

1955Nanaimo:no listing

1940, 1941 not listed
1942; im 988Melvin Prestlien (Minerva P) laborer Can White Pine Lanark
1943; im 1029Melvin Prestlien (Minerva P), carpenter. r 5597? Lankmark, West Coast Shopbuilders
Florence Prestlien, parceler, Spencers, r, 5597 Lanmark
1944; im 913Melvin Prestlien (Minerva P). carpenter, WCB [likely the same as 1943], r 5597 Lanmark
Miss F Prestlien, sales, Woodwards
1945;not listed
1946im 1087Melvin (Minerva );carpenter, r 995 W "T"
Mrs Minerva, emp Eden cafe, r 995 W "T"
1947im 940Florence W Prestlien, waitress Crest Coffee shop, r 11 94 Barclay
Melvin - Minerva not listed ⁵¹⁶³

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Migration - 1910, 1910, Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada. ⁵¹⁶² 1911 Canada Census records year of immigration as 1910 from the USA

2. Residence - 1911, 1911, Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada. ⁵¹⁶⁴ Province of Alberta, Edmonton District, Sub-district #32, Twp 59, Range 11, W5th

3. Residence - 1917, 5 Nov 1917, Giscombe, British Columbia, Canada. ⁵¹⁶⁵ WW 1 Veteran. At the time that he joined the Canadian Forces overseas he was living at Giscombe, BC. The date of signing was 5 Nov 1917. Next of kin was reported as Anders Michael Prestlien, address as Giscombe

4. Cremation, 1977, Apr 1977, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. Both BC Archives death registration [1977-09-006026] and Melvin's obituary indicate that he was cremated. There doesn't appear to be a memorial plaque in any of the Nanaimo cemeteries

Melvin married Minerva Pearl Bedore on 14 May 1924 in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada.⁵¹⁵⁸ (Minerva Pearl Bedore was born on 24 Sep 1906 in Hastings Co, Ontario, Canada, died on 20 Jun 1979 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.)

  Marriage Notes:

BC Archives Marriage records residence as Giscome, BC (north of present Prince George BC, about 40 kms north and about 20 kms east) and place of marriage as Fort George, BC (Prince George, BC was 'formed' from the original Hudson's Bay Co fur trading post of Fort George, later known as South Fort George, and Central Fort George)