Nathan was born June 14 1893 in Pugwash, Nova Scotia, to Amos Mitchell and Ella Ripley. Nathan was the fifth of nine children, including six brothers (James, William, Howard, Joseph, Laurence, and Arthur) and two sisters (Bessie and Olive).
Elfreda was born June 19 1896 in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, to Robert Morris and Katherine Stephenson. It is somewhat unclear, but I think she had three siblings including a older brother William, and two sisters (Isabelle and Jessica, who died at seven years of age).
Nathan and Elfreda were married on June 5 1916 in Pugwash, Nova Scotia, when Nathan was 22 years old and Elfreda was 19. They had six children over 12 years, including five boys (Norman, Elwin, Earle, Howard, and Gerald) and one girl (Olive).
Nathan died on August 30, 1967, in Saanich, British Columbia, at the age of 74. Nathan and Elfreda had been married for 51 years. Elfreda died on July 22, 1997 in Victoria, British Columbia. She was 101 years old.
Elfreda’s Childhood Years
Elfreda’s Father, John MorrisElfreda’s Mother, Katherine StephensonElfreda (left) and her sister Jessie, St. Johns Orphanage, NL, early 1900sElfreda’s mother and stepbrothersElfreda’s mother, stepfather, and stepbrothersElfreda’s mother, Katherine Stephenson
Pugwash, Nova Scotia
Nathan and Effie were married and lived in Pugwash, Nova Scotia until 1919. Norman and Elwin were both born here. In August 1919, Nathan and Effie left Pugwash for Saskatchewan.
Effie & Nathan, Pugwash NS, 1914Nathan & Effie’s Place, Pugwash NS, 1916-1919Nathan & Effie’s Home, Pugwash NSEffie & Nathan, NSNathan (top left), likely Pugwash NSNorman, Pugwash NSNorman & Elwin, Pugwash NS, 1919Elfreda and children leaving Pugwash NS for Saskatchewan, August 1919Nathan & Effie leaving Pugwash NS for Saskatchewan, August 1919Nathan & Effie leaving Pugwash NS for Saskatchewan, August 1919
Kindersley, Saskatchewan
Kindersley was (and is still!) a small town in western Saskatchewan. Nathan and Effie lived here until 1924 when they moved to Alberta. Both Earle and Howard were born in Saskatchewan. Effie’s sister Isabelle (or Belle) also travelled and lived with them here.
Kindersley SK, 1919Effie & NathanElfreda with HowardElfreda & Belle as cooks on a farm, 1919Elfreda, Elwin and Earle in back; Belle, Norman and Nathan in front, 1920Nathan MitchellNathan MitchellElfreda & NormanNathanNathan & Elfreda with NormanLikely NormanUnknownSaskatchewan, 1919-23Elfreda with friendSaskatchewan, 1919-23Effie with Elwin and EarleElfreda with NormanSaskatchewan, 1919-23Elfreda with EarleElfreda with Howard (right) and Earle (left), Kindersley SK, 1922Elfreda with HowardEarle or HowardHowardEarleEarle, Norman, Elwin, SK 1922Norman, Elwin, Earle, SK 1922ElfredaElfredaNathanAunt BelleJack Day, Belle, and NathanJessie, Charlie, and EffieAunt Belle with Charlie, Effie, and JessieEffie and Jessie, 1928Aunt BelleAunt Belle with Effie, Jessie, and CharlieAunt Belle with Charlie, Jessie, and Effie, Eatonia SKElfredaNathan and Elfreda with Howardon left, Ella and Amos with Elwin and Earle in middle, Norman on right. Other people unknown. South Saskatchewan River, 1922
Alberta
Nathan and Effie moved to Reno Alberta in 1924 in search of work. Gerald and Olive were both born during this time. The family live in Alberta through the start of the Great Depression.
Earle, Norman, Elwin, Howard & Nathan Mitchell, Reno ABHoward, Earle, Elwin, and Norman Mitchell, Reno AB, 1924Elfreda, Reno AB, 1924ElfredaElwin, Norman, Howard, Earle & Elfreda MitchellElfredaNathan & Elfreda, Palmer’s Mill, Styal AB, 1926Francis Palmer, Norman, Elwin, Earle, Bob Palmer, Howard, Styal AB, 1926Norman, Earle, Elwin, Elfreda & Nathan, Chesel Hadley’s, 1925Norman, Elwin, Earle & Howard, Styal AB, 1926Howard & Gerald, Lehman AB, 1927Elfreda & GeraldGeraldVisiting the Lamoreux’s on the Pembina River, Reno AB, 1929Earle, Styal AB, 1927Friend, Elwin, Elfreda, HowardOlive, Entwistle AB, 1930Lawrence MitchellElfreda with friendsElfreda with friendsNorman, Nathan, Olive, Gerald, Earle, Howard & Friend, 1932Elfreda and Annie PalmerBerry picking, Drayton Valley, 1936-37Hystad’s Bunkhouse, Reno AB, 1938Hystad’s Bunkhouse, Reno AB, 1938Hystad’s Bunkhouse, Reno AB, 1938Elfreda at Palmer’s MillElfreda with friendLamoureux and Mitchell families, Reno AB, 1927. On left Guy & Kate Lamoureux with Stanley, Wilfred, Ward & Beth Lamoureux. On right Nathan & Elfreda Mitchell with Elwin, Earle, and Howard. Nathan on very left. Gerald in front of Effie.Norman, Elwin, Elfreda, Nathan, Earle (back row), Gerald, Howard, and Olive (front row), SK, 1933.
Later Years – British Columbia and Alberta
Earle, Elfreda and Howard Mitchell, Saltair BC, 1941Gerald and Howard Mitchell, 1942Norman MitchellAda Marchant, Cochrane AB, 1940sOlive Mitchell, Qualicum Beach BC, 1940sOlive, Gerry, Gerald, Elfreda, Ada, and Norman Mitchell, Nanaimo BC, 1944Elfreda and Nathan, Kensington PEI, 1948Elfreda and Nathan, Qualicum Beach BC, Jan. 3 1951Elfreda and Nathan, Qualicum Beach BC, 1951Nathan, Elfreda, and Gerald, Bowness AB, 1952Nathan and Elfreda, Bowness AB, 1952Olive and Elfreda, Bowness AB, 1952Nathan, Elfreda and Gerald, Bowness AB, 1952Pat, Howard, Candice & David MitchellElfreda and Evelyn, Sidney BC, late 1950sElfreda and Nathan, Sidney BC, late 1950sElfreda and Nathan, Sidney BC, late 1950sOlive, Nathan and Elfreda, Sidney BC, late 1950sNathan, Elfreda, Ada, and Norman, Sidney BC, late 1950sElfreda and Philip, Moose Jaw AB, 1957Elfreda with Philip, Stephen, Earle, Warren and Dennis, Saskatoon SK, April 18, 1959Nathan & Elfreda Mitchell, Maud & Frederick Bagnall, Qualicum Beach BC, 1960Vicki, Nathan, Elfreda, Brian and Sherry, Qualicum Beach BC, 1962Gerald, Elfreda, Warren and Stephen, Sidney BC, 1965Gerald, Warren, Nathan in back, Earle, Maureen, Dennis, Stephen, Evelyn, Vicki, Sherry, Elfreda in front, Moose Jaw AB, 1957Warren, Gerald, Nathan in back, Earle, Dennis, Maureen, Stephen, Vicki, Sherry, Evelyn, Elfreda in front, Moose Jaw AB, 1957
Nathan & Elfreda – Later Years and 50th Wedding Anniversary
Nathan and Elfreda’s 50th Wedding Anniversary, Sidney BC, 1966Nathan and Elfreda’s 50th Wedding Anniversary, Sidney BC, 1966Nathan and Elfreda’s 50th Wedding Anniversary, Sidney BC, 1966 Back Row: Howard, Norman, Gerald, Olive, Earle, ElwinNathan and Elfreda’s 50th Wedding Anniversary, Sidney BC, 1966Nathan and Elfreda’s 50th Wedding Anniversary, Sidney BC, 1966Elfreda and Ye Olde Barn, Drayton Valley ABElfreda and friends, Drayton Valley ABDrayton Valley ABElfreda and Lawrence, Nova ScotiaHoward, Olive, Earle, Gerald, Elfreda, Norman, 1976Howard, Olive, Earle, Gerald, Elfreda, Norman, 1976Maude Bagnall & Elfreda Mitchell, Qualicum Beach BCFred Bagnall & Elfreda Mitchell, Qualicum Beach BCElfread’s 88th Birthday, July 1981Norman, Olive, Earle, Howard, Elfreda, July 1981
Mitchell Family History 