Fonds 570 Sargent Family fonds - South Peace Regional Archives

Sargent Family fonds. — [ca. 1930-1975]. — 61 photographs.

Biographical Sketch

Bill Sargent was born in Scotland in 1912, and came to Canada in 1925. He settled first at Champion, Alberta, but in the fall of 1931 arrived in the Peace River Country. He filed on a homestead at Harper Creek, east of DeBolt. In 1939 he married Clara Enns , from Crooked Creek, and the couple raised four children: Fay, Ken, Jean and Randy.

In the late 1930s, Bill had hired on as a mail hauler for Bill Trottier, who had the mail run from Grande Prairie to Calais (Sturgeon Lake). At that time, the heavy sacks of mail had to be transported over the Smoky River by the aerial ferry during spring break-up and fall freeze-up, a job for a much younger man than Bill Trottier. Besides helping with the mail, Bill Sargent also drove truck for Morrison’s Cash Store in DeBolt hauling wheat, livestock and freight.

In 1940 Ivan Morrison and Bill Sargent formed a firm named “Morrison and Sargent” and got the mail contract. Because of the poor conditions of the roads, the complete mail run took up most of the week. According to Bill Sargent’s story on pages 194-202 in Across the Smoky, “The mail schedule called for leaving DeBolt Monday morning for Grande Prairie and leaving from there for DeBolt Tuesday morning. On Thursday morning it left Calais for Grande Prairie and the return trip left for Calais on Saturday morning.”

The story goes on to tell us that, “As times began to get better, more and more homesteaders and their wives started going to Grande Prairie. The times weren’t good enough for people to afford cars so the mail truck provided their means of transportation.”

In fact, so many people were using the mail truck that Bill Sargent proposed that Morrison and Sargent start a bus service between Valleyview and Grande Prairie. They applied to the Highway Traffic Board in Edmonton and were granted the franchise, the first bus operation in the Peace River Country. They purchased a 1940 Ford, 29 passenger bus. It was an immediate success. Meanwhile, they were also operating “three International trucks hauling mail, express, groceries, hardware, grain, livestock, lumber, logs, and anything else that needed moving.”

In 1946, the Morrison and Sargent Bus Service was sold to Canadian Coachways Ltd. The Sargent family then built the “Sargent Sales & Service” garage on the corner of 99th Avenue and 100th Street in Grande Prairie. In 1952 it became a General Motors franchise which was sold to Ken Sargent and Jim Hanson in 1969. During this time, Bill served as an alderman for the City of Grande Prairie, and was active in the Rotary as well as the River Rats Club.

After Bill retired in 1969, he and Clara returned to the DeBolt area and built a home on an acreage along the Smoky River near DeBolt. He passed away in 1988 and Clara in 1993. They are interred in the Grande Prairie Cemetery.

Scope and Content

The fonds consists of 61 photographs showing various stages in the life of Bill and Clara Sargent: the homestead at Harper Creek, the Morrision and Sargent Bus Service and trucks, the Sargent Sales & Service Garage in Grande Prairie, and the retirement home on the Smoky River.

Notes

Jimmie and Bess on the Homestead, [1930]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of two horses on the Sargent homestead pulling a load of logs. Description on the back of the photo says, “Cutting and hauling firewood for 50 cents a cord delivered four miles away in DeBolt. Jimmie is the Grey.”
Location: 2013.086.01

Skidding With Jimmie, [1930]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Bill Sargent standing on a skid behind his horse. The description on the back of the photo says, “Jimmie was a very high spirited, faithful and intelligent horse. He and I saw lots of tough winter trips hauling loads of straw for feed from west of the Smoky.”
Location: 2013.086.02

Fred Sargent, [1930]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Fred Sargent digging the garden beside a wood frame building.
Location: 2013.086.03

Wedding Day, 1939
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Bill and Clara Sargent on their wedding day in 1939. They are accompanied by Ed Enns, Clara’s brother, and Nellie _____, Bill’s sister.
Location: 2013.086.04

Clara Sargent at Harper Creek, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Clara Sagent in dress coat and boots beside their log homestead house at Harper Creek.
Location: 2013.086.05

Bill Sargent at Harper Creek, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Bill Sargent in a suit beside their log homestead house at Harper Creek. The label on the front of the photo says, “same style as 1978-1980.”
Location: 2013.086.06

Logging in May, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Bill Sargent cutting down a spruce tree. There is still snow on the ground, and the description on the back of the phots says, “A very late spring, 193?”.
Location: 2013.086.07

Farmer Clara Combining Flax, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Clara Sargent on the tractor pulling a small John Deere combine.
Location: 2013.086.08

In the Homestead Yard, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Bill Sargent with tractor and seed drill in the yard of their Harper Creek homestead.
Location: 2013.086.09

Combining at Harper Creek, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Bill Sargent with tractor and combine in one of the fields of their Harper Creek homestead.
Location: 2013.086.10

Ivan’s Car at the Homestead, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Bill Sargent beside Ivan Morrison’s car at the Harper Creek homestead.
Location: 2013.086.11

First Load of Grain, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Ivan Morrison, George DeBolt and Bill Sargent sitting on the front bumper of a farm truck in the 1940s. The description on the back of the photo says, “This was the first load of grain hauled out of the Simonette Valley by truck. Very steep trail.”
Location: 2013.086.12

Ice Break up on the Smoky, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of the ice breaking up on the Smoky River in the 1940s.
Location: 2013.086.13

Prince, Besse’s Son, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of a horse in the yard of Sargent’s Harper Creek homestead. The label on the front says, “Prince-Besse’s Son, very friendly horse.” A note on the back says, “On the homestead SW 4-72-2-W5.”
Location: 2013.086.14

Simonette Valley, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of the Simonette Valley in the winter. A grain truck with two men in the box are starting down the hill into the valley.
Location: 2013.086.15

Breaking Land at Harper Creek, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Bill Sargent on a John Deere tractor, breaking land in the 1930s.
Location: 2013.086.16

Simonette Hill, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of a grain truck coming up the Simonette Hill over a road which is not much more than a track.
Location: 2013.086.17

Running Basket at the Ferry, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of a close-up of Bill Sargent running the aerial basket on the Smoky River Ferry during the fall freeze or the spring breakup.
Location: 2013.086.18

Clawhammer Flats in the Simonette Valley, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of three men loading a grain truck from a log bin on Clawhammer Flats in the Simonette Valley. The label on the photo says, “Note the grain loader.”
Location: 2013.086.19

IHC Cornbinder at Sturgeon Lake, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Bill and Clara Sargent with their farm truck at Sturgeon Lake.
Location: 2013.086.20

Esther Duerksen on the Aerial Ferry, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Esther Duerksen at one end of the aerial ferry over Smoky River.
Location: 2013.086.21

Morrison & Sargent Truck, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Clara Sargent beside the IHC Cornbinder truck which was the first grain delivery truck owned by Morrison & Sargent, DeBolt.
Location: 2013.086.22

Moving the House, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of three men with the IHC Cornbinder truck with a small home on a flat deck, on the ice surface of Sturgeon Lake. The label on the photographer says, “We moved this house from west of Grande Prairie to the north side of Sturgeon Lake.
Location: 2013.086.23

View from the Aerial Ferry, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Clara Sargent and her mother-in-law on the icy surface of the Smoky River. The label on the photo says, “My mother and Clara from the basket.”
Location: 2013.086.24

Morrison & Sargent Delivery Truck, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Bill Sargent beside the IHC Cornbinder truck which was Morrison & Sargent’s first delivery truck.
Location: 2013.086.25

Hudson’s Bay Store, Sturgeon Lake, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Morrison & Sargent’s truck stopped in front of the Hudson’s Bay Company store at Sturgeon Lake. The label on the front of the photo says, “Freighting into Hudson’s Bay Store.”
Location: 2013.086.26

John Bickell’s Sawmill, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Morrison & Sargent’s truck with a load of logs at a sawmill. The label on the photo says, “Hauling logs into John Bickell’s sawmill.”
Location: 2013.086.27

American and BC Ferries at Taylor Flats, [1942]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of two ferries on the Peace River at Taylor Flats. The label on the photo says, “American and BC Ferries, Taylor Flats.”
Location: 2013.086.28

Hauling Logs with a New Truck, [1942]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Sargent and Morrison’s truck with a load of logs on the back. The label on the photo says, “Hauling logs with a new truck.”
Location: 2013.086.29

Bill Sargent and the New Truck, [1942]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Bill Sargent standing beside a shiny new truck without a box on the back.
Location: 2013.086.30

Freighting up the Alaska Highway, [1942]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of a Morrison & Sargent truck on a mountain road. The label on the photo says “Freighting up the Alaska Highway.”
Location: 2013.086.31

Homestead at Harper Creek, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Bill and Clara Sargent’s log house on the homestead at Harper Creek.
Location: 2013.086.32

Mrs. Sargent with Fay and Ken, [1945]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Mrs. Sargent Sr. with Fay and Ken Sargent, in front of her small frrame home in DeBolt.
Location: 2013.086.33

Addition to the Homestead House, [1945]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of the Sargent’s log home on their Harper Creek homestead after the roof had been shingled and a porch added.
Location: 2013.086.34

At the Smoky River, [1945]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of the senior Sargents with Clara Sargent on the rocky shore of the Smoky River.
Location: 2013.086.35

The Senior Ladies, [1945]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Mrs. McIntyre, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. George DeBolt and Mrs. Sargent Sr.
Location: 2013.086.36

Mrs. Sargent and Fay, [1945]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Mrs. Sargent with her grandaughter Fay. The label on the photos says, “Mother and Fay. Garage that burnt is in the background.”
Location: 2013.086.37

Sargent Home in DeBolt, [1945]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Mrs. Sargent with Fay and Ken Sargent beside her hous in DeBolt.
Location: 2013.086.38

Sleigh Ride for Baby Fay, [1945]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Fay Sargent, daughter of Bill and Clara Sargent, having a sleigh ride in a wicker laundry basket mounted on sleigh runners.
Location: 2013.086.39

Fay’s Second Birthday, [1945]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Fay Sargent and birthday cake in the yard of their log home on the homestead. The yard is now surrounded by a picket fence.
Location: 2013.086.40

A Summer Swim, [1945]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Fay and Ken Sargent enjoying a summer day in a metal tub in the yard while Bill Sarent looks on. The label on the photo says, “Rub-a-dub-dub, two kids in a tub.”
Location: 2013.086.41

First Morrison & Sargent Bus, [1943]
3 photographs; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Two copies of original photographs of the first bus used by Morrison & Sargent to take people from DeBolt to Grande Prairie and return. This was the first bus company in the Grande Prairie area, starting in 1943.
Location: 2013.086.42-43

Second Morrison & Sargent Bus, [1945]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of the second bus used by Morrison & Sargent to bus people from DeBolt to Grande Prairie and return. This was the first bus company in the Grande Prairie area, starting in 1943.
Location: 2013.086.44

Morrison & Sargent Bus Depot, DeBolt, [1940]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of the Morrison & Sargent Bus Depot in DeBolt, with Ken, Clara and Fay Sargent beside the bus.
Location: 2013.086.45

Morrison & Sargent Bus Depot, Grande Prairie, [1945]
1 photograph; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of the Morrison & Sargent trucks and busses gathered at their Grande Prairie depot behind Porteous Hardware. This was the first bus company in the Grande Prairie area, starting in 1943.
Location: 2013.086.46

Sargent Sales & Service, Grande Prairie, [1955]
5 photographs; b & w; 4 x 6 in.
Five photographs of Sargent Sales & Service center under construction in downtown Grande Prairie, on the corner of 100th Street and 99th Avenue. Bill Sargent, owner-operator, is in two of the photographs
Location: 2013.086.47-51

Sargent Home on the Smoky, [1970]
1 photographs; colour; 4 x 6 in.
Copies of two original photographs showing the front and back views of the Sargent Home on the Smoky River. Bill and Clara Sargent and Jean and Erwin are included in one photograph.
Location: 2013.086.52-53

Sargent Home in Grande Prairie, [1970]
1 photograph; colour; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph showing Bill and Clara Sargent’s home on 102 Street and 89th Avenue in Grande Prairie.
Location: 2013.086.54

Road to the Smoky River, [1970]
1 photograph; colour; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph showing the road from the Smoky River and the landing up to the Sargent home on the river bank.
Location: 2013.086.55

In the Cabin, 1971
1 photograph; colour; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Clara Sargent and Virgina Sharp in July 1971 at a celebration for the Sharp’s 25th Anniversary.
Location: 2013.086.56

Riverboat in Grande Prairie, 1964
1 photograph; colour; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Bill Sargent and a crew of his men with a riverboat on 99th Street, on the north side of Sargent Sales & Service. Across the street is Grande Prairie Furniture Sales. The photo is dated April 27, 1964, and the description says, “Some of our employees and the boat we built for the federal government.
Location: 2013.086.57

Riverboat on the Wapiti, 1964
1 photograph; colour; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph showing the Pontiac II, a riverboat owned by F. Guest, on the Wapiti River. The photo is dated October 64.
Location: 2013.086.58

Park Bros Building the New Road, 1972
1 photograph; colour; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of the Park Bros bulldozer working on a bank above the Smoky River. The description with the photo says, “Park Bros. dozer making a new road to the landing after the big flood of 1972.
Location: 2013.086.59

Skiing on the Smoky, 1977
1 photograph; colour; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of “Jean and Dan skiing on the Smoky” River.
Location: 2013.086.60

Bill and Clara Sargent and Grandchildren, [1975]
1 photograph; colour; 4 x 6 in.
Copy of an original photograph of Bill and Clara Sargent with three of their grandchildren on the front porch of the house on the banks of the Smoky River.
Location: 2013.086.61