Born - July 1911
Married - John Kutnikoff
Children - Sam, Nettie, Anna
Died - August 16 2001
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John and Anna(nee:Denecka) Zuck arrived in Canada from the Sokol region, now Ukraine, in the fall of 1908 with their five children, Daniel, Anthony, Paul, Barbara and Antonia. Soon after their arrival at the Port of Montreal they headed west to be reunited with relatives in the Hafford District who had arrived earlier. Their first winter were spent with these relatives, John's stepsister Mary and her husband Kuzma Zarubiak and their family. The following spring Dad went searching for a homestead and secured one located at SEC22, TWP44, W3 in 1909. They built a log house there and moved in. This is where I was born. But in 1911 as this was Hudson Bay's land and not available for homesteading so they moved to RM435, SW20, TWP44, R9, W3 where the remnants of the homestead are to this day
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After acquiring a pair of oxen to break land they also bought a cow from some Russian settlers in the Blaine Lake area. The cow's name was Musha and proved to be a worthwhile investment.
Hard back-breaking work followed including brushing and breaking land, constructing buildings, digging a well. The family soon established a working system.
In July 1911 I (Katherine) was born, a midwife attended my mother.
My older brothers, Dan and Anthony were employed by more established farmers. Anthony at the famous Seeger Wheeler farm near Rosthern. My oldest sister Barbara got a live in babysitting job and her wages of about $10 a month helped out with our home expenses Sister Antonia and brother Paul were too young to work away from home so they stayed and helped Mother and Father with farm chores.
Brothers Anthony, Dan and Paul were self educated in speaking, reading and writing English. Anthony was a school trustee for a time at Craigmore school. Paul was a councillor for the R.M.ofRedberry and Secretary Treasurer of the school. Dan was an accomplished carpenter and built many of the teacherages, barns, etc. in the area. Paul died in the Prince Albert Sanitorium in 1942 leaving a young family.
During the 1918 flu epidemic Mother was called on to help nurse the sick and help with their households.
The nearest trading town was Rosthern approximately 50 miles distant. Every few months Dad and my older brothers would hitch up the oxen and go for supplies. The return trip would take three or four days.
A chimney fire caused the house to burn down and this added to the complications and hardships at the time. Thank goodness no-one was hurt and itm was soon rebuilt.
As there was no established school district near, I boarded in Hafford and attended there for two years. Within those two years, my brother Paul acquired a quarter section on which Craigmore school was built. Alao brother Anthony had bought land and settled in the same district. I transferred from Hafford school and stayed at Anthony's place and attended craigmore school.
In time my brothers and sisters moved away, married and maintained their own homes and families. I married John Kutnikoff, who farmed with his Dad about four miles away from my parent's homestead.
We have three children, a son and his family in Edmonton Alberta, a daughter and her family in North Battleford Saskatchewan, and a daughter and her family in Thompson Manitoba. Our three children and our eight grandsons maintain a close and loving relationship with us.
